At the United States Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C., during the international interfaith conference “United in Liberty: The Rise of Spiritual Diplomats,” led by Pastor Mark Burns, we had the honor of speaking with two distinguished Indigenous leaders:
Chief Joseph RiverWind — War Chief of the Arawak Taino Tribe of Puerto Rico, Co-Founder of FireKeepers International, U.S. Army Veteran, Indigenous leader and advocate.
Ambassador Laralyn RiverWind, N.D. — Ambassador of the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee, Co-Founder of FireKeepers International, Doctor of Naturopathy, Indigenous advocate, and speaker.
Drawing from centuries of Indigenous resilience, cultural preservation, and spiritual leadership, they share a powerful message about moral courage, responsibility, and the sacred duty of representation in spiritual diplomacy.
In this meaningful conversation, they address:
• What it truly means to represent one’s faith and people with integrity
• Why spiritual diplomacy requires courage, accountability, and truth
• The responsibility of faith and civic leaders to speak for the voiceless
• The importance of defending peaceful religious freedom
• Indigenous perspectives on healing historical trauma and building peace across generations
As leaders rooted in tradition and guided by the principle of considering “seven generations ahead,” they emphasize that healing - both personal and cultural, requires open dialogue, moral clarity, and courageous advocacy.
Their message is clear:
Your voice matters. Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality. When people of faith, civic leaders, and communities stand together for peace, integrity, and freedom of belief, meaningful change becomes possible.
This interview is part of a global initiative uniting faith leaders, policymakers, Indigenous representatives, and civil society to promote peace, human dignity, and spiritual freedom worldwide.
For more information about the conference, visit the official website:
https://interfaithconf.org/
More information on the Spiritual Diplomats initiative:
https://www.spiritualdiplomats.org/
ALLATRA International Public Movement Official Website:
https://allatra.org/