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)