UPCOMING EVENTS
The
Gathering of the Peacemakers:
Healing Santa Cruz With One Love
Santa Cruz, California - Labor Day - September 04, 2006
Free Admission! Click on poster for more info
San Lorenzo River Park in downtown Santa Cruz, California on
Labor Day. Native American elders, Tibetan monks, religious leaders and local
teachers of love. Performances by local and
internationally-known conscious artists whose message reinforces our own.
Already Grammy-award nominee reggae artist Luciano and recording artist
Mikey General to perform. All
speakers and performers donate their time and talent for free. We believe that if the peacemakers - those
people teaching love in the community - can gather together and revitalize
each other as well as encourage others to join them as peacemakers, they can
have a positive effect on the entire community manifesting in lower crime,
drug abuse, domestic abuse, etc. We encourage each person to heal the small
piece of the planet the Creator has assigned them by simply loving and
forgiving as much as they can.
roskind@boone.net
Quinault Nation Hosts Eighth Annual Indian Tourism Conference
Featuring Best
Practice Workshops, Networking and Trade Show
Ocean Shores, Washington
September 17-20, 2006
The American Indian
Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) will hold their
annual Indian Country tourism development and promotion
conference at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino September
17-20, 2006. Hundreds of tourism and economic development
professionals are expected to converge this year at Ocean Shores
to participate in a discussion of Indian Country tourism best
business practices.
More information on the conference and
how to register is available at
www.aianta.org or by calling Gloria Cobb at (715)
588-3324.
Read More...
Manataka Fall Gathering - "Time of Harvest
and Renewal"
October 20 - 22, 2006
Bald Eagle Mountain Park and Campgrounds
Hot Springs, AR
Read
More....
Bridging the
Americas - Reuniting the Eagle and the Condor
Gathering of The Elders at Lake Titicaca, Peru
March 19 – 23, 2007
“When the Eagle once again
flies with the Condor, a lasting peace will reign in the
Americas and will spread throughout the world to unite
humanity.”
Legends state that Aramu Muru assisted many Native American
tribes after they arrived in Peru during the time of the
destructions of Mu and the Old Red Land (Atlantis). He then
united these tribes into a very advanced culture that proceeded
to build many of the towering megalithic temples that still
adorn the landscape of Peru today. Although most of us have
forgotten our past connections, the spirit of Aramu Muru has
never left us, and he continues to watch over all the Americas
from his Illumination Temple located above Lake Titicaca.
Moreover, the great Solar Disc of Mu is also said to still
continue to exist and is currently located on the bottom of the
sacred lake. Since1992, when the Pachacuti or “World
Transformation” anciently prophesied by the Incas first
commenced, Aramu Muru and the Illumination Temple have made
their presence known again and the Solar Disc has begun
emanating powerful streams of spiritual light that will
eventually unite the Americas and uplift the entire world. Soon
the prophecy will be complete; the Eagles (North America) will
reunite with the Condors (South America) and the tribes will
once again become one. Join us on the Spring Equinox of 2007 at
Lake Titicaca as we connect with our ancient past, reunite the
tribes, and help fulfill the sacred destiny of the Americas.
Contact the Institute for Cultural Awareness. 928-646-3000
http://www.ica8.org
info@earthdance8.org
SEE MORE NON-POWWOW EVENTS HERE
2006 POWWOW NOW CALENDAR - LARGEST ON
THE WEB
 |
 SACRED SEX
by Magdala Ramirez
Sacred Sex - Ancient
Teachings for Women is a book about the emerging of the
feminine that is taking place today all over the world.
The women are truly creating the new world. And as this
new world is created, the women are in need of the
ancient wisdom that holds the understanding of the
sacredness of the feminine and the knowledge of how the
women must understand and embrace their divinity. Sex is
the door from which human beings entered into this
realm, and the way to move on is to become one again
within the self. Sacred love is the way of becoming one
with the self - uniting both the feminine and masculine
sides of yourself. We have waited a long time for this
book to be written and for this story to be told. When
the feminine was hidden, the human beings could not find
that part of themselves to create this sacred bonding.
Now, with the emerging of the feminine, human beings can
embrace love as the bonding, making the inside self and
the outside self the same. Peace can be brought into the
world. Soft Cover, 190 pages, ISBN: 1419639242
|
Inspiration
THE COLLECTOR
By Marilyn L. Kish
Mason
People collect the most curious
things,
Such as thimbles and spoons, old
toys and rings,
An assortment of dishes that are packed up in boxes,
With old stamps and rare coins and pocket watches.
There are buttons and bows and
pictures galore,
Their house is soon full, but they keep buying more.
But where is the joy their
possessions should bring,
When they fill up their lives with such trivial things?
I know a man, who boasts of no
solid gold pens,
His contentment is found in gathering friends.
His worth is not measured by what he may own,
He gives of himself and will always be known,
As a man of kindness and deep
affection,
And we are blessed to be part of his collection.
Submitted by Sheri
Awi Anida Waya Burnett
MANATAKA.ORG
WEBSITE JULY UPDATES
REPRINT
George Carlin on Indians…
Now
the Indians. I call them “Indians” because that's what they are.
They're Indians. There's nothing wrong with the word Indian.
First of all, it's important to know that the word Indian does not
derive from Columbus mistakenly believing he had reached “India.”
India was not even called by that name in 1492 - it was known as
Hindustan.
The
word Indian comes from Columbus' description of the people he found
here. He was an Italian, and did not speak or write very good Spanish, so in
his written accounts he called the Indians, “Una gente in Dios.” “A people
in God.” In God. In Dios. Indians. It's a perfectly noble and respectable
word.
As far as calling them “Americans”
is concerned, do I even have to point out what an insult this is? We occupy
their hemisphere, kill sixty to a hundred million or so of them, destroy
five hundred separate cultures, herd the survivors onto the worst land we
can find - and now we want to name them after ourselves? It's appalling.
Haven't we done enough damage? Do we have to further degrade them by tagging
them with the repulsive name of their conquerors? But are they really
“conquered?!” What about the ones still here – are they chopped liver!?
You know, you'd think it would be a fairly simple thing to come over to this
continent, commit genocide, eliminate the forests, dam up the rivers, build
our malls and massage parlors, sell our blenders and whoopee cushions,
poison ourselves with chemicals, and let it go at that. But no. We have to
compound the insult!
I'm glad the Indians have gambling casinos now. It makes me happy that
dimwitted white people are losing their rent money to the Indians. Maybe the
Indians will get lucky and win their country back. Probably wouldn't want
it. Look at what we did to it.
Submitted by Scott Treaty
Eco-Notes:
Healing Homes
Submitted by Lori Leah Zack
Janus
Welton, Eco-Architect, discusses Healthy Building Design
Principles utilizing the concept of Bau-Biologie (Building Biology)
************************************************************************************
ECOLOGY-Healthy
Building Design Principles
Indoor
Air Pollution The Problem:
Until 25 years ago- indoor air pollution was a limited phenomena.
Two things have basically changed to contribute to this increasing
health problem.
- First of all, thousands of chemicals and plastics have been
incorporated into building materials since WWII.
- And secondly, Since the Energy crisis of the 70's , super-
insulated and sealed buildings were built with the intention of
energy efficiency, and could not "breathe" out the chemicals and in
with the fresh air.
The Solution: Two basic Schools of Thought have arisen to solve
Indoor air pollution.
- The first concept known as isolation and filtering is best applied
to isolate from a toxic outdoor world. There are some people with
such severe health problems living in areas where the outdoor
pollution is magnified where this technique makes a good deal of
sense. The concept is to eliminate the pollutants from the building
envelope and seal the building tightly from within. Then clean ,
filtered air is mechanically pumped in -keeping the structure under
slightly positive pressure to control air infiltration.
-
The second concept has been the natural and historic approach in
indigenous buildings through-out the world. This has also been
re-introduced and popularized by the German Bau-Biologie (Meaning
literally Building Biology) movement. In this approach, the building
is thought of as a third skin and viewed as a permeable organism and
constructed of natural, non-toxic materials that breathe. Thus the
building skin interacts with the natural world and facilitates a
balanced exchange of air and humidity. This methodology is preferred
by Environmental Architects and Building Biologists.
Common Sources of Pollution in Standard Construction: The
Problem:
Standard building and construction materials have been developed
that contain toxic, volatile organic compounds , and petrochemicals
that will out gas when newly constructed or installed . Such common
building materials do have non-toxic , but these need to be
specified by the architect and it takes a TEAM commitment from the
Developer/ Owner, Architect Designer, and Construction Contractor to
achieve the goals of creating a non-toxic project that is healthy
and free of sources of indoor air pollution. Specifications can be
made by certified Environmental Architects or Bau-Biologists and
Costs for such substitutions can run anywhere from 0 to 25% over
standard construction costs depending on the strategies and
specifications.
Common Building materials in standard construction that can cause
health problems are broken down in the following categories:
The
main sources of such pollutants are:
VOC's = Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals with carbon
hydrogen bonds at the molecular level. These chemicals found in
carpets and all kinds of products out-gas and release a slow dose of
chemicals into the indoor environment and continue to do so for
months. Most VOC's are synthetic petrochemicals used in
formaldehyde, phenol, acetone, etc. and are used as adhesives in
plywood, particle board and other wood composite products. Composite
wood products are chemically treated woods such as particleboard,
chipboard, plywood, sill plates, and chemically treated manufactured
sheathing products. Presently about 80,000 synthetic Voc's are
commercially available and found in standard products:
- Solvent based Paints, sealants, finishes, adhesives, solvents
- carpets and carpet pads
- plywood , particle board, wood paneling
- insulation
- Asphalt and products containing asphalt such as impregnated
sheathing, roofing tars, asphalt driveways, etc.
- Building materials containing mildew, mold, or particles which
will create an environment that prevents mold growth.
- Toxic Cleaning products and Solvents
- Pollutants from Combustion By-products such as gas, oil, coal;
woods and fuels burned indoors consume valuable indoor oxygen unless
outdoor air is added. All combustion appliances contribute to indoor
air pollution especially in airtight energy efficient buildings.
Fireplaces, woodstoves can give off hazardous fumes and need to be
well ventilated. Garages should be isolated from the living spaces
to prevent noxious fumes
- synthetic fabrics, dry cleaned garments
- air fresheners, aerosol products, cleaning products and body care
products
- insecticides , moth balls , pesticides are classified as Voc"s but
are even more of a health threat
READ MORE....
*************************************************************************
This excerpt is a
companion piece to "Creating Healthy Buildings" that will appear in next
months' Smoke Signal
or Janus Welton's
website, go to:
http://www.JanusWeltonDesignWorks.com
Excerpt
from: "Healing Homes" with Feng Shui and Ecology by Janus Welton,
A.I.A., Architect, EcoArch DesignWorks
Submitted by Lori Leah Zack
GRANDMOTHER'S SPEAK:
By Grandmother Selma
INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND POINTING
Gesture is a symbolic action with
intellectual action, by which a thought, feeling or intention is voluntarily
expressed in a accepted (within the given culture) form. However, gestures
can also be holding a relationship of arbitrariness between themselves and
the acts or objects they refer to.
Gestures are formed by actual
movement, be it that of facial muscles, of limbs, of head or the entire
physical body. These movements usually express or emphasize feelings,
thought or intentions. At times they are employed to accompany speech, at
other times they may present themselves in silence.
Gesture become complicated due to
the fact that it is metaphorical, silent, natural, universal, clear.
figurative, picturesque, affective, iconic, pantomimic, cheiromimic, visual
language, innate language, syntalk, and an essential adjunct to human
audible language that is expressive motion.
Gesturing at someone or even a
specific object is considered disrespectful within the Native American
Indian culture. if that gesture is the pointing of a finger. It is
absolutely taboo in ceremonial practices. Most Native American Indians
consider gestureless speech as " lifeless" speech, unspirited and indicates
non -involvement, shows reluctance and can be perceived of as insulting.
The absence of gestures would add
to our world becoming static and colorless.
"The social anthropologist, Edward
Hall states, sixty percent of all communications non-verbal "
1
Gestures and body language
communicate as effectively as words....or perhaps more so. They are woven
into our social lives and interaction with all we come in contact with.
The universal singular gesture,
the miracle mien, the giant of all gestures is the simple smile.
The traditional Native American
Indian using hand gestures, or even signing was not strict regarding the
position of the fingers or hand. For there was movement involved as well.
The consistent elemental variable
was not the position, but the motions The execution as well as the
conception were the indication of meaning. The position of the
fingers was somewhat immaterial. There were hand gestures that the
position of the fingers were of paramount importance, but those gestures
were linked to sign language and conveying concrete images such as members
of the four legged species and or danger.
In dominant cross cultural
American society the gesture of pointing with hand and index finger is a
common and accepted practice. It is taboo in many other ethnic
cultures, such as the oriental and the traditional Native American Indian.
The true traditionalist draws the
observers attention to the point of concern or interest thru facial
gestures, cutting the eyes in the precise direction, a slight nod of the
head toward the intended focus point, all were and are the accepted non
-verbal method of polite directional orientation. Not Pointing.
The importance of being
culturally respectful can not be over emphasized.
1.
Quote from Edward Hall " source: axtell, Roger E.: Gestures:
2.
The Do's and Taboos of Body language Around the
World by John Wiley and Sons, 1991
3.
Katz, M. (n.d.) Treading with care upon the
Earth: working in Indian Country Respectfully to meet the Challenges and
seize the Opportunities.
Copyrighted by Selma
Palmer, 2006
Manataka
Video
Store
We Are Never Alone
By Waynonaha Two Worlds
We
are never alone really alone for all around us and about us are the spirits
of things to come and things that have been.
It is in this balance that we are suspended between heaven and Earth to live
and enjoy the beauty of this, our Earth Mother.
The air filled with spirit, surrounds our every breath, protecting us as if
in the womb of our mother.
We have but to reach into the Field Of Plenty to create our own reality.
From this rich awaiting gift we receive all that is there for us to share
and love in life.
Our spirit waits the beginnings of new life, from which all creation flows.
Love and blessings Waynonaha
Thank you Kenja for the beautiful art.
Waynonaha Two Worlds. Copyright (c) 2006 by Waynonaha Two
Worlds. All publication rights reserved.
FEATURE
STORY...
Today Is a Good Day to Die
By Lee Standing Bear Moore as told to Takatoka
I cannot remember when it was the first time I
heard the Indian phrase, “Today is a good day to die.” The phrase was used in
the context of a warrior’s desire to die an honorable and brave death. For
many decades I accepted this idea, but as age and death-threatening ailments
became commonplace, my idea of its meaning changed drastically."
I was born at the Bell Mission near Los Angeles
and the product of a family forced to move west from our ancestral home in
Arkansas. In the 1940’s, many Indian and poor people of Oklahoma and Arkansas
were “encouraged” by the government to relocate to the west coast to fill
wartime jobs. The mass relocation was similar to the Dust Bowl days of the
1930’s when the dispossessed were drawn west from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New
Mexico and Arkansas. As John Steinbeck wrote in his 1939 novel The Grapes of
Wrath:
"…families, tribes, dusted out, tractored out. Carloads, caravans, homeless and
hungry; twenty thousand and fifty thousand and a hundred thousand and two
hundred thousand. They streamed over the mountains, hungry and restless -
restless as ants, scurrying to find work to do - to lift, to push, to pull, to
pick, to cut - anything, any burden to bear, for food. The kids are hungry. We
got no place to live. Like ants scurrying for work, for food, and most of all
for land."
I learned the meaning of death as I grew up in
gang-infested areas of Los Angeles County. There was little honor or bravery
associated with the senseless deaths I witnessed as a youngster. The first time
I experienced death was in 1956 as I sat in the emergency room of the Studebaker
Hospital awaiting stitches from a bicycle accident. A boy from our school
brought Jerry in with the hook of crow bar planted in his head. There was
little doctors could do for him. As a 10-year old, the experience of seeing a
schoolyard buddy bloodied from head to toe with gore was horrific. Jerry laid
on a bench not three feet from where I sat and as I stared into his eyes blood
streamed down his head across gang tattoos on his arms and dripped into a pool
on the floor. He died holding my hand. As my formative school years past,
shootings, stabbings, and bludgeoning deaths were nearly everyday occurrences.
My heart and brain were anesthetized to death by the age of fifteen.
After I entered the U.S. Army at the age of
nineteen, I became intimately acquainted with death. As a platoon sergeant
during the Vietnam War, I knew death was always an inch away during the many
firefights and major operation battles. As months passed in the steaming
jungles, an awareness of death consumed every moment. Friends dropped like
flies. A single breath often separated my consciousness from death. As a matter
of self-preservation and sanity, I was forced to become a friend of death and
even welcomed it on several occasions.
On May 13, 1968, a mountaintop signal site
called Nui Ba Den where I was temporarily stationed was overran by two regiments
of North Vietnamese Regulars. The nearly 100 defenders were slaughtered. If
not killed outright, many were tortured and some taken prisoner.
After the short battle was over, I wandered
alone on the mountain for several days searching for food and water and removing
booby traps from the bodies of dead comrades. At one point, when NVA patrols
came dangerously close to my position several times, I was ready to give up my
life. I felt like there was no hope for rescue and the prospects of being
tortured was consuming me. It was then that I stood against the horizon
and roared at the top of my lungs, “Take me now! Shoot me now! Today
is a good day to die!” My screams were heard on echoes across the
6,000-foot mountain but
by the grace of the Creator
the enemy had no ears. Strangely, the enemy did not take my life but allowed me to
live.
It was NOT a good day to die.
Obviously, I was among the survivors but the
gruesome memories haunted me for years and the faces of death are often seen in
my dreams making me a life-long causality of that unnecessary and brutal war.
As years passed, I knew death many times. Family,
friends and co-workers crossed life’s threshold due to illness, accidents and
sometimes circumstances that were not always brave or honorable.
Regardless of my close experiences with death
over the years, the meaning of the term “Today is a good day to die” eluded me.
That is until just recently.
During the past four months, I had three close
encounters with death because of a bad heart and blood ailments received during
the war. My heart was shocked back into rhythm during the last hospital visit.
I knew during these encounters that death would not take me. Over the years,
the Creator of All Things visited me many times. One time as I stood in the
fire circle on the sacred Manataka Mountain the wind swirled around my body like
a small tornado and the night sky opened to a voice that gave many instructions.
Other voices sang many songs. And finally the time of my death was
spoken. I have not completed all the instructions and thus my crossing time has
not arrived. Each day I am allowed to continue my path and quest is a gift.
I do not think I have ever feared death. I
steadfastly hold the ways of the Beauty Path in my heart and thus fear of death
is insignificant. The depth and breadth of Indian philosophy and spiritual
belief has always served me well in times of crisis. Just as the water of life
is not distressed by its many changes, from liquid to solid to vapor in the
eternal circle, I am not afraid of my body changing into spirit. After all, the
same water that appeared a the time of Creation remains on earth today.
The idea that my spirit will one day
join with those of my ancestors and other loved ones is an appealing thought.
My opinions and hard-won beliefs about the
Beauty Way have become rock solid over the years. However, my idea of the
meaning of the term, “today is a good day to die” has changed.
I now know that this term does not necessarily
refer to an action such has bravery or define some abstract ideal of honor. In
my mind, the term does not have anything to do with the designs of mankind, but
instead acknowledges the will of the Creator in a good way.
“Today is a good day to die” means that we are
ready in our mind, heart and spirit to become one with the Eternal Spirit of the
Creator. It means we are prepared to enter the never-ending and timeless River
of Spirit to float forever. The Creator may later require our energy and spirit
in the form of another creation so we may become the fodder and substance of
something entirely new, return as fragment of another being or some other
transformation as the will of the Creator may dictate. Who can say otherwise?
In keeping with the nature of all creation,
energy and spirit never die as they are simply reformed repeatedly in a
perpetual sacred symphony conducted by our Great Grandfather in heaven.
This definition of the term, “Today is a good
day to die” is yet another example of the tremendous spiritual growth we have
experienced because of the gift of knowledge and practice of the Beauty Path of
the Indian.
Today IS a good day to die.
HISTORY....
THE HISTORY OF THEIR PEOPLE
The Tachi Yokut Indians have inhabited the
San Joaquin valley for centuries. Their forefathers made their living
peacefully through farming, hunting, fishing, and gathering grains, nuts and
fruits. Their lands consisted of fertile valleys, marshlands and rolling
foothills. With the arrival of the American settlers, they gradually lost
the land where they once lived. Their land was given away by the government
or sold to farmers and ranchers, sometimes as bounty for killing their
people. By the end of the 19th century, the Tachi Yokut Tribe was split
across the central and southern parts of California.
Here in the San Joaquin Valley, their
people were marched on foot from the valley to the foothills to make way for
farmers and ranchers. When oil was discovered near Coalinga, they then were
marched back to a desolate spot in the central valley near the present
location of our reservation.
The Citizenship Act of 1924 gave all
Indians American citizenship rights while allowing them to retain their
tribal citizenship but it made little difference in the way they were
treated by the government. As part of their integration into white society,
the federal government sent their children to government schools, their
religion was banned, and the teaching of their language and culture was all
but forbidden.
Even after the land grabs and removal
efforts had ceased, the damage had been done. The division of their people,
the suppression of the Indian culture, and the influence of white society
left their people with few ties to the past. Aspirations for the future were
being destroyed by the resulting economic hardships and prejudice
For generations their people have tried to
support themselves as seasonal field laborers. Government regulations
produced long term economic stagnation on the reservation, resulting in 85%
unemployment, a crumbling infrastructure, and a cycle of poverty which
ground away at the hope for a better future for their children.
~Submitted by Jim Ewing
From: The Asylum Dream Catcher,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TA_DreamCatcher/
Legends
of Old:
Creation Story and The Importance of Dreaming
Abenaki Legend
Told by Elliot Joubert
The Great Spirit, in a time not known to us looked about and saw nothing. No
colors, no beauty. Time was silent in darkness. There was no sound. Nothing
could be seen or felt. The Great Spirit decided to fill this space with
light and life. From his great power he commanded the sparks of creation. He
ordered Tôlba, the Great Turtle to come from the waters and become the land.
The Great Spirit molded the mountains and the valleys on turtle's back. He
put white clouds into the blue skies. He was very happy. He said,
"Everything is ready now. I will fill this place with the happy movement of
life." He thought and thought about what kind of creatures he would make.
Where would they live? What would they do? What would their purpose be? He
wanted a perfect plan. He thought so hard that he became very tired and fell
asleep.
His sleep was filled with dreams of his creation. He saw strange things in
his dream. He saw animals crawling on four legs, some on two. Some creatures
flew with wings, some swam with fins. There were plants of all colors,
covering the ground everywhere. Insects buzzed around, dogs barked, birds
sang, and human beings called to each other. Everything seemed out of place.
The Great Spirit thought he was having a bad dream. He thought, nothing
could be this imperfect.
When the Great Spirit awakened, he saw a beaver nibbling on a branch. He
realized the world of his dream became his creation. Everything he dreamed
about came true. When he saw the beaver make his home, and a dam to provide
a pond for his family to swim in, he then knew every thing has it's place,
and purpose in the time to come. It has been told among our people from
generation to generation. We must not question our dreams. They are our
creation.
From Blue Panther Keeper of Stories
OPINION PAGE...
|
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR...
Dear Editor
By way of background, please let me state 2
things right away. I look forward to reading your newsletter as soon as
it arrives. The second thing is that I am in the process of
rediscovering my heritage and have started my own spiritual journey to
that end.
I was struck by a contrast in the August
newsletter that seems oddly strange. In the final paragraph about the
appalling suicide rates among Indian youth there is a strong depiction of
the poverty and despair apparent on the reservation. The final question
about how it could not have and effect is very telling.
Following this article is the feature of jokes. As
with the majority of newsletters it has an overwhelming number of jokes
about the conditions of poverty on the reservations. I have always
understood that making fun of current conditions is a normal standard of
humor and have enjoyed it myself many times. However, I can't help but feel,
the overall tone diminishes the seriousness of the problem. It left me sad.
Humor is a difficult concept at best but making
fun of the despair on the reservation seems a little too much at this time.
Perhaps. when the crisis is a thing of the past we can all look back and
share the smile. I am hoping the level of jokes can change somewhat until
then.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
[Editor's Note: Most of the
jokes about rez life usually come from the rez itself. We are not
poking fun at someone else -- they are poking fun at themselves. Our
people have always found a way to laugh about the most serious of
issues. It is who we are. It is a part of what makes us strong.
The "crisis" on reservations has existed since the first one was created
in 1679. There is nothing in the behavior of either the government,
organized religions or dominant culture as a whole to indicate the
"crisis" will ever end. Quite to the contrary, government and organized
religions have turned the suffering of our people into a business. For
example, Catholic Social Services has contracts all over the country
with local and state social services departments to find foster homes
and adoptive homes for Indian children. They use unlicensed and
untrained 'social workers' who made assessments that are consistently
slanted toward legally removing the children from their homes that may
contain one or more alcoholics or some other family dysfunction.
Catholic Social Services makes big bucks for each rez child depending on
location and 'demand'. So, what else is there to do but laugh about
it? Take away our ability to laugh at ourselves? We think
not.]
|
Dear Manataka,
The Business of Powwow
"Everyone please rise...gentlemen, remove your hats
please" the emcee's voice filled the arena. It was Friday night, and
Grand Entry was about to begin.
But not like most California powwows. Before the
eagle staff, before the flags, before all of the other dancers, there
came two grass dancers, Giles Bullshield and Gregory Whitehorse, and to
the beat of Wildhorse Singers on their northern drum they danced around
the arena before us, preparing the way, making ready for the rest of the
dancers, the way it used to be done in the old days...before there were
manicured athletic fields and polished stadium floors.
Spectators were few. The temperature had peaked at
113 degrees in a location near the ocean where the thermometer in June
rarely passes eighty degrees. After a nine year absence at the college,
many people had forgotten about the powwow, or didn't hear about it soon
enough, or had graduations, funerals and televised sports events to
attend to. But above all, the heat was daunting. Still, the grass
dancers danced. After they had completed their circle around the arena,
the eagle staff and the flags, the gourd dancers and the California
dancers, the head staff and the rest of us filed in behind them, proud,
joyful; temporarily unaware of the heat.
The Children Of Many Colors Powwow started in
1994. From our first tiny gathering it was a fabulous success. But in
1997 we decided that the effort involved, the tension mounting in the
ten member board, the politics of dancing, and the death of several
lifetime members within a single year was more than we could shoulder.
It was simply too much work. At the height of its popularity, we laid
the gathering to rest, possibly forever.
And for the next seven years, every time I went to
a native gathering, I heard the same question. "When will you bring the
Redbird powwow back?"
We realized it must have been a good gathering, a
necessary part of Native American life in Southern California, where
half of all urban natives live. In 2004 we brought the powwow back to a
new location, Castaic Lake, a wonderful state-owned park operated (at
the time haphazardly) by the Los Angeles Department of Parks and
Recreation.
We ran into trouble from the start. It took a year
and a half to be allowed to submit an application; at the point that it
was accepted, we had ten weeks left to put on the powwow. The gathering
was a success. The financial hardship endured was astronomical, and
personal. As a result of decisions made by the Los Angeles County Board
of Supervisors only weeks before the gathering, there were no
lifeguards. Two little girls drowned adjacent to the powwow area; one
of them could not be revived.
Bringing the powwow back again, in 2006, was
ultimately a personal decision I made as the founder of Redbird. It was
a decision to persevere on behalf of the Native American community, and
yet, it was one that depended on the support of the larger community for
its financial success.
In the business of powwow, you have to have both.
If you aren't a casino, if you aren't independently wealthy, and if you
don't have your own land, you need the support of everyone; vendors,
dancers, head staff, volunteers and visitors.
Our return to Moorpark College after nine years was
both a cultural success and a financial burden; one that was shared by
vendors, head staff, and Redbird alike. Sunday saw a better crowd, but
by Saturday evening some vendors had pulled up their stakes and gone
home. It was a gathering that their vendor fees had made possible. It
was a powwow where, historically, vendors made more than they did at
much larger events.
In the business of powwow, there are two levels of
experience. There is keeping the circle strong and good, and there is
covering the finances. In the circle, there was remarkable support from
the people whose land we were standing on; the Chumash, often
overlooked at California powwows, and often over-shadowed by the powwow
culture, which is not their own. We were graced not only with their
presence but with their participation and support.
We were graced with gourd dancers that came from as
far away as San Diego, bringing their entire families; we were graced
with a head staff who stayed strong and stayed to the end despite being
informed on Sunday morning of our financial position as of late Saturday
night.
We were graced with the performance of Hummingbird
Singers and their incredible accapello flag song, and with Crooked Hat,
the southern drum who came on Friday night and stayed through Sunday for
no other reason than to sing and be a part of the circle. We were
graced with the unwavering strength of Victor Chavez and Michael Reifel,
and the tireless and beautiful presence of Thirza Defoe, Kathy Peltier,
Sam Bear Paw and Saginaw Grant. We were graced by the presence of gourd
dancers, of old friends and of new ones.
On Monday morning I sent an email to Moorpark
College. I let them know we would very much like to return again next
year. It may have sounded crazy to them to state our enthusiasm for
coming back when in fact we were $2,500.00 in the red, had suffered
through a record heat wave, and had vendors walk away on Saturday
night. There is one thing for certain about the business of powwow. It
isn't easy. There are no guarantees. But if you are going to make a
commitment, you have to stand by it, and stand strong.
We hope to be able to return to Moorpark College
next year. We hope to see you there.
(Letters in support
of keeping the powwow at Moorpark College can be sent to Dave Leyba,
Director of Auxiliary Services, Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Park
Drive, Moorpark, CA 93021 or sent via email to
dleyba@vcccd.net)
Corina Roberts, Founder of Redbird
|
TRIBAL POLITICS:
Decision will triple size of Yavapai-Apache lands
Door is opened for 1,169 acres of new trust land
By Steve Ayers, Staff Reporter, Camp Verde Bugle
The Yavapai -Apache Nation has taken a giant step toward increasing the size of
their tribal lands.
On June 29, the Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior
dismissed four appeals that have stood in the way of adding 1,169 acres in to
the Nation's trust lands.
Once land is taken into trust, the land becomes part of the reservation and
protected by the Nation's sovereignty. The addition will effectively triple the
size of the Nation's homeland.
For Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairman Jamie Fullmer, the announcement marks the
beginning of the end of what has turned into a long process and the realization
of a dream come true.
"This opens the door, at last, to begin developing our lands. And for right now
the biggest plan is begin moving forward on plans to construct new homes for our
members," Fullmer said.
He said the plan is to build approximately 20 new homes each year.
"We will take a slow, consistent course," Fullmer said. "We already have the
infrastructure in place so that we do not impact the water resources in the
area, and we have the financial resources in place to make it happen."
The Y-A Nation plans to build approximately 300 homes on 400 acres, which will
also include community buildings, public parks and open space.
They also plan on using 743 acres for agriculture and approximately 68 acres for
commercial purposes.
Of the 24 parcels in the trust application, six are in Clarkdale and 18 are in
Camp Verde. The Nation currently has 652 acres in trust and tribal membership of
2,050 people.
The application for trust status was first filed in February 2001. Two years
ago, the western region of the Bureau of Indian Affair made a recommendation
that the land be given trust status.
That recommendation began a two-year appeal period during which four appeals
were filed, one each from the Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Department
of Water Resources, Salt River Project and one from residents adjacent to a sand
and gravel operation on lands the Nation was reclaiming.
The claim by the residents was actually dropped earlier this year as part of an
out-of-court settlement.
Fullmer has met with the state agencies and Gov. Janet Napolitano to address the
concerns voiced by the state agencies and travel to Washington, D.C., several
times to keep the application moving.
The trust status will not take effect immediately. In fact, when the land will
officially go into trust is anybody's guess.
"I wish I could say when it will happen," Fullmer said. "We still have some
items that need to be taken care of. In the meantime we will be doing whatever
we can to assist the process. Right now, it is in the Bureau of Indian Affair's
control."
Much of the remaining items are legal documents and include having to provide
proof of a clear title to the property.
In 1870 the U.S. government gave the Yavapai and the Apache a reservation in the
Verde Valley that extended 10 miles each side of the Verde River and 40 miles up
stream from a point just west of Fort Verde.
The reservation included the land on which the towns and cities of Cottonwood,
Clarkdale, Jerome, Cornville and portions of Camp Verde now stand.
The reservation was taken away from them after just five years.
The Nation is currently working to trade land with the Forest Service in an
effort to recover more trust land.
"We will continue to acquire additional land for our people, per our
constitution, and work to have those additional lands added into our trust for
the Nation," Fullmer said.
Submitted by Andre Cramblit, Indigenous News Network
ECO-News Flash:
France’s top judicial court has
denied Monsanto's requests to grow test plots of genetically engineered corn in
two locations. The court says the biotech corporation has not provided enough
details about where these experimental field trials would be located. Monsanto
has responded by saying that despite the court ruling, the corporation will
continue testing genetically engineered crops in France. "We'll continue our
experiments, but we might have to change a bit the way we ask for licenses in
the future," said Yann Fichet, director of external relations for Monsanto
France.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_406.cfm
Over 1600 sheep apparently died
this month in India after ingesting genetically engineered (GE) cotton. The
massive deaths occurred after several days of grazing in fields where Monsanto’s
Bt and herbicide resistant spliced varieties of cotton were planted. Scientists
from India's Centre for Sustainable Agriculture are calling on the government to
launch a study into the impacts of GE cotton toxins.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_387.cfm
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BENNIE
LeBEAU
Bennie E. "Blue Thunder" LeBeau
Sr., an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Nation, Wind
River Indian Reservation, Ft. Washakie, Wyoming
is a MAIC Newsletter Correspondent. His "Teton
Rainbow" and Earth Wisdom columns are regular features on these pages.
|
Message to Humanity - August 2nd, 2006)
Wind River Indian Reservation, Ft. Washakie, Wyoming
Greetings all my
relatives in all Cultures and Traditions, as we move into the future today
thinking about the weather situations and the prophecies, message of many
dreams, visions. My message to those that have been following my work as a
Peacemaker and Earth Healer is of love, peace, trust, honor, respect and
harmony for Mother Earth. There are many messages of how Mother Earth will
reflect her power on the areas that are causing pain and sorrow to the
earth, wind, fire and water. Mother Earth herself will benefit from the
consequences of nature forces, bring harmony. Many places upon Mother Earth
will be purified of the greed, anger, hatred, alcoholism, drug addiction,
jealousy this will take place in many related subjects. Similar to the
construction and plundering in the development of Mother Earth's resources
brought about by wars. Universal protocols need to be understood. Universal
laws of how the earth works need to be considered and reflected upon by all
nations of the world.
Those that do
not understand or consider Universal Laws in using the right thought forms
and speaking the Spoken Truth will come under attack by those energies of
their own making in thought forms and their actions. Cause has an effect,
either positive or negative, one or the other it will prevail, light or
darkness we have two choices. What is your choice? As Nations Unite in our
Souls We Will Walk in Peace understanding and considering Spiritual Law is
the Universal Law of harmony. Spiritual laws of thoughts work in all of
nature's creations in harmonic sounds and not in sounds of mass destruction.
This magical energy used in our minds manifests harmony or disharmony, most
evident at this time in history, called prophecy. What we sow is what we
will reap in manifestation, reflecting this into the environments of nature
and our families across the world. Humanity is slowly awakening to what is
being reflected upon Mother Earth and how things really work on Turtle
Island in Universal Laws, spiritual law of the land and not the Man Made
Laws.
These Man Made
Laws have taken Mother Nature out of balance, out of harmony, and into what
is happening now in the environmental changes of the world. Universal Laws
are fixing what is wrong now; Nature's Laws are in charge not the Man Made
Laws. Using the thought forms of having the right to prosperity is the
curse. Thinking that Mother Earth is a material thing in the thoughts of
humanity and not recognizing our Mother will be the downfall to those in
humanity now in those negative thought forms. The reconnection is needed to
become grounded to Earth Wisdom, this knowledge is needed now to help our
children, animals, insects, mammals, four legged, winged ones, all of
creation.
READ MORE...
©Copyright by Bennie LeBeau, 2006
MOTHER
EARTH WATCH
President Bush's Budget Proposes Public Lands
Liquidation
From the National
Audubon Society
The President has introduced a plan in
his budget to auction off nearly one million acres of our
treasured public lands to the highest bidder. Places up for sale would include
National Forest areas, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management land
and other critical wildlife habitat. Americans have entrusted the management of
these special places to our public servants; now they want to sell them off
without giving you a choice. Congress will have the final say on this. Speak up
now to let your elected officials know that wholesaling public lands is not a
way to balance the budget.
Take action to stop the sale of America's public lands. Send a quick and
effective message to your Members of Congress today.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress
alike balked at a similar proposal to sell off national parks introduced last
year by Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA). However the President has gone a
step further by identifying specific lands to sell, and has given the managing
agencies of these areas a quota to fill. These are places that birds and other
wildlife call home as well as popular areas used for recreation.
While the details are a bit sketchy,
it appears that the President's budget would affect 170,000-200,000 acres of
Forest Service land in 35 states, with California taking the biggest hit and
possibly as many as 500,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in the
West.
Here are some examples of special
places that could be sacrified forever if this shortsighted plan goes forward:
-
MISSOURI: Three
parcels listed in Boone County are adjacent to the Baskett Wildlife Research
Area owned by the University of Missouri. If the tracts adjacent to the
university property are sold, the research area could potentially be harmed
if development altered wildlife habitats.
-
COLORADO: A one
mile long roadless area in the White River National Forest that encompasses
Elliot Creek about a mile north of the Eagles Nest Wilderness in Summit
County.
-
VIRGINIA: The
tract marked for sale in Giles County is contiguous with other national
forest land and about a mile from the Appalachian Trail.
-
MISSISSIPPI: One
tract in the De Soto National Forest forms the entire north shore of Lake
Shelby in the state park. If that land is sold, visitors to the state park
will be looking at a high-end development for Hattiesburg's elite. Arguably,
those tracts are the highest-value viewsheds in the entire 1,200,000 acres
of Mississippi’s National Forests.
-
ALABAMA: In the
Conecuh National Forest, they propose to sell a mile of frontage (on both
sides) of the Blackwater River, one of the most recreational rivers in the
central Gulf Coast. The tract, far from isolated, lies just 1000 feet from
thousands of acres of national forest land.
-
NORTH CAROLINA:
Parcels include the pristine watershed and rare plant communities of the
Little River, abutting the Uwharrie's Birkhead Mountains Wilderness.
-
MONTANA: 160-acre
parcel in the Big Creek drainage south of Emigrant. A popular recreation
area, which abuts the upscale guest ranch, Mountain Sky Ranch, it includes
three recreational homesite leases and a fishing access site.
-
WASHINGTON & OREGON:
Nearly 730 acres of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Please ensure your lawmakers
understand that this latest attempt to sell off our natural heritage is a
nonstarter in budget discussions.
Speak out now for these treasured American places before they are sold off to
the highest bidder.
Audubon Public Policy
Division
1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
1-800-659-2622
audubonaction@audubon.org
Elder's
Meditation
See how the boy is with his sister
and the other ones of his home lodge and you can know how the man
will be with your daughter." Lakota
Proverb
Very early in our lives we form beliefs,
attitudes, expectations and habits. We will live by these habits when we
are older. The Elders say to watch the boy with his sister. If he is
respectful and treats her good, then the odds are that's the way he will
treat all women when he is older. Also watch the young girl and how she
treats her brother, for that will indicate what kind of woman she will
be to her man. We need to teach our children to respect one another
while they are young. The best way to teach them is to show respect for
ourselves.
Great Spirit,
let me be a role
model for the children.
CLEAR WINGED BUTTERFLIES...
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A MIRACLE OF NATURE! |
Health
Watch...
The World's Best Ant
Poison
by Jan Jensen of WELLthy Choices
We live in the woods and carpenter ants are a huge problem. We have spent
thousands of dollars with Orkin and on ant poisons trying to keep them under
control but nothing has helped. So when I read somewhere that Aspartame (Nutrasweet)
was actually developed as an ant poison and only changed to being considered
non-poisonous after it was realized that a lot more money could be made on it as
a sweetener than as an ant poison, I decided to give it a try. I opened two
packets of aspartame sweetener, and dumped one in a corner of each of our
bathrooms. That was 2 years ago and I have not seen any carpenter ants for
about 9 - 12 months.
It works better than the most deadly poisons I have tried. Any time they show up
again, I simply dump another package of Nutrasweet in a corner, and they will be
gone for a year or so again. Since posting this information I have had many
people tell me of their success solving ant problems with this substance, when
nothing else worked.
We found later that small black ants would not eat the aspartame. It was
determined that if you mixed it with apple juice, they would quickly take it
back to the nest, and all would be dead within 24 hours, usually. I have found
that sometimes it will kill them, and sometimes it does not. Not sure why, may
be slightly different species of ants or something.
Fire Ants: We got our first fire ant hill about 2 weeks ago. Poison did
not work. We tried aspartame and the ants ignored it until we got a light rain.
It was just a sprinkle, enough to moisten the Nutrasweet and ground, but not
enough to wash it away. They went crazy, hundreds of them grabbing it and taking
it back into the mound. When I checked the mound 2 days later, there was no sign
of the fire ants. I even dug the mound up some, and still saw none of them. How
does it Work:
Aspartame is a neuropoison. It most
likely kills the ants by interfering with their nervous system. It could be
direct, like stopping their heart, or something more subtle like killing their
sense of taste so they can't figure out what is eatable, or smell, so they can't
follow their trails, or mis-identify their colonies members, so they start
fighting each other.
Not sure what causes them to end up dying, just know that for many species of
ants it will kill them quickly and effectively. As with any poison I recommend
wearing gloves and washing any skin areas that come in contact with this poison,
and avoid getting it in your mouth, despite anything the labeling may indicate.
More information on this fantastic poison can be found at:
http://www.dorway.com
READ MORE....
Submitted by Roberta
Noyes
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MORE HEALTH WATCH...
From Crystal Harvey, MAIC Correspondent
Fluoride Action Network media release
2006
Biggest Health Threat to the United States - US Dentistry...
Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
The US Health Care
System, rated 72nd in
quality, but number one
in cost - worldwide, is
known, by government
reports, to be the
NUMBER ONE KILLER of
Americans - ahead of
heart disease, cancer,
and strokes. There is
no argument against
facts.
But what is up for
speculation are the
REASONS why this is so.
No one I know of
(government agencies,
think tanks, etc.) has
taken the time to
describe, and rate, the
reasons why US citizens
are being so
short-changed.
It is easy to point
fingers at the US Food &
Drug Administration
(FDA) and show their
faults. We could point
with certainty at those
industries that spew
their toxic waste into
society. We could
certainly talk endlessly
about the greed and
corruption in the health
insurance industry, and
their penchant to offer
the crappiest of health
care paradigms as the
only choices they'll pay
for. We could point our
fingers at the hospital
system, our nursing
homes, and the tendency
towards "five-minute
medicine." We could
talk about State
Regulatory Boards and
their inability, and
unwillingness to cull
out bad practitioners,
and bad practices. We
could talk about the
intentional actions of
the sleazy
"quackbuster"
operation to stop any
innovation in health
care.
I've written about all
of these problems - and
so have many others.
But what if there is an
industry, completely
trusted by the public,
that knowingly, and
intentionally, is
causing significant harm
to America's health?
There is one. It
is called
"Official dentistry"
and I believe that this
entity, by itself, is
the number one problem
in American health
care.
Let me tell you why I
think so...
READ MORE...
Tim Bolen - Health Freedom
Advocate
Copyright 2005 by Bolen Report
MORE HEALTH WATCH...
U.S. Government Planning Mass Poisonings
on Reservations!
U.S. Senator
Tim Johnson (D-SD) recently announced that the Aberdeen Area Tribal
Chairman’s Health Board will receive $249,996 in funding for dental
health care, specifically early childhood caries prevention and
water fluoridation.
Medicating specific mass populations
with unneeded, unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals is
wrong!
The Manataka
American Indian Council adamantly opposes efforts of the U.S.
government to force Indian people living on reservations to consume
potentially lethal doses of a chemical by-product called fluoride
for the following five reasons:
-
Fluoride kills animals,
birds, fish and insects – damages plant life. Government
studies from around the world prove fluoride has a devastating
affect on the animal and plant kingdoms. There is no way to
keep public water from being consumed by animals, birds, fish
and insects. What will fluoride do to vegetable gardens, cattle,
and family pets? What you do to Mother Earth, you do to
yourself.
-
Fluorosilicic acid,
otherwise known by its short name, fluoride is not a natural
substance. This highly toxic chemical is a waste product
that is scraped off the smokestacks of industrial polluters.
The cost of disposing of this substance would cost industries
billions -- but not if they can put it into water systems.
-
This material is a
toxic waste that's regulated by the EPA. It would be illegal to
drip it into a river or a stream, but for some reason, it is
perfectly legal to drip it into the public water supply and let
people drink it. It's a bizarre cycle of rationalization that
can only be called medical lunacy.
Stop this ugly assault and further
genocide of our people!
Contact the following
Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board Members:
READ MORE...
Animal Rights... and
Wrongs
A
Whale Of A Story
For a bit of Joy in your
life
If you read the front page story of
the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female
humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab
traps and lines.
She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her
to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line
rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line
tugging in her mouth.
A
fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands
(outside the
Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help.
Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she
was
so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle
her ...
a very dangerous proposition .. One
slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.
They worked for hours
with curved knives and eventually freed her.
When she was free, the divers say
she swam in what seemed like joyous circles.
She then
came back to each and every
diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed
gently around-she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly
beautiful experience of their lives.
The guy who cut the rope
out of her mouth says her eye was
following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you, and
all those you love,
be
so blessed and fortunate
to
be surrounded by people
who will help you get untangled
from the things that are binding you.
And, may
you always know the joy
of
giving and receiving gratitude.
Animal Rights... and
Wrongs
Department of
the Interior Slaughters Our Cousins!
The
U.S. Forest Service wants to use an array of poisons, traps and shooting --
including aerial gunning -- to wipe out wolves and other carnivores in federally
designated wilderness areas.
Help us force the U.S. Forest
Service to withdraw this ill-advised proposal by encouraging your friends to
submit their personalized comments before September 6!!
Under the proposal, federal agents could chase down and kill bears or other
carnivores using planes, helicopters, and all-terrain vehicles -- invading areas
once safe for these creatures with loud, intrusive machines. The proposal
also allows for the use of the controversial pesticide sodium cyanide. Baited
devices could be used to shoot the highly toxic gas into a wolf's mouth, causing
a horrible death.
Wildlife Services, the agency that would be put in charge, has a grim track
record. In 2004 alone, their agents killed more than 37,000 animals -- coyotes,
wolves, foxes, and bobcats -- from the air.
Wilderness areas were meant to be wild and free. According to the 1964
Wilderness Act, these special places should be preserved in their natural
conditions with little or no human influence. But the Forest Service's plan
could fundamentally alter these largely untouched areas, allowing low-flying
airplanes, trucks and all-terrain vehicles to hunt down populations of wolves,
bears and other carnivores.
Ask your friends to write to the
U.S. Forest Service today.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team
P.S. Tell your friends that their comments will be most effective if they are
personalized. They should tell officials why it is important that they do not go
forward with this harmful proposal:
http://go.care2.com/e/mAo/O3/e011
Submitted by Sheri Awi
Anida Waya Burnett
[The needless, ignorant and ghoulish
slaughter of our animal cousins must be stopped! Nature will take care of
itself without the ridiculous meddling of stupid bureaucrats. The U.S.
Department of the Interior is an ugly monster that must be stripped bare of its
funding and power over life and death. Contact your congressional
representatives today! --Editor]
SACRED SITE WATCH:
The Miami Circle
Today
a 2,000 year-old American Indian burial ground located along the Miami River
near downtown Miami, Florida is yet undisturbed by local developers. But for how
long no one knows.
Thousands of artifacts have been recovered at the site, all characteristic of
the Tequesta Indians who lived in the area before the arrival of the Seminoles
and Spanish in the 1500s and 1600s. The circle itself may be between 500 and 700
years old.
Next to the plush Sheraton at Miami Biscayne Bay is a banner hanging from a
hurricane fence that encloses the burial ground on a vacant lot located on
Bricknell Avenue. The banner proclaims that the site is protected by the
State of Florida with the name of Governor Jeb Bush, brother of President Bush,
at the top of a long list of supporting organizations. Posted signs warn
the public that the site is under police surveillance.
Officials who are committed to preserving the ancient burial ground call the
site the Miami Circle. Every Tuesday evening, members of the
Miccosukee Tribe perform ceremony open to the public at the burial grounds.
One local supporter, Brian S. Goodson, says, "The
site is a stark and wonderfully primitive contrast to the numerous towering
buildings that surround it in the heavily populated city, is a reminder to us
all the deep respect of Indian people toward their elders who have moved on to
the next plane."
In the April 1999 issue of Archaeology, a publication of the
Archaeological Institute of America, an article by Mark Rose entitled
Prehistoric Miami wrote, "...the site remained undiscovered and survived nearly
intact until now is miraculous. It was unharmed during construction of a
three-story apartment building 50 years ago, when a septic tank was put through
its center. Plans called for construction of a 600-unit luxury high-rise
condominium to proceed once archaeologists have finished excavating and
documenting the site. If necessary, archaeologists would have tried cutting away
the bedrock and reassembling the circular formation elsewhere, but on February
18 a judge in Miami granted a temporary injunction halting construction at the
site."
Efforts to preserve the Miami Circle
are under attack
again. In January 2005 members of the Florida AIM chapter angrily
denounced an article, "Much Ado About A Circle," written by University of
Florida archaeologist Jerald Milanich who suggests the Miami Circle may be a
modern septic-tank drainage system. Other reputable archaeologists who
studied the site for several years are offended by Milanich's remarks.
According to a media release from Florida AIM, "...Once
again the ghoulish grave robbers with degree's have used "development" as a
pretext to rob the graves of Indigenous peoples. At least four full skeletal
remains and scores of other peoples partial remains have been removed from the
so-called "1 Miami" site... [but this] ghoulish
exercise has been temporarily halted...as [they] failed to acquire the
appropriate South Florida Water Management District permits for his plundering
exercise.... But experience dictates that multi-million dollar development are
not so easily halted..."
The Miami River Circle is facing the ever-present danger of modern development.
Native American groups and archaeologists argue that further disturbance would
damage remaining artifacts and disturb the nature of the site. As a result, the
Archaeological and Historical Conservancy is collecting donations to preserve
the site.
Many fear that rich and powerful developers will bribe Dade County commissioners
and call in political favors. In the face of strong public sentiment
consistently in favor of preserving the sacred site, great political and
financial pressures continue to plague supporters.
Settlement over Indian burial site
announced
PORT ANGELES, Wash. Washington state
will pay more than 17 (m) million dollars to tribal and local officials in Port
Angeles to settle disputes over the disturbance of an ancient American Indian
village. The settlement was announced yesterday by Governor Christine Gregoire
(GREG'-wahr ). It ends litigation surrounding the Department of Transportation's
abandoned project at Port Angeles to build new pontoons for the Hood Canal
floating bridge. The (Lower Elwha Klallam) tribe will get two-and-a-half (m)
million dollars in the settlement, and ownership of eleven acres at the former
village site. Port Angeles and the city's port each will get grants of
seven-and-a-half (m) million dollars to offset the lost economic activity that
went with the Hood Canal bridge project. Work stopped in 2003 after
officials discovered human remains at the site.
www.kesq.com
Copyright 2006 Associated Press.
[Editor's Note: This judgment is a significant step forward in the protection of
sacred grounds. This ruling can be added to the growing list of legal precedents
that hold federal bureaucrats responsible for blatant disregard for sacred
sites.]
Manataka American
Indian Council
|
HILL
& HOLLER COLUMN
By
Susan Bates
News and Notes From Indian Country
The
Disappearing Indian
Ever since the first white man set foot on this Sacred Land, our own
People have predicted the end of our race. Indeed, from the very
beginning we began to die of diseases, murder and cultural genocide.
These forces continue
even today.
For us Cherokee, it wasn't until
the whites began pushing our people into the West that our forefathers
began to feel that the end was near. To the Cherokee People the West is
"The Darkening Land" where all spirits travel when they are done with
this life. But it wasn't the disappearance of our bodies that tolled the
death knell to these old
timers. It was the disappearance of our own culture, our own religion,
our medicine plants and hunting lands that made them fear our
extermination was at hand. And I have found this to be sadly true.
While there are tens of
thousands of "Indians" alive today (and more people joining the ranks
hourly) there are very few true Native Peoples. Most of us have become
"white" in every way. Our prophets warned us about taking the
white man's cooking pots, his religion and his customs. Nevertheless, we
have embraced our genocide by embracing all of these things, including
and especially a foreign religion, one born of greed, embedded in the
concept of Manifest Destiny and carried out at all cost of life.
In the beginning many of our
People resisted this conversion to Christianity. But as time went on and
generation after generation marched into the West, many People came to
believe that if they really did become Christian, they would be left
alone.
Sadly, this wasn't true. Being
Christians didn't save the Moravian Delaware, who, despite of a mass
conversion to Christianity, were rounded up by their converters, bound,
forced to kneel and massacred - despite Christian
prayers and pleas spoken in perfect English. Nor did conversion save the
Cherokee from being driven out of their homeland - even if they did sing
"Amazing Grace" on the trip. One fourth of our People perished along the
way.
Today we are scattered - no
longer one strong Nation. Converting to the white man's ways
didn't save the Navajo, the Apache, the Quapaw, the Arapaho, the
Kickapoos, the Potawatomi, the Shawnee, The Sioux, The Cree, the Yahi,
the Blackfeet or any of the more than 500 Nations who lived here before
the coming of the invaders. We are living in interesting times.
While all eyes seem to be focused on Biblical Prophecy, Creator has
given our People prophecies that have been handed down orally since time
began. Much of that has been lost, but much also remains. While
many false "chiefs" and "medicine people" are making the rounds today,
Creator has given his People strong leaders who will guide them back to
the old ways. But he won't make them follow.
The Spirits of your Ancestors will guide you home, but you have to
listen. Time is of the essence.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
"We are told that your religion was given to you by your forefathers,
and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion
which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us,
their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for
all favors we receive; to love each other and be united. We
never quarrel about religion, because it is a matter which concerns each
man and the Great Spirit. Brother, we do not wish to destroy your
religion or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own."
Chief Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha), Seneca
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
susanbates@webtv.net
|
THE
HAWK SPEAKS
The Path of Life
Many of us today would not be where
we are if not for guidance from our Elders.
In all walks of life no matter what
profession we may find ourselves in and no matter what our status in life
is, married, civilian worker or self-employed, we all need assistance in
some way from time to time.
With regard to Elders and or
guides, "Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? There are professional
guides there that will lead you to the bottom of the canyon while riding on
mules or donkeys. These guides are very good at their job and are there to
assist and protect you during your trip.
Only a person without regard to
their safety would refuse to listen to these guides. Say you were to take a
wrong step, the guide reaches out his hand and grabs yours saving your life,
would you refuse his help? Hardly!
Our people have qualified guides in
our Elders. They are there to help you along the path of life (The Red
Road). We would do well to adhere to their advise for they are experienced
guides. The path is not an easy one to follow and is filled with pitfalls
but with the aid of our Elders, the path is much more easy to follow.
©Copyrighted by Daniel J. Hawk Hoffman Sr. ~Seven Hawks
FUNNY
BONES...
He doesn't look so good!
Author Unknown
There was this ole Indian that owned a nice looking Sorrel Gelding that he kept
in his pasture next to the highway.
One day a white man was driving by and noticed this prize horse. He pulled
into the driveway at this ole Indian's place and said "Who owns that beautiful
horse grazing along the side the highway?"
The ole Indian said, "Me."
"I'll give you $500 right now for him!" said the white man.
"No, he is not for sale... He don't look so good," stated the Skin.
"What do you mean he don't look so good, he looks fine to me. Tell you
what, I'll give you $750 for him right now, Indian!"
"No," said the ole fella, "He don't look so good."
"$1000 then, take it or leave it, old timer!" the white man huffed.
"OK, but I tell you, he don't look so good!" replied the ole man as he made the
deal.
A few days past when all of a sudden that white guy came to the ole man's house
once again. He got out of the truck, his head was all bandaged up, grabbed his
crutches and hopped up to the ole guys porch.
"WHAT THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YOU INDIAN, YOU SOLD ME A BLIND HORSE!" Shouted the
white man.
"I told you he don't look so good!"
Submitted by Andre Crambit, Indigenous News Network
Elder's
Meditation
Always remember...that the Great
Mystery is good; evil can come only from ourselves!"
-Grandmother of Charles Eastman, Santee
Sioux
The Great Mystery is love, good and principle.
He is a guiding Father. He doesn't play games. He knows only how
to love. Sometimes, when things go wrong, we blame Him or others.
Usually, if we are honest, we can see how decisions or things done in
the past put us in a position to be hurt. It comes back to us. When this
happens, it is not something the Creator caused, but something we,
ourselves caused. Most of our problems are of our own making. When
this happens, we should correct what we've done, ask the Great Spirit
for forgiveness and pray for guidance in the future.
By Don Coyhis
--
blue_panther@otelco.net
Warrior Society
The Wisdom of Tamarack Song
Greetings Everyone,
Several of you folks in my extended family have been asking what I've been up
to, and I owe a number of you e-mails as well. I'm now out of hibernation, so
you'll be hearing from me soon. Thanks for keeping connected. I just put the
finishing touches on a new book, and the Year-long program's initial hubub is
over, so we here at the School now have some time to breathe. The 17 seekers at
Nishnajida, our wilderness camp, are just getting into hide tanning, and they
are foraging all their food but
protein. Thresholds are coming up as they face cravings for pizza and movies,
and as it sinks in that they are not going to see their loved ones for a long
time. Their courage and resourcefulness is starting to surface. I am
continually amazed at the great capacity and wisdom that people carry within
themselves, and how it shows when it is most needed.
At Nad'mad'ewining (our office center) we're finishing the new staff cabin, and
we have renewed energy for the primitive camp we are starting there, which we
call Mashkodenz (Little Prairie). This week the birchbark-peat covering goes on
the lean-to, and then we are going out to gather more bark for covering the
first winter lodge. We are also interviewing people for the office position,
and have met several good folks in the process. One of them is bound to be the
right person to join our circle.
For those of you who do not subscribe to Wilderness Way Magazine, I usually
share the Quiz and Tip columns I write for them. I don't think I got the last
ones out to you, so here they are. It's too late to get your Quiz answers
published, yet I'd like to hear what you come up with anyway if you feel so
inclined.
In Balance, Tamarack
Awareness Quiz
A few days ago a woman showed me a Downy Woodpecker feather she found on a hike.
Assuming it was a tail feather, further assuming from its crumpled appearance
that it was pulled out by a predator, and even further assuming that the event
happened in the past couple days (because of the feather laying atop new snow),
she told me the story of the bird's demise.
Every one of her assumptions was wrong. It was a wing feather, moulted by an
adolescent and then used as construction material in a nest, which had
disintegrated under the weight of snow. The woman got off track because she
tried to tell the feather's story rather than listening to the story feather had
to tell. When we begin with a wrong assumption it is inevitable that our
following assumptions will be even more off-base.
As with this woman, making assumptions is what most of us would normally do,
because our schooling has trained us by rewarding answers rather than questions.
In the wilderness those who ask questions, live, and those who are quick with
answers, die young.
Fortunately, our natural tendency is to question. I help the students I work
with to renew their questioning ability by continually challenging them to
explore. Following is an example of the questions I use to help them. I posed
them to you in the last column, and here are the answers a few of you came up
with:
1. Why don't deer and many other animals bed down continuously in the same
lays?
Jeff Gottlieb offered several good several good possibilities - "because they
change what they are eating and bed closer to it...because they sleep more
comfortably on fresh, springy insulative materials... because they modify their
territories and how they use them when others of their species move into the
area, or leave it vacant." Richard A. West added a couple more - "Not all trees
bear fruit at the same time, so game has to cover a much broader area searching
for food sources... also being disturbed can spook animals and make them vacate
an area."
Tamarack's comment: Both Richard and Jeff came up with likely motivators for
changing bedding sites. Another is parasites; if animals reused their lays they
would keep reinfesting themselves. The same is true of nest and den sites. Most
birds build new nests every year, and some have multiple nest sites that they
alternately use. Bears will do the same; one Black Bear neighbor of mine used
his winter den behind my lodge only about every three years.
2. Some trees such as Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) have pitch boils on the
surface of their bark. What are the reasons for these?
Even though it's not my intent, every once in a while I'll pose a question that
stumps just about everyone, and it looks like I've done it again with this one.
Richard West came close with his speculation that the pitch boils have something
to do with injury to the tree, perhaps caused by woodpeckers.
Roughly half of mature Balsam Firs have rotten cores, which are infected (along
with the sweet sapwood) by quite an array of succulent wood-boring insects. It
takes the Crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker only a couple minutes to chisel deep
into the core of a Balsam to get a succulent grub. You should see the chips fly
with an inspired Pileated at work! My theory is that the numerous pitch boils of
a healthy tree repel woodpeckers, who do not like to get pitch (which often
squirts out when the boils are ruptured) on their feathers.
Bonus question - Why don't young Balsam Firs have pitch boils?
This turned out to be another stumper and yet Willow Brook gave it a try -- "The
resin boils provide an energy reserve. Young trees are using their energy for
growth so don't accumulate reserves." The pitch does have nutritional value, so
Willow Brook's idea may hold water. Another reason is that young Balsams are
seldom infected with insects, so have no need for pitch boils.
Wilderness Way Tips
How to Operate a Wilderness Laundromat
Next to "Where's the bathroom?" the most common question from those new to my
wilderness camp is, "How do I do laundry?" When left to their own devices, they
usually try to duplicate a washing machine - boil water, add soap, agitate,
wring, rinse, wring. It works, but it's a lot of work.
Unnecessary work. There is usually no need for tubs or buckets, hot water or
elbow grease. Even soap is dispensable. As with most aspects of wilderness
living, the doorway to ease and comfort is breaking out of old thought patterns
and envisioning new, different ways of doing things. Washing clothes in the
wilds can be fast and simple, even to the point of avoiding much scrubbing. Here
is how I run my laundromat:
* Prevention To keep clothes from getting dirty, take off, roll up, use rags
and aprons.
* Rotate and Air Change socks and undergarments daily, hanging worn garments
in sun and wind to dryclean sanitize.
* Natural Agitation and Microbial Action Suspend in stream or wavy lake and
let the water and little buggers do the work.
* Pour, not Dunk Eliminate need for bucket and large quantity of hot water by
pouring water into garment rather than immersing garment in water.
* Snow Wash Stomp or rub dry snow into clothing, shake and repeat if
necessary.
* Dry on Body A single layer of clothing can dry quite quickly just from body
heat.
* High Dry The higher clothes are hung the more quickly they will dry.
Clothing can also freeze dry, however it takes considerably longer than in
above-freezing temperatures.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
READ MORE... Books by Tamarack Song
Tamarack
Song Biography
Tamarack
Song, Owl Clan, has been a student of the Old Way since his youth. He met his
first mentor - a Canadian Metis Woman named She Who Talks With Loons right after
dropping out of college for the third time. In the years following, he traveled
The Mother's Bosom to find and apprentice with Elders who still practiced some
of their traditional ways. He has lived the Native Way in the wilderness for
many turns of the seasons and in the process he has gained - and is still
gaining - the teachings and awareness to prepare him for the role of guide. He
does not call himself a teacher; if anything he feels himself to be a guide to
the Real Teacher.
He is a guide for quests and rites of passage, translator of dreams and other
voices of spirit, performer of legal Native marriage ceremonies, counselor for
lifestyle transition and relationships, and practitioner of a variety of Native
crafts and skills. He does dream and animal guide work, and counsels people
healing from the ravages of life in civilized society. He is also a Native
Lifeway consultant for schools, museums and archaeologists.
Tamarack shares much of what he has learned of the Old Ways through his
writings. He considers many books to be his Elders, because these books contain
much wisdom and information on lifeway skills that would be lost had someone not
recorded it.
Tamarack
Song is associated with the Teaching Drum Outdoor School in Wisconsin.
"Where
Wilderness is the classroom,
Ancient
Voices are the teachers,
knowing
self and Balance are the quest."
Teaching Drum Outdoor School
7124 Military Road,
Three Lakes, WI 54562-9333
715-546-2944 balance@teachingdrum.org
WOMEN'S COUNCIL
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN
THE MANATAKA WOMEN'S COUNCIL
'CIRCLE OF FRIENDSHIP'
The Manataka Women's Council 'Circle of Friendship; meets the first Saturday of
each month in the home of Bear, Becky & Amanda Moore, located at 136 Waine Place
in Hot Springs, from 11:30 AM until 2:00 PM. Coffee is provided, food and other
drinks are brought by individuals to share.
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September 2
|
Patti 'Blue Star Speaks' Burdett continues teaching Peyote stitch
beading. Supplies needed--#10
beading needles--#9 beads--Silk beading thread. Money will be
collected to order beads for beginning
beaded women's breastplates---approximately $20.00 per person.
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|
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October 7
|
All members travel to Toltec Mounds where we will meet for a day of
fun, togetherness, and spiritual enlightenment. Look for further
details in Newsletters to come. |
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|
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November 4 |
Bring supplies to begin assembling women's breastplates. Weather
permitting we will adjourn to Gulpha Gorge for hikes to Goat Rock
and Indian Mountain, drumming and a cookout. |
| |
|
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November 11 |
Fall Women's Council Healing Retreat hosted by Cheryl Wilkinson, 1220 Reed
Loop, Atkins, Arkansas. This event is for women only--absolutely
no males. Females of all ages are welcome and do not have to be
Manataka members to attend. Activities include potluck meals,
singing, drumming, teachings, sharing and a woman's sweat. Please
bring drinks, lawn chairs, bedding, cots or air mattresses, sweat
clothes, and drums. |
| |
|
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December 2 |
Christmas Party--Please bring a handmade gift or one that costs
under $10.00 to exchange. |
Beginning with the August meeting donations of nonperishable food items,
toiletries, cleaning supplies will be accepted and are greatly appreciated. As
the holidays and winter approach the request for assistance by those in need
increases.
Please direct any questions our comments to Becky 'Flaming Owl Peacekeeper'
Moore at manataka@sbcglobal.net
Please Join Us!
WOMEN'S
CIRCLE
EATING LOCAL PRODUCE
By
Annette Waya Ewing
It’s summertime, and
with it comes fresh, locally-grown produce from farm stands—or, if you are
ambitious, your own garden. We are so used to the year-round convenience of
huge grocery stores that we forget that everything has a season…and that such
convenience comes at a price, nutritionally, taste-wise, environmentally, and in
community health and economics.
Who and what
benefits from consuming local produce, and how?
A personal benefit
of eating local fruits and vegetables is getting more nutrition per bite of
food. Fresh-picked produce has a higher vitamin content than the well-traveled
sort. The average fruit or veggie in the grocery store travels over two
thousand miles and may be several weeks old by the time it lands on your plate.
Local produce
usually tastes much better too, because it doesn't have to be picked before it's
ripe.
But there are more
far-reaching benefits to eating locally produced food than just better taste and
nutrition…
I saw sign in the
back window of a pick-up truck last month that read,
"Support your
local farmers -- no farms -- no food!"
This
is a simple truth. Over a million acres of American farmland is lost every year
to urban sprawl. Over 75% of the remaining farmable land lies in threatened
urban-edge areas. Do we really want to have to rely on foreign countries for
our food supply? If you buy from your local farmers, you are helping to keep
us self-sufficient, and also helping to conserve farmland, which is often
habitat for endangered species.
Farmland is also
prettier than parking lots and warehouse-style retailers, in my opinion!
Another practical advantage to saving farmland is that it provides
drainage—whereas parking lots/concrete areas contribute to flooding and erosion.
Consider this: 5
calories of strawberry from across the country uses up over 400 calories of fuel
getting to you. Unless you drive a long way out of your way to purchase 'local'
produce, you will be helping to cut fossil fuel consumption and pollution. Most
of the produce in the grocery store has traveled at least 2000 miles in a
refrigerated truck or airplane—which consumes a lot of fuel.
You, as a consumer,
are more powerful than you might think. When you buy 'local', your money stays
in your community. If each of us puts some locally grown foods on the menu each
week, it adds up to substantial support for the economic, environmental,
physical, and future health of your community and All Our Relations.
So, enjoy your local
“fruits of summer” and know it’s a good thing!
Community
Supported Agriculture
(Consumers can buy a
'share' of the crops of participating farms and pick up a weekly variety box of
whatever produce is being harvested, November through March.)
Links to Native Women's Sites
Canadian Native Women Writers
Bibliographies of scores of Native women writers
Colonize this!
Order site for "Young Wornen of Colour" --including Kahente Horn-Miller -- a
book which address today's feminism
Canadian Women's
Internet Directory
A link to the Aboriginal Women's page of this site.
Daughters of Native
America
A billboard for the listserv for Native Women engaged in the struggle for
survival of Native peoples.
Encyclopedia of Native American Women
A valuable resource for biographies of 100 significant Native North American
women.
First Nation's Women
A set of links relating to Native Women in Canada on the University of British
Columbia site.
Inuit Women's
Association
The national organization of Inuit Women in Canada.
Metis National
Council of Women vs. The Queen
The decision on the MNCW suit to share employment funding.
Native Women's Association of Canada
Homepage of the national representative organization for Native women in Canada
Native Women in the Arts
an arts organization for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women who share the
common interest of culture, art, and community.
National Aboriginal Women's
Association
A contact page with notices for meetings re FNG legislation for women only.
Presentation to the United Nations
Text of Presentation to the United Nations July 18, 1995 by Carol Jacobs, Cayuga
Bear Clan Mother, Akwesasne Notes, Fall 1995.
Woman Spirit by Julia White
Brief description of a dozen native women who have left their mark on North
American history.
http://www.abo-peoples.org/NativeLinks/WomenLinks.html
WOMEN'S
MEDICINE
CIRCLE
My
Beautiful Sisters and Brothers all over the world,
The time has come to go back
into the place where everything becomes one, long has been the journeys
of the mother and daughter into the four directions and many beautiful
sisters and brother has been made, we have touch the hearts of the many
and now all is blooming at the very center.
The ancestors have said you go
and make relatives all over the world, for you have all this relations
in your heart, in every single one of them a beautiful sacred world
resides.
When we went into the west, we
have found the teachings of the ancestors in writing in stones, the
stones were specking loud and clear about the times to come, and times
in the now, for the teachings have no time, there is no boundaries in
the ways of the ancestors, many beautiful relations were made and many
struggles were overcome to find the teachings, we found the mountains
that were singeing the song of the mother, and the daughter rejoice the
singeing all over in her realms, the path was created since the
beginning of time, and it has been uncover. We also found in the west
the beautiful sisters that show the path of the condor and the eagle in
togetherness, and the condor was flying in the prayers in the Great
Canyon, the place where the mother tell her story, the beautiful Navajo
sisters have made my hair in such a beautiful manner...I am so grateful.
Then we came back into the
center just to get ready to go to the east as the mother show that way,
the mama Bear went with us for that realm to be open, for all my sisters
and brothers and my spiritual daughters were there waiting with so much
love, and love made the dance of the new beginning and many things were
uncover and created, bridges were made to make the dance for integration
be possible, there at the very east, we found the gate for the sun is
singeing, calling, dancing....shaking but must of all loving, and it was
shown by this beautiful sister that open the gates for the daughters to
the stars.
In the journey to the south,
was hard, the place to find the 2 hearts in unity had many struggles,
first we found the sister that was in prison, many vampires in her
temple but now she has been liberated herself and flying beautiful,
then we found the wounded mother, so sad..., but it was beautiful to see
that behind that was the true heart just waiting to be uncovered, and
unity was made.
Then we went into the north,
and pick up lots of medicine that was in our path, medicine that we
share with all the brothers and sisters, we found the beautiful sisters
waiting for us, that open the gate for the many to be touch by the heart
of the mother, the father was there making the new song for the people.
I found such a beauty in all my sisters and brothers, tears were running
like the river and the waters were clean and beautiful, so many hearts
were there so open, so ready, ...and the weaving went on of this
beautiful tapestry, my spiritual daughters and sons were there with so
much heart. ..
....I love sooo much all my
people, I have seen myself with the many faces and recognize me in all
of them for there is no separation but only unity in the heart of the
mother.
In our way back, we went to
dance with the sun, and sing then the song that was learn in the east,
and speck the wisdom of the stones of the west, and love with the heart
that we found in the south, all together ...has been completed. At sun
dance, I saw the 2 brothers that are one, beautiful sons of the great
father and the medicine was everywhere, they are indeed the new leaders
so strong so beautiful, my brothers, and the ceremony of the tree of
life was made, the beautiful daughters cut the tree and the tree was
always alive in the heart so happy, joy was everywhere. the sun, the
moon, the stars, all bonding in the heart of the people, and we took all
the prayers into the realm of the womb of the mother, and mother was
happy to see all her sons and daughters recognizing the way .
We are back into the place
where the waters comes out from the womb, knowing now that we can hold
the space and make beauty, creating and re-creating, living and
be-living in the true men and the true women, as the way of the
ancestors, father-mother be-live in the many.
FUNNY BONES....
An
old Indian was asked what his wife's name was "Wife Name Three Horse."
Submitted by Sheri Awi Anida Waya
Burnett
POETRY CIRCLE...
HE IS INDIAN
He
stands tall
This Indian with the broad smile.
His heart is as big as all outdoors.
His giving is generous.
There is a gleam in his eye
When an idea sparks in mind.
His thanks for what he does
Can never live up to the task he performs.
His pleasure is pleasing others.
His delight in these accomplishments
Are his personal medals.
His friends are many,
His admirers are countless.
Respect he wears like a shield.
His love of family is his pride.
His struggles are hidden and
His happiness he shares with all.
His name is his badge of honor
And we all know him...
He is our friend...
author unknown
HEALING PRAYER
BASKET
Prayer
and ceremony work. Creator heals and brings peace.
Memorial
Gift...
In Memory of Lance Selvidge -
Webster’s definition of a Martyr: 1: A person who voluntarily
suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a belief.
2: A person who sacrifices something of great value, especially life itself for
the sake of principle. Lance, we are all better because you walked this
world, we will all become better because you look back with eyes from the angels
world. Thank You. The Selvidge Family. Little River Rock. 04-20-06
In Memory of Ruby Gilliham - We will
always remember this gracious and beautiful woman in our hearts. She will
remain a part of Manataka forever - Standing Bear. Greg Gilliham 04-20-06
MEMORIAL GIFTS - When a friend or relative passes, honor their memory and send a
tax deductible contribution to MAIC and we will send the family
a beautiful letter and memorial certificate in your name.
Crossing
Over...
Dame Te Ata irangikaahu (New Zeland), Maori Queen, who
died at her home near Hamilton last night, in the north island,
after a long battle with kidney disease. She was 75. She
was the sixth and longest serving monarch of Waikato's King
Movement. But over the past four decades of her reign her status
and influence extended well beyond the Maori community into the
national affairs of the whole country. And she helped to
encourage the process whereby Maori identity has become
increasingly integrated with New Zealand's national identity.
Dame Te Ata succeeded her father King Koroki as the sixth leader
of the Waikato-Tainui kingdom, which was established in the 19th
century in an attempt to end tribal conflict and unite Maori
against further land sales to the European settlers.
8-16-06 Andrea Cramblit
Charles Yow - Charles Yow was instrumental in the work of
Students and Teachers Against Racism, Massachusetts AIM, the
mascot issue and in South Dakota, as Senior Attorney for the Red
Cloud Law Firm. His impact on Civil Rights was felt in many
ways by many people, and in memory of the work he always strived
to do, Star has set up a website memorializing his work and
writings. There is also a Bio page with photos and Charles
favorite music. Please join us for an on-line celebration
of a man whose life was dedicated to justice and the elimination
of racism and corruption. He will be sorely missed by his many
friends but he will always be remembered here, at:
http://racismagainstindians.org/Tribute/index.htm
Soaring Eagle Danysh
- (Wayne, WV) - Husband of Shirley MorningRain Danysh
crossed over from cancer and complications from an infection. 08-04-06 ~Pat
Walks Quietly
Sickness
and Injuries...
Jeremy-white wolf,
I want to thank everyone for the
prayers said and about to be said.
He's in
school AND next week he plays his first football game of the year with his
docs approval and to his teams relief lol. Jeremy had surgery June 2nd to remove
a steel plate and pins from his
leg. We would appreciate prayers for him. When his surgeon said he
had healed miraculously well from last surgery he told him yes
because my native family prayed for me. ~MountianWindSong King
09-04-06
Jay King - (WV) We have been told Jay has heart blockages besides CHF.
aterial fillibration, enlarged heart and diabetes. He is frightened. He
collapsed during the Cherokee Powwow campground in July and has been ill ever since with
heart problems. I know prayers are answered. He is such a good and kind man,
my rock. I took a fall as well.
They
did the heart catherization today The clots/blockages are in small veins
too small to angioplasty. Going to implant defillibrator/pacemaker. He's doing well
but weak and short of breath TY for
prayers and please continue. Our family at Manataka are a great
comfort knowing you will respond to our request. Love and prayers.
Ruth King 09-01-06
Esther Marie Daniels - (Independence
MO) critical condition at St. Mary's Hospital in Blue Springs. Please
pray for her recovery.
Thank you and many blessings. Linda
VanBibber 08-19-06
Valda Littlebear Longbow Nachreiner (GA) - I will be
seeing a specialist for throat problems. I fear the worst, but would
greatly appreciate any and all prayers that can be offered up for my health
at this time. As I am without family and have only my Native American
friends here and I am very scared. 08-08-06 Bear
Dobby Sommer (CA) - Hip, knees, and
ankles are serving with much pain. High blood pressure. "Thank
you for your seven day prayers. Actually you inspired me to pray for seven
days for you and Manataka and the maker of my rattle. I have also been
inspired to have surgery sometime this summer with my faith in the Creator
rather than my fears. I am getting more crippled, but I can still walk with
a cane." Please
pray for this gentle, loving soul. 08-05-06
Joan - a single mother with two little boys
reported missing in May in Jamaica. She lives for God and it shows in
her life and her boys' lives. Upon her return to the U.S. she was arrested
because of an outstanding felony warrant from many years ago and transferred
to Lafayette, LA. She will go to prison for 2 1/2 years. I am asking
for your prayers for Joan and those two wonderful little boys. ~Pam
Walker 08-01-06
Jennifer Whitefeather Attaway (AL) - Miracles happen every day. Car
was totaled in an accident - without transportation but without a scratch.
Worries about not being able to obtain CDL. Extreme debts school debts over
$75,000. I just need some prayer from my Manataka family to help carry me
through this time. Thank you so much for your friendship, your continued
kindness, and prayers. 08-04-06 Bear
Ms. Van
Lynch (Memphis, TN) - Wife of Michael Lynch scheduled for liver
transplant surgery today. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
The more prayers and smoke sent up at this time, the better!
07-27-06 ~David Teat
Patricia White Wolf Farnsworth (MO)
- fell and broke an ankle.
Surgery pending. She needs our prayers. No we are not going to give
her a bell. ~Sam Farnsworth 07-20-06
Aaron Friedman - (Haifa, Israel) -
Haifa was struck by rockets from Lebanon. We have not heard from my
former stepson and I ask for prayers. He was going to study this summer in
Haifa, Israel. Julie Maltagliati
07-13-06
Mary Mattingly (El Paso, TX) -
My cousin
is going for surgery on her arm. I would like to ask your people to pray for
her as well. Y'all do a pretty good job. ~Leo Causey 07-08-06
Mackenzie
Elizabeth Reed - Saquo was born prematurely and we would
greatly appreciate your prayers in smoke for hia utsi saquo for
which ayv offer tobacco to nihi for high honor of such. This picture
shows usti ulv on June 8, 2006 at 1 lb. 7 ozs and 11.5" long.
Elisi Spirit Dove 07-08-06
Henry Sidney Zack -
My father has taken a turn
over the past week and is declining rapidly; today the hospice nurse
feels he may have 1-2 weeks to live, but there is no certainty of
this, of course, and he may linger longer. Lauren Zack.
07-07-06
Flora Causey (Texas) - wife who
is part Cherokee and I think she needs prayer for her body.
She has some sort of tumor in her abdomen. It doesn't need to
be there and doesn't have to stay there. ~Leo Causey 07-04-06
Joyce Johnson (Atlanta,
GA) -Diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. Please pray for
this wonderful woman. ~Patti BlueStar Burdette 07-03-06
Marian Wilson (Philadelphia, PA) Child. On July 21, Marian will undergo an
upper endoscopy of her upper intestinal tract, to test for Celiac
disease, food allergies, and other possibilities for her continued,
recurring illness and rash. ~ Kim Wilson 06-30-06
Kimberly Wilson (Philadelphia, PA) - July 19 will be seeing a cardiologist for
consultation of persistent symptoms of heart palpitations, possible
atrial fibrillations and/or arrhythmias.
Lee
Standing Bear Moore (Manataka) Was taken Friday to the emergency room during the
Summer Gathering at Manataka. on Sunday Bear's heart was given
electric shock to bring his heart back into regular rhythm. He was released from the VA Hospital in
Little Rock on Thursday afternoon. Bear was back to
work on Friday and watching his health more closely.
~Rebecca Owl Woman Moore 06-30-06
Dr. Ron - Has had
years of pain due to a back injury and is addicted to pain
meds. He is still functioning as a doctor but on a very
limited basis. I ask the Bear Society
to take his name and do work on him in their next lodge,
sweat lodge. What I know is that the medicine of the Bear
clan is extremely strong. I ask that Ron begins to feel the
energy and love that all those around feel to help him heal.
I've prayed to the creator, called on my ancestors. It is
really time that can tell what his future holds. He is
cutting down on his meds, at least he is trying.
~Stella Turtle Lady Fisher 06-12-06
Robert Gray Hawk Coke (Dallas, TX) - Long-time Manataka member and beloved elder
suffered a major stroke on May 14. He had temporary paralyses that
was successfully treated. Please pray and give up offerings
for this wonderful man. Gray Hawk came home 6-10-06. ~Victoria McBain.
Alan Fisher - Alan has
healed from his surgery. Back to work and on the go. Only the future
can tell if the tumor will return, we hold the energy from that if will
not return. Thankful
and Grateful for each breath I take upon awakening every day of my life.
~Stella Turtle Lady Fisher 06-06-06
The People of CHECHNYA - Having suffered from fighting for a
dozen and a half years and there was no solution in sight. He said it
was
more bloody than a civil war. 70% percent killed were civilians --
children, woman, old people, others. Homes are destroyed with people
in them. Kidnapping is prevalent. Before the struggle approximately
1.2 million lived in Chechnya, and now only 600,000 remained because of the
deaths and fleeing. Please pray for PEACE in Chechnya. ~Lynn
Smith via Barbara Wolf.
05-29-06
Beulah Maltagliati,
15-year old dog - has developed pancreatitis. It's a relatively
mild case, but pancreatitis is serious, and her being 15 makes it
more worrisome. She's not terribly sick now, and I'm so hoping she
won't get worse. ~ Juli Maltagliati 5-22-06
Cindy Hogman, 32 - My
name is Gary Hogman. My wife, Cindy, was diagnosed with stage
4 cervical cancer and her chances for survival are very slim.
She was pregnant with our second child and had miscarried recently
at 3 months, and now we know why. This is a request for you to
forward this e-mail to everyone you know asking for prayer and ask
everyone you know to pray for the HEALING of Cindy. I want the
whole world to have her in their prayers the next few weeks. God
will hear our cry. Please do not be offended by my plea. Thank you
from the bottom of my heart. ~Gary Hogman. Submitted by
Jennifer Whitefeather Attaway 05-19-06
Larry
Irons - Still battling cancer. Came back in his spine and right
leg. Very sick and on morphine in 4th stage of the disease. Walks only
about 20 feet. ~Charles Irons 5-15-06
Did
you submit a prayer request above? If so, please send us an update.
We are reluctant to remove anyone without knowing if more prayers are
needed.
AUGUST
2006 Elder Council Meeting...
The July meeting was held on the 20th starting at 9:05 a.m. and a quorum was
not established as two elders were away on Manataka business and ceremonies. David Quiet Wind Furr, Rick Wind Call-er Porea, Gayle Sexauer
and Patty Burdette were present.
Discussions:
Asset Acquisition project - Manataka American Indian Cultural
Center. Good progress is being made. All positive developments.
MASELA (Manataka Ambassador to
Spiritual Elders of Latin America) Project
American Indian Spirituality Booklet conversion to CD.
Teaching Basic American Indian concepts and philosophy
Organize, Teach and Enforce Protocols
Upcoming Fall Gathering
Elder Council Organization
Approved
Motions:
No motions were offered.
Committee Reports approved by consensus.
Rejected
Motions:
None
Presentations:
None
Announcements:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
& NOTICES:
NOTICE
1: TWO ELDER COUNCIL
POSITIONS REMAIN OPEN:
The Education Elder position will concentrate on
developing public school curriculum based on American Indian philosophy and
coordinating presentations to schools, civic organizations and churches. The
Treasurer position is now open due to a recent resignation. The position
will require experience in bookkeeping and/or accounting.
If you feel qualified for this position, please submit your information now. Read More (Posted
03-01-06)
NOTICE
2: ELDER COUNCIL POSITION
FILLED. Long
time member, Patty Blue Star Burdette Gayle
of Hot Springs, AR was recently appointed Ceremonial Elder during the Summer
Gathering.
"Patty has great knowledge of ceremonies through her many travels over the
years to participate in traditional ceremonies and the guidance of spiritual
elders. She walks quietly and speaks slowly. She is humble and has
an abiding love and loyalty for Manataka, said Chairperson, David Quiet Wind
Furr. Patty Blue Star replaces Jim PathFinder who resigned to devote
more time to writing books.
NOTICE
3: FOOD BASKETS NEEDED NOW!
people
are hungry often throughout the year. Please bring or send
non-perishable food items. Gift cards for food from Walmart, Safeway and
other stores are great.
NOTICE
4: REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS -
1:00 p.m., 3rd Sunday each month at Gulpha Gorge - bad weather at Phil's
Restaurant E. Grand.
NOTICE
5: WOMEN’S COUNCIL MEETINGS -
11:30 a.m., 1st
Saturday each month. Contact:
Becky Moore
NOTICE
6: PAID
YOUR DUES?
Now is a good time to support the many programs, services and
events of MAIC. We can always use a donation. Pay by check
or credit card online. It's easy, secure and fast! Click
Here
Or send to: MAIC, PO Box 476, Hot Springs, AR 71902
NOTICE
7:
MATERIAL DONATIONS NEEDED BY
MANATAKA
1. Computer needed. A
larger mother board is needed for in-office work. Donated.
2.
Reams of ink jet
paper
3.
Postage stamps
4.
15 - 30 gallon plastic storage boxes with lids.
5.
LAND - Donate land to be used as financing leverage for to build a cultural center. Any size/location is acceptable. Certain tax benefits may apply.
6.
MEMORIAL GIFTS - When a friend or
relative passes, honor their memory and send a tax deductible contribution to
MAIC and we will send the family a beautiful letter and memorial certificate in your name.
THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED STAMPS, PAPER AND OTHER SUPPLIES!
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Simply click the reply button,
type 'Unsubscribe' in the subject line and send.
|
Publisher:
|
Manataka American Indian Council
PO Box 476
Hot Springs, AR 71902-0476
501-627-0555
manataka@sbcglobal.net
http://www.manataka.org
|
|
Editor:
|
Lee Standing Bear Moore
|
|
MAIC
Correspondents:
|
Jennifer Attaway, Alabama
Sheri
Burnett, Georgia
Crystal
Harvey, Arkansas
Carol Henderson
Hawk
With Seven Eyes Hoffman, Illinois
Grandmother Selma, Florida
Bennie
LeBeau, Wyoming
Julie
Maltagliati,
Florida
Magdala
Ramirez, Arkansas
Bobby Joe
Runninbear,
Tennessee
Helen
Red Wing Vinson, Tennessee
Liora
Leah Zack, California
Paula Unega Ulogidv Phillips,
Arkansas
Waynonaha Two Worlds
|
|
Contributors:
|
Susan Bates,
Missouri
David Cornsilk, Oklahoma
Don Coyhis
Andrea Crambit, California
Bonnie Two Owl Feathers Delcourt, New Hampshire
Valerie Eagle Heart
Maxine Elisi Swan Dancer Fulgham
Romaine Garcia,
Colorado
John James, Arkansas
Mark and Carla Maslin, New Mexico
Elaine Nowell, Louisana
Corina Roberts,
California
Scott
Treaty
Linda VanBibber, Missouri
|
|
D isclaimer:
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or
monetary
gain to those who have expressed an interest in viewing the
material for research and educational purposes.
This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.
Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright
law.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
Non-profit/Teaching/Educational |
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