Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

March 6, 2004 - Issue 108

"Ka-hay Sho-o Dah Chi"

The Crow Greeting

Hello. How are you?

"Bull Moose" by Robert Bateman

"Mozokas"

Moose Hunter Moon

Abenaki

"A Warrior is challenged to assume responsibility, practice humility, and display the power of giving, and then center his or her life around a core of spirituality. I challenge today's youth to live like a warrior."
~Billy Mills~

We Salute
Reynese Ridley

Reynese Ridley, a student involved in the testing for Shoshone-Bannock’s space experiment, has the extremely rare position of working on an experiment which flew on Columbia’s last mission, watching the launch in person, and being part of the recovery team which picked up Columbia’s pieces after the accident.

Ridley, a Northern Ute, Shoshone-Bannock, is now 21 and plans to become a dental hygienist. But in recent years she was a firefighter, one of the tens of thousands called upon to search for Columbia debris. Ridley says she didn’t set out to become a firefighter. "It just kind of happened, there was no plan," she said. "I wanted to move out to Missouri [for a job] and I needed the money for a bus ticket."

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:

Living Traditions

Arigon Starr

One of the first entertainers to be featured in Canku Ota was Arigon Starr. I recently caught up with the Diva for an update on what's been happening in her busy life.

Native Voices at the Autry is bringing Arigon back as The Wooden Indian Woman in the world premiere of Joseph A. Dandurand's play!

Arigon Starr will return to the Wells Fargo Theater in March for the three-week run of "Please Do Not Touch The Indians." The latest production from Randy Reinholz and Jean Bruce Scott of "Native Voices at the Autry" will preview on Thursday, March 18th and officially open on Friday, March 19th in Los Angeles at the Autry National Center. Tickets for the shows will be on sale through the Autry and Ticketweb.com.

Lewis and Clark -- A View from the Riverbank
by Dorreen Yellow Bird

North Dakota is smack dab in the middle of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. This is especially true in western North Dakota and along the Missouri River in cities such as Bismarck. People there are following some of the same footprints walked by the Corps of Discovery.

This week, I went to Bismarck, Hurdsfield and Velva, N.D., to talk to students about the American Indian perspective of that historic journey. Most of the lessons the students are learning are based on the journals of Lewis and Clark and from a non-Indian perspective. In my talks, I tried to give the other point of view.

Our Featured Story:

Northwestern Wisconsin First Person History:

The Eagle and the Snake – Redman Speaks - Part 5
by Geoff Hampton

A Whole New Series to enjoy!!!!

Running The Gantlet
A Thrilling Incident of Early Days at Fort Snelling - Part Two
submitted by Timm Severud (Ondamitag)

The above very interesting and graphic article, originally appeared in an eastern periodical a number of years ago, and was copied by others quite extensively. It was anonymous, but in its style bears conclusive evidence that its author was Wm. J. Snelling, (son of Col. Josiah Snelling).

Announcement

Announcement

Essay Contest for Native American Students

There are a couple of reasons for this contest. It is my hope that these essays will help raise the participant's awareness in the subject matter. Sharing the information will help to educate the public, as well. Finally, this is a way for me to help pay back the community who has supported my efforts through my websites, newsletters and book ("This Day in North American Indian History").

This is an essay contest for North American Indian students. Anyone who is a member of any tribe between the North Pole and Panama is eligible to enter. When the word "tribe" is used is the rules, it is meant to include the concept of "nation" or "native village," as well.

Native American Youth Initiative

Through its cooperative agreement with the Office of Minority Health, the Association of American Indian Physicians offers a Health, Biomedical Research, and Policy Development program for Native American students between 16 and 18 years old.

The goals of the AAIP are to motivate Native American students to remain in the academic pipeline and to pursue a career in the health professions and/or biomedical research. In addition, the NNAYI prepares students for admission to college and professional school, empowers them with effective leadership skills, analytical thinking, and academic proficiency, and develops their awareness of the health status, health care research issues and policy legislation affecting Native American communities.

Education News

Preserving Traditions

Fort Lewis Crafts New Institute

With funding from the federal government, Fort Lewis College is creating a new institute that will offer courses for teachers on American Indian reservations and bring tribal scholars and elders together.

The college will receive $50,000 in federal funding, which Congress approved in the $328 billion fiscal 2004 omnibus-appropriations bill. President Bush is expected to sign the bill.

The money will go toward creating the institute, which is expected to expand over time as the college receives additional funds, Fort Lewis officials say.

Grossmont Community College Pow Wow Shines

It is stormy, wet and elusive outside. Inside it is warm, real and white hot with the Pow wow tradition. Grossmont College 16th annual celebration of life brings together the urban and rural tribal population into sharp focus. The College institution provides the facility. Tom Gamboa related that this, “Pow Wow has always had a theme of 'Indians Helping Indians'. The college provides not a cent purposely and with major budget cuts now it would be impossible. The only thing they provide is the facility. Viejas and Barona fund the Pow Wow.

Preserving Traditions

Preserving Traditions

Students Help Carve a Bit of History

It took many hands to carve Ocean Spirit the past three years, and many yesterday to clap, beat drums and carry it to the shore's edge.

Christened with leis, conch shells, eagle feathers and tribal chanting, the red cedar log turned Haida canoe earned its name as it was launched bow-first into a south wind and the choppy waves of Puget Sound.

Local and Alaskan native tribal members cheered as 15 people in life vests took their first paddle strokes in pelting rain, sending the handsome 40-foot canoe cutting through the gray waters off Golden Gardens beach.

Tribe Revives Traditional Naming Ceremony

As a youngster, Grand Ronde tribal member Jim Holmes remembers being read to from a book shaped like a rabbit.

The title escapes him. Maybe it was "Peter Cottontail."

Regardless, he always was asking his parents to read to him.

"He wanted us to continually read to him," said Jim's father, Merle. "About the time he was starting to talk, we started calling him Rabbit."

Athletic Success

Preserving Traditions

Native Youth Run With Wings

Wings of America sponsored all-Indian teams of junior men and junior women to the USA Winter National Cross Country Championships held in Indianapolis, IN, February 7-8, where they captured 1st and 2nd places respectively. The highly competitive Championships serve as the World Cross Country Team Trials.

All races were held on a mostly flat European-style 2-kilometer loop course covered by snow and ice. Freezing temperatures, additional snow, and wind further complicated race conditions.

History in the Making - #15
KSS Wrestlers Win GMAA Again

The last article written about the Kahnawake Survival School wrestling team had the same headline as today's. The big difference between the two is the fact that the former banner had a question mark at the end of it. This one has an exclamation point.

On Thursday, February 12, a date many of the KSS wrestlers, coaches and fans will have lodged in their heads for years to come, saw the 2003-04 edition of the storied KSS squads win an unprecedented 15th consecutive Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) team title.

Preserving Traditions

Preserving Traditions

Bringing Native History Home Angoon Tlingits seek return of artifacts from University of Pennsylvania Museum

When Harold Jacobs, a Tlingit, saw a Native headband made of braided hair in a Philadelphia museum this month, he knew whose hair it was. He sang its song.

Jacobs' great-great-great-great-great grandmother of Angoon had cut her hair, made it into a headband and given it to her husband to be remembered by, said Leonard John, executive director of the Kootznoowoo Cultural and Educational Foundation.

Sandpaintings provide glimpse into extinct Navajo ceremonies

A Navajo prayer welcomed home from Santa Fe about 900 sandpaintings worth about $2.5 million last Tuesday.

Diné College museum curator Harry Walters, who greeted the sacred art last Tuesday, said the collection of sandpaintings, which were made in the 1920s and 1930s, include artwork from Navajo ceremonies that are extinct.

Walters, who started working to obtain the collection two years ago, named ceremonies such as the Eagle Way, Water Way, Upward Reaching Way, Red Ant Way, Big Star Way, Shooting Way, Mountain Shooting Way, Bead Way, Hail Way and Plume Way.

Honoring Youth

Torreon Excels at Spelling Bee

Torreon Day School dominated the Eastern Agency Spelling Bee, placing eight champions, runners-up and alternates among the 15 positions in Thursday's competition at St. Paul's Catholic Mission Hall.

Crownpoint Community School finished with four, followed by Wingate Elementary School with two and the new Baca Community School with one.

The Eastern Agency's 10 first and second place victors (or the alternate, if one can't be there) will join an equal number of fourth through eighth-graders from the other quartet of agencies for the Navajo Nation-Hopi Tribe Spelling Bee on March 18 at the Peterson Zah-Navajo Nation Museum-Library.

American Idol Just Being Herself

Charly Lowry often told herself, "Just be Charly," when she went on stage to perform as a contestant in the "American Idol" competition. Her positive outlook brought her to the next round of competition televised on Feb. 24. She was up against seven other talented singers, all looking forward to becoming the next American Idol.

For the contest, Lowry sang Aretha Franklin’s "Chain of Fools," with energetic, athletic and graceful motions. Wearing a pink dress and with her parents looking on, she reached for the sounds of soul in her voice. When she finished, Randy Jackson wasn’t too complimentary, but Paula Abdul told her that she had the rhythm and "the spirit of your performance." She added, "We’re looking for more of a tiger performance."

Health and Wellness

Native American Women Snap Up Health Book

In the late 1990s, Shoshone women began to perform once again a ritual dance of female strength and resourcefulness that they had not celebrated since the 1930s, following decades of forced removal from ancient lands, crushing poverty, loss and disease, when their people were forced off their ancient lands.

Now, Native American women are sharing another celebration of themselves.

This time, it's the arrival of a health book, "Indigenous Women's Health Book, Within the Sacred Circle."

Nopalitos, Green Corn Tamales and Good Health

Surrounded by a load of fresh Mexican corn, Maria Garcia talks of growing up in southern Mexico, where she harvested the cactus pads known as nopalitos and prepared fresh corn for traditional tamales.

Seated in a Tucson barrio with husband Jose Garcia, Tohono O'odham, she has a machete in hand and whacks the stem ends off of the fresh corn still in its husks.

"Green corn tamales are in our blood," Maria, Purepecha from Michoacan, said of the indigenous in Mexico.

Living Traditions

Preserving Language

Basket Weaving Offers Connection to Ancestry

Margaret Pearce drove almost two hours from her home to reconnect with her heritage.

Pearce, a Marshall resident, said she can trace her American Indian ancestry to the Pottawatomi tribe that was removed from the St. Joseph area to Kansas in the 1800s.

Her ancestors were again relocated to Oklahoma and became known as the Citizen Band of Pottawatomi.

She said she always has been interested in her Indian heritage, so she traveled to Monterey Township to learn the basics of basket weaving from John Pigeon.

Home Use Seen as Key to Language's Survival

There's a community effort to revive the Chipewyan language in Fort Smith.

People who speak Chipewyan, a member of the Athapascan linguistic group, live in the area from the Slave River to Cold Lake in Alberta, and from Heart Lake east to Reindeer Lake in north-central Saskatchewan.

While older people are still fluent in Chipewyan, it's rare to hear the language spoken in homes in Fort Smith, a community of about 2,100 on the N.W.T.-Alberta border.

Chipewyan language co-ordinator Toni Heron would like to change that.

Living Traditions

Pow wows keep tribes in step with past

Six-year-old Allaura LeGarde stood patiently as her mother Rachel finished braiding her hair.

But the moment she was free to dance, Allaura leaped and twirled with joyful abandon.

“Our children have been dancing since they were born,” said Rachel, who was with her husband Patrick and five children at the Bois Forte Mid-Winter Pow Wow last weekend.

AmeriCorps Volunteers Work at BIA School

Nine AmeriCorps volunteers joined Miss Navajo Nation Marla Billey and Navajo pupils in a traditional Diné skip dance Monday at the Tohaali Community School gymnasium in Toadlena. The college-age students from across the nation had no inhibition in being open to experiencing Navajo culture their first day ever on the Navajo reservation.

However, a maintenance worker said it would be good if they learned about the Navajo’s real history at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school during their visit.

Living Traditions

For Denver Art Museum's Native American collection, a leap into the present

Longtime visitors to the Denver Art Museum might have wondered about the absence of much contemporary work in the third-floor Native American collection.

Despite the significant assembly of such eloquently crafted and culturally powerful pieces as Northwest Coast woodcarving, Naskapi painted leather garments, Winnebago twined weaving, Plains Indian beadwork, Navajo weaving, Pueblo pottery and California basketry, modern Native American artwork has been the collection's shortfall.

Until now.

Annual Spring Bazaar at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Shoppers will be able to purchase authentic Alaska Native arts and crafts at the Alaska Native Heritage Center's (ANHC) annual Spring Bazaar on March 6, 2004 from 10am to 5pm. Silver Hand artists from across the state will be on hand to offer unique Alaska Native arts and crafts. Admission is free. This is one of the continuing series of Celebrating Culture Saturdays, sponsored by BP, which presents a unique cultural program each week.

All artists who participate in the Bazaar are 'Silver Hand' artists, as identified by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. The 'Silver Hand' program guarantees that all work is handcrafted, authentic and made in whole by an Alaska Native in Alaska.

Living Traditions

Saint Patrick's Battalion, the Batallón San Patricio: Mexican War Heroes

The war between the United States and Mexico had two basic causes.

1. First, the desire of the U.S. to expand across the North American continent, the policy of Manifest Destiny, to the Pacific Ocean caused conflict with all of the U.S. neighbors; from the British in Canada and Oregon to the Mexicans in the southwest and, of course, with the Native Americans, many on U.S. treaty secured lands.

2. The second basic cause of the war with Mexico was the Texas War of Independence and the subsequent annexation of that area to the United States.

FAITA to Host 12th Annual Awards Presentation

The annual First Americans in the Arts tribute to indigenous filmmakers and performers will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2004, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. This year's ceremonies will be emceed by well-known actor and artist Michael Horse.

This will be the twelfth year the festive and elegant event is presented by FAITA, a nonprofit organization helmed by Bob Hicks and Dawn Jackson, which honors indigenous achievements in the entertainment media and also provides scholarship funds for budding Native artists. According to the 2004 scholarship guidelines, applicants must be pursuing education in one of the following areas of the film and entertainment industry: production, production design, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, or acting.

About This Issue's Greeting - "Ka-hay Sho-o Dah Chi"

In traditional and contemporary Crow culture, it is customary to greet each other with a quick glance away or a blink and nod of the head. If they are wearing a hat, they might tip the brim of the hat. Handshaking is a white man's custom and was only recently accepted as a greeting in Crow culture. You will rarely see Crow people embracing publicly. From: Vincent Goes Ahead, Jr., Museum Interpreter, Vice Chairman of the Crow Tribe

This Date In History

Recipe: Chocolate (guilt-free)

Story: How the Kiwi Lost His Wings

What is this: Kiwi

Craft Project: Dog Cookies

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, 2004 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 of Paul C. Barry.

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