"The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours." -
Black Elk - Oglala Sioux
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February 27, 1973: American Indian Movement supporters occupy Wounded Knee, SD.
In the summer of 1968, two hundred members of the American Indian community came together for a meeting to discuss various issues that Indian people of the time were dealing with on an everyday basis. Among these issues were, police brutality, high unemployment rates, and the Federal Government's policies concerning American Indians.
From this meeting came the birth of the American Indian Movement, commonly known as AIM. With this came the emergence of AIM leaders, such as Dennis Banks and Clyde Bellecourt to name a few. Little did anyone know that AIM would become instrumental in shaping not only the path of American Indians across the country, but the eyes of the world would follow AIM protests through the occupation at Alcatraz through the Trail of Broken Treaties, to the final conflict of the 1868 Sioux treaty of the Black Hills. This conflict would begin on February 27, 1973 and last seventy-one days. The occupation became known in history as the Siege at Wounded Knee.
It began as the American Indians stood against government atrocities, and ended in an armed battle with US Armed Forces. Corruption within the BIA and Tribal Council at an all time high, tension on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation was on the increase and quickly getting out of control. With a feeling close to despair, and knowing there was nothing else for them to do, elders of the Lakota Nation asked the American Indian Movement for assistance. This bringing to a head, more than a hundred years of racial tension and a government corruption.
On that winter day in 1973, a large group of armed American Indians reclaimed Wounded Knee in the name of the Lakota Nation. For the first time in many decades, those Oglala Sioux ruled themselves, free from government intervention, as is their ancient custom. This would become the basis for a TV movie, "Lakota Woman" the true story of Mary Moore Crowdog, and her experiences at the Wounded Knee occupation.
Want to know more? Click here: http://libcom.org/history/1973-siege-at-wounded-knee
From this meeting came the birth of the American Indian Movement, commonly known as AIM. With this came the emergence of AIM leaders, such as Dennis Banks and Clyde Bellecourt to name a few. Little did anyone know that AIM would become instrumental in shaping not only the path of American Indians across the country, but the eyes of the world would follow AIM protests through the occupation at Alcatraz through the Trail of Broken Treaties, to the final conflict of the 1868 Sioux treaty of the Black Hills. This conflict would begin on February 27, 1973 and last seventy-one days. The occupation became known in history as the Siege at Wounded Knee.
It began as the American Indians stood against government atrocities, and ended in an armed battle with US Armed Forces. Corruption within the BIA and Tribal Council at an all time high, tension on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation was on the increase and quickly getting out of control. With a feeling close to despair, and knowing there was nothing else for them to do, elders of the Lakota Nation asked the American Indian Movement for assistance. This bringing to a head, more than a hundred years of racial tension and a government corruption.
On that winter day in 1973, a large group of armed American Indians reclaimed Wounded Knee in the name of the Lakota Nation. For the first time in many decades, those Oglala Sioux ruled themselves, free from government intervention, as is their ancient custom. This would become the basis for a TV movie, "Lakota Woman" the true story of Mary Moore Crowdog, and her experiences at the Wounded Knee occupation.
Want to know more? Click here: http://libcom.org/history/1973-siege-at-wounded-knee
Remaining 'authentic' in a changing world
Editorial - Indian Country Today
Authentic Indians'' are for many non-American Indians only those who look and dress like the stereotypical image of a Plains Indian - stoic and vanishing. There is a tendency for the general public - and often sympathetic foreigners - to believe that the only true Indians are those who greeted the Mayflower in 1620, and continue to live in the same way.
Famous anthropologists like Alfred Kroeber, a major researcher of California Indian tribes, and Franz Boas, the father of American anthropology, argued there were no authentic Indians in the United States after 1850. These men did not study the Indian communities they found during their field research, but tried to reconstruct Indian communities as they existed in the past, before significant Western contact. Rather than find examples of living history and continuing customs, they consulted elders who could remember the languages and cultures, the old ways.
There is no doubt that the anthropologists provided great service to tribal communities by preserving cultural knowledge and aspects of languages. But the emphasis on ''salvage'' anthropology, researching to find the last remnants of indigenous communities before they were lost, and the absence of interest in living indigenous communities, did a great disservice to indigenous peoples.
Indian people do change. We just may not change in patterns that are recognized or common to Western or American society. Indian people are willing to change and adapt to necessarily uphold their values, cultures and ways of life.
There's more here: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416670
Authentic Indians'' are for many non-American Indians only those who look and dress like the stereotypical image of a Plains Indian - stoic and vanishing. There is a tendency for the general public - and often sympathetic foreigners - to believe that the only true Indians are those who greeted the Mayflower in 1620, and continue to live in the same way.
Famous anthropologists like Alfred Kroeber, a major researcher of California Indian tribes, and Franz Boas, the father of American anthropology, argued there were no authentic Indians in the United States after 1850. These men did not study the Indian communities they found during their field research, but tried to reconstruct Indian communities as they existed in the past, before significant Western contact. Rather than find examples of living history and continuing customs, they consulted elders who could remember the languages and cultures, the old ways.
There is no doubt that the anthropologists provided great service to tribal communities by preserving cultural knowledge and aspects of languages. But the emphasis on ''salvage'' anthropology, researching to find the last remnants of indigenous communities before they were lost, and the absence of interest in living indigenous communities, did a great disservice to indigenous peoples.
Indian people do change. We just may not change in patterns that are recognized or common to Western or American society. Indian people are willing to change and adapt to necessarily uphold their values, cultures and ways of life.
There's more here: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416670
Medal of Honor long overdue
The Bismarck Tribune
Woodrow Wilson Keeble will join select company March 3 at the White House. It was for heroism in battle in the Korean War that the soldiers he led - and saved - were convinced he deserved the Medal of Honor.
It's a pity Keeble won't be at the White House ceremony. He died in 1982.
But family members will be there.
It was too long in coming and for that reason almost didn't. The Army said the recommendations of Keeble's war buddies that he receive the medal, submitted twice, were lost. Then the legal deadline passed from the time of the heroic action, and only Congress could supersede the time limit.
It did. North Dakota's two senators and those from South Dakota accomplished it, fitting since Keeble was born in South Dakota, but counted North Dakota home.
Keeble was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, members of whom live in both states.
The Tribune noted editorially in April 2006 that "a sixth American Indian (should) join the five who were awarded the nation's highest military honor" from World War II and the Korean War, citing their "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of ... life above and beyond the call of duty" while engaging an enemy in combat.
"Chief," as the men of Keeble's company called him, can be numbered with Medal of Honor awardees Jack Montgomery, a Cherokee; Ernest Childers, a Creek; Van Barfoot, a Choctaw; Mitchell Red Cloud Jr., a Winnebago; and Charles George, a Cherokee. The last two mentioned were in the Korean War, as was Keeble, and with the others had been in World War II, where he survived the fighting on Guadalcanal.
Finally, the name of Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble will be adorned with "Medal of Honor," fitting for the warrior whom his platoon leader as an old man called "the best soldier I ever served with."
Woodrow Wilson Keeble will join select company March 3 at the White House. It was for heroism in battle in the Korean War that the soldiers he led - and saved - were convinced he deserved the Medal of Honor.
It's a pity Keeble won't be at the White House ceremony. He died in 1982.
But family members will be there.
It was too long in coming and for that reason almost didn't. The Army said the recommendations of Keeble's war buddies that he receive the medal, submitted twice, were lost. Then the legal deadline passed from the time of the heroic action, and only Congress could supersede the time limit.
It did. North Dakota's two senators and those from South Dakota accomplished it, fitting since Keeble was born in South Dakota, but counted North Dakota home.
Keeble was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, members of whom live in both states.
The Tribune noted editorially in April 2006 that "a sixth American Indian (should) join the five who were awarded the nation's highest military honor" from World War II and the Korean War, citing their "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of ... life above and beyond the call of duty" while engaging an enemy in combat.
"Chief," as the men of Keeble's company called him, can be numbered with Medal of Honor awardees Jack Montgomery, a Cherokee; Ernest Childers, a Creek; Van Barfoot, a Choctaw; Mitchell Red Cloud Jr., a Winnebago; and Charles George, a Cherokee. The last two mentioned were in the Korean War, as was Keeble, and with the others had been in World War II, where he survived the fighting on Guadalcanal.
Finally, the name of Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble will be adorned with "Medal of Honor," fitting for the warrior whom his platoon leader as an old man called "the best soldier I ever served with."
Monday, February 25, 2008
Featured Performer - Mark Thunderwolf
Mark ThunderWolf is a Native American flutist and recording artist of Lakota and Eastern Band Cherokee Wolf Clan descent. He was born in Chattanooga, TN, the son of a musician who had mastered many instruments during his lifetime. As a child, Mark watched and listened to his father play guitar, fiddle, organ and piano all by ear. Mark often dreamed of being a musician on stage and as a teenager bought an acoustic twelve-string guitar and later a dobro acoustic guitar but never quite connected with either instrument. While in high school he was given a harmonica and quickly mastered it playing along with popular songs on the radio. Over the years he jammed with friends and bands at bars and made many guest appearances with local bands across the country but always felt something was missing.
In the spring of 2001 while working in southern California he visited a wolf sanctuary where the woman who ran it gifted him his first flute. Mark cannot read or write music but as his father had taught him to do with any instrument began playing by ear. It didn't take long to for him to learn the rudiments of the Native American instrument. As he practiced every weekend at the sanctuary the wolves, eagles, redtail hawks and ravens taught him how to connect to them though his flutes. He sold his beloved Harley-Davidson named "Ethel" and used the money to record his first CD, "Thru the Eyes…of My Brother" after playing for only eight months.
During the past six years Mark's Native American flute music has developed an explosive following across North America and the United Kingdom where he has been featured several times on the BBC World Series program and network. The Celtic regions of the UK and France air his music regularly and love the ethereal, haunting sounds of his music. His stage appearances and performances include the US and Canada, being the featured artist on NativeRadio.com and a recent interview with NPR, which aired in September and November of 2004. He has received nominations in the Native American Music Awards (NAMMY's), received 2nd Place for Best Album in the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards in November 2004 and selected in 2005 as a showcase performer for the 17th Annual Folk Alliance International Music Conference in Montreal, Canada. Therapists, doctors and people everywhere are recognizing the healing quality of the meditative music that he is given by the animals and living elements of the earth.
Samples of his music can be found here: http://payplay.cd/mthunderwolf2
In the spring of 2001 while working in southern California he visited a wolf sanctuary where the woman who ran it gifted him his first flute. Mark cannot read or write music but as his father had taught him to do with any instrument began playing by ear. It didn't take long to for him to learn the rudiments of the Native American instrument. As he practiced every weekend at the sanctuary the wolves, eagles, redtail hawks and ravens taught him how to connect to them though his flutes. He sold his beloved Harley-Davidson named "Ethel" and used the money to record his first CD, "Thru the Eyes…of My Brother" after playing for only eight months.
During the past six years Mark's Native American flute music has developed an explosive following across North America and the United Kingdom where he has been featured several times on the BBC World Series program and network. The Celtic regions of the UK and France air his music regularly and love the ethereal, haunting sounds of his music. His stage appearances and performances include the US and Canada, being the featured artist on NativeRadio.com and a recent interview with NPR, which aired in September and November of 2004. He has received nominations in the Native American Music Awards (NAMMY's), received 2nd Place for Best Album in the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards in November 2004 and selected in 2005 as a showcase performer for the 17th Annual Folk Alliance International Music Conference in Montreal, Canada. Therapists, doctors and people everywhere are recognizing the healing quality of the meditative music that he is given by the animals and living elements of the earth.
Samples of his music can be found here: http://payplay.cd/mthunderwolf2
Book review: Nez Perce Summer, 1877: The US Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis
By: Dona Munker
Published in 2000, Jerome A. Greene's NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 isn't the most recent work on the Nez Perce tragedy, but it does the best job of combining a detailed, blow-by-blow account with a larger overview of this enormously complex and panoramic event, which stretched over three and a half months in the summer of 1877 and constituted one of the saddest mass injustices in the history of the Indian Wars.
Greene, who wrote the book under the aegis of the National Park Service--it's available online at their website, but I wouldn't recommend reading it that way--is especially good at explaining where things happened in relation to other things that were going on at the same time and what all the parties concerned were doing simultaneously-- an invaluable asset in an account of a military campaign. And his final chapter, "Consquences," does a splendid job of drawing back and fairly and objectively evaluating the outcome and import of the campaign, not only for the Nez Perces but for the American army and also some of the individuals involved. (Which reminds me to say that the backnotes are often as interesting as the book itself.)
There are other good books about the Nez Perce campaign, notably Bruce Hampton's more passionate and journalistic CHILDREN OF GRACE (1994), as well as Mark H. Brown's pathbreaking THE FLIGHT OF THE NEZ PERCE (1967); all three are highly readable. But if you have time for only one, it should probably be Greene's, since Brown's account has been superceded and Hampton's book, though it has many virtues, ultimately leaves you without the grand picture.
In fact, my one major complaint about NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 is that it doesn't provide a timeline (neither do the other two books). This would have helped enormously in getting a handle on the complicated, multi-layered events of the story, and while an author can be excused for failing to realize how important this is for his readers, his editor shouldn't be. Luckily, you can get a great timeline on the Internet, put together--very well, as far as I can see--by Montana schoolchildren! ([...])
Aside from this flaw, NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 is indispensable reading for anyone seeking to understand what it all meant.
Published in 2000, Jerome A. Greene's NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 isn't the most recent work on the Nez Perce tragedy, but it does the best job of combining a detailed, blow-by-blow account with a larger overview of this enormously complex and panoramic event, which stretched over three and a half months in the summer of 1877 and constituted one of the saddest mass injustices in the history of the Indian Wars.
Greene, who wrote the book under the aegis of the National Park Service--it's available online at their website, but I wouldn't recommend reading it that way--is especially good at explaining where things happened in relation to other things that were going on at the same time and what all the parties concerned were doing simultaneously-- an invaluable asset in an account of a military campaign. And his final chapter, "Consquences," does a splendid job of drawing back and fairly and objectively evaluating the outcome and import of the campaign, not only for the Nez Perces but for the American army and also some of the individuals involved. (Which reminds me to say that the backnotes are often as interesting as the book itself.)
There are other good books about the Nez Perce campaign, notably Bruce Hampton's more passionate and journalistic CHILDREN OF GRACE (1994), as well as Mark H. Brown's pathbreaking THE FLIGHT OF THE NEZ PERCE (1967); all three are highly readable. But if you have time for only one, it should probably be Greene's, since Brown's account has been superceded and Hampton's book, though it has many virtues, ultimately leaves you without the grand picture.
In fact, my one major complaint about NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 is that it doesn't provide a timeline (neither do the other two books). This would have helped enormously in getting a handle on the complicated, multi-layered events of the story, and while an author can be excused for failing to realize how important this is for his readers, his editor shouldn't be. Luckily, you can get a great timeline on the Internet, put together--very well, as far as I can see--by Montana schoolchildren! ([...])
Aside from this flaw, NEZ PERCE SUMMER, 1877 is indispensable reading for anyone seeking to understand what it all meant.
Tribe plans to sign deal assuming ownership of Indian City U.S.A.
Associated Press - KSWO 7 News, Lawton/Wichita Falls
ANADARKO, Okla. (AP) - Officials with the Kiowa Tribe are to sign a deal today to buy Indian City U.S.A. near Anadarko.
The 198-acre site includes an Indian village and replicas of the dwellings of the Apache, Caddo, Kiowa, Navajo, Pawnee, Pueblo and Wichita tribes. There is also a gift shop, museum, lodge, campground, amphitheater, radio towers and a game trail with buffalo and antelope.
Members of the Kiowa Business Committee have been negotiating with shareholders of Indian City U.S.A. and Modina Waters with the tribe says she's "99.9% sure" the deal will be made.
Terms of the sale haven't been released and Waters says a statement will be released once the deal is signed.
The park was first offered for sale for $3 million in 2004 but no acceptable offers were received.
Indian City manager George Moran says a key to the sale is the intent of the buyer. Moran says he believes the Kiowas will keep the park as is while making needed repairs and improvements.
ANADARKO, Okla. (AP) - Officials with the Kiowa Tribe are to sign a deal today to buy Indian City U.S.A. near Anadarko.
The 198-acre site includes an Indian village and replicas of the dwellings of the Apache, Caddo, Kiowa, Navajo, Pawnee, Pueblo and Wichita tribes. There is also a gift shop, museum, lodge, campground, amphitheater, radio towers and a game trail with buffalo and antelope.
Members of the Kiowa Business Committee have been negotiating with shareholders of Indian City U.S.A. and Modina Waters with the tribe says she's "99.9% sure" the deal will be made.
Terms of the sale haven't been released and Waters says a statement will be released once the deal is signed.
The park was first offered for sale for $3 million in 2004 but no acceptable offers were received.
Indian City manager George Moran says a key to the sale is the intent of the buyer. Moran says he believes the Kiowas will keep the park as is while making needed repairs and improvements.
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