Canku Ota - June 16, 2001

Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

June 16, 2001 - Issue 38

"Aquay!"

Mohegan

"Greetings (Exclamation)"

"Msheke'kesis"

Month of the Turtle

potawatomi

"When your brother falls behind you don't leave him there. Wait for him to catch up."
Albert Ward Mic Mac Elder

We Salute
Henry Rodriguez

LA JOLLA INDIAN RESERVATION - While walking the 4-acre plot of family land at the foot of Palomar Mountain, Henry Rodriguez mused over the honorary degree he will receive Sunday from Cal State San Marcos.

The 82-year-old Rodriguez is being recognized for his lifelong work advocating for better education, water rights and the preservation of the American Indian culture.

The information here will include items of interest for and about Native American schools. If you have news to share, please let us know! I can be reached by emailing: Vlockard@aol.com

This issue of "Canku Ota" debuts a new feature. We're adding maps to our articles, so that you can see where the many paths of our People are. Additionally, we've provided these two maps of North America and a coloring book picture for you to print. We hope that this new feature is helpful.

Artist:
Dana Tiger

Dana Tiger follows her father's footsteps, feels his presence near her, lives his legacy.

When she reached the crossroads of despair and survival more than 16 years ago, she said, his spirit reached her, reminded her of her heritage and picked her back up.

Rivers Run Through It
By Doreen Yellow Bird Grand Forks Herald

I am fascinated by rivers. They seem to have their own personalities -- their own spirits. Perhaps my fascination comes from deep inside -- something I inherited from an ancestor -- a grandmother who lived near the Missouri or Platte river.

Young Indian Pupils Gear Up for Success in ASU Program

The elementary school students from the Gila River Indian Community sprawled on the floor of the Arizona State University East campus' Academic Center, working on 100-piece jigsaw puzzles.

Rules dictated that several students remain silent and others use only one hand to assemble parts, helping the youngsters understand the value of teamwork.

Eel Ground Students Take Award for Web Site Design

EEL GROUND, NB - A lot of New Brunswickers could not find Eel Ground First Nation without asking directions.

But, 16 students put this Mi'kmaq community on the Northwest Miramichi River on the map in cyberspace when they placed third in the world in a Web site design contest.

On Ortiz, Threading the Americas

TUCSON, Ariz. - Packing now for Canada where he will teach Native language and Aboriginal studies at the University of Toronto, Simon Ortiz holds in his hand the latest book to include his essays.

The brightly-colored children's book, "Questions & Swords, Folktales of the Zapatista Revolution," as told by Subcomandante Marcos, has just arrived with Ortiz' name alongside Marcos' on the cover.

Graduates Earn Degrees from Reservation Campuses

MUCKLESHOOT RESERVATION, WA -- Wilma Cabanas remembers long ago watching and crying as Auburn High School graduates went by her East Main residence to their commencement ceremony at the school.She never made it to Auburn High School. A mother at 15, she liked school but had other obligations.

Summer Camp Aims to Preserve Language

WHITEHORSE, YUKON - A Yukon First Nation based in Whitehorse is hoping a camp this summer will be the first step in saving its language.

A Southern Tutchone immersion camp is set to begin next month.

Oneidas Revive Tribal Language

ONEIDA, WI — A group of eighth-graders in Gail Danforth’s Oneida cultural and language class at the Oneida Nation Elementary School recently spent the afternoon playing bingo.

But the students put a different spin on the popular game. Each game was played entirely using the Oneida language.

Eagle Shield Director Brings in $100,000 Award

BROWNING - Connie Bremner transformed a tribal senior center into a health care facility that now serves more than 600 elderly and disabled people a year. Thanks to her efforts, the Eagle Shield Senior Citizens Center on the Blackfeet Reservation is now $95,000 richer.

Bremner, 66, of Browning, is one of 10 people nationwide to receive a $100,000 Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program award, from a pool of 577 nominees.

PowerUP Funds Computer Lab

PINE RIDGE — The SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club in Pine Ridge will celebrate the completion of a new computer lab today during an open house and summer membership kickoff.

The club recently finished the computer lab with a $7,000 grant from a foundation that seeks to bridge the digital divide.

The new computer lab was set up with help from PowerUP, an organization comprised of nonprofit groups, corporations and state and federal government agencies.

Mohegans Give $10M to Smithsonian Museum

Mohegan — Hoping to educate people about Eastern Indians, the Mohegan Tribe is giving $10 million toward the $220 million National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

“The museum will depict the Native American story, including Eastern Indians,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman Mark Brown.

Revising History in Plymouth

Indian history is gaining space with Pilgrim myth in the Massachusetts community that calls itself America's "hometown."

Plymouth, a seaside town 50 miles south of Boston, prides itself as the place where English pilgrims arrived aboard the vessel Mayflower in 1620, established a colony, befriended the indigenous natives and had them over for a feast in 1621.

Chiefs Ride Provides a Walk Through History

TIMBER LAKE, S.D. - About 78 riders a day followed a weeklong trail from Cannonball, N.D., to Green Grass. Those who rode through the prairie and buttes on the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux reservations were treated to a living history of the area.

Mining Hills for Tourists

Imagine the majestic patience of the people known as hunter-gatherers. The diligence to track game. The perseverance to assemble enough roots or acorns for dinner. The endurance to wait calmly until the moment is ripe.

Losing the World's Languages

Just as the world is becoming less biologically diverse, it is also becoming less linguistically diverse. By the end of this century, linguists believe that at least half of the 6,800 languages spoken today will be extinct.

Some experts forecast the loss could be as high as 90 percent, according to the Worldwatch Institute in Washington.

CSUSM Professor, Tribes Partner for Better Libraries

SAN MARCOS, CA-- Libraries have long been said to be the repositories of civilization, but for many California Indian tribes, libraries are a luxury they can't afford, putting important documents on American Indian history and culture at risk of being lost.

Cheyenne River Tribal Member Soars in Academy Boxing Arena

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A 20-year-old Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member is making his mark as a contender in the ring as a part of the U.S. Air Force Academy team. Clell Knight, who spent his summers on the South Dakota reservation, has a rare chance of joining an elite list of cadets who have distinguished themselves as top-level boxers within the annals of academy history.

CALL TO ACTION

The Indigenous Environmental Network, the International Indian Treaty Council and Greenaction issue this call to action to stop George W. Bush's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Oil drilling in this beautiful area would violate the human rights of the Gwich'in Native Peoples, would pollute the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Refuge, and would threaten the survival of the porcupine caribou and the Gwich'in.

We ask organizations from all walks of life to sign the Statement of Support for the Gwich'in in their fight against the proposed oil drilling.

We will deliver this statement to the Gwich'in on June 22, 2001 in Arctic Village, Alaska. We will also send it to President George W. Bush and Congress to demand they drop this oil drilling plan now.

GRAMMY at the Gathering

Recently, the Western Region, of the GRAMMY's, continued its outreach to the Native American community at the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque.

The Gathering of Nations Powwow, North America's biggest powwow, took place on April 26-28 at the University Arena ("the Pit") on the University of New Mexico campus. More than 3,000 Native Indian dancers and singers representing more than 500 tribes from Canada and the United States attended.

Young People of the Gwich'in Nation Call a Gathering in Arctic Village, Alaska

The Gwich'in Indians of northeast Alaska and northwest Canada met for the first time in hundreds of years back in June of 1988. The Chiefs, the Elders, and tribal members met with one goal in mind. They united in solidarity and in one voice to protect the Porcupine River Caribou Herd calving area in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development and exploration.

Indian Leaders Worry About Losing Languages

For all of his 29 years, Cody Ware has been speaking his tribe’s language. But he worries when he hears more English than Apsaalooke spoken in classrooms filled with young members of the Crow tribe.

Tribal leaders throughout Montana identify with Ware’s concern.

Ten years ago, more that 85 percent of school-age Crow spoke their tribal language. By 1995, that number had dropped to fewer than 25 percent, according to research from Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency.

Collaring Moose
On the tail of urban wanderers, biologist gathers behavior hints

Moose No. 6 wasn't cooperating.

A loud steady click from a radio receiver, like a metronome, showed the radio-collared cow moose was close, probably just down the road from the Campbell Creek Science Center. But each time Fish and Game biologist Rick Sinnott ducked into the woods to look, the moose slipped away through birch and spruce.

About This Issue's Greeting - "Aquay"

The Mohegan Tribe's language is an Algonquian dialect, which is currently undergoing restoration and revival.

This Date In History

Recipe: Sugarfree Sweets

Story: The Young Man and the Box Turtle

What is this: Eastern Box Turtle

Project: The Beading Series - Part 8

This Issue's Web sites

Opportunities

"OPPORTUNITIES" is from sources distributed nationally and includes scholarships, grants, internships, fellowships, and career opportunities as well as announcements for conferences, workshops and symposia.

Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107.

Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 of Paul C. Barry.

All Rights Reserved.

	Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	June 16, 2001 - Issue 38

Young Indian Pupils Gear Up for Success in ASU Program The elementary school students from the Gila River Indian Community sprawled on the floor of the Arizona State University East campus' Academic Center, working on 100-piece jigsaw puzzles. Rules dictated that several students remain silent and others use only one hand to assemble parts, helping the youngsters understand the value of teamwork.		Eel Ground Students Take Award for Web Site Design EEL GROUND, NB - A lot of New Brunswickers could not find Eel Ground First Nation without asking directions. But, 16 students put this Mi'kmaq community on the Northwest Miramichi River on the map in cyberspace when they placed third in the world in a Web site design contest.


On Ortiz, Threading the Americas TUCSON, Ariz. - Packing now for Canada where he will teach Native language and Aboriginal studies at the University of Toronto, Simon Ortiz holds in his hand the latest book to include his essays. The brightly-colored children's book, "Questions & Swords, Folktales of the Zapatista Revolution," as told by Subcomandante Marcos, has just arrived with Ortiz' name alongside Marcos' on the cover.		Graduates Earn Degrees from Reservation Campuses MUCKLESHOOT RESERVATION, WA -- Wilma Cabanas remembers long ago watching and crying as Auburn High School graduates went by her East Main residence to their commencement ceremony at the school.She never made it to Auburn High School. A mother at 15, she liked school but had other obligations.


Summer Camp Aims to Preserve Language WHITEHORSE, YUKON - A Yukon First Nation based in Whitehorse is hoping a camp this summer will be the first step in saving its language. A Southern Tutchone immersion camp is set to begin next month.		Oneidas Revive Tribal Language ONEIDA, WI — A group of eighth-graders in Gail Danforth’s Oneida cultural and language class at the Oneida Nation Elementary School recently spent the afternoon playing bingo. But the students put a different spin on the popular game. Each game was played entirely using the Oneida language.


Eagle Shield Director Brings in $100,000 Award BROWNING - Connie Bremner transformed a tribal senior center into a health care facility that now serves more than 600 elderly and disabled people a year. Thanks to her efforts, the Eagle Shield Senior Citizens Center on the Blackfeet Reservation is now $95,000 richer. Bremner, 66, of Browning, is one of 10 people nationwide to receive a $100,000 Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program award, from a pool of 577 nominees.		PowerUP Funds Computer Lab PINE RIDGE — The SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club in Pine Ridge will celebrate the completion of a new computer lab today during an open house and summer membership kickoff. The club recently finished the computer lab with a $7,000 grant from a foundation that seeks to bridge the digital divide. The new computer lab was set up with help from PowerUP, an organization comprised of nonprofit groups, corporations and state and federal government agencies.


Mohegans Give $10M to Smithsonian Museum Mohegan — Hoping to educate people about Eastern Indians, the Mohegan Tribe is giving $10 million toward the $220 million National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. “The museum will depict the Native American story, including Eastern Indians,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman Mark Brown.		Revising History in Plymouth Indian history is gaining space with Pilgrim myth in the Massachusetts community that calls itself America's "hometown." Plymouth, a seaside town 50 miles south of Boston, prides itself as the place where English pilgrims arrived aboard the vessel Mayflower in 1620, established a colony, befriended the indigenous natives and had them over for a feast in 1621.


Chiefs Ride Provides a Walk Through History TIMBER LAKE, S.D. - About 78 riders a day followed a weeklong trail from Cannonball, N.D., to Green Grass. Those who rode through the prairie and buttes on the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux reservations were treated to a living history of the area.		Mining Hills for Tourists Imagine the majestic patience of the people known as hunter-gatherers. The diligence to track game. The perseverance to assemble enough roots or acorns for dinner. The endurance to wait calmly until the moment is ripe.


Losing the World's Languages Just as the world is becoming less biologically diverse, it is also becoming less linguistically diverse. By the end of this century, linguists believe that at least half of the 6,800 languages spoken today will be extinct. Some experts forecast the loss could be as high as 90 percent, according to the Worldwatch Institute in Washington.		CSUSM Professor, Tribes Partner for Better Libraries SAN MARCOS, CA-- Libraries have long been said to be the repositories of civilization, but for many California Indian tribes, libraries are a luxury they can't afford, putting important documents on American Indian history and culture at risk of being lost.


Cheyenne River Tribal Member Soars in Academy Boxing Arena COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A 20-year-old Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member is making his mark as a contender in the ring as a part of the U.S. Air Force Academy team. Clell Knight, who spent his summers on the South Dakota reservation, has a rare chance of joining an elite list of cadets who have distinguished themselves as top-level boxers within the annals of academy history.		CALL TO ACTION The Indigenous Environmental Network, the International Indian Treaty Council and Greenaction issue this call to action to stop George W. Bush's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Oil drilling in this beautiful area would violate the human rights of the Gwich'in Native Peoples, would pollute the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Refuge, and would threaten the survival of the porcupine caribou and the Gwich'in. We ask organizations from all walks of life to sign the Statement of Support for the Gwich'in in their fight against the proposed oil drilling. We will deliver this statement to the Gwich'in on June 22, 2001 in Arctic Village, Alaska. We will also send it to President George W. Bush and Congress to demand they drop this oil drilling plan now.


GRAMMY at the Gathering Recently, the Western Region, of the GRAMMY's, continued its outreach to the Native American community at the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque. The Gathering of Nations Powwow, North America's biggest powwow, took place on April 26-28 at the University Arena ("the Pit") on the University of New Mexico campus. More than 3,000 Native Indian dancers and singers representing more than 500 tribes from Canada and the United States attended.		Young People of the Gwich'in Nation Call a Gathering in Arctic Village, Alaska The Gwich'in Indians of northeast Alaska and northwest Canada met for the first time in hundreds of years back in June of 1988. The Chiefs, the Elders, and tribal members met with one goal in mind. They united in solidarity and in one voice to protect the Porcupine River Caribou Herd calving area in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development and exploration.


Indian Leaders Worry About Losing Languages For all of his 29 years, Cody Ware has been speaking his tribe’s language. But he worries when he hears more English than Apsaalooke spoken in classrooms filled with young members of the Crow tribe. Tribal leaders throughout Montana identify with Ware’s concern. Ten years ago, more that 85 percent of school-age Crow spoke their tribal language. By 1995, that number had dropped to fewer than 25 percent, according to research from Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency.		Collaring Moose On the tail of urban wanderers, biologist gathers behavior hints Moose No. 6 wasn't cooperating. A loud steady click from a radio receiver, like a metronome, showed the radio-collared cow moose was close, probably just down the road from the Campbell Creek Science Center. But each time Fish and Game biologist Rick Sinnott ducked into the woods to look, the moose slipped away through birch and spruce.

This Date In History		Recipe: Sugarfree Sweets

Story: The Young Man and the Box Turtle		What is this: Eastern Box Turtle

Project: The Beading Series - Part 8		This Issue's Web sites


Opportunities
"OPPORTUNITIES" is from sources distributed nationally and includes scholarships, grants, internships, fellowships, and career opportunities as well as announcements for conferences, workshops and symposia.






	Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107.

	Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

	The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the
	Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 of Paul C. Barry.
	All Rights Reserved.