Canku Ota - May 6, 2000

Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America
May 6, 2000 - Issue 09

Kwe kwe

The Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) Greeting - pronounced - Gway Gway

Loose Translation-Hello "Hi."

"She:kon Sewakwe:kon, Skennenko:wa ken?"

More formal,

"I extend a greetings to all of you and hope that there is a great peace about you"

nvda gahlvsga

PLANTING MOON (strict translation "the putting it in a hole moon")

Eastern Cherokee

"In every generation there will arise a Brant, a Pontiac,
a Tecumseh, a Chief Joseph, a Joseph Garry,
to carry the people yet one more decade further"
Vine Deloria Jr.

A Fallen Warrior-Kevin Shores

Last Friday, May 5, Kevin Shores was involved in an accident. Kevin was in his wheelchair, practicing for next weekend's Gulf War Illness Awareness Ride, when he was struck by a dumptruck. Kevin suffered several broken bones and will be having hip replacement surgery on Wednesday, May 10. This of course, means the postponement of his ride.

We salute- Native American Ballet Dancers

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will host the world premiere of a documentary celebrating the lives and careers of five internationally-recognized Native American ballet dancers titled "En Pointe: The Lives and Legacies of Ballet's Native Americans" (2000, 60 min.). The premiere will be held on May 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the museum's George Gustav Heye Center, located at One Bowling Green in lower Manhattan. A public screening will be held on May 6 at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Writer:
N. Scott Momaday

Momaday has always understood who he is. "I am an Indian and I believe I'm fortunate to have the heritage I have," he says, speaking as a Kiowa Indian who defines himself as a Western Man. But that sense of identity didn't evolve without difficulty. "I grew up in two worlds and straddle both those worlds even now," Momaday says. "It has made for confusion and a richness in my life. I've been able to deal with it reasonably well, I think, and I value it."

The Wallam Olum
A Legend of the Lenape Indians

WALLAM OLUM, meaning, red score, is a translation from the picture writing record of the Lenãpe Indians by Daniel G. Briton about 1860. In the language and dialect of the Delaware Indians and a legend of the Creation, the Great Flood, Migration and History from their beginning to the time of the coming of the white man to the eastern shore of Delaware. This is Book Two - The Great Flood.

Tribal Customs a Science

To archaeologists, the piece of wood could be a stick. But to an Indian tribe, that stick could hold the key to life and death.

Science and training help, but archaeologists won't get a full picture of Indian life unless they learn from stories and songs that tribal elders have passed down to their young, cultural experts said at a conference in Riverside, Ca.

The Summer That Wasn't

For years, "Old Willie" told the legends of "the year that summer did not come" for the Eskimos living near the top of the world. In the tiny villages that dotted the coastline near present-day Nome, Alaska, only a handful of people survived.

But the stories remained just that, stories handed down from one generation to the next, stories that William A. Oquilluk had heard at the knee of his grandfather in the early 1900s.

Internet Brings
Canadian Aboriginal Culture
To Classrooms Around the World

Children in classrooms around the world will soon be learning about their counterparts in Canada's aboriginal community by clicking on the Internet.

Kidlink, one of the world's largest online communities for youth, plans to host Web pages featuring Canadian aboriginal cultures and languages.

Improving Ability Unlocks New Doors

Residents of the Plummer/Worley School District see a lot going right in their schools. There are solid reasons for their optimism.

One measure of success is the dramatic rise in test scores among Indian students. After several years of lagging behind their white counterparts, Indian students can be proud of increases in their scores.

Swinging For Sequoyah

TAHLEQUAH - Cody Quetone and Nick Fixin aren’t just good friends, they’re partners on the Sequoyah boy’s golf team. Both play a pretty good round of golf.

Pow Wow Dance Styles

Dancing creates excitement at powwows!

This is the second, and last, article exploring powwow dance styles. This time we look at women's dance styles. Dance Styles vary from area to area.

Language of Miamis Fades Into History
Preservation is Goal of Children's Book

Their ancient tongue is silent now.

Only fading echoes remain.

But a Miami University senior hopes to help revive the Miami tribe's language with a children's book.

“Children are the future of the tribe. If they don't reclaim the language, it could die,” said Callandra “Callie” Cook, 21. “The Miami language has pretty much disappeared. A few people know a few words. Only one person is very conversational in it.”

Native Seeds/SEARCH

Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) is a nonprofit organization that is working to preserve traditional crops, seeds, and farming methods that have sustained native peoples in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. What this means is that they are promoting the use of ancient crops and their relatives by gathering, safeguarding, and distributing their seeds within traditional communitities.

NS/S was founded in 1983 as a result of Native Americans on the Tohona O'odham reservation near Tucson, Az, who wished to grow traditional crops, but could not locate the seeds. The founders began a quest for these seeds that has grown into over 1800 collections, many of them rare or endangered. The unique feature of NS/S is that not only do they have the seed collections, they have also collected the traditions and stories that go with these seeds.

Americans Catch Passion for Minik

It's a story whose hoaxes and deceptions inspire anger and tears, and a tale whose equal parts of adventure and tragedy dominated Kenn Harper's life for years.

In 1977, Harper, now a well-known Iqaluit businessman, first became “unhealthily obsessed” with the short, sad life of a young Polar Eskimo named Minik.

History Before Lewis and Clarke

The 200th anniversary of explorers Lewis and Clark's "Corps of Discovery" trek is nearing, and tourism-related businesses in the U.S. are gearing up for increased numbers of visitors along the continent-spanning trail.

Native American historians are hoping that the Indian point of view won't be ignored this go-round.

About This Issue's Greeting - "Kwe Kwe"

The people, many of us call Mohawk, call themselves Kanien'keha:ka which means "the People of the Flint." The Kanien'keha:ka are one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy ... Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. The "Five Nations" became the "Six Nations" when the Tuscarora joined the Confederacy.

The ancestral territory is in the Northeast part of the United States and Southeast Canada. More specifically, the area of Northern New York State, Southeastern Ontario and Southwestern Quebec. The Mohawk Nation are also known as the "Keepers of the Eastern Door" since they hold the territory in the easternmost part of the Confederacy.

This Date In History

Recipe: Le Mud Bugs

Story: The Gift Of Maize

What is this: Corn-1 of 3 Sisters

Project:Corny Stuff To Do

This Issue's Web sites

Opportunities
"OPPORTUNITIES" is from sources distributed nationally and includes scholarships, grants, internships, fellowships, and career opportunities as well as announcements for conferences, workshops and symposia.

Go To The Home Page

Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107.

Canku Ota is a copyright of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the Copyright © 1999 of Paul C. Barry. All Rights Reserved.

Tribal Customs a Science To archaeologists, the piece of wood could be a stick. But to an Indian tribe, that stick could hold the key to life and death. Science and training help, but archaeologists won't get a full picture of Indian life unless they learn from stories and songs that tribal elders have passed down to their young, cultural experts said at a conference in Riverside, Ca.		The Summer That Wasn't For years, "Old Willie" told the legends of "the year that summer did not come" for the Eskimos living near the top of the world. In the tiny villages that dotted the coastline near present-day Nome, Alaska, only a handful of people survived. But the stories remained just that, stories handed down from one generation to the next, stories that William A. Oquilluk had heard at the knee of his grandfather in the early 1900s.


Internet Brings Canadian Aboriginal Culture To Classrooms Around the World Children in classrooms around the world will soon be learning about their counterparts in Canada's aboriginal community by clicking on the Internet. Kidlink, one of the world's largest online communities for youth, plans to host Web pages featuring Canadian aboriginal cultures and languages.		Improving Ability Unlocks New Doors Residents of the Plummer/Worley School District see a lot going right in their schools. There are solid reasons for their optimism. One measure of success is the dramatic rise in test scores among Indian students. After several years of lagging behind their white counterparts, Indian students can be proud of increases in their scores.


Swinging For Sequoyah TAHLEQUAH - Cody Quetone and Nick Fixin aren’t just good friends, they’re partners on the Sequoyah boy’s golf team. Both play a pretty good round of golf.		Pow Wow Dance Styles Dancing creates excitement at powwows! This is the second, and last, article exploring powwow dance styles. This time we look at women's dance styles. Dance Styles vary from area to area.


Language of Miamis Fades Into History Preservation is Goal of Children's Book Their ancient tongue is silent now. Only fading echoes remain. But a Miami University senior hopes to help revive the Miami tribe's language with a children's book. “Children are the future of the tribe. If they don't reclaim the language, it could die,” said Callandra “Callie” Cook, 21. “The Miami language has pretty much disappeared. A few people know a few words. Only one person is very conversational in it.”		Native Seeds/SEARCH Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) is a nonprofit organization that is working to preserve traditional crops, seeds, and farming methods that have sustained native peoples in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. What this means is that they are promoting the use of ancient crops and their relatives by gathering, safeguarding, and distributing their seeds within traditional communitities. NS/S was founded in 1983 as a result of Native Americans on the Tohona O'odham reservation near Tucson, Az, who wished to grow traditional crops, but could not locate the seeds. The founders began a quest for these seeds that has grown into over 1800 collections, many of them rare or endangered. The unique feature of NS/S is that not only do they have the seed collections, they have also collected the traditions and stories that go with these seeds.


Americans Catch Passion for Minik It's a story whose hoaxes and deceptions inspire anger and tears, and a tale whose equal parts of adventure and tragedy dominated Kenn Harper's life for years. In 1977, Harper, now a well-known Iqaluit businessman, first became “unhealthily obsessed” with the short, sad life of a young Polar Eskimo named Minik.		History Before Lewis and Clarke The 200th anniversary of explorers Lewis and Clark's "Corps of Discovery" trek is nearing, and tourism-related businesses in the U.S. are gearing up for increased numbers of visitors along the continent-spanning trail. Native American historians are hoping that the Indian point of view won't be ignored this go-round.

This Date In History		Recipe: Le Mud Bugs
Story: The Gift Of Maize		What is this: Corn-1 of 3 Sisters
Project:Corny Stuff To Do		This Issue's Web sites