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Canku
Ota
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(Many
Paths)
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An
Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
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October 2015 -
Volume 13 Number 10
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Favorite
Sites
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collected
by Paul and Vicki
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Lakota
Child Rescue Project
Today, a generation of children is once again losing its connection
to its culture through state-sanctioned kidnapping under the
auspices of the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
Every year South Dakota blatantly violates the Indian Child
Welfare Act by removing over 740 Native children from their
families and community and putting into non-Native foster care.
http://www.lakotalaw.org/our-children-are-sacred/our-children-are-sacred |
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Lakota
People's Law Project
The first and most important of these is to rescue the children.
Any genuine attempt at renewing Lakota society must begin there.
In recognition of this, we have launched the Lakota Child Rescue
Project. Explore this site to learn more about work, and please
consider becoming a member of Lakota People's Law Project.
http://lakotalaw.org |
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The
Gwich'in
We are one of the most northerly aboriginal peoples on the North
American continent, living at the northwestern limits of the
boreal forest. Only the Inuit live further north. We are part
of a larger family of Aboriginal people known as Athapaskans,
which include peoples such as the Slavey, Dogrib, Han and Tutchone
but our language and way of life is distinct.
http://gwichin.ca/ |
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The
Gwich'in Place Names And Story Atlas
Since 1992, the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute (GSCI)
has worked with Gwich'in Elders and traditional land users to
document place names and create an inventory of heritage sites
in the Gwich'in Settlement Region. Although initially meant
to complement archaeological research being carried out near
one of the Gwichin communities, the project was expanded
to the entire Gwichin Settlement Region upon the request
of Gwichin Elders due to concerns that their place names
and accompanying oral history were in danger of being lost.
http://atlas.gwichin.ca/index.html?module=gwichin.module.main |
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Akwesasne
TV
Akwesasne TV is currently in
development. It will aim to air community & culturally relevant
locally produced programs.
http://www.akwesasnetv.com |
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Cheyenne
River Youth Project®
The Cheyenne River Youth Project®
was founded in January 1988 in response to the communitys
need for more services that support struggling children and
their families. Originally housed in a converted bar on the
towns Main Street, the organization created a safe place
for children to come after school, offering activities such
as arts and crafts, intramural sports and volunteer mentorship,
in addition to serving a healthy meal and snack each day. The
youth center, known locally as The Main, was operated
completely by a volunteer staff and quickly became a vital element
of the Cheyenne River Community. Despite its small size, and
very little money for programming, the center was filled to
capacity each day.
http://www.lakotayouth.org |
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The
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets
was founded in 1934 to support American poets at all stages
of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary
poetry.
http://www.poets.org |
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Inter-Tribal
Energy & Tech Tour
The Inter-Tribal Energy &
Tech Tour is the first summer camp committed to educating tomorrows
tribal leadership on energy, technology and partnership potential.
2-3 teens will be selected from regional tribes to participate
in a memorable 7-day tour of inspiring native and non-native
projects and places.
http://redbridgeonline.com/energytechtour/ |
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Potawatomi
Language Course
This beginning Potawatomi language
course is designed to make the language more accessible. It
is our hope that this will allow students to learn the Potawatomi
language in a very structured manner. We hope students will
not only enjoy the class but will share feedback with us so
that we can improve the quality of product that we offer.
http://language.potawatomi.org |
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Fibonacci
Sequence
Leonardo Fibonacci, sometimes called Leonardo of Pisa, was
a thirteenth-century Italian mathematician. He was instrumental
in bringing the Arabic numbering system to Europe to replace
the use of Roman numerals. He is also remembered for a series
of numbers that now bears his name. The Fibonacci sequence
starts with 0, 1 and each subsequent number is the sum of
the two previous numbers. The first ten numbers in the Fibonacci
series are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55.
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Golden
Number: What is the Fibonacci Sequence?
This article explores the relationship between phi (1.618) and
Fibonacci's numerical sequence. "The ratio of each successive
pair of numbers in the sequence approximates phi (1.618. . .)
, as 5 divided by 3 is 1.666
, and 8 divided by 5 is 1.60.
The table below shows how the ratios of the successive numbers
in the Fibonacci sequence quickly converge on Phi. After the
40th number in the sequence, the ratio is accurate to 15 decimal
places."
http://www.goldennumber.net/fibonacci-series/ |
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Math
Forum: Ask Dr. Math: Golden Ratio, Fibonacci Sequence
"Please tell me about the Golden Ratio (or Golden Mean),
the Golden Rectangle, and the relation between the Fibonacci
Sequence and the Golden Ratio." Dr. Math answers these
three frequently asked questions, and then provides links to
related Fibonacci questions from the Dr. Math Archive. Wondering
how to calculate the Fibonacci numbers? The first three answers
in the archive list describe three different methods.
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.golden.ratio.html
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Math
is Fun: Fibonacci Seqence
All about the Fibonacci sequence, its relationship to the Golden
Ratio (phi), and a bit about Fibonacci himself. "His real
name was Leonardo Pisano Bogollo, and he lived between 1170
and 1250 in Italy. Fibonacci was his nickname, which roughly
means Son of Bonacci'. As well as being famous for the
Fibonacci Sequence, he helped spread Hindu-Arabic Numerals (like
our present numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) through Europe in place
of Roman Numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, etc)."
https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html
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Plus
Magazine: Life and Numbers of Fibonacci
From the pages of Plus Magazine, this one-page article is a
synopsis of Dr. Knott's larger Fibonacci site (see above) but
many will find it less intimidating. It begins with a short
biography, and then introduces the Fibonacci sequence and the
golden section ("normally denoted by the Greek letter phi.")
It shows how phi relates to the five-pointed pentagram star
used in the American flag, and how the Greeks used the golden
ratio in architecture.
https://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue3/fibonacci/index
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University
of Surrey: Mathematics: Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Section
My Fibonacci pick of the week belongs to Dr. Ron Knott, hosted
by University of Surrey. It is very extensive, and has something
for both beginners and math nerds. Those wanting an introduction
will find a definition of the Fibonacci sequence by clicking
the underlined link "add the last two to get the next"
or scrolling down to the "Fibonacci Numbers and Golden
Sections in Nature" section. Must see clicks include
the Easier and Harder Fibonacci Puzzles Pages, and the Mathematical
Magic page which looks at patterns in the Fibonacci numbers.
http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fib.html
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Tigers
As Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow followed the Yellow
Brick Road, they feared the animals they might encounter.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Today, a more
realistic fear is the animals we might never encounter. Sadly,
the wild tiger population is being threatened by poaching,
habitat loss and population fragmentation. Want to learn more?
Here are my recommendations for tiger hunting on the Web.
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Live
Science: Tigers: Facts and Information
"Tigers live in Asia. Larger subspecies, such as the Siberian
tiger, tend to live in northern, colder areas, such as eastern
Russia and northeastern China. Smaller subspecies live in southern,
warmer countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan,
Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia."
Follow the links embedded in this one-page overview for photos
and additional tiger resource sites.
http://www.livescience.com/27441-tigers.html |
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National
Geographic Kids: Tiger
"Easily recognized by its coat of reddish-orange with dark
stripes, the tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. The
big cat's tail is 3 feet (1 meter) long." Lots of tiger
fun for elementary and middle school students, including quick
facts, videos, good news for Siberian tigers, 5 Reasons why
Tigers are Terrific, and Big Cat quizzes.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/tiger/#tiger-swimming.jpg
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San
Diego Zoo: Mammals: Tiger
This brightly-colored introduction is perfect for elementary
grades. It includes photos, videos, and a short introduction
to tigers. "Recognizing a tiger at the zoo is easy. But
in their natural habitat, tigers are really hard to find. That's
because their unique orange, black and white stripe pattern
helps them blend into the forests and grassy areas where they
live and hunt."
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mammals/tiger |
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Tigers
in Crisis
"Of the original nine subspecies of tigers, three have
become extinct in the last 80 years, an average of one every
20 years. It has been predicted all tigers may become extinct
in the wild within the next decade." Created by journalist
and conservationist Craig Kasnoff, Tigers in Crisis tells the
plight of tigers with short, informative articles accompanied
by striking photos. Related international news items are featured
in a sister website Tigers in Crisis News.
http://www.tigersincrisis.com/the_tigers.htm |
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World
Wildlife Fund: Species: Tigers
"The tiger is the largest of the Asian big cats and can
be found in a wide range of habitats, from the evergreen and
monsoon forests of the Indo-Malayan realm to the mixed coniferous-deciduous
woodlands of the Russian Far East and the mangrove swamps
of the Sundarbans, shared by India and Bangladesh." Visit
to learn details about threats to tigers around the world,
along with species fact sheets.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger
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Thomas
Edison
With a lifetime dedicated to invention, Thomas A. Edison (1847
1931) earned 1,093 U.S. patents, more than any other
single inventor. His impressive achievements include the invention
of electric lighting, the phonograph, and motion pictures.
Edison was not only a successful inventor but also an excellent
businessman who created companies to manufacture his inventions.
As befits a man of his talents, there are many websites devoted
to Edison and his inventions. These are my favorites.
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PBS
American Experience: Edison
"By the time he died in 1931, Thomas Edison was one of
the most famous men in the world. The holder of more patents
than any other inventor in history, Edison had amassed a fortune
and achieved glory as the genius behind such revolutionary inventions
as sound recording, motion pictures, and electric light."
Visit to watch the 2-hour PBS special, and to peruse the photo
gallery and a timeline of Edison's life.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/edison/
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PBS
American Experience: Edison's Miracle of Light
Produced as a web companion to the 1995 PBS television special,
Edison's Miracle of Light is a worthwhile stop even if you've
not seen the film. Best clicks are the photo gallery of eight
of his inventions, and the Special Features. "In 1887 direct
current (DC) was king. At that time there were 121 Edison power
stations scattered across the United States delivering DC electricity
to its customers." Learn all about AC/DC in the first interactive
article. The audio snippets are five tunes the Edison company
produced on phonograph records between 1919 and 1926.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/light/
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Library
of Congress: Inventing Entertainment
"In addition to being a renowned inventor, Edison became
a prominent manufacturer and businessman by selling his inventions.
This site features 341 motion pictures, 81 sound recordings,
photographs, original articles, and other related materials."
This Library of Congress site is a curated collection of primary
resources showcasing Edison's work in the creation of recorded
movies and sound. It includes a biography and a timeline of
his entertainment-related inventions. My favorite clicks are
the movie clips such as "A Day with Thomas A. Edison"
and "The Great Train Robbery."
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/connections/inventing-entertainment/
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Smithsonian:
Edison After Forty
"In 1887, at the age of 40 - with a new wife, a new home,
a new winter retreat - Thomas Alva Edison set up shop in a new
and grandiose laboratory. There he hoped to recapture and ultimately
surpass the inventiveness he had enjoyed in the much smaller
laboratory he had used a few years earlier. Edison's goal proved
elusive." Edison After Forty, produced by the Smithsonian,
is a unique look at the demands that success placed upon the
prolific inventor.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/ |
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Smithsonian:
Thomas Edison's Inventive Life
"Everyone thinks of light bulbs when they hear Thomas
Alva Edison's name. His creative genius, though, came through
in his numerous other inventions, from the electrical power
system and the phonograph that could record and play back
sound, to motion picture technology and storage batteries
(he believed in electric cars!)." This illustrated biography
from the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
focuses on Edison's prodigious accomplishments as an inventor.
http://invention.si.edu/thomas-edisons-inventive-life
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Honey
Bees
Honey bees are hardworking, useful insects that pollinate
nearly one-third of all the food we eat and make our life
sweeter with the honey they produce. In a single day, a single
hive can pollinate four million flowers and make up to two
pounds of honey. But scientists are confused by an international
bee crises, with bees disappearing from their colonies in
record numbers in a trend first noticed in 2006.
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All
About Honey: Kids' Zone
"Honeybees are called
social insects because different members of the colony have
special jobs which help the entire colony. Do you have special
jobs or chores that you do to help your family?" All About
Honey is published by the Ontario Beekeepers' Association of
Canada. Visit for bee facts and printable bee activity sheets.
http://www.ontariohoney.ca/kids-zone |
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EPA:
Pollinator Protection: Coloring Collapse Disorder
"Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the phenomenon that
occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear
and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees
to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen. Once
thought to pose a major long term threat to bees, reported cases
of CCD have declined substantially over the last five years."
http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder |
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National
Geographic Kids: Ten Facts About Honey Bees
"Honey bees are super-important
pollinators for flowers, fruits and vegetables. This means that
they help other plants grow! Bees transfer pollen between the
male and female parts, allowing plants to grow seeds and fruit."
These ten honey bee facts are accompanied by a slide-show photo
gallery and are sure to interest elementary and middle-school
kids.
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/animals/Honey-Bees |
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PBS
Nova: Tales from the Hive
In this PBS documentary, the
film maker shot "inside a hive and followed bees in flight
to capture closeups of honeybee behavior." Along with a
complete transcript of the film, the companion website features
Anatomy of a Hive (an annotated photo gallery describing the
physical and social infrastructure of a beehive colony), Dances
with Bees (a multimedia activity exploring bee communication),
and the Buzz About Bees ("a flush fund of fascinating facts").
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/ |
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USDA:
Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder
The USDA presents a brief
overview of Colony Collapse Disorder and what scientists are
doing about the mysterious trend. "The main symptom of
CCD is simply no or a low number of adult honey bees present
but with a live queen and no dead honey bees in the hive.
Often there is still honey in the hive, and immature bees
(brood) are present." Don't miss the two-minute video
overview. The link is prominently displayed in the middle
of the main article.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572
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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/
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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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