"We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as "wild". To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery."

Luther Standing Bear - Rosebud Sioux

Guardian of the Water Medicine

Guardian of the Water Medicine
Dale Auger

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

Read the rest here:

http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Indian educator lauded

By: Diane Fowler

GRANTS - Gloria Hale, Director of Indian Education for the Grants/Cibola County School District, has been honored as 2008 New Mexico Indian Educator of the Year.

The state's Public Education Department bestowed the award.

During her four years with the district, Hale has initiated the K-6 Navajo oral language program at two elementary schools, obtained continued funding for the K-12 Acoma Keresan language program at Laguna-Acoma High School and plans to work with the Pueblo of Laguna to introduce the Laguna Keresan language program.

The district has approximately 41 percent Native American students enrolled in its ten schools. The three largest Native American tribal representations are from the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna and students from the Navajo Baca Chapter. Other tribal representations include Zuni, Mescalero Apache and other tribes.

Since the implementation of the New Mexico Indian Education Act of 2003, Hale has initiated programs which has brought the district into compliance. Other aspects of the legislation include stressing the study of New Mexican Indian history and government, increase Native American parental involvement in the schools and partnerships with local tribes to establish curriculum and assessments of the language and culture.

Hale, who is of Navajo descent, came to New Mexico after retiring as a public school superintendent in Arizona. “When Arizona became an “English Only” state in 2003, I realized it was time to retire and seek other educational opportunities that support indigenous language and culture,” she related.

Keep reading here: http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2008/05/19/news/news2.txt
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