Associated Press
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians said Thursday that its members have approved an agreement between five American Indian tribes and the state of Michigan over inland hunting and fishing rights.
The tribal board still needs to approve the pact, which it is expected to do during a meeting Sunday, spokesman Corey Wilson said.
The other four tribes have ratified the deal, which recognizes members' rights to hunt, fish and gather plants in parts of western and northern Michigan covered by an 1836 treaty. The area includes about 37 percent of the state. Fishing in the Great Lakes is excluded because it was dealt with in earlier agreements.
The agreement, already endorsed by state and federal officials, also needs the approval of a federal judge who had scheduled a hearing for Monday, but canceled it in an order noting the successful outcome of the Sault Ste. Marie referendum.
The Sault tribe was the only tribe that submitted the tentative agreement, announced last month, to its full membership for a referendum.
In results posted on its Web site Thursday, the tribe said 3,476 voters favored the pact while 678 opposed it. Nearly 33 percent of the 12,734 members voted.
The proposal affects much of the western and northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula.
It empowers the tribes to issue their own hunting and fishing licenses and write their own regulations. Three already have rules and the other two will be developing them.
Many of the regulations will parallel state policies for protecting resources from overharvesting and abuse, limiting size, numbers and species taken. But the tribes will have longer deer hunting seasons and different policies on fishing methods such as spearing and netting.
The DNR is hosting a series of public meetings around the state to explain the agreement.
The other participating tribes include the Bay Mills Indian Community; the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians; the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
Friday, October 19, 2007
American Indians Seek Greater Understanding, Recognition
By: Jeffrey Thomas
Washington -- “Maybe you should just tell them that we still exist,” an American Indian told the moderator of a focus group during a recent study that not only has highlighted continuing misconceptions about American Indians, but also has revealed the sympathy with which many Americans view Indians’ history and desire to learn more about their past and present.
“Tell the story of American Indians truthfully and honestly [in an Indian museum],” a non-Indian proposed, “and tell that story in both the historical and contemporary concepts. ... They survived everything that happened to them -- they survived.”
The study revealed that, even though American Indians might feel isolated, misunderstood and culturally threatened in contemporary America, they often express pride in their economic accomplishments and a conviction that their lives are improving. “The biggest fight that we have is [about] identity,” a New York Indian told researchers.
The study Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding is based on 12 focus groups -- seven with Indians and five with non-Indians -- conducted by researchers from the nonpartisan public opinion research organization Public Agenda. Such focus groups provide qualitative information on how the participants view the place of American Indians in the United States today, but more opinion research and polling is needed to reveal how widely held those views are, according to experts.
“This was exploratory research ... designed to pose as many questions as it answered,” Public Agenda’s Michael Remaley told USINFO. “Clearly, there is much more to be done to further the conversation nationally.”
Read this very interesting story here: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=October&x=200710181452191CJsamohT0.7733576
Washington -- “Maybe you should just tell them that we still exist,” an American Indian told the moderator of a focus group during a recent study that not only has highlighted continuing misconceptions about American Indians, but also has revealed the sympathy with which many Americans view Indians’ history and desire to learn more about their past and present.
“Tell the story of American Indians truthfully and honestly [in an Indian museum],” a non-Indian proposed, “and tell that story in both the historical and contemporary concepts. ... They survived everything that happened to them -- they survived.”
The study revealed that, even though American Indians might feel isolated, misunderstood and culturally threatened in contemporary America, they often express pride in their economic accomplishments and a conviction that their lives are improving. “The biggest fight that we have is [about] identity,” a New York Indian told researchers.
The study Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding is based on 12 focus groups -- seven with Indians and five with non-Indians -- conducted by researchers from the nonpartisan public opinion research organization Public Agenda. Such focus groups provide qualitative information on how the participants view the place of American Indians in the United States today, but more opinion research and polling is needed to reveal how widely held those views are, according to experts.
“This was exploratory research ... designed to pose as many questions as it answered,” Public Agenda’s Michael Remaley told USINFO. “Clearly, there is much more to be done to further the conversation nationally.”
Read this very interesting story here: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=October&x=200710181452191CJsamohT0.7733576
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Do you know...
John Echohawk, a member of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, has served as the Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) since 1977.
The first graduate of a special law program for Native Americans at the University of New Mexico, he has become a leading force in Indian Law and policy and has been involved in cases supporting Indian rights all over the country.
As one of the most sought after experts on Indian issues, he is often asked to serve on special commissions that will affect tribes everywhere. He has won numerous awards over the years for his devotion to improving the lives of Indian tribes and individuals.
He is also listed as one of 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
The first graduate of a special law program for Native Americans at the University of New Mexico, he has become a leading force in Indian Law and policy and has been involved in cases supporting Indian rights all over the country.
As one of the most sought after experts on Indian issues, he is often asked to serve on special commissions that will affect tribes everywhere. He has won numerous awards over the years for his devotion to improving the lives of Indian tribes and individuals.
He is also listed as one of 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
Last living speaker works to keep NorCal tribe's language alive
The Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, AR
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. (AP) — As a child in the 1950s, Loretta Kelsey grew up hearing the sounds of Elem Pomo, an 8,000-year-old dialect spoken by early peoples of Northern California along the shores of Clear Lake in Lake County.
Since then, as an older generation passed away, the language they spoke went with them. According to scholars, 59-year-old Kelsey is the last fluent speaker of Elem Pomo alive today.
But Kelsey is not content to let her native language die with her. Instead, she has teamed up with a prominent University of California linguist to teach and document Elem Pomo to keep its words — and the culture they represent — alive in the 21st century.
"Our language is really right here. It's in our ceremonies, our lives, our people, our ways," Kelsey said, gesturing to her reservation along the lake's southern edge. "You keep the language alive, you help keep all of this alive."
When Kelsey was growing up, her mother spoke no English, only Elem Pomo. At the time, many members of the 250-person tribe were fluent. The past decades have seen members die off, join new churches or leave the reservation for jobs.
The complete article is here: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/203904
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. (AP) — As a child in the 1950s, Loretta Kelsey grew up hearing the sounds of Elem Pomo, an 8,000-year-old dialect spoken by early peoples of Northern California along the shores of Clear Lake in Lake County.
Since then, as an older generation passed away, the language they spoke went with them. According to scholars, 59-year-old Kelsey is the last fluent speaker of Elem Pomo alive today.
But Kelsey is not content to let her native language die with her. Instead, she has teamed up with a prominent University of California linguist to teach and document Elem Pomo to keep its words — and the culture they represent — alive in the 21st century.
"Our language is really right here. It's in our ceremonies, our lives, our people, our ways," Kelsey said, gesturing to her reservation along the lake's southern edge. "You keep the language alive, you help keep all of this alive."
When Kelsey was growing up, her mother spoke no English, only Elem Pomo. At the time, many members of the 250-person tribe were fluent. The past decades have seen members die off, join new churches or leave the reservation for jobs.
The complete article is here: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/203904
The Heyteyneytah Project
Star Tribune - Casper, Wyoming
Horses helped heal the spirit of Stanford Addison after a truck accident paralyzed him 28 years ago. Now, Addison uses horses to help heal at-risk youth. He calls it the Heyteyneytah Project, a nonprofit program incorporating his gentle horse training techniques. In Arapaho, Addison's native tribe, heyteyneytah means respect.
While many of the youth who find their way to the Addison Ranch are from around the Wind River Indian Reservation, kids from Colorado, California, Iowa and Illinois have lived with Addison and learned his techniques. Addison supports these kids largely out of his own pocket.But he's looking to expand his program.
For the past year, he's been working with the Wind River Development Fund, a nonprofit community development corporation. With its help, he is developing a small business plan that will make his ranch more financially viable, said Lisa Wagner, executive director.
"What he does is very much a community service in terms of working with youth," she said.
Besides his work with kids, Addison also hosts several horse-training clinics a year. In those, participants learn to connect with a horse, saddle-break it and ride it all in one day. People come from around the world for these clinics.
To learn more about the Heyteyneytah Project or to help, contact the Wind River Development Fund at (307) 335-7330 or call Addison at (307) 349-8669.
On the net:
*See a video of Addison using his training techniques on an Arabian filly at casperstartribune.net and click on this story.
* www.wrdf.org
* www.stanaddison.com
Horses helped heal the spirit of Stanford Addison after a truck accident paralyzed him 28 years ago. Now, Addison uses horses to help heal at-risk youth. He calls it the Heyteyneytah Project, a nonprofit program incorporating his gentle horse training techniques. In Arapaho, Addison's native tribe, heyteyneytah means respect.
While many of the youth who find their way to the Addison Ranch are from around the Wind River Indian Reservation, kids from Colorado, California, Iowa and Illinois have lived with Addison and learned his techniques. Addison supports these kids largely out of his own pocket.But he's looking to expand his program.
For the past year, he's been working with the Wind River Development Fund, a nonprofit community development corporation. With its help, he is developing a small business plan that will make his ranch more financially viable, said Lisa Wagner, executive director.
"What he does is very much a community service in terms of working with youth," she said.
Besides his work with kids, Addison also hosts several horse-training clinics a year. In those, participants learn to connect with a horse, saddle-break it and ride it all in one day. People come from around the world for these clinics.
To learn more about the Heyteyneytah Project or to help, contact the Wind River Development Fund at (307) 335-7330 or call Addison at (307) 349-8669.
On the net:
*See a video of Addison using his training techniques on an Arabian filly at casperstartribune.net and click on this story.
* www.wrdf.org
* www.stanaddison.com
Taste of the Plains
By: Jonnie Taté Finn
KYLE - Entrepreneurs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation hope a four-inch energy bar that mimics a traditional Lakota recipe will provide a boost to both people's health and the area's lagging economy.
Health professionals and tribal members say the Tanka Bar, made of dried buffalo meat and berries, is an innovative way to improve people's health and their pocketbooks in a place where diabetes and poverty are major issues.
"It was pretty good," Lori Whirlwind Horse said after sampling the product, which makes its official debut during the 21st annual He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate (Black Hills Pow Wow) in Rapid City Oct. 5.
Whirlwind Horse said the recipe is comparable to the one her mother uses to make wasna for traditional ceremonies, such as sun dances or peyote meetings.
"I think it's a good idea" to market a traditional food. "It's how we used to live a long time ago. It's healthy. But I think (non-Natives) will have to acquire a taste for it, since everything these days is fast food, and this doesn't taste like fast food.
"That was the point, said Karlene Hunter, chief executive officer and co-founder of Native American Natural Foods, the company behind the Tanka Bar.
Read more here: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/NEWS/709280329/1001
KYLE - Entrepreneurs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation hope a four-inch energy bar that mimics a traditional Lakota recipe will provide a boost to both people's health and the area's lagging economy.
Health professionals and tribal members say the Tanka Bar, made of dried buffalo meat and berries, is an innovative way to improve people's health and their pocketbooks in a place where diabetes and poverty are major issues.
"It was pretty good," Lori Whirlwind Horse said after sampling the product, which makes its official debut during the 21st annual He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate (Black Hills Pow Wow) in Rapid City Oct. 5.
Whirlwind Horse said the recipe is comparable to the one her mother uses to make wasna for traditional ceremonies, such as sun dances or peyote meetings.
"I think it's a good idea" to market a traditional food. "It's how we used to live a long time ago. It's healthy. But I think (non-Natives) will have to acquire a taste for it, since everything these days is fast food, and this doesn't taste like fast food.
"That was the point, said Karlene Hunter, chief executive officer and co-founder of Native American Natural Foods, the company behind the Tanka Bar.
Read more here: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/NEWS/709280329/1001
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Origin of Strawberries
Cherokee legend -
When the first man (a s ga ya) was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together very happily for a time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the woman (a ge ya) left her husband and started off toward the Sun land (Nundagunyi), in the east.
The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until the Creator, took pity on him and asked him if he was still angry with his wife. He said he was not, and Creator then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.
So Creator caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of blackberries, but these also she refused to notice. Other fruits, one, two, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red service berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she went on until suddenly she saw in front of her a patch of large ripe strawberries, the first ever known.
She stooped to gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face to the west, and at once the memory of her husband came back to her and she found herself unable to go on. She sat down, but the longer she waited the stronger became her desire for her husband, and at last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him. He met her kindly and they went home together.
When the first man (a s ga ya) was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together very happily for a time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the woman (a ge ya) left her husband and started off toward the Sun land (Nundagunyi), in the east.
The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until the Creator, took pity on him and asked him if he was still angry with his wife. He said he was not, and Creator then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.
So Creator caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of blackberries, but these also she refused to notice. Other fruits, one, two, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red service berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she went on until suddenly she saw in front of her a patch of large ripe strawberries, the first ever known.
She stooped to gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face to the west, and at once the memory of her husband came back to her and she found herself unable to go on. She sat down, but the longer she waited the stronger became her desire for her husband, and at last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him. He met her kindly and they went home together.
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