. . . . . . . ============================================================ Start of Phil Konstantin's April 2006 Newsletter - Part 1 ============================================================ Greetings, I hope things are going well with you. I am been pretty busy recently. If you are in San Diego during the middle of April, I invite you to attend the powwow at San Diego State University on April 15 & 16. I will be one of the flag bearers again this year. It is a smaller powwow, but it is a good one. April 6th is Drowsy Driver Awareness Day in California. April 6th will be the 7th anniversary of my wife Robyn's death. She died when she fell asleep behind the wheel while driving from Florida to California. You can read all about the dangers of driving while drowsy at the follow website: http://www.drowsydriverawarenessday.com The deadline for my student essay contest is coming up on the 15th. There is more information posted below. Please encourage everyone you know to enter. Phil ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Link of the Month for April: The Nieman Reports: "Covering Indian Country" from the Nieman Foundation For Journalism at Harvard UNiversity. This 2005 publication covers LOTS of material in its 115 pages. It is well worth a look. http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/05-3NRfall/V59N3.pdf ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= The "Treaty of the Month" is the TREATY WITH THE POTAWATOMI, 1836. Apr. 22, 1836. | 7 Stat., 501. | Proclamation, May 25, 1836. It covers such subjects as: Land ceded to the United States; Indians to remove within two years; and Expenses of this treaty to be paid by United States. You can read a transcript here: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/treaties/pot0459.htm ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= April 15th the deadline for entries in my American Indian student essay contest. The response has not been very good. I only have one entry, so far. Please pass this information along to anyone you think might be interested. More info can be found at: http://americanindian.net/contest.html Phil Konstantin's "This Day in North American Indian History" Essay Contest - 2006 There are a couple of reasons for this contest. It is my hope that these essays will help raise the participant's awareness in the subject matter. Sharing the information will help to educate the public, as well. Finally, this is a way for me to help pay back the community who has supported my efforts through my websites, newsletters and book ("This Day in North American Indian History"). In case it matters, I am an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. This is an essay contest for North American Indian students. Anyone whose ancestry is from any tribe between the North Pole and Panama (Hawaii included) is eligible to enter. When the word "tribe" is used in the rules, it is meant to include the concept of "nation" or "native village," as well. There are three subjects: one for elementary/junior high school students, one for high school students, and one for college students. While I am the judge and final arbitor of the contest, I might ask others for their opinions or assistance. I will post some of the essays on my website and in my newsletters (see the link at the bottom of the page). Subject: Elementary and Junior High School students: "What everyone needs to know about my tribe." High school students: "How my tribe's history guides my life." College students: "What does tribal sovereignty mean to my tribe." Prizes: There will be a total of three first place winners: one for each of the different grade levels. There will be a total of six runners-up: two for each of the different grade levels. All nine first place and runners-up essays will be posted on my website, and included in my newsletter. First Place Prize: $50.00 (U.S.) A signed copy of my book Runner-up Prize $25.00 (U.S.) A signed copy of my book Rules: 1. The essay should be under 500 words in length and written in English, or have an English translation with it. 2. Entrants should have American Indian ancestry, or attend a tribal-run school. You do not have to be an "enrolled" member. Contact me if you have any questions about whether you qualify. I will be flexible on this. 3. Entries should be mailed or e-mailed to the addresses below. 4. All essays become the property of Phil Konstantin. They will not be returned. 5. Essays may be posted on Phil Konstantin's website, newsletters or other publications. By submitting an entry, you agree to these terms. 6. Phil Konstantin is the final judge and arbitor for the contest. 7. The deadline for receiving entries is April 15, 2006 Submitting entries: E-mail is the prefered method. Please submit each entry in an individual e-mail. Written entries may be submitted as a group (i.e. if everyone in a class writes an essay, they can all be mailed in the same envelope). Be sure to include the student's name, tribal affiliation, school grade & mailing address on their essay. Regular mail: Phil Konstantin Essay Contest P.O. Box 17515 San Diego, CA, USA 92177-7515 E-mail: "Essay Contest" in the subject line philkon @ rocketmail . com The date of the announcement of the winners will be determined by the number of entrants. As I have to read each entry, the more I get, the longer it will take for me to read them. I will try to announce the winners as soon as I have read all of the entries. A copy of this notice has been placed on this website: http://americanindian.net/contest.html If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Best wishes and good luck, Phil Konstantin ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= TV Notice: ========== This notice can also be found on this website: http://www.nni.arizona.edu/nativetv/ This program will first air on The Dish Network on April 16. NATIVE NATION BUILDING A Television Series Exploring Where, How, and Why Nation-Building is Taking Place in Indian Country The Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management and Policy (NNI) at The University of Arizona has unveiled a ground-breaking new video series called Native Nation Building, which is designed to provide critical information to the leaders of Indian nations, students in tribal colleges and other educational institutions, and other interested individuals about what’s working and what’s not among Native nations as they engage in the difficult and daunting challenge of nation building. Native Nation Building is a series of thematic interviews (each 30 minutes long) that presents the growing number of nation-building success stories and examines the roots of that success. Each segment can stand alone, but taken together, the series provides a comprehensive overview of the ways Native nations are working to make sustainable, self-determined community and economic development a reality. They include: Introduction to Nation Building chronicles the ongoing research of NNI as well as the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. It articulates the five keys to successful community and economic development for Native nations—sovereignty (genuine self-rule), effective institutions of self-governance, cultural match, strategic orientation, and leadership. Constitutions and Constitutional Reform explores the evidence that strong Native nations require strong foundations, which necessarily require the development of effective, internally created constitutions. It examines the impacts a constitution has on the people it represents, successful reform processes among Native nations, and common features of constitutional reform efforts. Why the Rule of Law and Tribal Justice Systems Matter discusses the importance of having sound rules of law and justice systems and examines their implications for effective governance and sustainable economic development. It focuses on these issues and their role in the creation of a productive environment that encourages investment of all types from Native and non-Native citizens. Building and Sustaining Tribal Enterprises explores corporate governance among Native nations, in particular the added challenge they face in turning a profit as well as governing effectively. It focuses on how tribes establish a regulatory and oversight environment that allows nation enterprises to flourish, particularly the separation of day-to-day business operations from politics. Promoting Tribal Citizen Entrepreneurs examines the pivotal role that citizen entrepreneurs can play in a Native nation’s overarching effort to achieve sustainable community and economic development. It looks at the many different ways that Native nation governments actively and passively hinder citizen entrepreneurship, and the innovative approaches some Native nations are taking. A Capable Bureaucracy: The Key to Good Government explains that good governance requires effective, transparent and accountable bureaucracies. It demonstrates how clearly defined organizational structures and roles and responsibilities help make things work and get things done, and how their absence actively hinders Native nation governance and development efforts. Tribal Service Delivery: Meeting Citizens’ Needs discusses the issue of Native nations’ administration of service delivery in Native communities. It examines the unproductive ways services and programs have been administered in many Native communities in the past and the innovative mechanisms and approaches some Native nations are developing to maximize limited financial and human resources. Intergovernmental and Intertribal Relations focuses on Native nations’ efforts to enhance their relationships with other governments as a way to advance their nation-building objectives. It details how some Native nations are forging mutually beneficial intergovernmental agreements, and chronicles the many advantages to forging similar intertribal arrangements. Strategy and Leadership: The Path to Self-Determination ties together the themes discussed in the previous segments into a discussion of how Native nations and their leaders move themselves and their peoples towards nation building. It seeks to answer the question all Native nations have: How do we get where we want to go? Interview guests appearing in the series include: Lance Morgan (Winnebago), CEO, Ho-Chunk, Inc.; Robert G. Yazzie (Navajo), Former Chief Justice, Navajo Nation Supreme Court; Elsie Meeks (Oglala Lakota), Executive Director, First Nations Oweesta Corporation; Urban Giff (Gila River), Community Manager, Gila River Indian Community; Dr. Manley Begay, Jr. (Navajo), Director, Native Nations Institute, The University of Arizona; Dr. Stephen Cornell, Director, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona; and Dr. Joseph P. Kalt, Director, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, Harvard University. Mary Kim Titla (San Carlos Apache), television news reporter with KPNX in Phoenix, Arizona and author/tribal radio talk show host Mark St. Pierre from Pine Ridge, South Dakota serve as co-hosts of the series. Jointly produced by NNI and KUAT MultiMedia at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the program is being distributed to elected officials and staff of Native nations, students at tribal colleges and universities, and interested professionals working in and with Native communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. It also will be distributed to public television and other media outlets in markets with significant numbers of Native viewers. Through this widespread dissemination of Native Nation Building, NNI hopes to get the practical lessons it has learned in the hands of the people that need it the most. ================= California and the American Dream Check your local TV listings... California and the American Dream is a four hour documentary series exploring the dynamics of culture, racial diversity and identity within California, the most multiethnic state in America. As America's cultural center slides westward and so-called minorities become majorities in state after state, life in the Golden State offers Americans a glimpse into the future. California and the American Dream will take viewers on a journey through the state's diverse experience and the complex fabric of life in the twenty-first century. This groundbreaking series will look at the last twenty-five years of the California experience, a pivotal era in the remaking of the state, its evolution in the character of the nation, and its positioning in the global future. California and the American Dream will present a mosaic of many voices, experiences and images, providing an insight and understanding of who we are and where we are going. One out of four immigrants to the U.S. makes California their home. Immigrants from Latin America and Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands, as well as the original inhabitants -- American Indians -- now comprise the majority of the California's population. Today, California's story is more integral to the history of the country and to the future of the world than ever before. California, where people of so many nationalities have migrated in and so many ideas have migrated out, is the ideal stage for California and the American Dream, a story about all of us. ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Events & Notices: ================= "Full Circle: Embracing Our Traditions and Values in Education" On behalf of the Osa Center for Indian Education, it is an honor to invite you to attend the 29th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education, to be held April 13-15, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Fresno, California. The conference theme this year is "Full Circle: Embracing Our Traditions and Values in Education” and will honor the knowledge that Indian traditions are once again being made a priority in Indian communities. The conference will also showcase 30 years of the success and growth of American Indian education, and acknowledge the impact education has made from a cultural standpoint on American Indian communities in California. The conference begins on Thursday evening with an open handgame competition. Adult and youth teams are welcome to come and share in traditional gambling exchanges. We realize more youth are learning their languages, songs, and traditions and welcome them to attend to participate in this ageold tradition. All others are welcome to watch and learn. In addition, there will be hands-on workshops offered Thursday evening to learn basketry skills and other traditional arts of Indian people throughout California. Youth participants are invited to a 2-hour session Thursday from afternoon on proper protocol and respect while attending functions such as the conference, where we honor Elders and educational leaders. Youth will learn how to gain the best educational experience and benefit from opportunities such as Indian and other leadership conferences. The conference will end on Saturday night with a “Big Time,” a celebration of California Indian culture and dance and serves as an example of the rich culture and traditions in California that are reawakening our knowledge as Indian people. Finally, we offer this conference in memory of one of our great leaders in the Central Valley, Phil Hunter, Tule River Tribal Council Member, who passed on earlier this year. He represented California with distinction on a statewide and national level and always made education and the needs of Indian youth a priority. Please join us this year in Fresno. We will be proud to show you our beautiful city and guarantee a great time for all who attend! Wah do, Virginia Holloway CCAIE 2006 Conference Chairperson http://www.ncidc.org/IndianEd.pdf ================ THE IAIA 2006 SUMMER TELEVISION AND FILM WORKSHOP SEEKS TALENTED NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS http://www.iaia.edu/cpressrelease_98.php The Institute of American Indian Arts, in collaboration with Disney-ABC Television Group Talent Development Programs and The Walt Disney Studios, is presenting the third annual Summer Television and Film Workshop. This year’s expanded, 8-week program will focus on directing, screenwriting, production, animation and acting techniques. Faculty is drawn from the professional ranks of the television and film industries. The program’s curriculum will also include mini-workshops and panel discussions with top decision makers and other industry experts. The 8-week workshop begins June 5 and continues through July 28, 2006, on the Santa Fe, N.M. campus of the Institute of American Indian Arts. The workshop is geared to serving all experience levels, from entry positions to seasoned professionals, and offers participants up to 12 hours of college credit. Application deadline is April 15. ""In carrying out the IAIA mission, our educational and cultural pursuits converge in a fundamental task of the Institute: to tell the Native American story, a living legacy transmitted through Indian life, language, and material culture. This career collaborative with industry leaders in film and television will give us a powerful new voice to tell that story. We are deeply grateful to Disney-ABC for their initiative and support,” says Dr. Richard Tobin, President, Interim, Institute of American Indian Arts. ""We are always looking for new and creative ways to expand our diversity efforts here at Disney-ABC, and we believe this program will increase the number of qualified Native American applicants to ABC and other industry programs,"" says Carmen J. Smith, Vice President of ABC Talent Development. Ms. Smith was instrumental in developing the collaboration with IAIA. As part of the workshop, students will be formed into production and post-production teams to facilitate a final product in the form of a video of students’ work. There will also be screenings of faculty and student work, intermixed with other films and videos. Beverly Morris (Aleut), director of the 2006 Summer Television and Film Workshop, is a filmmaker with over fifteen years of producing and directing experience, including documentaries on subjects such as Urban Indians, Native arts and artists, and Navajo physicist Dr. Fred Begaye. Her knowledge will guide the workshop’s slate of classroom lectures, seminars and one-on-one lab sessions. =============== Dene Languages Conference Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 13-15 June, 2006 Request for Proposals/ Call for Papers Dene Cultural Institute The Dene Languages Conference will be held at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 13-15, 2006. The co-sponsors are YamĂłzha Kúé Society (Dene Cultural Institute) and the Department of Linguistics, University of Victoria. Visit this website for more information: http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/alc/ =============== World Premiere of ARIGON STARR'S one-woman extravaganza ~ THE RED ROAD! The production opened March 30, 2006 and plays through April 30, 2006 before starting it's world tour! THE RED ROAD ~ At the Autry National Center March 30 - April 30 Thursdays - 8:00 pm Sunday Matinees - 2:00 pm Tickets: General $20, Autry Members $12 Groups of 10 or more save 20% Call TicketWeb for reservations at 866.468.3399, www.ticketweb.com For group sales please call 323.667.2000, ext.391 =============== MAVIN Foundation is excited to announce the 3rd annual National Mixed Heritage Student Leadership Retreat! This retreat is an opportunity for mixed race and transracially adopted students from across the country to gather, share their stories, learn from each other, and develop valuable grassroots organizing and leadership skills. The goal of the retreat is to encourage participants to return to their communities and make a real impact. The retreat will be held June 23rd to the 26th outside of Seattle, Washington. Any student or person aged 16 years or older is invited to apply. There will be a $75 registration fee for participants. Please feel free to forward this application widely. To learn more and download a registration packet, please go to: http://www.mixituponcampus.org/> =============== Current and Upcoming Exhibitions at the Arizona State Museum http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/exhibits/index.shtml ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Info from newsletter subscribers: From Joseph RedCloud: ===================== Good afternoon, I send you greetings in a good way. Just as we did not more than a couple of years ago, we are meeting with the Meade County Commissioners in South Dakota to voice our opposition to another one of their development plans near Bear Butte. As you may recall, our efforts were successful in stopping the construction of a rifle range and sporting club near Bear Butte. If anyone thought that the "battle" was over, they were mistaken. The Meade County Commissioners have received an application from a Mr. Jay Allen for a liquor license at a bar that he wants to build near Bear Butte. Mr. Allen already owns four (4) bars, one of which (The Broken Spoke Saloon) is billed as the largest biker bar in the world. Now, our people have nothing against entrepreneurs like Mr. Allen. Our objection is focused on his efforts to open yet another bar and build that bar almost next to Bear Butte. One should pause and consider, just how many bars does Sturgis have? How many more does it need? Must culture and religion be sacrificed in pursuit of profit? How much concern does Mr. Allen truly have for the sensitive nature of the area if he jokes about naming the new bar "Sacred Grounds"? There will be a rally on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 in Sturgis, South Dakota. You are welcomed to join us. If you need additional information, please call (605) 455-2155 or 2508 or (605) 964-4642 or (605) 538-4134. Of course, I don't expect everyone to attend. The Meade County Commissioners have only granted us thirty (30) minutes with which to make our wishes known. They have generously agreed to accept written opinions and they will read them before the meeting. So, please, take a few minutes to write down your feelings on this issue and fax them to the Meade County Attorney at (605) 347-6815. Better yet, send them a fax and join us next Tuesday! Everyone is invited. Everyone is welcome! Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your classmates. Tell your fellow riders. Meade County Commissioners Fax Number: (605) 347-5825 Meade County Commissioners E-mail Address: audi-@meadecounty.org ============== Greetings from Judith Villa, at Indiana U of PA. I am editing next Fall's _Journal of the Humanities_, which will be devoted to American Indian studies (articles, interesting syllabi with explanatory memos, short fiction, poetry, book/film reviews, etc.). Please consider submitting something, or, if you'd rather be an "outside reader," that would also be great--just let me know. I am especially trying to get the call out to people just starting out in jobs or still in grad school; I really want to try and help new folks with a publication, if possible. Also, if folks could send me names of books and films that they believe should be reviewed, that would also be most helpful. And one more favor. . . please send this call out to other distribution lists you are on so the word gets around. I am really looking forward to having this edition of the journal not be the usual critical essay/book review format and am hoping people will send some exciting and unusual work. Thanks very much, Judith V. jvi-@IUP.EDU =============== American Indian woman saw changes on reservation By: YVETTE URREA - Staff Writer In her 95-year lifetime, Eva Linton Rehner saw many changes in the local Indian communities ---- and she helped bring about some of those changes for the betterment of the tribal band, her family said. She died Thursday of natural causes at the Silverado Senior Facility in Escondido, where she had been living in her last years. "For the past three years, she was the oldest living elder on the Pala Reservation ... one of her girlfriends is now the oldest," said her only son, Theodore Linton of Pala. Rehner was born on Jan. 24, 1911, on the Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation as part of the Luiseno Mission Indians, said Linton. Those were difficult times for Indians because young children were gathered up and sent away to U.S. government-run Indian boarding schools where they wore uniforms, boys had to cut their hair, and they learned American customs as part of their education, he said. Rehner went to the Sherman Indian School in Riverside County when she was about 12 years old, Linton said. She told him the students were disciplined when they spoke their own language and it was "kind of on the brutal side, but she got an education there," Linton said. When she finished her studies, she moved to the Los Angeles and Hollywood area to work as a nanny. While there, she went to a USO club and met sailor Robert Joseph Rehner, an American from Pennsylvania, whom she married in 1935 on the Pala Indian Reservation. She ultimately stayed at Pala, while he went on to complete his tours of duty. She opened a general store on the reservation that she operated until 1988, the year her husband died. While in her 60s, Rehner noted that her husband, who was retired military, didn't have to pay sale taxes on the military base and wondered why Indians would have to pay sale taxes since it was federal land. So, she sued the state for requiring Native Americans to pay sales tax on the reservation and won, Linton said. Linton said he remembers it was pretty hectic at the time having to deal with all the attorneys, but she was proud of it when she prevailed. Later, she tried to sue the state again to keep Indian retailers exempt from having to get a state license to sell alcohol, but she lost that battle, Linton said. Rehner was also an environmentalist and was always concerned and vocal about things that affected the reservation such as dust pollution from uncovered passing quarry trucks, he said. Eventually, the trucks had to cover their loads and take other steps to keep the dust under control. "She always had a good point and people would listen to her," Linton said. "In the Indian way of life, the elders are still respected by the younger people, and that's why she was listened to." Linton said his mother was headstrong and persistent and would "get things done." Tribal Chairman Robert Smith said Rehner "was well-respected" on the reservation. Smith said everyone knew her because for years her store was the only one open on Sundays. Rehner is survived by Linton, his wife Mary Ann Linton, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= News articles: -------------- Who Were The First Americans? http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1169905,00.html Berger urges big, bold fix for Inuit education http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/60331_01.html Bush picks Kempthorne for Interior http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412699 Meth lays siege to Indian country http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-03-30-meth_x.htm Two succeed, four give up on Pole treks - Iqaluit father-daughter team among groups still pressing north http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/60331_11.html Mushers head overland in sixth annual Nunavik dog team race http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavik/60331_04.html Border-town discrimination shows power of perception http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/04/02/news/state/60-rave.txt LaDuke: Three Affiliated Tribes at a crossroads: Which energy path? http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412739 Native Runner 55th In World Cross Country Championships http://www.nativeyouthmagazine.com/profiles_view.php?pfcid=8&pfid=302 Bill would curb off-site casinos http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/04/02/news/regional/4e33379250392c9e872571410074f9a4.txt Taissumani: A Day in Arctic History: April 5, 1923 – In Search of Igsivalitaq, the Outlaw and A Day in Arctic History - March 28, 1923 — Rasmussen meets the Netsilingmiut http://www.nunatsiaq.com/opinionEditorial/columns.html Lester: Indian rights of way and echoes of the 19th century http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412740 Grant to fight Indian cancer http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/NEWS01/604020302/1002 Immigration threatens cultural sites http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_23203.php Border artifacts, cultural sites are in danger http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0321sacred-damage0321.html The greatest show in town - The last session of the legislature showed MLAs at the peak of their performance http://www.nunatsiaq.com/archives/60324/news/features/60324_01.html Kelseyville agrees to drop Indian mascots at schools http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/NEWS/603230302/1033/NEWS01 Reliving the Past - Code Talkers return to Iwo Jima http://www.gallupindependent.com/2006/mar/032906iwojima.html No such thing as typical American Indian http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2006/03/30/features/home_and_garden/5e8b2d6975352b408625713f00017854.txt Environmental group says coal company harming Navajo-Hopi aquifer http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/03/24/news/regional/411f376a51caaa1f87257139005e948f.txt Indian Walk-In Center faces ax http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3664968 Petroglyphs picture prehistoric Hohokam life http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=61749 DORREEN YELLOW BIRD COLUMN: May film foster understanding http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/columnists/dorreen_yellow_bird/13848616.htm Federal Agencies Make Klamath Suggestions http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3758087.html No help for struggling students in Iqaluit schools - 62 per cent of tenth graders below grade level http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/iqaluit/60331_01.html A Navajo Tale: Canyon de Chelly is home to stone-age history http://www.chicoer.com/local_news/ci_3640349 State slow to improve Indian education http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/41542.html Sioux tribe plans to scalp its own http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49489 Fire Thunder's choice worthy of respect http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412742 Wampanoag cross first hurdle to federal recognition http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/wampyes31.htm Blumenthal seeks intervener status in Schaghticoke appeal http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412709 Urban Indians fear loss of health clinics - 17 of 34 native-friendly clinics may be axed under Bush budget proposal http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12013262/from/ET/ Tribe granted preliminary federal recognition http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/31/tribe_government_has_granted_preliminary_federal_recognition/?p1=MEWell_Pos1 Blessing Way Ceremony Part Four By Crystal Begay http://www.nativeyouthmagazine.com/profiles_view.php?pfcid=8&pfid=115 Congress and tribes at odds over trust and land http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412749 Nunavut premier defends seal hunt as way of life for Arctic aboriginals http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/27032006/2/world-nunavut-premier-defends-seal-hunt-way-life-arctic-aboriginals.html Mesa Verde: 100th anniversary of first park to protect man-made wonders http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-03-23-mesa-verde_x.htm?csp=34 California Tribe Tries to Save Its Language http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2006-03-30-voa46.cfm NM governor vetoes funds for Indian art authenticity; lawmaker says she'll persist http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/41267.html Tribal Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain talks about the year that's passed since a horrific school shooting dropped his people into the national spotlight http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/14243790.htm State of the Tribes address given to Wisconsin Assembly http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412673 American Indian Women's Activism in the 1960s and 1970s http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/03/1809545.php Tohono O'odham challenged to prevent immigrant deaths http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412762 Advocates for battered women say Native American women more likely to be abused than any other racial group http://www.hometownsource.com/capitol/2006/March/29nativeamericans.html Monument to celebrate archaeology, heritage http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060321/NEWS01/603210312/1002 Attorney general announces new initiatives in Indian country http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WST_Gonzales_Visit.html Santo Domingo celebrates traditional shell necklaces http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412726 The canyon of many spirits - New Zealand Newspaper http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3603748a2180,00.html Bandelier celebrates its 90th anniversary http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/40344.html Geographic Society plans mega-map - Public is invited to nominate sites significant to area http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/118439 Crow Canyon teaches history http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060311_9.htm Native Cooking http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412687 Former Pechanga members take fight to Supreme Court http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=SCOTUS-TRIBE-03-17-06 ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= My youngest daughter, Sarah, has had arthritis for many years. She is only 24. We will both be participating in the "San Diego 2006 Walk For Arthritis" to raise money money for the Arthritis Foundation. The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions with advocacy, programs, services and research. Sarah is trying to raise $500. Literally, if each of you were to donate only $1, she could raise twice that. If you can afford to donate $1 (or more), please visit the website below. You donation is tax-deductable. https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=156795&lis=1&kntae156795=502A8EC3FF5040C196756BAFC874AB46&supId=116002317 ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= If you live in Abilene, Texas, my son Ron is running for city council. You can read more about it here: http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_political/article/0,1874,ABIL_7971_4539720,00.html ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Humor & other stories: ------- From Ruth: A blonde woman driving down the open road at full speed, gets pulled over by a blonde woman police officer. The officer asks for the blonde's drivers license. The blonde fumbles through her purse, and can't find it. She asks the officer what it looks like, and the officer says it is square shaped and has your picture on it. The blonde pulls out her powder compact, opens it up and hands it to the officer. The blonde officer looks at it and hands it back saying "oh, you can go, I didn't realize you were a police officer." HITS OF THE 60'S It was fun being a baby boomer ... until now. Some of the artists of the '60s are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate todays baby boomers. They include: 1. Herman's Hermits--- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker. 2. The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip. 3. Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash. 4. Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends. 5. Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face. 6. Johnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now. 7. Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver . 8 The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom. 9. Marvin Gaye--- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts. 10. Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair. 11. Leo Sayer--- You Make Me ! Feel Like Napping. 12. The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone. 13. Abba--- Denture Queen. 14. Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall. 15. Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore 16. Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again 17. Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure and I'll Cry If I Want To. ============== From my niece Marsha: PURPLE HATS In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer). I would go to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would burn the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would talk less and listened more. I would invite friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would eat the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would take the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would share more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never insist the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would sit on the lawn and never worry about the grass stains. I would cry and laugh less while watching television and cry and laugh more while watching life. I would never buy anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I would cherish every moment and realize that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never say, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would be more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, ! I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it. Live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, Don't worry about who has more, or Don't worry about who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day. ============== From Joanna: Haiku Written by Cats The food in my bowl Is old, and more to the point Contains no tuna. So you want to play. Will I claw at dancing string? Your ankle is closer. There's no dignity In being sick - which is why I don't tell you where. Seeking solitude I am locked in the closet. For once I need you. Tiny can, dumped in Plastic bowl. Presentation, One star; service: none. Am I in your way? You seem to have it backwards: This pillow is taken. Your mouth is moving; Up and down, emitting noise. I've lost interest. My brain: walnut-sized. Yours: largest among primates. Yet, who leaves for work? Most problems can be Ignored. The more difficult Ones can be slept through. Cats can't steal the breath Of children. But if my tail's Pulled again, I'll learn. I don't mind being Teased, any more than you mind A skin graft or two. So you call this thing Your "cat carrier." I call These my "blades of death." ============== From Andre: Tribal Fortune Cookies Q: Do you know what a tribal fortune cookie is? A: A piece of fry bread with a food stamp stuck in it. Man-Eating Fry Bread Q: How are tribal men and fry bread alike? A: They're both round, brown and greasy. Ice Fishing Q: How do tribal people know when it's safe to go ice fishing? A: When all the white guys quit falling through. Rich Tribal people Q: How can you tell a rich tribal person from a poor tribal person? A: The rich tribal person has two cars up on blocks. Photography Q: Why is it so hard to take a group picture of a bunch of tribal people? A: Cause when you say "cheese" they all line up. Good Kissers Q: Why are Indian guys such good kissers? A: Because their lips get so much exercise pointing at stuff. Women's Creation Story The creator made woman first. She was lonely, didn't have anyone to boss around or to take her to bingo, so she asked the Creator for a companion. The Creator obliged her. He cut off part of her butt and made man. That is why tribal women have flat butts and tribal men are butt heads. Q: What's a mile long and four feet high? A: Hopi Grand Entry Q: What do you call a Sioux guy out walking his dog? A: Vegetarian Q: What do you call a Cheyenne guy with two dogs? A: Rancher Q: What do you get when you cross a Chickasaw, a Potawatomi, and a Paiute? A: A chickie-pot-pie Three Indian commandos were out in the Iraqi desert. "I understand that you Indians have brought your own indigenous survival equipment" ventured their captain. "Sir, I have brought an entire barrel cactus" said the Pima guy, proudly;"When I get too hot, I just cut off the top and take a drink," The captain looked impressed. Not to be outdone, the Pueblo guy said "Sir, I have brought the sacred corn pollen. When I get too hot, I pray with it, and then it rains". The captain looked even more impressed. Not to be outdone the Rosebud guy said "I brought a car door off a 1959 Chevy Impala". "Why would you do that?" the captain asked. "Well," said the Rosebud guy; "when I get too hot, I just roll down the window". ============== Satirical poster: Save The Veal http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/60317_14.html ============== From my mother: MAYONNAISE JAR and 2 CUPS OF COFFEE When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "YES." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So... Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend." ============== From Ed Clark: "Why God made Moms" answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions. Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born. How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts. What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think. Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1. We're related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me. What kind of little girl was your mom? 1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice. What did mom need to know about dad before she married him? 1. His last name. 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores? Why did your Mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on. Who's the boss at your house? 1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball. 2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad. What's the difference between moms and dads? 1. Moms work at work and work at home, & dads just go to work at work. 2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine. What does your Mom do in her spare time? 1. Mothers don't do spare time. 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. What would it take to make your Mom perfect? 1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue. If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be? 1 She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that. 2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me. 3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back of her head. ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Random historical events for April: April 1: 1880: Captain Eli Huggins, and Troop E, Second Cavalry, from Fort Keogh, in east-central Montana, surprise a band of "hostile" Sioux. During a brief battle, the soldiers capture five Indians, forty-six horses, and some weapons. Lieutenant John Coale, and Troop C, Second Cavalry, from Fort Custer, in south-central Montana, has a skirmish with Sioux on O'Fallon's Creek. One soldier is killed in the fighting. According to Army reports, some of these Indians are believed to have been involved in the theft of Crow Indian scout horses, from Fort Custer, on March 24, 1880. For his part in cutting off the Indians' herd of ponies through the use of "fearless exposure and dashing bravery," Second Lieutenant Lloyd M. Brett is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Captain Huggins will also be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the fighting. April 2: 1781: Established on the heights above the Cumberland River, Fort Nashborough served as a central point of defense for the settlers in the area which eventually becomes Nashville, Tennessee. The fort is the scene of almost continuous sniping by local Indians over a twenty-year period. A Cherokee war party attempts to capture the fort. Using a few exposed warriors as bait, they lure twenty woodsmen out of the fort. The main body attacks the Europeans, killing five. The fort lets loose a pack of hunting dogs which attack the Cherokees. The surviving woodsmen make their escape while the Cherokees fight off the dogs. This attack is the last serious attack on the fort by the Cherokees. April 3: 1975: Gerald Tailfeathers, a Blood from Alberta, Canada is an accomplished artist. He dies on the Blood Reserve. April 4: 1840: Comanche Chief Piava arranges an exchange of two prisoners with the residents of San Antonio, Texas. Two captives from each side are released. April 5: 1879: Having been cast out of Little Wolf's Band of Cheyenne for killing two of their fellow Northern Cheyenne, a group of eight Indians are moving on their own. They attack a Sergeant, and a Private, of the Second Cavalry, on Mizpah Creek. The Sergeant is seriously wounded, and the Private is killed. April 6: 572: Maya King Kan B'alam I (Great Sun Snake Jaguar) takes the throne in Palenque, Mexico April 7: 1864: Colonel John Chivington, Commander of the District of Colorado, reports to his supervisor, Major General Samuel Curtis, that Cheyennes have stolen 175 cattle from a ranch on the Smokey Hill stage coach route. An investigation, conducted much later shows no proof the Indians are involved in any such activity. April 8: 1756: Governor Robert Morris declares war on the Delaware and Shawnee Indians. As a part of his declaration, he offers the following cash bounties: prisoners: men over twelve = 150 Spanish pieces of eight, women or boys = 130; scalps: men = 130, women and boys = 50. The bounty on scalps leads to the killing of many innocent Indians who are members of neither tribe. The legislation for this is called "The Scalp Act." Some sources list this happening on April 14th April 9: 1830: After some "politicking," Greenwood le Flore is elected as Chief of the Choctaw Nation, during a "rump" council. Previously, there were three regional Chiefs. Le Flore is in favor of selling the Choctaw lands, and moving to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). Some sources state this happens on March 16th. April 10: 1837: As part of the treaty signed on March 6th, the Seminoles are to report to Tampa Bay no later than today for transport to the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). Prior to today, General Jesup reneged on one of the provisions of the treaty. He allowed whites to come among the Indians to seek out blacks whom they claimed as runaway slaves. This makes the Seminoles doubt if the United States will live up to this agreement. Many of the Seminoles disappear into the woods. April 11: 1873: Captain Jack and several of his warriors arrive at the peace conference site between the lava beds and the soldier's camp in northen California. The army is composed of soldiers from the First Cavalry, Twelfth & Twenty-First Infantry, Fourth Artillery and some Indian scouts . A little before noon, General Canby, who convinced Manuelito and his Apache followers to sign a peace treaty, and his peace commissioners arrive at the meeting place. Canby says he wants to help the Modocs find good land for a reservation. Captain Jack tells him he wants land near the lava beds and Tule Lake. Captain Jack repeated his request for the soldiers to be removed before they continue their talks. Angry words are then passed between Schonchin John, Hooker Jim and commissioner Alfred Meacham. General Canby says that only the "Great Father in Washington" can order the soldiers to leave. Captain Jack, again, repeats his demands to be given lands nearby, and to do it today. Meacham tells Canby to promise him the land. Captain Jack suddenly jumps up, points his pistol at Canby and fires, mortally wounding Canby. Boston Charley shoots, and kills, commissioner Reverend Eleazar Thomas. The other commissioners escape. Six soldiers are also killed. Two officers, thirteen soldiers and two civilians are wounded during the fighting which lasts until April 26th. April 12: 1676: As a part of King Philip's War, 500 Indians attack Sudbury, Massachusetts. Most of the settlers escape into fortified structures. The Indians burn many of the outlying buildings. Hearing of the attack, three relief forces consisting of a total of approximately 100 men from Concord, Watertown, and Marlborough, converge on the settlement. In one battle, the Indians start grass fires to strike at the Europeans. At least, thirty whites are killed in the fighting, and much of the town is destroyed before the Indians withdraw. April 13: 1940: The Assistant Secretary of the Interior approves an election for amendments to the Constitution of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wok Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria; the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria; AND, the Tule River Indian Tribe. April 14: 1665: A deed for Indian land is registered in New England. It says, "articles of agreement, and a firme bargaine agreed and confirmed between the Sachem of Setaucet, Warawakmy by name." April 15: 1715: Many European settlers have moved onto Yamassee lands without permission. The Yamassee have also been cheated by many traders. The British authorities have ignored almost all of the Yamassees complaints. Yamassee Indians attack settlements near the southeastern Georgia-South Carolina boundary. Several hundred settlers are killed. Among the dead are Indian Agent Thomas Naire and trader William Bray who has been engaged in a conference at the Indian village of Pocotaligo. Bray had settled, without permission, on Yamassee lands and established a trading post. After amassing debts, which they can not pay, Bray suggested the Yamassee pay their debts by giving him slaves from other Indian tribes. This slave trade, and Bray's habit of capturing Indians and selling them as slaves, is a significant factor in the war. April 16: 1519: According to some sources, after landing on the Mexican mainland, Hernan Cortez's and his army start their travels toward Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City). April 17: 1528: Panfilo de Narvaez begins his exploration of Florida by coming ashore near Tampa Bay. He visits an Indian house which is big enough to hold 300 people, in his opinion. He also finds a "rattle" made of gold in the abandoned house. The discovery of gold spurs Narvaez onward across Florida. April 18: 1879: After the Custer disaster, the U.S. government decides to punish the plains Indians. While the Poncas have no part in the Custer battle, the have erroneously been placed in a reservation with the Sioux. When it is decided to force the Sioux to go to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma), the Poncas are ordered to go as well. Many Poncas start to walk back to their old reservation from Indian Territory. Eventually, General George Crook sympathizes with the Poncas and one of their Chiefs, Standing Bear. Seeking public support to avoid being ordered to send Standing Bear back to Indian Territory, General Crook contacts the press about the Poncas' plight. Many editorials are written in support of the Poncas, and several lawyers volunteer their services for free. Judge Elmer Dundy, with Crook's blessing, issues a writ of habeas corpus to the General to produce the Poncas and show why he is holding them. A U.S. District Attorney argues that the Poncas can not be served a writ because they have no legal standing, or are not recognized as people, under the law. On this date the tribe begins to determine if Indians, and particularly Standing Bear, are people under U.S. laws and can enjoy constitutional rights and privileges. The judge eventually rules Standing Bear is indeed a person and can not be ordered to a reservation against his will. While this decision seems to prevent keeping any Indians on any particular reservation against their will, the eventual course of the U.S. Government is to say the ruling applied only to Standing Bear, and to no one else. April 19: 1735: A force of eighty French and over 200 Indian warriors start a four day attack on a Sauk and Fox village on the Mississippi River near the Des Moines River. The expedition led by Captain Nicolas de Noyelles, is not prepared for siege warfare and they abandon the attack. April 20: 1865: As a part of the investigation into the Sand Creek massacre (November 29, 1864) , Lt. James Olney appears before the commission at Fort Lyon, Colorado. He testifies he witnessed a specific incident of brutality. "Three squaws and five children, prisoners in charge of some soldiers; that, while they were being conducted along, they were approached by Lieutenant Harry Richmond, of the third Colorado cavalry; that Lieutenant Richmond thereupon immediately killed and scalped the three women and the five children while they (prisoners) were screaming for mercy; while the soldiers in whose charge the prisoners were shrank back, apparently aghast." April 21: 1869: Donehogawa (Ely Samuel Parker) is the first Indian appointed to be Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Donehogawa, a Seneca Iroquois, is trained as a lawyer and a civil engineer. Unable to find work in the white world, Donehogawa contacts his old friend Ulysses Grant. Grant makes him an aide, and they work together through much of the Civil War. Because of his excellent penmanship, Donehogawa draws up the surrender papers for Lee to sign at Appomattox. Promoted to Brigadier General, Ely Parker worked to settle many conflicts between whites and Indians. After Grant becomes President, he is appointed as Indian Commissioner on this date. April 22: 1877: Two Moons, Hump, and 300 other Indians surrender to Colonel Nelson Miles. Most of the rest of Crazy Horse's followers surrender on May 6, 1877 at the Red Cloud, and Spotted Tail agencies. April 23: 906: Uxmal is a Maya ruin in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. A dedication ceremony is held for one of the buildings, according to an inscription in the building. Visit my website with pictures of Uxmal at: http://americanindian.net/mayac.html April 24: 1885: The Fish Creek fight takes place between Canadian forces under Major General Frederick Dobson Middleton and 150 Metis under Gabriel Dumont. This is one of the more significant fights of the "Riel Rebellion." April 25: 1541: Coronado leaves Alcanfor en route to Quivira. While in Quivira, Coronado killed many of the inhabitants of Tiguex Pueblo. April 26: 1872: Captain Charles Meinhold, and Troop B, Third Cavalry, encounter an Indian war party on the South Fork of the "Loup" River, Nebraska. A fight ensues, in which, three Indians are killed. Scout William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Sergeant John H. Foley, Privates William Strayer and Leroy Vokes will be given the Congressional Medal of Honor for "gallantry in action" during this engagement. April 27: 1877: General George Crook contacts Red Cloud with a message for Crazy Horse. Crook promises that if Crazy Horse surrenders, he will get a reservation in the Powder River area. On this date, Red Cloud delivers the message to Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse agrees and heads to Fort Robinson, in northwestern Nebraska, where he surrenders to the U.S. Army. April 28: 1882: The Mi'kmaq Membertou First Nation reserve of Caribou Marsh is established in Nova Scotia. April 29: 1700: Pierre le Moyne d'Iberville visits a Pascagoula Indian village, one day's walk from the French post at Biloxi. The Pascagoulas have been hit hard by disease brought by the Europeans. D'Iberville is impressed by the beauty of the Pascagoula women. April 30: 1598: Don Juan de Ornate claims all lands in modern New Mexico, including those of the resident Pueblos, for Spain. The event known as "La Toma" takes place near San Elizario. ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= That's it for now. Have a great month. Phil Konstantin http://americanindian.net ============================================================ End of Phil Konstantin's April 2006 Newsletter - Part 1 ============================================================ . . . . . .. . . ============================================================ Start of Phil Konstantin's April 2006 Newsletter - Part 2 ============================================================ Greetings, Here are a few items for the middle of the month. Just a reminder, April 15th is the deadline for my 2006 American Indian student essay contest. You can get all of the details at: http://americanindian.net/contest.html Phil ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= One of the names you see listed here on a regular basis is Joseph RedCloud. Joe is the administrative assistant to the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Vice President. While we have never met in person, we have traded electrons on the internet for some time. Last Tuesday, Joe received some life-threatening injuries in Chadron, Nebraska. According to the latest reports, authorities are still not sure what happened. According to friends of Joe's, doctors say he had a sever injury to the back of his head which was indicative of a strong blow. Joe has no memory of the events leading to his injury, as of the last update I have received. He has spent almost all of this time in the hospital. We send him all of our best wishes and prayers for a swift, and complete, recovery. This letter to his friends from one of his friends was dated April 7: Everyone, Late night a group of us friends went and visited Joe. He had just been moved out of ICU and taken off a liquid diet and his mother was there with him as well. Other than his very matted hair, the half inch of stitches above his lip and the cervical collar -- he looked and sounded good. He has a laceration at the base of his skull in a "Y" shape that bled profusely -- even by the standards of the EMT guys who transported him to the hospital. By my calculation he has no recollection of about five hours prior to the "incident" and everything beyond that until he woke up in the Rapid City ICU. There have been rampant rumors here in town about what happened to Joe -- ranging from a brutal attack to a mere fall and the police are working to sort it all out. The details are very sketchy and no time line of events has been firmly established with all the conflicting reports and gossip so I won't even try to give any more detail at this point. I am hopeful the local police will hand the investigation off to an outside entity with more expertise and resources at their disposal. An answer must be found. According to Joe, the doctor in Rapid told him that his injuries were consistent with that of a blow from something like a bat and were not consistent with that of a fall. The police tried to question Joe yesterday but made the fatal mistake of not clearing it through his mom first and were turned away. She is doing a good job of making sure he is well cared for! I'm sure the police will try again once Joe is up to answering their questions. Joe's big priority right now is getting the cervical collar off and checking himself out of the hospital by Saturday. He's anxious to get home and find out what happened. He's as stubborn and bull-headed as ever (which I was relieved to see) so I'm confident he is on his way to a full recovery. Evidently, they took x-rays of his cervical area but no one has read them yet and until they do they will not allow the collar to come off. I'm hoping the doctors will convince him to stay put a bit longer as I feel the only way we are ever going to get to the bottom of this is if Joe can remember more details. He has a splitting headache and they won't allow him to have the Excedrin he feels will help because it is a blood thinner -- he's not a happy camper about that at all! More people from Chadron will be going back and forth to make sure Joe has everything he needs. We made sure he was well stocked with food from three of his favorite fast-food restaurants and well as some non-nutritious snacks and candy before we left. We figured his system has already been through enough of a shock without adding healthy hospital food to it! For those of you who might be thinking of sending him a care package PLEASE be mindful that Joe is allergic to nuts. He's been through enough of late. If you want to send him a card the address is: Joe Red Cloud Room 632 Rapid City Regional Hospital 353 Fairmont Rapid City, SD 57701 Here is a link to a very brief article in the local newspaper. http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=3625 ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= Notices: (These are posted for your information. I cannot personally vouch for any of these groups or activities.) ======== Call for Presentations for NCAI Mid-Year Session The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Policy Research Center invites scholars and organizations conducting research with practical implications for tribal communities to submit a proposal to make a presentation at the June 2006 NCAI Mid-Year Session in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. For more information on meeting dates and location, see www.ncai.org. This exciting opportunity allows researchers to share their work broadly throughout Native America, especially targeting tribal policymakers. It also offers dialogue between tribal representatives and researchers and provides an opportunity for feedback to researchers about the implications, impact, and potential next steps of their work. General Assembly presentations will be made to tribal leaders, tribal program directors, and intertribal organization directors and staff from across the country. Up to twelve (12) selected presenters will give 15- minute presentations (with Power Point slides), share an abstract of their work (no more than 5 pages), and participate in an afternoon breakout session where dialogue about their work will occur. Both the General Assembly session and concurrent breakout sessions will occur on Tuesday, June 20th. Breakout sessions (approximately 2 ˝ hours long) will feature presenters on similar topic areas and offer an opportunity for scholars and tribal representatives to engage one another on the research questions, methods, and findings. Presenters whose proposals are accepted must participate in both the General Assembly and breakout sessions. Both completed and on-going research (with preliminary findings) will be considered. Scholars (both Native and non-Native), institutions, and tribal organizations from all disciplines and fields are encouraged to apply. To apply, please submit a presentation proposal (no more than three pages total) that includes the following information: · Presentation title · Presenter's name, affiliation(s), and contact information · Other contributors' names and affiliations · The topic area of the research · A one-page summary of findings (which may be preliminary) · Practical implications of the research for tribal communities · A description of the research's policy or practice relevance All materials should be submitted to Sarah Hicks, Director, NCAI Policy Research Center via email at shi-@wustl.edu by Friday, May 5, 2006. No mailed copies or faxes please. The 12 proposals accepted for presentation at the NCAI Mid-Year Session will be announced by May 19, 2006 on NCAI's website. No travel scholarships are available, but all presenters will receive a small non-monetary gift and a certificate for their presentation. For questions, you may leave a message for Sarah Hicks at (314) 602-6630 or email at shi-@wustl.edu. ============ Subject: Project: Moccasins seeks out beaders Sherry n8tivesinthem-@nativeweb.net Project: Moccasins is seeking out beaders for our project. Project: Moccasins send out a pair of moccasins to our native men & women who are serving in harms way. They will provide the needed material just need those who can bead moccasins :) Hit me back if you would like more information. Anyone who knows of a native american stationed overseas please let me know so a pair can be sent to them. Thank you~ Sherry Creek & Cherokee Founder of Support our Native Troops Overseas with Letters & Care Packages www.aicco.org/troops.asp Associate Member of Project: Moccasins ============ Native American Journalism Career Conference The 7th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference "the largest Native student journalism program in the nation" is schedule for April 18-20 at Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. More than 600 high school and college students have attended past conferences at Crazy Horse Memorial. (Read about the 2005 conference.) Native students will be introduced to the basic skills and practices of journalism by about 25 experienced journalists from around the country, many of them Native American. Teachers and advisers interested in organizing student groups to attend the conference must register in advance by contacting Janine Harris at 605-677-5424 or jhar-@freedomforum.org. Write to Janine Harris at the Al Neuharth Media Center, 555 Dakota St., Vermillion, S.D. 57069. The registration deadline is April 1, 2006. Lodging, meals and conference participation are free to students and their teachers. South Dakota native Al Neuharth, founder of USA TODAY and the Freedom Forum, will be the opening speaker the evening of April 18. "Native Americans are the most underrepresented group in newspaper newsrooms. We are working to change that by inviting Native students to consider journalism careers,"ť said Jack Marsh, executive director of the Freedom Forum's Al Neuharth Media Center, one of the conference sponsors. "Improving employment diversity is a priority of the Freedom Forum. News coverage will be fairer and richer with the addition of these new voices."ť The conference is funded by the Freedom Forum and co- sponsored by the South Dakota Newspaper Association, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Native American Journalists Association and the journalism programs at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. =========== From Susie, I have a favor to ask, please we need prayers, in this area of Ky. there are many people well most all the people are of Indian blood, but like me, were not allow to learn of that side of the family, not that anyone was ashame of being indian, but to protect us, we have grown up times have changed, there is to be a Powwow in this area giving the people a chance to lean a little, but singers and drum are needed, PLEASE! if we cross your mind as the creator to send what we need, giving this small area a chance to attend and be a part of it all to see and hear, talk and learn, there is no charge to the public to enter at the gate, no charge to venders to set up and sell, no charge to campers, and we hope there will be trade blankets, Thank you! The first weekend in May, here in [Brownsville ky, fairgrounds] we are located in the Mammoth Cave area near Bowling Green, Kentucky pinecone_40231 @ yahoo . com Susie ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= News articles: Caught in 'Road's' comic whirlwind; Native American stereotypes take a licking in Arigon Starr's lively one-woman show. http://www.kumeyaay.com/news/news_detail.html?id=3738 National monument's oldest artifact goes on display http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3673651?source=rss Congratulations to the Mashpee Wampanoag http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412781 Language restoration a top priority at Mashantucket conference http://www.kumeyaay.com/news/news_detail.html?id=3742 Huge 1,500-year-old pyramid discovered in Mexico http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0406_060406_pyramid.html Tomb raiders loot U.S. sites, sell goods on eBay http://www.startribune.com/484/story/355442.html On Mesa Verde's hundredth birthday, there's still a lot of dirt behind the region's greatest archaeological mystery http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2006-04-06/cover.html Indian Health Service says meth use is at crisis level on reservations http://www.kxlf.com/Global/story.asp?s=4735686 Sovereignty Matters http://www.kumeyaay.com/news/news_detail.html?id=3740 NATIVE AMERICANS URGED TO RALLY IN WASHINGTON FOR TRUST CASE http://www.indiantrust.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.ViewDetail&PressRelease_id=158&Month=4&Year=2006 Puebloan artifacts have home http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news060401_22.htm Local artists capture beauty of ancient ruins http://www.lcsun-news.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060402/FEATURES/604020301/1009/FEATURES Understanding the nature of tribal government http://www.rlnn.com/ArtMar06/UnderstandingNatureTribalGovernment.html A blog titled: Ms. Fire Thunder and the Oglala Sioux Planned Parenthood http://kathrynt.livejournal.com/366823.html (based on this article: http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/013061.asp ) ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X ============================= That's it for now. Have a great month. Phil Konstantin http://americanindian.net ============================================================ End of Phil Konstantin's April 2006 Newsletter - Part 2 ============================================================ . . . . . . . . . . . .
Go To Newsletter Page Go To Main Page Go To Tribal Names Page Go to Indian Moons & Calendar Stuff Go to Awards & "Web Rings" |