Friday, Nov. 12, 2004

native american arts daily news, presented by
amerindianarts.us

NANISH SHONTIE P.O. BOX 17 BLACHLY, OREGON 97412 U.S.A. (541) 925-3777 fax (541) 925-3776 WEB SITE http://www.nanish.org E-MAIL Nanish@peak.org HELLO TO ALL OUR FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS, AND VOLUNTEERS… We hope that the summer has been good to you. It has been a busy summer for us and we have made many new friends. There was a lot of work that has been done and much more that is still needed. As Nanish Shontie continues to evolve into the vision that we have believed in, we also see the good energy that it is already creating. In June, besides the Land Blessing ceremony, Nanish Shontie also hosted a board of directors meeting from the Native American non-profit organization Poo-Ha-Bah. It was a gift to have these Elders among us. There are other non-profit groups that have expressed interest in having their meetings at Nanish Shontie. In July besides having numerous visitors, Nanish Shontie also tried selling crafts and organic produce in a number of areas locally. Unfortunately this met with only limited success. We are working on other ways to help make Nanish Shontie more self sustaining. A healing clinic that was held in August was a learning experience. We found many restrictions on what was allowed and not allowed, but we also had many practitioners who were willing to donate their time and energy to help others without charging. There was a group of four people from France which three were acupuncturist and herbalist. We hope to have another one next year if we can work out the details. There was also a family from Germany that stayed with us for five weeks starting in August. The husband whose name is Kai, is someone that has extensive knowledge of web site creation and donated his time to get Nanish Shonties web site updated which was greatly needed. They also felt strongly about the way of life at Nanish Shontie and the whole family is hoping to immigrate to the United States to live at Nanish Shontie. They have started the process but should anyone have helpful advice for them, please contact them at kai.arend@mabon.de-or . September was another month that was more focused on the work needing to be done at Nanish Shontie with the generous help of numerous volunteers. We were do a lot of canning of fruit and some vegetables and also gathering fresh ones to eat. Oregon is a land that is very fertile and many different fruits, vegetables and nuts grow there. October was an interesting month as Nanish Shontie was invited to attend two conferences in Oregon, one in Eugene that was called the Oregon Bioneers conference and one in Corvallis that was called Nature and the Sacred. We were able to have a table for Nanish Shontie at the Oregon Bioneers conference and made many good contacts at both. We also were able to get the ground work done to start construction of our greenhouse as the weather permits. We also did some traditional drumming at Nanish Shontie which a number of local people came to and also drummed. There will be another gathering for drumming at Nanish Shontie on November 20th for anyone who lives close enough that they would like to attend. Please call or e-mail us for information if you are interested. There is no charge for the drumming. We thought that we would share this Native American legend with you as these kind of stories were important to many tribal cultures to help teach the people many things. We hope that you enjoy it and gain something from it. We do apologize that we do not know which Native American tribe that this legend comes from. A long time ago Eagle, and Red Tail were the same size, and very good friends. But Red Tail was very jealous of Eagle, and thought he was better than him. Red Tail would always make up contests for them to do, so he could show up his friend. This really made Eagle very sad, and every night he would pray to creator, that Red Tail would stop. It was not that Eagle was inferior, just that competing with a friend was wrong. They should enjoy being different, and what each other brought to the friendship. Well, one day Red Tail came up with the idea that they would each fly as high as they could, and then soar back down to the ground. Eagle kept saying he did not want to compete with his friend it was wrong. But Red tail would not be put off. He kept taunting Eagle till he finally gave in to him. They both took off, and started flying. Eagle was ahead of Red Tail, and this made him furious. He started playing tricks on Eagle acting like he was hurt. When Eagle came back to help him he took off so fast, he lost some of his feathers. Eagle decided to just let Red Tail win then maybe the contests would stop. So Eagle just soared around waiting for Red Tail to come back. He soared for 3 days waiting. He was beginning to really worry about his friend. Finally he saw Red Tail coming back. But he looked really small to him. As Red Tail got closer Eagle noticed that he was smaller. Eagle asked him where had he been, and what had happened to him. Red Tail told him he went so high he saw creator. Eagle thought he was playing a joke on him. But Red Tail told him so seriously, that he was very sorry for all the contests, and mean tricks he had played on him. Eagle wanted to know after all these years why was he sorry for them. "Well" said Red Tail, "When I saw Creator he told me how you had prayed to him every night that I would stop the contests and the foolish games. It made me feel so small in character, that I began to shrink to the size you see me now. Then Creator said as my punishment I would stay this way, and all my decedents shall be this size as well. And I will never be able to fly as high as the Eagle again. So my friend I truly am sorry for being so cruel to you. You clearly were better than me." Eagle was so touched by Red Tails words all he could do was look at him. Then he said to Red Tail, "No my friend we are equal yet different. Unique in our own ways. You will always be my friend. But now we can celebrate our differences, and our new understanding of each other." So on this they agreed, and cemented the friendship by giving each other a feather. And that is why Red Tail is smaller than Eagle. And why they both wear white as a sign of their continuing respect for each other. NANISH SHONTIE IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT AND ANY DONATION OF ANY SIZE IS ALWAYS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND NEEDED. AS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, NANISH SHONTIE IS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. UNFORTUNATELY, DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE ONLY FOR UNITED STATES CITIZENS OR IF YOU LIVE IN BELGIUM, TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION, ATTENTION KBF US-NANISH SHONTIE, PLEASE LOOK AT OUR WEB SITE (WWW.NANISH.ORG) OR GIVE US A CALL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU IN SOME WAY. WE HOPE THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL JOIN US IN SHARING A PRAYER IN YOUR OWN WAY TO BE CARRIED BY THE SMOKE IN OUR DAILY SACRED FIRE CIRCLE TO THE CREATOR…THAT OUR MOTHER EARTH MAY KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HER AND TO PRAY FOR HER CONTINUED HEALING AND WELL BEING.
ZON MEA NOH (WALK IN A GOOD WAY)
Mala Spotted Eagle PO Box 17 Blachly, Oregon 97412 USA 541-925-3777

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Web Sites:
Indigenous Peoples Literature
Essay on the Zuni World View
Excerpt

In a like sense, the rock images of the Zuni lie at the periphery of the village and can stand in opposition to the peaceful center.  Their peaceful integration to the center is dependent upon a proper interpretation of context that requires an extensive knowledge of Zuni religion and myth.  In this it is representative of the dangerous.  While an image can be appreciated visually, its power to evoke proper narrative can bring danger in a deviant utterance.  Proper interpretation is the pragmatic elimination of individual expression and the proper narrative is reflective of a collective cohesion that is manifest as aesthetic appreciation, and while aesthetics and art find religion as their motive, aesthetic expression cannot be a part of religious dialogue.  As Walker noted, expressive language tends to categorize the user [91] and to the Zuni if this act has religious associations it could bring danger to the individual and lack personal accomplishment for it may subsequently bring danger to the collectivity.

[91] Walker notes that referential meaning is about the non-linguistic environment of a speaker, e.g. color-coding.  Walker, Willard. “Taxonomic Structure and the Pursuit of Meaning”.  Southwestern Journal of Anthropology.  21: 265-275, 1966b: 266.

Notices:

Precious Cargo -- Cradle Baskets and Childbirth: California Indian Traditions

In the last couple decades, it has become common to see modern parents carry babies in back packs or slings. It is thought to be good for babies to feel the body warmth and closeness of a parent. Interestingly, this was exactly the approach taken by California Indian groups for many generations. Carrying her infant in a basketry cradleboard allowed the mother to keep the baby close and respond to its needs, while at the same time continuing the cooking and collecting needed to provide the necessities of life for the family. As with many Native American artifacts, the objects of daily use became an art form, reflecting both the Indian aesthetic and the habits and belief systems of the various Indian groups. A new exhibit at the Maidu Interpretive Center in Roseville depicts and explains the many characteristics of Native practices relating to childbirth and childcare. The exhibit shows the varying cradle basket styles, some of which had pointed designs at the bottom, allowing the mother to stand the cradleboard in the ground while she tended to some brief task. Others were designed to be temporarily attached to a tree, letting the baby look around. Some cradleboards kept the infant swaddled tightly, others allowed the baby to be in a sitting position. Some were constructed with hoods to protect and give shade to the baby. Throughout California, mothers and grandmothers made model cradles for their children and grandchildren to play with. It was more than a toy, it was a model for the girl’s future role. The child might also make her own, representing her first attempt at weaving a cradle basket. The cradle design varied from group to group, so an infant was instantly placed in a device that gave it a sense of cultural identity as well as security. While the exhibit displays cradle boards from the Pomo, Chumash, Yurok, Miwok, Washoe, Mojave, and 22 other native groups, it also covers other aspects of birth and childrearing. It explains how the father also changed his lifestyle while awaiting the birth of the child, how he might entrust the child briefly to a fast runner, hoping to transfer that skill to the youngster. Child naming practices are also described in the exhibit, as are the use of ‘touchstones’ and rituals to help women achieve conception. Fertility was believed to be under the control of the supernatural, and spiritual considerations were embedded into childbirth and child raising practices. This unique exhibit, opening November 26, is called Precious Cargo: California Indian Cradle Baskets and Childbirth Traditions. It explores traditional beliefs and practices concerning childbirth and the use of cradle baskets, both historically and today, The traveling exhibit was assembled by the Marin Museum of the American Indian and will be on tour for three years. The Maidu Interpretive Center will have community activities and demonstrations related to the exhibit. The center is at 1960 Johnson Ranch Drive in Roseville. For further information, call the center at 916.774.5934 or 772-4242

"Honor Your Spirit, Protect The Children"
Winter & Christmas 2004 - Request for Donations
http://www.geocities.com/honoryourspirit/home.html

If you wish to make a difference and help children and elders through the harsh winter months in Montana, please take the time to read our request. On behalf of reliable Northern Cheyenne contacts from Lame Deer, we are once again collecting donations for those in need on the Northern Cheyenne reservation.
There is a large need especially for new and good quality used warm items, as well as toys.
List of useful donations :
- warm clothing such as knitted items for children of all ages from babies to teenagers, and for elders - jeans and T-shirts, all sizes - socks, gloves, boots, hats and scarves - blankets - toys for Christmas
Donations should be sent to the following address:
Honor Your Spirit - Protect the Children
% Sue Buck
PO Box 901
Great Falls, MT 59403-0901 (USA)
Please contact suemontana@mcn.net for mailing information other than regular US Mail service. (Also please include your name and address if you would like for us to acknowledge/confirm receipt of your donations.)
The toys will be distributed during the Christmas give away but the warm clothes and blankets will be distributed right away. During Montana winters, the temperature can drop to 30 or 40 degrees below zero so warm winter clothing and blankets can be lifesaving.
Our goal is to help the children, the elders, the single parent families, or families unable to make ends meet due to the high unemployment rate, the difficult conditions and the extreme poverty on the reservation.The children need all the help and encouragement they can get!
Other items that would also be appreciated: grooming supplies like toothpaste, tooth brushes,soaps and shampoos, combs, hair brushes, hair barrettes, rubber bands or other types of hair or pony tail holders. Last but not least : pampers diapers or pull-ups.
Thank you for being a part of this project and supporting it."
Respectfully,
Manuel Redwoman,
Northern Cheyenne/Lakota/Arapaho
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for your support !

Haidu Language Project
Did you know that before Christopher Columbus arrived in the new world, the "Indians" in North America spoke over 300 indigenous languages? Today, roughly 20 of these languages have speakers of all ages. Unfortunately, the Haida language of Kasaan, Alaska is not among them.
Currently, only seven Kasaan Haidas speak the Kasaan Haida dialect with varying degrees of fluency--all elders over the age of 75. I know this because my dad grew up in Kasaan, 25 miles from my birthplace of Ketchikan, Alaska. We belong to the Haida tribe. This summer, I urged the Kasaan Haida Heritage Foundation (KHHF) to allow me to utilize the foundation's nonprofit status to seek funding and conduct projects that preserve our elders' knowledge.
In September, we created the position of Media Specialist in which I intend to raise money and interview our elders, especially in regards to the Haida language. I will produce, direct, and coordinate a video documentary to raise awareness and archive the language. I plan to make the results available in digital formats on the KHHF website.
If given the chance, I believe people would rally to this cause. We need to get the word out. So, I call on friends like you to get the ball rolling and join "The Grassroots Founders Campaign" Grassroots because the idea is to reach out to many individuals on a personal level; Founders because you will underwrite the beginning of our preservation effort.
Donations received from now until December 31, 2004 will earn the donor a Grassroots Founder designation. I ask for a relatively small gift of 25 to 100 dollars. Donor's names will appear in the KHHF newsletter and donations will be eligible for a tax deduction for this year. Grassroots Founders get special on-screen mention in the documentary.
Please send checks (payable to "KHHF") to:
Kasaan Haida Heritage Foundation
600 University Street, Suite 3010
Seattle, WA 98101-1129
Write in the memo area on your check or include a note designating funds for "Media Specialist/Projects".
Very importantly, SPREAD THE WORD. Please pass this on to 5 to 10 friends, or more. You will multiply your donation exponentially and play a vital role in preserving the Haida language for future generations. We appreciate anything you can do to help us preserve our language and heritage.
Sincerely,
Frederick Olsen, Jr.
For more information, email me or go to
http://kavilco.com/pages/
aboutkhhf.html
KHHF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 92-0169568).

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Andek - Ojibwa

This story is about the Crow. Andek when the great spirit was creating the flyers of creation. All the flyers had great purpose. The Eagle was to be the peoples messenger of prayers and thanks The Hawk too was a messenger of the peoples needs and good medicine. The Loon was the teacher of love and relationships. Andek (the crow) however was without purpose. He had no special color, nor had he the powerful wings of the Eagle, So he flew around looking for purpose , like many people today are doing. So Andek Visited Mkwa (the Bear) and requested the bear to teach him of his ways Mkwa did and Eventually Andek got bored and unsatisfied with Mkwa, For some reason the ways of the bear didn't fit with him So Andek went off and sought a new way and hopefully would find purpose. The beaver, the loon, the wolf , the coyote, the fish, all of creation he learned from. And still no purpose nor satisfaction with life Then came the day where Andek heard idiom (squirrel) crying in a hole of the oak. So he flew to idiom and asked 'Hi idiom , what troubles your heart today?" idiom says to Andek, "I am sad and feeling drained about my life" so Andek advised jitimo to visit Mkwa for some medicine for his health, and then they went to visit turtle here turtle was a great helper in finding ones heart of the problem. Turtle travels slow and is paced in all matters never missing a thing. And sure enough Jitimo felt balanced and returned to its purpose with vigor and refreshed spirit. Andek flew around the bush feeling great about what had happened. Then there was another cry in the woods...sure enough Andek went to investigate Rabbit was crying in its hole Andek asked it .Waboose what troubles you today? I wanna die Andek (sob sob)What is it that has brought you to such ends? Waboose was crying about Wagoosh (fox) and how there is no peace with wagosh around. So Andek listened like he learned from turtle and then told Waboose its purpose for its legs and long ears...Why a permanent solution for a temporary problem. Waboose surely you can out run Wagoosh. Yes Waboose thought to it self...I can and I will feel good about it too...Thank you Andek.. As time went on as it does...The word traveled all across the lands...about this Flyer whom was born without purpose, so it thought.....however the purpose was found when Andek traveled and made friends with all of creation. Andek to many of us is our traveling companion... always reminding us that with work and dedication the purpose you look for is always ahead of you. You will not find your purpose if you sit on your path, however it will meet you ahead, in the meantime create good connections and work with spirit of friendship and before you know it.. You become your purpose as did Andek. Walk your path and I guarantee you that You will meet that purpose. You can walk up , down, left , right , it makes no difference as long as you walk forward always forward.
From Blue Panther Keeper of Stories