Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
NARF’s practice is concentrated in five key areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that provides legal representation and technical assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide - a constituency that often lacks access to the justice system. NARF focuses on applying existing laws and treaties to guarantee that national and state governments live up to their legal obligations.
Check it out! http://www.narf.org/
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tribe's chefs go beyond traditions
By Mara Zepeda
MASHPEE -- On this Sunday afternoon at the Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow, a bustling staff of relatives and "pow wow kids looking for work," as Sherry Pocknett calls them, congregate, awaiting instructions. They're in an airy, shaded outdoor kitchen, outfitted with two grills, a stove, refrigerator, and hand-woven baskets brimming with corn, squash, peppers, and kale. Pocknett, a Wampanoag chef, is preparing the cooking of her tribe.
Mention Wampanoag foodways, and clambakes and Thanksgiving spring to mind. But the Wampanoag culinary contributions extend beyond these traditions. Pocknett, 47, whose tribe won federal recognition last winter, is determined to preserve the cuisine. She started Sly Fox's Den, a food stand named after her father, which she takes around the country, touring pow wows and bazaars sponsored by Cultural Survival, a Cambridge-based organization that promotes indigenous cultures.
In Mashpee, Pocknett's daughter Jade, 18, sets out coolers of strawberry lemonade and iced sassafras tea. People find the sassafras intriguing. "Where do you buy this?" a customer asks. "We pick it," Pocknett replies, pointing to the knotty upright branches simmering away, releasing an earthy incense over stands serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried clams.
There's more here: http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2007/07/25/tribes_chefs_go_beyond_traditions/
MASHPEE -- On this Sunday afternoon at the Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow, a bustling staff of relatives and "pow wow kids looking for work," as Sherry Pocknett calls them, congregate, awaiting instructions. They're in an airy, shaded outdoor kitchen, outfitted with two grills, a stove, refrigerator, and hand-woven baskets brimming with corn, squash, peppers, and kale. Pocknett, a Wampanoag chef, is preparing the cooking of her tribe.
Mention Wampanoag foodways, and clambakes and Thanksgiving spring to mind. But the Wampanoag culinary contributions extend beyond these traditions. Pocknett, 47, whose tribe won federal recognition last winter, is determined to preserve the cuisine. She started Sly Fox's Den, a food stand named after her father, which she takes around the country, touring pow wows and bazaars sponsored by Cultural Survival, a Cambridge-based organization that promotes indigenous cultures.
In Mashpee, Pocknett's daughter Jade, 18, sets out coolers of strawberry lemonade and iced sassafras tea. People find the sassafras intriguing. "Where do you buy this?" a customer asks. "We pick it," Pocknett replies, pointing to the knotty upright branches simmering away, releasing an earthy incense over stands serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried clams.
There's more here: http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2007/07/25/tribes_chefs_go_beyond_traditions/
Connecting with art: Camp gives students taste of traditional native art
By Andi Murphy
FARMINGTON — A dozen Native American high school students sat in a room, concentrating hard on the beginning of a small loom in front of them.
Dozens of seemingly tangled strings loosely connected two wooden poles that would be the basis for a rug they will weave later. Native music played softly in the background as Lorraine Begay Manavi paced the room, assisting the students with the net of yarn before them.
Rug weaving was the first form of art introduced to the students on Monday's schedule for the second annual Native Youth Art Camp at San Juan College. Techniques and rug designs were taught by Manavi, San Juan's Navajo language and rug weaving instructor.
"I like it," Fernando Charley, 16, a Piedra Vista High School student, said about the course. Although, rug weaving is not his main art form, he enjoyed the session.
Read full article here: http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_6447481
FARMINGTON — A dozen Native American high school students sat in a room, concentrating hard on the beginning of a small loom in front of them.
Dozens of seemingly tangled strings loosely connected two wooden poles that would be the basis for a rug they will weave later. Native music played softly in the background as Lorraine Begay Manavi paced the room, assisting the students with the net of yarn before them.
Rug weaving was the first form of art introduced to the students on Monday's schedule for the second annual Native Youth Art Camp at San Juan College. Techniques and rug designs were taught by Manavi, San Juan's Navajo language and rug weaving instructor.
"I like it," Fernando Charley, 16, a Piedra Vista High School student, said about the course. Although, rug weaving is not his main art form, he enjoyed the session.
Read full article here: http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_6447481
National Congress of American Indians Opposes Bill to Terminate the Cherokee Nation
Press release:
WASHINGTON—June 26, 2007—The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly opposes the recent legislation introduced by Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA), that would terminate the Cherokee Nation over a disagreement on the status of non-Indians within the Cherokee Nation.
“It is outrageous to propose to terminate the existence of an Indian Nation,” said Joe Garcia, the President of NCAI. “This is an uncalled for response to a legal question of treaty interpretation. When Alabama or California takes an action inconsistent with Congressional views, there is no discussion of revoking their statehood. The attempt to revoke tribal nationhood is equally inappropriate. Not since the Termination Era of the 1950’s, when the official policy of the federal government was complete destruction of indigenous peoples, have we seen such a piece of legislation. NCAI was founded to oppose termination of Indian tribes.”
The status of non-Indians within the Cherokee Nation is a complex legal issue with a very long history. It is currently in litigation and the status of the impacted individuals is preserved while the litigation proceeds. “A decision by the courts will shed a lot of light on the legal and historical questions,” said Garcia. “We urge Congress to allow the parties their opportunity to have the issues considered in an orderly fashion.”
The 1866 Treaty with the Cherokee Nation was ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War when Oklahoma was exclusively Indian Territory. The treaty created allotments of land for non-Indians living within the territory of the Cherokee, including freed African-American slaves known as the Freedman. In 1906, when Congress disestablished the Indian Territory and made Oklahoma a state, the Freedmen lands were taken out of tribal jurisdiction and placed under state jurisdiction. “This is not a simple race issue,” Garcia continued. “The Cherokee membership issues are complex, and it does a disservice to both of our communities to oversimplify them.”
“The histories and cultures of African American and Native American communities are intertwined in many places,” said Garcia. “We are friends and allies. We respect the Congressional Black Caucus’ questions and support continued dialogue. But legislation requesting the termination of a sovereign tribal government is outrageous and unacceptable.”
WASHINGTON—June 26, 2007—The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly opposes the recent legislation introduced by Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA), that would terminate the Cherokee Nation over a disagreement on the status of non-Indians within the Cherokee Nation.
“It is outrageous to propose to terminate the existence of an Indian Nation,” said Joe Garcia, the President of NCAI. “This is an uncalled for response to a legal question of treaty interpretation. When Alabama or California takes an action inconsistent with Congressional views, there is no discussion of revoking their statehood. The attempt to revoke tribal nationhood is equally inappropriate. Not since the Termination Era of the 1950’s, when the official policy of the federal government was complete destruction of indigenous peoples, have we seen such a piece of legislation. NCAI was founded to oppose termination of Indian tribes.”
The status of non-Indians within the Cherokee Nation is a complex legal issue with a very long history. It is currently in litigation and the status of the impacted individuals is preserved while the litigation proceeds. “A decision by the courts will shed a lot of light on the legal and historical questions,” said Garcia. “We urge Congress to allow the parties their opportunity to have the issues considered in an orderly fashion.”
The 1866 Treaty with the Cherokee Nation was ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War when Oklahoma was exclusively Indian Territory. The treaty created allotments of land for non-Indians living within the territory of the Cherokee, including freed African-American slaves known as the Freedman. In 1906, when Congress disestablished the Indian Territory and made Oklahoma a state, the Freedmen lands were taken out of tribal jurisdiction and placed under state jurisdiction. “This is not a simple race issue,” Garcia continued. “The Cherokee membership issues are complex, and it does a disservice to both of our communities to oversimplify them.”
“The histories and cultures of African American and Native American communities are intertwined in many places,” said Garcia. “We are friends and allies. We respect the Congressional Black Caucus’ questions and support continued dialogue. But legislation requesting the termination of a sovereign tribal government is outrageous and unacceptable.”
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