Native Village
Youth and Education News
January 25, 2006 Issue 163 Volume 3
"We're still here. We still speak our language. We still hear the drum. We still dance." Melvin Francis, Passamaquoddy
Miss Indian Teen, Kanasa Begay 2003 |
Miss
Indian Teen World seeks contestants
Utah: In 1993 the national Miss Indian Teen World National Scholarship Program/
Pageant Inc. was established. The pageant is not a "beauty
pageant" but instead seeks to reach the beauty of the young ladies, hearts,
cultures and heritage. Miss Indian Teen World will become an ambassador of
good will for both U.S.A. and Canada. The Pageant runs between
June 8-10, 2006 in Salt Lake City.
Miss Teen Indian World: www.missindianteenworld.org/rules.htm
Teaming Up
Wyoming: The NAACP [The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured
People] has spent 97 years fighting for African-American civil rights. Now
they are reaching out to Native American tribes. 11,400 Shoshone and
Arapaho from the state's Wind River Reservation will soon become members.
"This is the first time the NAACP has ever done anything like this and it
is going to be a very big story," said Jim Simmons, local NAACP
president. "We have spoken with our Native American brothers, and
they understand that to fight the big dog, you must be a big dog yourself.
We (the NAACP) are a big dog and we have a big bark." Eastern
Shoshone chairman Ivan Posey said major Native American issues such as poverty,
unemployment and housing could "work up well" as part of the NAACP.
However, issues of sovereignty over traditional lands and reservations would
remain internal tribal matters.
IndigenousNewsNetwork@topica.com
Postage Increase Revives Navajo 2-Cent Stamp
Washington, DC: The latest postage increase has revived a 2004 2-cent stamp
showcasing Navajo jewelry. The stamp features a silver and turquoise
necklace with sand-cast squash blossoms. 100,000,000 of the stamps were printed
in 2004, and the U.S. Postal Service made 2,000,000,000 more after they raised
first-class stamps from 37 cents to 39 cents. Navajo jeweler Lori Hesuse,
57, remembers the 2004 dedication ceremony of the Navajo stamp in Crownpoint,
where her daughter served as postmaster. "When the stamp first came
out, I bought a bunch of them and gave them all to my friends," she said.
The squash-blossom design is based on a Spanish-Mexican trouser ornament
designed after a pomegranate blossom. But the Navajo name for the necklace
has nothing to do with squash or pomegranate. It simply means, "round
beads that spread out," Hesuse said.
The Associated Press State &Local Wire
Winter Remedies for the Cold
Herbs strengthen the body's ability to fight viruses and bacteria.
Patrisia Gonzales, writer for Column of the Americas, tells about Patzin,
Nahuatl medicine used to treat the common cold. Below are a few
suggestions: [Editor's note: Not to be used by pregnant women. Be sure to
consult your parents, doctor or health practitioner before trying these
treatments.]
1. A tea made from Elderberry with Yarrow or Peppermint, (equal parts) is good
for runny nose or congestion:
2. A tea of ginger, onions, garlic and a bit of cayenne or chile is good for a
runny nose and congestion.
3. Nettles is excellent for a runny nose.
4. Slippery Elm, Mullein soothe mucus lining of the lungs; combine with Osha
root or Wild Cherry Bark for lung congestion or cough.
5. Honey with lemon soothes coughs.
6. Oregano and romero tea helps chest colds.
7. Romero is good for a chest or head cold.
8. Manzanilla works best on stomach flu.
9. Thyme is an excellent anti microbial for colds, laryngitis or bronchitis.
10. Diet: Eat lots of fresh garlic and ginger or make a tea with fresh ginger
(antiviral and de-congests lungs)
Some varieties of chile have more Vitamin C than oranges.
Avoid meats because digestion tends to get sluggish.
Avoid sugars and dairy, which increases mucus and helps viruses grow.
Drink agua de cilantro to help de-congest. (Save the rinds of
pesticide-free citrus and set in water. It provides natural Vitamin C and
bioflavonoids.)
Eat sandia, melon, oranges, pineapple, apples, grapes, avacados, and
celery to naturally cleanse your system.
Column of the Americas
O Tamiflu: Turning Christmas trees into flu drug
Ontario. Thousands of Christmas trees may end up part of a lifesaving
drug. Needles from pine, spruce and fir trees contain shikimic acid.
Shikimic acid is the main ingredient in Tamiflu, a antiviral drug that helps
protect humans from the anticipated bird flu pandemic. Biolyse Pharma
Corp., is now processing thousands of discarded trees to retrieve the acid.
"It's an urgent matter, and we should be starting production -- not once
the pandemic hits, but before that," said chemist Brigitte Kiecken. Most
shikimic acid is obtained from star anise, a spice from a tree grown in China.
Prices of star anise skyrocketed when the possibility of a world-wide human
outbreak of avian flu escalated. So far, the World Health Organization has
confirmed 149 cases of bird flu. Most cases were in Asia, and most were fatal.
Now that the flu has spread outside East Asia into Turkey, where 20 cases have
been confirmed, countries all over the world are stockpiling Tamiflu in
anticipation of a bird flu pandemic.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/conditions/01/20/tamiflu.xmas.trees/index.html?eref=aol
NICHD
Alerts Parents to Winter SIDS Risk
The National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development wants parents and
caregivers to protect infants from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS
increases in the cold winter months when infants become overheated under too
many blankets, too many layers of sleep clothes, and sleep in too-warm rooms.
For more than 10-years, the NICHD has led the Back to Sleep campaign to protect
babies from SIDS. Since the campaign began, the overall U.S. SIDS
rate has decreased more than 50%. But compared to whites, African American
infants are twice as likely -- and American Indian babies nearly three times as
likely -- to die from SIDS. Research finds that overheating is among the
biggest risk factors for the Northern Plains American Indian community.
The NICHD is working with American Indians to create culturally-appropriate
materials to help reduce SIDS risk reduction.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently issued updated recommendations
for reducing the risk of SIDS:
Always place babies on their backs to sleep, for naps and at night;
Place babies on firm sleep surfaces, such as safety-approved crib mattresses
covered by a fitted sheet;
Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of babies' sleep areas;
Do not allow smoking around babies;
Keep babies' sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others
sleep;
Consider offering a clean, dry pacifier when placing babies on their backs to
sleep;
Do not let babies overheat during sleep;
Avoid products claiming to reduce the risk of SIDS;
Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS;
Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head by
providing "Tummy Time;" when your baby is awake and someone is
watching;
Changing the direction that your baby lies in the crib;
Avoiding too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2006/nichd-18.htm
The Healthy Aboriginal Network
British Columbia: Soon to be released is a new comic book addressing
Aboriginal youth suicide prevention. It’s the story of a reserve teen who
feels socially isolated and has difficulty at school. Even with his
artistic talent and help from a good friend, the young man considers taking his
own life. The story was inspired, written and illustrated by Steve
Sanderson, a professional Aboriginal youth cartoonist. Health
professionals and Aboriginal youth focus groups helped create the authentic
characters and language.
For more information: sean@thehealthyaboriginal.net
IndigenousNewsNetwork@topica.com
Skate
park aims for health
South Dakota: A skate park in Wagner has opened after two years of
planning. Kids can attend skateboarding clinics and competed for prizes
such as best report card, best school attendance and best skateboard trick. Amy
Schwenk-Doom, a Boys and Girls Club coordinator, said getting children
involved in physical activity and keeping them off the street are two of
the park's objectives. "A third objective is bringing both the
Indian and non-Indian community in Wagner together," Doom said.
"Beyond that, we ultimately want to get some leverage on the extreme
poverty in the community." "Now we have a place where we
can go and have the fun," said 9-year-oild Philomena. Her 12-year-old
brother, Lucas, is grateful. "It's pretty cool," he said.
"I never get in trouble, but now I have a reason not to. I like it that we
have something to do in Wagner."
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051121/NEWS/511210323/1001/NEWS
Risk of Teen Drivers Reaches Others
New teenage drivers have long been considered the most dangerous drivers on the
road. Now a new study from the auto club, AAA, shows teen drivers
are more dangerous than thought. Unlike elderly drivers, who mostly kill
themselves when they crash, new teen drivers involved in wrecks have an impact
far beyond their own families. From 1995-2004:
30,917
people were killed in auto accidents involving drivers
age 15 to 17;
64% of those killed were not the teenage driver;
When the driver is a teen, there is a
300% - 500% increase an auto accident will
kill someone other than the driver;
There is a
200%
increase in the risk of a teen dying in a crash when at least
one teenage male passenger is in the car.
AAA plans to use the findings to push state legislators to enact tougher
teen-licensing laws. Thirty-two states restrict when new teens can drive and
whom they can transport and when they can drive.
USA Today
Construction of homeless center to begin in February
Washington: Forty-five homeless people died on the streets of Seattle in 2005.
When Chief Seattle Club opens its new site in January 2007, it can't give
American Indians and Alaska Natives a place to sleep at night -- neighborhood
regulations prevent homeless shelters. But the club will be better
equipped to help homeless Native people get off the streets. ' 'When a Native
American walks in the door, he or she will know they're home,'' said Margo
Spellman, who is promoting the fund-raising campaign. During the day, club
members can visit the center for:
showers, laundry and meals;
use computers and telephones for job searches;
get transportation for hospital visits and emergencies;
get help accessing health care services and substance abuse treatment;
get clothing, blankets and personal hygiene items'
attend cultural activities;
accept rides to gatherings and religious services.
There will also be a gallery to sell art made by club members. The Chief Seattle
Club currently has 741 members, up from 726 in 2005. About 130 men and
women are served daily.
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412320
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