Some people assume Jason Thunderbird prays to eagles. Others are convinced he worships rocks. They seem disappointed, he said, when they learn he spends Sunday mornings reciting liturgical texts from a church pew.

Native American spiritual practices are the source of countless misconceptions, he said. Mainstream society has long viewed American Indians as disciples of Mother Earth, but "all the stereotypical stuff you saw on John Wayne is not real."

Thunderbird attends All Saints' Episcopal Indian Mission in Minneapolis. It's a tiny church -- services average about 20 attendees - and one of just a handful of ministries in the country that unite the spiritual customs of indigenous communities with the religious traditions of Christianity.

During worship, the Rev. Robert Two Bulls covers the altar with a star quilt. Instead of burning incense, he opts for sweet grass.

Rev. Two Bulls is a fourth generation Episcopalian. He's been a priest for 13 years. Yet he's frequently asked if he truly wants to be a Christian.

His answer is always the same.

"I'm a follower of Jesus Christ," he said. "That's kinda what it boils down to, you know."