Manataka American Indian Council
Volume V Issue 10 September, 2003
CONTENTS:
1. BEAR DANCE COMING! 9. LOST
RIVER CULTURE
2. WOMEN'S COUNCIL 10.
LEONARD PELTIER
3. FALL GATHERING 11.
MOVIE REVIEWS
4. WEB SITE ADDITIONS 12.
MONACAN NATION
5. MEETING NOTICES 13.
HAWAI'IANS REBEL!
6. CHIEF WOABLEZA 14. GM
BUYS INDIAN LANGUAGES
7. MIESHA'S RAINBOW 15.
BONE MARROW NEEDED
8. WEDDINGS 16. UNSUBSCRIBE
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
ANNUAL
BEAR DANCE CEREMONY
September
18-21, 2003
Russellville,
AR
Sponsored
by the Bear Clan Society Of Arkansas
READ
DETAILS HERE
WOMEN'S COUNCIL
Saturday, September 6 - 11:30 a.m.
Desoto Park - Hwy 7 North at Hwy 70B (Gulpha Gorge Road)
In inclement weather the meeting is at the Quality Inn, 1125
East Grand Ave.
Nominations are still open for the positions of
Vice Chairwoman, Secretary and Treasurer. Contacts: Sharon Kamama
Baugh - sBaugh8@excite.com
MARK
YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
FALL
GATHERING
MANATAKA!
October 17-19, 2003
Gulpha Gorge Campground (Hwy 70B)
Hot Springs, Arkansas
FALL GATHERING TRAVEL
California - Joyce and Pam looking for
riders to share gas expense.
Georgia - Sheri is looking for anyone
needing a ride or needing someone to ride with them?
Texas - George and Tami
have a big motor home - share expenses.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
MANATAKA MEMBERSHIP MEETING
11:30 a.m., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
GULPHA GORGE CAMPGROUNDS
SURPRISE GUEST!
Bring a dish? Let's feed the animals, like a
Yellow Hawk, Standing Bear, Little Horse, Moon Raven, Big Frog, Three Eagles,
White Bear, Ladybird, Quiet Wolf, Talking Eagle, Lone Wolf.
YOU ARE INVITED!
WEB SITE
SEPTEMBER ADDITIONS
TOP STORY
CHILDREN'S STORIES
DANCE
FEATURE STORIES
HISTORY
LEGENDS
MEDICINE LODGE
MEMBERSHIP
TRADING POST
WARRIOR SOCIETY
Coming Soon! - The entire book,
"Old Indian Days" by
Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa)
CHECK THESE FEATURES AND MORE at
http://www.manataka.org
Do you have a story to tell or an article you would like to see appear on our
website?
If so, please send it today.
NEW ! OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP
PHOTO ID CARD
Get your official wallet-size Manataka membership card today!
It's QUICK and EASY
You must be a member of MAIC to receive a photo ID
NOTICE 1
CHIEF WOABLEZA
Our beloved spiritual leader and friend, Robert Woableza LaBatte, is out of
the hospital but not out of the woods. Read
UPDATES
Please offer your prayers for him. Send cards and gifts to:
Robert Woableza LaBatte
Post Office Box 1421
Rapid City, SD 57702
FEATURE STORY
Miesha's Rainbow
On Thursday a double rainbow! It was double as if ... where the
bottom color ended, the first top color began again - as if they were stacked
on top of each other following the same pattern in the sky, with no space in
between the two. It was very wide with every color visible twice. I have
never in my life seen one so magical.
It is a great story -120,000 people saw it with me. I was at the
Grateful Dead concert summer tour in Atlanta. It was just before sunset
and the band was playing the song Dr. Love. ....it goes something like
" I called my family Doctor to see what I had...I said Doctor.... Mr
MD... can you tell me what's ailing me..... he said, you need 'Good
LOVE'....you've got to have Good LOVE...."
Well the Grateful Dead are known for their long renditions of songs and
sometimes one song can last 20 minutes. The band began repeating the last
verses that are "what do you need?...." and the crowd of 120,000
people would answer shouting "GOOD LOVE" and the band would
say " You've got to have what?..." and the crowd again would
say "GOOD LOVE" and this went on for 10 minutes like a
chant- everyone was dancing and shouting back to the stage "Good
LOVE".
And then suddenly above this huge outdoor arena and all these people who
were singing "Good LOVE" a double banded rainbow appeared over the
whole sky going from one side to the other without ending- everyone started to
point upwards to the sky and applauding mother natures beautiful gift- it
touched down on us like a miracle. It touched every heart - all 120,000
at the same time. Everyone was holding their heart and faces with their
hands and crying in joy - it took our breath away on a mass scale and it
changed the energy around and inside each of us....everyone was in a love
affair with GOD and it was beautiful. I cry just telling the story!
It was a love tidal wave!
I believe in a time of no fear Bear, I do, with all my heart and soul.
Love you all too, SKa
NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS
hosted on the web by our free online petition service, at:
WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wedding #1:
Manataka members Joseph 'Gray Beard Vinson III and Helen Red Wing
Wagner will be married in October 11 at Huntington, West Virginia
during the Monacan Nation Gathering.
The bride will wear buckskin trimmed with red black and white arrow head
design bead work around the collar. The fringe will also be done in
these colors of pony beads.. My head piece will be bead work as well as
my earrings of the same color beads in arrow head design. The groom will wear
buck skin and a hawk feather with a medicine wheel with the colors
of the 4 directions and beaded with turquoise colored beads.
Wedding
#2:
Manataka
members Joseph Quiet Wolf Whitfield and Patti Blue Star Speaks Burdette will
be married under the canopy of the Manataka lodge during the upcoming Fall
Gathering at Manataka at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, October 18 at the Gulpha Gorge
National Park Campground. Ceremonies will be performed by Hervie Waca
Hucha Chism and attended by the Elders and Honored Guests of Manataka.
The couple will form a processional that will enter the sacred fire circle
where the Rite of the Seven Steps will be performed. The public is
welcome to attend.
Bearing Witness to a Lost River Culture [Klamath River]
By Annie Nakao
(WASHINGTON) Imagine a fish trap "so full of salmon that it quivers and
trembles with their weight."
Such a trap is called a fish dam, an ancient and quite remarkable engineering
feat of the Klamath River Indians who constructed, without any nails, a
lattice work of pine poles driven into the riverbed at midstream. Only fish
that were needed were taken, and the rest were released. Eventually, the dam
would be washed away by the currents.
The marvel of the fish dam stayed in my head as I finished Lucy Thompson's
1916 book, "To the American Indian: Reminiscences of a Yurok Woman."
It was recommended by Dennis, a reader who felt I don't write often enough
about the native experience in California. He noted that the Yurok, Hoopa,
Karuk, Wiyot and other North Coast tribes were decimated by the Gold Rush that
began in 1849. The discovery of gold unleashed disease, massacres, forced
removal and starvation upon these native cultures. Today, far fewer of them
inhabit tribal lands that lie in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
Dennis is correct, both about the Gold Rush and about my not writing enough on
American Indians, especially when he points out that the San Francisco Bay
Area -- "down below" is what many North Coast tribes call it -- has
one of the largest "off the res" populations of Indians in North
America. Many were "relocated" to urban areas in the '50s and '60s
as part of yet another mindless federal Indian policy that promised jobs but
abandoned many of the migrants to the streets.
Thompson's book is an interesting entree into the history of North Coast
native tribes. The original manuscript, whose pages were out of sequence and
contained typos and illiterate passages, languished in obscurity until the
late historian Peter Palmquist and Julian Lang -- of Humboldt
State's Center for Indian Community Development and a member of the Karuk
tribe -- led efforts to edit the work. It was republished in 1991 by
Berkeley's Heyday Books.
In her book, Thompson, a noted basket weaver whose maiden name was Che-na-wah
Weitch-ah-wah, declares herself "a pure, full-blooded Klamath River
woman" (as the Yuroks were called) of aristocratic bearing. She clearly
challenges the anthropological accounts of Yurok life at the time, some of
them quite bizarre.
"As there has been so much said and written about the American Indians,
with my tribe, the Klamath Indians included, by the white people, which is
guessed at and not the facts, I deem it necessary to tell you who I am,"
she writes.
Thompson does so, reminding us at every turn that she was of "the highest
birth." But her lofty position did allow her to present a cultural
wholeness never captured by the anthros. "She represents that river
culture in a unified vision," Lang said. "She described things
nobody had described at the time in the context of the whole community."
[...snip...]
Courtesy of Robin Carneen
Leonard Peltier will turn 59 on September 12. You can send birthday
greetings to:
MOVIE REVIEW
"Whale Rider"
By Sharon Pacione
Date: 7/25/03
Saw the movie "Whale Rider" yesterday and highly recommend it. The
11 year old girl (Keisha Castle-Hughes who plays "Pai") in this
movie is wonderful. Actually, the entire cast is top rate. The movie was the
winner of the audience award at the 2003 Sundance Film Fest. Following is a
little bit about the movie from a flyer I picked up...
"Writer-director Niki Caro presents this story of a Maori girl in New
Zealand whose ancestor, according to tribal legend, came from a faraway place,
riding on the back of a whale. It's a film of reality and fantasy, treating
farfetched dreams and mysticism with acceptance, respecting the
tribe's dignity and beliefs.
Koro (Rawiri Paratene) is a tribal chief residing in a coastal fishing
village. His thought is that his firstborn son, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis),
will succeed him as chief. When it's clear that Porourangi has
no interest in filling Koro's leadership shoes, Koro looks to his son's
children. But when tragedy strikes, Porourangi must seek solace for his loss
elsewhere. He leaves his daughter Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes, in her film
debut) in the care of Koro. "The girl is no use to me," Koro
blusters, disappointed that, as a girl, Pai is not a candidate for tribal
leadership.
Soon, Pai is eleven, and we see Koro picking her up at school and riding her
home on his bicycle, displaying a grandfather's affection. At the same time,
he is schooling the firstborn sons of the village in the arts of leadership
and "the old ways," demonstrating ritual behavior and martial arts
in an effort to find his successor. Pai tries to join in, but she must settle
for distant observation of the training she wants so much. On such matters,
her grandfather is uncompromising, paying no heed to her abilities. Countering
his rejections is her indomitable, no-nonsense grandmother Flowers (Muzzi
Loffredo), Pai's harbor of understanding, as well as a destiny that continues
to call Pai back to her home, and the ceremony that awaits the strengths that
only she possesses."
I loved this movie and wanted to share it with you.
MONACAN NATION FEDERAL RECOGNITION
The Monacan Nation has been in the area now known as Virginia
for over 10,000 years. Maey Laughing Dove Wade, sister to
MAIC member Helen Red Wing Wagner, worked very hard for many years
before passing away to bring a bill to the U.S. Congress recognizing the
Monacan Nation.
Write or call your senators, congressmen to support
this bill.
Read More:
GOTTA STORY? SEND IT TO THE SMOKE SIGNAL NEWSLETTER
Hawai'ians Secede From United States
I received this communiqué from Mr. Edmund Kelii Silva, Jr., Ali'i Nui
(Sovereign) of the kingdom of Hawai'i.and direct lineal descendent of King
Kamehameha the Great and heir to the throne.
On November 22, 2002, the prime minister of the Hawaiian kingdom, along with
the Council of Regency, Na Kupuna Council O' Hawai'i Nei, the Na Kupuna
Council Hawai'i Moku of the legislative body of government, and the Royal
Kupunas of the House of Nobles, proclaimed him the lawful
successor to Ali'i Nuis (High Chiefs) of ancient Hawai'i.
[The following is an excerpt of the letter sent to President Bush
declaring independence)
July 25, 2003
"The Kingdom of Hawai'i - Nou Ke Akua Ke Aupuni O' Hawai'i - Announces
Secession From the United States of America - Declaration of Independence -
Kana'ka ele'u, Imua!
The Kana'ka Maolis, Hawai'i's stout-hearted, honorable indigenous people, have
never recognized the jurisdiction of the United States over our lives, lands,
seas, customs, and our fortunes. Many Kana'ka Maolis have been destroyed
attempting to free themselves from the cruelty and the injustices of an
American government that cares nothing for the rights of the indigenous people
of Hawai'i, but only for the richness of the lands and seas and Hawai'i's
strategic military potential. Many Kana'ka Maolis have been molested, raped,
beaten, imprisoned, and murdered in the furtherance of American imperialism.
Yet we live."
"We, as with the many Peoples of Oceania with whom we share a common
heritage, feel it is eminently indisputable, based upon all evidences extant,
that the unlawful overthrow of the kingdom of Hawai'i and the forcing of the
Kana'ka Maolis into servitude cannot be denied. Historical records,
particularly those concerning biography and genealogy, document a general
consensus affirming Hawai'i's independence. Tradition, history, literary
analysis, and, above all of these, the test of prayerful research and
truth-seeking investigation unite to demonstrate the authenticity of the facts
proving that the kingdom of Hawai'i was destroyed by the United States
government."
"The culture of the United States is inimical to our ancestral traditions
and customs. For nearly 2,000 years we determined our lives under the laws of
our kingdom and by the sanctity of our lands, but the
United States imposed its will on us through deceit, fraud, theft, conspiracy,
and military force."
"We, the indigenous people of Hawai'i, emphatically reject incorporation
into the United States of America, and hereby announce secession. We do this
with clarity of mind, good conscience, and a determined will. We are ready to
sacrifice our worldly assets and our very lives to see the kingdom of Hawai'i
restored. So say we all. ........................"
We call on all honorable and honest peoples of the world to support us in this
just cause. We call upon these nations to recognize our government and our
sovereignty, while we call upon those who have
desecrated our seas, stolen our lands, and mutilated our bodies to hear our
righteous plea. We call upon Almighty God to guide us as we proceed."
"May Almighty God's will be done.
Aei'a Ke Akua Mano Lo'a Kauo'ha ha'na, ho'oko."
NOTICE 4
DUES PLEASE
IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE A GIFT OF YOUR DUES IN 2003, PLEASE DO SO NOW.
PAY BY CHECK OR CREDIT CARD
IT'S QUICK, EASY AND SECURE
or send to: MAIC, PO Box 476, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0476
General Motors Purchases Indian Languages
[IS THIS A JOKE OR WHAT? SOMEBODY WANT TO FIND OUT?]
(DETROIT) General Motors (GM) has announced the purchase of
exclusive rights to the entire Algonquian language family, including such
well-known tongues as Cheyenne, Cree, and Mohican, in a $1.6 billion
dollar deal.
"We are confident that this acquisition will benefit both the
peoples who speak these languages and GM," said company spokesman
Karl Hennessey. "This is truly a rare win-win situation."
GM acquired the languages in an apparent effort to secure the rights to
potentially thousands of cool-sounding names for automobiles. With one of
the least creative management structures in the automotive industry, GM
has for years produced cars with increasingly lame names that have hurt
sales.
"The problem is almost everything is getting used up," GM
Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told Reuters recently. "If you have a good
name, it can help. I've seen a lot of stupid names in my life."
These would presumably include the 2003 Buick GoThing, the 2002 GM
Pustule, and
the 2003 Oldsmobile Scab.
By purchasing exclusive rights to an Amerindian language family which includes
over 30 different languages, GM is hoping to counter similar efforts by
competing companies such as Daimler Chrysler, which recently purchased
Portuguese.
"The GM arrangement is very generous," said Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) Secretary Gerald Howton. "It permits the tribes to
continue using the languages free of charge through 2030, after which
point, if there are any surviving native speakers, they can continue to
use the
language under attractive subscription terms." Any names which GM adopts
as automobile names will be removed from eligibility, but GM has agreed
to provide a list of no fewer than three synonyms for any word removed
from circulation.
"This is incredibly insulting," said Powhatan tribal elder
Mark Matoaka before scaring this reporter away with stern glances.
"The BIA will do everything it can to ensure that the funds from
GM are distributed fairly and equitably," said Howton. "Our
record speaks for itself."
[IS THIS A JOKE OR WHAT? SOMEBODY WANT TO FIND OUT?]
Editor's Note: If this story turns out to be true, we will never, ever
buy another GM product.
CHEROKEE NEEDS BONE MARROW DONOR
The American Red Cross seeks a bone marrow donor for a man who has Hodgkin's
Lymphoma and is in desperate need of a marrow transplant. He
is critical right now so time is of the essence.
A search of the registry has been conducted and no match was found, but
frequent registry searches will continue to be done. His race is
Cherokee and European. Because he is of Cherokee descent,
his chances of finding a match are very slim due to the under representation
of American Indians on the registry. The Red Cross would like to
put out a plea to the Cherokee communities and other Native American
communities to sign up for the registry.
Contact the American Red Cross at:
Carole Connor, RN
Program Manager, Bone Marrow Department
Southwest Region Blood Services
918-249-9988
Our thanks to Phil Konstantin and Susan Bates
LEARN TO SPEAK CHEROKEE... EASY
Learn the Tsalagi language the easy way... The See, Say, Write method
works!
Cassette Tape and 211 page Book are designed to have you speaking Cherokee
quickly and easily.
Reserve your set of Chief Jim Gray Wolf Henson’s Cherokee language tapes and
book today!
Send $40. Check/money order to MAIC, PO Box 476, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0476
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Manataka American Indian Council
PO Box 476
Hot Springs Reservation, AR 71902-0476
501-627-0555
manataka@myexcel.com
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