January 2011
Metis Nation/District 14 Connecticut
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
I hope this new year found you all healthy. I can't believe it is a new year again already!!! Where is time going???? I hope this year will be a bit slower to pass.
Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic year with many blessings and good health.
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Grandfather Cries
Charles Phillip Whitedog
Grandfather, do you know me?
I am your blood.
The son of your son.
I come to ask you a question Grandfather.
Grandfather, don't you know me?
Can I stop being Indian now?
There are others that want to be Indian,
And if they can start from nothing,
I should be able to stop from something?
Grandfather, don't you know me?
Grandfather, I don't look like you.
I don't know what you know.
It would be easy for me to hide behind my paler skin.
No one would know the pain I feel,
Or see the tears I cry for your Great Grandchildren.
Grandfather, don't you know me?
Grandfather, look what I have done to our world.
Mother Earth is on her knees.
The Snake and Owl rule the day.
I don't understand the language you speak Grandfather.
Grandfather, don't you know me?
Grandfather, I want my Pepsi, Levi's and Porsche too.
I want to go where the others go,
And see the things they see too.
I don't have time to dance in the old way Grandfather.
Grandfather?
Grandfather, why are you crying?
Grandfather, why are you crying?
Grandfather, please stop crying.
Grandfather, don't you know me?
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Devils Lake Boy to Sing for President Obama
A Devils Lake second grader will be getting the opportunity of a life-time soon. He'll be flying to Washington, D.C. to sing in front of President Obama and those in attendance at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.
By: Ashley McMillan, WDAZ
A Devils Lake second-grader will be getting the opportunity of a life-time soon.
Hunter Street had a normal day at school Tuesday.
But on Wednesday he'll be flying to Washington, D.C. to sing in front of President Obama and those in attendance at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.
The journey started when a YouTube video of Hunter was submitted to the National Congress of American Indians.
Hunter will be performing the Lakota Flag Song at the conference.
He has been practicing at home and even at school in front of his class.
His mom isn't sure who's more excited.
"I received some information with the tentative agenda and it says President Obama and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is real, this is really happening," said Merrick.
You can watch Hunter sing the flag song through a webcast of the opening ceremonies at WhiteHouse.gov.
The opening ceremony begins 7:30 am Central time.
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NAGPRA regulations undermine relationship with tribes
December 13, 2010
"Last winter, the Department of the Interior issued regulations for the disposition of ancient American Indian remains and funerary objects that cannot be affiliated with modern tribes. Unfortunately, these new rules will destroy a crucial source of knowledge about North American history and halt a dialogue between scientists and Indian tribes that has been harmonious and enlightening.
The new regulations help carry out the 20-year-old Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a law that was devised by tribes, scientists and museum officials. It was a compromise between the tribes’ sensitivity to having the remains of their ancestors excavated and analyzed and the archaeologists’ desire to learn what bones can reveal about ancient peoples’ diet, health, migration patterns, marriage practices and so on.
Scientists acknowledged that it is wrong to study the dead in ways that insult the living. Therefore, they relinquished control over the 25 percent of all catalogued remains at museums and other institutions that could be culturally affiliated with federally recognized tribes. Some tribes have reburied these remains, others have stored them, and some have asked institutions to continue to hold them.
In making arrangements to repatriate these culturally affiliated remains over the past 20 years, archaeologists and tribal leaders opened new lines of communication with each other.
This was a welcome development, because relations between them had been touchy, at best. Many American Indians had questioned the need for research on their ancestors’ bones, and considered archaeological digs to be insulting, or simple theft. Tensions were often high. I still recall the moment in 1979, when I was starting out in archaeology, that two young Paiute men approached me in a bar in Fallon, Nev., flashing knives, and warned me not to "dig up" their grandfather."
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Santiago Isaac Bustamante, Tigua spiritual leader, is laid to rest
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Santiago Isaac Bustamante, the chief and spiritual leader of the Tigua Tribe of Texas, was laid to rest on Monday. He died last week at the age of 89.
Bustamante, a World War II veteran was one of the last full-blooded tribal members, began serving as chief in 2000. His Tigua name was Per-hui'n, which means rainbow.
"When something like this happens, everything stops," council member Jose Lopez told The El Paso Times. "This is the father of the pueblo. He leads the pueblo. When we lose the chief, everything stops."
More than 2,000 people attended his funeral, the paper reported.
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Carleton Naiche-Palmer, former Mescalero president, passes on
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Carleton Naiche-Palmer, a former president of the Mescalero Apache Nation of New Mexico, died on Saturday. He was 63.
Naiche-Palmer served as chairman up until earlier this year. He also served on the tribal council and was active in several tribal organizations.
"He was very helpful. He was very educated. Very intelligent and he thinks about what he is going to say before he says it. His words really carry a lot of meaning," Jackie Blaylock Sr., who served as Naiche-Palmer's vice president, told The Ruidoso News.
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Water rights settlement a 'milestone' for Navajo Nation
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
"President Barack Obama, speaking last week at a White House signing ceremony for Indian water rights settlement legislation, said the bill would provide "permanent access to secure water supplies year-round" for seven Native American communities around the West.
One of those is the Navajo Nation. John Leeper, with the Navajos' Department of Water Resources, sounded almost giddy when I asked him to elaborate on what it means: "Real water to real people in real time."
That's because the legislation, a clever package engineered by a group of legislators that included Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has something that has been hard to nail down in recent Indian water rights settlements: real money.
Go to the water hauling station in downtown Gallup most any day and you can understand Leeper's enthusiasm. Pickup trucks line up to fill big tanks sitting in their beds, schlepping water back to homes that have no running water."
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Archdiocese objects to use of certain elements at Indian church
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota temporarily suspended mass at a predominantly Indian church due to concerns about the use of certain elements during services.
The Church of Gichitwaa Kateri in Minneapolis has long incorporated Ojibwe, Lakota and other tribal practices during mass. But a new pastor questioned the use of mustum, grape juice that is only minimally fermented, instead of wine.
The church uses mustum because some members of the congregation are alcoholics or recovering alcoholics. Wine, however, is considered an essential element of the Catholic mass.
Church members will continue to discuss the issue with Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche.
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The Great One has given every human being at least one special talent and one special gift. We need to develop and practice these gifts because they are the handiwork of God. Maybe we are artists-when people look at our work it puts joy in their hearts; maybe we are singers- when people listen to our songs, their hearts are happy; maybe we are writers of song or poetry-when people hear or read our work, it may change their lives. We need to honor ourselves and our gifts. We need to thank the Creator for our talents and our gifts.
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John Graham guilty for Aquash murder in 1975
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The following story was written and reported by Ernestine Chasing Hawk. All content © Native Sun News.
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA — John "Boy" Graham was found guilty of felony murder committed during a kidnapping by a Rapid City jury last week.
The family of Anna Mae Aquash, who waited nearly 35 years for a measure of justice, said at a press conference last week that they were pleased with the verdict handed down last Friday. Aquash, a member of Mi’kmaq Tribe of Nova Scotia and prominent member of the American Indian Movement in the 1970’s was found murdered in the Badlands on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in February of 1976.
The trial which lasted nearly two weeks culminated last Friday when a five-man and seven-woman jury found AIM member Graham, a Southern Tutchone Athabaskan from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, guilty on one count, but found Graham not guilty on a second charge of premeditated murder.
Graham and two members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Theda Clark and Fritz Arlo Looking Cloud were alleged to have kidnapped Aquash from a Denver home and driven her to a Rapid City home to face charges from AIM leadership that she was a government informant.
In January of 2003, Looking Cloud and Graham were indicted by a federal grand jury on murder charges in connection to the death of Aquash. Looking Cloud was found guilty by a federal grand jury on February 6, 2004 and sentenced to life in prison.
Looking Cloud a key witness in the Graham trial testified last Wednesday that he saw Graham shoot Aquash and watched as her body fell over a cliff.
An Oglala woman charged in connection to the murder of Aquash, Thelma Rios plead guilty to accessory to kidnapping in November and expected to be called as a witness in the Graham murder trial, was not called to testify.
Another Oglala man, Richard "Dickie" Marshall who was indicted on federal charges accused of providing the .32-caliber pistol used to kill Aquash, but found not guilty, was called to testify. Clark now 87, and living in a Nebraska nursing home was also called to the stand but declined to testify exercising her right against self incrimination.
During the 5 ½ days of testimony more than 19 witnesses were called by the prosecution and related similar stories about how they saw Graham, Clark and Looking Cloud take Aquash with her hands tied in front of her and place her in a red Ford Pinto.
Former U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley, now the South Dakota’s Attorney General served as lead prosecutor in the case assisted by Robert Mandel, prosecuting attorney in the 2004 trial of Looking Cloud and Ron Oswald.
Graham was represented by attorney John Murphy of Rapid City and paralegal Roxanne Ducheneaux. Seventh Circuit Judge Jack Delaney heard the case.
The jury began deliberations on Thursday after the defense declined to call any witnesses to the stand.
On Friday at about 4 p.m. Judge Delaney was handed a note informing him that the jury was deadlocked in both murder counts. Shortly thereafter, the jury reported it had a verdict on one count. Jackley asked the court to accept the verdict on one count and declare a mistrial on the second so the state could retry Graham on that charge. Defense attorney John Murphy responded by saying he would oppose a partial verdict.
Then about 4:30 jurors reported they had reached a decision on both counts.
According to Rapid City Journalists Heidi Bell Geise who has reported extensively on the Aquash case, "tension in the courtroom was thick when the jury returned. Graham showed no emotion when the verdict was read. His daughter, Naneek Graham, who has attended the entire two-week trial, wept quietly, resting her head against that of her brother, J.T. Papequash.
Aquash’s daughters, Denise and Debbie Pictou Maloney, tearfully embraced one another and then hugged prosecutors.
After the verdict, defense attorney Murphy and Graham’s supporters left the courtroom without comment. Graham remained in custody pending sentencing."
(Contact Ernestine Chasing Hawk at: staffwriter@nsweekly.com)
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Steven Newcomb: Yakama Nation sends a treaty message to DC
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
"In keeping with the Obama administration’s effort to provide greater access to the White House, a packet of materials was delivered back in September to two members of President Obama’s staff, complete with a DVD, about the Yakama people and the Yakama Nation Treaty.
The fact that the Yakama Nation is approaching the President of the United States on the basis of the Yakama Nation treaty makes this story newsworthy. The Yakama Treaty has a unique provision for trade and "free access" to the public highways.
In the case United States v. Smiskin, 487 F. 3d 1260 (9th Cir. 2007), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreted the travel provision of the 1855 Yakama Nation Treaty as providing the Yakama Nation, its corporations, and its members with powerful exemptions when it comes to state fees and forms of taxation.
As the court stated in its opinion, "The Right to Travel provision of the Yakama Treaty of 1855 secures to Yakama tribal members the right to travel upon the public highways." Other legal cases have also been decided in favor of the Yakamas, and the packet of information given to White House staff was designed to inform President Obama of these features of the Yakama Nation Treaty.
Initially, a Yakama Nation packet was delivered to Assistant Secretary of the Interior Larry Echo Hawk. Then, at a Sept. 27 meeting, Kimberly Teehee, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and a domestic policy advisor for President Obama received one of the packets. Another was given to Jodi A. Gillette, Standing Rock Lakota, in her capacity as deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House."
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November slot revenues down at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun.
Posted Dec 15, 2010 @ 11:48 AM
Norwich, Conn. — November slot machine revenues at Eastern Connecticut’s two casinos declined, more evidence that consumers continue to spend cautiously.
Foxwoods Resort Casino, in combination with its sister MGM Grand at Foxwoods property, reported November "win," or the amount the house keeps after paying off winning gamblers, fell 7.8 percent to $49.5 million from a year earlier. Mohegan Sun’s win for the same period fell 6.7 percent to $55.6 million.
Overall intake from slot machines, or what’s known in the industry as handle, fell 2.1 percent at Foxwoods and 5.6 percent at Mohegan Sun, the casinos reported Wednesday morning.
Before November, win had increased in three of the four quarters since William Sherlock took over as Foxwoods’ interim president. The executive is taking nothing for granted as he prepares to fully turn his duties over to Scott Butera, who was hired as CEO last month.
"These results reinforce that consumer confidence continues to fluctuate in the current economic climate," Sherlock said. "We’ll remain focused on providing our guests with unique and compelling offerings and new amenities...and we are confident this approach will resonate with consumers."
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Land-into-trust fix in limbo amid dispute on appropriations bill
Friday, December 17, 2010
President Barack Obama reiterated his support for a fix to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Thursday.
"I also want to note that I support legislation to make clear -- in the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision -- that the Secretary of Interior can take land into trust for all federally recognized tribes," Obama said in his remarks to tribal leaders.
Despite the president's support, the fix remains in limbo on Capitol Hill. The House passed the fix as part of the 2011 continuing resolution.
The Senate didn't put the fix into the FY 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act. But Democrats said yesterday they won't pursue the bill amid opposition from Republicans.
The Senate instead will consider a continuing resolution
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Official announcement for UN declaration on indigenous rights
Friday, December 17, 2010
The State Department has released the official announcement regarding the U.S. support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The U.S. voted against the declaration during the Bush administration. But President Barack Obama decided to review the issue after he took office.
Following a series on tribal consultations, Obama said the administration support the document. "The aspirations it affirms -- including the respect for the institutions and rich cultures of Native peoples -- are one we must always seek to fulfill," he told tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Thursday.
The official announcement cites actions taken by the Obama administration that it said will improve the status of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
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American Indians and their role in the Civil War
Friday, December 17, 2010
"The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War is nearly here and a recent event at Petersburg National Battlefield underscored a bit of history that often escapes much notice—the role of American Indians in the conflict.
Estimates of the number of American Indians who fought for either the Union or the Confederacy vary widely; several sources cite numbers ranging from about 6,000 to over 20,000 men. One example occurred at Petersburg, Virginia, and that story has recently received some renewed attention.
Earlier this month, descendents of Company K of the First Michigan Sharpshooters returned to the park to meet with Superintendent Lewis Rogers and his staff and pay homage to their ancestors. Company K consisted entirely of American Indians from Michigan who enlisted in the Union Army.
According to information from the park, "The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters fought valiantly in every major battle in the Petersburg campaign. The American Indians were a memorable presence at the Battle of the Crater, where they were noticed for their composure under adversity. A Union officer described watching a group of them pull their jackets over their faces and sing their death chant when trapped in the crater under Confederate fire. When Petersburg fell in April, 1865, after a nine and half month siege, the First Michigan raised the first United States flag above the city."
It's not hard to see how specific details about individual units get lost in the history of the Civil War, and even just at Petersburg. A park publication notes that 800 regiments of nearly 160,000 soldiers served on both sides at Petersburg. That's a lot of history waiting to be told."
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Cobell expects settlement payouts within 8 to twelve months
Friday, December 17, 2010
Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, expects payments from the $3.4 billion settlement to start flowing within 8 to 12 months.
The settlement provides $1.5 billion to individual Indians. The deal also creates a $1.9 billion fund that will be used to pay landowners for their fractionated interests, which will be returned to tribal governments.
Judge Thomas Hogan will hold a hearing next Tuesday, December 21, to consider preliminary approval of the deal. Cobell said that will start the process for distributing the money.
"The next procedure that will happen, is there is a third-party class notification firm that has been hired by the government, that will be notifying all the class members of this settlement," Cobell told KFBB-TV.
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Judge tells police to release video from Native man's shooting
Friday, December 17, 2010
A judge ordered the police department in Seattle, Washington, to release a video from the August 30 fatal shooting of John T. Williams, a traditional Native woodcarver.
The video comes from the dashboard camera of officer Ian Birk. The actual shooting, occurred out of view of the camera although some audio was captured.
King County District Judge Arthur Chapman, who is conducting an inquest into the shooting, ordered the release of the video at 1pm today, Pacific time. But he said witnesses who will testify during the inquest shouldn't be allowed to watch the video.
Williams was a member of the was a member of the Dididaht First Nation of British Columbia. He was often seen carving wood in parks around Seattle.
Birk, who has been suspended from the force, said he shot Williams after Williams failed to obey an order to drop a wood carving knife.
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Pardon for Dakota man wrongly executed at Mankato
Monday, December 20, 2010
"During the late 1800s and early 1900s, thousands of African-Americans, primarily living in southern U.S. states, were lynched by mobs blinded by racial hatred and little sense of fairness or evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Even so, the country's largest mass hangings didn't happen in the Jim Crow south, but on Minnesota soil, in Mankato, under the directive of President Abraham Lincoln. Thirty-eight Dakota Indians were executed in 1862 on the day after Christmas.
With the 150th anniversary of the execution in 2012, there's talk of a federal pardon for one of the dead, We-Chank-Wash-ta-don-pee, also known as Chaska. Lincoln didn't order his execution but, in fact, commuted his sentence.
A pardon, even all these years later, deserves support.
U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who sits on Indian Affairs Committee, has said he may push for the pardon. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., who's leaving the U.S. House after a long career, supports the move, calling it a "grand gesture" and "a wrong that should be righted.""
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Tim Giago: US hasn't apologized for massacre at Wounded Knee
Monday, December 20, 2010
WOUNDED KNEE, SOUTH DAKOTA — On crystal clear nights when winter winds whistle through the hills and canyons around Wounded Knee Creek, the Lakota elders say it is so cold that you can hear the twigs snapping in the frigid air.
They called this time of the year, "The Moon of the Popping Trees." It was on such a winter morning on December 29, 1890 that the crack of a single rifle brought a day of infamy that still lives in the hearts and minds of the Lakota people.
After the rifle spoke there was a pause and then the rifles and Hotchkiss guns of the Seventh Cavalry opened up on the men, women and children camped at Wounded Knee. What followed was utter chaos and madness. The thirst for the blood of the Lakota took away all common sense from the soldiers.
The unarmed Lakota fought back with bare hands. The warriors shouted to their wives, their elders and their children, "run for cover," Iynkapo! Iyankapo!
Elderly men and women, unable to fight back, stood defiantly and sang their death songs before falling to the hail of bullets. The number of Lakota people murdered that day is still unknown. The mass grave at Wounded Knee holds the bodies of 150 men, women and children. Many other victims died from their wounds and from exposure over the next several days.
The Lakota people say that only 50 people out of the original 350 followers of Sitanka (Big Foot) survived the massacre.
Five days after the slaughter of the innocents an editorial in the Aberdeen (S.D.) Saturday Pioneer reflected the popular opinion of the wasicu (white people) of that day. It read, "The Pioneer has before declared that our only safety depends upon the total extermination of the Indians. Having wronged them for centuries, we had better, in order to protect our civilization, follow it up by one more wrong and wipe these untamed and untamable creatures from the face of the earth."
Ten years after he wrote that editorial calling for genocide against the Lakota people, L. Frank Baum wrote that wonderful children's book, "The Wizard of Oz."
The federal government tried to forever erase the memory of Wounded Knee. The village that sprang up on the site of the massacre was named Brennan after a Bureau of Indian Affairs official. But the Lakota people never forgot. Although the name "Brennan" appeared on the map, they still called it Wounded Knee. In the 1920s, Clive and Agnes Gildersleeve built the Wounded Knee Trading Post there to serve the Lakota people.
My father, Tim Giago, Sr., worked as a clerk and butcher for the Gildersleeves in the 1930s and we lived in one of the cabins at Wounded Knee that were later destroyed in the American Indian Movement occupation in 1973.
As a small boy, I recall the warm, summer evenings when the Lakota families sat outdoors and spoke softly, in reverent voices about that terrible day in 1890.
Much of what they said was written down by a young man named Hoksila Waste (pronounced Hokesheela Washtay) or Good Boy. His Christian name was Sid Byrd and he was a member of the Santee Sioux Tribe, a tribe that had been relocated and scattered around the state after the so-called Indian uprising in Minnesota.
Byrd wrote that it was the white man’s fear of the spiritual revival going on amongst the Lakota in the form of the Ghost Dance that led to the assassination of Sitting Bull on December 14, 1890, just two weeks before the massacre. Fearing further attacks, Sitanka (Big Foot), and his band, a group that performed the very last Ghost Dance, went on a five-day march in order to reach the protection of Chief Red Cloud at the Pine Ridge Agency.
The weary band was overtaken and captured at Wounded Knee Creek (Canke Opi Wahkpala).
Byrd believed, as do all Lakota people, that Big Foot died as a martyr for embracing the Ghost Dance "as freely as other men embraced their religion."
Byrd wrote in his Lakota version of what happened that day, "Later, some of the bodies would be found four to five miles from the scene of the slaughter. Soldiers would whoop as they spotted women and children fleeing into the woods and chase them on horseback. They made sport of it. I heard from the elders that the soldiers shouted ‘Remember the Little Big Horn.’"
On the 100th anniversary of that infamous day, Birgil Kills Straight, Alex White Plume and Jim Garrett, organized a ride that followed the exact trail taken by Big Foot and his band. That ride has taken place every year since December 29, 1990. At the end of the ride they hold a ceremony called "wiping away the tears" that calls for peace and forgiveness. This year they will take that ride again 120 years after the massacre.
Arvol Looking Horse, the Keeper of the Sacred Pipe of the Lakota, says a prayer every year on the hallowed grounds at Wounded Knee. He prays that America will someday apologize to the Lakota for the terrible deeds of the Seventh Cavalry, and that the 23 soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for the slaughter of the innocents, will have those medals revoked. He also prays for peace and unity.
120 years after the tragedy at Wounded Knee, America has not apologized and the Medal of Honor winners are still looked upon as heroes by the United States. Will America ever own up to its sins?
Tim Giago, an Oglala Lakota, is the editor and publisher of Native Sun News. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard with the Class of 1990. His weekly column won the H. L. Mencken Award in 1985. He was the first Native American ever inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame. He can be reached at editor@nsweekly.com
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Flexibility is taught by nature. You will see the trees bend in the wind. You will see that tree branches are flexible. To be rigid is to break. When we have life problems it is good for us to be flexible. Sometimes we need to flow with what is going on. If we resist, it becomes more painful. We need to be on the path of least resistance. Water flows down the mountain through the path of least resistance. Electricity flows through the path of least resistance. Power flows through the path of least resistance. As Indian people our strength has always been our flexibility.
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Poorest county is on South Dakota reservation
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The following story was written and reported by Ernestine Chasing Hawk. All content © Native Sun News.
EAGLE BUTTE, SOUTH DAKOTA — Ziebach County in Northwestern South Dakota has the distinction of being the poorest county in the nation according to the latest Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE).
Ironically Ziebach County, alphabetically, is listed last in U.S. counties. Ziebach was also listed as poorest in the 2007 SAIPE report.
In 2009, Ziebach County slipped to a new low with 62 percent of its 2,552 residents living below the poverty level. The rate of children younger than 18 in the county was even higher, 76.7 percent.
Almost the entire county lies within the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. The balance of the county, along its extreme northern county line lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. It is one of five South Dakota counties that lie entirely on Indian reservations.
The southern part of Eagle Butte which is the headquarters for the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation is within the boundaries of Ziebach County. Other communities that are in Ziebach County are Cherry Creek, Takini, Bridger, Dupree, Isabel. Thunder Butte, Iron Lightning, Red Scaffold, Bear Creek and Red Elm.
Historically this is the home of Si Tanka (Big Foot) and his Minnecojou Band of Lakota who were slaughtered at Wounded Knee on December 28, 1890. Many of the survivors of Wounded Knee returned to the area near Takini, Cherry Creek and Bridger, where many of his descendents still live today.
Other South Dakota counties listed as having the highest poverty are Shannon County with 51.6 percent of 13, 727 residents living below the poverty level, Todd County with 45.3 of I’s 10,095 residents living below the poverty level, Buffalo County with 43.6 percent of its 2,067 residents living below the poverty level, Corson County with 39 percent of its 4,093 residents living below the poverty level. Also listed were Mellette and Bennett Counties.
The number of people in poverty in 2009 is the largest number in the 51 years for which poverty estimates are available. The nation’s official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent, up from 13.2 percent in 2008 — the second statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004. There were 43.6 million people in poverty in 2009, up from 39.8 million in 2008 — the third consecutive annual increase.
Based on all age poverty, 453 counties or 14.4 percent of all counties had a statistically significant increase in poverty between 2007 and 2009. Thirty-eight counties had a decrease in poverty between the two years. In 2009, there were 52.3 million school-age children in 13,619 school districts. Thirty-nine percent of all school-age children resided in districts whose total poverty rates were greater than 20 percent.
According to the Census Bureau "the main objective of the SAIPE program is to provide timely, reliable estimates of income and poverty statistics for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions. Some state and local programs also use SAIPE income and poverty estimates to distribute funds and manage program."
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Kalyn Free puts end to INDN's List after 5 years
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
"A grassroots Native organization that recruits and supports Indian candidates is closing its doors after failing to gain sponsors.
INDN’s List began in 2005 as a way to get more Indian candidates elected throughout the country. President Kalyn Free announced Monday the organization was closing shop.
"In 2009 and 2010, I personally financially supported INDN’s List and paid most of our overhead and salaries," she said. "Regrettably, we have simply been unable to expand our donor base beyond a handful of visionary tribes, unions and individuals.
"As we say goodbye to another year, we also say goodbye to INDN’s List."
Even those tribes who initially supported INDN’s List have failed in the last two years to keep providing support, Free said. She thanked those who volunteered to help INDN’s List and financially supported the group.
She said INDN’s List has helped Indian candidates win 63 elections and, up until this previous election, had won 70 percent of the races in which it had candidates. Free lamented the loss in November of 15 Native candidates, including seven incumbents, out of 27 endorsed by INDN’s List."
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Obama's Reversal on 'Indigenous Peoples' Rights Stirs Concern Over Legal Claims
By Judson Berger
Published December 25, 2010 | FoxNews.com
President Obama's decision last week to reverse U.S. policy and back a U.N. declaration on the rights of "indigenous peoples" has touched off a debate on whether the move could boost American Indian legal claims over the ills they suffered dating back to the colonial period.
The president announced his decision at the White House Tribal Nations Conference last week, making the United States the last nation to endorse the statement -- the Bush administration had opposed it since it was adopted in 2007. American Indian advocacy groups cheered the move, finalized after a months-long administration review.
But John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the "abstract" document -- which in several sections discusses the "right to redress" -- will probably be used to fuel new legal claims. And he predicted the issue would complicate those cases more than it would help either side actually resolve them.
"It's a kind of feel-good document that has so many unclear phrases in it that nobody's really sure what it means when you agree to it," Bolton told FoxNews.com. "It's wrong and potentially dangerous to sign onto a document that you don't fully understand the implications of."
The non-binding U.N. document includes dozens of provisions but generally states that indigenous people should not be discriminated against, should be able to sustain their own political and social systems, and have rights to the "lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned" or used.
Those concepts are not radically new. Americans Indians, as demonstrated by a spate of recent settlements, have legal rights to pursue discrimination and other claims against the government. Plus Obama's support for the document follows his signing of a congressional resolution last year that officially apologized to "native peoples" for the "violence, maltreatment and neglect" inflicted on them by U.S. citizens.
However, that resolution included explicit language to ensure it could not be used in the courts. A disclaimer at the end declared that "nothing" in the resolution would authorize or support claims against the United States.
By contrast, several sections in the U.N. document explicitly outline those rights. One article in the middle of the declaration states that indigenous peoples can be entitled to "restitution" for land and resources that were damaged or confiscated from them. The document says compensation "shall take" the form of land or resources or even money.
Bolton said plaintiffs will surely try to use this document in court, though it's not supposed to carry the weight of law.
"Hopefully most judges will say it's not binding," he said. "But there are enough judges who couldn't care less about strictly applying the law."
The administration has not glossed over that aspect of the declaration.
A detailed document released by the State Department underscored the importance of the "redress provisions," saying the government would continue to work with American Indians to accommodate their territorial rights.
"While the declaration is not legally binding, it carries considerable moral and political force," the State Department said in a written statement last week.
The U.S. consented to the document after Australia, Canada and New Zealand -- the other lingering hold-outs -- similarly dropped their opposition. Amnesty International called Obama's announcement a "tremendous and long-overdue victory for American Indians in the U.S."
Armstrong Wiggins, director of the Indian Law Resource Center's Washington, D.C., office, said the declaration has been in the works since the early '80s. He described it as an important "moral statement" meant to improve relationships between indigenous communities and their government.
"We're still struggling to overcome our marginalization," Wiggins told FoxNews.com, explaining how governments and companies over the decades have taken from them both their resources and their environment.
He said compensation may still be in order as the tribes negotiate with the government, given that their rights to land and resources are of paramount concern. "We are not saying that native people are going to take back New York City," Wiggins added.
The Obama administration, though, has demonstrated an interest in settling claims from American Indians and other groups when possible. On top of the so-called Pigford settlement, which recently awarded $1.2 billion to black farmers who claimed they were cheated out of loans by the Agriculture Department, Obama earlier this month signed a law authorizing $3.4 billion to address American Indian claims in a case known as Cobell.
In that case, the plaintiffs had accused the Interior Department of bilking 300,000 American Indians out of revenue from oil, gas and other resources. Obama noted last week that the settlement fund also includes money to "put more land in the hands of tribes to manage or otherwise benefit their members."
A separate $760 million settlement closed a discrimination case against the Agriculture Department similar in nature to the Pigford case. According to the State Department, the Obama administration has so far picked up more than 34,000 acres of land "in trust" for Indian tribes.
That land can be used for housing and other purposes.
The Obama administration maintains that it is bringing some closure to longstanding injustices and trying to strengthen tribal communities in the process. But some worry where the litigation and settlements will end -- on the heels of the Pigford and Cobell cases, a separate pair of discrimination cases filed by Hispanic and female farmers is working its way through the courts.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has suggested he wants to "close the chapter" on them as well.
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who has been particularly critical of the Pigford claims process, expressed concern about the potential implications of the U.N. document on indigenous peoples. He said he's curious what "special rights" the document could convey.
Carl Horowitz, a project manager with the National Legal and Policy Center who follows discrimination cases against the federal government, used the r-word -- reparations -- to describe those implications.
"It reflects a global egalitarianism," he said. "It's a shakedown."
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PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Chief Strong Horse...strength and health
Tony Cricket...health
Chief Standing Bear...health and wisdom
Barbara...health
Harry...health
Spirit...health and wisdom
Wisdom for all our Clan Mothers, Chiefs and Council members
***I regret to inform you of the passing of Waterfall in October. She will be missed by Chief Strong Horse, their many friends and family
***We also had another passing: Maurice, He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
He died New Years eve. He was a good man very quiet. Never complained about his suffering. 'Art'
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12/30/2010 2:02:00 AM
Mankiller, Opala among notable 2010 Oklahoma deaths
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The impact made by Wilma Mankiller as one of the nation's most visible American Indian leaders was evident upon her death, as two current or former U.S. presidents publicly weighed in on the former Cherokee Nation chief's legacy.
In Indian circles, few names were as big as that of Mankiller, who died April 6 at age 64 after suffering from pancreatic cancer. She served from 1985 to 1995 as the Cherokees' first female chief, taking tribal issues to the White House and teaching "the lesson that our lives and future are for us to decide," current Cherokee Chief Chad Smith said.
During her tenure, Mankiller helped triple the Tahlequah-based tribe's enrollment, doubled employment and focused on building new health centers and children's programs for the tribe.
Former President Bill Clinton presented Mankiller with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, in 1998 and noted upon her death how "she worked to create jobs, break down social and economic barriers, improve access to health care and address the roots of both rural and urban poverty" while leading the Cherokees "with dignity and grace."
President Barack Obama said Mankiller "was recognized for her vision and commitment to a brighter future for all Americans."
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.....Animal Spirit Guide of the Month.....January 2011....."Wolf".....
* Teacher * Path-Finder * Spirit * Loyalty * Guardianship *
Wolf-Spirit Medicine comes to us as "The Teacher," is known as the "Path-Finder," reminds us of Loyalty and Guardianship, and helps us connect with our Inner-Spirit.
Wolf teaches us to have balance, and to share the gift of wisdom and knowledge with others, should they have the willingness to learn, and be truly accepting of these. Finding new paths, seeking new journeys, and learning to trust our own intuitions and insights. Very symbolic of the New Year, and any resolutions we may care to pursue. It can be a very strong energy, and at the same time, very gentle.
In the wild, wolves will never fight unnecessarily, and will actually go out of their way to avoid any kind of confrontation. They have strong methods of communication, and commonly use different forms, such as verbal, body language (posture, growling, facial expression, tail-wagging, and ear movements) and gesture.
Strongly associated with the moon, Wolf brings messages of psychic energy and awareness. It teaches us to stand our ground, defend our boundaries, and to protect our families, but at the same time to remain connected with the life forces of Mother Earth, and to honor the importance of spirituality.
Wolf teaches us a sense of belonging and strong sense of family, as well as an awareness of our own individuality, and so the need to be alone at times, to "sort things out," like the often used expression..."Lone Wolf." For this reason alone, those who have a strong sense of Wolf-Medicine can very easily be mis-understood at times, and made to feel that they are traveling in an unworthy direction.
Wolves live by carefully defined rules and rituals. All things in Nature have an order, whether it be leadership or following, and change is always persistent. Since familiarity is usually comfortable for humans, this can be a challenge, at times, if you carry the ability of Wolf-Medicine.
In the wolf-pack, there are three main descriptions...Alpha, Beta, and Omega. The "Alpha" male and female are the leaders of the pack. The "Beta" wolves do not breed, but serve as helpers and caretakers for the pups. The "Omega" are the scapegoats, and usually go without food, when food is scarce.
When it is time to hunt and provide for the pack (and family) the wolf is a skilled hunter and survivalist, with the ability to recognize opportunity and know when to strike. Wolf will go after the very young, the very old, or the weakest, in their quest for prey. Wolves, as a pack, will never hunt unnecessarily, consuming all of what they've hunted, leaving nothing to go to waste.
Wolf-Medicine teaches the ability to blend and spiritually bond with our "pack" and to sense one another's thoughts and feelings, at times. Messages can appear in dreams or meditations, and on the general physical plane, as well. These messages can appear suddenly and quickly, and then just disappear, or repeatedly appear and present themselves....until you are able to understand the reason for their being. A combination of rational thought, blended with intuition.
Change is considered, by some, as an opportunity for growth. Growth is an essential part of life. I truly believe that, in fact, it is necessary to grow older...but you should never have to grow "old".
Wolf-Medicine encourages you to seek your teachers and path-finders, so as to learn and achieve new life experiences. These may come in the form of a book, a video, a cloud, a tree, a rock...a person...or even, perhaps, The Creator...
It all depends on you, and "if" you are able to be receptive and respectful of these teachings.
....."Mundu-Wigo"....."The Creator is Good".....Mohegan.....
P.S. "Mohegan = People of the Wolf "
Warm Blessings,
...Dancing-Night-Crow...
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Turtle gets a Shell
An Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legend
It was one of those days when Nanaboozhoo was in a strange mood. He had just awakened from a deep sleep that was disturbed by the noisy quarreling and scolding of the blue jays. He was a bit cranky; his sleep was disturbed and besides that, he was hungry. His first thought was to down to the village and find something to eat.
Entering the village, he came across some men cooking fish. They had their camp located close to the water and Nanaboozhoo spied many fish cooking over a fire. Now, being very hungry, he asked for something to eat. The men were happy to give him some, but cautioned him that is was hot. Not heeding their warning, he quickly grabbed the fish and burned his hand. He ran to the lake to cool it off in the water. Still unsteady from his deep sleep, he tripped on a stone and fell on Mi-she-kae (turtle) who was sunning on the beach. At that time, Mishekae was not as we know her today. She had no shell and was comprised of soft skin and bone.
Turtle complained loudly to Nanaboozhoo to watch where he was going. Now, Nanaboozhoo felt ashamed of his clumsiness and apologized to Mishekae. He wondered, "what can I do to make it up to her?" He wanted to do something to help his friend. "I'll have to sit and think it over,"he thought, as he followed the path back to his wigwam.
Sometime later, he returned to the beach and called for Mishekae. Turtle poked her head through the soft beach mud. Nanaboozhoo picked up two large shells from the shore and placed one on top of the other. He scooped up Mishekae and put her right in the middle, between the shells.
Nanaboozhoo took a deep breath and began. "You will never be injured like that again." he said slowly. "Whenever danger threatens," he continued, "you can pull your legs and head into the shell for protection"
Nanaboozhoo sat beside his friend on the beach and told Mishekae his thoughts. "The shell itself is round like Mother Earth. It was a round hump which resembles her hills and mountains. It is divided into segments, like martyrizes that are a part of her; each different and yet connected by her."
Mishekae seemed very pleased with and listened intently. "You have four legs, each representing the points of direction North, South, East and West." he said. "When the legs are all drawn in, all directions are lost. Your tail will show the many lands where the Anishnabek have been and your head will point in the direction to follow. "You will have advantages over the Anishnabek," he went on. "You will be able to live in the water as well as on land and you will be in your own house at all times."
Mishekae approved of her new self and thanked Nanaboozhoo for his wisdom. Moving now in a thick shell, she pushed herself along the shore and disappeared into the water.
So, ever since that accident long ago, Turtle has been special to the Anishnabek. To this day, she continues to grace Mother Earth, still proudly wearing those two shells.
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Great Spirit
Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand;
Never to take from creation's beauty more than we give;
Never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed;
Never to deny to give our hands for the building of earth's beauty;
Never to take from her what we cannot use.
Give us hearts to understand
That to destroy earth's music is to create confusion;
That to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty;
That to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench;
That as we care for her she will care for us.
We have forgotten who we are.
We have sought only our own security.
We have exploited simply for our own ends.
We have distorted our knowledge.
We have abused our power.
Great Spirit, whose dry lands thirst,
help us to find the way to refresh your lands.
Great Spirit, whose waters are choked with debris and pollution,
help us to find the way to cleanse your waters.
Great Spirit, whose beautiful earth grows ugly with mis-use,
help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork.
Great Spirit, whose creatures are being destroyed,
help us to find a way to replenish them.
Great Spirit, whose gifts to us are being lost
in selfishness and corruption, help us to find the way to restore our humanity.
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THE PASTOR'S CAT (cute)
Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church.
He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was
afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, set out food
etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to
climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and
pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the
kitten.
That's what he did, he tied a rope to the tree limb and to the bumper of
his car and slowly pulled forward all the while checking his progress in
the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit farther, the tree
would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved
the car a little farther forward, the rope broke.
The tree went 'boing!' and the kitten instantly sailed through the air -
out of sight. The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the
neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No, nobody
had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, 'Lord, I just commit this
kitten to your keeping,' and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church
members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to
see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he
asked her, 'Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?'
She replied, 'Pastor, You won't believe this', and then told him how her
little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then
a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told
her little girl, 'Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it.'
She told the pastor, 'I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her
knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe
this, but I saw it with my own eyes. This little tiny kitten suddenly
came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed
right in front of my little girl.' .....
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Sitting Here Thinking:
As our Clan is coming together more and more, it is good to learn more of our Native culture and have fun doing so. We can not and should not let our ancestral tragedy's deter us from rediscovering our "Nativeness".
I remember asking my Grandmother about our people when I learned that we had Native blood and only receiving silence from her. My father never spoke of it either. My Uncle at a funeral reception revealed to me facts about our people.
It was the women who helped enormously to make sure our people survived and was not exterminated completely. Remember that and Thank our Creator for the women of our Clan!
Many of our people were either killed, sold into slavery or given European diseases.Diseases unknown to Native peoples. Diseases in infected blankets etc. where given to Natives to annihilate them!
I have come to realize that that is why we were not told we were Native because being Native was considered "untouchables" -a cast outside of the European class. Even now Native to some is underclass but we must learn our heritage and educate everyone who will listen about the real Americans.
We must welcome every Native. Natives in North and South America and beyond. We must correct the myths about our people for example: Natives did not and do not wear "warpaint". The colors applied to a Natives body-face is for spiritual protection.
How many of us knew that buffalo covered all the U.S. and Canada from New England to out west? Interested in Native Spirituality? See how the circle in our culture is so prevalent.
How about a "Dear Abby" for our newsletter? Imagine what we could learn. We must turn the tide and bring back Native pride not only to our own Clan but to the communities we live in. Let's learn about our Clan and get back our Native pride. I'm proud of my Native blood!
Metis Pride!
Pass it on!
Smiling Elk
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Because of Love
A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses.. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm.
Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.
The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.
The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.
Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"
The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?
So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather trength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.
And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand.
The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.
Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.
Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.
Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.
At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits.
The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---
Because of love. Only Because of love.
Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again the peace of love filled their hearts.
This is a true story.
Willy Eagle
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RECIPES:
Cherokee bean bread
2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2 cups seasoned cooked pinto beans
1 cup liquid from beans
In a large bowl, mix cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Stir in the milk, eggs, beans and bean liquid. Pour into a greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes or until done and lightly browned.
Pueblo pumpkin candy
This is an old Pueblo treat. Traditionally the strips of pumpkin are soaked in a bath of water and wood ashes to soften. Today many Indian cooks substitute baking soda for the ashes. If you prefer a less sweet candy, add the lemon juice and thin strips of lemon zest to the sugar syrup with cilantro. If you have a sweet tooth, roll the dried candy in coarse sugar.
1 (2- to 3-pound) pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
Juice and zest of 1 small lemon
3 to 4 sprigs fresh cilantro (optional)
Peel and seed pumpkin and cut it into 2 x 4-inch strips. Stir baking soda into enough water to cover strips. Add pumpkin strips and let stand 12 hours.
Drain and rinse pumpkin in running water. Drop strips into a pot of boiling water and cook until tender but not soft. Remove pumpkin strips, crisp in ice cold water, and drain.
Combine sugar with 1/2 cup water, lemon juice and zest, and cilantro in a saucepan. Heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, then boil slowly without stirring for 10 minutes. Add pumpkin strips, cover the pot, and simmer for about 20 minutes until syrup is thick and strips are brittle. Spread candy out on a rack or on a wax paper-covered tray to dry for at least 10 hours.
Roll in additional sugar if desired and store in an airtight container.
Makes about 1 pound.
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WOUNDED KNEE
Ice Sculptures.....Bigfoot Band 1890
Red foot prints in Dakota snow
drippin' blood tints in a back bullet show
frozen in time.... sculptures
ice sculptures like a white wedding
not on display
a few photo stills of stiffness
the massacre of death...chills
takes my breath away..not the cold
but the red foot prints in Dakota snow
the child holding ever so tightly..crying
watching her Mother dying..slow death
decorated by a blue coat bullet and ribbon
of red blood...murder freezin' degrees
the Massacre of Wounded Knee
to this day there are still foot prints
in the Dakota snow
but with red tape to quiet the season
not heard of.....or seen with open eyes
the past, present, and future
covered in a blanket
of white man's wrapping paper
and the label reads
Forget about them! Leave them!
NOT in this lifetime or the next..generations to come...
They will mount their horses and take that long ride in the Dakota Snow
Til the end of time!
Tunkasila, Bury All Our Hearts At Wounded Knee
In Honor of Chief Bigfoot Band 1890/ and All the Families past/ present/ and future of Wounded Knee
December 1890/ 2010
My Gift....to YOU ALL
Trudi Blue
copyright 2010
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FUNNIES:
A blonde goes to the post office to buy stamps for her
Christmas card.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denomination?"
The blonde says, "God help us. Has it come to this?"
Give me 22 Catholic, 12 Presbterian, 10 Lutheran and 6 Baptists
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He grasped me firmly, but gently, just above my elbow and guided me into a room, his room. Then he quietly shut the door and we were alone.
He approached me soundlessly, from behind, and spoke in a low, reassuring voice, close to my ear. "Just relax. . . " Without warning, he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at my ankles, gently probing and moving upward along my calves, slowly, but steadily. My breath caught in my throat.
I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn't care. His touch was so experienced, so
sure.
When his hands moved up onto my thighs, I gave a slight shudder, and I partly closed my eyes. My pulse was pounding.
I felt his knowing fingers caress my abdomen, my ribcage. And then, as he cupped
my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply.
Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, he brought his hands to my shoulders, slid them down my tingling spine and across my panties. Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant. This is a man, I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking "no" for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted. A man who would look into my soul and say . . . . . "Okay, Ma'am. All done."
My eyes snapped open and he was standing in front of me, smiling, holding out my purse.
"You can board your flight now."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE BAD AIM GOLFBALL
This man and his wife were playing a round of golf on a very exclusive golf course surrounded by multi million dollar homes.
The wife says to the husband, "Be careful honey. Don't slice your next swing or you may break a window and God knows how much that would cost."
The husband swings and of course, the ball flies through a huge plate glass window of what looks like the most expensive home.
The husband, being a very honest man goes up to the house to survey the damage with his wife. The window is shattered, and he even broke what looked like an antique jar on a shelf across from the window.
He rings the doorbell and the door is answered by a very nice looking man. The husband tells him, "I am so very sorry. I was the one who broke the window and I will gladly pay for it."
To this, the man answered, "No, you have done me a great favor. You see, I am a genie and I have been stuck in that jar that you broke for thousands of years. Because I am now free, I may grant three wishes. I will give one wish to you, one wish to your wife, and I will keep one wish for myself."
The husband is thrilled with this idea.
The genie asks the husband, 'What is your wish?" The husband thinks for a moment. "I know, I would like to have one million dollars every year." The genie said, "<poof! It's yours!"
The genie then asks the wife, "What is your wish?" The wife replied, "I would like to have a villa in every country in the world." To this, the genie said, "<poof! It's yours!"
The husband then asks the genie, "What is your wish?" The genie replied, "Well, you see, I have been cooped up in that bottle for thousands of years and I have not had any sex for that long. What I would like is to make love with your wife."
The husband looks at his wife and says, "You know, honey, he did give us all this money and a villa in every country of the world. It's fine with me if you would like to do this."
The wife thinks for a moment and agrees. Upstairs they go, and make wild passionate love for three hours.
The genie and the wife are laying there, the genie smoking a cigarette and the wife laying there exhausted. The genie asks the wife, "So tell me, how old is your husband?" The wife answers, he's 32, why?" "I was just wondering", answered the genie. "Don't you think he's a little old to believe in genies?"
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KITCHEN MEDICINE:
(Aways check with your doctor before useing any herb as they may not mix well with medications you may be on.)
Aloe Vera - popular herb for treating wounds, skin conditions and fighting infection.
American Ginseng - herbal tonic for increasing energy and helping cope with stress.
Ginger Root - a digestive aid that can lower cholesterol and treat nausea and motion sickness.
Red Clover - treats the many symptoms of menopause and also helps fight off cancerous growths.
Bilberries - one of the most important herbs for vision improvement as well as aiding in digestion.
Bitter Orange Extract - popular herb for increasing metabolism and facilitating weight loss.
Black Cohosh - black cohosh helps alleviate menopause symptoms and balance hormones.
***Warning....do not use if you are pregnant. May cause miscarraige.
Bromelain - a protein-digesting enzyme from the fruit and stems of pineapple used to treat a variety of conditions but most widely used for gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Olive Leaf Extract - an anti-inflammatory as well as an immune system booster.
Burdock Root Oil - used for various herbal medicine skin conditions such as eczema and acne, as well as a detoxifying agent.
(Taken from: herbal- suppliments-guide.com)
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Looks like I wrote a book!!! Don't forget if you would like to add to the newsletter to let me know. You can send hard copy to:
Shiakoda Q.
PO Box 754
Moodus, CT. 06469
or:
shiakoda@att.net
~ ~ ~
Enjoy, and as always...
Blessings and good health.
Shiakoda Autumn Wolf Moon Q.
