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Canku Ota
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(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
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Favorite Sites
 
 
collected by Paul and Vicki
 
Restoring Bison to Tribal Lands
National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap tribes, succeeded in convincing the state of Montana to transfer more than 60 bison back to tribal lands. On March 19, 2012, after more than a century away, wild bison were returned to roam the Great Plains in Montana.

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Protect-Wildlife/Bison-Restoration/Tribal-Bison.aspx
Six Wieners. One Winner.
Join. Share. Win. After years of touring supermarkets, state fairs and the like we’re taking America’s most beloved vehicle and giving fans unprecedented access! Browse the different Wienermobile teams and join your favorite to receive a team bumper sticker (while supplies last), help them earn points, and have a chance to win a visit from the Wienermobile Run Champion! This summer you’re going to see the Wienermobile Vehicle like you’ve never seen it before.

http://wienermobilerun.com/
First Nations Films
First Nations Films distributes and creates award-winning educational Aboriginal documentary films and videos for, by and about First Nations people. Our exclusive native programs are shared with schools, universities, libraries, organizations and other groups and institutions. These television works of excellence, including licence for PPR, are cherished by educators throughout the world. Please view "playable" clips of award-winning films on our catalogue page and order films on DVD.

http://www.firstnationsfilms.com/
Kidney Corner: What causes chronic kidney disease?
In the last issue of the Kidney Corner, we discussed the stages of chronic kidney disease. To recap, CKD is graded from Stage 1 (the least severe) to Stage 5 (the most severe level, frequently requiring dialysis). What are the underlying illnesses or conditions that can cause this type of decrease in kidney function?

http://www.sudrum.com/voices/kidneycorner/2013/03/08/kidney-corner-what-causes-chronic-kidney-disease/

Kidney Corner: 1 in 9 U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease
As discussed in some of our previous articles, the kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood to make urine, eliminating waste products from the body.

http://www.sudrum.com/voices/kidneycorner/2013/02/08/kidney-corner-1-in-9-u-s-adults-have-chronic-kidney-disease/

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Berlin Wall
In 1945, after World War II, Germany was divided by the victors into two countries. East Germany was controlled by the communist regime of the Soviet Union. West Germany was a democracy supported by the U.S. The former capital city of Berlin, although it was entirely within East German borders, was also partitioned in two. In 1961, the East Germans erected a 103-mile barrier to separate East Berlin from West Berlin. The Berlin Wall blocked free access in both directions for twenty-eight years. In November 1989, the Wall was opened, and East German citizens could once again travel without restriction to the West.
Berlin Wall Memorial
Located in the middle of the city, the Berlin Wall Memorial "contains the last piece of Berlin Wall with the preserved grounds behind it and is thus able to convey an impression of how the border fortifications developed until the end of the 1980s." You can visit it virtually, via video, photographs and articles that cover everything from the construction of the wall, to its fall and eventual demolition.

http://www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en/
PBS Newshour: Kennedy and Reagan at the Berlin Wall
On June 26, 1963, in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech that paid tribute to the Berliners' quest for freedom. The crowd roared with approval upon hearing the President's dramatic words, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner). Twenty- four years later, President Ronald Reagan made an appearance at the Berlin Wall and challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" to demonstrate his commitment to profound change.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/06/famous-berlin-speeches.html
Newseum: The Berlin Wall
My pick of the week site comes from the Newseum news museum in Washington DC. It contains three multimedia exhibits exploring the divided city of Berlin, and an essay about freedom of the press in Germany. "In May 1945, as World War II ends, the four Allied Powers — the U.S., Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union, each with an occupation zone — prohibit all means of public communication, information and entertainment 'except as directed or otherwise authorized.'"

http://www.newseum.org/berlinwall/
Chris De Witt's Berlin Wall Site
"A few steps. From one world to the other. We are in pre-1990 Berlin, Friedrichstrasse, Checkpoint Charlie. Our world has Coca-Cola, Mercedes cars, holidays abroad, and changing governments. A few meters up the street, we enter their world of state-owned factories, grey apartment blocks, an imposed monolithic government and a command economy selling pale imitations of popular western products." Chris De Witt writes about his fascination with the Berlin Wall and his travels there during the eighties.

http://www.appropriatesoftware.com/BerlinWall/welcome.html

Ode to Joy and Freedom: The Fall of the Berlin Wall
"Novice historian" Ursula Grosser Dixon tells her personal account of the fall of the Wall and the reunification of Germany. "This monstrous barrier, which had caused so much grief and pain for so many, has become nothing but a sad memory. But the most amazing wonder of it all: It happened without violence, it happened because people wanted to live in peace and freedom."

http://nevermore.tripod.com/wall.html

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Declaration of Independence
This week we travel back in American history to the time of thirteen colonies struggling to free themselves from the rule of the British monarch. The story of the creation of the Declaration of Independence is a dramatic one, and I've found some excellent sites that tell the tale.
America's Freedom Documents
In July of 1776, bells rang out over Philadelphia signaling the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. Over two hundred years later you can view the original document on your computer. Also available are the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Best clicks are the six mini-movies on topics such as The Real Face of George Washington and Paul Revere, Messenger of the Revolution. Look for the small Videos link at the bottom of any page.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/
Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents
In June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in congressionally imposed secrecy. In anticipation of a vote for independence, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to compose a document declaring the colonies' independence from Britain. That committee then delegated the task to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration can be viewed online at this Library of Congress exhibit. Also on display are fragments of a "Dunlap Broadside," one of twenty-four surviving copies of the first printing of the Declaration of Independence, done by John Dunlap in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/declara1.html
NARA: Charters of Freedom
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights are the focus of this site from the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration (NARA). The exhibit is designed to be visited sequentially, following a path from the Making of the Charters, three chapters on the documents themselves, and concluding with the Impact of the Charters.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html
PBS: Liberty! Philadelphia 1776
"PHILADELPHIA July 4, 1776 - In language certain to inspire patriots, and gall the King and England, a Declaration of Independence was adopted today by the Continental Congress. The Declaration is the defiant culmination of years of struggle between the new nation and its former protector." Click on any of the links within this article for popup sidebars with short biographies and interesting background stories. Other recommended clicks include the Road to Revolution quiz and the Timeline of the Revolution.

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_philadelphia1776.html

US History: The Declaration of Independence
"What's on the back? People who watched the popular movie 'National Treasure' want to know. On the back, at the bottom, upside-down is simply written: 'Original Declaration of Independence / dated 4th July 1776.'" The Declaration of Independence section at US History is huge. Check out The Signers, Jefferson's Account, and the Declaration of Independence Timeline.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/

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Fingerprint Crafts
The use of fingerprints as a form of identification dates back to Babylon, ancient Rome and China's Tang Dynasty. The first modern use of fingerprints was recorded on July 28, 1868 in colonial India by a British magistrate. Today's website roundup focuses not on history, however, but on using fingerprints and hand prints in toddler craft projects.
Activity Village: Handprint Crafts
"Handprint crafts are some of our favourite activities because you enjoy the fun of the craft and create a snapshot in time of your children too - look back over your child's previous artwork and be amazed at how quickly they have grown!" Crafts are organized into seasons, scroll down to find summer ideas which include sunflowers, strawberries, bumble bees and butterflies.

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/handprint_craft.htm
C.R.A.F.T.: 59 Handprint Art Ideas for Kids
Creating Really Awesome Free Things (C.R.A.F.T.) links to fifty-nine art projects all over the Web. About half are animals (monkey, sheep, horse, elephant, etc.) followed by holiday themes and a miscellaneous hand print category titled Other Fun Things. "Psst," they suggest, "if you like this list, you'll love the list of 67 paper plate crafts for kids!"

http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/59-hand-foot-print-art-projects/
DLTK Kids: Handprint, Fingerprint and Footprint Crafts
DLTK hosts over sixty crafts for little hands and feet. They are not well organized, so just scroll the list for something that catches your eye. Some of these projects include printable poems, or holiday cards, and there is a whole page devoted just to fingerprint characters such as caterpillars and camels. You'll find it by following the Fingerprint Crafts link ("directions for making many different fingerprint characters.") Reader Carmela suggests that using inked stamp pads " works great and is less messy than paint!"

http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/handprint.htm
Fun Family Crafts: Handprint, Footprint, Fingerprint Crafts
Fun Family Crafts is another site that lists crafts from other sites, but I love the photo-centric layout that makes it easy to find just the right project. Be sure to visit the second and third page of this archive. You'll find those links at bottom of the page. Have you ever met a toeprint caterpillar? "Take off your shoes and socks and make a toe print caterpillar on a leaf. Instructions complete with printable leaf."

http://funfamilycrafts.com/category/craft-type/handprint-footprint-fingerprint-crafts/

Pinterest: Kellie Smith: Hand, Foot, Thumb & Fingerprint Crafts
Ah, Pinterest. Be careful, it's addictive! This Pinterest board, created by Kellie Smith, is a veritable feast of hand prints, footprints, thumb prints, and fingerprints! At the time of my visit, it included 340 pins. As always, you need to click twice on the pinned image to actually get to the site with the craft project.
http://pinterest.com/kelliecsmith/hand-foot-thumb-fingerprint-crafts/

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Summer Reading
Beaches and books just seem to go together, but even if your summer plans do not include any beaches, hopefully it will still include some warm, lazy days curled up with a good book. To get you in the mood, I've corralled the following booklists for your family's summer reading pleasure.
America Library Association: Notable Children's Books
Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) compiles a list of "notable" children's books. "As applied to children's books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways."

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
Goodreads
Recently purchased by Amazon.com, Goodreads is a social network for readers over thirteen. As such, you'll get more out of it if you create a free account, rate some books, and add some friends. My favorite Goodreads feature is the book recommendations organized by genre. Follow me and see what's on my book shelf by clicking here.

http://www.goodreads.com/
The Horn Book: Summer Reading
"Need suggestions for beach reading or books to bring to camp? We've hand-picked some favorite new titles, all published within the last year, that are ideal for the season." From Picture Books to Young Adult Fiction, Horn recommends newly published books that may not be on your radar yet, with an emphasis on fun, summer reading. In addition to this list, they also produce a book review podcast, and have dozens of other reading lists for children and young adults. You'll find these links at the bottom of the page.

http://www.hbook.com/2013/05/choosing-books/recommended-books/summer-reading-2013/
International Reading Association: Children's Choices Project
"A booklist with a twist! Children themselves evaluate the books and write reviews of their favorites. Since 1974, Children's Choices have been a trusted source of book recommendations used by teachers, librarians, parents — children themselves." Visit to download this year's winners, or any of the previous booklists, going back to 1998. The K-6 lists are available online, as well as in two PDF formats: annotated or compact (which is just titles and authors).

http://www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/ChildrensChoices.aspx

Scholastic Summer Challenge
"Summer can be a season full of fun memories, good times . . . and declining reading scores. Research shows that students who don't read over the summer typically score lower on reading tests when they return to school. What's the solution? It's simple: READ 4 or MORE!" Sign up for a free account, and log your summer reading minutes. The top twenty schools with the most minutes read will be featured in the 2010 Scholastic Book of World Records, along with the one student who sets a world record for summer reading minutes.

http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013

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Jungle Animals
Today's safari looks at jungle animals, with lots of crafts, coloring, and interactive fun. Although today's topic is primarily for preschoolers and early elementary grades, there is one video resource that will interest readers of all ages.
The Color: Jungle Animals Online Coloring Pages
These forty-six jungle animal coloring pages can be either colored online or printed on paper for old-fashioned coloring fun. Animals represented include a baby elephant, an anteater, a koala and a hyena. If you register for a free The Color account, you'll be able to save your colored pictures, and might even see your masterpiece featured on The Color's homepage.

http://www.thecolor.com/category/coloring/jungle%20animal.aspx
DTLK Kids: Jungle (Rainforest) Activities
Elephants, frogs and giraffes, oh my! Click on any of the twelve animal categories, or choose the catch-all category: Other Jungle Activities. Activities include coloring pages, craft projects, interactive puzzles, songs, stories, poems, and printable tongue twisters. "A tidy tiger tied a tighter tie to tidy her tiny tail."

http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/jungle.html
NGA Kids: Jungle Interactive
From the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., this interactive activity was "inspired by the paintings of French artist Henri Rousseau. Create an imaginary landscape. You can mix and match the animals, control the weather and lighting conditions, or construct flowers, trees, and plants." Use the printer icon in the upper right-hand corner to print your piece, as the usual browser print function won't work.

http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/jungle.htm
Sheppard Software: Animal Jungle Movie
"What is a jungle? A jungle is a kind of tropical forest. It is hot and thick with trees, plants and lots of animals." This animated three-minute video introduces preschoolers to many jungle animals, including monkeys, lions, crocodiles, and gorillas. Look in the right-hand column for two more jungle interactives: Create a Jungle and Animal Jungle Game.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/preschool/animals/jungle/animaljunglemovie.htm

Video National Geographic: Forests and Jungles
From the National Geographic archive, here's a collection of twenty video shorts about forests and jungles. Topics include Toucans, Costa Rica Canopy Tour, Gorillas in Uganda, and China's Amazing Flora. "From deserts to lush tropical forests, one of China's richest treasures is its plant life. Join leading botanist and NG Research & Exploration chairman Peter Raven on a tour of China's regional flora." The videos run between two and seven minutes, and each includes links to related Nat Geo content.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/parks-and-nature-places/forests-and-jungles/

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STAR
Students And Teachers Against Racism announces their new website that offers insight into the Native American perspective to teachers and educators.
http://www.racismagainstindians.org/
Changing Winds Advocacy Center
Through presentations, classroom sessions, curriculum, fund raising, charitable works, and multi-media efforts, we seek to raise public awareness of the stereotyping, discrimination, racism and other unique situations facing Native Americans.
http://changingwinds.org/
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Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
 
 
 
Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000 - 2013 of Vicki Williams Barry and Paul Barry.
 
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