Mini-review of People of the Seal

American Indian Film Festival

By Michael FoxAffirmational without being the slightest bit sentimental, personal yet profoundly universal, Kate Raisz's graceful, eloquent People of the Seal illuminates the history and culture of the indigenous people living on Saint Paul Island in the Aleutians, 400 miles off the coast of Alaska in the Bering Sea.

Unangan life revolved for hundreds of years around the sea otter and more recently the fur seal, surviving the depredations of the Russian fur trade (and the more benign Russian Orthodox missionaries) and the U.S. government's third-class treatment following the 1867 purchase of Alaska. More recently, the 1983 Federal ban on commercial harvesting of fur seals, instigated by well-meaning environmental activists, has depressed (in both senses) the community.

People of the Seal skillfully delineates the big issues of exploitation, geopolitics, assimilation and environmental health through the fascinating family tree of sixth-generation native Aquilina Debbie Lestenkof. Rest assured that neither Aquilina nor anyone else in this terrific film espouses a cause or asks for sympathy--the Unangan accept reality, and embrace the responsibility of sustaining their culture. Simultaneously meditative and direct, packed with historical info but overridingly sensitive to individual lives, People of the Seal has something for everyone.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Documentaries and News.

Mini-review of Barking Water

American Indian Film Festival

By Michael FoxCloser to home, the festival closes with Sterlin Harjo's deeply felt, Oklahoma-set indie feature Barking Water. A bittersweet, late-in-life trek that, unfortunately, covers more geographical territory than spiritual or narrative, the story begins with an orderly springing the terminally ill Frankie (Richard Ray Whitman) from the hospital. His erstwhile lady love, Irene (Casey Camp-Horinek), waits in the parking lot to ferry him to a rendezvous and (hopefully) reconciliation with his estranged daughter and her newborn.

Frankie has a few stops he wants to make first, and the stage is set for a succession of low-key, ambiguous reunions. We get the gist of his and Irene's lengthy up-and-down relationship through flashbacks, mostly, imbuing the narrative with understated yet soulful notes of regret, hurt, forgiveness and love. Barking Water suffers from uneven performances and an underwritten script; Harjo relies a bit too much on the plaintive, six-string musings of various indie singer-songwriters to fill the soundtrack and supply the words. And yet, despite those weaknesses, we feel as we're been granted entrée to a largely invisible subculture.Comment:  For more on Barking Water, see Barking Water Trailer and Barking Water at Sundance. For more on Native movies in general, see The Best Indian Movies.

Stereotypes in Peter Pan sequel

I was wondering how the sequel to Peter Pan would treat the Indians. I was sure it would improve their portray, bringing them into the 21st century in terms of authenticity.

But no. Judging by educator Debbie Reese's analysis, Peter Pan in Scarlet is much worse than J.M. Barrie's original. Here's the story:

Peter Pan in ScarletPeter Pan in Scarlet is a novel by Geraldine McCaughrean. It is an official sequel to J. M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy, authorised by Great Ormond Street Hospital, who were given the rights to the character and original story by the author. McCaughrean was selected following a competition launched in 2004, in which novelists were invited to submit a sample chapter and plot outline. The book continues the story of the Lost Boys, the Darling family, and Peter Pan, in 1926 during the reign of George V and following World War I.Analysis:  Peter Pan in ScarletAfter spending the last 24 hours re-reading and making notes on Geraldine McCaughrean's Peter Pan in Scarlet, I feel a bit like Mr. John. The book opens with him saying "I'm not going to bed."

The worst parts for me, as I read this book, are McCaughrean's references to Indians:

Head-dress

Warpaint

Redskins

Tepee

Warpath

Totem Poles

Hidden warpaths

Cannibals

Chief

Signal fires

Tribes

And then...the Indians themselves.

Waist high

Wearing full warpaint

Armed with hatchets, bows and arrows, Bowie knives

Child warriors

Long silken hair

Buckskin tunics

Scalping

Papooses

Squaws

Braves

Throat slitters

Warpainted pirates

Warriors

(Puppy eaters)

Throat-slitters ready to shoot arrows

In all of what I've listed above, McCaughrean (apparently in the same style as Barrie), provides readers with a specific portrayal of Indians. Like countless writers, she provides her readers with a stereotypical Indian. Tipis (she spells it tepees) and totem poles do not originate with the same tribe. Her Indians are warriors and squaws in warpaint, carrying bows and arrows and knives. They know about scalping. But! Throat slitters???(Excerpted from Debbie Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature, 11/3/09.)

Some detailed excerpts from the book:

Notes and Summary:  Peter Pan in Scarlet

Comment:  I've highlighted many of Barrie's passages about Indians in Tiger Lily in Peter Pan:  An Allegory of Anglo-Indian Relations. Peter Pan in Scarlet sounds like it's several times worse. I.e., it literally has several times the amount of stereotypes. That's inexcusable in a book written just a few years ago.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Books.

Tribe to abandon Indian status?

Native tribe will petition Ottawa to remove its Indian status

Gitxsan people from northwest British Columbia willing to relinquish reserves, tax exemptions, Indian Act housing and financial supports in exchange for a share of resources

By Justine HunterA delegation of the Gitxsan people from northwest British Columbia is set to meet with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl next month with a groundbreaking proposal: That the 13,000 members of their tribe be allowed to abandon their status as "Indians."

The group is willing to relinquish reserves, tax exemptions, Indian Act housing and financial supports in exchange for a share of resources. Unlike most contemporary efforts at treaty-making, it would also abandon the ambition of a separate level of government.

B.C.'s new minister of aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, George Abbott, has met twice with the Gitxsan treaty team and has put his senior negotiator on the file. Mr. Strahl agreed to the meeting after Mr. Abbott sent a letter to Ottawa last week urging him to take a look at the proposed governance model.

In an interview, Mr. Abbott said he has given his negotiators "a mandate to talk and explore." He said the proposal still has many hurdles, including the question of whether elected chiefs or hereditary chiefs can claim to speak for the Gitxsan people. The concept is far outside of the standard treaty model, and it presents a series of constitutional questions about the possibility of taking away, even with consent, the rights accorded to status Indians.Comment:  Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, tribes have given up their rights and privileges before. For instance, all the tribes terminated or forced to assimilate. Nothing good has ever come of it.

Really, I'd love to hear about the tribe that benefited from giving up its unique status as a sovereign and independent nation. Because I can't think of a single example. Every deal a tribe has made with the government has turned out bad for the tribe and good for the government.

Sovereignty is the tribe's one bulwark against exploitation. It's the reason the legislature, the courts, and the public will take the Natives' presence seriously. If nothing else, it's a bargaining chip; it forces non-Natives to negotiate rather than simply take what they want.

When you reduce your existence to a monetary deal, you risk everything. Any person who knows history can guess what happens next. The government says circumstances have changed, pleads "national security" or "economic necessity." It arbitrarily violates the terms of the agreement, reducing the Natives' share to nothing. The Natives can't fall back on sovereignty as their defense, so they lose everything.

I don't know the details of the Gitxsan people's situation, but ideally they should retain their sovereignty and seek a share of the land and resources. Don't trade one for the other, demand both.

For more on the subject, see Status of Status Indians to Change.

Satire: Indians protest "red state"

Indian Organization Files Lawsuit To Stop The Use Of The Phrase "Red State"

By Abel RodriguezThe Oklahoma based Coalition Helping Indians Enjoy Fairness (CHIEF) has filed a national lawsuit against the Democratic Party asking that they stop using the phrase Red State when referring to states that lean toward the Democrat party.

Chief Gift Horse-In-The-Mouth of the Comanche tribe and president of CHIEF, said that within the past year alone he has received over 700,000 emails from concerned Native Americans stating that each time that they hear the term Red State it greatly offends them, upsets them, and in some cases it makes them vomit.

In a related story. Noted Indian author Evelyn Eager Beaver has just released her new book entitled "How" which is based on General George Armstrong Custer's belief that Sitting Bull's Oglala Sioux had WMDs (Wigwams of Mass Destruction).

The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.Comment:  Sure it's a satire or parody. It's a satire or parody of Natives and their alleged hypersensitivity to slights. It mocks their regalia, their naming conventions, and their concern for racism and stereotyping.

Using a picture of Obama as the stereotypical chief only confirms the message. Liberals like Obama and Indians are too sensitive to offenses. They're trying to impose "political correctness." They aren't protesting legitimate cases of prejudice; they're making up these cases out of thin air.

Ha ha...very funny. What's next...a satire about drunken Indians? About Indian war dances? About phony Indians opening a casino? Oh, wait...all these offensive and insulting satires have been done already.

For more on the subject, see Confusing "Red" and "Redskins."

Below:  "Chief Gift Horse-In-The-Mouth, the president of CHIEF."

How to consult with 564 tribes

Charles Trimble:  Down from the summit:  What now?Although it should warm up attitudes in the bureaucracy, this new consultation process probably won’t be an invitation to meet with a Department Secretary or agency head for most problems that any individual tribe may have with federal programs or policy. It certainly isn’t a promise of ongoing consultation with the President, “Yo, Barack; I’m coming into DC next week, how about a heads of state summit between you and me over lunch?”

And although the government-to-government relationship is between the Federal government and each of the individual tribal nations, not any collective group of those nations, the sheer number of the sovereign tribal entities probably demands some sort of alliance or collective entity representing the tribes. This is important for avoiding conflicting requests for policy changes, and for keeping some semblance of unity in the causes.

This issue was taken up in 1993, when NCAI leaders urged the Congress and Administration to authorize the study of arrangements that would improve tribal consultation with both entities. The NCAI had proposed formation of a Inter-Departmental Council on Indian Affairs (IDCIA), to consult with the Administration; and a National Native American Advisory Commission (NNAAC), to advise Congress.Comment:  Trimble has a good point. One-on-one government relations would be difficult if not impossible to implement. There has to be some sort of group mechanism.

But one council or committee for the executive branch and one for the legislative branch doesn't seem like enough. How about a series of regional committees for regional issues such as land or water rights? And a series of subject-oriented committees for tribes with subject-oriented issues: criminal justice, healthcare, gaming, etc.? These committees would have the power to negotiate on behalf of the tribes. Once they negotiated a policy, the committee would take it back to the tribes for a vote.

I'm sure there are a slew of negotiating bodies already. The difference is empowering them to negotiate officially. Perhaps with an arbiter such as a special court, with Native and non-Native judges, to rule on any disputes.

For more on the subject, see Obama's Memo to His Cabinent and Obama at the Tribal Summit.

Tracking stereotypical military language

Native American veterans sought for ‘Words of War’ project

By Gale Courey ToensingAn anthropology professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston is inviting Native American veterans to participate in an anonymous online survey to track the relationships between Native American history, colonial wars, and U.S. military language in conflicts of the last 50 years.

Professor Steve Silliman of the university’s Department of Anthropology, said the project, called “Terms of Engagement: Understanding the Words of War,” is designed to study how military personnel use figures of speech to explain, describe, or get through times of conflict.

“We are interested in knowing how often certain phrases--such as those that refer to “the Wild West,” “Indian country,” or “cowboys and Indians”--were used in particular wars, who used them, and when. Many have studied the larger contexts of war or have made assumptions about those who fight in them, but few have studied directly the experiences and words of those who participate in the military and how these relate to Native American history and culture today. We want to hear directly from the soldiers and officers themselves about their experiences,” Silliman said.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Indians in the Military.

Tribal summit joke on Tonight Show

Conan O'Brien continued his string of Native references with a lame joke Friday night (11/6/09):A lot going on right now. President keeping busy. Did you hear this? This is quite an honor. Yesterday at the White House, President Obama met with Native American tribal leaders, and they gave Obama the Indian name "He Who Cares." [laughter]

Isn't that nice? That's nice. Yeah. Then they gave Vice President Joe Biden the Indian name "Big Chief Running Mouth."Comment:  Obama met with the tribal leaders at the Department of the Interior, not the White House. And he got the name during his presidential campaign, not Friday. Moreover, the joke is based on the usual "funny" Indian name that's silly and stereotypical.

But give O'Brien credit for leading off his monologue with the Native news. Except for the joke, the mention was respectful. You don't get any sense that he's mocking Indians, which is common enough among humorists.

For more on the subject, see "Indian Giver" Joke on Tonight Show and Redskins Joke on Tonight Show.

Indigenous filmmakers fight back

The tribes fight back with Native Spirit

Sick of being portrayed as helpless victims, indigenous peoples are now picking up the camera themselves. And the results, as seen in the Native Spirit film festival, are remarkable

By David CoxCinema's relationship with indigenous tribal peoples has not been a happy one. Native Americans helped get the movies up and running by providing handy resistance to the winning of the west--which proved dramatically invaluable in cowboy movies. In return, they were portrayed as feathered and painted savages, hungry for scalps and blind to the essential decency of the men who were stealing their land.

In these more enlightened times, things are different, but not much better. When indigenous people appear at all, it is usually as helpless victims of oppression, in thrall to quaint but silly customs. The recent La Terra degli Uomini Rossi, released here as Birdwatchers, painted the Guarani-Kaiowá tribe of Brazil as hapless remnants of a lost people, making a futile stand against encroaching agribusinessmen. It ended with an appeal for support.

But many of the indigenous people of the Americas, and beyond, believe the white man's lens misrepresents them. They do not see themselves merely as supplicants for benefits or as combatants in an endless war for territory. Above all, they do not see their beliefs and way of life as fodder for anthropologists and tourists. Instead, they believe they have something important to say--not just to each other but to all their fellow human beings.

So they are seizing the cameras themselves. From Inuit fishermen in Canada to Endorois refugees in Kenya, from reindeer-herders in Lapland to Quechua salt-harvesters in Bolivia, they are grabbing whatever equipment they can find to make films of their own, devising lasting messages that can travel far and wide.Common themes in these films:Watch enough of these films and you will come to appreciate that, on whatever continent indigenous people find themselves, they share a curiously similar outlook--not just core values, but recurring symbols and prophecies. There's an assumption that knowledge and wisdom must coexist, the first being useless without the second; that the point of life is not to acquire wealth, but simply to live; that the universe is a sacred, living system; that human beings are one element in a grand symbiosis they must not disrupt; that the past must be remembered, and the future respected.

Of course, we have heard such notions in this connection before, and perhaps dismissed them as facile or even irrelevant. But in these movies they inform behaviour in a way that is highly persuasive. The Gift of Pachamama shows how a 13-year-old boy comes of age by joining a llama caravan wending its chilly way through the Andes. He learns how to bear loss and find love, but also how Pachamama, the Earth Mother, can give his life meaning. In the Footsteps of Yellow Woman shows the enduring power of female wisdom through a dialogue between a Navajo girl and her gran, while The Voice of the Mapuche explains how identity and kinship with the environment can be strengthened by persecution.Comment:  For more on indigenous film festivals, see 5th Indian Video Festival of Michoacan, Montreal's First Peoples' Festival, and Indigenous Arts in Origins Festival. For more on the subject in general, see Native Documentaries and News.

Below:  Q'ero--in Search of the Last Incas.

Massachusetts chief in Mamet play

Mamet’s ‘November’ Skewers Politicos, Turkeys, Gays:  S.F. Stage

By Stephen WestThe President is bottom-feeding for cash to run TV ads on the final weekend and get back into the race. Luckily for Chuck and his buttoned-down aide, Archer, waiting in the outer office is the lobbyist for the National Association of Turkey and Turkey By-Products Manufacturers, previously a reliable source of contributions.

Turkey Guy wants Smith to break with tradition by pardoning two turkeys instead of one. Never one to miss an opportunity, the President jacks up his asking price from $50,000 to six figures. Turkey Guy balks.

Perhaps Smith can raise the money instead from Dwight Grackle, the chief of a Massachusetts Indian tribe who wants to build a gigantic casino complex on half of Nantucket Island. Smith wonders whether the chief might offer a testimonial saying the Indians at the original Thanksgiving dinner served tuna to the Pilgrims instead of turkey.Comment:  This scenario sounds stupid. I wouldn't be surprised if the Indian ends up looking silly.

But it's more realistic than similar scenarios in other works of fiction. The Indian doesn't have a funny Indian name (unless you count the bird-like "Grackle"). He looks and dresses like a Massachusetts Indian might when visiting the White House--with some ceremonial regalia, but no stereotypical chief's headdress. And the real Wampanoag Indians who participated in the first Thanksgiving are trying to open a casino in Massachusetts.

For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Below:  Chief Dwight Grackle and President Charles Smith in David Mamet's November.

San Diego's Cherokee TV journalist

San Diego Cherokee Nation citizen also TV personality

By Will ChavezAs San Diego Cherokee Community Councilor Phil Konstantin addressed fellow SDCC members during a picnic in October it was obvious he was comfortable with a microphone.

That comfort stems from working at KUSI, a local independent television station. Konstantin recently became the evening assignment editor after being the station’s traffic reporter for more than four years.And:While in San Diego he became active with the SDCC, despite the fact that it took his family 40 years to obtain Cherokee Nation citizenship cards because his maternal Cherokee grandfather left the family when his mother was 7 years old and was not heard from again.

“We had a hard time proving that the person on the rolls was my grandfather. So, it almost became a matter of pride to prove somewhere on paper that I was Cherokee,” he said. “I’m mostly European American, but I grew up with a great and deep respect for being a Cherokee. My mother was very proud of that particular part.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.

Below:  Phil Konstantin. (Photo by Will Chavez)

Obama's memo to his Cabinet

Mohawk chief cites hope from D.C. talks

Obama Meeting:  Tribal summit's memo called 'a terrific start'

By Laura BomyeaThe importance of a strong tribal relationship with the federal government was never more clearly illustrated for leaders like St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief James W. Ransom than this summer, when new border crossing regulations were introduced and a conflict on Cornwall Island shut down the international bridge for six weeks.

So when Mr. Ransom was in Washington this week to watch President Barack Obama sign a memorandum calling on all federal departments to find ways to improve cooperation with American Indian tribes on a government-to-government level, the chief was thrilled.

He called the signing, and the daylong tribal meeting with top Obama administration officials that preceded it, a "terrific jumping-off point and a welcome change" to the "anti-Indian" policies of the Bush administration.

"It's a terrific start," Mr. Ransom said. "There's a potential to build a strong relationship and we plan to be a part of that."Comment:  Granted, Obama's memo to his Cabinet members seems to be the most significant outcome of the event. But I would've handled the memo a little differently:

1) Announce the summit and sign the memo. 2) Ninety days later, hold the summit and announce the preliminary results. 3) Negotiate final policies with the tribes on a government-to-government basis.

That way, the summit wouldn't have been just a platform of renewed promises. I.e., a glorified photo op. It would've been a milestone of government policy-making, not a milestone of government showmanship.

For more on the subject, see Obama at the Tribal Summit and Negative Nellies at the Tribal Summit.

2009 Aboriginal Peoples Choice winners

B.C. artist Inez wins big at Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music AwardsThe 4th annual Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards were handed out on Friday night at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Lorne Cardinal hosted the spectacular show, televised live on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and Bell Express Vu. Performances included musical legend Buffy Sainte-Marie, Crystal Shawanda, Tracy Bone, Joey Stylez, Inez, Bitterly Divine, Sierra Noble, Digging Roots, and Wayne Lavallee. Country sensations Charlie Major and George Canyon rounded out the entertainment, with special appearances from Gordon Tootoosis and Phil Fontaine. Buffy Sainte-Marie was honoured with a tribute and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chilliwack pop singer Inez won for Best New Artist, Best Pop CD, Best Album Cover Design and Single of the Year for her track Breathe.

BEST COUNTRY CD

**Sierra Noble--Possibilities (Winnipeg MB)

BEST GROUP OR DUO

**Eagle & Hawk (Winnipeg MB)

ABORIGINAL ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

**Crystal Shawanda (Wikwemikong ON)

BEST FOLK OR ACOUSTIC CD

**Buffy Sainte-Marie--Running for the Drum (Maine and Massachusetts, USA/Saskatchewan, Canada)Comment:  For more on the subject, see The 2009 NAMMY Winners.

Lenape exhibit at Ellis Island

Lenape exhibit opens at Ellis Island museum

By David M. OestreicherOn November 2, New York First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson presented a proclamation from Governor David A. Paterson to honor the Native people of New York during the opening ceremony of Lenape: Ellis Island’s First Inhabitants at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The opening, sponsored by the New York State Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial (HFCQ) and hosted by acclaimed Lenape scholar David M. Oestreicher, curator of the exhibition, includes six galleries housing a stunning collection of prehistoric artifacts, traditional crafts, ceremonial objects, antique books, maps, archival photographs, dioramas, and sculptures. This collection is brought to life with the oral histories of Lenape tribal members, both past and present. The exhibit tells the story of the ancient life ways and history of the people who greeted Henry Hudson 400 years ago from their earliest beginnings until the 21st century. It chronicles the dispersion of the Lenape from their traditional homeland here in the East, and their emigration across the continent to enclaves in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ontario. The exhibition is in many ways a homecoming for the Lenape people.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Hudson Websites Omit Indians and How Mannahatta Became Manhattan.

Nemenhah Band doesn't know medicine

Minnesota teen who fled chemo is now cancer-freeA Minnesota teen who fled the state to avoid chemotherapy has finished his cancer treatment.

Daniel Hauser of Sleepy Eye underwent his final radiation session Friday, and his family says the 13-year-old is cancer-free.

Daniel gained national attention when he stopped treatment after one session in February and fled, citing his religious beliefs. After he returned, he underwent court-ordered chemo to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma, then started radiation therapy.Comment:  This is a nice capper to another tale of New Age charlatanism. The phony Nemenhah Band claimed that conventional medicine couldn't cure Hauser's cancer. Whoops...wrong again. Good thing your ignorance of science and technology didn't kill Hauser, you frauds.

For more on the subject, see Nemenhah "Elder" Boy Flees and Judge Says No to Nemenhah "Healing."

Washington DC '09 trip (Day 3)

Concluding the report begun in Washington DC '09 trip (Day 1) and Washington DC '09 trip (Day 2):

I tried to sleep Wednesday night, but I started practicing my presentation in my mind and couldn't stop. I figured I might as well practice it for real, so I got up and did so. I'd slept only about four hours since Saturday night, and it seemed another sleepless day was in store.

Richard Regan came to escort me to the Dept. of Agriculture. We connected my laptop to a projector, I had a couple bagels, and people began trickling into the auditorium.

The audience eventually reached about 150 people. Introductions were made and I gave my presentation. It went pretty well; I didn't forget or stumble over anything important. Several people came up afterward and said it was good.

We had lunch and then waited in a conference for anyone who had questions or comments. No one came and I almost dozed off waiting. Then I took the Metro back to the hotel to drop off my laptop and took it again across the Mall.

Getting into the summit

I walked from the Woodrow Wilson Plaza to the Department. of the Interior on C St. About a dozen people were praying--not protesting, they said--for Leonard Peltier in front of the building. Then they started beating a drum and unfurled a "Free Leonard" sign, which made their prayer hard to distinguish from a protest.

The politicians and tribal leaders were inside the building, while Secret Service and police personnel were outside. On Monday I had e-mailed my personal info to the White House press office to get a credential. I went up to a table and asked for my credential.

Oops, first problem. The young woman said press registration had been 8-9 am and 1-2 pm. It was now about 3 pm. I said, "What registration"? I answered the e-mail that said I'd get a credential if I sent my info. She said the registration info was in a followup e-mail they sent while I was flying to Washington. I hadn't bothered to check my e-mail because 1) I was too busy; 2) the e-mail I'd answered hadn't said anything about additional steps such as registration.

Here's a clue to clear communications, people. Don't send a series of e-mails in which you have to answer each one to find out what the next step is. Put all the instructions in the first message and each subsequent message. That way, no one will be lost if they inadvertently miss a message.

I pleaded my case to a young man named Josh. He didn't think he could do anything but said he'd try. About 45 minutes later he came back and said I was in. He had called his boss in the Secret Service who'd left the scene, and the guy apparently returned to handle my case.

Seeing the summit

I went up to the balcony where I heard the last 45 minutes or so of tribal leaders speaking to Cabinet members about health, education, and welfare issues. With my complete lack of sleep, I almost dozed off again. Not exactly compelling stuff.

An aide appeared and called all the photographers who hadn't been there in the morning. This didn't sound good, but it turned out to be great. He took three of us close to the stage so we could take pictures of Obama when he arrived.

Obama took the podium and I snapped my pix from some 50 feet away. He cut his closing remarks short to address the Ft. Hood situation--apparently his first public remarks on the tragedy. Then he left and the summit was over. (No closing speeches or ceremonies, which was a relief.)

I accompanied journalist Lise King to a reception held by Kilpatrick Stockton LLC, a law firm. We passed the front gate of the White House--the famous 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.--on the way there. The reception was your typical cocktail chitchat, so I left for the Metro and my hotel.

With the anticipation and pressure finally over, I was able to sleep 6-7 hours. In the morning I took the Metro to the airport, sat motionless in a middle plane seat for five hours, and eventually made it home. And that was my trip to the NCAI, NMAI, USDA, and tribal summit.

For more on the subject, see Speaking on Stereotypes at the Capital.

Obama at the tribal summit

Obama:  US must reverse course with Indians

By Ben FellerPresident Barack Obama assured American Indians on Thursday that they have a place in his White House and on his agenda, telling tribal leaders their marginalized community deserves more from its government.

"I get it. I'm on your side," Obama told the largest gathering of tribal leaders in U.S. history.

Obama devoted part of his own time Thursday and even more of his administration's attention toward renewing relations with American Indians. He opened a conference that drew leaders from 386 tribal nations—the first meeting of its kind in 15 years—and he ordered every Cabinet agency to take more steps toward more cooperation.

The president returned to the event at the Interior Department late in the day for closing remarks, as scheduled, but he altered his message to address a deadly shooting rampage at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. He said his administration would get answers to every question about the incident.Obama's one concrete pledge:

Obama ushers in a new era for Indian country

By Rob Capriccioso[T]he president said he didn’t just want to pay “lip service” to tribal issues. He wanted to take action. Thus, he used the day to highlight his signature of a presidential memorandum establishing “regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration” between tribal nations and the federal government.

Significantly, Obama imposed a time limit as part of the executive order, which he signed in front of the tribal attendees. The memorandum directs every Cabinet agency head to provide the president a detailed plan within 90 days of how they will implement and improve tribal consultation.

During a break after the signing, several tribal leaders heralded the move.

Derek Bailey, chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, said he was especially impressed that the president imposed a tight deadline for agencies to begin complying.

“Too many times these kinds of orders just sit there. This is a strong call for rather immediate action.”The full text of Obama's morning appearance:

Remarks by President Obama during the Opening of the Tribal Nations Conference

Rob's reactions

Reading Obama's opening Q&A at the tribal summit, it seems about what you'd expect. Tribal leaders: We need more homes, health care, and cultural programs. Obama: My administration promises to do more to get you homes, health care, and cultural programs.

Yes, Obama said great things. But you don't need a 564-nation summit to hear the president reiterate his campaign promises.

In my mind, a government-to-government meeting should be like the UN General Assembly or the Camp David/Geneva/Oslo peace talks. You know, where the parties have a concrete agenda and hammer out specific agreements.

If nothing comes out of the summit except renewed hope and optimism, I can't be too impressed. To me "government to government" means negotiating new policies as equals, not asking for help and hoping (once again) that the feds come through.

Tough questions needed

I kind of wish someone had asked Obama a tough question. Will you sign the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights? Will you fund Indian healthcare at $xxx (the full amount tribes are seeking)? Will you settle the Cobell trust fund lawsuit? Etc.

Someone on Facebook responded:To a degree, one must be diplomatic and ceremonial at these occasions. It's like appearances before Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and House Resources: oral presentations are brief, perfunctory, while written presentations more detailed. Sessions with Capitol Hill departments, aides will key.A head of state shouldn't have be excessively diplomatic and ceremonial. What's Obama going to do...fire a tribal chairman?

Contact with aides and departments should be routine and ongoing. This was a chance for a one-on-one with the president. If people were just going to talk in generalities ("We need stuff," "We'll try to give you stuff"), I don't quite see the point.

I gather most tribal leaders felt inspired and optimistic after meeting Obama face-to-face. Well, not meeting him, exactly, but seeing him across the room. But did the summit achieve anything tangible? Did we need all the raised hopes and transcontinental travel to hear Obama pledge to keep his promises?

Too much happy talk

We've had centuries of feel-good promises, speeches, and meetings. We don't need more of these symbolic gestures. What we need are specific questions asked and answers given.

I guess the summit needed a pre-summit where tribal leaders could express their thanks, accolades, and hopes for the "One Who Helps." Then at the actual summit, they could've got down to the brass tacks of discussing and negotiating policy changes.

Apparently the tribes themselves realized they were lobbing too many softballs at the morning Q&A. They had an impromptu strategy session at lunch and decided to get more specific in the afternoon.

Basically Obama has promised to do great things for Indian country. At the summit he and his administration continued to promise to do great things. Well, that sounds great. If it actually happens, it'll be great. Until then, it's just talk, not action.

For more on the subject, see Negative Nellies at the Tribal Summit and Pix of the Tribal Summit.

Negative Nellies at the tribal summit

Alas, not everyone who experienced Obama's tribal summit was upbeat:

Censored:  Reactions to Obama's meeting with Native American governments

By Brenda Norrell"A real yawner ..."

"We've heard this before ..."

"Sad to hear Native elected leaders whining for more money for jails and neglecting what is really important ..."

"I watched the last part, once again the white men were sitting on the stage, staring down at the Indians, or wait, who was who, everyone looked the same in their colonial suits ..."

"The little bits and pieces I heard was a lot of 'we need to do better.' Well NO sh-t !!! that's what we've been telling you for years." --Tim Wozny

"Disappointing--but not unexpected" --Tiffany Minurbizniz

"Money always money & Obama writes checks, evil money. Leonard Peltier's name wasn't heard inside." --Patsy Luebke

If Obama is serious, then free Peltier, relinquish control of the Black Hills, empower the traditional Hopi and Dine' to defend their lands, and remove the soldiers of the state from the border reservations. If that happens, then maybe I might take him a little more serious as an ally than as a threat to the Sovereignty of the First Nations....!" --Ben Carnes, ChoctawComment:  I'm not as skeptical as the critics above. I think Obama wants to and will try to make changes. As anyone who has ever worked in a government or corporate bureaucracy knows, changing policies is like changing directions on an aircraft carrier. It happens slowly if at all.

So you could spin this summit either way. Either "Obama promises to do great things" or "Obama has yet to fulfill his promises." Glass half empty or half full.

But I can't agree with Ben Carnes and the other AIMsters quoted above. Freeing Peltier and giving back the Black Hills are not the highest priorities in Indian country--not even close. Indians would be foolish to ask Obama to spend his political capital on these things, and Obama would be foolish to spend it.

What Obama won't do

Obama still may pardon Peltier at the end of his presidency. He isn't going to do it anytime soon. Nor will he be giving back the Black Hills, interfering with the Hopi and Navajo governments, or reducing our border security to allow more illegal immigration.

You might as well ask the tides to stop coming in. No president will take steps like these within our lifetimes, if ever. Putting these things at the center of your political agenda means you're not serious about change. You're not serious about engaging in the political process and finding compromises that will (partly) satisfy everybody.

Rather, it means you're rallying your people to a holier-than-thou level of righteousness. You're good and everybody else is bad--which is ironically how the European colonists felt when Indians surrounded them. You don't care how many Indians suffer or die as long as you achieve your symbolic victories.

For more on the subject, see Obama at the Tribal Summit and Pix of the Tribal Summit.

Below:  "Citizens of several tribal nations raised tipis on the Ellipse in front of President Barack Obama's residence in recognition of the historic White House Tribal Nations Conference." (Rob Capriccioso/Indian Country Today)

Sunset for tribes in 21st century?

Oregon family at heart of sticky issue:  Does intermarriage threaten Native American culture?

By Richard CockleFor both individuals and tribes, questions surrounding intermarriage strike at the heart of what it means to be a Native American. Just how much "blood quantum"--a term U.S. officials coined in the 19th century--does it take to be considered a Native American?

And where do tribes set the bar for enrollment? If they set it too high, they risk shutting out members and dwindling into oblivion; too low, and they spread resources too thin or render their identity meaningless. The proliferation of casinos has raised the financial stakes.

Gary Garrison, a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesman in Washington, D.C., envisions a day within a century when "marrying out" leaves tribal members with little resemblance to their forebears and little reason to call themselves Natives.

Brooklyn D. Baptiste, vice chairman of the tribal government at Idaho's Nez Perce Reservation, agrees.

"We do need to let the people know, 'If you continue on this way, there will be a sunset to our tribe, maybe in 70 or 80 years,'" he says. "What is the point of fighting for all these treaty rights if there is nobody left to exercise them?"Comment:  For more on the subject, see Indians Doomed to Die Out?

Below:  "Marcus Luke (right) married his college sweetheart, Rachel (left), but is encouraging their son, Aaron, to seek a Native American spouse when he grows up. Luke fears that continued assimilation will relegate Native American culture to history books. 'We are not just like everybody else,' he says. 'My blood comes from this land; my religion comes from this land.'" (Torsten Kjellstrand/The Oregonian)

Thanking Navajo uranium miners

Cold War patriots

Uranium miners, widows get warm reception

By Cindy YurthIt was a very belated thank-you, but appreciated nonetheless.

Some 300 former uranium workers and their family members braved an icy wind Oct. 30 to gather at tiny Cove Chapter and celebrate the first ever National Day of Remembrance for the nation's "Cold War patriots."

Cove was one of 13 communities selected from across the country to host the historic celebration in response to a Senate resolution in March setting aside Oct. 30 as a day to honor those who worked in the country's uranium mines and mills.

The House has yet to pass similar legislation, but is being lobbied heavily by the Cold War Patriots, an organization that advocates for uranium workers of the 1940s-70s.

From the reaction of the crowd at Cove, it was apparent the special day was needed. Widows of miners cried; strangers hugged each other.

Many of the former miners and millers who sacrificed their health working with the radioactive ore have been financially compensated under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, but it seemed they still needed to hear "thank you."Below:  "Pearl Esplain, from Shiprock, hugs a widow from Sanostee, N.M., Oct. 30 during the National Day of Remembrance, Honoring Cold War Patriots event in Cove, Ariz." (Special to the Times--Donovan Quintero)

Crazy Horse/USD academic partnership

Crazy Horse Memorial will be home to Native education programs

By Carol BerryAt the invitation of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, “Crazy Horse will become a satellite affiliate of the University of South Dakota,” Jack Marsh, of the foundation’s board of directors, said in recent remarks for Native American Day at the memorial.

“USD will hire special faculty, write curriculum, and teach preparatory and college-level courses to Native students,” he said. “The Crazy Horse/USD academic partnership will begin as a summer program.

“Initially, Native students, attending other schools and colleges during fall, winter and spring will reside at Crazy Horse for the summer and become temporary students of the University of South Dakota,” said Marsh, who is the founding director of USD’s American Indian Journalism Institute.

The students will divide their time between classroom and workplace, earning college credit for USD-taught classes and receiving income from jobs and paid internships provided by Crazy Horse. Eligible Native students will receive tuition scholarships from the foundation.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native American Day at Crazy Horse Memorial and Students Perform at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Pix of the tribal summit

Lise Balk King's Photos--White House Tribal Leaders Conference, Nov. 5, 2009

U.S. Department of the Interior's photostream

National Indian Education Association's Photos--White House Tribal Nations Conference

ICT Photo Slideshow:  White House Tribal Nations Conference

Comment:  For more on the subject, see Intro to Tribal Summits.

Washington DC '09 trip (Day 2)

Continuing the report begun in Washington DC '09 trip (Day 1):

After dozing for maybe an hour, I got up for my fun-filled day of sightseeing.

First I went to the Dept. of Agriculture, where I met my contact Richard Regan. I was in time to see Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack speak to an audience of tribal leaders. Then we checked the auditorium where I'd be speaking the next day.

Then I headed off for a long day of walking the National Mall. I went by the Holocaust Museum, but it hadn't opened yet. I circled the Tidal Basin to see the Jefferson Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Back on the Mall, I took in the National WW II Memorial.

Then I retraced my steps to the Dept. of Agriculture and continued to the National Museum of the American Indian. I had a chipotle chicken taco in the Mitsatim cafe. I left a message with Indian Country Today reporter Rob Capriccioso, who supposedly was visiting the NMAI also, but couldn't connect. So I toured the permanent exhibits--Our Universe, Our Lives, Our People--and the special Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort exhibit.

It was getting late in the afternoon, but I had enough time to look through the ground floor of the National Air and Space Museum. I don't think I'd been there since 1976. Finally I toured the Hirshhorn Museum's sculpture garden because I love public art.

I was supposed to meet Ruth, an old Internet friend, for dinner, but I took the wrong Metro train and ended up in a bad part of town. No problem: I took another train back and then got on the right train. Ruth and I walked to the well-reviewed Enjera, an Eritrean restaurant, but it was boarded up. So we had a decent meal at the Ethiopian restaurant across the street before heading our separate ways.

I ended up taking more than 600 photos that day--a new record for me. My feet were sore, but the day was good. Fourteen hours straight of seeing and doing things is my idea of living life to the fullest.

To learn what happened at the USDA meeting, see USDA on Discrimination Case:  Working on It. For more on the subject, see Speaking on Stereotypes at the Capital.

Stereotypical Massasoit statue returns

Statue of Indian leader returning to Capitol

By Marc HaddockMassasoit returns to the state Capitol grounds this week.

Cyrus Dallin's sometimes controversial statue of the Wampanoag Indian leader who is credited with saving the Pilgrims during their early days at Plymouth, Mass., will be reinstalled at an official ceremony Thursday at 11 a.m.

And while some have complained that it's inappropriate to have a statue honoring a Massachusetts Indian leader on display in front of Utah's Capitol when the state has plenty of homegrown American Indians who deserve recognition, Judith McConkie, Utah's Capitol curator, said the work by one of Utah's most famous artists deserves its honored place because of the historic nature of the statue as well as the individual it portrays.And:His sculptures of American Indians are among his best known work, and a 9-foot 3-inch statue of Massasoit was placed in Plymouth in 1921 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of a peace treaty the pilgrims negotiated with the "Great Sachem of the Wampanoags."

The following year, Dallin presented the original plaster cast to his home state, where it was placed indoors because, as Horne wrote, "One month's rigor of winter weather would crumble it back into clay, but sheltered under the great dome of the capitol it will last indefinitely."

The artist felt that the statue of a Massachusetts Indian represented Utah Native Americans, as well.

"In setting up this man of peace, who saved the Plymouth Colony, I have a hope … that I might model the old Chief Washakie, of the Shoshones, who, too, was a man of peace; and he wielded as potent and saving an influence over the first Pioneers, 'a thousand miles from nowhere,' as ever did Massasoit over the Pilgrims," Horne quotes Dallin as saying.Comment:  I've covered this story before, but let's reiterate the key points:

Dallin gave Utah the original plaster cast, not a bronze statue. Someone in Utah decided they needed their own Massasoit statue, so they used the cast to create one.

In other words, the Utahns weren't preserving a great work of art despite it stereotypical nature. They created a duplicate statue because they were proud of its stereotypical nature.

If the statue is so great and wonderful, the Utahns can honor it by putting it in a museum with a plaque explaining the controversy and the stereotypes. Putting it on display on Utah's capital grounds is essentially thumbing their noses at the critics. "Our pride in Dallin's stupid stereotypes is more important than your desire for cultural accuracy. We'd rather honor a white man's fantasy about Natives than Utah's actual Natives."

According to Dallin, Chief Washakie of the Shoshones was similar to Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags. In other words, all Indians are basically the same and it doesn't matter which one we honor.

Really? Two hundred years and two thousand miles apart and one can substitute for the other? That's like saying Chief Washakie fought for peace and Q'orianka Kilcher fought for peace, so let's raise a statue of Kilcher to symbolize Utah's Indians.

This is bad enough, but the curator seems to have bought this "argument." Hello? Is anyone in Utah thinking critically about this issue? Or are you all trying to find rationalizations to justify this stereotypical depiction of Indians?

For more on the subject, see:

Rob vs. Curator on Massasoit Statue
Defending Cyrus Dallin
Massasoit the Noble Savage
Massasoit Statue in Utah

Below:  Massasoit the half-naked stand-in for Washakie and a statue of Washakie.

Greedy Jews and noble savages

The Racialicious blog brings another good posting to our attention. This one is about the "positive" stereotype of the miserly Jew, but it also applies to the "positive" stereotype of the noble Indian savage.

A controversy started when two South Carolina Republicans wrote a response to a previous newspaper item:Recently your newspaper published a letter from state Rep. Bakari Sellers attacking U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and his opposition to congressional earmarks.

There is a saying that the Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves. By not using earmarks to fund projects for South Carolina and instead using actual bills, DeMint is watching our nation’s pennies and trying to preserve our country’s wealth and our economy’s viability to give all an opportunity to succeed.Blogger G.D. tells us the problem with this:

Racism as Backhanded ComplimentIn trying to flip the script, those two S.C. Republicans miss the point that their “compliment” starts from a position that the money-hungry, penny-pinching Jew stereotype is true and valid. Trying to untether that stereotype from this history, as the guy defending these two Republicans does, takes a lot of arrogance, ignorance or both.

If you scratch down just below the surface, you’ll find this kind of Othering in all “good stereotypes.” The well-worn trope about black men being strong and athletic with huge dicks is supposed to be some kind of compliment, even as it directly recalls the myth of violent, animalistic black male sexuality to which so much of America’s long history of racist terrorism has been a response. The “positive stereotype” of the smart Asian is based on the old idea of Asian folks as crafty, untrustworthy possessors of secret knowledge—an idea whose assumed validity makes it easier to round folks up en masse during wartime and shove them into detention camps.Comment:  It's easy to see how this applies to Native people. The "noble savage" is still a savage. There's no way you can spin "savage" as a compliment.

For more on the subject, see Positive Stereotypes Are Negative.

Indian and American sign languages

Native Americans Lecture on Language

By Laura XiaoThe university invited two Native Americans to speak on campus about sign language and how it relates to Native American culture. Steven Burnelle and James WoodenLegs shared their personal stories and history about sign language with the audience. Burnelle is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota, and Montana native WoodenLegs is a member of the Northern Cheyenne reservation in New Mexico.

The guest lecturers communicated in both Plains Indian Sign Language and American Sign language. Two translators were present in the front row. Both lecturers also emphasized the importance of the American Sign Language Program (ASL) and how useful it is in today's world. WoodenLegs spoke about the historical aspect of sign language in Native American culture while Burnelle spoke more about ASL. Through the translator, WoodenLegs expressed how sign language is not the only aspect of Native American culture people should be informed about. He stressed the importance of learning about the history of many different cultures.Comment:  Intersting, but if you go by this article, there's no actual connection between the two sign languages.

Nike shoes aid Native youth sports

Nike Introduces N7 Collection

Profits from the Collection Help Support Access to Youth Sport in Native American CommunitiesThis weekend Nike (NYSE:NKE) will debut the Nike N7 Collection, a select range of performance footwear designed with the environment and the future of Native American communities in mind. The N7 Collection will be sold exclusively through 33 Nike Factory Stores in the U.S. and via www.nike.com, with a portion of the profits going to the N7 Fund, which supports youth sport in Native American communities.

"For more than 10 years Nike has worked closely with Native American communities to provide support through product innovations specific to the needs of Native Americans and by providing grants to support sport programs through the N7 Fund," said Sam McCracken, General Manager of Nike's Native American Business. "With the introduction of the N7 Collection, consumers now have the ability to be their own agents of change, as the profits from their purchase will help young people in Native American communities realize their potential through sport."

The N7 Collection was created through the lens of Considered Design where products are engineered for higher performance and lower environmental impact.

The N7 Collection features the N7 Air Pegasus+ 26, the N7 Huarache, as well as the N7 SMS RT for preschool and toddler sizes.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Nike Shoe Research and Nike Shoe Is Racist?

Below:  "The new Nike N7 Air Pegasus+ 26 was created through the lens of Considered Design where products are engineered for higher performance and lower environmental impact, as well as designed with Native American inspired details and graphics that tie the shoe back to the N7 Collection." (Photo: Business Wire)

Studi challenges stereotypical roles

Western union:  ‘Only Good Indian’ explores cultural history through revisionist drama

By Jon NiccumCalling from his home in New Mexico, where he is spending the afternoon riding horses, Studi says he is conscientious when first reading a script that it represents native culture accurately.

“I pay attention to that almost automatically,” he says. “I don’t make a huge point of it, but on the other hand, if I see huge discrepancies that I feel are over the line I’ll definitely do something about it. I want to keep things as authentic as possible, especially if we’re describing a particular people.”

Has he turned down roles if depictions were inauthentic?

“Perhaps if they were insensitive, yes,” he says.Comment:  We've talked before about whether Adam Beach can or should turn down stereotypical roles (e.g., Blue Duck in Comanche Moon). Now we have evidence that a Native actor can and does turn down stereotypical roles. Apparently he doesn't carp about minor mistakes and stereotypes, but he objects to major ones.

Needless to say, Studi's candor isn't preventing him from working often. I conclude that all Native actors should try to take a stand on Hollywood mistakes and stereotypes--at least the "huge discrepancies."

Below:  Wes Studi stars in "The Only Good Indian" by Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott. (Tyler Carmody Photo)

Washington DC '09 trip (Day 1)

After sleeping only two hours Sunday night, I couldn't get to sleep at all Monday. Too much anxiety over my upcoming trip.

At 4:30 am I headed to the airport. One good thing about getting up that early is that the place is almost empty. My only complaint is that LAX doesn't have free Wi-Fi. They have it, but they charge you for it.

My flight to Washington (with a stop in Chicago) was smooth and uneventful. Richard Regan, the diversity specialist at the Department of Agriculture who invited me, met me at the airport. We took the Metro train back to L'Enfant Plaza, and I checked into my hotel. Then we had something to eat at Vie de France, a nearby sandwich shop.

I learned Regan, who seems like a good ol' Southern boy as well as a Lumbee Indian, is a real rabble-rouser. He files grievances and helps others do the same whenever discrimination breaks out at the USDA. He's kind of like I would be if I worked in a government agency--except I couldn't play politics well and would get fired quickly.

Then I took the Metro to Dupont Circle and walked to the NCAI's new embassy building on P St. Although the festivities were almost over, the building was still packed. Among the notables I saw were Billy Frank, Ernie Stevens Jr., Mark and Holly Cook Macarro, and Lise King. Eventually the crowds thinned out and I headed back to the Metro and my hotel.

For more on the subject, see Speaking on Stereotypes at the Capital.

The previous tribal summit

Tribes look back to move forward:  Obama's monumental challenge in Indian Country

By Lise Balk King
The Native Voice
Special to Pechanga.netPresident Bill Clinton issued his executive Memorandum on Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Government (April 29, 1994), which set guidelines for consultation and a system for government-wide implementation, throughout all agencies.

Loretta Avent, Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and the first-ever official tribal liaison to the White House, organized the Clinton tribal meeting at the White House in 1994. All federally recognized tribes were invited, and over 200 leaders attended. It was the first such meeting, and the last, until Obama's Tribal Nations Conference.And:Lynn Cutler, who served as the first-ever tribal liaison in the White House as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton for Intergovernmental Affairs, explained what it took to implement the mandates of Clinton's 1994 executive order. She said, "This was the period that tribes started to get politically active…I began to really push it with my colleagues, and develop relationships with (Departments of) Interior and Justice. We formed a working group and there were quarterly meetings. Gradually, by being a terrible nag, I was able to help the senior staff understand why we needed to be involved in Indian Country."Comment:  For more on the subject, see Intro to Tribal Summits and Obama to Hold Tribal Summit.

Embassy = early warning system

Embassy Dedicated in Advance of Conference

By Victor MerinaCiting the painful historical dealings with the federal government, she said the new embassy was needed as a place where tribal leaders can work together on issues—and where they can learn about potentially damaging legislation or policies so they could find ways to avert them.

During her prayer, Ransom praised the NCAI staff and said one of the benefits of having a tribal embassy is so staff members can "notify the nations when unfavorable elements are planned in D.C."

Afterward, when asked what she meant, she spoke of budget cuts from past administrations and damaging inserts to bills on Capitol Hill, placed during "midnight meetings," that have harmed Native people.

"When Indian chiefs came a long time ago to the White House, they would be treated tin grand style and be appeased and then just leave town," she said. "Not anymore."Comment:  For more on the subject, see NCAI to Open Embassy of Tribal Nations and NCAI Moves to Embassy Row.

Below:  "Alma Ransom of the Mohawk Bear Clan led the blessing of the new Embassy of Tribal Nations on Tuesday, Nov. 3." (Reznet photo by Victor Merina)

Spooky stuff in Depp's Lone Ranger

Johnny Depp Still Attached to Play Tonto in Lone Ranger Movie

The legendary masked avenger of the old west gets a Pirates remake, with Jack Sparrow riding shotgun!"Elliot and Rossio worked on that also with some other writers and with Johnny. So they're creating something that has a kind of true-to-the-western [feel], but adding other additional elements like we did with Pirates so it won't be just a straight-ahead western."

Those "additional elements" are rumored to be the inclusion of supernatural phenomenon, according to some reports.Comment:  A Western with Indian shamans, spirits, and burial grounds? That's been done only about a thousand times already.

I'm still getting the impression this movie will reinforce more stereotypes than it busts. For more on the subject, see Native Things That Go Bump in the Night and The Lone Ranger.

How traditional Cherokee women dress

In response to Anonymous, who thinks traditional Cherokee women may have looked like Liv Tyler in a Pocahontas costume, here's the proof:









Hmm. No feathers or leathers in any of these outfits, Anonymous. We're still waiting for you to provide the first shred of evidence that Tyler's costume isn't a pure stereotype.

Do you understand now why her costume is wrong, buddy? Or are you too dense to grasp the evidence in front of your face?

You're now losing the debate 14 examples to zero. I suggest you give up before I put my foot even further upside your butt.

For more on the subject, see Tricking or Treating Indians.

Afro-Aboriginal in chief's headdress

Black American Indians reach for untold story

Afro-Aboriginals reclaiming rich multi-ethnic roots

By Judy MastersonA group of black Americans interested in exploring their American Indian roots has formed a group called the Northern Illinois Afro-Aboriginals.

"The African Native American is a story that's not told," said Ali Albakri, a founding member and managing editor of Lake County Arts magazine, who heard from a cousin that his family tree includes members of the Blackfoot tribe.

The idea for the group came from Joe Russell, 54, of Waukegan, a substitute teacher. Russell's birth mother, Tienna Evans, was a full-blooded Arapaho, he said, and his birth father was black. Russell, who was adopted, has struggled to learn the facts of his heritage, and he has struggled for acceptance as a bi-racial, multi-ethnic person in a culture that is just beginning to embrace multiculturalism.

"Being racially mixed means, to some groups, that I'm diluting blood lines," he said. "But I'm equal parts both.

The Afro-Aboriginals sponsored a booth during a downtown Waukegan Juneteenth celebration last summer, and members have attended the annual end-of summer powwow in Zion organized by a committee of Potawatomi.

In celebration of his Arapaho heritage, Russell has taken the tribal name Angshe B'neshe Tienna, or Lone Hawk Touched by the Sun. Elders from the Northern Arapaho band recently presented him a warrior's bonnet, and he has been declared a Winkta, a "two-spirited" tribal "mediatrix between the voice of the people and the ear of the divine."Comment:  If the Northern Arapaho gave Russell the name and the warbonnet, I guess he has the right to use them. But this use smacks of insecurity to me. If you're sure of yourself, what does it matter if you're named "Joe Russell" or "Lone Hawk Touched by the Sun"? Unless you're receiving an award or meeting the president, why do you need to wear a headdress?

Regardless of the external trappings, you either are or aren't an Indian. If you aren't one, the impressive name and headdress won't make you one. Therefore, don't emulate someone's (stereotypical) idea of what it means to be an Indian. Just be yourself.

For more on the subject, see Preview of IndiVisible and "Actual Indian" Defined.

Below:  "Joe Russell of Waukegan, wearing a war bonnet, is a member of the Northern Illinois Afro-Aboriginals, which promotes black-American Indian identity reclamation." (Thomas Delany Jr./News-Sun)

Intro to tribal summits

To Form a More Perfect Union:  Tribal nations and the United States meet at summit

By Lise Balk King
The Native Voice
Special to Pechanga.netThey have come by horse, train, car and bus, wagons and airplanes. They have swallowed pride and accepted harsh realities…and in the name of the very survival of their people, some have even walked countless miles, with families left behind for months and years…in the pursuit of petitioning the Great White Father in the Great White House.

The history of Indian tribal leaders taking their concerns to the President goes back all the way to George Washington. It covers virtually every administration since the founding fathers pledged to "form a more perfect union." Presidents have also petitioned tribes, through delegations and treaties, to address the wishes and concerns of the federal government in the name of Manifest Destiny and the best interests of Americans.

So it is not without precedence that Obama has scheduled a White House Tribal Nations Conference with leaders invited from all 564 federally recognized tribes November 5 at the Department of the Interior. President Bill Clinton hosted the first such meeting at the White House in 1994. It is, however, without equal in its potential for progress in US-tribal relations and affairs.

In reality, US-tribal relations were founded in genocide, stoked by warfare, crippled by broken treaties, and almost severed by the Termination policies of the 1950s. There is also precedence, therefore, for Indians' deep lack of trust in the promises made by presidents and their representatives.

But this historic event is less of a petitioning as it is a meeting at a common point in the road.

Off to Washington DC '09

I'm off to give my presentation at the Dept. of Agriculture Thursday. I'll be gone from before sunrise Tuesday (yawn) till mid-day Friday. I hope to see the NCAI's tribal embassy, the National Museum of the American Indian, other museums and monuments on the Mall, and Obama's tribal summit.

Here's the intro I wrote for my talk:In Hollywood, Native American actors talk about getting "feathers and leathers" roles. In other words, being cast as stereotypical savages who wear buckskin outfits and headdresses, who maim and kill, who have no redeeming virtues. Today we're going beyond feathers and leathers, to separate the myths from the reality, and learn more about yesterday's and today's Indians.As always, stay tuned for my reports and pictures. Wednesday could be a new world record in terms of number of photos taken and posted.

For more on the subject, see Rob Unqualified to Discuss Stereotypes?!

Below:  A half-naked Indian chief hides behind "America" on the George Gustav Heye Center building, an NMAI satellite, in Manhattan.

Indian Head Test Pattern

Indian Head test cardThe Indian Head Test Pattern was a black and white television test pattern which was introduced in 1939 by RCA of Harrison, New Jersey as a part of the RCA TK-1 Monoscope. Twentieth century television later became so important socially that this purely technical electronic instrument (covertly identified as a branded industrial product) became a historical cultural icon of television's early days as a mass medium. Its name comes from the original art of a Native American featured on the card.

As television broadcasting ritual

The Indian Head Test Pattern became familiar to the large post-war Baby Boom TV audiences in America from 1947 onwards; it would often follow the formal television station sign-off after the United States national anthem. The Indian Head was also used in Canada, following the Canadian national anthem sign-off in the evening. This test pattern was later used by Venezuelan TV channel Venevision, in conjunction with the RMA Resolution Chart 1941, in the mid and late 70s before the Venezuelan anthem (Gloria al bravo pueblo).

The Indian Head pattern could variously be seen: after sign-off but while the station was still transmitting; while transmitting prior to a typical 6 AM formal sign-on; or even during the daylight morning hours on newer low budget stations, which typically began their broadcast day with midday local programs around 10 or 11 AM.

As cultural icon

An actual Indian Head Test Card, the pattern as printed on art-grade white cardboard, was only of secondary importance to television system adjustment, but many of them were saved as souvenirs, works of found art, and inadvertent mandalas.

The original art work was completed for RCA by an artist named Brooks on August 23, 1938. The master art was improbably discovered in a dumpster by a wrecking crew worker as the old RCA factory in Harrison, NJ was being demolished in 1970. The worker kept the art for over 30 years, and then used the Internet to locate and sell it to a test pattern collector.

Television appearances

The test card is perhaps best recalled by some baby boomers for its brief albeit iconic part in the opening sequence of The Outer Limits (1963-1965).

In the series Futurama, the Indian test card is seen with the Native American head being replaced by that of a Native Martian from the series.

A parody with a laughing Indian was the logo for the first season of Second City Television.

Film appearances

In the 2008 animated film Justice League: The New Frontier the Martian Manhunter learns about American pop culture by watching television; he morphs into several characters, ending with the Indian as the station announces that it's going off the air. This is in keeping with the era in which most of the film is set: the 1950s. The card itself appears later in the story as a Please Stand By notice after The Flash briefly commandeers a television station.

In the 2009 film Watchmen the test card is on a monitor in the control room of the television station in which Dr. Manhattan is interviewed in an alternate history 1985.

Other appearances

On Cheech and Chong's Big Bambu album, at the beginning of a long sketch spoofing TV shows, Cheech drops by Chong's pad and asks what he's watching. Chong replies, "I don't know, it's a movie about Indians, but it's really boring." Cheech says, "Hey man, that's not a movie, man. That's a test pattern, man!" Chong answers, "Far out." A test tone is audible in the background.

A parody of this test card appears in the computer game Streets of SimCity for 5 seconds before going to the main menu.

The test card makes an appearance as a loading screen in the game Fallout, and a reappearance in Fallout 3.

The Indian Head Test Pattern!Many have asked, YES, I am still offering these patterns for sale. I have thousands of them, and all you have to do is place your order.

I acquired the original artwork in 2004. It was found in a dumpster in the old RCA Tube Manufacturing building in Harrison NJ. I have the master hand drawn artwork for the Indian Head Test Pattern and the Indian Head. I had the artwork professionally restored to the way it looked in 1938.A posting about the NEW FRONTIER sequence mentioned above:

A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments--Day 303

Comment:  I couldn't find anything on the actual Indian in the test pattern. Why did Brooks draw an Indian? Whose idea was it: his or RCA's? Did he use a model? What was the Indian supposed to symbolize? The great and noble history of RCA, perhaps? Or was it just somebody's idiosyncratic choice?

For more on the subject, see TV Shows Featuring Indians.

Tonto's son the minister

Silverheels has gift to reach, touch, heal

By Amanda GreeneChief Steve Silverheels has Seneca/Mohawk Iroquois heritage from his father, Jay Silverheels who played Tonto in the TV series "The Lone Ranger." He has Jewish heritage from his mother.

He attended a synagogue in New York as a young boy and later went to a Catholic school. Then he spent his young adulthood mostly rejecting religion.

Some who find themselves in such diverse spiritual company might struggle with what to believe.

But the Star-News of Wilmington reported that the 69-year-old Wilmington resident and itinerant Christian minister believes God or The Great Creator made his choice for him in 1974.

"I was an alcoholic and a drug addict after I got out of the Army," he said. That year, after returning to his Florida apartment from a night of hard drinking, Silverheels had what he calls "a visitation from the Lord. And I knew it was my last warning."Steve Silverheels's connection to the Lone Ranger:Sitting in his Kings Grant home surrounded by Native American ceremonial artifacts including drums, an intricately carved eagle flute and a leather sack labeled "Sage Do not eat!" Silverheels chuckled.

"Some people say this is a museum," he said, gesturing to his full floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with "Lone Ranger" memorabilia and his wife's collection of lighthouse paintings.And:His videographer, Stan Atamanchuk, said he appeals to people in similar ways as his father did in "The Lone Ranger."

"Tonto finds the near dead Ranger and with "Good Samaritan" care nursed him back to health. This is one of the gifts God has bestowed on Chief Silverheels, to reach, to touch, to bless. His audiences are attracted to his healing prayers and touch," he wrote in an e-mail.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Stupidity in Enter the Lone Ranger and Fetching in Enter the Lone Ranger.

Below:  Chief Steve Silverheels and his wife Katherine. (Photo from www.chiefsilverheels.org)

Nazca cut trees, other Natives didn't

Peru's Nazca culture was brought down with its trees

Deforestation left nothing to hinder ancient floodwaters on the desert plain, researchers find. Modern Peru could learn from the civilization's collapse, they say.

By Thomas H. Maugh IIThe Nazca people of Peru--famous for their huge line drawings on an arid plateau that are fully visible only from the air--set the stage for their demise by deforesting the plain, allowing a huge El Niño-fueled flood to ravage the Ica Valley about AD 500, researchers have found.

"They died out because they destroyed their natural ecosystem," said archaeologist Alex J. Chepstow-Lusty of the French Institute of Andean Studies in Lima, coauthor of a paper in the current issue of Latin American Antiquity. "As the population expanded, they put in too many fields and didn't protect the landscape. The El Niño wiped away society."

Chepstow-Lusty, David Beresford-Jones of the University of Cambridge and their colleagues used pollen in the soil to trace the horticultural history of the valley, revealing environmental depredation.Comment:  In one sense, this is good news. The Nazca unwisely deforested the plain without thinking seven generations ahead. They didn't know the huge El Niño rains were coming. Because of their sheer ignorance, they suffered the consequences.

This is notable because it's the exception that proves the rule. Unlike Western cultures, which routinely deforested the land they "settled," Native cultures usually lived within their means. That the Nazca deforested their land is newsworthy because most Native cultures didn't.

For more on the subject, see Ecological Indian Talk.

Below:  "In the Ica Valley, about 120 miles south of Lima, 'the wind has blown away the topsoil,' one researcher said, 'so that features such as canals that were once cut into the landscape are now standing up above it, preserved in hard calcite.'" (Alex Chepstow-Lusty)

No people, just Indians, in Little House

Educator Debbie Reese writes again about Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. Someone wrote to Wilder requesting a change in the text and Wilder approved it.

Edit(s) to 1935 edition of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE?

Here's the before:There the wild animals wandered and fed as though they were in a pasture that stretched much farther than a man could see, and there were no people. Only Indians lived there.And the after:There the wild animals wandered and fed as though they were in a pasture that stretched much farther than a man could see, and there were no settlers. Only Indians lived there.Comment:  Even "settlers" isn't quite right, since the Indians were already settled there. If Wilder wanted to distinguish between Indians and others, she should've written "white people."

It's great that Wilder and publisher agreed to make the change. It's ridiculous that Wilder wrote the line originally and no one noticed it for 20 years. It's a great example of the unconscious racism that pervades our culture.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Books.

Aboriginal youths to carry Olympic flame

Akwesasne Mohawk retrieve Olympic Flame from GreeceAronhiaies Herne, a 23-year-old teacher and cultural program coordinator from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, has been selected as one of 11 aboriginal youths that will have the job of a lifetime over the next few months–running with the Olympic Flame as its guide and protector to ensure it keeps burning bright on its cross-Canada journey.

He will be joined by two Akwesasne Mohawks who were also chosen to have an active part in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay–Mike Benedict Jr. (community torchbearer) and Howard “Iothore” Thompson (honorary elder fire keeper).

Herne’s journey as a flame attendant began Oct. 27 when he traveled to Greece, the birthplace of the modern-day Olympic Games, to safeguard the flame as it made its way to Canada. He is one of two aboriginal youths chosen to retrieve the Olympic Flame based on his performance at a test event. He was selected to watch over and maintain the flame before and during the longest domestic relay in Olympic history.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Protests Planned Against Torch Relay and Native Leaders, Youth Target Olympics.