Paging Gazhekwe

[Bigb23]

General William “Tecumseh” Sherman, 1867:

“The more Indians we can kill this year, the less will have to be killed the next war, for the more I see of these Indians, the more convinced I am that they all have to be killed or maintained as a species of paupers.”

Nice middle name, “Bill”. You should have given it back.

Chief Gall, a leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux warriors at Little Big Horn:

“If you had a country which was very valuable, which had always belonged to your people... and men of another race came to take it away by force, what would your people do? Would they fight?

From the Trail of Tears to Wounded Knee, and long before and since, this was a sad time in “American” history. Manifest Destiny, ha, how many dictators also claimed that?

Also, the conduct of the BIA over history, makes our current politicians look like nickle and dime crooks.

[gazhekwe]

This story on NPR made me sick to my stomach. Indian children taken from their families by state social workers for subjective and even specious reasons, and placed in foster care at great distance from their families. Though Indian foster homes are available, the vast majority go to white foster homes. Is money the reason? Finally, one community stands up and demands return of the children of one family. So many questions. Why is ICWA being ignored, why don't the communities stand strongly for their families, why is South Dakota giving its social workers carte blanche to violate federal law?

http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141672...tered-families

Nearly 700 Native American children in South Dakota are being removed from their homes every year, sometimes in questionable circumstances. An NPR News investigation has found that the state is largely failing to place them according to the law. The vast majority of native kids in foster care in South Dakota are in nonnative homes or group homes, according to an NPR analysis of state records.

Years ago, thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools, where the motto opf the schools' founder was "Kill the Indian, Save the Man." Children lost touch with their culture, traditions and families. Many suffered horrible abuse, leaving entire generations missing from the one place whose future depended on them — their tribes.
In 1978, Congress tried to put a stop to it. They passed the Indian Child Welfare Act, which says except in the rarest circumstances, Native American children must be placed with their relatives or tribes. It also says states must do everything it can to keep native families together.
But 32 states are failing to abide by the act in one way or another, and, an NPR investigation has found, nowhere is that more apparent than in South Dakota.
"Cousins are disappearing; family members are disappearing," said Peter Lengkeek, a Crow Creek Tribal Council member. "It's kidnapping. That's how we see it."
State officials say they have to do what's in the best interest of the child, but the state does have a financial incentive to remove the children. The state receives thousands of dollars from the federal government for every child it takes from a family, and in some cases the state gets even more money if the child is Native American. The result is that South Dakota is now removing children at a rate higher than the vast majority of other states in the country.
Native American families feel the brunt of this. Their children make up less than 15 percent of the child population, yet they make up more than half of the children in foster care.
Critics say foster care in South Dakota has become a powerhouse for private group home providers who bring in millions of dollars in state contracts to care for kids. Among them is Children's Home Society, the state's largest foster care provider, which has close ties with top government officials. It used to be run by South Dakota's Gov. Dennis Daugard. An NPR investigation has found that Daugard was on the group's payroll while he was lieutenant governor — and while the group received tens of millions of dollars in no-bid state contracts. It's an unusual relationship highlighting the powerful role money and politics play in South Dakota's foster care system.
"They make a living off of our children," said Juanita Sherick, the tribal social worker for the Pine Ridge reservation.

[gazhekwe]

Well, there was this great article titled Halloween Horror Show, the Sexualized Indian Maiden, Same as She Ever Was, with this great slide show of pictures to illustrate said Sexualized Indian Maidens. I was going to post it, but then I thought, but all the Anglos who see it will then look at us and think, "But you don't Look Indian," thinking back to the babalicious pix. But then again, maybe you will all just think it is just as bad as it is, but admire the pinup art and its followers and inspirations. Oh, what the heck, here it is, AAAAHHHHH, SCARY-------:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwor...paign=fb-posts

[Pam]

Gaz, I saw this in the Michigan History Magazine. Sorry, if you posted it already. I don't remember seeing it.

http://www.emmetcounty.org/odawa-war...493/#sect-1816

The exhibit details the journey of Odawa warriors from Emmet County to Farmington, PA, to join the fight for Native sovereignty. The Pennsylvania battle in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. At least 20 Odawas [[Ottawas), known as the Anishinaabe, were among those who traveled about 630 miles to this battle against George Washington.

[gazhekwe]

No, I didn't see it, Pam, and it is fascinating. Thank you for posting it. It is interesting to compare this with Pontiac's War, launched in 1763 by Pontiac and the Anishinaabe ogichidaak. By then, they were dead set against the British, who were not treating them well, and allied with the French, who had been using a much more congregate approach to settlement.

To celebrate, here are some words of wisdom from Pontiac. Too bad he was not heeded.

Elder's Meditation of the Day - October 30 "My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of your forefathers. ...You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blankets from the white man until you can no longer do without them; and what is worse you have drunk the poison firewater, which turns you into fools. Fling all these things away; live as your forefathers did before you." -- Pontiac, ODAWA

[gazhekwe]

Disgraced Former Lobbyist and Criminal Jack Abramoff Finds ‘Redskins’ Name Offensive By ICTMN Staff November 4, 2011

You know you’ve got problems when even a notorious criminal who had an astounding lack of morals and zero ethics thinks you’re being offensive.

Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who went from being one of the most powerful, shameless players in backroom D.C. politics to serving four years in the minimum-security prison camp of Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, has a new book out in which he rips into Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder for the team’s hideous nickname.

The book, Capital Punishment: The Hard Truth About Washington Corruption From America’s Most Notrious Lobbyist, which hopefully nobody buys, details his relationship with Snyder. Abramoff used the Redskins stadium, FedEx Field, to entertain his powerful clients in their VIP suites. He had a list of complaints for Snyder, which he shared with the prickly owner at the time, feeling that because of the amount of money Abramoff was spending there, the owner should heed his advice.

And what was that advice? Sports website DeadSpin.com reports on the noise Abramoff makes in his book about how he and his cohorts deserved to be moved into the nicer suites [[unfortunately, the prime suites he desired were already occupied—by journalists covering the game). Who cares. But then there’s this little gem that Deadspin delivers from the book:

“The final item on my long list of suggestions was that he should try to change the offensive name of the team.”

Abramoff doesn’t stop there. Deadspin offers more from the book:

“Although the Choctaws had long ago assured me that a team named the Redskins didn’t bother them, I figured I would take a shot a trying to undo this insult. In my letter to Snyder, I asked him how we would feel if the New York team were called the Jew Boys, or worse. Moreover, I knew that all Native Americans resented the use of the feathered headdress in the team band’s uniform. I asked how he would feel if the New York Jew Boys band had a uniform of black hats and prayer shawls. I further argued that, were he to make this change now, he would immediately establish himself as a moral leader in our nation’s capital, and garner the respect of those who were likely to look askance on him.

“Snyder called me within hours of receiving the letter, and reviewed each point with me. He was kind and gracious, not the imperious brat the media had portrayed him to be. He said that he sympathized with my points about the team’s name, but he had been a Redskins fan since he was a kid, and he couldn’t bring himself to change it. His business acumen led many to think he was only a cold-hearted, cutthroat shark, but he was nothing but decent, honest and straightforward with me. A few seasons later, I was given first choice of the new suites in the former press section and our expenditures at FedEx Field grew exponentially.”

We suggest you check out Deadspin’s take on this excerpt; the verbiage they use is decidedly blue, but it fits in this case.

The insanity of the above statement, from a man who stole millions from those very Choctaws he claims to respect, and of his assessment of the “decent, honest” Synder, who can’t bring himself to change an offensive name and mascot because he “liked them since he was a kid” is astoundingly selfish and lacking in base-level self-awareness.

American Indian communities do not need Jack Abramoff on their side, a man who said, and did, terrible things to the very tribes he pretended to be “in business” with. If you haven’t seen the documentary film Casino Jack and the United States of Money we suggest you do, but perhaps have a punching bag nearby.

[Bigb23]

I just got my first new electric blanket in ten years. What was said about a warm blanket and a fire.? The blanket is my new lover. [[Sad but true). Now if I can only find that proper body pillow, than the fall of Mankind [[Womenkind), as we know it, will prevail. [[Only kidding). No really - pillows don't bitch about the heat setting. Or about hormones, or that time of month, or bitchin in general, just, that all will prevail and we love them all the same. OOHHH RAHHH.

[[Still waiting for pillow). Check the animal dept. for a good pillow. [[Twice as much).

[gazhekwe]

Ira Hayes, Tohono O'Odham, received honor and adulation for his role in raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. He felt the honor was misplaced, and he suffered from it. He was really the second American Indian to help raise a flag on Mt. Suribachi. Here is the story of the first.

Louis “Chuck” Charlo remembered at Fort Missoula exhibit

By B.L. Azure

This is one of the last photos taken of Marine Pfc. Louis Charlo [[top) who was killed a short time later on Iwo Jima. The photo was featured on the cover of Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper. From left are Marines Sherman Watson, Ted White and George Mercer. Watson and White were wounded on Iwo Jima and Mercer was killed in action. [[Courtesy of Roger Shourds)

FORT MISSOULA — ....[The Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History Saturday has a tribute exhibit: The USS Missoula and U.S. Marine Pfc. Louis Charlo exhibit, that was dedicated in May 2008.]

....Pfc Charlo, great-grandson of Chief Charlo of the Bitterroot Salish, was killed a few days after hoisting the first flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23.

Later that day a larger flag was raised and photographed by Joe Rosenthal. The iconic photo won the Pulitzer Prize and became the model for the U.S. Marine Memorial at Arlington, Virginia. The second group of flag-raisers also came from the USS Missoula and included American Indian, Ira Hayes of the Pima tribe. .....

Bill Worf, a Marine Corps veteran who fought on Iwo Jima and other Pacific Campaign battles of World War II, was known as “The Kid from Montana” by his fellow Marines. Worf said the homage to Louis Charlo was the blossoming of a seed planted more than 63 years ago on the blood-soaked black volcanic sand beaches of Iwo Jima.

“This is the culmination of a dream of mine that started on Iwo Jima,” Worf said.

He was an 18-year-old Marine when he was transported to the island on the USS Missoula to face off against 21,000 well dug in Japanese troops.

Iwo Jima was a strategic island with an airfield only 650 miles from Japan. It was used by the Japanese to warn mainland forces of incoming bombing raids or to intercept U.S. Army Air Force bombers en route to Japan. Once captured the American forces used it as a base to launch air raids to the Japanese mainland. Within two weeks of Iwo Jima’s capture B-29 bombers with P-51 fighter escorts began bombing raids on Japan. It also served as a re-fueling depot for other planes bound for Japan.

The USS Missoula, launched on Sept. 6, 1944, was an attack transport ship built for carrying Marines and landing craft. It had a crew of 56 officers and 480 men. When fully loaded it had an additional 86 Marine Corps officers, 1,475 Marines and 2,900 tons of cargo.

The USS Missoula was part of the February 1945 assault on Iwo Jima and had Marines from the 28th Regiment of the 5th Marine Division. The contingent of Marines’ objective was to capture the high point of Iwo Jima: Mount Suribachi located on the south end of the pork chop shaped island.

Four days after the assault that began on Feb. 19, 1945 a squad of Marines from the USS Missoula was given the mission of hoisting an American flag on the 556-foot high point of Iwo Jima. The 3-foot by 5-foot flag was from the USS Missoula that was named after Missoula County. Among the flag raisers was a Missoula County resident 18-year-old Pfc. Louis Charlo. It was the first non-Japanese flag ever hoisted over Japanese territory.

“When the flag from the USS Missoula went up bedlam broke out in the form of cheers and extra shots. We all thought the battle was over,” Worf said. “That evening I was told the flag was put up by another ‘Kid from Montana’ - Louis Charlo. I made it a point to meet Louis Charlo but he was killed. The second flag raising was five and a half hours later and is more famous but I made it a point to give him [[Charlo) credit.”

“Chief was very popular with everyone. He was outgoing and good natured,” said Charlo’s platoon leader, Ray Whelan in a letter to Roger Shourds of Polson. “I can still see him with his trusty B.A.R. [[Browning Automatic Rifle) as if it were yesterday.”

Whelan gave his account of Charlo’s death. “He was advancing in an area called the Meat Grinder [when] his buddy, Ed McLaughlin was hit,” Whelan said. “Chief went out to him and managed to get him on his shoulder and was well on his way back to cover when he was hit by machine gun fire. They both were killed. All the original members of the 2nd Platoon were casualties - either killed or wounded. It was a tragic loss of life and limb of so many very young men.”

Much to Worf’s and others the chagrin, the battle that began on Feb. 19, 1945 would not end until March 26. When it was over more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers were dead and only 216 were captured. The cost in lives to the 30,000-strong American forces was 6,821, another 19,189 were wounded and approximately 500 were listed as missing in action. It was the only battle between the Japanese and Marines that American casualties exceeded that of the Japanese.

Vic Charlo said he still vividly recalls the day when the telegram notifying his family of his brother’s death was delivered to the Evaro train station. He was within earshot of his mother when he heard her mournful wail.

“That sound meant only one thing: bad news about Chuck,” he said.

http://www.charkoosta.com/2008/2008_...emembered.html

[gazhekwe]

Dr. Joe Medicine Crow [[Crow) was presented earlier this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States by President Barack Obama. He added that to his collection: a Congressional Gold Medal, a Bronze Star and Legion d'honneur, the highest decoration given in France. During his military service, Medicine Crow completed all four tasks to become a Crow war chief, including touching a living enemy soldier, disarming an enemy, leading a successful war party and stealing an enemy horse.

Joseph Medicine Crow [[or Joe Medicine Crow, full name Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird, born October 27, 1913) is a Crow historian and author. He is also an enrolled member of the Crow Nation of Native Americans. His writings on Native American history and reservation culture are considered seminal works, but he is best known for his writings and lectures concerning the Battle of Little Big Horn. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Bronze Star Medal, and theLégion d'honneur. He is a founding member of the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders & Youth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Medicine_Crow

Army Spc. Lori Piestewa [[Hopi) was aware of Indian women who served America before her. This 23-year-old soldier became the first service woman killed in action in Iraq, and the first American Indian woman killed in combat. Her death, on March 23, 2003, touched a grateful nation and changed the name of the most prominent mountain near Phoenix to Piestewa Peak.

SPCLori Ann Piestewa [[ /paɪˈɛstəwɑː/ py-ess-tə-wah;^[3] December 14, 1979 – March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch sustained injuries. A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military and the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the2003 invasion of Iraq.^[2] Arizona's Piestewa Peak is named in her honor.
Piestewa was a member of the US Amy's 507th Maintenance Company, a support unit of maintenance and repair personnel. Her company was traveling in a convoy through the desert and was meant to bypass Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq, during the opening days of the war; but the convoy got lost and ran into an ambush in Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003.
As Piestewa came under "a torrent of fire" [[in the words of an Army investigation of the battle), she drove at a high speed, successfully evading the enemy fire until an RPG hit the front-left wheel well of her Humvee.^[11] The force of the explosion sent her vehicle into the rear of a disabled tractor-trailer.^[11]Piestewa, Johnson, and Lynch all survived the crash with injuries, while three other soldiers in the Humvee died. Lynch attempted to fire her M16, but it jammed. They were taken prisoner along with four others, with Piestewa dying soon after of her wounds. A video of some of the American prisoners of war, including Piestewa [[filmed shortly before she died in an Iraqi hospital), was later shown around the world on Al Jazeera television.^[12] According to Jessica Lynch's book—I'm a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story—Piestewa was wounded in the head, and it was impossible to perform delicate neurosurgery in an Iraqi civilian hospital in wartime conditions [[such as intermittent electric power). In a U.S. military hospital with reliable power and neurosurgeons available around the clock, she might have survived.^[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lori_Piestewa


MSGT. Woodrow Wilson Keeble who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush on March 3, 2008, a proud member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble [[May 16, 1917 - January 28, 1982) was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran of both World War II and theKorean War. He was a full-blooded member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, a Sioux Native American tribe.
Following a long campaign by his family and the congressional delegations of both North and South Dakota, on March 3, 2008, President George W. Bushposthumously awarded Keeble the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War. Keeble had previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with V device for Valor, the Bronze Star for merit, and the Combat Infantryman Badge [[first and second awards). Although he was wounded at least twice in World War II and three times in Korea, he received only two Purple Hearts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_W._Keeble

[gazhekwe]

Song by Black Lodge Singers, video by Red Nation Music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=ojudkxceKl4

[gazhekwe]

Here is a bit of infamous history for you, President Andrew Jackson's message to Congress in 1830 concerning the removal of American Indians from lands desired for settlement by whites.

President Andrew Jackson's Message to Congress 'On Indian Removal' [[1830)

With the onset of westward expansion and increased contact with Indian tribes, President Jackson set the tone for his position on Indian affairs in his message to Congress on December 6, 1830. Jackson’s message justified the removal policy already established by the Indian Removal Act of May 28, 1830.

The Indian Removal Act was passed to open up for settlement those lands still held by Indians in states east of the Mississippi River, primarily Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and others. Jackson declared that removal would “incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier.” Clearing Alabama and Mississippi of their Indian populations, he said, would “enable those states to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power.” White inhabitants of Georgia were particularly anxious to have the Cherokees removed from the state because gold had been discovered on tribal lands. Violence was commonplace in Georgia, and in all likelihood, a portion of the tribe would have been decimated if they had not been removed. Removal of the Indian tribes continued beyond Jackson’s tenure as President. The most infamous of the removals took place in 1838, two years after the end of Jackson’s final term, when the Cherokee Indians were forcibly removed by the military. Their journey west became known as the “Trail of Tears,” because of the thousands of deaths along the way.

In accordance with the act, by 1837, most of the Potawatomi farmers had been swept from lower Michigan to the prairies of Kansas. Some fled into Canada, some to the Upper Peninsula, and some were allowed to choose Northport, Michigan over Kansas. The reservations in Oakland county were emptied, Tonquish Oden in Southfield, Sigensiwen Oden in Beverly Hills and the sections surrounding Orchard Lake. Michigan achieved statehood January 26, 1837. -Gazhekwe

[gazhekwe]

November 16, 1811: According to some sources, Tecumseh predicted a “light across the sky” tonight. It is supposed to have appeared, as predicted.

Tecumseh [[March 1768 – October 5, 1813), also known as Tecumtha or Tekamthi, “Shooting Star” or “Panther Across The Sky,” was a leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh’s War and the War of 1812. He grew up in the Ohio country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare.

Some say Tecumseh was named after a sign that appeared at the time of his birth, a great light which lit the skies above the Colonies in 1768. Some say he was named for the light that shone in his eyes.

During his life, he made several predictions that may have been the most amazing ever made. One prophecy was that a sign would appear to indicate that the Great Spirit was guiding him.

He predicted that, when he went to Detroit, he would stomp and the earth would shudder. On November 16, 1811, a great searing flash lit the continent. Then, on December 16, 1811, Tecumseh arrived at Detroit. Suddenly a deep, terrifying rumble covered an immense area. One of the world's most powerful earthquakes occurred at the time he predicted [[New Madrid). He also predictied the death of several American presidents.

A bit of research indicates there were two comets seen in 1811, both of which would have been visible on November 16, one on its way out, one on the way in. Scientific descriptions from different parts of the world do not describe a great flash, however.

There is an account of a comet that appears regularly, and probably appeared in March 1778, though there were no recorded observations.

Of the three huge quakes in New Madrid, the first was at 2:15 a.m. on December 16, 1811. It was felt as far away as the east coast and it temporarily made the Mississippi River flow backward. At least three big aftershocks occurred throughout the same day.

[gazhekwe]

This movie lasts 29 minutes. One of the elders was a prisoner of war with Geronimo, when she was three years old. The movie discusses the American holocaust, featuring modern Apaches and others.

A little history -- Geronimo and other Apaches, including the Apache scouts who had helped the army track him down, were sent as prisoners to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas. The Army held them there for about six weeks before they were sent to Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Florida. Geronimo's family was sent to Fort Marion in St. Augustine. The man who developed the idea of Indian boarding schools was master at Fort Marion. Geronimo was reunited with his family in May 1887, when they were transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Geronimo died in 1909 without ever being allowed to return to his homeland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...=p52hDh3kp5Y#!

[gazhekwe]

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - James Arthur Ray was sentenced to prison on three counts of negligent homicide in the sweat-lodge trial. He was sentenced four days before his 54th birthday.
​
Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Warren Darrow imposed two-year sentences for each of the three deaths, but the sentences are to be served concurrently.

"I see and I find that the aggravating circumstance of emotional harm is so strong and such that probation is simply unwarranted in this case," Darrow said.

Ray must serve at least 85 percent of the term before being eligible for release. He's already spent 24 days behind bars and thus would need to serve a minimum of 600 more days in prison. He was also ordered to pay a total of $57,000 in restitution to the families of the victims.

A tearful Ray, speaking directly to the victims' relatives and then to the judge, repeatedly begged forgiveness and promised that he would never conduct a sweat lodge or other physically dangerous activity again.

"I'm so sorry. And I know that nothing I could say or do is enough," he said, his voice cracking and thick with emotion. "There's not one single day that passes that I don't relive the moments of that night in my life, asking what I missed, what I could have done differently. I didn't know, I didn't know that anyone was dying or in distress. I wish to God I would have. I would have stopped immediately."

Family members of the victims, speaking to the court, repeatedly criticized Ray for not previously taking responsibility for the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38; James Shore, 40, and Liz Neuman, 49, at an imitation sweat-lodge ceremony he led at the Angel Valley Resort, near Sedona in October 2009.

"Does he still not realize it was too damn hot?" shouted Virginia Brown, Kirby's mother, staring at Ray, who avoided eye contact.

"Please, take him off the market," Brown begged Judge Darrow.

Brown and her husband spoke movingly about how devastating their oldest daughter's death continues to be for them, and said that their unconscious daughter had no choice about leaving the sweat lodge.
"It was James Ray's free-will choice to add rocks to every round to make it hotter, to make it more challenging. He wanted to teach people things; I understand that," said Virginia Brown. "But he ran this event. He was responsible, and he didn't stop it, and he didn't take care of his people."

Sheila Polk, the Yavapai County prosecutor, said before the sentence that, "The defendant led the life of a pretender, and there are predictable consequences when one leads a life of pretense."

Lily Clark, Liz Neuman's cousin, said that she has suffered from wishing she had persuaded Neuman not take part in Ray's event, but that her cousin had felt obligated to help as a volunteer. "There was nothing you could teach Liz, James or Kirby about honor, integrity or impeccability," she told Ray, repeating words he used before the ceremony to urge participants to stay inside the sweat lodge.

Following a nearly four-month-long trial, Ray was convicted in late June of negligent homicide in the deaths. The event was intended as the culmination of a five-day "Spiritual Warrior" retreat, but during the long and brutally-hot ceremony, participants became disoriented and ill. Brown and Shore passed out and were left unnoticed inside the sweat-lodge for some 20 minutes after the event ended. They died of heat stroke. Neuman died nine days later of massive organ failure at a Flagstaff hospital.

Family members of the three had been especially bitter about Ray's seeming indifference, saying they found out either from police or from calling around to area hospitals on their own, after hearing news reports about the disastrous turn of events.

During the trial, Ray's attorneys had tried to characterize the deaths as a tragic, unavoidable accident, and had tried to persuade jurors that some unknown toxin might have caused the deaths. But jurors didn't buy it, as several said in subsequent media interviews.

Judge Darrow had limited prosecutors' efforts to introduce testimony about prior sweat lodges and other events led by Ray at which participants were injured; but after releasing the jury, in the pre-sentencing phase, Darrow allowed greater latitude to both sides.
Prosecutors aggressively made the case that Ray had ignored plenty of warning signs that his events were becoming dangerous, and that his stated desire to become the world's first "self-help" billionaire led him to become increasingly careless at his events, a contention contested by Ray's defense team.

Ray's attorneys, and Ray supporters and family called to the stand this past week, had asked for Ray to receive probation. They cited his lack of a prior criminal record, said that he had not intended for anyone to die, and attested to what they termed his good character and community service - though there was little testimony to substantiate such service. His attorneys also argued that Ray, who promised never to lead another sweat lodge, poses no risk to society, is remorseful, and that he's needed to help take care of his mother, who is fighting cancer. Ray's attorneys asked Darrow, in the event he imposed a prison term, to allow Ray to remain free on bail pending the outcome of their planned appeal of his conviction, but Darrow declined that request.

Ray's attorneys said they will file an appeal.

Contributing: The Associated Press

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ing/51298530/1

[gazhekwe]

I am sitting here working out my menu and I swear, I am tasting and smelling everything so clearly it's like I should gain weight.

Well, we aren't doing a completely indigenous feast, only one kind of wiass, misisenh, three or four netaawging, piniik, bkwejigan chimookoman, and of course bitoojishkwejigan kwaasmaan, the traditional dinner with all the trimmings.

I put my misisenh in the oven with just an onion and some celery inside, and gokosh wiass over the top, under a tent of foil. At the same time, I make a dish of manoomin miinwaa monoomin netaawging bkwejigan to bake along with the misisenh. I boil the neck and giblets of the misisenh before hand so I can use some of the nboop to moisten the manoomin miinwa mondamin. After an hour or so I put in the piniik to bake along. I'm lucky to have two ovens, so I can bake some bkwejigan. The bitoojishwejigan will be baked the day before.

I'm betting a lot of us are having similar foods. The misisenh, manoomin miinwa mondamin bkwejigan, piniik and some of the other netaawging and the kwassmaan are native.

My mouth is watering. I can hardly wait!

[gazhekwe]

The First Thanksgiving likely wasn't the first one ever held in the Massachusetts Bay area. Harvest feasts were common enough at the end of every season, and after a good hunt as well, as the people rested after all their work and celebrated the food they had put up for the coming winter. This is also the season for the Ghost Supper, when the Spirit World is most open to our communications, and we celebrate the ancestors and their place in our lives.

This recipe comes from Squanto's Kitchen, available free on line:

The Ancient New England standing dish
But the Housewives manner is to slice them [Squash] when ripe, and cut them into dice, and so fill a pot with them of two or three Gallons, and stew them upon a gentle fire a whole day, and as they sink, they fill again with fresh Pompions, not putting any liquor to them; and when it is stew’d enough, it will look like bak’d Apples; this they Dish, putting Butter to it, and a little Vinegar, [[with some Spice, such as Ginger.) which makes it tart like an Apple, and so serve it up to be eaten with Fish or Flesh.
John Josselyn, Two Voyages to New England

Stewed Pumpkin [Modern interpretation]


4 cups of cooked [[boiled, steamed or baked) squash [pumpkin], roughly mashed
3 tablespoons butter
2 to 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 or 2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a saucepan over medium heat, stir and heat all the ingredients together. Adjust seasonings to taste, and serve hot

[gazhekwe]

One traditional recipe is based on Manoomin, Wild Rice. In the stories of the Seven Fires Prophecies, our people traveled from the east coast west to a land where food grows on the water. They found the food growing on the water at the head of Lake Superior, where they established the core of the Three Fires society at La Pointe. In the areas surrounding LaPointe, east, west and south, were the lakes of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the food grew on the water, wild rice.

Here is the recipe I'm working on. Of course, it does have some modern ingredients.

Wild Rice Stuffing

1 cup wild rice
3 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cooking apple, such as a Golden Delicious, Gravenstein, or Rome, peeled, cored, and chopped
2 ribs celery with leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
Pinch ground mace or nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound fresh Italian-style turkey or pork sausage, casings removed
1/2 cup lightly toasted pecan pieces [[I use walnuts)
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Cooking Directions

Combine the wild rice, water [[or broth), and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and just bursting, about 30 minutes. [[Cooking time may vary depending on the brand of rice used.) Drain and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, apple, celery, garlic, thyme, mace, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
Stir in sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and cook until it loses its rosy color, but not so much that it's dry, about 5 minutes more.
Stir in the cooked wild rice, pecans, and parsley into the vegetable mixture. [[This can be made the day before.)
Turn mixture into a 8 or 9-inch square baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.
Makes 8 servings [[based on 2/3 cup per serving)

This Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, courtesy Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

[gazhekwe]

[gazhekwe]

[gazhekwe]

The Free Press series on mining in the UP is pointing out some horrible facts.

1. We are getting what amounts to chump change for these valuable assets.

2. We cannot regulate these sites sufficiently to assure safety of people and the environment.

And yet --- The mining interests are creating jobs in the UP, jobs that have been missing since the steel industry went offshore and copper got too cheap to be worth mining.

Note: I support reopening existing mines. These have already suffered the disaster of opening up the soil and laying waste the surroundings. Yet it disturbs me very much that we don't have the resources in our state to assure the safety of the people and the environment.

From a native perspective, this is already a disaster. The pictures I posted above sit in the shadow of the sacred site, Eagle Rock. The tunnel goes right under the rock. It is a rape of our mother the earth, and endangering our water that flows through her veins.

The retention pond sits on the watershed to the Salmon Trout River, which runs into Lake Superior and home to a breeding population of Coaster Brook Trout, an endangered species.

The site is on the Yellow Dog Plain, and the Yellow Dog River also flows nearby and drains into Lake Superior. The Yellow Dog Plain has been a wild and pristine wilderness up to now, except for logging.

Here are the two articles so far in the Free Press series:

Yesterday [[two parts): http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Oli...&view=ZW50aXR5

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Oli...&view=ZW50aXR5

Today: http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Oli...&view=ZW50aXR5

[gazhekwe]

One of our tribal members, Mike Willis of Bear Creek Singers, has been chosen to sing the opening flag song at the 2011 White House Tribal Nations Conference this Friday.

I wish I could be there! This is the third annual conference and each of 565 federally recognized tribes was invited to send one representative. I'm hoping it will be available for viewing live maybe on the whitehouse feed.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

The conference takes place Friday Dec. 2 at the Sidney R. Yates Auditorium at the Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW. Tentative schedule:
T

8:30am - Opening Session [[Open Press)
10:00am - Break Out Sessions/Lunch [[Closed Press)
1:00pm - Closing Session [[Open Press)
3pm - Conference ends

[Bigb23]

Well, there was this great article titled Halloween Horror Show, the Sexualized Indian Maiden, Same as She Ever Was, with this great slide show of pictures to illustrate said Sexualized Indian Maidens. I was going to post it, but then I thought, but all the Anglos who see it will then look at us and think, "But you don't Look Indian," thinking back to the babalicious pix. But then again, maybe you will all just think it is just as bad as it is, but admire the pinup art and its followers and inspirations. Oh, what the heck, here it is, AAAAHHHHH, SCARY-------:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwor...paign=fb-posts

Gaz - I've always been smitten with the women of "North of 40" and "The Rez" for years, I hope that does not make me a bad guy. And I did not look at the above link.
By [[natives for natives). [[Fubu?) Even though I don't post all that often, doesn't mean that I don't read your thread as much as possible. If I have something to offer - I will.
Happy trails, across our nation.

[Bigb23]

And what about the swarthy Italian men, who played the Plains Indians for Hollywood for so many years? We all know now, that the best known Indian of all time, [[The guy in the littering comercial in the 70's , was actually of the jewish faith and from the Bronx). [[The tear). And declaired himself a full blooded Indian, was sad but true.

I don't want to slam any of them - they brought some Indian culture to the masses, but not if It should have not have happend "that way".
Only since the movie "Little Big Man", or slightly before, were the tribes repesented as an entity.

Revise me please - if I'm wrong. I'm open.

Thanks for the shout -

[gazhekwe]

I agree with you, BigB, Kchiamo. I would always want to be on the Indians' side in the movies, but my Dad would ice me down by telling me they were really Italians. Very annoying. Iron Eyes Cody, that was the guy with the tear. Nice message, but that guy made a ton of money off being Indian when he wasn't. Again, my Dad grumped they could have given that commercial to Jay Silverheels. Then they finally came out with a movie that portrayed Indians in a historically correct way, so they said. But these guys were so inept, they needed this white guy to save them from another tribe's attack. A Man Called Horse, it was. One of my favorite movies of all time, Powwow Highway, made zero ripples on the mainstream. No key white people in it. And so it continues.

PS, I'm posting on a tiny laptop in a place where Summer lives all year, very nice to be here. It's going down to the 50s tonight and only maybe 65 tomorrow. How will I ever stand it? Back in good old Cold Detroit in a few days.

[gazhekwe]

I'm back in the snow. NOT happy. But this movie makes me happy. Here's the opening scene. The man playing pool could be my brother, looks just like him. He even has that shirt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_y1JpGTR9k

Here's the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXLEltwch40

Watiio lesson for the activist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIxaUnlLZac