AIM Support Group of Ohio & N. KentuckyUpdates and Announcements
Thursday, July 25, 2002Subject: BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: Indian tales recount myths, troubles BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Indian tales recount myths, troubles By Jane Lichtenberg jane.lichtenberg@indystar.com July 21, 2002 http://www.indystar.com/article.php?janekidsnative21.html Tales and legends of the many American Indian tribes have long fascinated children. Their stories are an integral part of the nation's history, as is the inhumane treatment by settlers headed west and the U.S. government. Several new books for children explore the traditions, ways of life and legends of these tribes. "Navajo Long Walk: The Tragic Story of a Proud People's Forced March From Their Homeland," by Joseph Bruchac (National Geographic Books, $18.95), explains how the government forced the Navajo in the 1860s from their land, Dinetah, in northern Arizona to an isolated reservation. Author Bruchac recalls the history of the Navajo people and tells what led to Kit Carson's Army raid of the canyon, which destroyed homes, crops and the harmony that is the guiding force of the Navajo people. Shonto Begay, a Navajo, created striking illustrations for the book that reveal the hardships of his people during this little-known time. In 1863, 1864 and 1866, groups of Navajo, numbering in the thousands, were forced by Army troops to walk 470 miles from Fort Defiance in eastern Arizona to Fort Sumner west of Albuquerque, N.M. Those too sick or weak to keep up were left behind to die. Once at Fort Sumner, food was scarce and other bands of Indians raided their livestock. Following the Civil War, public opposition to the terrible conditions at the Navajo reservation forced the government to allow the people to return to their homeland, Bruchac explains. Two traditional tales of the Lakota people are recounted by Paul Goble in "The Return of the Buffaloes" and "The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman" (National Geographic, $7.95 each). In "The Return," Goble explains that for the nomadic peoples of the High Plains, "the buffalo was a gift from the Great Spirit, and supplied almost everything material which they needed." When the herds wandered far away, famine resulted. Goble has adapted the Lakota myth of the mysterious woman who brings back the buffalo. "She is one of the Buffalo People sent . . . to tell humankind of their great love and the gift of themselves so that people can live." "The Blue Roses" by Linda Boyden, a Cherokee, is a contemporary native American story about the special relationship between a young girl, Rosalie, and her grandfather, who plants a rosebush the day she is born. As she grows, he teaches her about gardening and comforts her when seeds she sows die. "Everything has its time to die. New or old, it doesn't matter," Rosalie's grandfather explains. When the old man dies, Rosalie dreams of a garden with a trellis of beautiful blue roses, a vision that shows her how to keep her grandfather in her heart forever. The book is beautifully illustrated by Amy Cordova, with the Indian characters and settings in bold primary colors (Lee and Low Books, $16.95). ============================ posted by Webmaster@ AIM Support 3:42 PM
Wednesday, July 24, 2002On Saturday, July 13, 2002, Christinia Eala wrote: Greetings my dear Friend John! I have just returned from spending a few days in South Dakota -- there are some very interesting things going on down there, and I am hoping that you can post this. (By the way, my computer will be down for a few days as it needs to go in for a tune-up. This happens when you are as computer illiterate as I am. Here is a bit of news from the "Black Hills Peoples' News" that will give you some little bit of background. "George Tall opened the meeting. Tall said we were being ripped off big-time by the Badlands National Park, and that the tokala were getting pictures developed to prove his point. The park service is planning on excavating fossils from August 12-23. Why? Because the National Park Service has made a commitment to the Denver Natural History Museum and Colorado School of Mines. "Yet in 1926 a Memorandum of Agreement between the Teton Nation of the Lakota was made to protect the Badlands. Eight points of that agreement are now being broken, with the National Park Service and the Colorado School of Mines now going into our protected lands to remove the remains of our ancestors." An encampment which I visited today has been started at the "Stronghold" in order to stop the National Park Service from aiding and abetting the illicit removal of bones of our ancestors from the Badlands area. The Lakota (Sioux) folks at this encampment are in strong opposition to these dealings, and have been out there for three weeks now. The "Black Hills Peoples News" have been covering this takeover attempt from the onset. It was stated today that this situation could become as volatile as the "Wounded Knee" incident of the seventies. Already military planes have been flying over the area in an apparent attempt to intimidate the Lakota, and the National Park Service has already arrogantly sent in their own archeologists and anthropologists to study the fossil findings. When, as an alternative or as a control of these illicit activities, Lakota resisters tried to bring in their own people who are accredited in those same areas, they were told that they were not even allowed to come onto the Lakota "Rez" (reservation)! Yet these people are all registered members of the tribe! John, I have mentioned to you in the past that I am not a political person, and I do not choose to understand the world as it is ... but this being done, and so much more, causes me such incredible pain. Do you remember the song called "One Tin Soldier?" This latest incident is that song. How I wish that the nation could see the "People" (the Lakota, for that is the meaning of the tribe's name -- JW) the way I do. Lakota are so connected to the earth ("Unci Maka") and all they want is for people to stop taking the bones of their ancestors and to respect their ways. The traditional Lakota -- people of the land -- are the gentlest people I know. History surely bears out what has already been done to them in the name of "Manifest Destiny". It is time to "STOP" the pain that this USA nation-state causes them. Lakota are simple people -- their riches lie in their "spirituality", which to them means their ties to the Earth and to their ancestors. Now the National Park Service wants to take over their legal 'Indian reservation' section of the "Badlands" by reason of these excavations. The NAGPRA (National Association of Graves Repatriation Act) needs to made aware of this. Yet the real reason for this missive is that the Lakota gave me a list of things that are gravely needed for the continued stay of the "Oyate" (the Traditionalists) in the camp. They are in need of: binoculars carpentry equipment to build a cook shack someone with a personal laptop to build a website so they can communicate with the world what is happening out there on a day to day basis medical equipment radio batteries walkie talkies in order to communicate with the base-camp when the "Akicita" (soldiers) are down in the Badlands canyons protecting! ! the remains CB scanner 14 or so tipis and poles food supplies GAS for the vehicles because the site is so far from civilization toiletries solar showers John, if you can put this cry for help on your Web site, the 'People' (Lakota, or Sioux -- JW) would be deeply in your debt. Any and all donations can be taken directly to the site. All of the "key players" (lawyers, etc.) are asked to be of Indian descent, but anyone who wants to go there to support the 'People' are welcome. However, if you come, please bring supplies with you -- your own and extra for the Lakota resisters. If you are anyone else donate any of these materials, please let me know at my e-mail: christiniawin@yahoo.com and please let the Oyate know as well that Christinia from Colorado sent you, so you may be assured of being well received. Contacts in South Dakota are: Anita and Bob Ecoffey, (605) 867-5523, and Pat and Maxine Clifford at (605) 867-2591 or (605) 867-5433. Also you may contact Toby Big Boy at Hokshila@www.com. I thank you now John for whatever you can do to help our cause. Wicosani, Christinia --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stronghold Table Camp Press Releases Camp Pics July 17,2002 The Tokala encampment on the Stronghold is now 26 days old. This morning we were notified that there had been a meeting with NPS and BIA on July 16, 2002. Obviously there is a jurisdictional issue in terms of the NPS not recognizing the OST's moratorium of May 15, 2002. The BIA and the OST seem to be cowed by the intimidating attitudes of NPS Superintendent William Supernaugh. We received word on the Stronghold that we were considered "a peaceful demonstration camp, and if [we] exceed that status [we] will be arrested" (Supernaugh). The tribal president, John Steele has finally decided to go over Supernaugh's head in this matter and address this at the Washington, DC level. Here is how the cards are stacked. NPS has a trail ride scheduled for mid July, excavation from Aug 12-23, and another dig in Sept. These things were probably planned for quite some time now and it's hard for the NPS to change plans. The camp is established on the Stronghold and some of the things planned were not forth coming for NPS; they are getting itchy. The only positive part of this whole thing is that for once the people, the IRA govt. and BIA seem to be on the same side for now. However no one is pushing the treaty except the Tokala! I strongly urge other entities to come together in this matter. If we do not protect our grave sites and if we lose the Stronghold, we stand to lose a lot more in terms of how Indian policy may change as a result (good or bad?). We also urge all supporters to e-mail NPS (Badlands National Park) and comment the concerns of NPS's takeover of treaty lands. Thank you, George Tall (Naca-Tokala) posted by Webmaster@ AIM Support 10:05 AM Last updated:
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