Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

October 18, 2003 - Issue 98

"Tatsgwiik"

The Haida Greeting

 Welcome here is the place of honor for you

"Trick or Treat" by Carl Brenders

"Amilkahtin"

Harvest Moon

Passamaquoddy

"Somewhere a good man must rise from the young ones among us."
Crazy Horse's Father to a young Crazy Horse

We Salute
Amy Mossett

Sacagawea, the American Indian interpreter for Lewis and Clark's expedition, has more statues in her honor than any other woman in American history.

Yet one of the most famous women in American history is also one of the most mysterious; even the date of her death is disputed, with opinions differing by as much as 70 years.

Amy Mossett, a member of the Hidatsa and Mandan tribes of North Dakota, believes Sacagawea's story has endured in part because of the mystery surrounding her. For the past 15 years, Mossett has studied her life and her contribution to the Lewis and Clark expedition.

For the last 3 1/2 years, Paul and I have shared "Canku Ota" with you, at no charge.
To date, we've received no funding for our work, either.
But, we now have a dilemma, and we need your help.

Our Featured Artist:

Health and Wellness

Marty Two Bulls

Marty Two Bulls is a very well spoken Lakota man who is becoming well known and very respected for expressing himself, not with his words, but with his hands. He is the cartoonist who creates the popular weekly editorial cartoons in the Indian Country Today newspaper.

He lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he earns his living as Graphics Editor for the Argus Leader newspaper, but he has been drawing the one panel political cartoon in Indian Contry for the past two years. In those years as a cartoonist, he has covered most of the happenings in Indian country from a Native American perspective and gained a large following of fans, especially among Native Americans.

Early Detection: The Key to Overcoming Fear of Cancer

Of the many challenges that we as Indian women face, there is none more fearsome than a diagnosis of cancer. Each one of us, at some time or another, has known of, or had a direct experience with, experienced or known someone who has experienced a loved one going down that painful path, and never returning. I feel that I can speak to you from the heart on this subject, as I recently took part in my own father's final story involving cancer. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, but far too late in the course of his disease for anything to be done for him short of controlling his pain and making him comfortable. In my heart, I know he would still be here if it his cancer had been found earlier and treated.

Thunderhawk - Our Featured Story:

Northwestern Wisconsin First Person History:

Thunderhawk
The Curse of the Robin Redbeast - Part 4
by Geoff Hampton

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

Myths and Legends of Wisconsin's Waterfalls - Part One
submitted by Timm Severud (Ondamitag)

It was the belief of the old Indians of Wisconsin that the waterfalls, which occur in some of its streams, were the creations of powerful spirits. Some falls were the dwelling places of spirits, the water forming a curtain to hide their secret medicine making and incantations from the eyes of man. Nenibozho, hero-god of the Chippewas of the old northwest, constructed the waterfalls in northern Wisconsin to prevent the beavers, upon whom he was waging war, from obstructing the flow of some of the rivers.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

'The Drums are My Medicine'

Above the drums and the announcer's voice, one sound was a near constant at the Native American Day powwow Monday - the bells of Emmett Eastman.

Eastman, 71, took few breaks as dancing proceeded throughout the afternoon at the Multi-Cultural Center in downtown Sioux Falls.

"I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees," said the Wahpeton, N.D., man, explaining why he keeps on dancing. "The drums are my medicine."

Indian Dancers Mix Ancient with Modern

In the 1970s, theater producer Barbara Schwei started looking for a new project.

"I was thinking, 'What do I like to do? What would inspire me?' " she said in a phone interview from New York.

A longtime fan of Native American art, Schwei wondered if a show featuring American Indian dance might be the ticket. "And there started the adventure," she said.

Education News

Education News

Zuni Among 1st to Benefit from UNM-G 'Distance Learning'

Thanks to another half-million dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of New Mexico-Gallup is another few steps closer to offering its own distance learning classes.

The school currently offers a handful of upper division courses from its Albuquerque campus by way of three distance learning classes. With last week's $479,000, UNM-Gallup has received approximately $1.5 million in federal grants over the last two years to implement a distance learning infrastructure of its own.

Blending Native Language, Education & Culture

With linguistic statistical studies proving Native American languages are in danger of becoming extinct and used less on a daily conversation basis, many tribes are starting to take drastic steps to ensure that their culture and language does not die.

Tuba City Unified School District No. 15 sees tribal language loss as a serious issue for its 3,000-plus students and, on Sept. 24, devoted its annual Cultural Symposium to the idea of integrating tribal language in every aspect of curriculum activity. More than 26 presenters gave individual session workshops at the Tuba City High School as an annual in-service for its more than 500 staff members.

Student News

Student News

Wakina Sky Students Learn Indian Traditions

Students at the Wakina Sky Learning Center are learning about the various aspects of the sacred hoop, which has been a part of American Indian life and history for centuries.

The students over the next nine months will collectively build a representation of a sacred hoop and focus on monthly themes: Balance, Responsibility, Compassion, Humility, Kindness and Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty and Giving and Respect.

But that’s not all; while tribal governing philosophies over the past two centuries have primarily focused on dealing with what’s been dealt to them, Wakina Sky students will be learning how to holistically plan for their own futures.

Navajo Prep Students Volunteer to Read, Promote Books

Students from Jeff Syke's Native American Literature class at Navajo Preparatory High School entertained young children during the Children's and Elder's Day Sept. 9 as a part of the Northern Navajo Fair.

Six seniors from the school volunteered to read to children. They are Nicole Benally, Marian Goodluck, Alana Jordan, Eleroy Singer, Rae Dean Yazzie, and Charmayne Nelson.

"We're trying to promote reading," said Nelson. "The Native American Literature class has been doing it for the past three years."

Sports

Sports

Poster Takes Jordin Tootoo Inspiration Beyond Hockey

Premier Paul Okalik today officially unveiled a Jordin Tootoo poster that is designed to encourage Nunavut students to set goals in their lives and strive for them.

"This poster captures the inspiration that Jordin creates on ice and moves it beyond the hockey rink to all parts of Nunavut so that we can all benefit from his example," Okalik said as he unveiled the poster before assembled students at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit.

Seneca Nation Hosts Premiere Indian Boxers

Less than a year old, the Seneca Nation Boxing Club (SNBC) is already making its presence felt in Western New York. For 10 days in early October, the club will host the Native American Boxing Team as it trains for the 24th annual Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland.

"This is the first time that [the Native American] team has been invited to Finland - they usually invite the American Olympic Team," said SNBC founder Mike Tome, adding that while in Finland, the Native team will battle boxers from 15 countries between Oct. 16 - 19.

Entertainment News

Moccasin Flats-The Series

MOCCASIN FLATS is a six part dramatic television series exploring the harsh realities of life in Regina's North Central neighborhood known as Moccasin Flats. Directed by AWARD WINNING CANADIAN DIRECTOR Stacey Stewart Curtis, Moccasin Flats is Canada's first dramatic television series to be created, written, produced and performed by an Aboriginal production team. Broadcasters include APTN (The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), Showcase Television and SCN (Saskatchewan Communications Network). Premiering on November 10th at 10:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM PT, on APTN.

Totem

After a successful premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and an equally exhilarating run at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Ottawa audiences will have a chance to see Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox Pole in a special screening at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier Street on Wednesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. Director Gil Cardinal and a contingent from the Haisla/Xanaksiyala people of Northwestern British Columbia will be in attendance.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

Celebrating Indian Summer

Lately we have heard the phrase "Indian summer" used frequently to describe our stretch of good weather. Most of us are taking advantage of the warm weather rather than contemplating the etymology of the term "Indian summer." However, a study of the phrase is an eye-opening look into our nation's history. After years of asking elders and prominent Indian historians, I stumbled across an article written by a leading American Indian author from an Eastern tribe who explained the origins of "Indian summer."

New Center Helps Keep Shoshone Traditions Alive

The Eastern Shoshone tribe dedicated a cultural center in honor of a longtime contributor to the tribal community.

The Rupert Weeks Traditional Center is part of a new wing at the Fort Washakie School which includes an Internet-accessible computer lab, classrooms and a new school and community library.

Living Traditions

A Short Story

State Dig Site Helps Change Habitation Timeline Theory

There, 17 years ago, Gene Burnham was digging a pond 10 miles from the Cimarron River when he unearthed a skull.

The Burnhams called Don Wyckoff with the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey.

Wyckoff made the three-hour trip to northwestern Oklahoma and found a bison skull that was 20,000 to 75,000 years old. It was only the third such bison found in the Southern Plains. Wyckoff was pretty excited.

A Conversation With Brian

Hi Grandpa. I love you.

Hi Brian. I know and I love you too.

Grandpa, are you very old ?

Well, yes I guess you could say I am pretty old.

Grandpa, are you going to die sometime?
Yes Brian, sometime. Why do you ask that?

Well, a boy at school said that his Grandpa died and I wanted to ask you when you would die?

We all will die sometime, Brian.

Entertainment News

Living Traditions

Tribal Radio Station Plays On

Travelers in the Hi-Line region of north-central Montana are often surprised when KGVA-FM pops up on their radio dial.

That’s because most listeners aren’t accustomed to hearing a steady mix of tribal news, Native commentary and pow wow drumming and singing transmitted year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The station, an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Indian Radio on Satellite and a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as the Native American Public Radio Consortium, is inconspicuously based in a little wooden building here behind White Clay Hall at Fort Belknap College.

Ancient Cherokee Games Are Still Played Today

On Saturday, Oct. 11, sports enthusiasts were be given the opportunity to show off their athletic abilities during the Cherokee Heritage Center’s Cherokee Games. The ancient games of marbles, cornstalk shooting, stickball, blowguns and chunkey are traditional games of skill that have been passed down for generations.

Stickball is a game that resembles the modern game of lacrosse but with a few fundamental differences. In the center of a large field is a tall pole with a wooden fish attached to the top. The object of the game is to hit the fish with a small ball made of deer hair and hide. Although women are allowed to use their hands to obtain and throw the ball, men must use sticks shaped like miniature tennis rackets.

About This Issue's Greeting - "Tatsgwiik"

There are numerous people, mostly elders that still actively speak the language and in both Massett and Skidegate.

There are three dialects of the Haida language: Massett, Skidegate and Kaigani (Alaskan).

138 speakers in USA (1990 census); 225 in Canada (1991 M. Dale Kinkade); 363 total, out of 2,000 population total (1977 SIL). Most or all speakers are over 50. There is interest in reviving the language. Bilingual in English.

Haida is considered a linguistic isolate with no proven genetic relationship to any language family.

This Date In History

Recipe: Ghastly Treats

Story: A Cherokee Creation Story

What is this: Crawfish

Craft Project: Halloween Pony Bead Creatures

Opportunities

"OPPORTUNITIES" is gathered 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 copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

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