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Canku
Ota
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(Many
Paths)
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An
Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
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February 2017
- Volume 15 Number 2
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Favorite
Web Sites
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collected
by Paul and Vicki
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Roots
to Rising Youth Media Project
The Roots to Rising Youth Media Project is a non-profit film-making,
arts, and leadership project that desires to serve the youth
of the Moapa Band of Paiutes and Moapa Valley with a hands-on
mobile media studio with the aspirations to grow to larger studio
capacities. The film-making crews and artists consist of local
youth and Hollywood and film-making student mentors. It is endorsed
by the Moapa Band of Paiutes, local artists, museums, educational
and community programs.
https://www.facebook.com/RootstoRising/ |
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Not
Your Mascots
Not Your Mascots is committed to addressing the misappropriation
of indigenous identity and imagery caused by mascots, stereotypes
and racist behaviors as well as the harmful effect that they
have on indigenous youth and communities.
http://www.notyourmascots.org |
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Dodging
Bullets
A Documentary Film on Historical TraumaDodging Bullets
focuses on documenting historical trauma and learned helplessness
among the Indigenous North American youth and the effort to
facilitate behavior change in the areas of substance abuse,
suicide and diabetes.
http://dodgingbullets.org
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Wozupi
Wozupi is an organic farm committed to growing food in a way
that nourishes the earth, the community, and peoples minds
and bodies. Using environmentally-sustainable and fair labor
practices, we grow vegetables, herbs and fruit, produce eggs,
honey, and maple syrup, and provide educational, therapeutic,
and fun opportunities at the farm and through community outreach.
Our produce and eggs are USDA certified organic.
https://www.wozupi.com |
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CPN
Cultural Heritage Center
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center exists
to educate tribal members, the greater Native American community,
and other visitors about the historical and contemporary aspects
of the tribe.
http://www.potawatomiheritage.org |
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Gorillas
Gorillas are the largest of the apes and have no natural enemies
except for man. They make their home in the rain forests of
Africa, near the equator. I was amazed to learn they were
not discovered by man until 1847. Can you imagine seeing a
six-foot 450 pound gorilla for the very first time?
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Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Dr. Dian Fossey began studying mountain gorillas in Africa in
1963. Four years later, she founded the Karisoke Research Center
in Rwanda and lived there among the gorillas for almost eighteen
years. Although she died in 1984, her foundation continues her
work. Best clicks are found in the Learning & Fun section.
"Typically, mountain gorillas live in groups that contain
one or two adult males (ages 12 years or older, called silverbacks),
several younger males (called blackbacks), adult females, juveniles
and infants."
https://gorillafund.org |
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Koko.org:
Gorilla Foundation
In 1971, Francine 'Penny' Patterson began teaching Koko, a newborn
lowland gorilla, American Sign Language. Koko proved an able
pupil, and her vocabulary has grown to 1000 words. First stop
for elementary-age students should be the excellent Koko4Kids,
which can be found on the Education menu. "Gorillas can
live more than 50 years. Newborn gorillas are very small, weighing
only about 4 1/2 pounds. They are helpless at birth and depend
on their mothers for at least 3 years, and they usually stay
in their family group as they grow up."
http://www.koko.org |
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National
Geographic Kids: Mountain Gorillas
"Mountain gorillas spend much of their time eating. Their
food includes a variety of plants, along with a few insects
and worms." Visit for a photo slide show, quick gorilla
facts, and links to videos and other related stories, such as
Gorilla Rescue and Gorilla Adoption. More National Geographic
gorilla features can be found here.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mountain-gorilla/#mountain-gorilla-closeup-eating.jpg
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San
Diego Zoo: Gorillas
"Many people like to compare gorillas with humans, but
there are several differences. Although they are able to stand
upright, gorillas prefer to walk using their hands as well as
their legs." San Diego Zoo is a great place for school
report research because all the important stats (height, weight,
life span) are listed on the right-hand side, along with Fun
Facts, photos and short articles on Family Life, Habitat, and
Diet.
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/gorilla |
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WWF
Global: Gorillas
"Gorillas are some of the most powerful and striking
animals, not only for their size and force, but also for their
gentle human like behavior." All four subspecies of Western
and Eastern Gorillas "are either Endangered or Critically
Endangered, threatened by hunting for bushmeat, habitat loss,
wildlife trade, and infectious diseases." Learn more
about gorillas and what WWF is doing to protect them.
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/gorillas/
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Ben
Franklin
If
you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten,
either write things worth reading, or do things worth the
writing. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706
in Boston, Massachusetts, and he has not been forgotten. He
was a prolific writer as well as a printer, scientist, inventor,
statesman, philosopher, musician, and economist.
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Benjamin
Franklin House
It is not well known that Franklin spent twenty years in London,
residing at 36 Craven Street. He came to England to represent
the colony of America, and while there undertook many scientific
experiments in his home laboratory. This house is now the only
surviving Franklin home in the world. The Friends of Benjamin
Franklin House are currently undertaking its renovation and
the establishment of a Centre dedicated to Franklin and his
ideals. Their site includes a biography and tales of Franklin's
three extended English visits.
http://www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org/site/sections/default.htm
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Franklin
Institute: Benjamin Franklin FAQ
There is so much excellent material in this Franklin Institute
site, I could devote an entire column to it. Explore the multi-faceted
Franklin by learning about his many avocations: music, science,
economics, inventing, politics and diplomacy. Did you know that
Franklin played the violin, harp, and guitar? His interest in
music lead him to build his own glass armonica, an instrument
played by touching the edge of a spinning glass with a wet finger.
https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/benjamin-franklin-faq
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History:
Benjamin Franklin
"During the American Revolution, he [Franklin] served in
the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration
of Independence in 1776. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty
of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War (1775-83). In 1787,
in his final significant act of public service, he was a delegate
to the convention that produced the U.S. Constitution."
History.com offers 4 short videos, a Franklin biography, and
links to related pages.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin
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Library
of Congress: Benjamin Franklin ... In His Own Words
For high school students (and all curious grownups), the Library
of Congress presents a virtual exhibit of primary sources that
"indicates the depth and breadth of Benjamin Franklin's
public, professional, and scientific accomplishments through
important documents, letters, books, broadsides, and cartoons.
Marking the tercentenary of Franklin's birth, this exhibition,
concentrates on his achievements as a printer and writer, an
inventor and scientist, and, particularly, as a politician and
statesman."
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/franklin/ |
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PBS:
Benjamin Franklin
Although the small viewport dates this web companion to
the PBS TV special, the content is superb. Explore the timeline,
Ben A to Z, and the special sections in the horizontal menu
at the top (Citizen Ben, Wit and Wisdom, Inquiring Mind, and
World of Influence.) "Born into the family of a Boston
candle maker, Benjamin Franklin became the most famous American
of his time. He helped found a new nation and defined the
American character. Writer, inventor, diplomat, businessman,
musician, scientist, humorist, civic leader, international
celebrity . . . genius."
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/
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Australia
Australia is the only country that is both an island and a
continent. It ranks as the sixth largest country (covering
nearly three million square miles) and the smallest continent.
Ive never been there, have you?
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All
Down Under: Australian Slang
"Australian slang is colourful, and often funny. Australian
slang can also be a complete mystery to most people not born
here." This Aussie glossary is divided into three parts:
Slang Phrases, Rhyming Slang, and Categories. The latter is
further divided into a dozen more categories such as People,
Clothing and Animals. Do you know what boomers, chooks, or woofers
are?
http://alldownunder.com/australian-slang/ |
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Australia:
Facts About Australia
Visit this tourism site to learn about Australia's geography,
weather, currency, seasons, plants, and animals. "Our unique
animals are one of the many reasons people visit our country.
Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species,
4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species,
two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal.
More than 80 per cent of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs
are unique to Australia and are found nowhere else."
http://www.australia.com/en-us/facts.html |
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Australian
Government: About Australia
The Australian government provides quick facts and figures on
geography, currency, weather, and many stories from Australian
history and culture. "The Dreaming, or 'Tjukurrpa', also
means to 'see and understand the law' as it is translated from
the Arrernte language. Dreaming stories pass on important knowledge,
cultural values and belief systems to later generations."
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia |
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National
Geographic: Australia through the National Geographic Lens
"Recent immigrants and ancient cultures, austere deserts
and luxuriant rain forests, epic grandeur and unpretentious
good humor. National Geographic photographer Sam Abell has captured
the diversity of faces and places that gives Australia its unmistakable
allure." Follow the links at the bottom for a few additional
National Geographic articles about Australia.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorer/australia/abell/
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National
Geographic Kids: Australia
Quick facts and short articles make this one-page site perfect
for elementary ages. "Most Australian cities and farms
are located in the southwest and southeast, where the climate
is more comfortable. There are dense rain forests in the northeast.
The famous outback (remote rural areas) contains the country's
largest deserts, where there are scorching temperatures, little
water, and almost no vegetation."
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/australia/#koala-closeup-tree.jpg
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Black
History Month
In
1915, historian Carter G. Woodson proposed a Negro History
Week to honor the history and contributions of African-Americans.
Nine years later, his dream became reality. Woodson chose
the second week of February to pay tribute to the birthdays
of two Americans that dramatically affected the lives of Blacks:
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809) and Frederick Douglass
(February 14, 1818). The week-long observance officially became
Black History Month in 1976.
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Bio:
Black History
"African-American history is filled with the tales of inspiring
individuals many of whom overcame great odds to leave
their mark on the United States." Biography.com's collection
of biographies are presented here with the newest entries at
the top. To traverse to the next page, use the " See More"
link at the bottom. Or, to find a particular black hero, use
the search function in the upper right-hand corner.
http://www.biography.com/tag/black-history |
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History:
Black History Month
"President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History
Month in 1976, calling upon the public to 'seize the opportunity
to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans
in every area of endeavor throughout our history.'" Begin
with the two-minute video on the origins of Black History Month,
then peruse the related content in the right-hand sidebar, which
includes a gallery of Black Women Musicians and a look at the
integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
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Scholastic:
Black History in America
This Scholastic site is chock full of resources on Black History
for students, teachers and parents. Best clicks for students
are the interactive features such as "Rosa Parks: How I
Fought for Civil Rights" and "The Underground Railroad:
Escape from Slavery." Printable worksheets about heroes
such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Harriet Tubman are
listed on the right-hand side of the front page. The Teacher's
Guide includes lesson plans, mini-books, and whiteboard activities.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/ |
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Smithsonian
Education: Black History Resources
From the Smithsonian Center for Education, these Black History
resources include a reading list about African-American inventors,
a guide to African-American art, and a special on African-American
pioneers in aviation. Don't miss the Virtual Heritage Tour.
"Twelve objects have been chosen from the Smithsonian collection
to help you understand African American history and culture
in a new way." Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, a Bessie Coleman
postage stamp, and a slave collar are just three of the objects
explored in this excellent interactive lesson.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/african_american_resources.html
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TIME
for Kids: Black History Month
Topics in this mini-site built just for kids include Honoring
Kings's Dream and A Fight for the Right to Love. "This
year marks the 50th anniversary of a famous U.S. Supreme Court
case titled Loving vs. Virginia. In 1924, a law banning interracial
marriage called the Racial Integrity Act of Virginia was set
in place. Yet this did not stop a couple named Mildred and
Richard Loving from fighting for their right to be together."
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month
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