Native Village
Youth and Education News
February 1, 2008 Issue 184 Volume 1
"It's important to teach
people, both tribal members and other communities, about our history because we
want our culture to continue. I think all cultures should share like that;
they'd become less intimidating to each other."
Barry Phillips, Potawatomi
Boulder may spark big fight
Kentucky: An Ohio historian and a team of divers pulled an 8-ton boulder from
the Ohio River near South Shore, KY. last fall. Then they took it to their
state. Now some Kentuckians want it back. The boulder, known as Indian Head
Rock, is about 4 1/2 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It's was named for a "smiley
face" etching which may have been carved by ancient prehistoric Indians. Besides the
carving, names of Portsmouth (OH) families from the early 1900s also are
inscribed on it. The rock's historical significance to Portsmouth is one reason
the Ohio city wants to preserve and display it. "We've saved a piece of history," said historian Steven Shaffer
who was involved in the find. But Kentuckians aren't
persuaded. "What we have here is … the theft of property that belongs to every
Kentuckian," said Rep. Reginald Meeks. Some are talking of
criminal charges: stealing a registered artifact is a Class D felony,
punishable by 1- 5 years in prison. Indian Head Rock is currently being stored in
Portsmouth.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS01/801210423/1008
Archaeologists find major site of Caribbean tribe
Puerto Rico: The Taino Indians
are part of the Arawak people who settled the Caribbean. They may also have traveled by canoe to nearby islands and
South America. Now a major discovery may help us learn more about these early
Caribbean inhabitants -- a very large Taino ball court,
ceremonial site, burial grounds, petroglyphs, and trash mound have been
uncovered by archaeologists. "Suddenly it went from a very good site to an
extraordinary site," said archaeologist Chris Espenshade. "Part of what makes
it extraordinary is that we have everything here: the midden (refuse) mound, the
baty (ceremonial site), the house patterns, the burials and the rock art." Puerto
Rico is currently deciding how to manage the area. In the meantime, the site
will be reburied with armed guards posted to protect the artifacts from looters.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/01/01/0101puertodig.html
Mongols
Reached America Before the Europeans, Mongolian Scholar Claims
Mongolia: A Mongolian history professor is claiming that the Mongols reached the
American continent before European invaders. "About 8,000 to 25,000 years ago,
Mongols with stone tools crossed the Aleutian Islands and arrived in America
first," said Sumiya Jambaldorj, who teaches at Chingis Khaan University.
Jambaldorj bases his claim on place names in America and their similarity to
names in the Mongolian language. "More than 20 place names of the Aleutian
Islands belong to the Mongolian language ... ," Jambaldorj said. He added
that one American Indian language contains some Mongolian words, such as
"hagaan," which also means ancestor, or 'khan' in Mongolian. Jambaldorj also
points to stone tools found in the Aleutian Islands. Those same tools have only
been found one other place: the Gobi desert area of Mongolia.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/10/content_7401721.htm
Ancient mask from Alaska ghost village returned to descendants more than a
century later
King Island Native
Community, Alaska: King Island holds a mystical pull for former
inhabitants and their descendants. The island was abandoned 40 years ago but its
crumbling homes, still perched on stilts, cling to the steep, rocky terrain.
Little remains of the island, an old Inupiat Eskimo village, except for
artifacts, traditions, and memories. Recently, Marilyn Lewis contacted the
relocated Kings Island Community. She told them she had an ancient mask a relative brought home more than a
century ago. On the back was a faint inscription: "Taken from a medicine man's
grave on King Island." Marilyn said she wanted to return the wooden mask to its
rightful owners. Two weeks later, Marilyn traveled from Washington state to
hand-deliver the artifact. It is now on display at the Carrie M. McLain
Memorial Museum in Nome.
H-Amindian Listserve
Atayal woman revives full facial
tattooing tradition
Taiwan: For
the first time in nearly a century, an Atayal woman has tattooed her face in the
traditional way. "Facial tattooing is an old cultural tradition of the Atayal
tribe. I feel very proud to have a tattoo on my face," said Shayun Foudu, 33.
The custom of tattooing faces dates back about 1,400 years and was practiced by
several of Taiwan's Aboriginal tribes. Atayal tattoos are especially
well-known because it was widely practiced and the tattoos covered nearly the
entire face. Japanese colonial rulers banned the traditional custom 95 years
ago, but now it's no longer outlawed. While the tattooing tradition is rapidly
disappearing, some Atayals are reviving the tradition before the older
generation dies. Foudu hopes her actions will help society adopt an open mind
about facial tattoos.
photo
and article:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/22/2003398275
Lumbees celebrate routing of the KKK
North Carolina: The Lumbee Tribe will honor surviving American Indians who
chased the Ku Klux Klan from Robeson County in 1958. “I am excited [to] honor
the Lumbee warriors who helped rid the county of a message of bigotry and hate,”
said Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins. “I hope everyone brings their children so
that the oral tradition and stories will be passed on.” From 1957-1958, the KKK
threatened Lumbee Indians by leaving burning crosses in their yards. One was a
Lumbee woman they claimed was having an affair with a white man. When Klan
leader James Cole planned a rally at Hayes Mill Pond, city and government
officials and Lumbee Indians asked the Klan to hold the rally elsewhere. They
refused, predicting that 5,000 Klansmen would be at the rally. However, only 50
showed. As Cole began to speak, a Lumbee man shot out the bulb
providing the light. Then dozens of American Indians fired weapons into the air. The
Klansmen fled into the woods, leaving behind their public address system, unlit
cross and various regalia. Cole was later arrested for inciting a riot and
appeared before Lacy Maynor, the only Indian judge in Robeson County. He was
sentenced to a year in prison. The incident received national television and
print coverage, including coverage in Life magazine.
photo and article: www.indianz.com
Tribe Members Come From Across Nation to Reunify in Robstown
Texas: If you thought the Lipan Apache Tribe was extinct, it's not. About 200
tribal members from Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Alaska and New Jersey recently
gathered in Robstown. The homecoming was the largest gathering of Lipan Apache
in South Texas since 1873. Tribal members logged into the tribe's roll book and
declared themselves a unified nation. Organizers hope that Nueces County will
become home to the tribe's new corporate headquarters.
http://www.caller.com/news/2008/jan/06/apache-reunion/
Tribal groups call Indiana home
Indiana: Many don't realize that nearly 42,000 Indiana residents are American
Indians. Almost 3,000 reside in Northwest Indiana, and about 6,000 belong to the
Miami Nation, the Wea, and the Upper Kispoko Band of the Shawnee Nation. Some
members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which is based in Michigan,
also live in northern Indiana. "People don't know we exist," said Brian
Buchanan of the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission. "There are
gaps of educational knowledge about Native Americans ... We have different needs
than what society has provided in the past." Buchanan is also chief of
Indiana's Miami Nation tribe.
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/01/06/news/porter_county/doc5edf7d3fc1bd7e65862573c8000c1237.txt
Landless tribe waits federal recognition
Montana: Almost 100 groups across the United States are
seeking federal recognition from the Federal Government. One is the Little Shell
Tribe of Chippewa. They have been trying for more than 100 years. "I worked on the
Little Shell petition in the '80s, and most of the people that I worked on it
with are now dead," said Jack Campisi who has helped dozens of tribes with
recognition petitions .Federal officials cite rigorous standards and a
lack of resources for holding up progress. "The process is in place. It is what
it is," said Nedra Darling. Federal recognition is a long process with
barely one decision being made each year. It gives tribes access to
federal health care, affordable housing and education grants. It also gives new
focus to peoples pulled apart by time, distance and repeated rejection. To
speed up the recognition process, some members of Congress are calling for an
end to current methods, saying they are a "black hole" that swallows petitions
for decades.
Learn
More:
Mandatory
criteria for Federal acknowledgment of an Indian Nation
http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,file=print,nid=17507.html
Maroon Indigenous People Seeking Autonomy in Jamaica
Jamaica: The Maroons are indigenous peoples from Jamaica. Descended from runaway
slaves, they are celebrating their 270th anniversary of freedom from British
rule. The Maroons now want to establish their own autonomous state in the
community of Accompong. Head of the maroons, Colonel Sidney Peddie, said the
group is formalising their idea to be sent to the United Nations to consider.
Photo: UNESCO
BBC
Chickasaw tribe honors original enrollee
Chickasaw Nation, OK: The Chickasaw Nation recently honored Daisy Blackbird at
her 105th birthday party. Blackbird, who is among the tribe's original
enrollees, was born in Tupelo, Indian Territory, in 1903. A former teacher,
Daisy is also the widow of former Oklahoma Chief Justice W.H. Blackbird who
served the state from 1952-1971. Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby was
among the guests at Blackbird's party.
photo: http://www.adaeveningnews.com
http://newsok.com/article/3194837/1200774963
Wapato's Elyse Umemoto is runner-up in Miss America competition
Washington: 23-year-old Elyse Umemoto from Wapato, WA was named second runner-up
in the 2008 Miss America Pageant. Elyse, who is the reigning Miss Washington,
is an enrolled Yakima but jokingly refers to herself as a "quad:" one-quarter
Yakima as well as German, Hispanic and Japanese. Had she won the crown, Elyse
would have been the first Native American to become Miss America. And the first
Hispanic. And the second Asian. The new 2008 Miss America is Kirsten Haglund
from Michigan.
http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=7779921&nav=menu484_2_7
Marietta
man leads tribe, works to revive its culture
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma: Kerry Holton, 42, moved to Oklahoma from
Marietta, Georgia, to
become president of the Delaware Nation. Holton now leads the tribe of about
1,400 people. He can spot his members by the tribe's emblem — a turtle — on
their license plates. "I have the same problems that President Bush does,"
Holton said. "I do the same things: try to provide economic development,
employment, social programs for children and the elderly." He's also trying to
right old wrongs. Holton is trying to make the federal government
honor a 1778 treaty. It promised Delaware
Chief White Eyes that if his people
helped Americans in the Revolutionary War, the tribe would establish a 14th
state and have a seat in Congress. "They were hoping no one would ever come
back and try to make the claim," Holton said. "Here I am." The Delawares, also
known as the Lenape, are considered the original tribe in the Northeast. When
Holton meets with tribes such as the Iroquois and Powhatans, they don't call him
"Chief." They call him "Grandfather." "It's kind of weird, but it's a sign of
respect," Holton said.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/01/19/hief_0120.html
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