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Saturday, May 26, 2007

[nativeartsculture] Current Productions :: Turtle Island Productions

Current Productions :: Turtle Island Productions Press Release: Emmy Winning Filmmakers Produce American Indian Movement ... Fortier has worked on numerous Native American productions in the US and Canada, ...

http://www.turtle-island.com/home/currentproductions.html

 

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Happy Mother's Day everyone!








Mother's Day at the Heard

Sunday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Heard Museum Shop offers great gifts for Mom! Let our volunteers (many of whom are Moms themselves!) help you pick out the perfect item to say "Thank You" for all that she has done. Or bring Mom to the Heard for the day and treat her to lunch at Arcadia Farms at the Heard Cafe. Free admission for all as part of Community Second Sundays.

Also:

University of Oklahoma is hosting an ... 05/12/07 Rama Mnjikaning First Nation Mothers Day Powwow

 

STAR NAYEA, (2006 NATIVE GRAMMY RECIPIENT



Date: May 11, 2007 5:05 PM
Subject
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
Body:
TO ALL THE MOTHERS IN MY FRIENDS LIST, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I SEND A SALUTE TO YOU. FROM ONE MOTHER TO ANOTHER..LOL
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL IN EVERYWAY!!! EVERY DAY IS MOTHERS DAY!!
TO OUR MOTHER EARTH AS WELL.... ;0)

 

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Fwd: GREEN..EARTH FRIENDLY..NATIVE WEB ENTERPRISE WORTH A GANDER

GREEN..EARTH FRIENDLY..NATIVE WEB ENTERPRISE WORTH A GANDER

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[nativeartsculture] Disappearance of Bees

Monday, April 30, 2007 Global Disappearance of Honey Bees
All over the world Honeybees are disappearing and as Einstein said the human race will disappear within 4 years after Honeybees disappear. Iam at Ion Exchange, Inc. very concerned about our native wildflower seed production. Last year we started to see a decline in seed production although there were beautiful blooming flowers in abundance. Many of the seeds did not get pollinated. Will this be the year that the Honeybee will be recognized as the savior of the human race if we can bring them back.

At The Natural Gait, people appreciate the wildflowers that abound and most are not aware of how much we appreciate the Honeybees for doing their job.

Let's all show our appreciation for the Honeybees by joining a global efforton Wednesday May 2, 2007 to send a message of Appreciation ofHoneybees. Please refer to Linda Moulton Howe's
EARTHFILES for more information and wisdomofhealing.com.

Thanks,
Howard & Donna Bright
www.ionxchange.com


Albert Einstein once said that if we lost the Honeybees, life on Earth would perish in about four short years. It is truly time to take action.




Wildflowers to Attract Bees:

http://www.englishplants.co.uk/bees.html

The Bumblebee Working Group and English Nature are encouraging farmers to allow or provide White Deadnettle growth in hedgerows, establish Red Clover in field margins (very important bumblebee plant), and to leavefield margins uncultivated for a few years in order to provide hibernation sites and forage areas. Gardeners can do their bit too by providing a small meadow area in their gardens and leaving an area of rough grass, preferably by a hedge, for mice or voles to nest in -what's this got to do with bees? Queen bumblebees like to nest in old mouse and vole nests.

Bumblebees in Crisis!

We need to support the replanting of hedgerows and the recreation of haymeadow and chalk grassland habitats.  These activities will not be atthe expense of farming, but will actually benefit it, by improving cropyields at the same time as enriching the countryside.  Meanwhile, ingardens nationwide we need to use wildflowers and traditional cottage-garden plants.

TIPI STRUCTURE: What does it tell or remind us of?

TIPI STRUCTURE

Today I make tipis that stand twenty-two feet high, but years ago, tipis were maybe twelve or thirteen feet. They didn’t have the material for large structures because they used hide instead of canvas and rocks instead of ground pegs. That is why today you can still find circles of rocks, or tipi rings, on the land. It wouldn’t make sense to have your tipi too high, because the winds and storms would catch it.

As time passed, the rocks were replaced with chokecherry ground pegs because they were one of the harder woods once they were dry. Today I cut and peel spruce for the tipi poles and I use sticks to adjust the front flaps of the tipi entryway. My mother used a bone from the moose leg to close the tipi in the front.

My mother never used a measuring tape, or mapped things out mathematically – she just cut out her tipi and made it. And each time it was perfect.

The Cree people use 15 poles to make the structure of the tipi. For every pole in that tipi, there is a teaching. So there are 15 teachings that hold up the tipi. Other Nations use 16 poles, and maybe more, I don’t know. All I know is what I know I was taught and that is the teachings for 15 poles.

The tipi does not have to face east all the time; it can rotate in any direction. It is only the first time that I request that the tipi face east, because of the opening ceremony.

To start, we take three poles and bind them together to make a tripod. Each pole also has a very specific meaning. These three together fortify the structure. They are obedience, respect and humility. Notice the poles, the way they stand. If they stood straight up and down, they couldn’t support a tipi. But balanced properly together, they are able to reinforce each other. There’s a teaching in that. In order to make a family, you need three: the two parents and the child, to make that balance.

The tops of the poles have many teachings. Each one points in a different direction. We are like those poles. We all need the strength and support of our families and communities, but we accept that we all have different journeys and point in different directions.



The poles also teach us that no matter what version of the Great Spirit we believe in, we still go to the same Creator from those many directions and belief systems; we just have different journeys to get there. And where the poles come out together at the top, it’s like they’re creating a nest. And they also resemble a bird with its wings up when it comes to land, and that’s another teaching: the spirit coming to land, holding its wings up.

TIPI POLES

We could talk about each of these poles for a long time; each one holds many teachings, and takes a long time and much experience to truly understand. I will give you some words on each pole, to give a beginning idea of what the poles represent.

TIPI POLES

OBEDIENCE

Obedience means accepting guidance and wisdom from outside of ourselves, using our ears before our mouth. We learn by listening to traditional stories, by listening to our parents or guardians, our fellow students and our teachers. We learn by their behaviors and reminders, so that we know what is right and what is wrong.

RESPECT

Respect means giving honor to our Elders and fellow students, to the strangers that come to visit our community, and to all of life. We must honor the basic rights of all others.

HUMILITY

We are not above or below others in the circle of life. We feel humbled when we understand our relationship with Creation. We are so small compared to the majestic expanse of Creation, just a “strand in the web of life.” Understanding this helps us to respect and value life.

HAPPINESS

After the tripod is up, the fourth pole completes your doorway. This fourth pole teaches us happiness. We must show some enthusiasm to encourage others. Our good actions will make our ancestors happy in the next world. This is how we share happiness.

LOVE

If we are to live in harmony we must accept one another as we are, and accept others who are not in our circle. Love means to be good and kind to one another and to our selves.

FAITH

We must learn to believe and trust others, to believe in a power greater than ourselves, whom we worship and who gives us strength to be a worthy member of the human race. To sustain our spirituality, we need to walk it every day. Not just sometimes, but every day. It’s not just once a week; it’s your life.

KINSHIP

Our family is important to us. This includes our parents, brothers and sisters, who love us and give us roots that tie us to the lifeblood of the earth. It also includes extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and their in-laws and children. They are also our brothers and sisters and give us a sense of belonging to a community.

CLEANLINESS

Today when we talk about cleanliness, most people think hygiene, and that’s very important. But years ago, when old people talked about cleanliness, they meant spiritual cleanliness. When I used to sit with the old Kookums in their tipis, spiritually, they were so powerfully clean. Clean thoughts come from a clean mind and this comes from our spirituality. With a clean mind and sense of peace within we learn not to inflict ills on others. Good health habits also reflect a clean mind.

THANKFULNESS

We learn to give thanks: to always be thankful for the Creator’s bounty, which we are privileged to share with others, and for all the kind things others do for us.

SHARING

We learn to be part of a family and community by helping with the provisions of food and other basic needs. Through the sharing of responsibilities we learn the value of working together and enjoying the fruits of our labor.

STRENGTH

We are not talking about physical strength, but spiritual strength. That was instilled in us when we were young people through fasting. We must learn to be patient in times of trouble and not to complain but to endure and show understanding. We must accept difficulties and tragedies so that we may give others strength to accept their own difficulties and tragedies.

GOOD CHILD REARING

Children are gifts from the Creator. We are responsible for their wellbeing, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually, since they are blessed with the gift of representing the continuing circle of life, which we perceive to be the Creator’s will.

HOPE

We must look forward to moving toward good things. We need to have a sense that the seeds we are planting will bear fruit for our children, families and communities.

ULTIMATE PROTECTION

This is the ultimate responsibility to achieve the balance and well being of the body, mind, emotions and spirit for the individual, the family, the community and the nation.

CONTROL FLAPS

The control flaps on a tipi teach that we are all connected by relationship and that we depend on each other. Having respect for and understanding this connection creates and controls harmony and balance in the circle of life. When we don’t know how to use the flaps, it gets all smoky inside the tipi, and you can’t see, which is like life – because if we can’t live in balance, we can’t see clearly where we’re going.

CONCLUSION - POLES

For every time that a pole is added, a rope goes around to bind that pole into place. You have to be there and see it to appreciate that teaching. That rope is a sacred bond, binding all the teachings together until they are all connected.

I have shared these teachings with you with the hope that they will help keep the women strong and will help our communities to nurture healthy, balanced people.



Film making in New Mexico

http://www.nmfilm.com/

 

 

Visit our new webpage with details about this new program.

 

[nativeartsculture] Northwest Indian College

http://www.nwic.edu/

Image: Lummi Virtual Library logo


Welcome to the Lummi Virtual Library!
Here we have most of what you would expect to find in a regular library, except that all of the bookshelves, magazine racks, and card catalogs are on the Internet!

ATHENA CATALOG
The Athena Catalog is an online version of what the old card catalog was. It has all of the books and videos that the Lummi Library has available to its patrons.

How to use the Athena Catalog.

__._,_.___

Monday, May 7, 2007

Fredericksburg TX PowWow May 11-13




Art by the talented Dennis Eagle Horse. He will have a booth there and his twin sons will be dancing in powwow.





Admission is free. Parking is $3.00 a car. No alcohol or drugs allowed

on site. Absolutely NO TOLERANCE for alcohol or drugs.  Bring your own

lawn chairs. No ice coolers. There will be ndn tacos and fry bread.

Come to Texas for a fun family event.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

"Pocahontas Revealed"

Pocahontas Revealed: Archeologists uncover the reality behind a great American myth. Airs on PBS May 8, 2007
Producer's Story

The Producer's Story
How do you resurrect famous historical figures from four centuries ago, deerskin clothing and all?

John Smith's Bold Endeavor

John Smith's
Bold Endeavor

Historian David Silverman describes the clash of cultures between Jamestown's colonists and Pocahontas's people.

Images of a Legend

Images of a Legend
See a dozen portrayals of Pocahontas that reveal as much about their makers as about the woman herself.

The Science of Jamestown

The Science
of Jamestown

In this time line, learn how recent archeological excavations and other research are shedding light on England's first permanent colony in America.

Touching the Past

Touching the Past
Hear Chief Anne "Little Fawn" Richardson talk about the connection she feels to the famous Indian princess.

Preview

Watch a Preview
Program available in HD

TV Program Description
Links & Books
Teacher's Guide
E-Mail Bulletin
Don't miss upcoming NOVA broadcasts and companion Web sites—subscribe to our e-mail bulletin.

http://www.pbs.org/nova/pocahontas

In respect:Phil Lucas, Filmmaker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RDJdGwfH24

From  prophecyfulfilled

Phil Lucas, Native American Baha'i filmmaker taped at the 1990 Greenlake Wisconsin Baha'i Conference.
http://www.nativenetworks.si.edu/eng/rose/lucas _p.htm
So sorry to hear of his departing. He visited Alaska where we were living and was always an inspiration and educator for all. We sang his songs often.
 
Phil Lucas, Native American Baha'i filmmaker

Friday, May 4, 2007

Native made Movies/Films the trailers, clips and Shorts



         


   
   More  snacks, real food, and something else to drink at the Snack Bar!

The Films are rolling so go on in and Enjoy!

 Also a MovieTheatre  at Spirit in the Wind
                    


Native Storytelling at the Movies
Visit this group 

Come on in, join us in our circle and sit by our fire .... watch these on-line modern day Native made Movies from many different tribes Nations and cultures.

Drumming Circle

Monday, June 25, 2007 on the
NATIONAL MALL at 4th Street  ~ Washington, D.C.

 

Invitation

WHO IS INVITED? All people, especially children!

THE CEREMONY

Drum Dance and Dream for Peace will begin at high noon, Monday, June 25, 2007 with a brief, Native American ceremony. Tribal people from the United States, Canada and Mexico are expected to attend.

photo by Jodine Grundy       

 

More About Drum Dance and Dream

Lana drumming at Bridgewater Drumming CircleJune 25th Noon

THE CEREMONY FOR THE CHILDREN'S FUTURE:

16 CHILDREN OF THE COLORS OF MANKIND WILL GATHER TOGETHER.

FOUR EACH WILL STAND IN THE FOUR DIRECTIONS WEST, NORTH, EAST AND SOUTH. A REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH ( A LARGE POSTER PAINTING OF THE MOTHER EARTH) WILL BE IN THE CENTER. THE CHILDREN WILL DANCE IN A CIRCLE FACING THE MOTHER EARTH.
AFTER ENCIRCLING FOUR TIMES (DANCING FOR MOTHER EARTH, BAREFOOT) THEY WILL STOP.

THEY WILL SAY A SIMPLE PRAYER IN THEIR LANGUAGE:FOR THE FUTURE OF MOTHER EARTH AND ALL HER INHABITANTS.

FOUR GRANDMOTHERS OF FOUR RACES WILL BRING THEM BOWLS, PAINTED RED, WHITE, YELLOW AND BLUE. SIXTEEN BOWLS IN ALL. (LATER THE BOWLS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE, IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE GREAT DAY)

THE GRANDMOTHERS WILL FILL THE BOWLS WITH WHAT THE CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE WILL NEED SUCH AS:

*CLEAN WATER

*HERITAGE SEEDS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE EARTH

*BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS

*INCENSE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY THEY WILL AGAIN TURN FACING OUTWARD TOWARD A NEW PATH OF CONTINUING LIFE. THE LARGE BOWLS OF FLOWERS WILL BE TOSSED IN THE AIR SO
THAT THE CHILDREN MAY DANCE WITH FLOWERS PETALS AT THEIR FEET.

THE MUSIC CAN BE DRUMMING AND HARPS......

MITAKUYE OYASIN

I PRAY THAT THIS HAPPENS

WOABLEZA



 

Learn more about the Rainbow Medicine Blanket Council and its Founder, Carol (Elk Looks Back) Petersen



 

 


Bolivian photo Carol Elk Looks Back and President Evo Morales 

We, the world, has come full circle. Since Creation, man became upright and as he looked around and moved from one continent to another, creating, inventing, learning and developing his skills and becoming more and more resourceful, what was once considered sacred became a tool to enrich himself; to hold himself above others with the people he conquered and the things he gathered for himself. In just 500 years, man has almost depleted the forests, ruined the waters and poisoned the air, now we struggle once more in a different war, that to save Mother Earth and we must if we are to continue life as humans on this planet, else we all perish.

Many words and countless peoples all across this Earth has cried out in protest of the abuses of our brothers and sisters our neighbors in the workplace, abuses in our schools and on the highways, but the most tragic is the abuse on mother earth, for what we have done to her will rebound back to us. We can not call ourselves civilized until we put the weapons of war away for good and make peace within ourselves, with our brothers and sisters no matter what color he is.

On this day of great upheavals around the world, earthquakes, wars, floods in most unusual of places, we come together today to gather in unity, with our younger generations in hopes that every one listening will do one thing to preserve Mother Earth. We come from the six directions, east to west, north to south, from the heavens to the sacredness of Mother Earth, on this day to bring a message of unity.

Patricia Catches the Enemy
Oglala Lakota Elder

 

Dear Carol Petersen:

Thank you for apprising me of your efforts to promote unity and harmony amongst Indigenous Peoples and others. In these critical times, work such as you are are engaging in offers hope for a better future for all. It brings us one step closer to creating A Circle of All Nations, A Culture of Peace. My best wishes for your ongoing work.


William Commanda, Algonquin Elder
www.circleofallnations.ca