For over 25 years the Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) has helped to support the St. Kateri Center of Chicago, the city’s only Native American Christian church
 (www.facebook.com/stkatericenterofchicago), through a ministry of presence. CONAM helps with the Kateri Center’s many cultural events, facilitates the presence speakers such as Dr. Casey Church (Potawatomi), and participates in their Leadership circle. 

Bill Buchholtz

CONAM also supports the ministry of Chicagoland’s well-known Native flute players, Bill Buchholtz. Bill has participated since the 1990s through organizations such as the American Indian Center of Chicago, Midwest SOARRING, and the Anawim Center. Music has always been at the center of Bill’s life, especially when he was gifted a Native American flute by a Lakota elder. He had been taught by Elders to accept a gift with gratitude. He told her he didn’t know how to play it, to which she replied, “Yes, you do.” By listening to the Creator speak to his heart he learned it well.

Bill has become well known through performances at numerous churches and interfaith groups, schools and universities, museums, and cultural events, including powwows. His cultural presentations feature his flute music and talks that touch upon the history and the cultural and spiritual significance of the instrument. He regularly plays both flute and piano at the bi-monthly services at the St. Kateri Center as part of the UMC ministry of presence. 

The NIC supports CONAM and Bill’s ministry through donations received during Native American Sunday (April 15, 2018 and May 5, 2019) and/or through the Rainbow Covenant. As Rev. Michelle Oberwise Lacock, Co-Chair of CONAM says, “It’s never too late to hold a Native American Sunday service.” 

If your church would like to host Bill Buchholtz or is seeking help with a Native American Sunday service, contact Michelle at: mickiol@aol.com, 630.336.2317.