Canku Ota Logo
Canku Ota
Canku Ota Logo
(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
pictograph divider
 
 
 
Favorite Sites
 
 
collected by Paul and Vicki
 
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
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
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/
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 Gwich’in communities, the project was expanded to the entire Gwich’in Settlement Region upon the request of Gwich’in 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
Akwesasne TV
Akwesasne TV is currently in development. It will aim to air community & culturally relevant locally produced programs.
http://www.akwesasnetv.com
Cheyenne River Youth Project®
The Cheyenne River Youth Project® was founded in January 1988 in response to the community’s need for more services that support struggling children and their families. Originally housed in a converted bar on the town’s 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
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
Inter-Tribal Energy & Tech Tour
The Inter-Tribal Energy & Tech Tour is the first summer camp committed to educating tomorrow’s 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/
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
pictograph divider
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.
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/
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
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
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

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

pictograph divider
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.
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
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
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
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

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

pictograph divider
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.
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/
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/
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/
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/

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

pictograph divider
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.
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
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
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
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/

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

pictograph divider
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/
pictograph divider
Home PageFront PageArchivesOur AwardsAbout Us
Kid's PageColoring BookCool LinksGuest BookEmail Us
 
pictograph divider
 
 
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 - 2015 of Vicki Williams Barry and Paul Barry.
 
Canku Ota Logo   Canku Ota Logo
The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the
Copyright © 1999 - 2015 of Paul C. Barry.
All Rights Reserved.

Site Meter
Thank You

Valid HTML 4.01!