Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004

native american arts daily news, presented by
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RSU to offer Native American Heritage Festival
Claremore Daily Progress - Claremore,OK,USA
... Free Native American arts and crafts classes will be offered for adults and children from 9 am to noon. Participants can learn how ...

Entertainment Calendar
Charlotte Observer (subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA
... DANCE & DRUM WORKSHOP SATURDAY: Bound for Broadway Performing Arts Center will ... NATIVE AMERICAN ART EXHIBIT: An exhibit of mixed-media art reflecting Native ...

Event showcases Tiguas' arts
El Paso Times - El Paso,TX,USA
... Though the cold weather Saturday may have affected turnout for the Native American Arts and Crafts Show, those who attended the event left content. ...

AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH CALENDAR
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription) - Fort Worth,TX,USA
Saturday 11 am-6:30 pm -- Native American Powwow, with dancing, arts, crafts and food. Verizon Place at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, 2200 W. Airfield Drive. ...
See all stories on this topic

Workshop focuses on art in education
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
... of the International Native American Flute Association and the National Storytelling Workshop, will share her knowledge of Native American arts and music in ...

Annual Art Show at museum today
Charlotte Observer (subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA
STATESVILLE - The Iredell Museum of Arts & Heritage will host its annual ... STATESVILLE -- An exhibit of mixed-media art reflecting Native American heritage will ...

Juneau scholar, poet wins award from First Peoples fund
Juneau Empire - Juneau,AK,USA
... a scholar and poet in Juneau, has won a 2005 Community Spirit Award from the First Peoples Fund, a Native American organization that supports the arts. ...

Forced Move: Photos depict Indians' treatment in Oklahoma
Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem,NC,USA
... the auspices of the Oklahoma Arts Council and has ... the curators wrote that "most American Indian nations ... Into this dark journey, these Native Americans brought ...

Coming up in Florida
Orlando Sentinel (subscription) - Orlando,FL,USA
With Native American dances, storytelling and exhibits of handcrafted tools, jewelry and ... Saturday-next Sunday: Downtown Boca Festival of the Arts, Boca Raton. ...

SUNDAY CALENDAR
Charleston Post Courier (subscription) - Charleston,SC,USA
... 8 pm Charleston Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. ... NATIVE AMERICAN DAY: Children may participate in a scavenger hunt, play American Indian ...

Community Billboard
Flint Journal - Flint,MI,USA
... American-Arab Heritage Council and the Greater Flint Arts Council, 1 ... Reg Pettibone's Authentic Native American Dance and Cultural Program, demonstrating Native ...

To Protect That Which is Sacred
Xtvworld Media Junction (press release) - India
... Ingram's US & UK Distribution deliver the Native American novel "Chétan!" worldwide ... ISBN: 1-59426-076-1. The author Pamela Faye is the Arts Editor and Marketer ...

Today's most read story is:
DeSoto Times - Southaven,MS,USA
... Today’s program features Native American Tales & Dances with noted musicologist ... • The Olive Branch Arts Council will hold its annual Silent Auction ...
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Web Sites:
Indigenous Peoples Literature

Essay on the Zuni World View
Excerpt

In this it appears that an effective rendering of a prayer in ritual would be dependent upon a specificity between words and images where a name must adequately show the identity of that which it is naming, that is, the same name usage is imperative as a reliable identifier and if the name is to refer to something else at the same time then that image must, a propos, display the same relation with a reliable identifier (name).  Thus, it would seem that the individuating function is objectively well defined.  As Bunzel also notes elaboration is allowed in individual prayer, but in regard to the common good the “ceremonious collectivism that characterizes social activities is the essence of religious participation” and the “supernatural conceived always as a collectivity” is “approved by the collective force of the people”[10].

[10] Ibid, a480.

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

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"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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Bat and His Wives - Wintu
Bat was married. He was married to two mallard duck women. He went hunting all the time. He hunted in all the mountains. In the mountains he went west and north. He went down along the creek. He took a fir limb and lay down facing up. He turned his belly inside out, pulled out his liver, and cut it out. Then he got up. He sewed up his belly and took the liver home. He was going to feed it to his wives. He did this all the time, bringing it home. Then one of the women, the younger one, said, "This is bad! I don't want to eat this food any more. It tastes bad." The Older one said, "Oh, what's the matter with you? You always talk too much!" "Well, let's go see how many of them are hunting, and what they are killing," the younger one said. They left. They went to watch him and he went downstream alone. They followed him. He went downhill to the north and lay on be back. He turned his belly inside out and took out his liver. They saw that and ran home. They ran, took their clothes, got dressed, and went floating downstream. The man cam home and noticed that the two were missing. He missed them. He searched everywhere, went upstream and downstream. He went far. But he did not meet anyone anywhere. Then he saw Gray Squirrel who was climbing, cutting fray pine cones. Bat asked, "Have you seen my wives? Gray Squirrel gave no answer. He just kept on cutting pine cones. Bat spoke again: "Have you seen my wives? Have you seen anyone here? Gray Squirrel became angry. "Get over here under the tree, get close, look up, close your eyes and look up, and I'll tell you where your wives are!" he said. "Okay," said Bate. He went over and looked up. Gray Squirrel dropped pitch in his eyes. "I'm blind," called Bat. "Something fell into my eyes. Get me something to take out the pitch!" He felt around, took a pine needle and poked at his eyes. "I can see. I can see a little," he said. And he left. In My Own Words. Stories, songs and memories of Grace Mckibbin, Wintu [1884-1987]. by Alice Shepherd, 1997.
From Blue Panther Keeper of Stories

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Battle of the Birds - Thompson [Nkamtci'nEmux tribe]

This story is about the Crow. All the birds agreed to help the Hala'u to steal the wife of the Baldheaded Eagle, who was a very good woman, but got treated bad by her husband. The Hala'u said, " We will all go to the underground lodge of our grandfather, the Baldheaded Eagle. I will stay outside whilst all of you go inside, and engage him in a game of lahal, and you will at the same time complain of the cold, and keep putting wood on the fire, until the house gets very hot, then his wife will be sure to come outside to cool herself." Accordingly all the birds entered, and engaged the Baldheaded Eagle in a game. They did as directed by the Hala'u, and soon the place was very hot. Before long the wife arose and said, " I am going out to cool myself. I cannot stand the heat." As soon as she got outside, the Hala'u took possession of her, and conducted her to his house. Shortly afterwards the birds ceased playing with the Baldheaded Eagle, and all went home in a body. As the woman did not return, the Baldheaded Eagle knew what had happened, and began to train himself. After training for some time, he donned a collar of several thickness of birch-bark, and repaired to the house of the Hala'u, where all the birds were assembled. Here he took up his position on the top of the ladder, and challenged them to battle. Each one of the smaller birds went in succession to the woman to get his hair combed, and straightway to fight the Baldheaded Eagle; but they all fell an easy prey to their warlike and powerful enemy. Then the larger and more powerful birds had their hair combed and went out ; but they also were slain. The Raven had his hair combed by the woman and then went out ; but he, too, soon fell a victim. Next came the Chicken Hawk ; but he soon shared the same fate. Then the Fish Hawk sailed forth, and there was a stubborn fight ; but eventually the Baldheaded Eagle killed him and cut off his head. After that the Hala'u himself went forth with a bitch-hack collar around his neck, and forthwith ensued a fierce battle. The combatants rose to the clouds, and dropped to the earth, fighting ; but at last the Hala'u was slain and decapitated. The woman then commenced to wail inside the house, for there was only one bird left, viz., the Ha'tabat, who also had his hair combed, and went to give battle to the Baldheaded Eagle. The contest was a very furious one. The combatants flew up to the clouds several times, and back again. At last the Baldheaded Eagle was slain, and the Ha'tahat took possession of the woman. Afterwards he went around and healed the wounds of the dead birds, put their heads on their bodies, and they all came to life again, except the Baldheaded Eagle.
Thompson [Nkamtci'nEmux tribe]
Traditions of the Thompson River Indians, Recorded by James Teit
From Blue Panther Keeper of Stories