Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

December 2, 2000 - Issue 24

 

Aho! Darixga (ah-HO dah-REE-hka)

means “Hello! How are you?” (male speaker)

 

Aha! Darixga (ah-HA dah-REE-hka)

means “Hello! How are you?” (female speaker)

 

Ioway

 

"VSKIHYI"

SNOW MOON

Cherokee

"We only ask to survive so that we can remain who and what we are - and for that we will always thank the Creator. We ask only the chance to pass on our way of life and our love for the Creator to our children and grandchildren."

Harriett Starleaf Gumbs
Shinnecock

The information here will include items of interest for and about Native American schools. If you have news to share, please let us know! I can be reached by emailing: Vlockard@aol.com

 

Artist:
Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winners

Bluesman George Leach and singer Sandy Scofield were double winners recently at the second annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

Hosted by Vancouver-based singer Fara and Six Nations Reserve rocker Derek Miller, the awards were held before a crowd of about 2,000 at downtown SkyDome.

 

Mixed Emotions at a Sioux Hockey Game
By Dorreen Yellowbird

Someone told me I shouldn't make comments about the "Fighting Sioux" name issue until I have glided in their skates, so to speak. You can't really understand the respect and honor bestowed on Native Americans when the "Fighting Sioux" are in the arena until you have been there, an e-mailer told me.

 

     

Legend Comes to Life:
'Pia Toya' book project helps develop tribal pride

A sense of place is an ancient and ingrained human need. Since time began, people have wanted to feel at home, have needed to know who and where they were. As they have attempted to make sense of their surroundings in myriad ways, a rich body of myth and legend has swirled through history.

 

Storytime at Rankin Inlet

'Taipsumanguuq quasuqsinialirmat tiriganiakulugu amarurjuarlu... amarualuqlu (Once upon a time in the spring, a wee little fox and a great big wolf...)

Those who have just come in, hurriedly hang their coats on the hooks by the door and scurry to join the attentive semi-circle of children gathered round the woman at the end of the room.

 

     

Native Americans Teach Students
About Ways of Life

A Catawba Native American couple visited fourth and fifth grade art classes at Coosa Elementary this week to teach them about the ancient craft of pottery.

The couple came as part of the Artists in Residence program, which is funded by the state and allows schools to bring in artists to teach classes.

 

Wampanoag Tribal Member Is Teaching Her Native Language

BOSTON — It started with a dream.

Jessie Little Doe Fermino saw Wampanoag Indian ancestors she didn't recognize, speaking a language she could identify but couldn't understand.

It was Wopanaak — the Wampanoag language that hadn't been written or spoken for nearly 150 years.

 

     

‘Let's Get Ready to Rumble’
American Indian amateur boxers face Finland

COLORADO SPRINGS - "Let's get ready to rumble" will be heard when 10 of Indian country's top amateur boxers tangle with Finland's finest national team at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

The Native American Sports Council, a member organization of the United States Olympic Committee, is assembling the Native American Boxing Team to compete against Finland national team.

 

16-Year-Old Adjusts to Life at Bacone

MUSKOGEE — Glenda DeLaMater, like many college freshmen, is adjusting to campus life. Before moving to Bacone College, she had never left the Pacific Northwest — the home of her Chehalis Indian Tribe’s reservation.

Being 2,000 miles away from home and living at college for the first time is tough for any student. But, for DeLaMater the adjustment is that much more, she is only 16 — the college’s youngest student.

 

     

Eagles Have Landed

COEUR d'ALENE, ID -- Roger Szelmeczka hooked a nice kokanee salmon and tossed it into a red bucket on the dock at Higgens Point.

Perched in an old snag high up a steep ridge nearby, a bald eagle thought about breakfast.

 

Canada's 'Gentle Giants' Await Vanishing Winter

Polar bears, their white coats tinged with yellow after a summer of fasting on the tundra, are gathering here on the western shores of the Hudson Bay, waiting for sea ice that once again will free them from land, allowing them to hunt seals.

 

     

Kiowa Program Bequeaths Cultural Legacy

Sounds of the strong, heavy beat of a Kiowa drum and the mesmerizing songs that accompany gourd dancing overwhelmed the Coffin Sports Complex at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Even the participants had a hard time describing the powerful hold gourd dancing has on them.

 

Friendly Tradition Settles Virginia Tax Bill

RICHMOND, Va. Nov. 22 –– For 354 years, the Mattaponi Indians have paid an annual tribute of pelts or game to Virginia's governor. And for more than 80 years, Webster Little Eagle Custalow has been there for a ceremony, like today's, that is more about the symbolism of friendship than settling a tax bill.

 

     

Lessons Given in Culture
Powwow helps rip stereotypes

"From kindergarteners to high school seniors, Broward children honored Native American cultures this month with learning experiences that broke stereotypes.

"I thought Indians lived in tepees,'' said Tatiana Lisowsky, 7. "But they live in houses just like us.''

 

Preserving Legacy of the Washoe

For years, Juanita Snooks sat at a table in her small home in the foothills. She heaped a pile of wet willow branches on a plastic cloth. These were branches gathered from tribal stream banks in Nevada. In her place, she began to weave.

She made baskets. Beautiful baskets of simple but intricate Native American designs.

 

     

"N.M. Boy A Winner For Milk"

"Three year old Brandon Kinsel, of Albuquerque, has become the latest local milk mustache celebrity and stands a chance at appearing in his own ad in ESPN The Magazine.

Brandon donned the famous milk mustache and took part in a photo contest when the Milk Mustache Mobile rolled into Albuquerque in September as part of a nationwide tour.

Brandon was dressed in a traditional grass-dance outfit for his photo.

 

Celebrating 172 years of Native American Journalism
Cherokee Phoenix

In 1829, one year after the Cherokee Phoenix, the first Native American newspaper, was first published on February 21, 1828, Elias C. Boudinot, the editor, realizing that the issues faced by the Cherokeee people were virtually the same as the issues faced by other native nations, expanded the name to Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate to reflect the expanding role of the publication as a model and an advocate for other native nations.

 

     

About This Issue's Greeting - "Aho! Darixga"Aha! Darixga"

 

The Ioway language is very similar to that of the Otoe-Missouria, and the two (Ioway and Otoe) are considered by linguists to be two dialects of the same language they call Chiwere, which is the term the Otoe use for themselves.

Ioway and Otoe are closely related to Hochunkara (also known as Hochunk or Winnebago), and more distantly related to Omaha and Lakota. All these languages are categorized as Siouan, although they are not Sioux. This is sort of like how English is characterized as Germanic although English is not German.

This Date In History

 

Recipe: Cranberries

 

Story: Legend of the Whiteface Bear

 

What is this: Polar Bear

 

Project:Bath Fun

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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