Native Village
Youth and Education News
September 15, 2004, Issue 138 Volume 4
“Today’s children are the backbone of tomorrow’s economy... Instead of passing more tax breaks, which is not stimulating the economy nor creating jobs, the Bush administration should do more to lift families out of poverty by investing in programs that help children. ” Deborah Cutler-Ortiz
Tidal wave disaster is
just waiting to happen
England: The director of the Benfield Grieg Hazard Research Centre in
London says a huge chunk of rock, nearly the size of the Isle of Mann, will soon break off the volcanic island of La
Palma in the Canary Islands. Professor Bill McGuire says it's not a matter of "if" but a matter of
"when." He also says when the rock does fall, it will trigger giant waves called mega-tsunamis--huge
walls of water traveling up to 560 mph. These mega-tsunamis will tear across the ocean and hit islands and continents,
leaving a trail of destruction. "When one of these comes in, it keeps on coming for 10 to 15 minutes,"
Prof McGuire said. "It's like a huge wall of water that just keeps coming." Computer models of the
island's collapse show the first regions to be hit will be the Canary Islands. Within a few hours, Africa's west coast
will be battered with similar-sized waves. Between 9-12 hours after the island collapses, waves will have crossed
4,000 miles of ocean to crash into the Caribbean Islands and the eastern seaboard of the US and Canada. The worst-hit
areas will be harbours and estuaries, which will channel the waves inland. While scientists try in vain to make their
concerns heard, the world's governments look the other way. "The US government must be aware of the La Palma
threat. They should certainly be worried, and so should the island states in the Caribbean that will really bear the
brunt of a collapse. McGuire says. "They're not taking it seriously. Governments change every four to five years
and generally they're not interested in these things."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1279710,00.html
Baked Alaska
In the Arctic, where flowers are madly blooming, trees are growing to
mutant sizes and the snow pack is thinning, researchers are getting an incontrovertible view of global warming. Over the
past century, the increase in oil and gas consumption, carbon dioxide and methane emissions have skyrocketed. These
gases hover above the earth, preventing hot air from escaping into the atmosphere. In just the past three decades, these
gases have warmed the Arctic by nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the mid-1950s, Alaska's glaciers have lost 3,300
cubic kilometers of melted ice and snow -- enough to sink the entire state of Texas in 15 feet of water. Computer models
are now predicting the Arctic Ocean's sea ice could completely disappear within 70 years.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/09/10/toolik/index.html
Scientist Claims Ireland
Is Lost Island of Atlantis
Sweden: The Greek philosopher Plato wrote in 360 BC about Atlantis, an
Atlantic Ocean island where an advanced civilization lived 11,500 years ago. Plato wrote that a devastating natural
disaster sank it beneath the waves. Today, geographer Ulf Erlingsson claims Atlantis was actually Ireland. He says the
measurements, geography, and landscape of Atlantis as described by Plato match Ireland almost exactly. "I am
amazed no one has come up with this before; it's incredible," he said "Just like Atlantis, Ireland is 300
miles long, 200 miles wide, and widest across the middle. They both have a central plain surrounded by mountains. I've
looked at geographical data from the rest of the world, and of the 50 largest islands, there is only one that has a
plain in the middle -- Ireland." Erlingsson believes the idea that Atlantis sank came from the fate of Dogger Bank,
an isolated shoal in the North Sea off the English coast which sank after being hit by a huge flood wave around 6,100
BC.
Reuters
Roller-coaster life of
Indian icon, sports' first star
On July 15, 1912, Jim Thorpe captured a gold medal in the decathlon,
just days after winning the pentathlon. He won eight of the two events' 15 individual segments. "Sir, you are the
greatest athlete in the world," said Sweden's King Gustav V. "Thanks, King," Jim Thorpe replied. A member
of the Sauk-Fox Nation, the great-great grandson of Chief Black Hawk went on to enshrinement in the pro football,
college football, U.S. Olympic and national track and field halls of fame. But Jim's life was not all triumphs. He
lived through the premature deaths of his twin brother and parents, and faced long-standing mainstream prejudice against
American Indians. His records and gold medals were forfeited when officials learned Thorpe was paid to play baseball
before the Olympics. He struggled to provide for his family, deal with his alcoholism and adjust when his athletic
abilities declined with old age. When Thorpe died in 1953, he was so broke that his wife sent his body to two towns in
Pennsylvania in exchange for their creating a memorial, merging and renaming the new town "Jim Thorpe."
In 1982, the International Olympic Committee restored Jim's amateur status and records, giving his relatives replicas of
his 1912 gold medals. ABC's "Wide World of Sports" named him its Athlete of the Century, one of several
groups to honor Thorpe alongside other athletic greats. "The number of people still being touched by Jim Thorpe is
phenomenal," said Lynne Draper of the Jim Thorpe Association.
CNN News
All
American Indian professional basketball team ready for action
New Mexico: For the first time in history, a professional sports team
composed solely of American Indians will begin playing in November. Temporarily called the Native America National
Team, they will play for the American Basketball Association (ABA) and will be based in Albuquerque, N.M. Owner,
CEO and President Spider Ledesma II wants a national showcase for the level of talent among American Indians basketball
players. "There is a lot of negativity and dysfunction [stereotypes] that people associate with our people
[American Indians], we wanted to show that we are as can-do and professional as anyone in the world and we are sure that
we can compete, the talent is there," he said. Ledesma said players will be chosen in the next couple of
months, and a complete league schedule will be released later this summer.
For more information and updates go to: http://www.nativeamericacamps.com
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1089828935
FSU offbeat
Florida: This summer, the football team from State University traveled to
the Seminole Reservation to experience a unique set of exercises. They didn't . Not push sleds or run routes. Instead,
they had to stand on a sheet, for example, and flip it without stepping off or using their hands. "It's a
program you see a lot of in the corporate world and is all geared toward teamwork, unity, leadership and
communication," strength and conditioning coach Jon Jost said. After six to eight drills in a four-hour
period, the players would discuss what happened and why. "We learned a lot about our teammates, how to work better
together, how to communicate, how to trust each other," said center David Castillo.
Seminole Tribune
New $20 Bill Features
Artwork By B.C. Haida Artist Bill Reid
Canada: The Bank of Canada has unveiled a new $20.00 bill featuring
artwork from the late British Columbia artist Bill Reid. The bill includes illustrations of four of the Haida artist's
works, including his largest sculpture known as the Jade Canoe, which is displayed at Vancouver's airport. Reid's
artistwork appears on the back of the new bill which goes into circulation Sept. 29.
Edmonton Journal
Akatubi Entertainment born
from Native talent
California: In 2002, with the help of Native professionals in the
entertainment industry, the Akatubi Film and Music Academy created a digital film and music academy for youth. Since
it's inception, more than 240 underprivileged Native youth have participated in AFMA. "Native youth often don’t
get the chance to see many career options because of a lack of money, training and opportunities," said Paul
Chavez. "We’re working to change that through our nation-building efforts, and nation-building begins with
promoting healthy individuals and families." Students have created 23 short films, (seven have won film festival
awards), and recorded more than 60 songs. In addition, many academy students are now working in their chosen field of
interest in the entertainment industry. "We offered professional training to show them they can be actors, writers,
directors, producers, musicians and recording engineers," Chavez said. "We’ve been able to give our
youth some great experiences that have broadened their expectations of their options in life and motivated them to be
self-reliant."
http://www.indiancountry.com/
Documentary Explores the
Experiences of Urban Indians
Helen Waukazoo, Navajo, can never forget being forcibly removed from her
family at age 13, sent to a government boarding school, and relocated in the 1960s to the Bay Area to work. Living away
from her family, rural homeland and traditional Navajo culture, Waukazoo had to survive in a frightening, foreign new
world. Now, Waukazoo provides support to fellow American Indians as executive director of San Francisco's American
Indian Friendship House. A new 90-minute documentary, "Looking Toward Home," portrays Waukazoo's experiences
and the lives of others who faced relocation. It also addresses the issues affecting urban Indians today.
Associated Press State & Local Wire
Aboriginal TV Celebrates
Five Years as Natives' Voice
In just five years, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has doubled
it's audience and helped aboriginal film production get off the ground. "We've not only built a good
reputation in the industry, but we've also developed a solid audience base, our numbers are growing steadily and our
newscasts are now watched more and more," said Jean LaRose, APTN chief executive officer. Weekly viewing
numbers have grown from 900,000 in 1999 to 1,750,000 last year. The numbers are actually higher since on-reserve
viewers using satellite dishes were not included in the count.
Canadian Press
Ten best Native Actors of
All Time
Actor and journalist Roscoe Pond has named his list of the 10 best Native
actors of all time. They are:
1. Chief Dan George
2. Will Sampson
3. Graham Greene
4. Ned Romero
5. Gary Farmer
6. Nick Ramus
7. Eric Schweig
8. Adam Beach
9. Floyd Red Crow Westerman
10. Michael Greyeyes
Honorable Mention: Wes Studi
http://www.nativeroscoe.com/
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