Wednesday, June 1, 2011

WOLF SPIRIT June 2011
 
Greetings,

Well, it looks like summer is here. Temperatures here this week are in the eighty's. That’s good too much humidity though. Lots of sunshine, trees blooming, flowers coming up, allergies in full bloom. (achooooo)
Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons. With this New England weather you never know what you are in for. It can be short sleeve tee-shirts one day and snowing the next. I talk about how I would love to live in Arizona or somewhere like that but I think I would miss our weather changes. Some day maybe.
 
Enjoy the newsletter.
Shiakoda
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Indian youth will join First Lady at White House garden
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Indian youth will join First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House this Friday as part of her Let's Move initiative.

The youth will help the First Lady harvest crops in the White House kitchen garden. They will also plan corn, squash and beans, otherwise known as the three sisters of Indian agriculture.

The group will be joined by Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk, National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel and NFL quarterback Sam Bradford, a member of the Cherokee Nation.

The First Lady's office officially kicked of the Let's Move! campaign in Indian Country on the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin last week.
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Standing Rock Sioux Tribe deals with threat of flooding
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe faces a major threat of flooding from the Missouri River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing record amounts of water along the river to deal with runoff from heavy spring snowmelt and rains, the Associated Press reported. The flooding could cut off the only access point to the tribal government center, the tribal court and the Indian Health Service on the reservation.
"The Standing Rock Reservation, like communities down the Missouri River, are confronting significant challenges owing to increased flows from the main stem dams," Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) and North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) said in a press release. "We urge and appreciate the Corps’ efforts to respond in as timely and effective a manner as possible."

Chairman Charles Murphy said the Army Corps notified the tribe that a team will be sent to the reservation to deal with flooding.
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Wampanoag student makes history as Harvard graduate
Friday, May 27, 2011

Tiffany Smalley, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, made history when she graduated from Harvard College on Thursday.

Smalley is the first Wampanoag to receive an undergraduate degree from Harvard since 1665. She received a bachelor’s degree in government and a minor in ethnic studies.

Smalley also accepted a diploma for Joel Iacoomes, who was due to graduate from Harvard in 1665 before he died in a shipwreck. Caleb Cheeshateaumuck, another Wampanoag, graduated that year.

"With the granting of Joel’s posthumous degree I think it’s a huge 180," Smalley told The Martha's Vineyard Gazette.. "Within the past year especially, I’ve seen a lot of initiative on the part of the university to really celebrate this history."

Tribal leaders, tribal members and two Wampanoags who received graduate degrees from Harvard attended yesterday's ceremony.
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Oklahoma tornadoes: Calumet and El Reno area residents clean up storm debris BY TRICIA PEMBERTON Oklahoman: May 26, 2011

CALUMET — Susan Sleeper and her three teenagers barely made it the mile down the road to the Maple Public School before the tornado swept through their neighborhood.

"As we got to the building, we heard the roar, just like a freight train," she said. She could see the tornado’s cone, and once inside the school she could hear debris hitting the building.

"We could see the walls waving, just like someone was pushing them."

She said her husband, Charles Sr., was inside a Walmart in El Reno where employees wouldn’t let him leave, fearful for his safety.

"He was just worried about getting to us to see if we were OK," she said.
Wednesday morning, Sleeper and her family picked through the rubble of what once was their home. Her dogs, Spike and Princess, guarded the family car. Clothing and stuffed animals clung to tree branches across the road.

A puppy was killed by the storm, Sleeper said. A neighbor found it and called Sleeper and her husband over to bury it before the children saw it.

Ella Sleeper, 13, said she was sad about the puppy.

"I just want to close my eyes and go home," she said.

That will be awhile.

Susan Sleeper said the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe will relocate her family, temporarily putting them in a hotel.
Ella Sleeper found two ceramic cats that survived the storm. The family’s 13 live cats had yet to turn up.
Susan Sleeper said her house was brand-new when she moved into it six years ago.
"Now, it’s gone in an instant," she said.

Terry Floyd, community services director for the city of El Reno, said in addition to the six deaths confirmed in Canadian County, there were about 20 injuries reported from Tuesday’s storm.

Floyd said he’d fielded more calls from people wanting to help or make donations than he had from property owners asking for help.

El Reno fire and police departments, along with first responders from Canadian County and surrounding areas, searched an 18- to 20-mile debris path Wednesday, Floyd said. He estimated there was damage to 30 to 45 homes in an area primarily west of El Reno, near the U.S. 270 and Interstate 40 intersection in Canadian County.

Areas north and east of El Reno received heavy damage and homes were damaged or lost in the Skyline Addition and near U.S. 81 and Britton Road, as well as south of Concho, Floyd said. Some structural damage was reported at Fort Reno west of El Reno.

The Sleepers and their neighbors are in rural Canadian County but have Calumet addresses. The area is about 15 miles west of Oklahoma City.

Miranda Lewis had tears in her eyes as she searched for items to salvage at what had been her home along Maple Road.

"I knew it was bad, just not this bad," she said.

Lewis’ husband and son were in Elk City when the storm struck. She drove four miles to get into a storm cellar with a friend. The storm passed within a half mile of her, she said.

"You could definitely hear it," she said. "It sounded like a high-pitched scream. Then it got completely still. It took a while to pass."

There were some triumphs for Lewis as she searched.

She held up a small metal elephant with a curved nail that held her husband’s gold wedding band. She also found her wedding dress unscathed and the boots her husband wore to their wedding.

"Now if I find my bouquet," she said, "that would be a real kicker."

She also found a board used to mark the height of her son Copper for each of his six years.
Lewis said the family has insurance and the help of family and friends.

Neighbor Roy Ramey said he heard the storm warnings and threw his wife in the truck. He pointed to a dented bumper and broken front window, both damaged by storm debris.

Ramey said he had to shoot one of his horses that suffered a broken leg during the storm. Two other horses were taken to a veterinarian and he was still looking for his two cats. Nothing was left of his house. A red sports car was in a nearby ravine.

The damage is "sickening," Ramey said. Amber and Marc Brewster, friends of the Rameys, helped look for anything that could be salvaged. "I’ve never seen anything like this before," Amber Brewster said.
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Shelly Crow, former second chief of Muscogee (Creek) Nation, dies

TEACHER, LEADER
Shelly Crow: She was at the forefront of tribal health issues.
By TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer
 
HENRYETTA - Shelly Crow, the first woman to serve as second chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, died Monday at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She was 63.
A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at the Church of Christ under the direction of Integrity Funeral Home.

Crow, a registered nurse and former Tulsan, was the tribe's second chief from 1992 to 1996 during the administration of then-Principal Chief Bill Fife. She ran unsuccessfully for the principal chief post in 1995.

Current Principal Chief A.D. Ellis said: "I spoke with her a lot - about every week. I lost a good friend."

Ellis added that Crow had hoped that her health problems were behind her and that she could serve the tribe again.

A graduate of Webster High School in Tulsa, Crow had a master's degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma and worked for several years at Hillcrest Medical Center.

She later taught nursing at the University of Tulsa and Langston University.

Crow, the youngest of three sisters, grew up in Henryetta. Her mother was half Creek Indian, and her father was of Welsh and Indian descent.

"I never had anything handed to me. I always had to work," she once told the Tulsa World. "My parents gave a lot of love and attention, but they had no material things to give us."

Crow previously was chairwoman of the Creek Nation Health System's board and served on the Oklahoma Indian Health Service Area Health Board.

She also served on the Claremore Indian Advisory Board, the National Nursing Higher Education Board, the Oklahoma Rural Health Board, the Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission and many other health-related committees.

"She was a strong lady," Fife said. "She always did what she felt was right and was involved with a lot of health issues that helped our tribe."

Crow is survived by her husband, John Crow III; a daughter, Leslie Crow; and two grandchildren.
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Conference looks at preserving Native language and culture
Thursday, May 26, 2011


About 200 people are attending a conference on Native language and culture in Cornwall, Ontario.

"Raising Our Voices" is hosted by the Sweetgrass First Nation Language Council, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Youth, elders and educators are discussing ways to keep their languages and cultures alive.

Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, grand chief of the Mohawk Council, said some Native languages will die out within 10 years unless they are passed on to a new generation.
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Seminoles add baby otters to the Tribe 
Unable to decide what to name the pair of otters, the Seminole Indian Tribe is opening up the naming process to the public.
Suggestions will be accepted through June 17 and should be sent to okaleevillage@semtribe.com.
 
By Daniela Abratt

 Upon hearing their foster mom’s voice, the two baby otters dived into the water and made their way to her. Emerging, they circled playfully between her legs.

On Wednesday, the pair of Asian small-clawed otters moved from the home of their trainer, Giselle Hosein, into their new digs at the Okalee Village at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

"I’m completely attached to them, but it’s important for their independence and development to start living on their own," said Hosein, wildlife supervisor for the Okalee Indian Village.

Their new home is an 800-square-foot enclosure which mimics their natural habitat and includes 6,000 gallons of water, river rocks and a night box to hide in.

The village bought the pair at 3 months old from a private breeder in California, paying $7,500, of which $5,000 came from donations and sponsorships, said Jennifer "Ebo" Osceola, the general manager of the village.

Osceola said the Okalee Village’s purpose is to educate people about the lifestyle of the native Seminoles and about wildlife and environmental conservation.

It was important to bring otters to the village because they are one of the tribe’s six clan animals — the others being birds, bears, panthers, snakes and deer.

For the last three months, Hosein has been their primary trainer and caregiver. Her house became their home, as they lived with her and slept in a medium-sized dog crate in her bedroom.

"They have been the most rewarding animal to train," she said. "The emotional connection you form with them is unlike that of other animals."

She likened raising them to raising a newborn child, requiring feeding every few hours, cleaning, burping and training.

This species, Aonyx cinerea, is not born knowing how to swim and instead is taught how at about 6 weeks old by the mother.

Hosein began teaching them to swim and hold their heads under water in her bathtub and then slowly moved them to deeper pools.

The otters have a silky coat of 80,000 hairs per square inch of their bodies, rendering their skin essentially waterproof.

"Otter John’’ Jones, the wildlife manager at the Okalee Indian Village, said the sibling otters will be an exciting addition to the varied community of wildlife at the village.

"We can now let people experience them upfront with just glass separating them," he said.

Otters can sense and understand human emotions and vocal tones, which makes this species, in particular, easiest to breed in captivity.

"They’re very emotional, but they’ll change from happy to angry in one second," he said. "Working with otters — you will have holes in your body."

Though they will be brought inside at night, the otters are quite comfortable in their new home, Hosein said. They’ve also been given a number of toys to entertain them.

"On my days off, I’ll still come in and say hi to them," she said. "My kids are spoiled."
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Blackfeet Nation declares emergency due to rising waters
Wednesday, May 25, 2011


The Blackfeet Nation of Montana has issued a flood emergency due to rising water levels on the reservation.
Part of the Powwow Campground in Browning is already under water. Some residents have seen water levels approaching their homes and some evacuations are expected.

Heavy rains and melting snow have contributed to emergency conditions around the state.
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Conditions on Crow Reservation treacherous after flooding
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Some members of the Crow Tribe of Montana have been without electricity and water for over 24 hours due to major flooding on the reservation.

There's currently no access to Lodge Grass, a community of about 500 people. More than 100 residents sought shelter at the local high school while another 195 evacuated to Billings.

"It doesn't even seem real yet," Brian Pretty Eagle, whose home and ranch were destroyed, told Reuters. "Once it hits me, it's really going to hit me."

The Bureau of Indian Affairs also said 30 tribal members are stranded just across the border in in Sheridan, Wyoming. They have no way to get back to the reservation due to road closures.

The Crow Tribe declared a disaster on Monday. Although waters appeared to be receding yesterday, many roads on the reservation remain flooded, including 80 miles of a major interstate.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) issued an emergency for the entire state.
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Crow Tribe starts assessing damage after massive flooding
Thursday, May 26, 2011


The Crow Tribe of Montana is starting to assess the damage from the worst flooding to hit the reservation since 1978.

The tribe said flooding has damaged at least 75 homes. More than 200 people have taken shelter at sites off the reservation.

"We're still trying to catch up with everything," spokesperson Jared Stewart told The Billings Gazette.
There was good news yesterday with the reopening of a major interstate that runs through the reservation. Tribal members who were stranded in Lodge Grass are now able to receive supplies after losing electricity for more than two days.

But there was also a warning not to drink water without boiling it first. "We still have contaminated water," Stewart told the paper.
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Parts of Cherokee Nation report damages from tornadoes
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Cherokee Nation is helping its members who suffered property damage from a series of tornadoes in northeastern Oklahoma.

At least three tornadoes touched down in Delaware and Adair counties on May 22. Tribal members reported damage to their homes and property, with two mobile homes being completely destroyed.

"We ran out the door and we crawled over trees and made it to the top and his trailer was literally in pieces," Carol Arnold told The Cherokee Phoenix of her son's mobile home. She said her son suffered some injuries.
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United Keetoowah Band hails BIA action on land-into-trust
Thursday, May 26, 2011


The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma welcomed a long-awaited decision on its land-into-trust application amid threats of litigation from a rival tribe.

The UKB submitted the application for 76 acres in June 2004. After two negative rulings, the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the application on Tuesday.

"We have fought for seven years to obtain this historic decision, which recognizes the tribe’s ability to properly serve our tribal members on our treaty lands," said Chief George Wickliffe.

The site is home to the tribe's dance grounds, a community gathering and celebration place, an elder center and other government buildings. Barring any legal challenges, it will be the tribe's first parcel of trust land.

"The decision is significant in that it will enable the tribal council to continue to expand the scope of services that will improve the lives of our tribal members," said Assistant Chief Charles Locust.

The Cherokee Nation, however, is threatening to sue the BIA. The tribe claims exclusive jurisdiction over Indian land within its former reservation.

The BIA said the 76-acre site will be declared Indian Country and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the UKB.
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Crime History: First of Indian murders leads to wealthy landownerBy: Scott McCabe 05/26/11 8:05 PM


On this day, May 27, in 1921, a hunting party in Oklahoma discovered the body of Osage Indian Anna Brown, the first of several murders traced to wealthy cattleman Bill Hale.

Over the next two years, 13 other Osage men and women were killed, including by firebomb. The tribe hired the newly formed FBI to investigate.

Agents discovered that Hale, known as the "King of Osage Hills," and his nephews conspired to marry full-blooded Osage women, collect on the insurance policies and gain access to the wealth of oil under the reservation.

Hale, his nephews, and the ranch hands they hired to murder the Osage were convicted and sentenced to life.

The case was an early success for the agency and dramatized in the 1959 film "The FBI Story."
-Scott McCabe
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Seneca Nation leader discusses tobacco tax at UN forum
Friday, May 27, 2011

The Seneca Nation has a treaty right to regulate trade and commerce free of state interference, a tribal leader told the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua promises the tribe "free use and enjoyment of Seneca lands." The 1842 Buffalo Creek Treaty states that the tribe enjoys freedom from "all taxes, and assessments for roads, highways, or any other purpose."

"It is clear that taking our treaty arguments to the international level is the next necessary step," council member Nikki Seneca told the UN. "The Seneca Nation will continue to defend our sovereign status, defend our treaty rights, and call attention to the need for New York State and the federal government to honor our treaties."

The The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the state's tobacco efforts do not infringe on tribal sovereignty.
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EPA Establishes Tribal Committee for Addressing Toxic Chemical PollutionRachel Bogart – Tue May 31, 4:52 pm ET

According to a news release from the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA has officially established a committee that will allow Native American tribes across the country to provide more input on toxic chemical pollution and other related environmental issues.

The announcement from the EPA was made this Tuesday and is part of an effort to give Native American tribes more power and authority when it comes to protecting their public health and the environmental health of their lands. The National Tribal Toxics Committee will allow the EPA to work with individual tribes on these environmental issues while still emphasizing the importance of the sovereignty of the tribes and their cultures, values and heritage.

Assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Steve Owens commented on the accomplishment of the EPA establishing the NTTC: "As we focus on chemical safety and identify ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals and prevent pollution in Indian Country, it is absolutely critical that we listen to our tribal partners. We want to ensure that we address the ways that tribal members are affected by toxic substances and promote pollution prevention efforts that reflect their interests and needs."

The NTTC will involve a series of meetings and open forums, the first of which is scheduled for June 1-2 in Washington. The meetings and open forums will give tribes a way to voice their opinions on new management strategies and programs that will affect their environmental health and work with the EPA on making improvements. The main focus will be looking at the unique environmental health needs that differ in each Native American tribe. Additionally, specific issues the NTTC will address, according to the official NTTC website, include preventing lead poisoning from lead-based paint, expanding pollution prevention and exposure initiatives, and managing chemical waste on tribal lands.

Addressing lead poisoning in tribal communities has long been a major EPA initiative. According to another press release from the EPA, the federal environmental agency has developed educational and outreach programs to address and evaluate the problem of lead poisoning and exposure in Native American tribal children. The EPA has also been giving grants and federal funding to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Indian county with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) grants in 16 different and Federally-recognized tribes in California, Nevada, and Arizona, according to the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region 9 Lead Program website.
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Obama Hosts Conference for Native American LeadersBy SUNLEN MILLER (@sunlenmiller)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009

President Obama is scheduled to make good today on his campaign promise to host a White House Tribal Nations Conference.

Leaders from 564federally recognized tribes are expected to come to the Department of the Interior for an all-day forum, where they will meet directly with the president and representatives from the administration. The president is scheduled to deliver opening remarks in the morning and closing remarks in the afternoon.

During the day, four discussions led by senior administration officials are planned. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson are among the administration officials who will lead the group discussions.

The groups and tribal leaders are expected discuss areas of economic development and national resources, public safety and housing, education and health and labor.

"I look forward to hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples," Obama said in a statement. "This conference will serve as part of the ongoing and important consultation process that I value, and further strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship."
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May the stars carry your sadness away.
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty.
May hope forever wipe away your tears.
And, above all, may silence make you strong.


Chief Dan George
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WE HONOR:

SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) she was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friends and fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch were injured. A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the 2003 Iraq war and is the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military.

All soldiers killed in all wars or conflicts.

Oh Great Spirit

Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty
and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect
the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise
so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons
you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength,
not to be greater than my brother
but to fight my greatest enemy-myself.

Make me always ready
to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,

So whenlife fades,
as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

(translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellopw Lark in 1887)
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PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Chief Strong Horse...strength and health
Tony Cricket...health and healing
Bob C....health and healing
Bobbie C...health and strength
Theresa...health and healing
Sarah Spirit...health, healing, wisdom and strength
Delitris...strength, wisdom and healing
Denika...strength, wisdom and healing
Melissa...strength, wisdom and healing
Savanna...strength, wisdom and healing

Pray for all that are incarcerated that they find peace and a new way.
Pray for wisdom for our Spiritual Leaders so they can help others find their way
Pray for our troops fighting for our freedom
Pray for UTAN... to keep us strong and always together
Pray for all Clan Mothers and Chiefs...to show the right way and to lead with strength and wisdom
All our ancestors and relations
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Earth Teach Me

Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.


Ute Prayer
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*****FUNNY

FREE DOG......
My house was broken into last night by two robbers who locked me in the bathroom, and proceeded to steal all they could carry. My watchdog, "Killer", did not alert me, and for this reason I am giving him away. I no longer want a dog - I´m installing an electric fence and detection devices with alarms. They´re cheaper and more reliable. For those interested in adopting the dog please send an e-mail urgently.

A photo of "Killer" is attached below.

He does have a few problems but with help he should be OK.



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Believe it or not...
These are Memphis , TN 's
REAL 911 Calls!


Dispatcher
:
9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller:
Do you have an address?
Caller:
No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?

Dispatcher
:
9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller
Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich .
Dispatcher
:
Excuse me?
Caller
:
I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher
Was anything else taken?
Caller
:
No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!

Dispatcher:
9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller:
I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher:
This is nine eleven.
Caller:
I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher:
Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller:
Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

Dispatcher:
9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller:
My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart
Dispatcher:
Is this her first child?
Caller:
No, you idiot! This is her husband!

And the winner is..........


Dispatcher:
9-1-1
Caller:
Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath. Darn....I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher:
Sir, where are you calling from Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher:
Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller:
No
Dispatcher:
What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller:
Running from the Police *~~~~~~~~~~ *~~~~~~~~~~
Hunting Trip

Two Lakota guys and a dude from New York are on a hunting trip. On the first day one Lakota guy goes out and less than an hour later he returns with a deer. The New York guy is blown away. "How did you get your deer so fast?" "East" says the Lakota guy, "I looked for tracks, found them, followed them, and got my deer."

The next day the second Lakota guy goes out and less than an hour later returns with a deer. The New York guy is blow away again, just labbergasted. "how did you get YOUR deer so fast?" "It's simple" says the Lakota guy, "I looked for tracks, found them, followed them, and there was the deer."

On the third day, the New York guy goes out. He doesn't return and when darkness begins to fall, the two Lakota guys go looking for him. They found himlying at the base of a hill, bloodied up, clothes torn, and bones broken. "What happened to you?" they asked. "Ididjust what you told me to do. I looked for tracks, found them, followed them, and the damn train ran me over.!!!!
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What do Eskimos get from rubbing noses too many times?

Sniffils.
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A Cheyenne guy went to Chinatown in San Francisco.
While there he found a bronze rat at a thrift store.
"How much do you want for the rat" he asked.

"$3 for the rat and $1000 for the story that goes with it" said the shopkeeper.

"Just give me the rat," the Cheyenne said, and then he left with it.

As he walked down the street he noticed a couple of rats following him.
As he walked further, more and more rats started chasing him.
By the time he got to the bay, there were thousands of rats chasing him.
So he climbed up a pole and threw the bronze rat into the water.
To his amazement, all the rats jumped into the water.
The Cheyenne then returned to the thrift store.

"Ahh" the Chinaman said. "Now you would like to hear the story?"

"No" said the Cheyenne, "I just came back to see if you had any bronze white men!"
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NASA asked this elder Dine' guy to record a message to put on their newest S.E.T.I. satellite, along with messages from other cultures and languages.

He records the message, the satellite is launched, and one day CNN broadcasts the messages being sent into outer space from the spacecraft.

A huge belly laugh is heard coming from the entire northern portion of Arizona.
When CNN asks why the people are laughing, a man from Chinle tells them,

"The message says that if they are hearing this, to stay quiet and don't respond, because as soon as the white man knows where those aliens live, they'll come over for dinner, and end up NEVER going home!"
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This Native American boy goes to his mother one day with a puzzled look on his face.

"Say, mom, why is my bigger brother named Mighty Storm?"

She told him, "Because he was conceived during a mighty storm."

Then he asked, "Why is my sister named Cornflower?"

She replied, "Well, your father and I were in a cornfield when we made her."

"And why is my other sister called Moonchild?"

The mother said, "We were watching the moon landing while she was conceived."

Mother Native American paused and asked her son, "Tell me, Torn Rubber, why are you asking so many questions today?"
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                         CONNECTING WITH OUR NATURE SPIRIT GUIDES

                                        "DRAGONFLY & DAMSELFLY"

                              Messenger.......Shadow.......Journey.......Lifetime

                    The Power of Light...Illusion...Change...Transformation...Clairvoyance


Dragonflies are estimated to have been around for over 180-million years. You can't get very much more "Native" than that! They're incredibly colorful and amazingly fast...and a pleasure to have around, and interact with.

A close cousin to the dragonfly is the 'damselfly', and the two are often mistaken as the same. There are some discernible differences, if one takes the time to really study.

The dragonfly has very large multi-faceted eyes and a very broad body. When at rest, it's wings will spread outward and sideways. A dragonfly will always feed while it is in flight, and can consume it's own body weight in insects in less than a half-hour... and much more, in insects every day? If true, that's impressive.

The damselfly is very delicate in it's appearance, with a slender body and smaller eyes. When they land, their wings are held in an upward position. They will always land before eating, but have a large appetite for mosquitoes and other flying insects, as well.

Both the dragonfly and damselflies are incredibly fast in flight, and can put on fascinating aerial maneuvers and entertaining displays. They can fly at speeds estimated at over 30 mph., and detect movement from up to 40 feet away, it has been said. Strong jaws and spiny legs allow for efficient hunting procedures.

Those with Dragonfly-Medicine can be known to be very emotional and passionate, (the influence of water) especially in their younger years...then, as they mature, they become more balanced and with better mental clarity...the influence of air.

Dragonfly can come to teach you that you may need some 'fresh air' in your life, perhaps connected to something emotional. You may need a new perspective, or to make some sort of change...to keep the 'colors' of your emotions alive...and Dragonflies are very adaptable, true survivalists.

If Dragonfly has come into your life, look for changes or some type of transformation. You may ask yourself if you may be resisting some kind of change, when you know that you shouldn't be. Try to use your creative imagination, as a force to bring positive changes into your life. Don't be afraid to reach beyond what you have become familiar with. Try something new occasionally, reach beyond your boundaries.

THE LEGEND OF THE DRAGONFLY...In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their groups ever came back after crawling up the stems of the lilies to the top of the water. They promised each other that the next one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what happened to him. Soon one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on the top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation, which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings. In vain, he tried to keep his promise. Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below. Then he realized that even if they could see him they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number.

The fact that we cannot see our friends or communicate with them after the transformation, which we call death, is no proof that they cease to exist.

- Walter Dudley Cavert

                                ... Rainbows, Sunshine, and Gentle Breezes,

                                               Dancing-Night-Crow

*Extra Note: There's just something extraordinarily special and Magickal about having either the Dragonfly or the Damselfly actually land on your hand....if that happens to you, don't be afraid...stay as motionless as you are able, and study, to see if there might be a message for you!

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VICTORY!
Dear Friends,

I’m writing with great news about one of our longest running BioGems campaigns.

A federal judge in Alaska has ruled in our favor and protected 9.5 million acres of wild, roadless areas in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest from destructive logging and road building.

We’ve been fighting this courtroom battle alongside Earthjustice since 2003, when the Bush Administration illegally exempted the Tongass from the landmark Roadless Rule, which safeguards the last undisturbed stretches of our national forests.

Your activism and support have proved critical in this epic fight.

A decade ago, activists like you generated hundreds of thousands of petitions that helped persuade the Clinton Administration to establish the Roadless Rule in the first place.

Then, your financial support made it possible for us to wage an eight-year legal battle that has produced this historic win for America’s greatest temperate rainforest.

Thanks to you, the towering old-growth stands of the wild Tongass -- along with its incomparable populations of grizzlies, wolves and bald eagles -- will be spared from an onslaught of chain saws and bulldozers.

This hard-fought victory captures the never-say-die spirit of BioGems campaigns at their very best. It is proof positive that you are part of a powerful and effective voice for the wild. Thank you for helping save the Tongass!

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

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Abraham Symons, Notable Haddam Resident

A Narragansett Indian with ties to Dartmouth College was a resident of Haddam in the late 18th century.
By Elizabeth Warner | Email the author | May 28, 2011

Symons was a member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe Narragansett Tribal Logo
Haddam has always been a small town. Yet, there are many notable people who were born or lived in this rural community.

John Cook, for example, who lived at the intersection of Walkey Hill and Hayden Hill Roads, participated in John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Cook was captured and hanged with the great abolitionist.

Stephen Johnson Field was the son of David Dudley Field, a notable minister of the Haddam and Higganum Congregational Churches in the mid-nineteenth century. Stephen Field became a justice of the Supreme Court in 1863 and served until 1897. His brother Cyrus created the Atlantic cable, which connected the U.S. to Europe by telegraph.

Another important resident of Haddam, and the subject of this week’s column, was Abraham Symons, a Narragansett Indian who settled down in Haddam in 1790 until his death in 1812.

Abraham Symons and his brother Daniel were born in Rhode Island and attended the Moor’s Indian Charity School in Lebanon, Connecticut. From there, the two brothers traveled with Dr. Eleazar Wheelock to New Hampshire to help start Dartmouth College in 1768. This illustrious school in New Hampshire was originally founded as a school of higher learning for Native American students.

Daniel Symons graduated from Darmouth in 1777.

Abraham attended the school and helped Wheelock run Dartmouth. In 1772, Abraham was sent by Wheelock to preach the Christian gospel along the eastern seaboard. He was appointed the head of a mission in New Jersey, replacing John Brainerd of Haddam in that role. This seems to be the link that brought Symons to Haddam to Haddam in 1790.

Abraham Symons and his wife Prudence, who is believed to have been from Long Island, settled down in the Ponsett section of Haddam in a house on Hubbard Road, not far from the intersection of Beaver Meadow Road. (The house was torn down to make way for the entrance ramp to Route 9.)

While living in Haddam, they had four children: Esther, Nancy, Prudence, and Sylvanus.

Interestingly, none of the Symons was ever listed in any of the U.S. federal censuses while in Connecticut. It is not clear if the family was overlooked or not listed because they were Indian.

Symons died in 1812 in Haddam, and Prudence made at least part of living by making baskets and selling them locally until her death in 1836. Some historians have suggested that, after Abraham’s death, she and her children faced significant poverty and prejudice from local people.

Abraham Symons and his children were buried in Ponsett Cemetery; Prudence was relegated to a pauper’s grave in the old Thirty Mile Island Plantation in Haddam Center.

A fund was started by a local preacher in the late nineteenth century to provide a decent stone to honor Abraham Symons. But it wasn’t until 1925 that a maker for Abraham was made possible by a group of Dartmouth students at the Ponsett Cemetery, shown here. Later, Samuel Hubbard, who was a Dartmouth graduate and a descent of a Haddam family, contributed smaller stones for Prudence and for each of the children.

Symons and his family were quiet members of the Haddam community, ones worth honoring and remembering. Take a walk through the Old Ponsett graveyard and visit the stone. Reflect for awhile about what it might have been like for this family in a place where they were seen as "others," yet who tried to make a life for themselves in this rural enclave.
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KITCHEN MEDICINE:


GARLIC
AKA: stinking rose, heal-all, poor man's treacle...
use cloves in cooking, crush and encapsulate or use pre made tablets, infusion, tincture
Garlic is the worlds second oldest medicine, and is the traditional "wonder drug". Many people don't realize that an onion has almost as much medicinal value as garlic does. Battle wounds in WWI were treated with garlic juice. Recommended for colds, coughs, flu, fever, bronchitis, ringworm, intestinal worms, elevated cholesterol, and general internal organ problems. No standard medication can match Garlic on the cardiovascular scale. Garlic DEFINITELY reduces blood pressure, cholesterol and reduces internal clots which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Garlic reduces blood sugar and therefore helps diabetes sufferers. It may help eliminate lead and heavy metals in the blood steam , has helped leprosy patients, fights cancer, helps aids patients
***Warnings: Allergy sufferers may develop a rash from touching or eating the herb. If this is the case, discontinue use. If you have a clotting disorder consult a physician before using.

GINGER
AKA: Asian, African, American ginger...
cooking, capsules for motion sickness, tea, infusion, or ginger ale for digestive aid
This herb helps with motion and morning sickness. It is very good digestive aid, may ease menstrual cramps, help arthritis, is traditionally used in the orient for colds and flu and is excellent for reducing cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and preventing internal blood clots.
***Warnings: Large doses might cause miscarriage although their are no scientific reports backing this up.

GINKGO
AKA: maiden hair tree...
leaves brewed as tea, infusion
The earth's oldest tree, it's given that this herb helps the elderly the most. Ginkgo increases blood flow to the brain which can help prevent strokes and heart attacks, improve memory, help impotence and chronic dizziness. It is also known to help with macular degeneration (blindness), circulation, asthma, tinnitus and deafness. A fine example of the need to preserve the earth's natural resources.
***Warnings: Do not use if you have a clotting disorder, do not take in very large amounts as diarrhea, vomiting and irritability can occur.

GINSENG
AKA: root of immortality, man root, life root, seng seng... it is very important to use mature roots (over 6 years old) Use root powder capsules or tablets
This herb helps the bodies resistance, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood sugars, reduces heart attacks, protects the liver, helps the appetite and helps cancer patients with radiation therapy. ***Warnings: none

HOREHOUND
AKA: marrubium, hoarhound, white horehound...
flowers and leaves in infusion or tincture for cough remedy
A popular herbal cough remedy and expectorant for almost 2000 years, horehound is good for minor respiratory problems such as cough , colds and bronchitis
***Warnings: those with heart disease should not take this herb

HYSSOP
AKA: n/a ...
flowers and leaves as a compress for cold sores and genital herpes, infusion, tincture
Hyssop inhibits the growth of herpes simplex virus. Scientists agree it is a "reasonably effective" treatment for cough and irritation of colds and flu.
***Warnings: do not use if pregnant !!! always positively identify herbs you use. H. Officinalis is the correct herb

JUNIPER
AKA: geneva, genvrier...
infusion of berries
The source of gin, this herb also increases urine production ( a diuretic) - making it a treatment for PMS, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Recommended for arthritis.
***Warnings: Long term use can cause kidney damage. If you have a kidney infection or kidney problems you should not use this herb. One third of hay fever sufferers develop allergy symptoms from exposure to Juniper.

KELP
AKA: fucus, seawrack, cutweed, bladderwrack, wakame, hijiki, kombue, arame...
take tablets (herb is unpleasant), infusion
A natural source of iodine, now known as a radiation protector, protection form heavy metals, reducer of heart disease and an infection fighter.
***Warnings: none

LAVENDER
AKA: English lavender...
flowers in bath, general aromatherapy
The all time fragrant herb, lavender makes a great bath addition. The Greeks and Romans bathed in lavender scented water and it was from the Latin word, Lavo (to wash) that the herb took its name. While not technically a medicinal herb, the calming properties of its aroma are well founded.
***Warnings: none
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Hold On

Hold on to what is good. Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe. Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do. Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life. Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand. Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.
 
A Pueblo Indian Prayer
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RECIPES:

*** Blue Corn Dumplings

1 c harinilla (blue corn meal ground to flour)
2 t baking powder
1 t bacon drippings, lard, or other shortening
1/3 to 1/2 c milk
1 t salt

Mix (or sift) dry ingredients thoroughly, cut in fat and add enough milk to make drop batter. Drop by spoonfuls on top of the stew of your choice Cover cooking pot and steam dumplings 15 minutes before lifting cover.

Stew should be kept bubbling. Serves 4-6.
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***Indian Sun Bread Yield: 1 batch

2 pk Dry yeast
1 T Sugar
2 T Melted fat
2 c Water
6 1/4 c Flour
1/2 ts Salt

Combine yeast with 2 1/4 c. flour in bowl. Heat water, shortening, sugar and salt. Add to flour. Beat until mixed. Add remaining flour and knead until smooth and elastic. Place in a large greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk. Divide in half. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
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***Pojoaque Cream Soup Serves: 4

4 c home cooked pinto beans
1 c bean juice (reserved from cooking)
1 clove minced garlic
1 tb minced onion
3/4 t salt
1 c undiluted evaporated milk
1 pinch of oregano
1 tb red chile powder (optional)

Mash beans thoroughly and mix in bean juice or put both through blender until smooth, adding all other ingredients slowly while beating or blending. Simmer for ten minutes. For gourmet versions, serve cold with generous topping of sour cream.
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I hoped you enjoyed the newsletter.

As always…if you have something you would like to add let me know. I am always looking for new talent. :>) Poems, stories (short) announcments, etc. If you know someone that needs prayer or even for yourself and you would like it here, let me know.

Stay healthy and safe…see you next month.
Shiakoda Autumn Wolf Moon