Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

November 29, 2003 - Issue 101

"Tatsgwiik"

The Haida Greeting

 Welcome here is the place of honor for you

Winter's Blue Jay by Robert Bateman

"Kelotonuhket "

Freezing 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
Robert Odawi Porter

Don't tell Robert Odawi Porter that he can't go home again.

This fall, Porter returned to Syracuse University, his alma mater, where he was hired to develop the College of Law's new Center for Indigenous Law, Governance & Citizenship.

The opening of the center dovetails with the bubbling up of festering Native American issues over land claims, Indian sovereignty and gambling across the Central New York landscape.

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

Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie

Early encounters between photography and Native Americans have a history laced with racism, colonialism, broken treaties, captivity, and romanticism. Before the medium found its artistic outlets it purveyed so-called factual evidence by functioning as a mode of one-sided documentation serving governmental and scientific purposes. Many stereotypes generated by early images of Native American life and culture continue to be insidiously pervasive.

Contemporary Native American/First Nations photography, however, is a genre unto its own. Overcoming and confronting negative historical stereotypes, many artists choose the medium as their preferred conduit for political expression. While the techniques of photography are based in western history, its appropriation by Indigenous artists has generated a sovereign space; a territory created, propagated, and continually mediated by Native artists, authors, and curators.

Beating Diabetes

But for Patrick Esquibel II, 10, who goes to Indian Hills Elementary School, daily life requires this special pen, in which he can measure the amount of cubic centimeters of insulin he needs to offset his school lunch and then use the pen to give himself the injection. Esquibel was diagnosed at age 2 with Type I, or insulin-dependent, diabetes.

"It doesn't matter if it is in the middle of Burger King," said his mom, Holly Esquibel.

Thunderhawk - Our Featured Story:

Northwestern Wisconsin First Person History:

Thunderhawk
The Curse of the Robin Redbeast - Part 6
by Geoff Hampton

Thunderhawk is back with the latest installment of Robin Redbeast.

Nay-na-ong-gay-bee Speech and other info
submitted by Timm Severud (Ondamitag)

Last of the great Chippewa Indian head chiefs in the Rice Lake country was Chief Nay-na-ong-gay-bee, who had is headquarters on the point on Rice Lake where the canning factory today stands and also had a tribal headquarters on Long Lake.

By some tragic twist of fate Chief Nay-na-ong-gay-bee and all three of his sons met death by knife or bullets. The old chief was the last of the Chippewa leaders to be killed and scalped by their ancient enemies, the Sioux, the battle taking place close to the banks of the Hay River, near Prairie Farm, and it is said that the chief and others killed in that battle were buried near the high hill at Prairie Farm.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

Harvard’s Kennedy School Honors American Indian Tribal Governments

Last night, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government awarded eight American Indian tribal government programs $10,000 each in recognition of their outstanding achievements. The ceremony, which took place at the DoubleTree Hotel, was attended by hundreds of American Indians from across the country who had gathered for the 60th Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

Those Who Live Off the Land Offer Important Lessons

As I write this column, I know that oil drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not in the federal energy bill, which Congress is considering. For that, I am thankful. I also am grateful to the Vuntut Gwich'in people who met with me about their stand against the oil companies and gave me a better understanding of the people, caribou and their land.

Last week, the Alaska Coalition's Jay Heeter, freelance photographer Jess Berrie and Moses Lord, Gwich'in from the Old Crow village in the Yukon Territory, visited with me.

Entertainment News

Entertainment News

"The Big Empty" Is Big Fun in a Small Package
Film Review by Deanna Brady

One thing can be said for certain about The Big Empty, an offbeat independent feature that premiered at the AFI FEST 2003 in Hollywood this month: It's good fun. Among the most popular films at the festival, it achieved a sold-out house for the event (in one of the ArcLight complex's largest theaters), which included a Q & A session with first-time feature filmmaker Steve Anderson. In addition to directing several plays in New York, director-writer Anderson has been a cameraman for CNN and other news agencies and has shot seven documentaries for PBS. He wrote this script after covering the infamous "Heaven's Gate" case in San Diego.

Congratulations to all of the NAMMY Winners!

Education News

Education News

Osage Redbirds Capture Title In Cherokee Challenge Bowl

Teams from area schools gather together every year to test their knowledge on Cherokee government and history in the Cherokee Challenge Bowl held at the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex in Tahlequah.

"This is our big push for Native American Education Month," said Shelly Butler-Allen, associate education director for the Cherokee Nation. "We invite area schools to compete in writing competitions, art competitions, language bowl, and the challenge bowl."

Greyhills Academy Diné Studies Staff Promotes Indigenous Perspectives

The staff of Diné Studies at Greyhills Academy High School shows their commitment and dedication to the students by staying beyond school hours, including evenings. They provide tutoring services and cultural-related activities, which contribute to the students' personal motivation, development and acquisition of knowledge. The role of the Diné studies staff is unique at Greyhills Academy. They provide assistance in classroom instruction as tutors and/or cultural enrichment presenters, and assist teachers with students who need their personal attention with academics.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

Native Youngsters Not Fiddling Around

Timothy Williams might only be in middle school, but he is already a veteran performer at the Athabascan Fiddle Festival.

Williams played at the festival for the fourth time Friday, joining 28 other local Alaska Native students who are learning the ropes of playing the violin as members of Fairbanks Junior Fiddlers.

The group's performance was the first of two by a youth group during a day when aspiring fiddlers stole the show.

Carving a place for tradition

The Burke Museum was alive with the sights and sounds of American heritage over the weekend as the museum hosted the Native American Arts Celebration. The event featured the traditions of tribes from the Puget Sound region as well as Ecuador.

Usually this annual event is built exclusively around the cultures of Northwest American Indians, but in accordance with the museum's new exhibit, Reverent Remembrance, directors decided to also host the Ecuadorian culture this year, since the exhibit focuses on the ways that tribes of both North and South America honor the dead.

Education News

Education News

School Sees Shirts as Business Opportunity

The first T-shirts haven’t even been designed or printed but already teachers and administration are excited about the potential of the silk screening business at Winnebago High School.

Tired of continuously buying T-shirts for athletics and extra-curricular activities, the school decided to make its own clothing instead. A $15,000 grant offered by the Education Service Unit #1 of Nebraska was used to purchase a screening machine and dryer and this equipment, in addition to saving the school money, will permit the students to learn skills associated with operating a retail operation once production begins.

Northrop Grumman Awards $75,000 in Scholarships to American Indian Students Attending Tribal Colleges

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has awarded $75,000 in scholarships to American Indian students attending tribal colleges or universities as part of the company's ongoing initiative to support American Indian business development and entrepreneurship.

The scholarships were presented by company officials at the 28th annual American Indian Progress in Business awards banquet (INPRO 2003), which Northrop Grumman sponsored last month in Los Angeles.

Entertainment News

Lucie Idlout Turns Rock Into Milestones

It's hard not to recognize Lucie Idlout or her music.

But this doesn't bother the rising Inuk rock singer, who's been nominated for two prestigious Canadian aboriginal music awards: Best Female Artist and Best Rock Album. She also shares a nomination for Best Single Song, with the True Rez Crew.

Winners will be announced Nov. 28, at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. She's the only Inuk to be nominated this year.

Pamyua's Live Album Wins Record of Year at Native Music AwardsNative Cure

The Anchorage-based quartet Pamyua took top honors Saturday night at the Native American Music Awards in Albuquerque, N.M., when a live album they recorded at the 4th Avenue Theatre in 2002, called "Caught in the Act," was named record of the year.

The win took the musicians by surprise. In fact, they were so sure they'd been passed over for the honor that brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett weren't even in their auditorium seats. They were in the lobby, negotiating a future gig, when they got word.

Preserving Languages

Living Traditions

Salish Revival

Joshua Brown has studied such arcane subjects as social linguistics and bilingual education but still isn't fluent in Salish, the native tongue of his Indian tribe.

Neither are most Salish Indians on the Flathead Reservation.

Salish as a living language is dying fast, Brown said. Only 70 to 80 people are fluent out of some 6,000 enrolled members in the entire tribal confederacy - Pend d'Oreille, Salish and Kootenai. (Salish is by far the largest of the three tribal groups that comprise the Flathead Nation.)

Return to Traditions by Teaching Our History

A Lumbee college professor called on Native educators at the National Indian Education Association convention here to return to tribal tradition in educating Native children and youth.

David Wilkins, professor at the University of Minnesota (and Indian Country Today guest columnist), explained during a keynote address that Native educators need to get away from coerced education and implement a more liberal but traditional instruction for Indian children.

Living Traditions

Sports News

Tribe Continues Tradition with Donation of Turkeys

It was just a couple of months ago the Morongo Band of Mission Indians donated more than $50,000 in much-needed playground equipment to his school. While Friday's delivery was quite different, Curtis and the family members standing in small groups nearby were just as appreciative.

In the largest giveaway of its kind since starting the tradition in the 1980s, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians delivered more than 3,000 turkeys to 37 charities and other organizations throughout Riverside County this week. The donations are expected to provide holiday meals for nearly 15,000 people.

Shiprock Native named Nevada PE Teacher of the Year

Jeff King, Navajo, was recently selected as Nevada Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

King's hometown is Shiprock. He is Kiyaa aani (Towering House), born for Red Goat. His chai is Ta chee nii. His nali is Tangled Vines.

His mother is Ms. Florence King and his father is Jimmie King Jr. His paternal grandfather is the late Jimmie King Sr., who was one of the Navajo Code Talkers. His maternal grandfather is the late David Brewster, who was well-known around the Shiprock/Hogback area.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

Metoxen's history tied to the Oneidas

Loretta Metoxen grew up on the Oneida Reservation and after a 16-year stint in the military, came back and threw herself fully into the politics and history of the tribe.

Over the years, she has helped uncover stories about the tribe and its extensive history in the state.

But it's her many children, 27 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and the beauty of the reservation that has kept her on the reservation.

'Pilgrim Payback' = Free Food

Land claim disputes in far-off New York have prompted a French fellow to invite Native Americans to dinner this month -- sort of.

Sarah Ledeau (Rocky Boy Chippewa-Cree), who's teaching a course called "Contributions of Native Americans" at Salish Kootenai College, became acquainted with the French chemist a few years ago after he asked her to explain a land claim controversy that had led to an armed stand-off between Iroquois, Mohawk and Onondaga tribal members and New York state police officers.

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: Turkey Talk-2

Story: How the Quetzal Became the King of Birds

What is this: Quetzal

Craft Project: Dancing Snowmen Jars

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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