March 2002 Newsletter
Phil Konstantin
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Start of March 2002 Newsletter
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Greetings, this newsletter will be a return to the normal format. After
a great deal of work, I have moved all of my files to a new computer
system. This has been a very tedious task. I have finally had some time
to start checking my links pages for accuracy. I am now mostly through
updating the "Arts, Music and Photography" links page.
One of the changes you will notice is that there are fewer links pages.
However, each page has more links on it that before. Now you do not have
to go to a N-P section of a links page to look for a page which starts
with a N. The one draw back to this is that each page is much longer
now. It will take a bit longer for each page to load. I hope this is not
too much of a problem for you.
Another change on the website is in the "Dates" section. Now I post an
entire month of events on one page. I have reduced the number of events
for each day, though.
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The U.S. Census Bureau has put out some more information from the 2000
census. I often mention that I am a proud member of the Cherokee Nation.
In the 2000 census, more people listed themselves as Cherokee than any
other tribal group. This leads to some debate among people who care
about such things. I know many people who are proud of the little amount
of "Indian blood" they have. Some Indians get a bit annoyed at all of
the "white people" who claim to be Indian. How many of you have heard
"you don't look it" when you say you are Indian? My family only knows of
one photo of my grandfather, George Adair. He was almost full blooded
Cherokee. You can see his picture here:
http://americanindian.net/GeorgeSolo.jpg . He does not look like the
stereotypical movie Indian, either. Neither does my
great-great-grandfaher John Bell Adair. His picture is here:
http://americanindian.net/GreatGreatGrandfatherJohn_BellS.jpg . Before
you can join most tribes, you must prove your tribal anscestry to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). This is the highly debated "blood
quantum" level. Most tribes require that you have at least a 1/4 blood
line to be an official tribal member. The Cherokee Nation, unlike many
other tribes, will accept people of any blood quantum level, as long as
you have been recognized as a Cherokee by the BIA. Some people feel this
"diluted membership" is inappropriate. Others feel that any "brother or
sister" is welcome. I am 3/16th Cherokee, just under the 1/4 level for
most tribes. This is because my grandfather was listed on the Dawes
Rolls as being 3/4 Cherokee. But, being Cherokee, I am an "official"
tribal member because I could prove this to the the BIA (even though it
took 40 years to do it).
I can understand both sides of the "who is a real Indian" issue. I tend
to fall into the camp of the "what is in your heart" side of the debate.
A friend is a little over 1/2 Pomo, a California tribe. There was a move
to require that all Pomo tribal members be at least 1/2 Pomo. My friend
reminded them that due to the dwindling number of "purebred" Pomos, this
rule would eliminate almost all of the tribal members under 40 years of
age. For the Cherokees, I usually mention Chief John Ross. He is perhaps
the most famous "historical" Cherokee chief. He led the tribe during the
trying times before, during and after the Trail of Tears. Most people
don't know it, but he was only 1/8th Cherokee by blood. So, I have more
Cherokee blood than the most famous Cherokee chief. Does that make me
more Cherokee than Chief Ross? Hardly. One of the reasons for this
debate is that some tribe pay out annuities to their members. These were
most commonly from old treaties. In some cases, you could get a free
education if you were a certain percentage Indian. Now, with some tribes
finally making some money through "tribal gaming operations," being a
member of the tribe has become more important to some people.
The link below is to an article which lists details about how many
people listed themselves as American Indians or Alaska Natives in the
U.S. census of 2000. It is in the Adobe Acrobat format.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-15.pdf
If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can get it for free here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
(This is not an endorse of Acrobat, you just have to have it to read
some documents.)
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Featured Link of the Month for March 2002:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Babbitt at http://www.indiantrust.com/"
This website documents the effort to get the U.S. federal government to
properly handle funds being held "in trust" for American Indians. It is
a real education.
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Here are some interesting articles which appeared in February:
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http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12425
"Indian Giving by Chris Lombardi, The Nation"
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http://www.pbs.org/insidepbs/news/skinwalkers.html
"REDFORD'S WILDWOOD ENTERPRISES AND PBS BRING "SKINWALKERS" TO THE
SMALL SCREEN"
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http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/local_2375921.shtml
Oneida land deal will stand, Pataki says
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This month's "Treaty of the Month" is the Grand River Band of Ute treaty
of March 2, 1868. It covers boundaries, reservations, lots of rules,
laws and requirement for both sides. You can find a copy at:
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/treaties/ute0990.htm
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I received the following e-mail. If you know of any groups which might
be interested, Nellie's e-mail address is at the end of the letter...
"Hi Phil,
My brother and son have purchased the Mt. Maria ski lodge at Hubbard
Lake, Mi. northeast section of the state) They are restoring the face of
the Mt. to its natural setting (planting trees, removing the ski
equipment, etc.) and developing a scenic look-out at the top of the Mt.
overlooking the lake and displaying the area's historical information.
Additionally, they have converted the ski lodge into a resturant lodge.
They are hoping to locate a group of local native americans who would be
willing to come to the lodge the weekend of June 8th, 2002 to hold a pow
wow, set up a teepee and tables/booths with native crafts and or
artifacts.
Would you know of such a group and how we may get in touch with them?
Any information will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Nellie"
Nelle-@worldnet.att.net
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Here are some random historical events for March:
March 1, 1793: Congress passes "An Act to Regulate Trade and Intercourse
with the Indian Tribes." It also passes "An Act Making An Appropriation
to Defray the Expense of a Treaty With the Indians Northwest of the
Ohio."
March 2, 1868: The Seven Bands of Ute treaty (15 stat. 619) is signed in
Washington, D. C.
March 3, 1820: The Mi’kmaq Afton First Nation reserve of Pomquet - Afton
is established in Nova Scotia. The Bear River First Nation reserve of
Bear River is also established.
March 4, 1870: Louis Riel’s Metis have taken over the government in the
Red River Colony. They execute Thomas Scott for "taking up arms" against
Riel’s government. This execution helps to speed up an expedition
against Riel’s Metis.
March 5, 1861: The Confederacy appoints Albert Pike, of Arkansas, to
negotiate treaties with the Indians in the region. He establishes the
"United Nations of the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma)" as an
Indian confederacy to oppose the government of Abraham Lincoln.
March 6, 501: Maya King Ahkal Mo' Naab' I ascends to the throne in
Palenque, Mexico
March 7, 1524: Giovanni da Verrazano, sailing for France, anchors near
Wilmington, North Carolina, in the "Dauphine." He kidnaps a child they
encounter to bring back to Europe. Some sources report this happening on
March 1st.
March 8, 1857: Inkpaduta, and a little over a dozen Wapekutah Sioux
warriors, attack a series of settlements in northwestern Iowa along
Spirit Lake. As many as forty settlers are killed.
March 9, 1805: The Grand Chief of Minnetarees visits Lewis and Clark.
March 10, 1957: The Dalles Dam floods sacred fishing areas on the
Columbia River
March 11, 1848: As a part of the Cayuse War, a fight takes place .
Captain McKay, and a force 268, are ambushed by approximately 400
Palouse. The Palouse are allied to the Cayuse.
March 12, 1798: According to Hudson’s Bay Company records, two Kootenay
Indians arrived at Edmonton House in Canada. The Indians made their way
through the Rockies during to winter to seek trade.
March 13, 1864: The first group of Navajos finish the "Long Walk" to
Fort Sumner on the Bosque Redondo Reservation, in east-central New
Mexico. During their march, thirteen of the 1,430 who started the trip
are kidnaped by Mexicans or die.
March 14, 1697: The last of the independent Maya tribes, called the
Itza, are finally conquered by the Spanish. The Spanish attack and
defeat the Itza at their capital city of Tayasal, Guatemala.
March 15, 1869: Colonel George Custer, and his troops discovers two
Cheyenne villages, of over 250 lodges, on Sweetwater Creek near the
Texas-Oklahoma boundary. The Cheyenne have been order to report to their
reservation. Custer captures four Chiefs. He threatens to hang the Chief
unless the Cheyenne surrender. Both of the villages decide to give up.
March 16, 1621: Samoset meets the Pilgrims.
March 17, 1853: Joel Palmer becomes superintendent of Indian Affairs in
Oregon . He guides the creation of the Oregon Indian reservations.
March 18, 1877: The "Battle of Yellow House Canyon" takes place near
modern Lubbock, Texas. It involves over 150 Quahadi Comanches led by
Black Horse, and about fifty local hunters. Black Horse had killed a
buffalo hunter who had shot and killed a large number of buffalo in the
area. Black Horse is infuriated by the slaughter of his tribe’s economic
mainstay. The buffalo hunters sneak up on Black Horse’s camp and attack
it in retaliation for the killing of the hunter. Some sources list this
as the last significant Indian fights in the Texas panhandle.
March 19, 1851: According to the Costan internet site, one in a series
of treaties with California Indians is signed at Camp Fremont. These
treaties purports to set aside lands for the Indians and to protect them
from angry whites. The Americans are represented by George W. Barbour,
Redick McKee and Oliver M. Wozencraft.
March 20, 1699: Continuing his exploration up the Mississippi River,
French explorer Pierre le Moyne d'Iberville visits the village of the
Houma Indians.
March 21, 1842: General Zachary Taylor estimates that by this date,
2,833 Seminoles have relocated to the Indian Territory (present day
Oklahoma).
March 22, 1622: Opechancanough is Chief of the Pamunkey Indians. They
are part of the Powhatan Confederacy. They attack the English today,
Good Friday, at Jamestown. An Indian, named Chanco, warns his
step-father, Richard Pace, of the impending attack. While the town is
warned, the outer settlements suffer the brunt of the attack. 347 of the
1,240 English are killed in the fighting. This is the first large
"massacre" by Indians in North America.
March 23, 1889: President Benjamin Harrison says part of Oklahoma will
be opened to the public.
March 24, 1617: King James I, of England, decides the Indians of
Virginia must be educated. He directs the Anglican church to collect
funds to build churches and schools.
March 25, 1839: Peter Hilderbrand, and 1,312 of his original group of
1,776 forced Cherokee emigrants arrive in the Indian Territory (present
day Oklahoma). This is the last of the major groups of arriving
Cherokees in the Indian Territory. The migration is called "the Trail of
Tears." Although figures vary according to the source, it is believed
almost 12,000 Cherokees survived the emigration. Almost 4,000 died
during the move.
March 26, 1777: Henry Hamilton is the British Lieutenant Governor of
Detroit. He receives orders to dispatch his Indian allies against
American settlers in Ohio.
March 27, 1814: East of modern Alexander City, Alabama, Andrew Jackson,
and 2000 whites, Cherokees, Choctaws and "White Stick" Creeks, discover
a fort built at the village of Tohopeka on a Horseshoe Bend in the
Tallapoosa River, by " Red Stick" Creeks. The Red Stick Creeks are
anti-white, the White Stick Creeks are pro-white. Jackson attacks the
800 to 1,000 Red Stick Creeks, led by Chief Menewa. The Creek village
and defenses covered approximately 100 acres on the peninsula made by
the bend in the river. To cross the river, Jackson's Cherokee allies,
led by Chief Junaluska, swim the river to steal Creek canoes. Jackson's
forces eventually set fire to the Red Stick Creeks' wooden barricade. In
the end, only about fifty of the Red Stick Creeks survive the battle.
Jackson's forces lose forty-nine soldiers and twenty-three warriors
killed, and 157 soldiers and forty-seven warriors wounded. Jackson's
forces capture approximately 300 women and children. The Red Stick Creek
leader William Weatherford is not at the battle. Weatherford will turn
himself in later. This defeat leads to the Treaty of Horseshoe Bend
signed on August 9, 1814, whereby the Creeks gave up twenty-three
million acres of land to the United States.
March 28, 1676: After attacking a military group near the town two days
before, King Philip's forces attack the village of Rehoboth,
Massachusetts. While most of the townspeople survive in barricaded
homes, most of the town is razed.
March 29, 1542: Hernando de Soto's expedition reaches the territory of
the Anilco Indians. As with many of his previous encounters, a battle is
fought.
March 30, 1870: Based on the Congressional Act of April 8th, 1864, and
today's Executive Order by President Grant, Round Valley Reservation is
established in Mendicino County, California. It one day houses Clear
Lake, Concow, Little Lake, Nomelaki, Pit River, Potter Valley, Redwood,
Wailaki, and Yuki Tribes, in fifty and a half square miles.
March 31, 1882: The Havasupai Reservation boundaries, in Arizona, are
modified.
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That's it for this newsletter. Have a great month!
Phil
http://americanindian.net
ph-@americanindian.net
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End of March 2002 newsletter
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