Amerindian Arts Native American News & Information: Sacagawea dollar mandated by Congress; Focus on Indian ledger art

Festival of Native Peoples, July 17-19. Culturally-inspired exposition of native dance, song, storytelling, art, culture, traditions and foods of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Cherokee, N.C. 828-259-9910, www.cherokee-nc.com.

Oka Kapassa: Return to ColdWater Indian Festival, Sept. 12-13. American Indian festival honors the original Americans with two days of traditional crafts demonstrations, Indian foods, arts, colorful dancers, games, storytelling. Tuscumbia, Ala., 800-344-0783, www.colbertcountytourism.org.

Albuquerque, NM- The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center�s current exhibition, "Timeless Beauty: Pueblo Women Artists of the 20th Century," is extended through August 31 due to the overwhelming response to the exhibit.

Sedona, AZ: The 11th Annual Prescott Indian Art Market (PIAM) will be held on the tree shaded grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum on July 12 and 13. The Museum’s flower-lined walkways and commemorative rose garden provide an inviting backdrop for the impressive display of Indian art.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will host a juried art event, the Choctaw Indian Art show with American Indian style art, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 12, and 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Attendees can view and buy art.

Performances by Grammy-caliber performing artists will be among the highlights of the International Native American Flute Association (INAFA) 2008 convention set for July 9-13 at the Haas Fine Arts Center at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The National Folk Festival from July 11-13 in Butte, Mont., will have what organizers believe will be the largest Native American representation in the event's history. A featured element of the 2008 National Folk Festival will be the First Peoples' Marketplace Aug. 1

Frank Liske Park Powwow: 15th annual two-day powwow to include Native American dances, arts and craft, and food. George Hoyt, 704-786-5705 or gehoyt@carolina.rr.com. 12 p.m. Aug. 1; 12 p.m. Aug. 2. Free. Frank Liske Park, 4001 Stough Road, Concord, NC.

Special exhibit centers around museum's American Indian collection

COSHOCTON, OH - The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum will present the special exhibit Weaving Traditions beginning May 10 and continuing through Aug. 3.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York, the George Gustav Heye Center opens "Remix: New Modernities in a Post Indian World," a spirited multimedia survey of 15 emerging Native artists June 7. A joint presentation from the museum and the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the exhibition closes Sunday, Sept. 21.

Jamestown, North Dakota Culture Festival is slated for Aug. 1-3.

One special guest will be Hidatsa storyteller Mary Louise Defender Wilson. She is a winner of the NEA National Heritage Fellowship and the only fellow living in North Dakota. Marvin Bald Eagle Youngman will be teaching different Ojibwa games. Storyteller Keith Bear has also been invited to participate.

“The Native American component of the festival will include artists, music, dancing, storytelling, games and food,” said Taylor Barnes, Arts Center director. “This festival is primarily about how traditions are shared through games and food.”

Recent Books of Interest

American Indian Mafia

An FBI Agent's True Story about Wounded Knee, Leonard Peltier, and the American Indian Movement (AIM)

''Canyon Gardens: The Ancient Pueblo Landscapes of the American Southwest (University of New Mexico Press: 2006). Editors V.B. Price and Baker H. Morrow have assembled 15 essays on the millennium-old Puebloan landscape.

"Being Lakota", Book by Larissa Petrillo

"American Indian Nations: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow", Book by George Horse Capture

Spokane artist George Flett, well kown for his depictions of ledger art, announcing forthcoming book "The Ledger Art of George Flett"

Po'pay, Leader of the First American Revolution, Clear Light Publishing, 2006, new book by Herman Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh)

Storytelling - Lenape

...it is winter, it is cold, and there is much snow...

The Storyteller walks down the river valley now, after having spent a few days at a small village upstream, telling stories and partaking of the generosity and hospitality of the villagers. A few young warriors escort him in his journey downriver a few miles to another village. Though the snow is deep, the going is easy with the help of snowshoes. The warriors escort him to provide him with protection, to see that he gets safely to his destination. For the Storyteller is considered to be very special, bringing good luck and the powerful medicine of his stories to the people. Lachimo, the Storyteller, keeps the lifeways of the people alive through the telling of his stories, bringing the customs and traditions to bear on the minds of the young and old alike. Upon reaching the next village, he is greeted warmly and openly, being excitedly expected by everyone. He is invited to spend the night in the wikwàm of the Chief, and to eat with his family. So he goes there, enters, is introduced to all in the household, and is given a bowl of food to eat. After he is finished, he is given a place to rest, for it is clear that he is tired from his journey.

When he awakes from his sleep it is now evening, just beginning to get dark outside, so he eats some food which is offered to him, and then he prepares in silence, alone, for what he has come for, to tell the stories to the people.

The Chief interrrupts his contemplation, inviting him to the Council House. The Storyteller follows the Chief, and is led to a long bark-covered building which he enters; he sits down before the fire. People are coming from the whole village, and they gather around the large fire with him. The grandmothers and mothers are telling the children to be on their best behavior in the presence of the Lachimo. They are told not to interrupt him at any time or leave while he is speaking, and that they may ask questions after each story or may then leave to play for a bit. If these things are not followed, the Storyteller may become angry at such disrespect and refuse to tell anymore stories. Bad luck may come as a result of such rude behavior.

Everyone has gathered round now, all is quiet, and the Storyteller begins. First, as always, he tells the story that began all stories, Kishelamàwa'kàn, the Story of the Creation.

"Kàlès'ta! Listen!" he says. "Kunakwat, lowat, nuchink...Long, long ago, in the beginning..." It is a long story, and a few times during its telling he says, "Kàlès'ta! Listen! Ho!" to keep the attention of those around him who are listening. Finally the Storyteller says, "Juke lachimu kishaloke!...Now the story is finished!"

The people are saying, "Wanishi! Thank you! Wulihìle! It is good!"

Some people get up to stretch, others are asking questions, some children go out to play and the women talk. The men fill their pipes to smoke, the smoke from each pipe mingling together into one smoke, symbolizing the coming together of the people and their thoughts, bringing the Spirits near to them, to listen and give them blessings. A child shouts, "Tell us another! Tell us another! Kàtèlinin ta'kàn! Kàtèlinin ta'kàn!" Another child follows quickly repeating the cry, then another. The women admonish the children saying, "Se he! Se he! Hush! Hush!" The Storyteller looks on amused, a smile on his face.

Now the Storyteller says "Kàlès'ta! Listen!" Everyone gives their attention to him respectfully, and all is quiet.

The Lachimo puts his hand into a deerskin bag at his side. It is decorated with dyed porcupine quills and deer hair with figures of men and animals. Inside his story bag (lachimumenu'tez) are mnemonic devices, natural objects (acorns, feathers, etc.) and carved figures, which serve to represent different stories. Now the Lachimo grabs onto the first object he feels in his story bag. It is an acorn, representing a tale of the Little People, the Wematekàn'is. So he begins his tale...but it is short and it is not long before he is heard to say, "Juke lachimu kishaloke! Now the story is finished!"

The people are laughing, for this story was very funny! The people give thanks, saying, "Wanishi! Thank you! Wulilìsap! It was good!" The children are saying "Lapixsi! Tell it over again!" Again, the women admonish the children, "Se he! Hush!" The Story teller smiles, for a story is only told once; there are many more to tell. The tales continue on through the night and occasionally the Lachimo can be heard to say, "Ho! Kàlès'ta! Listen!", to keep the people alert. But finally some begin to drift off to sleep and the Storyteller knows it is time to stop for now. "Juke nishix'ten! Now I am finished!" he tells them.

There are more tales to be told, but these must wait for another night...

Taken from "The Grandfathers Speak", by Hìtakonanu'laxk Interlink Books, New York, 1994

The above is from Pathfinder's wonderful website at http://www.geocities.com/shabak_waxtju/

Blue Panther Keeper of Stories

Zuni fetish updates from Amerindian Arts