Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

January 24, 2004 - Issue 105

"Ka-hay Sho-o Dah Chi"

The Crow Greeting

Hello. How are you?

FIRST NOME 2004 SUNRISE — The first sunrise of 2004 peeped over Nome’s horizon at noon sharp on January 1, 2004.
Photo by Photo by Peggy Fagerstrom - The Nome Nugget

"Ha'kwi kiishthwa"

Severe Moon

Shawnee

"A Warrior is challenged to assume responsibility, practice humility, and display the power of giving, and then center his or her life around a core of spirituality. I challenge today's youth to live like a warrior."
~Billy Mills~

We Salute
Patricia Saganey Wayne

A Kayenta Middle School teacher got the surprise of her career when she was presented with a $25,000 check at a school assembly last Friday.

Language Arts teacher Patricia Saganey Wayne, from Kayenta, was given the check that came as part of the 2003 Milken Family Foundation National Education Award.

For the last 3 1/2 years, Paul and I have shared "Canku Ota" with you, at no charge.
To date, we've received no funding for our work, either.
But, we now have a dilemma, and we need your help.

Our Featured Artist:

Living Traditions

Michael Naranjo

Michael Naranjo was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1944. He grew up in the Tewa Indian pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico. He developed an interest in clay and sculpting as a young boy. His mother was a potter and young Naranjo often helped her prepare her clay by blending various types of clay together with his feet. Later he made figures of animals and sculptures with the clay.

On January 8, 1968 while Naranjo served in the army in Vietnam a hand grenade exploded near him causing him to loose his vision and partial use of his right hand. Luckily, Michael was born with a sixth sense, an inner vision which helped him to retain vivid mental pictures of things he had once seen before him, and as with any "muscle" when put to good use, he began to perfect this inner vision and fulfill his desire to become a sculptor.

United Nations Drafts Akwé:kon Guidelines
UN Gives Document Mohawk Name

During the latest meeting on the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity here in Montreal, the participants recommended that the guidelines for cultural, environmental and social impact assessment be called the Akwé:kon Guidelines.

The meeting, which took place in December, finalized a draft recommendation on guidelines that would help protect Indigenous communities from development that would take place on, or which are likely to impact, sacred sites and lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by Indigenous and local communities.

Our Featured Story:

Northwestern Wisconsin First Person History:

The Eagle and the Snake – Redman Speaks - Part 2
by Geoff Hampton

A Whole New Series to enjoy!!!!

Fifteen Ways the Chippewa Forecasted the Weather
submitted by Timm Severud (Ondamitag)

Remembering

Living Traditions

REMEMBERING A LIFE:
Leaving her cultural legacy
Nationally known basket maker Rose Cree dies
by Dorreen Yellow Bird

Native American people, particularly those of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, will remember Rose Machipiness Old Eagle Woman Cree -- Mindimooye Ginew Ikwe -- as a teacher, spiritual guide and a woman who always did for others.

The art world will remember Cree as one of the most skilled and talented red willow basket weavers in modern times.

21 Warbonnets were aired and viewed Friday evening

The annual War Bonnet Dance, “Dancing towards good health for our people,” which was cancelled for New Years Eve due to a winter snow storm was held January 9th at Timbee Hall.

The evening started with a traditional feast at 5 p.m. with the dance beginning at 7 p.m. The MC was Lionel Boyer, dance leaders was Noah Fred and Joella Tindore.

No grand entry was held because no veterans were available to present the flags. Drums groups were Eagle Lodge, Sage Point, Spring Creek, Spirit Horse and Eagle Sky.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions

Risling Wins National Indian Art Award

Humboldt State University Service Learning Center's Tutorial Coordinator, Lyn Risling, has been awarded one of five national Community Spirit Awards from the First People's Fund.

Every year the Fund, based in Rapid City, South Dakota, awards five American Indian artists from throughout the United States for their commitment to sustaining the artistic and cultural traditions in their communities. Risling, a Yurok, Karuk and Hupa Indian from McKinleyville, was honored for her ceremonial regalia and painting.

First People’s Fund Announces its 2004 Community Spirit Awards Recipients

The First People’s Fund first established this prestigious national award in 1999 to recognize five artists who selflessly teach their art to others. The artists are nominated first by members of their communities and then an independent panel of American Indian reviewers selects those that most exemplify the idea of community spirit. What sets the Community Spirit Awards apart from other national awards is that the recipients are not selected based on a long resume of art shows, exhibitions and awards. Rather, these artists are recognized because of mentoring and teaching efforts.

Entertainment News

Entertainment News

Navajo filmmaker's 'Shush' chosen for Sundance

As a youngster growing up in Nenahnezad, N.M., Larry Blackhorse Lowe would act out scenes from "Conan the Barbarian" and "Indiana Jones."

"That's where it all started," Lowe, 25, said of his career in film and directing.

But now Lowe has made the big leap from student filmmaker to Sundance Film Festival honoree.

"Shush," an eight-minute film written and directed by Lowe, was selected to be screened in the Indigenous Films category at the festival held in Park City, Utah Jan. 15 to 25.

Aspiring actress overcomes doubts, barriers

Kelly R. Vallo had a dream six years ago to become an actress. No one took her seriously, not even her parents.

"I used to tell people I was going to be on TV," she said and the response she got was a snicker from her classmates and friends.

Despite the lack of faith, her dream came true.

With three films tacked onto her resume along with countless modeling stints, she is working to pursue her dream to be cast in a major motion film. And she got her first big job with a film shot recently in the Salt Lake City area.

Preserving Traditions

Preserving Traditions

$1.2M Grant Helps Tribes with Preserving Traditions

With the help of a new $1.2 million grant, a history project is "reawakening the memory of the Northern Cheyenne," a member of the tribe said Friday.

The American Indian Tribal Histories Project at the Western Heritage Center will help preserve threatened culture and traditions of several Montana tribes.

Instead of disappearing, that knowledge now can be passed on to future generations, said Rubie Sootkis, a field director for the project.

Alaska Native Heritage Center Celebrates Youth Day

Anchorage youth and youth groups will have the opportunity to learn about Alaska Native cultures in a fun environment. The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is celebrating Youth Day on January 31, 2004 from 10am to 5PM. Throughout the day, activities will be provided for entertainment, fun and education. Also available will be programs to allow scouts to pass requirements for certain badges for their advancement. Youth Day is one of the continuing series of Celebrating Culture Saturdays sponsored by BP.

Celebrating Success

Celebrating Success

SPC History Professor Signs Contract with Prentice Hall

Dr. Laura Graves, professor of history and government at South Plains College, has signed a contract with Prentice Hall as senior author for the nation's first undergraduate American history textbook written from an American Indian perspective.

Prentice-Hall is the world leader in publishing academic and reference textbooks. The book is groundbreaking in many ways. It will be the first true textbook for courses on Native American history, putting the Indian perspective in the forefront. And the text will focus on ordinary people, rather than traditional figures of political and economic influence, allowing the John Does of this world to tell much of the story in their own words.

Rez math teacher inspires students

Tuba City Boarding School math teacher Raquel Dale believes her students deserve a smooth transition from eighth to ninth grade and has designed a successful algebra program to reach that end. Her method is simple in some ways. Basically, Dale’s lesson plan is consistent with the curriculum and testing of both Tuba City High School and Greyhills Academy High School.

Dale’s program is paying off. On Dec. 18, 26 TCBS students took the final exam facing high school Algebra I students. According to Dale, all did extremely well.

"The majority of my algebra students scored exceptionally compared to the high school students who took the Algebra exam. Only four of my students received a 50 percent or lower," Dale said. "These results show that the TCBS students are learning what the high school is teaching."

Living Traditions

National Aboriginal Achievement Awards announced

Ethnologist and author Basil Johnston and North of 60 star Tina Keeper are among the 14 winners of the 2004 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards announced Tuesday. About one-third of this year's winners represent the arts and culture industry.

In addition to the Ontario author of Indian School Days and the popular Manitoba-born actress, the other arts winners are Nunavut carver and printmaker Osuitok Ipeelee, British Columbian artist Susan Point and Ontario-based Métis broadcaster Suzanne Rochon Burnett.

Ferrets going to reservation

Between dusk and dawn today and Monday, Travis Livieri will spotlight some of the rarest species of mammals in South Dakota.

Looking for the green-eyed, reflective shine of the black-footed ferret, the director of Prairie Wildlife Research and U.S. Forest Service personnel will be setting traps.

Since the animals are nocturnal, the trapping expedition will begin after 9 p.m. and finish by sunrise the next morning in the Conata Basin near Wall, Livieri said.

Preserving Traditions

Living Traditions

One of nine Sacajawea statues at Museum of Idaho

The Museum of Idaho received a eight foot statue on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The Sacajawea statute is one of 400 items to go on display in commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition.

The statue will greet patrons to the Lewis and Clark display at the entrance of the museum, which is located at 200 N. Eastern Avenue scheduled to open February 17 at 9 a.m.

This is one out of nine statues of Sacajawea made by sculpturer Glenna Goodacre, who was the designer of the Millennium golden one dollar coin.

She finds path to Methodist pulpit

There are times when Shirley Montoya needs to see a medicine woman.

There are times when she ceremonially burns sweet grass to help purify the mind and prepare for meditation.

There are times, when she's in a new place, that she gets to know the spirits of the current residents, including the trees and the cactus, so she doesn't feel like an outsider.

Considering Montoya is a Navajo woman, none of these cultural practices are unusual. They just aren't the typical activities for your run-of-the-mill ordained Christian minister.

Remembering

Preserving Traditions

Blackfeet artist remembered

Many local friends of Kingsley "King" Kuka, who died of a stroke last week in Great Falls, remember the Blackfeet artist as a risk-taking, generous, thoughtful and genuine man.

David Kettman, owner of the Ghost Art Gallery, said whenever a tourist would ask who he had for the American Indian arts, he always mentioned Kuka first.

"He was a quiet man, but big and imposing," said Kettman. "He's a real good seller, but not a real sales person — he was non-intimidating."

As tribal bison herd gets larger, food supply dwindles

High atop a snow-swept plateau on the Crow Reservation, bison shuffled in the morning sun at the sound of an approaching airplane.

As it passed overhead, most of the shaggy giants raced to the south, while a few others scattered here and there. They ran for a few seconds and, as the plane buzzed away, regrouped on a bare patch of ground that overlooks Bighorn Lake, craggy canyon walls and a wild landscape that stretches to every horizon.

About This Issue's Greeting - "Ka-hay Sho-o Dah Chi"

In traditional and contemporary Crow culture, it is customary to greet each other with a quick glance away or a blink and nod of the head. If they are wearing a hat, they might tip the brim of the hat. Handshaking is a white man's custom and was only recently accepted as a greeting in Crow culture. You will rarely see Crow people embracing publicly. From: Vincent Goes Ahead, Jr., Museum Interpreter, Vice Chairman of the Crow Tribe

This Date In History

Recipe: Game Day Recipes

Story: How the Mockingbird Became the Best Singer

What is this: Mockingbird

Craft Project: Making Scrapbooks

Opportunities

"OPPORTUNITIES" is gathered 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 copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

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