Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

October 4, 2003 - Issue 97

Opportunities - Page One

Here you will find listings of:

• Positions Available - including Fellowships and Internships;
• Scholarship, Award and Grant Information; and
• Event Announcements.

We receive these announcements from various sources including Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP) and NativeShare

To view additional listing from previous issues, click here

10/04/03

"Songs, Steps and Stories"
The Festival of Native American Music, Dance and Storytelling

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, opening September 2004, in Washington, DC is looking for Aboriginal artists to participate in the museum's 6 day opening ceremony. To commenorate the historic opening of this new museum, the NMAI will present "Songs, Steps and Stories" - The Festival of Native American Music, Dance and Storytelling. The opening festival is designed to strengthen and celebrate the Native cultures of the North, South and Central America. The six day festival (September 21 - 26, 2004), will feature over 200 singers, dancers and storytellers, representing 30 - 40 American Indian communities from throughout the Western Hemisphere. An audience of 1 million people is expected.

There is no official application form for groups and individuals that are interested in participating in the museum's opening events. The museum is asking those who are interested to send a promotional kit that should include their biography and performance history. Some reviews and written endorsements from places they have performed would be useful. In the case of performing groups, especially dance groups, a performance video is very important. For musicians a compact disc or cassette is important, but video is also a good idea.

Plans for the opening focus primarily on music, dance, and storytelling, but artisans whose work relates to music and dance (drum makers, etc.) are of interest as well. The museum is also interested in radio personalities and comedians who might be interested in acting as host/emcees for the performance stages.

Interested artists can send their promotional kits to:

Howard Bass
Public Programs Producer
National Museum of the American Indian
470 L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 7103
Washington, DC 20560-0934

10/04/03

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER OPENS WINTER SEASON WITH A FALL FESTIVAL

(Anchorage, AK) - The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is opening its winter season with a Fall Festival on October 11, 2003 from 10am to 5pm. The Fall Festival is a traditional time of celebration and sharing through special dance performances, storytelling and language. Admission will be free. This event marks the beginning of the winter season when ANHC is open to the public every Saturday from 10am to 5pm with a different Native theme each week. Celebrating Culture Saturdays are sponsored by BP.

"Winter is a time to devote the Center to celebrating and perpetuating Alaska Native cultures", stated Jon Ross, President and CEO. "It is a time to learn, share and participate in Native dance, language, art, and storytelling. ANHC is committed to opening its doors to the Anchorage community."

The Fall Festival will feature special dance performances by the renowned American Indian Dance Theatre through collaboration with the Anchorage Concert Association. The American Indian Dance Theatre formed in May 1987 when more than 20 Native American dancers, singers and drummers, representing a variety of North American tribes, gathered in Colorado Springs to begin rehearsals as a revolutionary new theatrical dance company. The company has exceeded all expectations by becoming the first company to successfully present traditional Native American dances in a theatrical setting without sacrificing the basic integrity and meaning of the dances. American Indian Dance Theatre embodies living traditions that go back to the first Americans. Artistic Director, Hanay Geiogamah, a member of the Kiowa & Delaware Tribes of Oklahoma, keeps the basic integrity and meaning of traditional Native American dances while successfully presenting them in a theatrical setting. Building on this reputation the company continues to create new works combining traditional vocabulary with modern expression.

There will also be dance performances by the Pathway Homes Dance Group, Fireweed Dancers. The group was formed in May 2003 when a student shared a song with others and inspired others to join in. Currently 10 to 15 dancers are now learning and performing songs from all over Alaska. As part of their growth, they create their own songs as well as making their own regalia, drums and dance fans. Fireweed Dancers range in age from 14 to 17 years and represent all regions of Alaska. Pathway Home is run by Southcentral Foundation and is a residential treatment center for troubled Native youth. The program provides integrated, culturally appropriate treatment and includes family and community-centered aspects of substance abuse and mental health treatment and rehabilitation. This uniquely designed program weaves Alaska Native values and cultural aspects into teaching personal and vocational life skills and educational competencies.

Arts and Crafts sessions will be available throughout the day for all ages. Instructions include how to make: Athabascan Birch Bark Baskets, Yup'ik/Cup'ik Medicine Pouches, Inupiaq/St. Lawrence Island Yupik Hunting Slings, Aleut/Alutiiq Visors and Southeast Headbands. Several videos will be shown such as Stories Given, Stories Shared, Qayaqs and Canoes and The Box of Daylight.

Visitors can experience the five recreated village sites that illustrate the traditional structures in a typical village before or shortly after contact with non-Native cultures. Knowledgeable tour guides will share the history, culture and traditions of each site.

-END-

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an independent, nonprofit that is open year-round as a gathering place to celebrate, perpetuate and share Alaska Native cultures; it is a place for all people. It is located at 8800 Heritage Center Drive in northeast Anchorage, just off Muldoon Road North near Bartlett High School. For more information about other events and programs, visit www.alaskanative.net

Kay E. Ashton
Development Manager and Public Relations
Alaska Native Heritage Center
www.alaskanative.net
Fax: 907 330-8030
Phone: 800 315-6608
907 330-8055

10/04/03

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITY
University of Oklahoma Health Promotions Programs

Health promotion programs at the University of Oklahoma announces call for presentations for Native Wellness and Spirituality Conference.

For more conference information visit the Health Promotions Programs Web Site at http://hpp.ou.edu

10/04/03

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the October 23, 2003 "Confronting Anxiety and Addiction is an Uncertain World." This conference is co-sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation - Tribal Health Services, AdCare Hospital of Worcester and The Addiction Technology and Transfer Center of New England at Brown University. Please contact 1-800-345-3552 X3068 to arrange for a brochure.

Mark Samos
Administrative Planner
MPTN Tribal Health Services
1 Matts Path P.O. Box 3310
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3310
Tel 860-396-2122 Fax 860-396-2125
msamos@mptn.org

10/04/03

RESEARCH FORUM ANNOUNCEMENT
Law Student & Attorney Program at Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to inform you of the upcoming Minority Trainee Research Forum (MTRF) in San Diego, CA, March 10-14, 2004. MTRF is an invitational scientific meeting showcasing serious trainees engaged in biomedical
research. Selection is based on a national competition of abstracts from wet bench research. Twelve winning abstracts in each educational level will be selected for presentation: 12 postdoctoral trainees; 12 Ph.D. trainees;
12 M.D. /Ph.D. trainees; 12 M.D. trainees; 12 college trainees / postbac trainees; and 12 high school trainees. The deadline for abstracts is October 1, 2003, final deadline is December 1, 2003. Each winner will receive a full travel fellowship (air, hotel, food) to MTRF where they will give a 15 minute oral presentation and participate in
the poster session, seminars and awards dinner. Invitations are limited to minority groups underrepresented in the biomedical arena.

Visit us at our website and download the Application and MTRF brochure at https://www.temple.edu/pstp .

Please forward this e-mail to your trainees and other interested parties.

Moses L. Williams
Meeting Planner

Please direct all questions to:

Janelle Hundley
Administrator
Medical Research Building
3420 N. Broad Street, Room 719
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Ofc: 1-800-639-5719 x. 104
Fax: 267-238-2901
website: www.temple.edu/pstp

10/04/03

SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP for MINORITY STUDENTS
Up to $5000 (paid in 2 equal installments)

Who can apply:

Must be a member of a minority group - defined as African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander. Must be entering an ALA-accredited graduate library school or have completed no more than half his or her graduate program at the time the award is made (February) Must be a citizen or have permanent resident status in the United States or Canada

Past recipients are not eligible.

What you need to do:

• Submit a completed MLA Scholarship for Minority Students application by December 1st
• Submit a minimum of two (and no more than three) letters of reference from persons not related to you.
• Provide an official transcript from each college or university you have attended (must be sent directly from the institution).
• Attach a short, typed essay to your application describing your career objectives and how your immediate academic plans will help you attain them.

For more details and the MLA Scholarship for Minority Students application:
http://www.mlanet.org/awards/grants/index.html
(You may be eligible for other MLA awards or scholarships)

For more information about MCMLA, visit the MCMLA website:
http://www.kumc.edu/mcmla/

Carla Guy (Caddo)
Student Programs Coordinator
Association of American Indian Physicians
1225 Sovereign Row, Suite 103
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Tel: 405-946-7072
Fax: 405-946-7651
http://www.aaip.com