Native American Art News: October 2005

Indian burial site found near New York

Native American arts daily news, presented by
amerindianarts.us

Indian burial site found near New York

American Indian filmmaker addresses addiction issues

American Indian group backs inmate seeking prayer feather

American Indian tournament kicks off today

Native American hip hop photographer coming to SVSU

R. CARLOS NAKAI AND KEOLA BEAMER TO APPEAR IN "NATIVE VOICES" AT MESA ARTS CENTER

Billy Mills 'Takes Five'

For 4th Time, Judge Seeks to Shield Indian Data

Distinguished panel to discuss current American Indian issues

PROactive Media Signs Agreement with American Indian Artists to Offer International Video Licensing Services

Native Americans honor 5

Laguna/Zuni artist DeHaven Solimon Chaffins, who is also an ambassador mother for the New Mexico March of Dimes, has created a special March of Dimes image. Her abstract form of painting depicts a reflection of healing, compassion and hope in the tiny blue humming bird shown in each picture she has painted for the announcement cards and program brochure. Each March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award recipient will receive a beautiful original silver pin created by the artist.

"The image is relative to the tremendous work that all nurses do," Chaffins said.

Chaffins, who now resides in my village of Paguate on Laguna Pueblo, was born in Portsmouth, Va. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where she received her associate's degree in fine arts in 1990. She then graduated from the UNM College of Fine Arts with a bachelor's in 1995.

Chaffins became a March of Dimes ambassador mother to honor her son, Skye, who died in June 1998, two weeks before his second birthday. Because she appreciates the nursing care given to her son, she recognizes nurses in a very special way.

See complete article

NATIONAL LIBERTY MUSEUM , Philadelphia, 321 Chestnut St., 215-925-2800. NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, features crafts and an activity guide. Runs through Nov. 30.

Fire had come to the Six Nations - Haudenosaunee

Often, around the fire in the long house of the Haudenosaunee , during the Moon of the Long Nights, this tale is told.

Three Arrows was a boy of the Mohawk tribe. Although he had not yet seen fourteen winters he was already known among the Iroquois for his skill and daring. His arrows sped true to their mark. His name was given him when with three bone-tipped arrows he brought down three flying wild geese from the same flock. He could travel in the forest as softly as the south wind and he was a skillful hunter, but he never killed a bird or animal unless his clan needed food. He was well-versed in woodcraft, fleet of foot, and a clever wrestler. His people said, 'Soon he will be a chief like his father.'

The sun shone strong in the heart of Three Arrows, because soon he would have to meet the test of strength and endurance through which the boys of his clan attained manhood. He had no fear of the outcome of the dream fast which was so soon to take. (to fast means to go without food or water)

Three Arrow's father was a great chief and a good man, and the boy's life had been patterned after that of his father.

When the grass was knee-high, Three Arrows left his village with his father. They climbed to a sacred place in the mountains. They found a narrow cave at the back of a little plateau. Here Three Arrows decided to live for his few days of prayer and vigil. He was not permitted to eat anything during the days and nights of his dream fast. He had no weapons, and his only clothing was a breechcloth and moccasins. His father left the boy with the promise that he would visit him each day that the ceremony lasted, at dawn.

Three Arrows prayed to the Great Spirit. He begged that his clan spirit would soon appear in a dream and tell him what his guardian animal or bird was to be. When he knew this, he would adopt that bird or animal as his special guardian for the rest of his life. When the dream came he would be free to return to his people, his dream fast successfully achieved.

For five suns Three Arrows spent his days and nights on the rocky plateau, only climbing down to the little spring for water after each sunset. His heart was filled with a dark cloud because that morning his father had sadly warned him that the next day, the sixth sun, he must return to his village even if no dream had come to him in the night. This meant returning to his people in disgrace without the chance of taking another dream fast.

That night Tree Arrows, weak from hunger and weary from ceaseless watch, cried out to the Great Mystery. 'O Great Spirit, have pity on him who stands humbly before Thee. Let his clan spirit or a sign from beyond the thunderbird come to him before tomorrow's sunrise, if it be Thy will.'

As he prayed, the wind suddenly veered from east too north. This cheered Three Arrows because the wind was now the wind of the great bear, and the bear was the totem of his clan. When he entered the cavern he smelled for the first time the unmistakable odor of a bear. This was strong medicine.

He crouched at the opening of the cave, too excited to lie down although his tire body craved rest. As he gazed out into the night he heard the rumble of thunder, saw the lightning flash, and felt the fierce breath of the wind from the north. Suddenly a vision came to him, and a gigantic bear stood beside him in the cave. Then Three Arrows heard it say, 'Listen well, Mohawk. Your clan spirit has heard your prayer. Tonight you will learn a great mystery which will bring help and gladness to all your people.'

A terrible clash of thunder brought the dazed boy to his feet as the bear disappeared. He looked from the cave just as a streak of lightning flashed across the sky in the form of a blazing arrow. Was this the sign from the thunderbird ?

Suddenly the air was filled with a fearful sound. A shrill shrieking came from the ledge just above the cave. It sounded as though mountain lions fought in the storm; yet Three Arrows felt no fear as he climbed toward the ledge. As his keen eyes grew accustomed to the dim light he saw that the force of the wind was causing two young balsam trees to rub violently against each other. The strange noise was caused by friction, and as he listened and watched fear filled his heart, for, from where the two trees rubbed together a flash of lightning show smoke. Fascinated, he watched until flickers of flames followed the smoke.

Three Arrows had never seen fire of any kind at close range nor had any of his people. He scrambled down to the cave and covered his eyes in dread of this strange magic. Then he smelt bear again and he thought of his vision, his clan spirit, the bear, and its message. This was the mystery which he was to reveal to his people. The blazing arrow in the sky was to be his totem, and his new name - Blazing Arrow.

At daybreak, Blazing Arrow climbed onto the ledge and broke two dried sticks from what remained of one of the balsams. He rubbed them violently together, but nothing happened. 'The magic is too powerful for me,' he thought.

Then a picture of his clan and village formed in his mind, and he patiently rubbed the hot sticks together again. His will power took the place of his tired muscles. Soon a little wisp of smoke greeted his renewed efforts, then came a bright spark on one of the stick. Blazing Arrow waved it as he had seen the fiery arrow wave in the night sky. A resinous blister on the stick glowed, then flamed.

Fire had come to the Six Nations!

From Blue Panther Keeper of Stories. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Native_Village
http://groups.msn.com/KeeperofStories

Snohomish Co., WA The Depot Arts Center: Seventh and R Streets, Anacortes; 360-293-3663. Native American arts, Oct. 7 through 31.

National Indian Gaming Association to Host Two Evenings of Native American Music and Dance

Contact: Suzette Brewer of the National Indian Gaming Association, 202-546-7711

National Indian Gaming Association to Host Two Evenings of Native American Music and Dance

Programs Celebrate 'National American Indian Heritage Month'

In celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month, the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) will host two evenings of Native American music and dance on Monday, Nov. 28, and Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30-10 p.m., at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The programs will take place in the Terrace Theater.

Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) will host the programs, which will include Native performers from the Northeast, Northern Plains, Southwest and Northwest Coast regions. All proceeds will benefit the American Indian College Fund.

Tickets are $25 and are available at the Kennedy Center box office or by phone at 202-467-4600. Order online at http://www.kennedy-center.org.

The National Indian Gaming Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit trade association comprised of 184 American Indian Nations and other non-voting associate members. The mission of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian people -- economically, socially and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development.

Web: http://www.indiangaming.org

http://www.usnewswire.com/

Sept. 4-Nov. 13: "By Native Hands: Native American Basketry," Forsyth Center Galleries, Memorial Student Center, Texas A&M. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

October 30. Native American Fall Festival-Lenape Village. Churchville Nature Center. Churchville, PA. 215-357-4005. www.churchvillenaturecenter.org.

AEQ Book Review of Making Dictionaries: Preserving Indigenous Languages of the Americas .
Frawley, William, Kenneth C. Hill, and Pamela Munro, eds. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002. 450 pp. ISBN 0520229967, $34.95.
© 2004 American Anthropological Association Book Review of Making Dictionaries: Preserving Indigenous Languages of the Americas .
Reviewed for the Anthropology & Education Quarterly by Catherine S. Fowler
University of Nevada
csfowler@unr.nevada.edu
To Order this book

W. Tussinger has written his first novel which was released in December, 2004. The title of the book is THE FOURTH WORLD.
W. Tussinger is a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma and has lived on several reservations including the Yuroks of Northern California and the Yakamas of Washington State where he attended college.
THE FOURTH WORLD

Click here, Stewart Quandelacy, Blue Peruvian Opal Medicine Bear

"Communing with Bears"

By Sara Wright

Communing with Bears is the story of a joyful encounter between one woman and a black bear.

Web Sites:
Native American Links Page
Indigenous Peoples Literature
Native Voice
Wisdom of the Old People
By David Whitney
Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand
Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand, The Book
Early tribal artifacts put in spotlight
"Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand" is scheduled to be shown at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History from early July to late September.
National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation
Inuit film to tell story of last great shaman
Petition in Support of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe
My Two Beads Worth: Indigenous News Online
Northern California Indian Development Council
Native Village
Smudge Ceremony

To subscribe to Native Village weekly email reminders, please send your email address to:
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Buffalo Field Campaign
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
(406) 646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org

Literacy in Indigenous Communities by L. David van Broekhuizen, Ph.D. (2000)
HTML Format (70K)
PDF Format(117K)

Literacy in first languages in indigenous communities is a complex topic that generates lively discussion. This research synthesis explores the notions of national, mother-tongue, multiple, and biliteracies. It presents important information pertaining to threatened languages, language shift, and language loss. Examples of culturally relevant uses of literacy in indigenous communities and issues related to first-language literacy instruction are also provided.

Essay on the Zuni World View
Excerpt(Complete article is available in PDF)
Cushing also cited an incidence where he showed a pole that accompanies a theodolite to an old Zuni man and asked him what he thought the name of it was. In response the old man inquired as to the use of the item. After briefly describing the implementation of the device the old man provided a rather lengthy sentence-word that Cushing translated as "heights of the world progressively measuring stick". The next day Cushing took the pole to the extreme corner of the pueblo and began "to flourish it around" until a middle-aged man relented to curiosity and asked what it was. Cushing then provided the Zuni name he had learned the day before and the man promptly requested, "Can they actually tell how far up and down journeying the world is?" [105].

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Psychologists weigh in on Indian mascots

Native American arts daily news, presented by
amerindianarts.us

Tour of ancient ruins highlights reopening of various sites

Psychologists weigh in on Indian mascots

Not all American Indian mascot names derogatory

Siletz school to become 'early college'

American Indian film series at CSUSM begins Nov. 2

Uncas American Indian Grill a delight

Indian tribe plans to build a casino near Detroit Metro Airport

Sioux Sun Dancers will talk about Native American culture

Program aims at keeping American Indian language alive

National American Indian Conference looks at education problem

American Indian symbol becomes a new tradition

Laguna/Zuni artist DeHaven Solimon Chaffins, who is also an ambassador mother for the New Mexico March of Dimes, has created a special March of Dimes image. Her abstract form of painting depicts a reflection of healing, compassion and hope in the tiny blue humming bird shown in each picture she has painted for the announcement cards and program brochure. Each March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award recipient will receive a beautiful original silver pin created by the artist.

"The image is relative to the tremendous work that all nurses do," Chaffins said.

Chaffins, who now resides in my village of Paguate on Laguna Pueblo, was born in Portsmouth, Va. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where she received her associate's degree in fine arts in 1990. She then graduated from the UNM College of Fine Arts with a bachelor's in 1995.

Chaffins became a March of Dimes ambassador mother to honor her son, Skye, who died in June 1998, two weeks before his second birthday. Because she appreciates the nursing care given to her son, she recognizes nurses in a very special way.

See complete article

Fickle Miss Frog - Nez Perce

Long, long ago in the days of the animal kingdom. Miss Frog lived with her father, Wekwekt, the bullfrog, in the swamps where the two great rivers come together in Siminikum. Wekwekt was the most gifted musician in all the land. The animals gathered every evening to hear him sing in his melodious bass voice. Everyone was very fond of Wekwekt because he was kind and good as well as a marvelous musician.

Miss Frog was considered the most beautiful of all the animal maidens. Many suitors came to her door. Because of her popularity she grew very vain and treated her admirers in a most unkind manner. Some said they came mostly to hear Wekwekt sing, but this was not entirely true, for Miss Frog was indeed lovely to look upon.

Of all the many suitors who called at the tipi of the bullfrog and his daughter, Tiska, the skunk, was the most faithful. He came even when he was ignored by Miss Frog, and whenever he had a chance for a moment alone with her, he would beg her to marry him. But vain Miss Frog would only dismiss him with a sniff.

"Me marry you, Tiska? Why, I can have my pick of all the young fellows in the valley. Why should I settle for you?"

Now, Itsayaya, the coyote, thought very highly of Tiska, the skunk.

He was intelligent and handsome. Be-cause of his brilliance and his dependable character, Itsayaya appointed him to the highest council in the land, giving him charge over the coming and going of the salmon in the rivers.

Miss Frog continued to turn away suitors, but they admired her so much that at first they came back again and again. Tiska, the skunk, came, too. Finally, all the others became tired of her foolishness and began to call on other animal maidens in Siminikum. Wissi, the wood rat, who had been a frequent caller at the tipi of Wekwekt, began to see Lockaz, a fragile young field mouse. Miss Frog heard of this and the next time he came to call she scolded him.

"I thought you loved me, you fickle rat. I knew you were beneath me all the time. Imagine preferring a little timid field mouse to me!"

"Well, she is honest and faithful and suits me much better than you, Miss Frog." And with that Wissi, the wood rat, left the home of Miss Frog and never returned. In a few days she heard of his wedding to Lockaz, the field mouse. And she wasn't even invited to the festivities.

So it went with those who had been in love with Miss Frog. She was cruel to all of them and gradually they stopped coming, all but faithful Tiska, the skunk. In spite of all her rebuffs, he continued to come every three days. Finally, Miss Frog decided that if she were to have a husband at all she had better accept the skunk.

Wekwekt, the bullfrog, prepared a great wedding feast. All the animals came to toast the bride and groom, and it was the gayest wedding ever seen in Siminikum. Then the newlyweds set up house in a little meadow near the council place in Siminikum.

Miss Frog seemed happy as the wife of Tiska, and for many moons everything went smoothly. Then one day Tiska, the skunk, came home from his work with the salmon and found his wife gone, the fire dead, and no supper cooking. Late that night Mrs. Skunk came home and went to sleep without speaking to her husband.

Tiska, the skunk, was puzzled and angry, and next morning he questioned his wife about her strange behavior.

"Where did you go, wife? I was very worried about you."

"Why should you worry about me? I can take care of myself," she answered with a toss of her head.

The next day the same thing happened, and the day after that Mrs. Skunk didn't come home even at night.

Tiska was puzzled and terribly worried. He went to Itsayaya, the coyote, with his problem.

Now Itsayaya was wise and clever, and he kept his ears and eyes open, too. He had heard that Mrs. Skunk was spending her time with Apapapap, the lizard, up on the hillside. Apapapap had a bad reputation in Siminikum. Itsayaya thought and thought about the problem. He was fond of Tiska, the skunk, and hated to see him unhappy.

Then the coyote called Tiska and his wife to him and said to her, "Mrs. Skunk, I order you to stay home where you belong. Tiska is one of the finest of all the animal people, and you should be a good wife to him."

"And what business is it of yours, Itsayaya?" she asked. "I shall do as I please."

"I am warning you," said the coyote. "If you leave Tiska again, I shall call down my strongest medicine upon you and something dreadful will happen to you."

"I don't believe it, and besides, I don't care," she said.

Then fickle Miss Frog, who was now Mrs. Skunk, packed her things in a little buckskin bag and started up the rocky hillside to meet Apapapap, the lizard. She was just beyond Hatwai Creek when she felt as if a great weight had been put on her feet. Her steps moved slower and slower, until she stopped and couldn't move any more. She has never moved since. Itsayaya used his magic medicine to turn her to stone.

If you should care to see fickle Miss Frog, look at the hillside above Hatwai, for she sits there just as she has all these years since the time of the animal kingdom in Siminikum.

Taken from Tales of the Nimipoo - From the Land of the Nez Perce Indians, Eleanor B. Heady, 1969