Manataka American Indian Council Volume XI Issue 09 SEPTEMBER 2007
Manataka - Preserving The Past Today For Tomorrow
Faster download! The Smoke Signal this month is on 3 web pages.
WANNA BECOME A MEMBER OF MANATAKA?
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO JOIN!
SEPTEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS
September 27-30, 2007
Elders and Youth Gathering
“Mentoring and Leadership amongst our Youth”
Bishop, California
Four
day event with local and special guests from Canada, Arkansas,
Navajo Nation, New Mexico; Tachi and Miwok, California, and more.
Elders working and sharing with the youth about tradaitional values, cultural knowledge, mentoring, leadership, motivating youth. Evening events include War Dancer and Basket Dancers, Storytelling, Music and Bear Dancers.
If you are interested in participating as a speaker, workshop, booths or for more information please contact Qwina West at (760) 937-1643 or Yoti at (760) 873-9855
American Indian Heritage Weekend Held annually in September!
Frontier Days: Native American Culture 'A weekend of programs about Native American culture, children's activities and a Saturday evening campfire program.' "This popular event will feature a camp comprised of lodges and tepees with hobbyists and historians interpreting the Plains Indian's way of life including trade with Indian traders. Fort Scott National Historic Site hosts this annual American Indian Heritage Weekend event."
Treaty 7 Commemoration (1877- 2003) Held in September. "What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." --Chief Crowfoot, Blackfoot Nation PO Box 1100 Siksika, AB, Canada T0J 3W0 ~ 403-258-1775
Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® Held in September. "This web site is about the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® that begins in Chattanooga, TN and ends in Waterloo, AL." "No Registration & No Fees To Ride"
Naavaasya at Bear Creek Gallery Check events for September Contact Bear Creek Gallery, 8659 River Crossing Blvd. Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 317-580-0882, Fax 317-580-0307 martins@bearcreekgallery.com
A Prayer Vigil for the Earth "An Invitation to All" Held in September. Creating a Culture of Peace A Prayer Vigil for the Earth. Starts at Sunrise., Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. Sunrise, Sept. 15-16-17, 2006.
Spirits Of The Elk Historical Festival Held in September. The "Spirits of the Elk Historical Festival" held the fourth weekend of each September beginning on Thursday involves three activities into one weekend. The purpose of the festival is to honor those who walked the Trail of Tears in Giles County, Tennessee. Held in the Elkton City Park, Elkton Tennessee. ~ Contact Giles County Tourism Giles County Chamber of Commerce
Okanagan Annual Salmon Feast & Celebration Held in September. The Okanagan Nation Alliance and Okanagan Nation Fisheries Commission 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Okanagan Falls Provincial Park Contact Vanessa Mitchell, Events Co-ordinator. 3255C Shannon Lake Road, Westbank, British Columbia Canada V4T 1V4 Phone: 250-707-0095 ~ FAX: 250-707-0166
California Indian Storytelling Symposium & Festivals Ohlone Community College, Fremont, CA Northern, Fall
Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho, 315 Stampede Drive, Nampa, Idaho
Proceeds support the Winter Social Powwow at Northwest Nazarene University.
October 08, 2007
Union of Polarities -- St. Croix Valley Area
November 05, 2007
Live and Learn Seminars - Maya Journey
December 7 - 9, 2007
Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
See More Non-Powwow Events Here
NativeGatherings.com lists hundreds of Native American events including concerts, seminars, conferences, sporting events, and more.
Our Spiritual belief is that we were created as part of the land - so our identity, our names, and our songs are all tied to the land." -Chief Roderick Robinson, Nisga'a
In the traditional way, the names of native people had great meaning. We even had naming ceremonies. The naming of someone was very important and had great significance because it was tied to the Earth. The identity of each member and the teachings of the songs were all tied to Mother Earth. We need to
know these teachings from our culture. This knowledge will help us heal the people.
My Maker,
today help me
find my
identity.
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MANATAKA FALL GATHERING ANNOUNCEMENT
(Manataka, AR) The Council of Elders unanimously decided during their July meeting to restrict attendance to 'members only' for the upcoming Fall Gathering. The by-invitation-only gathering will not be advertised or otherwise announced to the public.
David Quiet Wind Furr, MAIC Chairman said, "This move will help us return to our original purpose and traditions. Our time together will be dedicated to spiritual, family and cultural pursuits. Some say the gathering has become an entertainment event with too many tourists and otherwise negative influences while away from our traditional sacred grounds."
Written requests for an invitation will be accepted until October 10. The number of participants will be limited. Once capacity is reached no further invitations will be issued. Invited guests will receive a packet of information to prepare for the gathering.
Special accommodation will be made for the elderly and physically challenged. Grandfather Robert Gray Hawk Coke and Lee Standing Bear Moore both said, "Our backs will be turned against gate crashers." |
IN THE NEWS...
GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS PROCLAIMS
SEPTEMBER 1 "AMERICAN INDIAN DAY"
(Little
Rock, AR) -- Arkansas Governor Mike Beebee created some history
recently when he formally proclaimed September 1 as "American
Indian Day" in Arkansas.
According to Judy Filmore, a Manataka member from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, the proclamation is only the first step of a larger campaign to have September 1 declared as American Indian Day in all fifty states.
Filmore was instrumental in requests to President George Bush to proclaim November American Indian Month. Judy Filmore began distributing petitions in 2002 calling for a national holiday in honor of American Indians. Bush honored Filmore this year by personally signing her copy of the formal proclamation. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Carter all proclaimed November as American Indian Month.
In part, the proclamation says American Indians have enhanced the history and culture of the United States as the original residents of Arkansas and American Indians continue to honor their ancestral culture and heritage through traditional, spiritual dances, tribal songs, and art.
The Governor's proclamation says there are approximately 18,000 American Indians residing in Arkansas and honors all American Indians, from all tribes, who have served voluntarily to defend this country and who have worked to make the United States one great Nation with justice and freedom for all.
Thank you Governor Beebee. Thank you Judy Filmore!
AUGUST WEBSITE UPDATES
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Manataka - Place of Peace or Persecution
By Nancy Rector
Sociology Dissertation, University of Arkansas at Little Rock 12-05-05
Hot
Springs National Park in the state of Arkansas is a special place for many reasons.
It is the smallest and oldest national park in the United States and the
only one to boast a resort town right in its middle by the same name.
It is the very first federal reservation ever created (Williams).
Its claim to fame are 47 therapeutic hot springs which are unique in and of
themselves in that scientists and geologist are unsure what makes these
particular spring waters hot (National Park Service). The “Valley of the
Vapors” is also steeped in Native American history and was considered a
sacred gathering place to them for thousands of years. There are those,
Native Americans and white man alike, who still honor the area for its
spiritual and sacred nature. However, there is currently a small thread of
controversy running through the valley concerning those who are trying to
keep alive the Native American history of the area and several others,
including the National Park Service, who have begun a campaign to erase its
sacred nature and past. This issue has many facets and it is necessary to
have a background of some of the political and natural history of hot
springs in order to understand what might possibly be the cause of this
dispute.
White Man’s Secular
History of Hot Springs National Park
There is little doubt of the Native American aspect concerning the history of Hot Springs. In the current relocation guide for Hot Springs put out by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism it says “The springs were known as a place of peace to the Caddo Indian inhabitants of the area long before white men set foot in the valley” (Ark. Dept. of Parks 1).
Of the 216 compounds, many in the air, food or everyday items.
More than 200 chemicals — many
found in urban air and everyday consumer products — cause breast cancer in
animal tests, according to a compilation of scientific reports published
today.
Writing in a publication of the American Cancer Society, researchers
concluded that reducing exposure to the compounds could prevent many women
from developing the disease.
The research team from five institutions analyzed a growing body of evidence
linking environmental contaminants to breast cancer, the leading killer of
U.S. women in their late 30s to early 50s.
Experts say that family history and genes are responsible for a small
percentage of breast cancer cases but that environmental or lifestyle
factors such as diet are probably involved in the vast majority.
"Overall, exposure to mammary gland carcinogens is widespread," the
researchers wrote in a special supplement to the journal Cancer. "These
compounds are widely detected in human tissues and in environments, such as
homes, where women spend time."
The scientists said data were too incomplete to estimate how many breast
cancer cases might be linked to chemical exposures.
READ MORE...
GRANDMOTHERS SPEAK - EAST
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Destiny
When I look at the word destiny, I understand better the rest of time that surrounds us in this vast sea of dreams. For we are but a dream happening each day as we live. There are no maps, no predestined plan, one can never be lost but only detained for a while. I call these little traveled roads of life, my adventures, or the side trips of life.
The larger road or path is always there and we can return to it when and if we wish. There are no time factors in life, unless we place them there. Most wise ones accept life as just that; a journey of the heart and soul that we are taking.
Each day I make a plan and by the end of each day I find that my plans are really not that important.
My father would plan his work day but never planned his spiritual day. He said one time to me, “We are not really here but only a vision of someone who once was present”. “Just as those who follow, will only be some vision we created or a dream we had while sleeping”. Perhaps he was right, it all made perfect sense back then in the simpler days of my life.
When looking out on the open range smelling of the sweet sage brush in the early morning hours, I realized that there is really nothing but this moment in time. An open clear picture appears in this space where you can paint any color or create what ever you wish.
With a cup of strong coffee in hand and all of your dreams, stored in your mind you can imagine most anything you want or need.
For me the time between dawn and night are the most magical moments of the day. Perhaps a close second is the time between the ending of the day and the beginning of night. At the end of the day you are so full that it colors your thoughts and chatters in your mind too loud to really find that same peace as the morning brings.
This morning I see the sun shining off the crystal that hangs in my bed room window, casting rainbows of color across the room.
My mind follows the rays of light back to the first time a human saw the sun reflected on a crystal and wondered at magic and the beauty it created.
In all things every day, every minute of our lives, there exists such creation and beauty if we only stop to see.
Today the sun touches the crystal and the colors burst forth and paint the walls and curtains. This morning the rainbows dancing across the room are new and fresh, never being seen before in this life time. My heart listens to the colors and my soul feels the beauty in all things.
In the sea of creation I see an island, an oasis, where we can rest each day and find that place of peace. The joy and happiness of our life is celebrated in the beauty and color that we cast across the universe for the future.
Love and Blessings Waynonaha
Copyright © 2006 by Waynonaha Two Worlds All publication rights reserved.
No offense intended for any individuals or tribes.
Indian
Wisdom
Two Eagles, an old Indian chief, sat in his hut on the
reservation smoking a ceremonial pipe and eyeing two US
government officials sent to interview him.
One US official said to Chief Two Eagles, "You have observed the
white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological
advances.
You've seen his progress, and the damage he has done." The Chief nodded in agreement.
The official continued, "Considering all these events, in
your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"
The Chief stared at the two government officials for over a
minute, and then he calmly replied:
"When white man found the land, Indians were running it. No taxes, No debt, Plenty buffalo, Plenty beaver, Women did all the work, Medicine man free, Indian man spent all day hunting and fishing, All night having sex."
Then the chief leaned back and smiled before he added,
"Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."
Fighting Terrorism Since 1492
GRANDMOTHERS SPEAK - SOUTH
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From Grandmother Selma |
By Gram Selma Palmer
Spider Woman in the teachings, is symbolic of " she who creates from a central source and core ".
Think about how the spider weaves her web........
She pulls each strand back to ......and then again from the same source.
The web is symbolic of the matrix, the universal grid and our DNA of our reality.
Every fragment is interconnected to form the whole.............and the whole is every fragment.
All strands (all things) are created from the central core source, each fragment or realm........ Spiral outward following the same geometric form.
This
forms the grid and yet are still connected to the core
source and to each other. If something touches,
enters or in any way affects any minute partial of that
web or grid it affects the entirety. These
concepts and teachings . if fully understood, lead us
into areas such as " bio-fusion ", where you are able to
convert thoughts or mental images into things such as
computer commands. as the computer could thus decipher
the brains electrical activity.
Following that precept, electromagnetic pulses could trigger the brain and neurotransmitters to combat disease or alter individual visual images. If one of us can affect all of us in the web then through that connection to the masses would create synthetic reality.
Perhaps in light and understanding of the above depth of some of the basic traditional teachings, it is time to acknowledge psychological evidence that past memories of our ancestors ( genetic DNA ) still create an impact in our collective here and now.
Un till later I leave you with hugs and peace
Gram Selma
Grandmother of the South
Credit: Graphic,
