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To whom it may concern, Please excuse Ms. Cissy from being absent from classes for the first part of this week due to, lack of brain function, confused, out of touch with the real world, and completely Brain Dead! Plus she had the stomach flu. Yours sincerely, Dr. Iamadope ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Hi ALL, well... I think that I left all of that information up long enough, don't ya think? Yep, thought so  Welcome to my confused state of mind, my ups, downs and ranting about everything in general I'll try not to rant much.... yeah right! ... and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!  Buutttt seriously folks, I DO so much love to write... can ya tell? hahahahaha. I love to read too... so watch out, I may just find your port yet! roflmao  Be Well ALL of my WDC Family and Friends here. I love you ALL Sooooo much!!! Peace, love and happiness to all whom enter here. " Mitakuye Or sin " = " We are all related " ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** An image I made for my Reviewrs Group.  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
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| Springfield author Larry Spotted Crow Mann writes on healing spirit within all people Print Cori Urban | Special to The Republican By Cori Urban | Special to The Republican on August 13, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated August 13, 2014 at 7:01 AM 0 Larry Spotted Crow Mann Larry Spotted Crow Mann Submitted photo WEBSTER 'A Springfield native has written a book which he says goes beyond the litany of hardships and losses of a Native American man and shows the healing spirit within everyone. 'The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving' by Larry Spotted Crow Mann, now of Webster, challenges the notion of a holiday which is deeply ingrained in American tradition and folklore both from historical and cultural standpoints. The story is told through the experiences a Native American Nipmuc man who fights to change the future while coming to terms with his own troubled past and the acceptance of his family. For Neempau, the ultimate remedy is to challenge and end one of America's favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. 'Neempau Stoneturtle is the embodiment of numerous Native Americans who haven't let go of bitterness toward the white world. His story captures that but doesn't stop there,' Mann said. 'It takes us through the pain, the whole process and shows the truth around it. It also takes us to the beautiful place we call forgiveness and redemption. This is a universal story with a message of overcoming and healing, a story we call all see ourselves in.' The book is considered a young adult read because the author hopes it will be used in the schools for students in Grade 8 and above. 'What better place to teach our youth about diversity, history and culture than with a captivating novel?' he said. Yet for adults of all ages, he added, 'The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving' is a 'gripping story with a wealth of historical content that is sometimes deadly serious but yet balanced with edgy humor. The book will provoke new insight into American history.' Mann hopes his book will help youth open up to new perspectives, have access to cultural and historical information and to think about the land like never before. 'The youth is where it starts, and to have this book in the classroom gives them the forum where in-depth discussion can take place, which, I believe, will engender this new generation to look at race and culture much differently than we did in the past,' he said. He hopes all readers will think about the history of their land and to feel part of this history. The names Chicopee, Connecticut and Agawam, for example, are Algonquin words from the language of his ancestors, he explained. 'Most people just pass them by, but I see them as eponymous reminders of what used to be, what was lost. The more people learn about this land, the more my ancestors live. And overall, the message is that we are all not as different as we think we are.' In 'The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving,' the main character's journey not only exposes the core of Native American struggles but also the complexities of the notion of race, tradition and identity. 'Whether it's the federal government, state or Indian to Indian, the matter of who is an Indian person and how they are defined remains to be one of the most controversial and hot-button topics for tribes across the United States and Canada,' said Mann, who works with the state Department of Public Health as part of a board of tribal leaders throughout the region which seeks ways to fight alcohol and drug abuse among Native American teens. His book addresses how Native American people are defined through the eyes of Neempaus' brother-in-law, George House, a Nipmuc Indian who from outward appearances is considered white. 'The nuance of relationships Native Americans have with the non-Native world and each other is not well known,' Mann said. 'You see George's story come alive in many amazing ways that sometimes he threatens to steal the lead role from Neempau. But then again wait to you met Wavy, Neempau's cousin. He's going knock your socks off. And there are other people and surprising twists that culminate down 'The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving.'' The 1985 graduate of Springfield Technical High School who has worked in the field of human services said everyone goes through suffering and tragedy, some of which they think they can never get beyond. 'The story of Neempau Stoneturtle reveals the universal ability within all of us to overcome the worst life has given us and turn it around for something positive,' he said. 'These lessons of healing apply to all walks of life. That's what I love most about this narrative; you don't have to be Indian to see yourself as Neempau or some of the people in the story.' Mann independently published his first book, 'Tales from the Whispering Basket,' a Native American-themed collection of short stories and poetry. Word Branch Publishing of North Carolina published his latest book. The 220 page-paperback 'The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving' sells for $14.99 and is available on Mann's website, whisperingbasket.com, which has a link to Word Branch Publishing.
    The StoryMistress   |
| A Tribute to Native American Culture: The 91st Nipmuc Nation Powwow By Fiona Guitard on August 13, 2014 in Featured, Headline, New England // 3 Comments // Email Email // Print Print click for more GRAFTON, Mass. (A.W.)—The Nipmuc Nation, a Northeastern native community, held its annual Powwow at the Hassanamesit Reservation in Grafton on July 27. A scene from the Powwow (photo by Fiona Guitard)A scene from the Powwow (photo by Fiona Guitard) David Tall Pine White, the emcee of the powwow, told the Weekly that the most important aspects of organizing a Powwow are the people and the land: “Having a vast community network and a deep historical and ancestral native background is key to the foundation of the event. Making a connection to the land itself is a vital part of the process as well.” Powwow participants dancing around the fire (photo by Fiona Guitard)Powwow participants dancing around the fire (photo by Fiona Guitard) White explains that one dance performed around the fire in the circle of life is the “Round Dance.” “This is when everyone is invited to join hands and dance as one.” The dance is a symbol of the importance of community and “the strength and beauty of the people united, and the common bond we all share,” he said. Another dance is the “Sneak Up”: “There are many variations of this depending on where you go, but it is a hunters’ dance that represents the movements of the hunter.” After the grand entry, White announces that a prayer is going to be said by two of his students, in the native language and in English. He has been a native language teacher for about ten years. Before his teacher passed away, he asked White to keep the classes going. With three classes per month, he teaches what he considers to be one of the most important aspects of native culture: “For a long time the language was forbidden to be spoken so there was a period of dormancy for about 100 years. Bits and pieces survived but much was forgotten in that time… It teaches us the importance and role of our natural surroundings and the relationships between all living things. It also promotes a clear and objective thought process that brings a wider understanding of life, and who we are.” Most members of the Nipmuc Nation grew up in families where preserving the legacy and culture is paramount. Talin Avakian has participated in powwows since she was a little girl: “My mom would take my sisters and I to various tribal events in our community, whether it was our tribe’s annual powwow in the summer, Nikkomo [New Year celebration] or tribal member meetings,” she said. Avakian talks about the importance of the choice of regalia they wear for a powwow. “Tribes and native persons have their own way of choosing/making their own regalia, but typically one creates the regalia to represent one’s family, nation, or style of dance. Because of this, most Natives take the process of creating regalia very seriously, because they want to represent who they are in the best way possible,” she explains. Talin Avakian in her powwow regalia, with Marash embroidery on her yokeTalin Avakian in her powwow regalia, with Marash embroidery on her yoke Avakian notes that the outfit she was wearing for this latest powwow was inspired by a traditional Eastern Woodland outfit, with a loose fitted shirt, a wool wrap skirt, leggings, a decorated yoke (worn on the chest), center seam moccasins, and Wampum earrings (made by a friend of hers, Kristen Wyman). Avakian decided to incorporate Marash embroidery on her yoke in tribute to her Armenian grandmother’s ancestors who are from Marash. Talin is of Armenian, Native American, and African American heritage. She has had the great fortune of being exposed to each culture she belongs to: “Every family member always reminded me of the importance of knowing who I am and where I came from.” Related Hamazkayin ‘Sardarabad’ Dance Ensemble Evolves to Eminence Hamazkayin ‘Sardarabad’ Dance Ensemble Evolves to Eminence In "Mid-West" Apigian-Kessel: Detroit ‘Hye’ at Arax Dance Performance The word "Hye,” meaning Armenian, has been pressed into service numerous times to describe the heights, the good times, to which one becomes elevated while attending Hye events. In a… In "Betty Apigian-Kessel" Nevarte Hamparian, Folk Dance Icon, Honored Nevarte Hamparian, Folk Dance Icon, Honored In "Mid-Atlantic" 3 Comments on A Tribute to Native American Culture: The 91st Nipmuc Nation Powwow avatar Jackie Abramian // August 13, 2014 at 11:09 am // Reply Dear Fiona Thank you for a beautifully written piece. Avakian’s celebration of her multi-cultural heritage should be a lesson to all Armenians to celebrate, rather than suppress, their non-Armenian cultural traditions. Only when we can respect all cultures can we truly enrich and share our own ancient cultural heritage. And through respect for all, we strip away cultural divides and discrimination – eliminating racism and wars. In Peace. Jackie avatar Robert // August 13, 2014 at 12:12 pm // Reply |
 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Once again, we expect another record crowd of more than 100,000 visitors to Tahlequah this Labor Day weekend, as we celebrate our 62nd annual Cherokee National Holiday. I look forward to joining you, your family and friends in fellowship and fun as we celebrate the history, heritage and hospitality of the Cherokee Nation. The first Cherokee National Holiday was held in 1953 to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. As we come together this year, we celebrate the accomplishments of our tribal government and our bright future. We will honor the progress we have made over the past year, and I am confident we will build upon it next year. Every year the Cherokee Nation offers its citizens and visitors an array of entertainment, cultural and athletic events to participate in. The Cherokee National Holiday has something of interest for all walks of life, from traditional foods and music to competitive marbles, a car show, softball and stickball tournaments and the celebrated intertribal powwow. A performance of the musical “Nanyehi, The Story of Nancy Ward” will be held in advance of the Holiday this year. It will be performed at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, our flagship business enterprise, Aug. 21-23. The story and music of the “Nanyehi” production are moving. As a direct descendant of Nancy Ward, I am humbled we are able to present that to the public, while sharing the proceeds with the Cherokee Heritage Center to support its mission to preserve and promote our tribal culture and history. Additionally, I encourage history enthusiasts to explore our local museums during the Holiday weekend. They all highlight different aspects of Cherokee events and people from our history. Our five museums in or near Tahlequah tell the stories ranging from our removal to Indian Territory 175 years ago, to our traditions and culture today in Oklahoma. This 62nd National Holiday is especially poignant, as we commemorate the 175th anniversary of the end of the Trail of Tears. Although we were forcibly marched from our homelands in the Southeast to Indian Territory, our ancestors never relinquished the fortitude to continue walking another day in hopes of a better life. While nearly a quarter of the 16,000 Cherokees who started the Trail of Tears perished, our Cherokee people collectively persevered. Keeping with that spirit of Cherokee perseverance, a resurgence occurred at the end of that marched journey. We rebuilt our communities, court system and government. We not only survived, but we thrived and prospered. Today, the Cherokee Nation is stronger than at any time in our history. Our history will forever influence who we are as a people and a sovereign tribal nation, and we draw upon that strength every day. That legacy is something I hope each of you come and celebrate with us this Cherokee Nation Holiday. I believe you’ll find a wealth of kind hearts, determined minds and resilient spirits, while making memories you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. God bless each and every one of you, and God bless the Cherokee Nation. Wado, Thank you for subscribing. To update your preferences or to unsubscribe please visit this link Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Hey y'all! This page is for blogging too right? Well to-day is my time to just blog...lol. Here something y'all didn't know about me...I was born in the State of ( a-hem...ahahaha...infancy,,,lol) oops! ...I mean I was born in the State of Tennessee...of the U.S.A. ...yeah, I know...I wouldn't brag about it either...ahahahahahahaha...sometimes I crack me up! seriously folks, common, laugh a little y'all...life is just too short to be a sour-puss all the time and serious all the blasted time too! Didn't the Doctor always say...that laughter is the best medicine? And guess what?! It doesn't even have any side affects with it either like all of those pills they like to shove down your throat. Well anyway...here is some news from the Tennessee Hills of Pigeon Forge...ya know...Where Dolly Pardon and family lives and owns that great place up there in the Hills...great place to visit and look around, lots to do there too. Dolly World is Awesome! She is so sweet too, you'll like her, she is off the Chain!!! Leaving links for you to click on in case you want to see more of that stuff in the Hills...Have a wonderful Day Y'all! Cissy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**********************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Pigeon Forge, Tennessee" <PigeonForge-enews@mypigeonforge.messages2.com If you are still having problems viewing this message, please click here for additional help. View Our Website Can't see images? View on a mobile device or view in a browser. Like Home What To Do Events Where To Stay Value Packages 10 Ways To Save The Official Pigeon Forge eNewsletter Click Here for Value Travel Packages Color-filled Fall In The Smokies Fall colors in the Smoky Mountains are legendary. There’s nothing that can compare to the brilliant hues of red, orange and yellow that fill our national park. Changing leaves and changing temperatures make it the ideal time to explore the park and its wonders. There are plenty of activities and events going on in Pigeon Forge during autumn, so come visit for the scenic views and everything our town has to offer. Click Here Rotary Club Craft Fair Shop for locally made arts, crafts and other products at the annual Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Craft Fair. From Sept. 27-Oct. 25, local and area artists set up shop at Patriot Park to demonstrate their talents and sell their wares. Admittance to the craft fair is free; however, free-will donations benefit local charities. Shop the fair to find the perfect handcrafted Smoky Mountain souvenir. Gospel Music Echoes Throughout Pigeon Forge Two events will have the streets of Pigeon Forge echoing with the best in Southern gospel music. The National Quartet Convention comes to the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, Sept. 21-27, bringing together some of gospel music’s finest performers under one roof. Don’t miss the sweet sounds of gospel music during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival featuring the National Southern Gospel Celebration, Sept. 22-Nov. 1. New Places To Dine Pigeon Forge is known for its great food, from pancakes and ribs to biscuits and gravy. Visitors now have two new restaurants to choose from to satisfy hungry appetites. Check out Hard Rock Café and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville the next time you’re in town. Country Concert At Country Tonite Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Williams will be in concert at Country Tonite Theatre on Oct. 17 & 18. The laid-back music legend brings a long list of hits to the stage, including “Tulsa Time,” “Good Ole Boys Like Me” and “Amanda.” Show time is 8 p.m. |
| Here is some News from the Northern Reservations, this I must say is a very moving and touching story...you just have to read this one y'all. I am forwarding to everyone News from their news papers that are sent to me as I get them. As I have told the Group of NAFP...I will make this blog page a dual blog page. One of the Reservations Real news and one for me to be able to just let my hair down so-to-speak and say whatever enters my feeble mind. lol...now that dear folks is very dangerous ground! Watch out everyone, the brain can be a very scary thing indeed, muahahahahahahahahahahaha............ Anyway.......here is the Local News from the ' One ' of the Northern Tribes......................................Enjoy!  20-year-old master of Salish language a strong proponent of Native language, culture 11 Print Email 080314 home gun1 kw.jpg 080314 home gun2 kw.jpg 080314 home gun3 kw.jpg 080314 home gun4 kw.jpg 080314 home gun1 kw.jpg Buy Now KURT WILSON/Missoulian Vance Home Gun holds his niece, Jaylynne Brooks, last week while they visit a couple of horses at his family’s home near Arlee on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Despite his young age, Home Gun has become a teacher on the reservation for all ages seeking to learn the language and cultural traditions of the Salish. August 02, 2014 8:00 pm • By Vince Devlin(3) Comments 5 American Indians chosen for 'champions' program HELENA — Five Native American youths are being honored in a spinoff of a White House program called "Champions For Change." Read more Traditional Salish stories to be shared at UM's Mansfield Library Vance Home Gun will share traditional Salish stories at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana. Read more Tepees rise in Arlee as powwow gets underway ARLEE – Home is where the tepee rises for dozens of families this week at the 116th annual Arlee Celebration. That’s no big surprise, since th… Read more ST. IGNATIUS – He has taught in the St. Ignatius schools, been vice chairman of a school board, and co-founded a nonprofit on the Flathead Indian Reservation – the Salish Institute – to promote healthy lifestyles through the study of Native languages and culture. His Yoyoot Skwkwimlt program – that’s Salish for “Strong Young People” – has immersed teenaged tribal members on the reservation in their language and culture. He has spoken on the importance of non-Native foster families finding ways to keep Native language and culture alive when they take in Indian children, he has recorded the histories and stories of his tribe’s elders, and has helped put together massive volumes of curriculum for teaching the Salish language. He has been invited to the White House and three times met the president of the United States. They’re going to miss Vance Home Gun when he departs his position with the Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee later this month, and you can be forgiven if it sounds like he’s retiring after a long career. He’s not. Most everything he’s accomplished, he did as a teenager. But now, Vance Home Gun is all of 20 years old. He’s leaving his job to start college. *** “You can see it in the elders, how much they appreciate Vance’s dedication to learning the language and the culture, and his ability at it,” says Thomson Smith, who also works for the culture committee. “It’s almost as if they’ve been hoping for this for so long.” It’s not that there aren’t other young people involved in such things, Smith says, but Home Gun has thrown his heart into not just learning, but – as evidenced by all he’s already done as a teen – passing on the knowledge. “I made the commitment in sixth grade to be a fluent speaker,” Home Gun says. “Language is our identity. It’s how we define ourselves, and it’s that connection to the past that keeps our bridge strong.” He credits four women on the reservation with teaching him the Salish language and inspiring him, which Home Gun finds a bit ironic because “most of our instructors are men now.” Dorothy Felsman, who died in 2011 at the age of 78, wasn’t the first to introduce Home Gun to one of his native languages. (Home Gun’s father is Blackfeet and his mother is Salish, and he heard both languages spoken in his home as he grew up.) But Felsman asked Home Gun, then an eighth-grader in Arlee, to help her teach a class at the Catholic Church devoted to hymns and prayers. “I was shocked,” Home Gun says. “It wasn’t my thing. But she said she would be teaching to younger people in our language, and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ As I did it, more and more of the language started coming back to me. I started asking Dorothy for more and more words, and she’s the one who taught me how to read and write it.” *** Home Gun, of course, spoke in English a couple of weeks ago in Washington, D.C., when President Barack Obama called on him at a “My Brother’s Keeper” town hall. My Brother’s Keeper is a White House initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color. “There were 50 youth there between the ages of 16 and 25, and they picked five of us to ask a question of him,” Home Gun says. “We could ask anything, but they prepped us for 2 1/2 weeks straight just in case.” When Obama called on Home Gun, Vance said all the preparation in the world didn’t help. “When the president of the United States is in front of your face, you go blank,” he says. Actually, a YouTube video of the event shows little hesitation after Obama calls on Home Gun. Home Gun stands, introduces himself, and says he is from “the great state of Montana.” “Beautiful state,” Obama interjects. “My question for you, Mr. President, is how is the United States government helping Indian people revitalize their languages and cultures?” Home Gun says. “Because so many of our young men and boys don’t know who they are because they’ve lost their culture and language, and the United States government has tried so hard in the past 200 years to destroy that.” And was he happy with Obama’s answer? Home Gun smiles, perhaps a bit nervously. *** “It’s hard – it’s the president, and I realize it’s probably not one of the top 10 issues on his plate,” Home Gun says. “He didn’t really answer it, and I don’t think he knew the answer, but he did give good advice.” Obama mentions his recent trip to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota – although he mistakenly says it was South Dakota – and terms some of the stories people told him there as “heartbreaking.” “In part,” the president goes on, “because you got a sense of what the history of the interaction between the United States government and Native American peoples had done to the culture.” He does say that he has talked to the secretaries of the Interior and Education about “how do we incorporate more effectively, into school curriculums and social programs, a recognition of the distinct cultures of Native people?” Obama also adds this: “One thing I have to say,” the president says. “The world is what it is. It’s a global world. We live in the 21st century. When I was up at the reservation everybody had a cellphone, everybody was wanting to take ‘selfies’ … people were texting. And so you can’t ignore what’s happened. You can’t just live in the past. You also have to look to the future.” Home Gun was nominated for the trip by a friend, Pearl Yellow Man Caye. He says he almost didn’t complete the application from the Center for Native American Youth, which would choose five young Indians from across the country to participate in the town hall in Washington. “She nominated me two days before the deadline, and you had to write six or seven essays,” Home Gun says. “I told her, ‘Pearl, I don’t know,’ but I started typing and typing away.” He was shocked, a month later, when he learned he’d been chosen to participate – and shocked again when he found out he had been chosen to ask one of the questions that would be posed to the president. It was the third time young Home Gun has met Obama since 2013. The Center for Native American Youth, founded by former North Dakota U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, also chose Home Gun to be one of its representatives at the White House to witness the signing of the Violence Against Women Act, and the 2012 Arlee High School graduate also attended a White House Tribal Leaders conference. *** By the time he was a high school sophomore, Home Gun had become proficient enough in the Salish language to be certified by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as an instructor of it. “The St. Ignatius schools asked me to come teach the language,” Home Gun says. “I said, ‘I’m still in school myself. How am I supposed to do that?’ ” Actually, it worked out quite well. Arlee was on a Monday-Thursday schedule, and Home Gun signed a contract to teach Salish classes in St. Ignatius on Fridays “My very first day, my first class was kindergartners,” Home Gun says. “The next class was high school juniors and seniors. I was a little intimidated. I knew some of them, and when they came in the room they said, ‘Vance, what are you doing here?’ ” “Teaching,” he replied. “For real?” they said, and Home Gun told them, “ ‘Hey, we’ve only got one hour, we can’t waste no time.’ I tried to make it fun.” It also helped him, at age 17, decide to start the Salish Institute, which he co-founded with Chaney Bell, and the Yoyoot Skwkwimlt program. “When I was teaching in St. Ignatius there were so many Indian kids who didn’t even know what tribe they were,” Home Gun says. “That’s sad. I said, ‘Hey, I’m going to start a group for young tribal youth and teach them everything I know about the language, culture and history.” He taught the Salish classes at St. Ignatius for 2 1/2 years before being hired by the culture committee. There, he’s helped develop curriculum and helped teach half a dozen tribal members who are spending a year focusing on becoming fluent in Salish. Learning the language is essentially their full-time job in the first-of-its-kind program on the reservation. “This reservation – we’re a leading tribe in this country because language and culture is No. 1,” Home Gun says. “The tribes invest in it big-time.” *** The son of Daryl Home Gun and Debra Home Gun, Vance has two brothers and two sisters, although he was surprised to learn several years ago that two of them, Jennifer and Josh, are technically his cousins. “They’re my mom’s sister’s kids,” he says. “Her sister was killed in a car wreck when Josh was a newborn and Jennifer was about 1. For the longest time I never knew.” Debra took them in years before Vance was born, and he long assumed they were his older sister and brother, and still considers them that. He also has an older brother Carlin, and a younger sister Audra. “I was born in Browning but grew up here and raised Salish,” Home Gun says. “My grampa’s brother is Chief Earl Old Person. I like to go back (to the Blackfeet Reservation) and visit. It’s my other home.” He knows a bit of the Blackfeet language – his father is a speaker – but not nearly as much as the Salish he’s studied so hard the past few years. Alice Finley, Felicite McDonald and Home Gun’s aunt, Sophie Quequesah, all get credit along with Felsman for instilling a love and knowledge of the language in the young man. “The highest number I hear” for how many fluent Salish speakers there are on the reservation “is 40,” Home Gun says, “although I say it’s closer to 25. There are only 25 Salish speakers left, and they’re all over the age of 60, 65.” Home Gun also served as a vice chairman of the board that oversees Nkwusm, the Salish language school in Arlee – and that, perhaps ironically, he never attended as a child. *** In high school, Home Gun says he never understood students who announced they planned to take a year or two off and work before enrolling in college. “I hated that,” he says. “I always wondered, ‘Why?’ I said I was never going to do that.” And yet that’s exactly what he’s done. The position with the culture committee was too enticing, and the decision to leave has been a difficult one for the 20-year-old. “I had to think hard on it,” Home Gun says. “It’s hard to quit working with the language and culture and our elders. There’s only a handful of elders left with all their knowledge of the Salish culture and language, and I knew it was my duty to record them and protect that knowledge. “Now I’m really glad that I did. If I went to college right out of high school, there’s a lot I would have missed out on.” When he made the decision to resign later this month, he told Smith, Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee Director Tony Incashola and others it was so he could enroll at the University of Oregon. Just last week, that changed. Home Gun says he still intends to major in linguistics at UO one day, but first he’s decided to enroll at Rhema Bible Training College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa. “I just felt it was the right thing to do,” he says. And so finally, at the ripe old age of 20, Vance Home Gun is leaving his reservation to further his education. It’s not that his work here is done. It’s just that when he continues that work one day – and rest assured, Home Gun intends to return to the Flathead Reservation – he’ll do so with better tools to learn, and teach, the language he loves. |
| Osiyo! The Cherokee Nation continues to help more and more Cherokees with home repairs and replacement homes. There were 609 Cherokee individuals or families last year who had homes repaired, received a newly constructed home or received emergency repairs to their homes through Cherokee Nation Community Services’ Housing Rehabilitation Program. BB Livers, 69, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was the latest. He moved into his 1,300-square-foot replacement home in July after a fire destroyed his house last year. The 19th annual Homecoming Art Show opens to the public Aug. 23 at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It showcases the best of Cherokee art, including basketry, pottery, paintings, sculpture, beadwork, jewelry and textiles from Cherokee artists. The show runs through Sept. 21. Also, find out the date and time of the next Cherokee Nation Wings Program 5K race, and when and where to watch the Miss Cherokee, Jr. Miss Cherokee and Little Ambassador competitions. These are just some of the events featured in the Cherokee Nation calendar of events for August. For more news and information on Cherokee Nation events, please click on the links below. Wado. Cherokee Nation spurs growth in Ochelata – 08/04/2014 The Cherokee Nation is helping breathe new life into the small town of Ochelata in Washington County, where Main Street is now repaved, city water is clearer, and a $9 million health center is bringing new jobs. Cherokee Nation calendar of events for August – 08/01/2014 The Cherokee Nation will host the 62nd Annual Cherokee National Holiday on Labor Day weekend, as well as several other events throughout the month of August. Calendar items are as follows: Cherokee Nation rebuilds citizen’s home in Adair County after fire – 07/29/2014 After a fire destroyed BB Livers’ Mulberry Hollow home in Adair County last fall, the Cherokee citizen didn’t know how he would ever recover. Cherokee Nation dedicates new $2.8 million road – 07/25/2014 The Cherokee Nation and Adair and Sequoyah County commissioners dedicated a $2.8 million road improvement project on Tuesday. The project repaired a bridge and repaved 4.2 miles of roadway stretching from southern Adair County to northern Sequoyah County. Construction underway at Sequoyah Schools’ entrance – 07/23/2014 The main entrance to Sequoyah High School is closed until mid-August as construction is underway to install a stop light at U.S. Highway 62. 19th annual Homecoming Art Show opens Aug. 22 – 07/22/2014 Cherokee artists still have time before the Aug. 4 deadline to submit their best work to the 19th annual Homecoming Art Show at the Cherokee Heritage Center. Cherokee language now available in Braille – 07/21/2014 The Cherokee Nation now has its written language, the Cherokee syllabary, available in Braille. Principal Chief Bill John Baker Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74464 To update your preferences or to unsubscribe please visit this link Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 |
| OSiyou = Hello- All....just trying to get the News out from any and all Tribes of America. I do not think ti fair just to blog ' news' about " Cherokee Nations News" only. Now that would not be right of me now would it? Especially since my ' motto' is " We are all Related " = Mitakuye Or Sin "! Now if anyone blogging and doesn't agree with any of this news information, please remember...I always leave the place of where this information comes from. It is not ' my ' information, it is the Reservation News Papers! So if you have a beef with any of the News..please direct it to the Reservations, and they will answer you back...if you cannot get through to the Chief, I will forward your letter to him via my email. I will also let Chief Baker and the Other Chief's know of whom this information came from. They are only wanting the truth to come out after all of these centuries of being shut up and not allowed by Federal Government not allowing it to happen because of a ' Treaty ' that we signed with them in the past. I am allowed to do this because, for one thing...my family moved off of the Reservation when my Grandmother was very young. So therefor I did not have to live on the Reservation, but I was brought up a Native American. This is why I personally do not have to answer to the Federal Government about putting out this blog of ' real ' news from the Reservations. Can you imagine how confusing it was for me to be raised as a Native American and " not " live on the Rez.? When the Government came to my Father and told him that ' we ' his children would have to be registered into the ' white school system ' because we lived among them. My Dad was furious! But in order to stay a free American off of the Rez. he had to do it by not a choice of his own. We were not allowed to make friends in the schools. We were only allowed to play and be friends with our own family member...cousins etc. Then when Mom took us away from all of that and moved us South to Florida...she told us that we were White, and not to say any different. Can you imagine yet again how confusing it was for an (8) eight year old? WOW! I mean really...not legally, but she had changed our names three (3) times in order to get all of this accomplished. After she moved up to this ...a-hem!...(sorry something stuck in my throat, lol)...State of South East Alabama...man! I had never encountered such racial goings on! I mean Really? seriously? Where di this come from? We were called some not so nice names. Names at this time I will not repeat. No sense. Was still called these names from someone from Ohio 3 years ago on the phone by someone. I told that person...really? After all of these years you're still stuck in the past? This is what made me decide on Making this group, the NAFP Group, a place where all Nationalities are welcome to join from all over the world, and there will not be any such thing as Racism in there. Why? Because I know first hand what it feels like to be ostracized. Geezzzzz y'all...time does fly when you're running your mouth, hahahahaha...Gotta run...here is the latest " News Paper" from Chief Baker for the Reservation of the Cherokee Nation...be well all and see you soon...have a great day, many blessings to you all! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS FROM THE CHEROKEE NATIONS RESERVATION NEWS PAPER. FROM CHIEF BAKER Osiyo! The Cherokee Nation continues to make advancements in language preservation by adding the Cherokee language on more new technology. Last week the tribe announced the Cherokee syllabary is now available in Braille. Fluent Cherokee speakers in the tribe’s language program partnered with the Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative earlier this year to develop Braille in Cherokee. Dot patterns were derived from the 86-character Cherokee syllabary so the blind and visually impaired can read materials in their native language. The main entrance to Sequoyah Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is closed until mid-August, as construction is underway to install a stoplight at U.S. Highway 62. The $750,000 project will add traffic signals along with deceleration and acceleration lanes for safer student, parent and faculty travel. Last week the Cherokee Nation’s Roads Department began work to widen the intersection of Coffee Hollow Road and U.S. 62, which serves as the front entrance to Sequoyah Schools’ campus. This past week the Cherokee Nation also dedicated a $2.8 million road improvement project in Sequoyah and Adair counties. The 4.2 miles of Nicut Road, which stretches from southern Adair County to northern Sequoyah County, were repaved and a bridge was replaced. For more news and information on Cherokee Nation events, please click on the links below. Wado. Cherokee Nation dedicates new $2.8 million road – 07/25/2014 The Cherokee Nation and Adair and Sequoyah County commissioners dedicated a $2.8 million road improvement project on Tuesday. The project repaired a bridge and repaved 4.2 miles of roadway stretching from southern Adair County to northern Sequoyah County. Construction underway at Sequoyah Schools’ entrance – 07/23/2014 The main entrance to Sequoyah High School is closed until mid-August as construction is underway to install a stop light at U.S. Highway 62. 19th annual Homecoming Art Show opens Aug. 22 – 07/22/2014 Cherokee artists still have time before the Aug. 4 deadline to submit their best work to the 19th annual Homecoming Art Show at the Cherokee Heritage Center. Cherokee language now available in Braille – 07/21/2014 The Cherokee Nation now has its written language, the Cherokee syllabary, available in Braille. Cherokee Nation surgical tech named New Instructor of the Year – 07/21/2014 Cherokee Citizen Tommy Hays was recently named “New Instructor of the Year” by the Association of Surgical Technologists. Cherokee Nation funds $349,000 waterline project in Delaware County – 07/17/2014 The Cherokee Nation and Delaware County Rural Water District 11 entered into an agreement Thursday to build a new $349,000 waterline in the Oaks community. Cherokee Nation bringing its History & Humanities Course to Kansas City – 07/17/2014 The Cherokee Nation is bringing its history and humanities course to Kansas City, Missouri, on July 25-27. The course is free and open to the public. Principal Chief Bill John Baker Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74464 www.cherokee.org Cherokee Nation P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Proud Founder of.. "Invalid Item"  "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" Member and Supporter of these Groups "Invalid Item" "Retired Founder, Rising Stars Program" "SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP" "The WDC Angel Army" "Showering Acts of Joy Group" "Invalid Item" "Heavenly Roses" "Invalid Item" "...I will not go gently into that good night..." Author: Dillon Thomas |
| ****************************Saturday, August 2, 2014 TRAFFIC Cloudy79°F************************************ ***************************The Seattle Times Winner of Nine Pulitzer Prizes************************************ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pacific NW Magazine~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow us:facebook twitter search Advanced Search | Events & Venues | Obituaries/Home HOME Originally published July 25, 2014 at 12:03 PM | Page modified July 26, 2014 at 4:42 PM Share: Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin More Sharing Services 3 Comments E-mail article With a camera, Matika Wilbur aims to bring Indian history to the here and now To redefine our image of her people, photographer is out to show us every tribe. By Tyrone Beason Seattle Times staff reporter PREV 1 of 11 NEXT Matika Wilbur took this portrait of her niece, Anna Cook, for Project 562, a three-year, cross-country road trip aimed at documenting all of the nation’s 562-plus Indian tribes. Cook is Swinomish and Hualapai. The portrait is part of an exhibit at Tacoma Art Museum. Enlarge this photo ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES Matika Wilbur took this portrait of her niece, Anna Cook, for Project 562, a three-year, cross-country road trip aimed at documenting all of the nation’s 562-plus Indian tribes. Cook is Swinomish and Hualapai. The portrait is part of an exhibit at Tacoma Art Museum. TO SEE MORE “Photographic Presence and Contemporary Indians: Matika Wilbur’s Project 562,” runs until Oct. 5 at Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave. Go to www.tacomaartmuseum.org or call 1-253-272-4258 for details. READER COMMENTS Read all 3 comments Post a comment advertising THE PHOTOGRAPHER Matika Wilbur has a little exercise she encourages new acquaintances to perform. Do a Google image search for the term “Native American” and see what comes up. The first result on a recent attempt is a grainy, sepia-toned picture of an unidentified Indian chief staring into the distance like a lost soul and decked out exactly (and unfortunately) as one might expect — in a headdress of tall fathers and a vest made of carved horn. It looks to be from early in the previous century. The next six pictures, variations on this theme. It’s as if the society depicted in these images ceased to exist decades ago. Wilbur, a 30-year-old from Seattle who’s a member of the Tulalip and Swinomish tribes of Puget Sound, knows perhaps as much as anyone in America how laughably out-of-whack that Google-search result really is. She is halfway through an epic journey funded by everyday people via Kickstarter to visit and document every single federally recognized tribe in the United States — more than 500 in all. For the past year and a half, she’s been taking new images to replace the tired ones that pop up in Internet searches, in the mainstream media — and in our minds. She calls her three-year campaign Project 562, the “562” representing the number of recognized tribes when she started out; there were 566 as of this spring. The first 50 or so gallery-ready images from the project are on exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum until Oct. 5. It is the most ambitious effort to visually document Native Americans since Edward Curtis undertook a similar challenge at the beginning of the last century. Back then, it was widely believed that Indians on this continent were going extinct and needed to be photographed for posterity. Wilbur is also concerned about photographing Native Americans for posterity, but her project is more a story of survival and advancement than extinction. Wilbur’s first name means “messenger” in her tribal language, and she more than lives up to that title. She pursues the issue of Native American identity with the zeal of an evangelist. And she doesn't mince words. “How can we be seen as modern, successful people if we are continually represented as the leathered and feathered vanishing race?” Wilbur says in a clip on Kickstarter. In person, she makes an equally powerful impression, telling stories, laughing out loud and giving hugs, but also speaking earnestly about her work. Taking a break from the field to attend the opening of the Tacoma exhibit this spring, she pointed out that images such as hers have an impact well beyond museums and classrooms. “We have to take back our narratives,” she says. “It’s time we stop assuming an identity that was never really ours.” Native Americans make up only 1.7 percent of the U.S. population, or about 5.2 million people, according to the 2010 Census. As Native American tribes negotiate for things like federal recognition and access to natural resources, Wilbur says it helps to show that Indian society remains intact and functional, albeit diminished. “Imagery matters,” she says. “Representation matters.” PROJECT 562 officially launched in the fall of 2012, when Wilbur, a schoolteacher, decided to give up her apartment in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood along with “a salary, a really cozy bed and a juicer!” and hit the road. She laid the groundwork by networking through Facebook, tribal newspapers, cultural leaders, professors and even distant relatives to get out the word and drum up contacts. She launched the first round of her Kickstarter campaign to fund her travels, raising $35,000. Then Wilbur packed up her Honda with her belongings, as well as personally canned fish and berries from the Northwest to present as gifts to her hosts around the country, and headed out. To date, she has visited more than 220 tribal lands from Long Island to Louisiana, Hawaii to Alaska, armed with little more than a camera and audio equipment, and a willingness to live out of her car and sleep in the homes of strangers. Wilbur jokes that there are only two degrees of separation between people even in the most far-flung sections of Indian country. Still, it can take time to follow the necessary protocols with tribal leaders and identify portrait subjects, and days more to build rapport before the camera comes out. In the field, Wilbur, a people person if ever there was one, sings and dances and cooks and feasts, gaining access to tribal events and behind-the-scenes moments that are off-limits to most outsiders. “I can hang — I’ll do your dishes!” Wilbur says in typically animated fashion one day while “hanging” in her old stomping grounds on Capitol Hill. Wherever she visits, locals make a way for her. “It’s like they take pity on me,” she jokes. Wilbur, who maintains a small staff of volunteers based in different cities, seems to have struck a chord. A second Kickstarter campaign to raise $54,000 more to continue the project netted pledges totaling nearly four times that — $213,461. The Tacoma Art Museum helped raise $20,000 to print silver gelatin images on display there. Project 562 is only partly a photographic journey. It is also a social documentary, a contemporary oral account by people young and old, rancher, blue-collar and professional, of what it’s like to be an Indian in the United States. At the Tacoma exhibit, recorded audio and video interviews accompany the portraits, adding nuance and resonance to the framed and in some cases hand-painted pictures. Subjects speak frankly about experiencing racism, their connection to the land, spirituality and personal identity. It is not always easy listening. Wilbur’s teenage niece, Anna Cook, is the subject of one portrait. She talks about going to a Catholic school and struggling to find a place in the overwhelmingly non-Native student body. On the recording that accompanies her portrait, she sobs while talking about how the white, Hispanic and the few Native students self-segregate in her school’s lunch room — “but nobody really says anything about it. I just have one really solid friend that I sit with by myself, so we kinda like separate ourselves.” That interview saddens Wilbur even now. But she believes that by having Cook expose her deepest anxieties about being Native American, she will inspire other young Native Americans to do likewise — and open a window for the rest of us. “It’s scary to be honest,” Wilbur says. “But if we don’t do it, then we won’t change the experience for the next generation.” Subjects in the exhibit express differing views about what it means to be an Indian. Star Flower Montoya, Barona and Taos Pueblo, shares advice from her grandmother: “You learn to wear your moccasin on one foot and your tennis shoe on the other.” But Turtle Mountain Chippewa Jessica Metcalf, a Ph.D in Native American studies, expresses an alternate take in the clip that accompanies her portrait: “We are not split in half. We do not have to choose . . . We do not leave our Indianness at the door when we walk into a grocery store or into an academic situation. We are who we are wherever we walk.” WILBUR HAS tackled the issue of Indianness before. In her earlier exhibit, “Save the Indian, Kill the Man,” Wilbur plays off the 19th-century U.S. government practice of sending Native American kids to boarding schools to assimilate them. The pictures explore how genocide and the loss of language and traditions contribute to problems such as substance abuse among Indians, which she believes is caused, in part, by a desire to numb the pain of historical and present-day ills. Native Americans and Alaska Natives have among the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths and suicides of all ethnic groups in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wilbur says it’s crucial to deal openly with the “sickness and toxicity” that plague Native American communities. At the same time, it’s important to combat stereotypes perpetuated in, say, old “cowboy and Indian” movies, as well as depictions of drunken, downtrodden urban Indians, she says. What’s striking about Wilbur’s pictures is the flattering way Wilbur has chosen to portray her subjects. The exoticism of the “noble savage” is replaced by an everyman sort of dignity. Majestic, natural backgrounds suggest a deep pride of place. The viewer can sense Wilbur’s determination to reset our attitudes about Native people. “Unfortunately, a lot of times when young people discuss ‘What’s Indianness,’ it’s associated with poverty and struggle,” Wilbur says. “That struggle somehow defines who we are, and I think I made the same mistake as a young person. I associated it with alcoholism and drug addiction, and the negative things in our communities that we’re still trying to recover from.” First, Wilbur had to wrestle her own ideas about what it means to be an Indian. Wilbur’s mother, Nancy Wilbur, whom she describes admiringly as “an old-school hustler, a total entrepreneur,” was an Indian activist who ran a Native American art gallery, called Legends, in La Conner when she was a kid. There, across the Swinomish Channel from the reservation where she grew up, the young Wilbur had privileged encounters with influential artists such as Marvin Oliver and Douglas David, who’d stop in to show off their latest work. Wilbur’s Swinomish family has a deep connection to the land around La Conner; a road near town even bears the Wilbur family name. There was much that Wilbur could’ve been proud of in those years — but she was angry. At college in Montana and then Southern California, where she earned a bachelor’s degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography, she became tired of fielding ill-considered questions about her identity. Explaining to people unfamiliar with Northwest Coastal culture that “No, I didn't grow up in a tee pee” can wear you down. Even though she knew the stereotypes about contemporary Indian life were wrong, Wilbur was “too young and naive” to figure out what actually did represent her culture, or why certain ills within her community persisted. “I didn't understand why my people were sick; I didn't understand why I had been to 70 funerals,” she says. It took some time to connect the dots. After college, Wilbur traveled abroad in search of herself, spending time in Europe, Africa and South America, where she photographed indigenous communities in Peru. Wilbur came home inspired. Instead of thinking of her heritage as a burden, she’d work to showcase it. She would be “my grandmother’s granddaughter,” passing on the positive traditions and beliefs handed down to her while documenting efforts to improve life for present-day Native Americans, from programs to revive fading tribal languages to ones aimed at improving health-care outcomes on reservations. Her portraits don’t avoid colorful Indian attire and ceremonies — far from it. From White Mountain Apache crown dancers in full body paint and headdresses to traditional hoop dancers, the collection celebrates custom and ritual. But presented among pictures of academics, activists, students, family men, career women and cowboys who are Indians, these images have a more appropriate context. When the exhibit opened in Tacoma this spring, Wilbur invited local relatives, project volunteers and subjects from around the country to the opening party to present blessings of song, dance and storytelling. What could’ve been a stodgy reception turned into a moving and at times rousing affair, with a stunning cross-section of Native American society on hand — Puyallup, Tulalip, Swinomish, Paiute, Pima, Crow, Yuma, Apache and beyond. Thosh Collins, a portrait subject from the Pima of Arizona, remarked on the uplifting spiritual energy in the room. “What she’s doing is healing work, wellness work,” he said of Wilbur’s pictures. At times like this, it’s hard to ignore the sad fact that this country’s Native people have few opportunities to celebrate across tribal affiliation in a mainstream space like an urban art museum. And it is even rarer for non-Natives to bear witness to such a gathering. Rock Huska, the museum’s curator for Northwest Contemporary Art, admits that TAM has limited experience with Native American art from the present day. And it is taking a huge gamble in helping an artist in the field to bring her project to fruition. The exhibit on display now is, in a sense, a test case for this type of collaboration. The museum will use feedback from paying visitors to make needed refinements and decide later how to work with Wilbur as she gathers additional material. Wilbur is engaged in two kinds of image-making — and only one involves a camera. She talks a lot about making Native Americans “attractive.” But when Wilbur uses that term, she isn't just talking about physical beauty. She’s also talking about doing things that inspire others to make positive change in their own way — leading by example. As Collins sang a song with his dad and brother at the opening reception, Wilbur, wearing a traditional woven hat, led a large, smiling group of women and men locked arm-in-arm in a joyful circle dance around the museum’s atrium. Wilbur says her goal is to build a traveling longhouse that represents her Northwest Coastal Indian roots and can be set up in cities all over the world to showcase her portrait collection, reminding visitors that the communities represented in her images aren't just a part of history — they’re still making it. Tyrone Beason is a Pacific NW magazine writer. Reach him at tbeason@seattletimes. Alan Berner is a Seattle Times staff photographer. s ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Proud Founder of.. "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" Member and Supporter of these Groups "Invalid Item" "Retired Founder, Rising Stars Program" "SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP" "The WDC Angel Army" "Showering Acts of Joy Group" "Invalid Item" "Heavenly Roses" "Invalid Item" "...I will not go gently into that good night..." Author: Dillon Thomas ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Proud Founder of.. "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" Member and Supporter of these Groups "Invalid Item" "Retired Founder, Rising Stars Program" "SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP" "The WDC Angel Army" "Showering Acts of Joy Group" "Invalid Item" "Heavenly Roses" "Invalid Item" "...I will not go gently into that good night..." Author: Dillon Thomas |
| peak Your Piece: 'Playing Indian' Arts and Culture 07/30/2014 0 comments Bookmark and Share print A senior staff member of the National Congress of American Indians cringes to remember his costume at his 21st birthday party. What will it take for the owner of the Washington, D.C., NFL team to have a similar epiphany over his team’s mascot? By Peter Morris Photo by Confrontational Media Protests call for the Washington NFL teamto change it's name from the "R word." I’m a white guy who works in a city whose football team’s name is a racial slur. I was born and raised 10,000 miles from Washington, D.C., but the name of the local professional team still matters to me. When I celebrated my 21st birthday in Sydney, Australia, the theme was “Americana.” People dressed in cowboy hats, ate hamburgers, and listened to Bruce Springsteen. I wore a red, white, and blue Indian headdress. I was in the final semester of a degree in Indigenous studies and personally committed to addressing the tragic history of Australia’s Indigenous people. When I put on that headdress, I was proud—happy, even. I thought I was honoring Native people. Today, I look back on that costume with regret. What changed? In the 14 years since, I’ve met tribal leaders, Native warriors—those who have earned the right to wear eagle-feather headdresses. I’ve studied with Native scholars, taught Native students, and visited countless reservation communities. For the past seven years, I have served on the senior staff of the National Congress of American Indians, giving me a front row seat to many important policy battles for Native peoples, including the fight to change the Washington team name. But on the issue of “Indian” mascots, I’ve been more of an outsider. Like many Americans, I have that “Indian in the Cupboard” moment: The time I played Indian at my 21st birthday. There are even photos to prove it. Until I wrote this, I’d never even told anyone I work with about that moment. And maybe that’s why I’m not angry at the non-Native people that I see wearing Washington NFL team jerseys, caps, and other branded merchandise. As the team starts training camp this month and the controversy over the name simmers, I’m sad, not mad, when I see the license plate covers, the bumper stickers, and the office decorations. Many of the people sporting that gear don’t know the Native young people—promising young leaders who speak passionately about the impact of “Indian” mascots on them and their communities—that I teach each summer. They may not be aware of the research that shows that “Indian” mascots harm the self-perception of Native youth. Out here, far from the reservations, they can’t see the impact of suicide in Native communities around the nation. Some of them might not know that the majority of America’s more than 560 tribal nations have spoken out against these stereotypes for almost 50 years through the resolutions of the National Congress of American Indians. It’s likely that they are in the same position I was in on my 21st birthday: They don’t know Native people. Even if they feel mildly uncomfortable about the Washington team’s name, even though there may be that sneaking suspicion that Native people might not like it, there is no personal accountability for their choices. No Native friend to call them out. And it’s not entirely their fault. The relatively small population of Native people on the East Coast is the direct result of policies of the United States government—and colonial nations before that—to kill or remove Native people from their homelands. In 1963, Martin Luther King wrote in Why We Can’t Wait that America “tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its Indigenous population.” He decried the harm of exalting that history and noted that “even today we have not permitted ourselves to reject or to feel remorse for this shameful episode.” In 2014, in Washington, D.C., I’m afraid that is still true. When fans across the city don team colors and proudly exalt a caricature of Native people as their mascot, they are not showing remorse for that shameful episode. How is that possible? Many racial slurs of the 1960s have been relegated to the history books—where they belong—but this one lives on. Many Americans have not been allowed to move beyond that vague feeling of discomfort with the team’s name. They went through an education system that failed to acknowledge the history of the United States and Native people, or failed to acknowledge the existence of Native people at all. The Washington team is financially invested in sustaining that ignorance. When they claim that this is a “new issue” or just the “PC police” at work, they are relying on the scarcity of Native people on the East Coast to avoid a critical response. They claim, with a straight face, that Native people aren’t really offended by the name—even though that term evokes the history where Native people’ skins were removed and sold for bounty. More than that, when the team proclaims a “proud history” of honoring Native people to a racially diverse Washington, D.C., fan base, they conveniently neglect to mention that George Preston Marshall—the owner that brought the team to Washington—led a decades-long fight against the integration of black players. They take money for jerseys and caps and use it to hide the fact that there are more than 5 million diverse Native people living in America today. They stand behind a team name that considers Native people, at best, a thing of the past, and, at worst, people to be ridiculed and impersonated with impunity. They promote a mascot that encourages people to don the equivalent of black face and “play Indian” each and every game day. While the big corporations haven’t changed, the NCAA has. And while there were 3,000 high school teams with an “Indian” name in 1980, today there are fewer than 1,000. Many of those changes were led by high school students. In recent years, schools in states like Montana and Washington have implemented curriculum to educate all of their students—Native and non-Native—about the historic and contemporary importance of tribal nations. Social networks have enabled non-Native young people to go beyond their geographic peer group and connect with their Native peers. Some have met Native people and realized—just like I did—that when we wear feather headdresses, we’re missing something. Native people are not a relic of America’s past; they are making America great today—they are sports stars and artists, politicians and scholars, soldiers and school kids—and, with almost half of today’s Native population under the age of 25, they will make America great tomorrow. Peter Morris is senior advisor to the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. This article was originally published in Pacific Standard’s PSmag.com. Login or register to post comments Printer-friendly version |
| GUEST COLUMN: Are you kidding me? Grow a backbone Posted: Friday, July 25, 2014 10:27 pm Len Mateer | 0 comments A recent guest columnist for The Times wrote about her perception of the excess of political correctness in our society. She chose as her keynote example the ongoing controversy over the name of the National Football League’s Washington Redskins. The controversy being that the name is considered offensive to, and by, Native Americans. Or, as newspaper style dictates referring to the offended group, American Indians. (With no intention of adding fuel to the political correctness fire, the term Indian in itself is a misnomer. More than 500 years ago, when the likes of Christopher Columbus and other European explorers came upon the shores of this continent, they mistakenly thought they had found a short cut to India. Thus, the indigenous people they encountered were wrongly deemed to be Indians. The name stuck.) The columnist went on to cite other examples of what could legitimately be seen as overreaction to enforce laws created in the name of political correctness, then returned to the case of Native Americans and their fight against perceived racism. Her words of advice to Native Americans were that, “They should emulate the Polish, who for years were the butt of Polish jokes. They need to grow a backbone and ignore these names.” What!!? My first thought on reading this was of a young son crying in his mother's arms after getting beat up by the neighborhood bully. Along comes the rough-and-tumble dad who slaps the child in the back of the head and says, “What’s the matter with you? Why don’t you just grow a pair and take it like a man?” Archie Bunker telling his African-American neighbor George Jefferson to be more like his Polish son-in-law, Mike Stivic, also came to mind. The column in question failed to give credit to the broad shoulders of the Irish, Italians, Hispanics, Jewish, Germans, African-Americans and people of other nationalities that make up this country and withstood disparaging labels and names. If the name Redskins, in terms of Native Americans, should continue to be considered acceptable in identifying sporting teams, as the previous columnist suggests, then why not other ethnic terms? Imagine if you will a sporting conference where teams like the Redskins take on other teams with ethnic nicknames (you know what they are) including the WASPs. Well, maybe not the WASPs. That name might offend the white, righteous, God-fearing portion of America. Yes, all of those words are politically incorrect and offensive and based on hate. However, keeping in line with the beliefs of the columnist in question, I will ask for an opinion on the following, and whether the group in question should just “grow a backbone” (epidural optional). The next time the Women’s National Basketball Association, or any other female professional sport, wants to add a new team they should choose the (city name here) Baby Makers. Just as names like Redskins, Chiefs and Indians with mascots adorned in headdresses and war paint, whooping and hollering and waving tomahawks is supposedly intended to honor the spirit and toughness of Native Americans, how better to honor women? After all, aren’t the strength and courage and bravery and endurance of pain that come with pregnancy and childbirth things to be honored and held in high esteem, something to be used and rallied around to lead a team to victory? The team mascot could be a caricature of a pregnant woman wearing an oversized foam rubber head that resembles the “Octomom.” Yes, this is outrageous and over the top, and overall a stupid idea. Just as pregnancy does not define women and not all women have children, Native Americans do not have red skin and did not, and do not, regularly run around in war paint with headdresses and tomahawks as a way of life. Finally, I’d like to end with the thought that the important focus in political correctness should not be politics. It should be about correctness, as in correcting the wrongs of the past. LEN MATEER is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Concordia University graduate. A former Ottawa resident, he lives in Marseilles. |
| LATEST: 'LIKE' SILVER CHIPS ONLINE: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SILVERCHIPSONLINE Redskins" a little too strong on offense Why Dan Snyder needs to change his team's name by Arthi Vijaykumar, The United States Patent and Trademark Office canceled the trademark registration for the Washington Redskins on June 18, finding that it may disparage Native American groups. While the ruling does not mean Daniel Snyder, owner of the Redskins, has to change the team name, it may cause Snyder to lose the right to prevent companies from using the team's name and logo. Snyder has resisted change for a while, but he must understand that changing the name would not only be compassionate to Native Americans who are hurt by the team name, it would also benefit himself and his team socially, financially and ethically. The word 'redskin', when not used in the context of the team, is universally recognized as a slur. It has been used throughout history in a negative context and is defined to be offensive,disparaging and insulting. While not all Native American people find the team name offensive, many Native American groups have voiced their disdain for the name. Native Americans are the only racial group to have American sports teams named after them. Since Native Americans make up such a small portion of the population, the derogatory name "Redskins" has for a long time slipped by. However, Snyder should not ignore complaints that his team's name is offensive to a racial group, no matter how small that group may be. A protest against the Washington Redskins' team name. Sure, one can argue that today's society is one of increasingly suffocating political correctness, and abolishing every word that somebody finds offensive would not leave us with many words. However, when a word such as redskin has such harsh and negative connotations with certain groups, that word needs to stop being used. The team's name is not just offensive because of the derogatory term 'redskin'; it is also dehumanizing to Native Americans. Football is an aggressive sport, so a football team named after a racial group creates implications about the people of that group. The team name perpetuates the 17th century stereotype that Native Americans are aggressive, warmongering savages. It creates an unflattering caricature of Native American people that has negative effects on their treatment and perception in society. So why has Snyder not been forced to change the team's name and logo yet? The answer is simple: the team's name has 'great tradition' behind it. However, a team's name having 'great tradition' behind it does not excuse it from being offensive. In 1995, the Washington Bullets' owner Abe Pollin changed his team's name to the Wizards because of the high homicide rate in D.C. at the time. Many showed outrage about a change to the beloved team name, but today people can look back and see that such a switch made sense. By refusing to change his team's name, Snyder is also ignoring an outstanding business opportunity. Snyder remains so blinded by 'tradition' that he cannot rationalize that a new team name would lead to brand-new team merchandise that Washington fans would surely buy. Snyder owns a football team in one of the most diverse parts of the nation. However, his team name insults and alienates a group of people who otherwise could have been fans of the team, and reducing his clientele is financially detrimental to himself and his team. While the Redskins have had their name since 1932, the traditional background of the nameshould not triumph over compassion. The name "Redskins" is hurtful, not only to Native Americans, but also to Snyder's image and wallet. Snyder owns the team that represents the nation's capital, and a derogatory team name is not representative of the values of our nation. He needs to understand that it's time for a change. NSPA Pacemaker Finalist, 2013 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Montgomery Blair High School's Online Student Newspaper About Us | Contact Us | Staff | Site Map | Print Edition |
| News From Chief Baker, of the Cherokee Nations Tribe in Ok. The dog days of summer in northeast Oklahoma have most of us thinking more about the lake and river than the upcoming school year. I know that's true for my own grandkids, but as we move into August, parents have already begun the annual preparation for the first day of school across the Cherokee Nation's 14 counties. One way we help families is by making school clothes available to our citizens who need them the most. The Cherokee Nation's annual school clothing voucher program allows parents to provide Cherokee students with new shirts, pants, dresses, socks and even coats for the coming academic year. Helping Cherokee families ease the burden of school expenses means they have more money for other critical bills. This year more than 7,000 Cherokee students in grades K-12 were assisted. Parents received a $100 gift card for each school-aged child in their household, and this year we partnered with Stage Stores because they have the most outlets in the 14 counties. Cherokee children deserve to start a new school year in a way that builds their confidence and makes them feel special. A new outfit or a new pair of shoes can be a huge emotional lift to a young student. If it makes children feel better and more comfortable with their peer groups, they will do better in their classes and make better grades. I know a new year brings a flood of new anxieties for young students, but we can calm some of those fears by making sure they are properly clothed. I believe it's a small price to pay to help our kids and give them a boost of self-esteem to start their year on a positive, uplifting note. Anything we can do to support our youth will mean better long-term success for them as individuals and for the Cherokee Nation as a whole. A proactive tribal government sees and fulfills the needs of its people, which is essential for continued success. The strength of our tribe is our people. About Cherokee Nation clothing vouchers: Clothing vouchers are available to Cherokee citizens who reside within the 14-county tribal jurisdiction, as well as meet income guidelines. Wado! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I do not think it fair to other Tribes to have just one Tribe's news, so here is some news from the Northern Natives.................. ```````````````````````````````````````````````` Native American Summit at UVU 1 Buy Now Spenser Heaps, Daily Herald Aldrean Lightning Hawk Ketchum plays a flute during the Annual Governor's Native American Summit at Utah Valley University on Thursday. July 31, 2014 2:45 pm Debbie Balzotti Correspondent(0) Comments Related Galleries Photos: Native American Summit at UVU OREM -- While adult tribal leaders, government officials and adults from the community listened to an impressive list of speakers this week in the ballroom at Utah Valley University as part of the 9th annual Governors Native American Summit, young Native Americans held their own youth track meetings. Featured youth speaker Garrett Yazzie spoke to an audience of young people Thursday and told them to decide now what to do in the future and to get an education. The room was silent as Yazzie, 23, told the story of his journey from a rebellious middle school truant to the confident college student he is today. I was 12 and a typical bad 'rez' kid, Yazzie said. I got in trouble and ditched school. I even stole food from the teachers lounge because I couldnt go into the cafeteria and get caught. He described the difficult living conditions for his single mother, himself and his two young sisters on the Navajo Nation in Pinon, Ariz. We lived in a 35-year-old trailer on the reservation, he said. It had no running water, no electricity and holes in the floor and ceiling. To get water we had a garden hose hooked up to the well. We took cold showers winter and summer. "We were embarrassed to go out because of our circumstances. Yazzie explained that his sister had asthma, and the wood stove heating their drafty trailer triggered an asthma attack that almost killed her. He was only 12, but he knew he had to find a way to replace the smoky stove. When my sister almost died from an asthma attack I knew I had to figure out a way to heat our home," he said. "I took a car radiator, some cans, a sheet of Plexiglass and made a giant wood box, four-feet-by-five-feet tall painted black, and put it facing the sun." His solar-powered water heater provided warm water for bathing and washing dishes, and helped heat the family trailer. I built the project because I had to help my family survive, but soon my parents and teachers pushed me into the science fair with it," Yazzie said. "I had no interest in doing a science fair until they told me it would give me a week vacation out of school in Phoenix. "I didnt know a piece of junk could make me famous. After winning nine of the 10 awards presented at the state science fair, he tearfully accepted the awards wearing the only clothes hed brought -- a torn pair of jeans, tennis shoes and a T-shirt printed with a tuxedo graphic. The solar-powered water heater project brought him national recognition and scholarships. He placed seventh in the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge in 2005, and in 2007 the Extreme Home Makeover show chose his family to receive its first-ever green-built home. "My son is getting a science degree and will be going into the radiology program because of the opportunities his project brought him, Georgia Yazzie said. The hardest thing I ever did was to send him at age 14 to live off the reservation with the Perez family. I cried when the plane took off, but I knew our school system was not the best and he would have more opportunities with Michael and Kathleen Perez, and they offered to help him after meeting him in Washington, D.C. Yazzies story has been retold in the 2013 award-winning short film Without Fire." The film is currently being shown at film festivals throughout the country. One of the students in the audience impressed by Yazzies message is currently living on the Goshute reservation on the border of Utah and Nevada. He travels by bus with seven students for more than an hour to the combination middle school-high school. Im 14 and I live in a remote place like Garrett does and its a long way to school, Bradley Yupe said. "Like him, I also like to build things with my hands when Im bored and to be outside. The movie looked just like where I live in the middle of nowhere with sagebrush, wind and cold winters. We have power outages all the time, and weve had two wildfires in the past three years. Those who attended the two-day governors summit had the opportunity to hear from representatives from each of the eight tribal leaders in Utah, and state and national government officials. Gov. Gary Herbert addressed the conference and signed an executive order Wednesday. The document addresses improving communication between state agencies and Native American tribal leaders in Utah. Once a year all state agencies will be responsible to report on how they are interacting with Utah tribes. William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, spoke at the conference and met with conference attendees. The important thing is to come and support the tribes here, Mendoza said. To bring states and tribes together is part of the president's commitment to working together. Its important to come together in places like Utah where there isnt as high a concentration of tribes, but we can learn from each other and serve each other as we share what is working well in each state." Shirlee Silversmith, the state's director of Indian affairs, agreed with Mendoza, adding that the summit helps Utahs Native Americans work together. This summit is a very important opportunity because it provides for tribal leaders and government to come together and build partnerships and promote positive working relationships, Silversmith said. In addition to our speakers, our breakout sessions also address issues for community members and tribal communities. The summit provides education and resources to assist tribes in sharing our culture, celebrating our history and preserving our traditions. This is our second year to have a youth track, which is also very important for the next generation to learn about who they are and gain an identity for themselves. It is an opportunity for them to interact with successful leaders and role models who, like most of us, had challenges as we were raised on the reservation. Copyright 2014 Daily Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Tags Native American Summit, Garrett Yazzie, Bradley Yupe, William Mendoza, Shirlee Silversmith, Indian Affairs View (0) Comments Recommendations FOLLOW THE DAILY HERALD I am working on a blog paper so that you can click on it to read all of the Rez. news as not to bombard your mailboxes full of this news. but at the same time, will give you access to all of the news that I receive in my other mailboxes from many Tribes of the Rez. ~Many blessings dear family/friends/Tribe~ Cissy Nega Waya ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Proud Founder of.. "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" Member and Supporter of these Groups "Invalid Item" "Retired Founder, Rising Stars Program" "SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP" "The WDC Angel Army" "Showering Acts of Joy Group" "Invalid Item" "Heavenly Roses" "Invalid Item" "...I will not go gently into that good night..." Author: Dillon Thomas |
If you ever want to know just how busy you can get on here... try being a part of about 15 groups, active, and starting one of your own too! I know, not too bright, lol. But hey... it's fun, the members are for the most part very nice and you get to meet many great Authors, friends, and become family with some. Now to me personally? It is worth any price to have a big family like this! Hope all are having a simply Awesome Week! If any are interested this is the group I started and ALL of WDC are welcome to join!
Be well my dear family and friends. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Hey everyone, I know that I haven't been here in weeks. I know what you're thinking, damn, that's good! kiddin y'all. I've got a good excuse. I have started a new group.   Hey, it's a really good group and I've been getting members already and It has only been a group for just a few days. It's called NAI Group. Why don't ya come on by and check it out and tell me what you think. If you'd like to join, email me and I'll add you to the group.
I've been extreemly busy getting this group together and making up all of the forums in it. It has been a lot of hard work but it was all worth it. It has already started to hop with activity and excitement from the members we have so far. Can't wait to see what we all are capable of in this new group. Be well my friends and family here at WDC, love and blessings to you all. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| I'm asking for everyone here on WDC to please pray for our dear sweet friend JudyB  . She has been sick for two months now and her dianosis is in and she has cancer. She will be going on cemo soon. Everyone that has encountered Judy knows what an Angel she has been to all of us here at WDC. She has touched so many lives. I'm sure that most everyone here has had Judy visit their port at one time or another. She is just that way. She goes out of her way to spread cheer and to make everyone feel like theyare not alone. Now I believe it is our time to step up and give back to her for a change, send her well wishes when you're able and please visit when you can to leave her a message @
Blessings and love to all that enter here. ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ |
| WoW! What an awesome party!!! Well just about everyone who attended got virtually drunk, we had to put a few in virtual cabs, some slept over and stayed all night ( too drunk to get out the WDC door ) ... it's a good thing that this site is so large or we wouldn't have had the room to have beds for everyone to sleep in. Gonna take a break for a couple of days, then I'm back at it come monday. This party wore me out! and what a mess to clean up too! Oh well, it was worth it... whom ever didn'tcome by to check it out? You missed one helluva party. Damn it was fun! Next party after the "Author's Spotlight Challenge" I'm going to make sure that we have music...(utube link to click on) ... because a lot of people were dancing at the party. I'll have a bartender next time as well. Have a fantastic week-end everyone... TGIF! Be well my friends and family here at WDC... Peace & Love to all whom enter here Ya! |
| Hi Everyone, Well earlybird decided to throw a celebration party for all of the Author's Spotlight contestants of his contest. This party was kinda thrown together, but it has been a real big hit! The whole WDC is invited to join in, in the merryment if you choose to. We are having a ball! So come on by if you get a chance okay?You won't be sorry. We've been dancing, there's been a lot of drinking going on (hic) oops! lol, several had to stay over night because we just wouldn't let them drive and drink. I think Earl had one too many wiskey's WoW what a turn out we've had. This party it seems will be going on for another day or so... so come on by and drop in, we'll mix ya up a drink or five ... we have some snacks too... and there's always someone around to chat and hang out with. Here's the place to go if you're interested ...
Hope everyone has an Awesome day! Be well my friends and family here at WDC. Peace, happiness, joy and love to all whom enter here.  |
| Let me tell ya, there is some kinda virus/flu thing going around so watch out you guys... this s*** is awful! Hey a friend that I met and seems to be a very nice person is having a birthday... he's a kid but that isn't his fault hahahahaha... Mr.Monk- GPs for the poor  ... Happy Birthday Tim.... Hope you have many more, and this is from allwho enter here, so here goes Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..., happy biirrrthdayy dear Tiiimmmm, happy birthday to youuuuu......and many morrrrrrre. Yippie!!!!!!! [ ballons and streamers flying all around lol ]love ya loads kid hope you have many more. Take care mf. Hope this turns out to be a great day for you. Also a very dear sweet awesome friend/sister of mine just had a birthday yesterday... Sorry I was sick Stacy to come by your port to sing ya a birthday song.... hopefully better late than never.... stacylynn71 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy biiirrrrthday deeaaarrrStacyyyyyyy..... Happy birthday to youuuuuuu.... and many, many mooorrrrrrrre. Wooo-Hoooo!!! YEA STACY LYNN ..... You are just too  cool chick and I love you to pieceslil' sister. Hope your birthday went well for you. |
| Well it seems like it never ends.... just when something goes right something else goes wrong. Now ain't that just the way it goes though? Couldn't sleep again last night... so that means I'll crash today. I hate sleeping during the day! damnit! Well, that's life huh?! Oh yeah !!!!! I just can't forget about this....  I'm a Rising Star Sponsor ! WOOOO-HOOOO !!!! Wow! what an honor this is. I'm sponsoring Nizza . And she is just the sweetest person that you'd ever want to meet. I have met so many nice people on here. I am amazed everytime that I meet someone new or even just email someone I've already been in contact with. Where did all of you nice people come from? And I want to know... Where in the hell have you been all of my life? Hmmmmm???? Thanks everyone for being so nice to ME ! You ALL are simply the greatest! Be well ALL. May you fnd peace and happiness when you enter here. I love ALL of my WDC family and friends
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| Hey all... well it's been a few days since I've had the time to come here...Whew! it's been a busy ???week? Damn, just can't remember!!! s***! there it goes again That damn ol' old age s*** kicking in again...now what's it called again? em...er...um...hell!! I don't know?! Who the hell can remember anyway, hahahahaha! Yeah! silly as I don't know what tonight lol. Oh yeah... damn! just remembered why I came here tonight, wow! I do need help ... I was needing to tell ya's something. I just got through setting up a signature shop to help save memberships, and to support two of the groups I am in.
As the time that goes by and I sell more images, I'll add another group to benefit from it. Angel Army Group. I've decided to do it a little different than when I first started it. Now I'm going to give each genre it's own section of a sig shop. So.... I'll be doing something like 6 sig shops... They'll all be located in my Art Gallery folder for easy access. For now I have 4 up and running. I didn't realize how much time it took to set up each shop, whew! I'll have these shops... General [ if anyone can come up with a good name for that one I would appreciate all of your help ] ... this one has the regular Art, Fantasy sig. shop [ mermaids, unicorns, pegasus, fairies etc. here] , Shop of Angels [ everything inspirational and angels here] ... Native American Indian Sig. Shop, The Dark Side [ everything dark, goth, etc here], Western Shop[ everything cowboys ,etc here.]Anyway.... you get the idea right? Well I've got four out of the six open... just takes so damn long to load each page etc...yatta, yatta...
Got a cNote shop as well in case you might want to send a cNote or two. ♥SoNNetWolF♫ Contributed to these cNote shops to help get me started. She did one of them I did the other two. Very reasonable.
If you find you have nothing to do one day...please stroll over to one of my shops and check it out okay? I'd be glad to see ya. If you want to visit my little Guest House please do...
I've been told that it's nice and cozy... There are a few things going on around here that if you have the time and GPs I would appreciate it very much if you all got involved. These Raffles need your help very badly.
Please don't forget that the Author's Spot Light Challenge Contest is coming up very soon in August.
I'm sure that there is more to list here but alas, I need to take my weary ol' bones to bed... my eyes are laying on the keypad and I just can't see anymore LOL. Be Well ALL, Hope you all start with a great Monday! Bless ALL whom enter here.  Hope everyone had a great week-end |
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