Native Americans, representing 1,000 tribes, gathered in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 2016, for an historic event called All Tribes D.C.: A National Day of Prayer for the First Nations.

Native American tribes came from around the United States and Canada for a public ceremony on the National Mall to forgive the U.S. government for breaking treaties with their ancestors. The day of prayer, held near the Washington Monument, included intercessory petitions, proclamations, and declarations of forgiveness by leaders from All Tribes D.C., a fellowship of Christians representing American Indians from the U.S. and Canada.

Negiel Bigpond, a full-blooded Euchee (Yuchi) Indian, coordinated the first-ever national prayer gathering of Native Americans in the nation’s capital. “We chose to forgive the U.S., whether it asked for it or not,” he says. Bigpond is a fourth-generation pastor who offered forgiveness and spoke blessings over the nation, alongside other tribal prayer warriors. He believes that Native Americans have taken a good first step toward aiding national awakening by extending forgiveness to the nation.

Portions of a proclamation posted on the All Tribes D.C. website were read by tribal leaders gathered on the National Mall. The proclamation reads, in part: “We stand in the gap for those who are unable or unwilling to forgive, and call upon the Master of Life to forgive us for harboring unforgiveness, resentment, hatred, bitterness and rage. We repent of every curse spoken over America by our ancestors and we release the power of forgiveness to bring healing and the peace of Creator God to this land.”

First Nations intercessors will convene again in 2017 during the third week of October.