"I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for Eagles to be Crows. We are poor . . . but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die . . . we die defending our rights." -
Sitting Bull - Oglala Sioux
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Oklahoma artists create dialogue to discuss state's centennial
By: Brian Daffron
OKLAHOMA CITY - As the state of Oklahoma celebrates 100 years of being admitted into the Union, many cities and towns throughout the state are having different types of celebrations. Some include parades and festivals. Other activities include all-star country music concerts headlined by Oklahomans Vince Gill and Toby Keith. Other activities may include ''Land Run'' recreations on public school playgrounds.
''For mainstream Oklahoma, it's easier to go down the road where things are always pleasant and always happy,'' said Choctaw/Southern Cheyenne artist Tim Ramsey. ''Just for that reason, it's a little bit harder to look at someone else and empathize with another history that you're not familiar with or that might be a little bit uncomfortable.''
This ''uncomfortable'' history grows into evasive questions throughout much of the Oklahoma Centennial hoopla that in many cases are not attempted to be answered or are forgotten. What about the history of Oklahoma and Indian Territory before statehood or even before the Land Run of 1889? What about the allotment system that ultimately created Oklahoma? How about the effects of statehood and loss of land on Oklahoma's Native population today?
Oklahoma's Native artists will answer questions - and even ask new ones - with the exhibit ''Current Realities: A Dialogue with the People,'' which began with its Nov. 9 opening, featuring work from more than 75 artists at the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, 811 N. Broadway in Oklahoma City, running through Dec. 21.
Read the complete article here: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416146
OKLAHOMA CITY - As the state of Oklahoma celebrates 100 years of being admitted into the Union, many cities and towns throughout the state are having different types of celebrations. Some include parades and festivals. Other activities include all-star country music concerts headlined by Oklahomans Vince Gill and Toby Keith. Other activities may include ''Land Run'' recreations on public school playgrounds.
''For mainstream Oklahoma, it's easier to go down the road where things are always pleasant and always happy,'' said Choctaw/Southern Cheyenne artist Tim Ramsey. ''Just for that reason, it's a little bit harder to look at someone else and empathize with another history that you're not familiar with or that might be a little bit uncomfortable.''
This ''uncomfortable'' history grows into evasive questions throughout much of the Oklahoma Centennial hoopla that in many cases are not attempted to be answered or are forgotten. What about the history of Oklahoma and Indian Territory before statehood or even before the Land Run of 1889? What about the allotment system that ultimately created Oklahoma? How about the effects of statehood and loss of land on Oklahoma's Native population today?
Oklahoma's Native artists will answer questions - and even ask new ones - with the exhibit ''Current Realities: A Dialogue with the People,'' which began with its Nov. 9 opening, featuring work from more than 75 artists at the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, 811 N. Broadway in Oklahoma City, running through Dec. 21.
Read the complete article here: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416146
South Mountain Freeway study approved
Tribe allows access to Gila River Reservation
By: Kerry Fehr-Snyder
AHWATUKEE - At first blush, it looks like the most hopeful sign for South Mountain Freeway foes in years.
But the Gila River Indian Community wants to make it clear that allowing the state Transportation Department access to its land doesn't mean that the community has reversed its objection to building the proposed 22-mile freeway on reservation land.
"That's not even on the table," said spokeswoman Alia Maisonet. "This is just so it (the Arizona Department of Transportation) can complete the study for the Pecos Road alignment."
The community announced Tuesday that it will give ADOT one year to access its land for an environmental-impact statement, which is due out next year. Over the years, there has been talk of pushing the freeway alignment south onto reservation land, but the community has barred ADOT from studying that option.
The community's new decision doesn't change that, Maisonet said. Instead, ADOT will be allowed to study possible water runoff, pollution and other environmental impacts created by the $1.7 billion freeway in Ahwatukee.
"We explained to ADOT that this is not to mean there is a freeway on our land or a freeway even to be considered on the land," Maisonet said.
By: Kerry Fehr-Snyder
AHWATUKEE - At first blush, it looks like the most hopeful sign for South Mountain Freeway foes in years.
But the Gila River Indian Community wants to make it clear that allowing the state Transportation Department access to its land doesn't mean that the community has reversed its objection to building the proposed 22-mile freeway on reservation land.
"That's not even on the table," said spokeswoman Alia Maisonet. "This is just so it (the Arizona Department of Transportation) can complete the study for the Pecos Road alignment."
The community announced Tuesday that it will give ADOT one year to access its land for an environmental-impact statement, which is due out next year. Over the years, there has been talk of pushing the freeway alignment south onto reservation land, but the community has barred ADOT from studying that option.
The community's new decision doesn't change that, Maisonet said. Instead, ADOT will be allowed to study possible water runoff, pollution and other environmental impacts created by the $1.7 billion freeway in Ahwatukee.
"We explained to ADOT that this is not to mean there is a freeway on our land or a freeway even to be considered on the land," Maisonet said.
Fire on the mountain
Disaster leaves La Jolla Indian Reservation with almost nothing
By: David Kelly
A pitiless firestorm - one of the many that swept over Southern California - was especially cruel to the La Jolla Indian Reservation clinging to the southern slopes of Mount Palomar.
Residents described hellish flames sweeping over lush hills and valleys, burning 94 percent of the reservation and destroying 59 of its 170 houses. Thick forests of live oak that once shaded homes for generations of American Indians are gone now, replaced by black scars of ash.
Unlike many neighboring tribes, the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians don't own a casino. Many members rely on government aid to survive, and the chief source of revenue is a campground along a three-mile stretch of the San Luis Rey River.
"We were already at the bottom of the barrel, and now this takes us down even further," said tribal Chairman Tracy Lee Nelson, who returned from his honeymoon to find cinders where his house had stood. "I have never been up against anything like this before. It will take millions of dollars to repair this reservation."
Tribal members, who number about 700 , are still trying to digest the magnitude of destruction that has touched everyone in some way.
Want to read more? Click here: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS03/711280329/1013/NEWS03
By: David Kelly
A pitiless firestorm - one of the many that swept over Southern California - was especially cruel to the La Jolla Indian Reservation clinging to the southern slopes of Mount Palomar.
Residents described hellish flames sweeping over lush hills and valleys, burning 94 percent of the reservation and destroying 59 of its 170 houses. Thick forests of live oak that once shaded homes for generations of American Indians are gone now, replaced by black scars of ash.
Unlike many neighboring tribes, the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians don't own a casino. Many members rely on government aid to survive, and the chief source of revenue is a campground along a three-mile stretch of the San Luis Rey River.
"We were already at the bottom of the barrel, and now this takes us down even further," said tribal Chairman Tracy Lee Nelson, who returned from his honeymoon to find cinders where his house had stood. "I have never been up against anything like this before. It will take millions of dollars to repair this reservation."
Tribal members, who number about 700 , are still trying to digest the magnitude of destruction that has touched everyone in some way.
Want to read more? Click here: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/NEWS03/711280329/1013/NEWS03
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