Native Village 

Youth and Education News

October 6, 2004,  Issue 139 Volume 4

"There were [nearly 50 million] people here who had found the continent tens of thousands of years before [Columbus.]  I think he loses the right to be called the discoverer."
Chuck Hunt, Lane Community College
 
U.S. Blocking Arctic Report
     Washington - Sheila Watt-Cloutier, chairwoman of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, told the U.S. Senate that the Bush administration is blocking the release of an international report about the impact of global warming on the Arctic's people. Four years ago, the U.S. and other nations launched the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. More than 300 scientists participated. The results contained in two reports -- a scientific analysis and policy recommendations--was to be presented to Arctic government ministers at a November 9 meeting in Iceland. The U.S. is blocking the policy version. "It's politics," Watt-Cloutier said. If the United States followed the recommendations, it would have to "sign the Kyoto Protocol and the rest of it. It's short-term thinking pressured by [industry]."  The other nations participating in the climate assessment - Canada, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden - want the policy recommendations released, but are being overruled by the Bush administration, Watt-Cloutier said.
http://www.newsday.com/ews/health/ny-hsclim163973202sep16,0,5260050.story

Dangerous Days of Summer
The Environmental Defense Organization has rated major U.S. cities to see where air pollution can make outdoor play dangerous. The 50 Worst Cities are:

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/dangerousdays.cfm

Horses sent to reservation
Nevada: About 80 wild horses from northern Nevada are headed to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in an effort to protect the herd. The arrival of the horses marks the fourth herd the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros has brought to the state. Each herd was endangered or threatened in some way. "Knowing that the horses will continue to thrive and that their historic and cultural background will be preserved is very exciting," said Karen Sussman, president of the organization. Some of the horses are considered to be descendants of those brought here by the Spanish in the 1640s. Others are offspring of cavalry animals. The palominos, pintos and sorrels will be placed in holding pens for about two or three weeks. After the horses become acclimated to their new surroundings, they will be released to open range.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/

Campaign launched to save woodland caribou
Canada: The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society launched a nationwide campaign to save the woodland caribou. The member of the deer family is found in boreal forests fromNewfoundland and Labrador through northern Quebec, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Tim Gray, the organization's director, says logging, oil and gas exploration and Hydro electric projects are reducing the Woodland caribou's habitat. He says the species is slowly being pushed towards extinction and needs help. "The remaining undeveloped portions of the boreal forest are their last refuge. So if we're going to keep this species, we need to fundamentally change the way that we plan for development and conservation in Northern Canada."
http://north.cbc.ca/

Northern gardening surpassing expectations
Yukon: On the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation is the Yukon’s first greenhouse which has been in operation for four years. Caretaker Alice Kowalchuk has been cultivating thousands of square feet of vegetables since the building opened. "Watching them grow and then mature, when people buy them, then I think I'm growing the vegetables to make somebody happy in their stomach," she said.  The idea of growing vegetables so far North seemed unlikely: between the cold winters and poor topsoil, the Yukon has never been an agricultural area. Yet, Little Salmon is capitalizing on the climatic advantage of 20 hours of sunlight daily in June and July. More than a dozen varieties of produce, including tomatoes, peppers, broccoli. potatoes and corn, are distributed to the band’s elders and diabetics on a weekly basis with some leftover for minor sales.  "Before we had this, a lot of people didn't have other vegetables but now they're trying them and liking them," she said. "More people are starting to eat fresh vegetables and now young kids are eating tomatoes instead of living on chips and fries." Although no pesticides or chemicals are sprayed onto the vegetables, the foods cannot be called "organic" because of the rigid international certification involved. The gardening does fall, however, within the cultural concept called Dooli, or traditional law.  "To be using generically modified foods breaks Dooli because you're not supposed to mess with food and nature," said Susan Davis from the band’s Lands and Resources department.  She also added with less energy required to bring food to the table because of the greenhouse, this is also in keeping with Dooli.
Indian Country Today
I
Luck or Legend?

Marco Island: Hurricanes, hurricanes hurricanes.  The South has had it's share.  But why hasn't Marco Island received a direct hit? Legend says the Calusa Indians keep it protected from hurricanes. "There is a rumor that the Calusas chose Marco as one of their safe havens," said Marion Nicolay, a Marco Island Historical Society member. Some residents refer to it as the "blessing of the Calusa," which means the island is under the Indians' protection and goodwill.  Several people refer to mounds the Calusas constructed from oyster and whelk shells used as protection from storms and hurricanes. The mounds also served as platforms for homes, temples and burial sites. High tides often got their belongings wet, so they built mounds to keep their things away from the water. Perhaps the mounds redirected the storms.  Whether it's luck or legend, no one knows.
http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/ma_features/article/0,2071,NPDN_14917_3199531,00.html

Time Machine: Cinco De Mayo
Each May 5th, Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held throughout the United States. Yet few people know the history behind this highly significant event in Mexican history. It all started on a sweltering day in Puebla, Mexico when an ill-equipped Mexican Army united with Zacapoaxtla Indians to defeat the French Army. Cinco de Mayo, which appears on the History Channel on October 9 at 7:00 pm, tells the story of the French occupation of Mexico which led up to these dramatic events on May 5th, 1862 and its meanings for people throughout the world.
History Channel

Indian Art Beyond the Museum
In celebration of the Smithsonian's opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, several Indian-themed art shows Are taking place in the D.C. area. Among them:
CLEARLY TRADITION: GLASS IN AMERICAN INDIAN ART -- Through Oct. 23 at the Glass Gallery, Bethesda, MD. Native American glass art by such well-known artists as Robert Tannahill and Tony Jojola www.artline.com/galleries/glass/glass
CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN ART -- Through Oct. 9 at Kathleen Ewing Gallery, 1609 Connecticut Ave. NW Photographs from Victor Masayesva Jr., Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, and Zig Jackson. www.kathleenewinggallery.com/
A LIVING TRADITION: PUEBLO POTTERY FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION -- Through May 15 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. www.nmwa.org.  A small but illuminating display of eight pottery vessels by Pueblo Indians, along with a 30-minute video
BREAKING THE SURFACE: ROXANNE SWENTZELL, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO SCULPTOR --Through Oct. 24 at Provisions Library, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW  Some of the pieces clearly address issues of identity politics. www.provisionslibrary.org
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

  Arctic hunter brings carvings to life
Northwest Territories: Because of its isolation from human populations, the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories has an abundance of life.  Derrald Pokiak Taylor has an intimate knowledge of the land and attempts to portray the vividness of those animals through his art. "When I see the animals, I’ll follow them in their natural environment.  When the polar bear is on the ice or in the open water, I’ll take the time to watch his movements," said Taylor, 41.  "I've hunted caribou all my life so I see when they're walking and running and that’s what I try to copy." A self-taught carver using soapstone, Taylors carvings are as realistic as possible.  His signature is the edging: along the animals’ backs and stomachs are tufts of fur blowing in the wind.  Taylor believes the Inuvialuit have practiced their craft with little fanfare, and that’s why he wants to be hands-on during any potential sales. "A lot of my work I’d rather sell to private buyers because the buyer meets the artist and I get to meet the buyer," said Taylor, whose work is only in three galleries.
http://www.indiancountry.com/

   Navajo Barbie sells out at area stores
Wearing a chocolate brown velveteen shirt, a long floral skirt and "silver and turquoise" jewelry, the new Navajo Barbie doll is a hit. This dark haired and caramel skinned doll has her tresses tied in a traditional Navajo bun and her shoulders are warmed by a Navajo designed shawl. Three weeks ago the Navajo Barbie doll went on sale at national discount stores and toy shops around the country. Most major retailers are sold out, even though more than 50,000 were made. Mattel, the maker of Barbie, has introduced The Princess of the Navajo as part of the Dolls of the World Princess Collection.  Crystal Redgrave, a kindergarten teacher at Tse Ho Tso Primary School in Fort Defiance, said the Navajo doll represents all Native American women well.  "Indian women need to be represented," she said.  Other dolls in the series include a princess of Cambodia and Ancient Mexico.
http://www.thenavajotimes.com/20043009/News/navaBarbie.html

A Football First
Arizona: The Salt River Indian Reservation consists of two tribes, the Pima and Maricopa. Until recently,  Salt River High School didn’t offer football. Today, however, the team is in the second year of it's eight-man football program.  “We’re building a foundation here,” said Coach Ernie Salazar. “They never had the opportunity to play football before.” Salazar says community members take pride in the Eagle football program because when they were in high school, tribal members had to go to off-reservation schools to play the sport. The team also is gaining in popularity among younger students.  “We have a junior high program that starts with the seventh and eighth grade,” Salazar said. “Fifteen young boys are playing in its first year.” Eight-man football is the smallest of the five football classes in Arizona. Eight players are on the field from each team at one time.
http://www.reznetnews.org/sports/041004_football/

Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bill To Ban Term 'Redskins' From California Schools
California: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill to ban the use of the name "Redskin" from California schools. "Existing statute already affords local school boards general control over all aspects of their interscholastic athletic policies, programs and activities," his veto states. "Decisions regarding athletic team names, nicknames or mascots should be retained at the local level."  Though only five California schools would be affected by the ban, the bill would have been the first of its kind in the country.
Indian Country Today

Volume 3  

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