Our Native Youth at Our Film Festivals and Events

Do we treat them with respect?

Do we give them a chance to shine their light!

Do we allow them to have Pride in their Culture and their Native people?

We know from the Film Makers Stories they tell, that it can be hard to have your New Films shown at times. At the cost of even getting into the Event. Do we give our Youth their chance?

But you know they also have Musical Talent during these Festivals and So how difficult is it to be accepted?

Is it only the friends of friends who get chosen?


Yes again,  do we give Our Youth their chance?


You may be shocked of the answer, for some Festivals.

 

It all depends on who is in charge!


Now I heard of how New Film makers solved some of these problems by starting their own Film Festival! Free and open to ALL Native Film makers. This was good news to hear!

But then I started hearing reports this year in 2007, coming from another Film Festival up in the Beautiful north west, my home land where I was born, that really disturbed me.

There were some very Popular Native people being treated with disrespect!  Why, you may ask? And I asked that question myself.
Then I found among them Our Youth, also being disrespected! 

Are these 'unknown' Youths in the Music Industry?

No, they are very well know Native Music Artists who are very Popular in the state of Washington, Very Popular with the Native Youth at the Festivals and Events there. I needed to investigate and get facts and this is only part of what I have found so far.

So this is just the beginning of this Story. 


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Ann
Date: Aug 25, 2007 8:55 PM

Hello my name is Ann Little Running Deer (Lummi/Blackfeet/Dakota)

I heard you were excluded from the Tulalip Film Festival, is this correct?

Hearing your sound and seeing your profile I cannot understand why this could happen to you!

I would like to hear your story, if I could.

Yes, after I check out all the information I can get my hands on. I am going to do an investigation story on the findings, so this sort of thing hopefully does not happen again and hopefully will make others think twice.

Any help you can give me in just telling me your experience, I will be thankful.

Ann Little Running Deer


From: N8V        http://www.myspace.com/n8vz

Date: Aug 26, 2007 5:58 AM


Subject: RE: You sound GREAT! Great music and singing!


Thanks .... Glad you dig the music! Yes, ... its true ... I tried to talk with the lady that was in charge of the festival .... she said that they wanted artists that were more well known and that my band displayed a negative message to the native youth and people because I have a friend on MySpace .. that had a bikini top on in her pic ... that "this was not the message that I should be passing to our people" ...  when in fact we do a lot for native youth .... kind of funny ... I asked her some questions and was very respectful with her ,,, and she was very rude and didn't want anything to do with us .. we simply were trying to play another show for our native people .. which is what we try to focus on ... native gatherings and events



Did you catch that?


Your Profiles that add on these new Internet friend pictures?
Like I can control what all my Internet friends at my profiles wear or change to or what animals they are going to be next! Yeah right! Good one!

"the lady that was in charge of the festival" Who are they  ALL  talking about in this story?

Robin Carneen, Festival Coordinator
NWIC–Tulalip
C/O Film Festival Staff
6700 Totem Beach Rd.
Tulalip WA, 98271
Phone: +1 360-651-3570
E-mail: tffgeneral@nwic.edu
Website: http://www.nwic.edu/tulalipff/index.php

Let's hope you never do this to our Native Youth! Give our Native Youth a helping hand. Encourage them to stay with and love their Native people/culture.

 

News!! HOT Urgent Items of NDN Concerns Check this out At "Spirit In The Wind"
[NativeVue] The Anonymous Blogger Speaks…Go “Walk in Beauty” Somewhere Else 

Go "Walkin Beauty" Somewhere Else…

By all means do it, if you mean it of course from the core of your spirit as best as you can as a human being, if you truly believe that is what you are doing. Go for it, please, we need all the truly spiritual and hard working people we can get in our community especially now.

On the other hand…

What kind of an entertainment community "culture" do we have when the people who are the most "well-known" are famous wannabes who post fan photos on their sites as if they have ever worked with the people they are pictured with?Who has anointed them the self-proclaimed voice for our entire people?

The Anonymous Blogger Speaks…Go "Walk in Beauty" Somewhere Else

So this is just the beginning of this Story. 

PowWow Four Bear

Fires and smoke threaten Blackfeet reservation

Robin Loznak, Great Falls Tribune / AP

The Skyland fire burns near Marias Pass, Mont. on Monday near East Glacier. Montana has seen dozens of fires in a wildfire season that began earlier than usual.

 

Fires and smoke threaten Blackfeet reservation


August 14, 2007
By David Melmer - Indian Country Today

BROWNING, Mont. - A steadily growing wildfire that has consumed more than 40,000 acres of timber and grassland moved into the Blackfeet reservation and burned nearly 10,000 acres.

Lightning started the fire called the Skyland fire in mid-July on the southeastern edge of Glacier National Park. It is only one of 23 large wildfires in Montana and Idaho that had not been contained as of Aug. 14. Twelve new fires have started in the northern Rockies since the Skyland fire began, four of which are large fires.

The Skyland fire moved onto the Blackfeet reservation Aug. 1. It had burned 9,540 acres and was 59 percent contained as of press time. It has a high potential for growth and is also in difficult terrain.

More
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415586



The fire is listed as a No. 1 incident command fire, which means that a specially trained command group is in charge of managing the fire containment effort.

In addition to the fire activity itself, smoke is causing health problems for many in the area. Southwesterly winds brought smoke from central Idaho into the area, and the smoke could be seen and felt as far away as Minnesota.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality categorized the air in the city of Great Falls as hazardous to people who are sensitive to poor air quality, such as those with asthma or heart disease, the elderly and young children. Great Falls is 100 miles southeast of Browning.

Tucker Running Wolf, assistant fire liaison for the Blackfeet Tribe, said the air qualityon the reservation is also unhealthy for sensitive groups. He said the smoke there was not from the Skyland fire but from those in Idaho, where 300,000 acres of grass and timber are burning.

The fire is contained on the reservation and had not had any growth in the past 24 hours, Running Wolf said Aug. 14. Ten families were evacuated from the reservation, but were allowed to return to their homes; and the only structures lost were a barn, a bunk house and an outbuilding. Even though an evacuationorder is in place, no more evacuations are expected.

Residents and visitors in and around the Skyland fire have been warned that possible evacuations may be ordered. Throughout the western and southwestern portions of Montana, hundreds of families have been evacuated, many of whom have been allowed to return to their homes.

Visitors to Glacier National Park have not been detoured by the fires, and the tourist operations run by the Blackfeet Tribe and tribal members continue to operate normally.

There were 811 firefighters on the Skyland fire as of Aug. 14, reduced from a total nearing 1,000 a week earlier. As the firefighters end their two weeks on duty, they are released to other fires after a brief rest, Running Wolf said. The Blackfeet and the BIA have 300 firefighters on duty and the Chief Mountain Hot Shots from the Blackfeet Reservation are also on the fire line.

Running Wolf said blasting crews are now creating fire lines around the fire in order to stop any further growth.

Topographical fire progression maps are available at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/maps/877/
_________________

The Native Americans?

Hello Native Times, Duck Valley crisis over !

Hello Native Times, Duck Valley crisis over !   

Hello Native Times, wondered where you were? 

Duck Valley crisis over

OWYHEE, NV
By JoKay Dowell 8/9/2007


After forest fires spread close enough to burn power lines, sever electrical power, and create a week-long emergency situation on the Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Indian reservation, Tribal Chairman Kyle Prior said the crisis is over.

As of today, we are no longer in a crisis, Prior said. On Monday, July 30, it was officially declared over.

Duck Valley, which straddles the Idaho-Nevada border, lost power July 16 after a fire, started by lightning, torched more than 250 power poles, Prior said. He then declared a state of emergency due to the summer heat and lack of water in the community.

The tribe’s administration provided water, ice, propane, flashlights, battery-operated fans and generators for the elderly and those with medical needs. Assistance from neighboring tribal nations came pouring n after word got out that Duck Valley was in trouble.

Many tribes in the state of Nevada and Idaho gave generously to our tribes. The San Manuel people gave generously with their $50,000. The Coure D' Alene Tribes and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Yerington Paiute, Duckwater Shoshones, Temoak Band of Western Shoshones also gave generously, Prior said. Many phone calls were received from tribes asking what they could do to help. At this time we are no longer taking any donations of any type.

Prior also said churches and other organizations came to Duck Valleys aid.

Many people donated and were helpful. The Presbyterian, LDS, and Baptist churches were very helpful. The food banks from Idaho and Nevada played a large role, he said.

The DVSP Food Distribution program coordinated the food collection and distribution efforts.

Many members lost frozen meat and groceries, including deer meat they had been saving for later in the year as the community is some what isolated and members supplement their diets by hunting.

Some members fled their homes for motels due to the heat and smell of the fire, claiming that the DVSP administration was not doing enough to help members, according to reports in the Elko (NV) Daily Free Press.

But Prior said the tribe’s budget was adversely impacted by the crisis,due to costs for emergency supplies and generators to help the elderly and those with medical needs, who were assisted first. He said the tribe is working with state and federal officials to address those issues and the tribe will take the necessary steps to recover.

First is to make sure our Tribal government can function properly. We have not put out an official amount of dollars spent during their mmediate crisis, but we are around the $300,000 mark, which for a small tribal government like ours is a huge amount, Prior said. That figure includes the cost of ice, generators, supplies purchased before donations. Once damages are assessed, like those sustained by our computer servers, electrical infrastructure at the hospital and over time for our fire department, we will have a much better picture of the price.”

Prior said the community is thankful for the support they received and that no lives were lost. He said tribe members will unite and over come this crisis as they have others in the past. Prior said his administration is working with members to organize events, such as barbecues to bring the people together. They also have traditional ceremonies to carry on.

Allowing for some community gatherings is important. Our traditional people are holding a sun dance this week, Prior said. We had no lives lost. There were some incidents related to the stressful situation, but nothing major.

Although the Duck Valley people are no longer accepting monetary or nutritional donations, Prior said there are spiritual needs, and obligations to return the gifts received, reciprocity, as is the Indian way.

Good thoughts and prayers going out to the people is what we need inthis time of recovery, Prior said. We have already started talking about what we can do to give back, to keep this cycle of good will and doing good for others going.

Buffalohair entering LA caused Earth Quake!

Bridge closed as precaution after earthquake jolts SoCal

From the Associated Press
9:35 AM PDT, August 9, 2007

 

A moderate earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area early today, waking residents and knocking some items off shelves and walls.

The magnitude 4.5 temblor struck just before 1 a.m. about 4 miles northwest of Chatsworth, according to a preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but a six-lane bridge in the city of Santa Clarita, about 12 miles north of Chatsworth, was closed as a precaution after a routine post-quake inspection raised some concerns.

Sheriff's deputies found minor cracking and small chunks of fallen concrete in the Whites Canyon Bridge that connects to a busy state route.

Officials shut down the bridge for further inspection and traffic was rerouted, said city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz.

"We don't know if the cracks were preexisting," said sheriff's Deputy Mark Wood.

Whites Canyon Bridge, which is 300 feet long, opened about 15 years ago.

The quick jolt was felt by residents across Los Angeles County, and many reported that their houses vibrated, windows rattled and books, pictures and other items fell.

Hundreds of alarms went off in the Chatsworth area, police said.

"It was a real jerk, then a second jerk and then it just stopped," said Chris Harris, 57, of Canoga Park.

Harris, who was working at his computer when the shaking started, said a large picture fell off a wall in his home.

Chatsworth is about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quake10aug10,0,7759670.story?coll=la-home-center

Montana Burns as the fires spread!

Fires keep burning

Robin Loznak, Great Falls Tribune / AP

The Skyland fire burns near Marias Pass, Mont. on Monday near East Glacier. Montana has seen dozens of fires in a wildfire season that began earlier than usual.

Yes, We need a HOT LINE for helping those in Dire Need!

 

A comment has been posted to the tiny Journal:
Beauty in Art
Time to Share some of this Good News here! For  Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley
Comment from: rdautumnsage
"Thank you! Somehow I knew we would take care of our own. I know from my own journal a number of people stepped foward and said they sent contributions. In the end it's about people caring for one another. You don't need to be a Native to care. Having compassion isn't a skin condition. (Hugs) Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

 

 

The problem at first was in getting the News out to our Nations!!!!!!!!

As no National Network touched it!!!!!!!!!

It started with one little E-Mail to Carlos.

Then to our Blogs, Journals, Web pages and our Group Sites.


Then finally ones paid attention to the Fire Stories coming out of Nevada.

Now TV News In Idaho is playing catch up after it is almost over

So we have come to realize we need ONE WELL READ BLOG that will cover News of Nations needing help for all to check in on!

 

Yeah! I don't mean one that copies the NewsPaper News around the country we have plenty of those you have to hunt through.

 

 I mean only our own News! [Just one will do  thank you helpful white folks not hundreds] And a 'Real Native' one ..... one who really Cares ..... not in it for the Money!

 

Buffalohair's Blog is getting well read these days and he did get that first little E-Mail from Paz, trying to get help for her people/Nation.

Back to the Nation:

What cattle that are still alive, with their grass lands burned to a crisp, they need to buy extra food for those cattle now!

 Do you think that will come cheap? I don't think so!

Could you feed a whole town and cattle on nothing?

 So even with a tight budget with these monies coming in, this will be a story in itself. To make it through the Winter?  

As Carlos stated; "It was a  great Loss of the Paiute economic infrastructure during the fire.

 You must realize the reservation is very isolated, 100 miles in all directions from the nearest town on a little two lane road, definitely off the beaten path.

The fire has ravaged their ability to be self sufficient,  killing cattle and other small industries that once supported this village."

 What money they had, they spent all of it on dry ice, regular ice, bottled water and other suppies for over 1500 people when they could get through the fires or was allowed to go through.

 Stories were that the Red Cross had helped them at the begining?..... Not!...... That was their own money that bought that!

 Then the Red Cross themselves said, "Oh they have everything, they don't need any help." Yeah Right!

Ann Little Running Deer

QuoteBuffalohair  

Native Help Line  

YourCausesIssues 

 

MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH MY SENIORS

As many of you know, I hale from a little village called Hammon Oklahoma. It’s also called “The Red Moon Agency” a sub-agency of the Darlington Agency, and named after Chief Red Moon. My people are very traditional in every sense of the word. We call this “The Last Stronghold” for we are still under attack in many ways.. It’s the dark side of tribal existence and I know other fellow Native’s know what I’m talking about, it’s our sad secret.

But there are innocent victims of this war of attrition and ambivalence and that’s the 40 or so senior citizens of my village. Well, to cut to the chase, I’ve been personally paying for all my seniors’ meals for the last 6 months. I adopted all the elderly of my village. So they are all my grandmothers and grandfathers. Somehow in the matrix of politics our center has been without funding and my elders have gone without their daily meals. In most cases these elderly people only get one hot meal a day since our village is so impoverished.

I only discovered this situation when my aunt, who is on a walker, was making her way to another relatives home one day. I asked my aunty why she was “strolling” down the street. She would not tell me at first but then she broke down and told me. You have to realize these elderly people are a very proud people. In fact, they are the direct descendants of the survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre, conducted by Chivington and ultimately the Washita Massacre conducted by Custer who was sent to finish us off. Sadly Chief Black Kettle was finally killed and so were most of my ancestors.

My aunt was ashamed to tell me that they have not received hot meals for months. And that all our elderly were going from house to house getting meals. That was for the fortunate ones who were not invalid and bed ridden. I could not understand why she was ashamed to tell me though. So to retain their dignity, I adopted all our seniors and have been paying out of pocket for the last 6 months. Well, I’ve tapped into my production development funds now and I simply can’t afford to pay much more, so I need your help.

Since the Senior Center in Hammon is a multi-racial one. I’ve decided to adopt the non-Natives who depend on these hot meals as well. Why?? That’s a no brainer eh. The non-Natives are the descendants of the good White folks at Fort Supply and other places who hide my people from Custer’s troops who were scouring the countryside executing the stragglers. Remember “knits make lice” and Custer cutting out babies from the mothers womb? It was a most brutal part of history that does not seem to make all the history books. Custer also executed White people who harbored any Natives, another piece of dark history. It might not be a big disaster but to us, “It’s our Holocaust”. If it were not for these beautiful White folks who truly were heroes in our eyes, we would not be here. So I must honor them and their ancestors as well.

I’ve contacted the City Manager of Hammon, Shirley Walker, a very nice and caring non-Native woman. I told her of my plan to generate funding for the Senior Center in our village since this is in her jurisdiction. She told me she has the tax info for others who would adopt our elderly, the “502. Whatever”

So if you can, give me a hand with this situation.

I named the fund after my family:

WHITE EAGLE-BULLCOMING UP SENIORS FUND
BOX 218
HAMMON, OKLAHOMA
73650

ATTENTION:
SHIRLEY WALKER, City Manager

580.473.2281

Just tell Shirley you heard about it from “That Big Injun Dude”
Believe me, she will know who you're talking about since I champion many other causes for my people.

It’s not a big village but it’s all I have and to us it’s a catastrophe of cataclysmic proportions. We love and honor our seniors and basically, our village is very impoverished. And well, my people look to me for solutions and this is what I came up with. I just don’t have enough money to pull it off anymore or I would not ask you in the first place. Maybe after I win an Oscar I’ll have the dough-ray-me, but for now its commode cheese and green beans for this film maker.



Buffalohair
_________________
Creativity is the byproduct of a fertile mind

Time to Share some of this Good News here! For Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley

 

 

 

YourCausesIssues

I have been placing the News at 'Spirit In The Wind' and at the Theatre, 'Native Storytelling at the Movies'.

California Indians give $50k to Idaho tribe hit by fire

Associated Press - July 31, 2007 9:44 AM ET

DUCK VALLEY, Idaho (AP) - American Indians in California are chipping in $50,000 to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation to help them recover from the 1,000-square-mile Murphy Complex Fire.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, whose homelands are located in Southern California, said they struggle with wildfire at home so they're aware of its devastating effect.

Chairman Henry Duro of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians says, "When we heard of the conditions that our brothers and sisters from the Duck Valley Reservation were having to endure, our first thought was, 'How can we help.' "

The Duck Valley reservation spent a week without power, causing many of its 1,700 tribal members to see food supplies spoil in freezers.

Kyle Prior, the Shoshone-Paiute tribes chairman, says he's also working with federal Indian agencies to help soften the blow.

TheMurphy Complex fire is about 98% contained, but has consumed an area the size of Rhode Island.

Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council Offers $25,000 in aid to Shoshone-Paiute Tribes

July 31, 2007 03:57 PM

DUCK VALLEY, Idaho - The Coeur d'Alene Tribe has given $25,000 in aid to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation after the 1,000-square-mile Murphy Complex Fire damaged transmission and power lines, along with significant areas of the Shoshone-Paiute reservation.

"The Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council stands ready to support members of our Idaho tribal family," said Coeur d'Alene Tribal Chairman Chief Allan. "After the community spent a week without power, and after learning about the devastation caused by this massive wildfire, we hope to provide some comfort to those in need."

With some of Buffalohair's Humor

THE PARIS HILTON EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYS...