Native Village
Youth and Education News
February 1, 2008 Issue 184 Volume 3
"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
Alcatraz flag is sold for $60,000
Texas: "Old Glory's Helper Flag," a banner that flew at
Alcatraz during the 1969-71 Indian occupation, has sold for $60,000. Designed by Lulie Nall, Penobscot, the flag has red and white stripes and a black-outlined
teepee made up of yellow stars. Bill Butler, 61, who lives near Houston, bought
the flag for his collection of 1960s artifacts. "I felt that Old Glory's Helper
Flag needed to be in friendly hands," Butler said. "I'm not an American Indian,
but I have always supported the American Indian movement. I think this flag is
an important part of that history." However, several participants of Alcatraz
questioned the banner's importance. "That flag was never a symbol of Indian
resistance and not a symbol of Alcatraz," said Adam Fortunate Eagle Nordwall, a
78-year-old Chippewa Indian and organizer of the Alcatraz occupation. "It was
simply an accessory as far as I can tell." The $60,000 selling price was less
than the $100,000 - $150,000 experts had expected the flag to fetch. Butler
will store the flag temporarily and is considering lending the flag to a museum.
photo: SFGate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/01/25/BAUEULB10.DTL&type=printable
No treaty withdrawal says Lakota elder
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota: Last December the Lakota
Freedom Delegation declared that the Lakota people were withdrawing from their
treaties with the United States. The LFD declared their sovereignty as an
independent state. But Floyd Looks-For-Buffalo Hand, spiritual leader in the
Lakota religion, refutes their actions. "There was no treaty
withdrawal. It was three people," he said. "Russell Means and Duane Martin and
that lady [Phyllis Young], they do not speak for the nation. You've got to have
consensus." Hand also called the treaty withdrawal event a "publicity stunt"
and those involved were not authorized to act on behalf of the Lakota people.
Native News Digest
Inuit Truth Commission Begins Hearings On Sled-Dog Deaths
Nunavut: The Qikiqtani Inuit Association is holding public hearings to explore
allegations that thousands of Inuit sled dogs were slaughtered by the RCMP. "The
mandate that has been given to us by QIA is to investigate and do some hearings
and interviews ... to find out about the dog slaughter, "
said Joanasie Akumalik from the truth commission. Some Inuit have long claimed
that the RCMP killed about 20,000 sled dogs in Nunavut from the 1950s-1970s.
The RCMP says some dogs were killed because they were sick or posed a danger to
residents. The RCMP also denied allegations of an organized, mass slaughter,
and an RCMP investigation cleared the police of any wrongdoing. The QIA formed
their own truth commission claiming the RCMP report gave a one-sided view of
what happened. The QIA panel will travel to communities in the Qikiqtani
(Baffin) region this year to hear from the people.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/01/21/qia-truth.html
First privately-owned American Indian bank in U.S.
Turtle Mountain Reservation, North Dakota: The Turtle Mountain State Bank has
opened in Belcourt. It is the first American Indian-owned bank in the state and
the first privately-owned American Indian bank in the U.S located on a
federally-recognized Indian Reservation. TMSB offers all types of deposit
products as well as consumer loans, business loans and home loans. It will soon
offer online banking.
NativeNews] Digest Number 3542
Drinking water troubles on reserves improving, report says
A federal report says the number of native reserves with high-risk drinking
water has been cut by more than half over 2 years. Of 21 communities
originally listed as risk-water priorities, only four continue are still waiting
for construction
of new facilities.
H-Amindian Listserve
Mardi Gras Tribes Still Follow Suit
Louisiana: Darrly Montana is chief of the Yellow Pocahontas, one of nearly 60
groups calling themselves the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. They aren't Native
Americans, but mostly African-Americans who perform the ritual as a tribute to
the Chickasaw, Choctaw and other American Indian tribes that sheltered runaway
slaves. During the Mardi Gras celebrations, these tribes wear colorful,
extravagant costumes which are hand-stitched, a technique taught from one
generation to the next. The tradition of black New Orleanians honoring American
Indians began in the 19th century. The two cultures, both suppressed under
French, Spanish and American rule, worked and lived together and often
intermarried. Indian tribes often sheltered runaway slaves in the swamps
surrounding the area.
http://www.mywire.com/pubs/USATODAY/2008/01/11/5375823?&pbl=105
Bringing Things into Focus
Navajo Reservation, Arizona: Thousands of Navajo students may need eyeglasses,
but their families lack the insurance or funds to find out. Recently, the Navajo
council gave $495,000 to fund eye exams and glasses for 9,000 low-income Navajo
students in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The Nation will work closely with
Bishop Optical, which already helps the tribe to provide eyeglasses for elders.
"Really, we're not making a profit off of this," said Julie Smith from Bishop
Optical. "We are carrying all our expenses. The Nation just pays for the
services and glasses. When there's a difference, we pay that." Students
attending school on and off the reservation are eligible for services. "The
No. 1 thing from the education perspective is we want the children to succeed,
to be able to read and write and to meet the personal and individual goals they
have," said Leonard Anthony from the tribal council. "The other piece is to
meet the Adequate Yearly Progress goals in the schools."
www.daily-times.com/news/ci_7825159
Low-energy bulb disposal warning
The Department of the Environment says low-energy bulbs contain small amounts of
mercury and that safe recycling is important. "Because these light bulbs
contain small amounts of mercury, they could cause a problem if they are
disposed of in a normal waste-bin," said Dr. David Spurgeon. "That's a concern,
because mercury is a well known toxic substance." Official advice from the DOE
says:
If a low-energy bulb is smashed, the room needs to be vacated for at least 15
minutes;
Do not use a vacuum cleaner to sweep up broken bulbs, and don't inhale the
dust. Instead, use rubber gloves and put the broken bulb into a sealed plastic
bag;
Unbroken used bulbs can be taken back to the retailer if the owner is a member
of the Distributor Takeback Scheme;
Many waste disposal sites have facilities to collect and dispose of these old
bulbs.
BBC
Rare blood type discovered by OBI lab
OKLAHOMA CITY— Studies show some members of the Choctaw Tribe have a blood type
called ENAV(MNS42). Also known as "Avis", this blood characteristic is not
found anywhere else in the world. Very few studies have been done on blood
groups in Native Americans. Some believe Natives may have their own unique
combinations of minor red blood cell antigens, and new groups may yet be
discovered. “With increased Native American [blood] donations comes more
opportunity to explore ways in which we can provide safer transfusions and gain
knowledge that will ultimately benefit future generations.” says John Armitage.
www.adaeveningnews.com/local/local_story_002102336.html
Greenhouse Gas Makes Food Less Nutritious
Texas: As carbon dioxide levels accumulate in the atmosphere, nutritional value
of many food crops will decrease. Max Taub of Southwestern University analyzed
more than 200 experiments that tested how greenhouse gas
affects the protein in barley, rice, wheat, soybean and potatoes -- key foods in poorer
countries whose residents get most of their protein from plants. Tests show that
potatoes lose 14% of their protein, barley loses
15%, and wheat and rice lose 10%. Soybeans had the smallest reduction: 1.4%. As carbon dioxide levels
rise in our atmosphere, most plants accumulate more carbon in their tissues.
This reduces other elements, such as nitrogen, a key component of proteins.
"This is just one more example of the impact global changes could have on us," Taub said.
Photos and Facts:
Diet and Cost of Food Around the world
Tradition of the Red Road Digest
Tribe banishes four
Saginaw Chippewa Reservation, Michigan. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is
using an ancient tribal practice for dealing with problems: banishing
troublemakers from tribal lands. So far, the Tribal Council has banished at
least four people. Those four include one member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe,
two members from other tribes, and a non-Native man. Kent Jackson said
banishing a person is "an extreme response to extreme behavior" and is not a
decision taken lightly by Native leaders. Formal banishing orders the people to
stay off tribal lands. Other reservations which have banned people:
Red Lake Band and Portage Lake bands in Minnesota:
banished drug dealers
Lac du Flameau
Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin:
banished gang members and drug dealers
Eastern Band of the
Cherokee Nation in North Carolina: banished gang members and
drug dealers
http://www.themorningsun.com/stories/010608/loc_banished.shtml
Oyate Tawicohan
Minnesota: Oyate Tawicohan means "The Way of the People." It's also the name of
a funeral home run by Claudia Windal who's been involved in death care since
2000. At the time, an elder asked how she might have her cousin's remains
transported from Chicago to Minneapolis. The Chicago funeral home wanted almost
$2,000. Claudia and the elder rented a van and brought the remains
home. The cost: about $400. The elder then turned to her and said "now you must
do this for our people." This began the Indian Burial Assistance Project
which provides no cost transportation of Native remains to many reservations in
Minnesota and elsewhere. Claudia has since earned her degree in mortuary
science, became licensed in 2004, and opened Oyate Tawicohan in 2006. Oyate
Tawicohan is in Minneapolis. It welcomes native individuals and families
struggling with the high cost of funerals in most funerals homes.
Oyate Tawicohan:
http://naotw.biz/native_american_indian/products_services/death_care/oyate_tawicohan_funeral_home
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