Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

November 16, 2002 - Issue 74

"Ka-Hay. Sho'o Daa' Chi"

The Crow Greeting

Means “Hello”

POTAWATOMI

"In our story of Creation, we talk about each one of us having our own path to travel, and our own gift to give and to share. You see, what we say is that the Creator gave us all special gifts; each one of us is special. And each one of us is a special gift to each other because we've got something to share."

John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG

We Salute
Phil Konstantin

Phil Konstantin, the officer known throughout San Diego County for his California Highway Patrol traffic reports, has a new book out titled, "This Day in North American Indian History," now being sold by DaCapo Press in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

The book reflects Konstantin's pride in his Cherokee Indian heritage, and writing it was a scholarly endeavor for a man known for having a serious funny bone.

"I was always kind of cheering for the Indians at the movies," Konstantin said, smiling during an interview at his Clairemont home.

Artist:
Daphne Odjig

Celebrated artist Daphne Odjig was born in 1919 on the Wikwemikong Reserve, Manitoulin Island. Her heritage is a combination of Odawa, Potawatomi and English roots, the Native aspects of which were revealed to Odjig as a child on sketching excursions with her grandfather. From him, a stone-carver, she learned not only the legends of her ancestors, but also the use of curvilinear design for which she has become so well known.

Brain Food
by Lazorletter

The fall colors have come and almost gone, and Mother Earth is preparing for its winter sleep. The air is filled with a chill and on the few remaining sunny days I rejoice in its warmth. Snow has fallen but was quickly chased away, while Mother Earth hangs on to just a few more days of warmth. I love the sound of the leaves as they crunch when you step on them, and I must admit that I am looking forward to spending days looking out the window over morning coffee and marveling in the beauty of the winter.

Thunderhawk - Cowrate - Ancient Art of the Bovine's - Conclusion
by Geoff Hampton

Writer Geoff Hampton shares this story that should delight both young and old.

National American Indian Heritage Month, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Reservations Battle More Gang Activity
by Dorreen Yellow Bird

No matter how I try to spin the notion that gangs on reservations are nearly harmless, I am wrong. Gang problems are affecting the lives of not only the young people and families in urban Indian communities, but on reservations too.

A recent article, “Gang activity thrives on reservations,” seemed unbelievable to me.

Brother Eagle
by Richard Slater

Here is a true story. It happened several years ago while I was working in Idaho.

I was driving to Boise, ID to finish a consultation job with a group of sugar refineries, located in southern Idaho. I had left home early that morning and was in the hills south of Nampa, ID when I first saw it. Sitting along the highway, an adult Golden eagle, dark brown feathers down its sides and wings, shiny gold colored feathers along its face.

Caring Award Will Go to Navajo 'Santa'

After helplessly watching a child die 23 years ago, Kenneth Maryboy made a promise to himself — and to the children of his tribe.

"I never want to see an unhappy child on Christmas," he vowed, even though many of his fellow Navajos knew little about how the holiday was celebrated outside the reservation. Maryboy, then an 18-year-old construction worker living in rural southeastern Utah, had hitched a ride with an elderly woman to the town of Bluff. As they drove in, a child ran in front of the car, the woman was unable to steer clear and the child died soon after being struck.

Maryboy, now 41, has since become a Navajo medicine man — and he is also a Navajo Santa Claus, who brings gifts to hundreds of children in remote corners of the reservation's 1.1 million-acre Utah strip. He has spent 14 Christmas Eves decked out in red suit, white beard and shiny black boots.

My Small Role as A Nez Perce Indian
by Roscoe Pond

It has been one hundred and twenty five years since the Nez Perce War of 1877. Since then, the Plight of the Nez Perce and Young Chief Joseph has been written about in countless books, novels and news articles.

Documentaries have been made and a popular 1970's ABC movie was produced called, "I will fight no more forever". Chief Joseph has been revered by historians and overly idolized by non-Indians alike with their Internet websites. Like Sitting Bull, Geronimo and Crazy Horse, Young Chief Joseph has become imbedded into the conscious of all those who have followed him or didn't. But, to his own descendents he was an ordinary man who only wanted the survival of his people.

USM, Choctaws Agree to Boost Indian Enrollment

Hattiesburg, MS - The leaders of the University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians exchanged gifts Wednesday to mark the beginning of an effort to bring more Choctaw students to USM.

"The Choctaws in Mississippi are making a lot of progress in a short time," Chief Phillip Martin said. "We are interested in working with anybody who will work with us for social and economic improvement opportunities."

'In-Your-Face College' Spurs Native Students

Juneau, AK - Tlingit ancestors paddling cedar canoes off the shores of Auke Village did not greet each other with the phrase "What's up, dawg?"

But at least 30 Tlingit teenagers in Juneau can rattle off that and two dozen traditional phrases in Tlingit, thanks to a language and culture class they attend weekly as part of the Early Scholars program.

The program for Alaska Native students has been at Juneau-Douglas High School for eight years. It was started by school counselor Frank Coenraad.