Subject: nanews02.030 From: gars@netcom.com (Gary Night Owl) To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Message-ID: _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N ) O o O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o o o o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 02, ISSUE 030 O o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 23 July 1994 O o O ( N E W S ) O This issue contains articles from NATIVE-L and NATCHAT Mailing Lists, Usenet alt.native Newsgroup, FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference, and by members of the Invisible Band. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. It is archived at the Native American FTP site ftp.cit.cornell.edu in the directory /pub/special/NativeProfs/newsletters; and is being sent to gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us (Gary S. Trujillo) should he wish to include it in his NATIVE-L or NATCHAT lists. "I remember my home, surrounded by green cottonwoods, I remember it and sing. I remember how we used to live, walking, laughing through the fields of corn, climbing up and down ladders." __ Pueblo Poem +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! The Colorado fires die. The Georgia floods recede. The minds of men of greed envision the next dam to build, the next forest to clearcut, the next swamp to drain. The Colorado fire smoulder. The Georgia floods linger in pools. The minds of the people remember those who came before and prepare for those who follow. Mitakuye Oyasin! Night Owl , , (*,*) Gary Night Owl gars%owlstar.UUCP@mathcs.emory.edu (`-') P. O. Box 672168 gars@genie.geis.com ===w=w=== Marietta, GA 30067, U.S.A. gars@netcom.com ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: FidoNet, Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - AICAP Services in Doubt - Conferences and Powwows - online - Pequots Split Over Elections - URGENT!! Desecration of Burial Grounds - Computer Arts Project Archive - American Indian Movement Meeting at - Rainbow Warriors Wounded Knee - Medicine Singer - Euro Journey for Leonard Peltier - Poem: Keeper of Tradition - Still Cherokee Religion? - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Run to Washington DC - Conferences and Powwows - offline - A Gift from the Past - No Clemency for Leonard Peltier (fwd) - Indian Roots Grow Deep - Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers ------------------ clip here for news feature -- 8< ------------ --------- "RE: AICAP Services in Doubt" --------- Date: Wed, 13 Jul 94 20:37:25 GMT From: turtle@aicap.s21.com (Turtle Heart) Subj: aicap services in doubt Newsgroup: alt.native Dear Friends: maybe. maybe not. we have spent several hundred dollars keeping this link open, but lately funds from whatever sources are not available to pay the phone, so they have offered to sever our phone line effective 7-14-94. It may not happen, or it may happen. we do not yet know. Due to the kind message we have received from many of you, we want you to know if you do not hear from aicap or your mail is unanswered, then it will be because we have lost our phone line out here in the remote mojave. It is very expensive for private people to access this cyber-place. We had hoped that some one the 75 people who downloaded the tribal fax resource would make a modest donation which would have gone to the phone line. Too many of you take for granted your easy and possibly free access to this channel. AICAP (via Moon Dreaming Thunder PO Box 111 Johannesburg CA 93528). Turtle Heart turtle@soft21.s21.com (Ahnishinabeg) American Indian Computer Art Project BBS 619-374-2100 Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light --------- "RE: Pequots Split Over Elections" --------- From: Barbara Wallace (barbara.wallace@f235.n327.z1.fidonet.org) Date: Jul-13-94 07:13:04 Subj: Pequots FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference FROM THE JULY 13, 1994 NORWICH BULLETIN TRIBAL FACTIONS SPLIT OVER ELECTIONS North Stonington--"We're not going to participate in a sham election," a spokesman for the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots Indians said Tuesday in response to the tribal elections planned by a second faction of the tribe. "We're not going to participate in any attempt by the Eastern Pequots to achieve legitimacy," said Waterbury attorney Ralph Crozier, chief council for the Paucatucks. The larger of two factions within the tribe, the Eastern Pequots--headed by Tribal Council Chairman Roy Sebastian--recently announced plans to hold tribal elections July 30 and invited members of the Paucatucks to participate. The Paucatucks, headed by Agnes Cunha, also claim to be rightful tribal leaders and say the larger faction has no right to hold tribal elections. Crozier said the Sebastian-led faction is just trying to use the Paucatucks to achieve legitimacy and federal recognition. None of the 116 members in the Cunha-led Paucatucks will vote in the Eastern Pequot elections, Crozier said. All have also written to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to state they do not want to be included on a petition for federal recognition the Eastern Pequots plan to submit this fall. Without the Paucatucks, Crozier said, the Eastern Pequots cannot gain federal recognition. (again, my apologies for any typos that may appear in this posting; they are mine, and not the fault of the Norwich Bulletin) Origin: Doc's BBS! (1:327/235) --------- "RE: Computer Arts Project Archive" --------- Date: 16 Jul 1994 00:00:01 -0000 From: turtle@aicap.s21.com Subj: Computer Arts Project Archive: Turtle Heart Newsgroup: alt.native The American Indian Computer Art Project (AICAP) now is developing an ARCHIVE site which can be accessed by MAIL messages. Each month new files are being added to this service. To obtain a list of the current files in the archive, follow these instructions: send a mail message to: mail mail-server@soft21.s21.com subject BEGIN SEND aicap/list1.txt END Please do it just that way. The list will arrive as a text message with instructions on how to obtain these files. The American Indian Computer Art Project is in existence to promote Native American interfaces with the modern world. Our main emphasis is upon art and other POSITIVE expressions. Thanks go to 21st Century Software and Mr. John Antypas for their support of this archive site and to AICAP's connection to the INTERNET. Turtle Heart Project Director Ahnishinabeg Artist Turtle Heart turtle@soft21.s21.com (Ahnishinabeg) American Indian Computer Art Project BBS 619-374-2100 Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light --------- "RE: Rainbow Warriors" --------- Date: 14 Jul 1994 19:12:37 GMT From: tiplab@gsfcmail.nasa.gov () Subj: RAINBOW WARRIORS Newsgroup: alt.native Recently I read a request for information on an old Indian prophesy that talked about a coming age of rainbow warriors. I think the tribe is forming. In May of this year I attended a two day ethnic pride festival and concert called SpiritFest '94 with Russell Means, "Last of the Mohicans" and The Blue Knight of Maryland. Even though it poured a "cleansing" rain (the four directions were called) I never had so much fun and a true spiritual experience. THe high point of day(s) was a ceremony called the "Miracle of Oneness". I received a special gold wishing ring. I was never so moved as when I saw the look on the faces of small children who also received this special gift. It was a gift of hope not found too often these days. The organizers of this wonderful experience are located in Landover Maryland where there is a a place to go year round called the East Wing Children's Castle. This magical place was featured on TV recently on a program about angels. I am proud to say that I have joined the ranks of the Rainbow Warriors and invite any one out there in Internet Land to make the time to go and see and feel the energy and experience this Castle. Their number is 301-577-7755. We live in a time of prophesies fulfilled and one must listen to all the messages. Peace Tabitha --------- "RE: Medicine Singer" --------- Date: 17 Jul 94 16:58:50 GMT From: milo@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Michele Lord) Subj: Medicine Singer Newsgroup: alt.native Excerpted from The Book of the Elders, by Sandy Johnson and Dan Budnik, HarperCollins Publishers, San Francisco, 1994 Verbena Greene, Medicine Singer Verbena Greene, known as "Beans" lives on the Warm Springs Reservation, on the Eastern side of the Cascade Range in Oregon. She is the keeper of a ceremonial longhouse, a long structure with a meeting room, dining hall, and kitchen. Here she talks about a form of spiritual healing known as Medicine Singing, which she inherited from her ancestors. "Medicine Singing is related to Indian doctoring. The government didn't like the Indian doctor, who was the shaman doing his duties to his people. If they found out you were singing, the police would arrest us. It was not allowed. But the people never gave up, they wouldn't let them take this away. It takes some people forty years of singing before they can become an Indian doctor, I sang because it would make me a better keeper of my children. "If you truly are a spiritual person, the spirits will come to you. Many of the spiritual songs that people sing are different, because there are many spirits that are very challenging. There are song that will help you in times when another spirit is trying to do you in, or cause you to get sick. Those kinds of songs can help you fight that spirit out there. "There are songs that are only for children. They call on the spirits who take care of little children. There are spiritual songs that many people sing that will only take care of adults. Some come easy, and so very gentle. And then there are some spiritual songs that just slap you. I have had that happen to me, where they just hit you and almost knock you over. Many of them make you sick, and you can be sick for many days. But they are not there to harm you, they are just coming into your life. "There was a song that came to me and, honest to goodness, it almost killed me. I was so sick, all I could do is crawl into the restroom. These are the kinds of things that will happen to you sometimes. You have to go through them because it's like a trial. You have to ask yourself, 'Are you ready for it? Are you fit?' It's like this song is entwined around you and feeling you out to see whether you are a fit person for this song or not. There are many songs that will do that to you. There are many songs that will just come to bother you, until you finally sing it. Some of the songs come in dreams. "When people ask me about Spiritual Singing, I tell them that I always wanted to become one. There are many rituals that you must go through first. You have to cleanse and purify your body through the sweathouse during the course of a year or two, Sweating once a week, two or three days in a row. Or you could sweat every day, once a day two or three days in a row until you feel you have changed. It's like a total changing of your life. You have to let a lot of things go, like anger, meanness, being rough and tough, and maybe you have to start watching your mouth and what you say. "The Medicine Singing is inherited from generation to generation. There are very few who find their own vision quest to do this. We are supposed to sing in our own language, we can express ourselves better than we could in a borrowed language. "I can go quite a ways back in our ancestry, at least five generations of Medicine Singers. They believed and respected everyone's religion. No one ever told me, 'Don't believe in that,' and they didn't force us to learn the ways of the longhouse. They told us that it may help some day, and when we grew up we could pick a religion of our own to learn about the Creator. We all believe in Him who is the Creator of all things." ~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*+ "When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them." -Oren Lyons, Onondaga Nation ~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~* milo@scicom.alphacdc.com Michele Lord Alpha Institute +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ --------- "RE: Poem: Keeper of Tradition" --------- Date: 29 Apr 1994 22:50:54 GMT From: Wattsjb@SGAQ@USAFA@sgmail.usafa.af.mil (Jon Briggs Watts) Subj: Keeper of Tradition Newsgroup: alt.native KEEPER OF TRADITION The respected man looks deeply, seeing what's inside. Carefully, an Eagle circling. Holding what has always been, contemplating what might be. There is time, the truth will be shown. He closes his eyes, seeing beyond depth. Quiet power, unseen-opening, A human being is revealed. Asking nothing, he gives. JON BRIGGS WATTS --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 94/07/10 15:44 From: Kepola (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of July 3-9. GE Electronic Mail A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of July 17-23. IULAI (July) (Hinaiaeleele) 24 The mountains watch over this land, silent sentinels of the Gods. 25 Here is the place where magic dwells. 26 Let the children lead you to wonder. 27 Laughter is a gift of life. 28 Music is the wind ... captured for a brief moment. 29 My heart's wings give flight to my dreams. 30 The joy of the spirit is everlasting. (c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue (With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream) --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - offline" --------- Date: Thu, 21 July 94 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.geis.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows not previously posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L GE Electronic Mail =POWWOWS= From Fidonet: John Farrington Coastal Bend Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow and Arts & Crafts Exhibition Cash prize $4,000+, $2 admission October 1 & 2: Memorial Coliseum S. Shoreline Blvd ( I-37 South to Shoreline) Corpus Christi, Texas Contact: Coastal Bend Council Of Native Americans P.O Box 4546 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Attn: Vivian Trammel (512) 883-9980 (Vendors of Native American Art must send Tribal Enrollment Number for verification.) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Piney Woods Pow-Wow $21,000 prize money November 18-19-20: Nacadoches County Exposition Center Nacadoches, Texas Contact: Mickey Calvin P.O. Box 631523 Nacadoches, TX 75963 (409) 560-1287 ::=::=::=::=::=000=::=::=::=::=:: From the Internet: From: bbarbora@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Bradley J Barborak) Newsgroups: soc.culture.native 4th Annual Trinity Farm Powwow Pataskala, Ohio August 13 & 14, 1994 This event hosted by The Ohio Center For Native American Affairs 203 E. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-228-0460 Powwow coordinators: Kenny Irwin & Susan Mills ----------------------------------------------------------------- From: kibby@news.unr.edu (Larry Kibby) Sender: usenet@news.unr.edu (USENET News Administration) The 2nd Annual Native American Festival is scheduled to take place July 22, 23, 24, 1994 in Elko, Nevada, at the Elko County Fairgrounds. Host Drum: White Fish Jr., Canada / Indian Nation, Yakima, Washington Emcee: Arnold Chee / Arena Directors: Darren Crutch, Fort Duchesne, Utah Raphael Kanip, Shiprock, New Mexico Head Dancers: Female - Christiana Williams, Male - Bill Hayes All activities held at the Elko County Fairgrounds (except for coed softball). Coed Softball call (702) 738-7063. Traditional Handgames call (702) 738-5654 Native American Arts & Crafts, Competition Hand Drum, Photo Exhibit, Camping. Call (702) 753-3794 or Write Festival Headquarters, 1728 Redwood St. Elko, Nevada 89801 (ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS!) ::=::=::=::=::=000=::=::=::=::=:: From _News from Indian Country_ July 21-24 1st Salinas Big Week Salinas, CA Info: 408-757-2591 July 22-24 Honor the Firekeepers Traditional Lake Geneva, WI Info: 414-473-7748 July 22-24 4th Wallowa Band Nez Perce Wallowa, OR Info: 503-886-2422 July 22-24 Rainbow Dancer New Berlin, IL Info: 217-525-2698 July 22-24 16th Keweenaw Bay Baraga, MI Info: 906-353-6623 July 22-24 Cheyenne Homecoming Clinton, OK Info: 1-800-759-1397 July 22-24 Paul Band Duffield, Alberta Info: 403-892-2691 July 23-24 Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump Fort McLeod, Alberta Info: 403-553-2731 July 23 Cherokee of Hoke City Inter. Fest. Rockfish, NC Info: 910-875-0222 July 23-24 Mohawk Trail Charlemont, MA Info: 413-339-4096 July 23-24 1st Bitterroot Valley Good Nations Hamilton, MT Info: 406-363-6390 July 23-24 10th Honoring our Heritage Clio, MI Info: 313-239-6621 ::=::=::=::=::=000=::=::=::=::=:: Send notices of forthcoming powwows, conferences and gatherings to: jans@genie.geis.com gars@netcom.com ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ all items below this line have already been distributed by our brother, Gary Trujillo, via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 21 July 94 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.geis.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows already posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L = Powwows and Gatherings From the Internet listserv groups= Original Sender: mentor.cc.purdue.edu!cfblack (Carol Black) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Jul 30-31 KEKIONGA GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE : Ft. Wayne, Indiana On the weekend of July 30-31, 1994, there will be an education-centered Gathering of the People. This gathering will welcome back to Kekionga (Ft.Wayne) Native Americans from across the continent, as well as enthusiastic public from this area, which this year is observing the 200th anniversary of Wayne's fort. Our purpose is to remind this city that BEFORE there was a "fort" here, there was a lively, culturally rich Native American city here, called: "Kekionga", and to reintroduce this community to today's Woodland and Native People. Activities will include demonstrations of music and dance, sports, village life, craft booths, refreshments & more. For more info., contact: Kekionga Native American Alliance, P.O. Box 9791, Fort Wayne, IN 46899-9791 ((ph.:219-420-6043)) --------- "RE: URGENT!! - Desecration of Burial Grounds" --------- Date: Sun, 17 Jul 1994 23:52:11 EDT From: NativeNet@gnosys.svle.ma.us Subj: URGENT!! - Desecration of Abenaki Village Burial Grounds Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) TO: URGENT -- Dennis Banks of AIM / Press Release FROM: Sovereign Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi RE: Desecration of Abenaki Village Sites Containing Burial Grounds We are asking for support in stopping the desecration of one of our ancestral villages and burial grounds by the state of NH's Department of Archeology and Historical Resources. Regardless of Abenaki Elders requesting in our traditional manner to cease a recently begun dig in North Haverhill NH, all peaceful dialogue with the state has come to an impasse. Gary Hume and Dick Boisvert, the state archaeologists who head this project continue to embark on their own course with complete disregard to the living relations of the people whose villages they are desecrating. In fact, it is the Abenaki Elders who informed Hume and Boisvert that there are unmarked burial grounds on the site, after the announcement of the dig was released. Hume and Boisvert erroneously refute the wisdom of the Elders, stating that there are no burial grounds at the site. Now, not only does the dig continue, but on July 20 a public guided tour of the North Haverhill site will take place, when, in fact, the Abenaki Elders were told (IN THE LEAST) the site would be protected from public scrutiny/invasion. We want our voices heard and respected, NOW. Please we need your support at this very moment. Desecration of sacred lands and burial grounds is a concern that touches deeply in all of our lives as Native People, reaching far back into our history. We must continue to circle together to stop this intrusion on our lives. Support has been shown by relations from the Cherokee, Lakota, Mohawk, etc., Nations. Please join the circle. PROTEST: We will be gathering at the site for a second protest. If you wish to show your support and/or join us, please contact one of the following people: Tom O'Bomsawin: VT Tribal Abenaki Office -- (802) 865-5106 Neilly Buckalew: Moonriver NATIVE Resource/Network -- (603) 298-6583 THE ABENAKI ... ... are the people of the Dawnland. Here in Ndakinna (imperialistically referred to as VT and NH) our people have lived here for more than 10,000 years. We, in present day politics, are not federally recognized. Our experiences in dealing with VT and NH state governments differs greatly. In the eyes of the NH government we simply (conveniently) do not exist. In Vermont, at least, our existence is acknowledged, but not "officially" recognized. As with most First Peoples our political confrontations and history is complex. This brief historical information presented here is to help you understand the position we are continually PUT IN when dealing with this and all issues that affect our nation. --------- "RE: American Indian Movement Meeting at Wounded Knee" --------- Date: Sat, 16 Jul 1994 22:15:00 PDT From: American Indian Movement Subj: American Indian Movement Meeting at Wounded Knee Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT Will take place in Wounded Knee, South Dakota On August 1,2,3, & 4th. Chapters from Wounded Knee,Colorado, Dakota, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Northern California, Southern California, Northwest, Ohio, Southeast, Virginia, Texas, and wraps His Tail (Montana) all members of the International Confederation of autonomous chapters will attend. Any one wanting any information about the American Indian Movement should and the meeting should contact the following people. COLORADO, AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT Russell Means or Ward Churchill (303) 871-0463 NEW MEXICO, AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT Bob Robideau (505) 281-8274 CALIFORNIA, AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT Bobby Castillo (415) 552-1992 --------- "RE: Euro Journey for Leonard Peltier" --------- Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 20:16:00 PDT From: American Indian Movement Subj: EURO JOURNEY FOR LEONARD PELTIER Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) MEETING OF THE EAGLE AND THE CONDOR A SACRED JOURNEY FOR LEONARD PELTIER The Spiritual Journey will start in Brussels Belgium on March 1st 1995 and walkers will meet with members of the European Parliament to discuss the case of Leonard Peltier. We will then walk North to the Netherlands and meet with members of the Dutch Parliament and walk to the town of Gronigen and thank the City Council for their Resolution seeking the release of Leonard Peltier. We will then walk across and enter Germany and meet with members of the German Green Party We will go to Breman, Hamburg Berlin, Gottingen, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich and then we will enter Zurich Switzerland and walk to Geneva to meet the delegates attending the working Group of Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations. and also with Swiss Parliament Members The walk will then continue to Leon, St Etienne, and on to Paris, France to complete the journey in a full circle. Many Spiritual leaders, Sundancers and native peoples from North, Central and South America will attend the walk. There will be a drum and Singers from North America, Aztec Dancers from Mexico and Andean Musician from Peru, Ecuador, Chile. etc....... The Journey is being organized by Bobby Castillo, the International Spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee along with: GERMANY Society for Threatened Peoples Angela Warsitz, Rauschstr. 17A 13509 Berlin Germany Tel/Fax: 49 30 435 1712 Katrin Kraft, Friedensweg 7B 12307 Berlin Germany Tel/Fax: 49 30 745 1501; Matthias Knapp, Djorna Biswas - Bremen Tel : 49 42174713 BELGIUM K.O.L.A. Els Hertes, Van Boeckelstraat 20, B-1140 Brussel, Belgium Tel: 32 (2) 241 83 22, For Mother Earth Sandra Nassen, St.- Gerlachsstraat 20 3742 Martenslinde Bilsen, Belgium NETHERLANDS Leonard Peltier Support Group Frits Terpestra, Leeuwardenstraat 14, NL - 9718 HX Groningen Netherlands Tel: 31 (50) 185068, Fax: 31 (50) 139395 SWITZERLAND A.S.N.A. Anne Francoise Meckenstock, Finettes 13, 1920 Martigny, Switzerland, Tel: 41 26 22 7192 FRANCE INCA Manu and Marianne Castaneda, 35 Rue Bourgneuf, 42000 St. ` Etienne, France Tel: 77 33 1479 Fax: 77 41 9206 Nitassinan Nitassinan - CSIA, BP 317, 75229 Paris Cedex 05, France Other groups are welcome to help in the organization of this event and should contact the above people. It took International attention to gain the Release of Nelson Mandala, and we will continue to ring the bells around the world to gain the FREEDOM for our Brother Leonard Peltier PLEASE MAKE CHECKS AND DONATIONS PAYABLE TO THE: Leonard Peltier Support Group, 2017 Mission Street Room 303, San Francisco, California, 94110 Phone (415) 552-1992 Fax (415) 431-1492 --------- "RE: Still Cherokee Religion?" --------- Date: Fri, 15 Jul 1994 10:02:00 -0700 From: Rio Lara-Bellon Subj: Still Cherokee Religion? Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Okay, I'm sitting back on this one even though my toes are twitching. For the heck of it I will only add the following: "Many Indians are irritated, and justly so, with the wholesale appropriation of American Indian rituals, symbols, and beliefs by the non-Indian public..." "We must, if possible, dig beneath the rhetoric and poetry of present expressions of religiosity practiced by Indians and their admirers and examine whether of not there is any substance in the popularity of Indian tradition and whether or not something use- ful and constructive can be derived from present activities..." I took these quotes from an article written by Vine Deloria and published in Wicazo Sa Review. The article is titled: Is Religion Possible: An Evaluation of Present Efforts to Revive Traditional Tribal Religions. Deloria's point of view (as expressed in this article) might add something valuable to the present discussion on religion and appropriation. I, too, will now sit back and warm my hands by the humming blue light of the virtual campfire. Rio --------- "RE: Run to Washington DC" --------- Date: Mon, 18 Jul 1994 08:24:05 -0600 From: hydra.unm.edu!jshendo (jimmy shendorsale) Subj: RUN TO WASHINGTON DC Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) On Friday July 15th 1994 a group of long distance runners from the pueblo of Jemez left their village at dawn to run to Washington DC to carry issues that will be discussed ranging from tribal, environmental, social, welfare, political, economic and current issues facing Native American communities. They are also carrying the issues of concern of the elderly and youth. This run is being sponsored by the Native American youth empowerment Walatowa-Pueblo of Jemez. About 27 both male and female runners are on their way to DC with these messages. They are asking for your help and donation. you may contact Jennifer or Thellma at Pueblo of Jemez PO Box 607 Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024 505 834-7386 or you can send e-mail to me. I am also from the pueblo of Jemez jshendo@hydra.unm.edu The runners will be arriving Washington DC on july 27th background The Native American youth empowerment group was established on the 21st of August 1993. NAYE will serve as a support group for native american students who are between middle school and college. The purpose of this group is to empower native youth to strive for excellence through education while emphasizing the importance of upholding and sustaining the cultural values, traditions and language of their respective tribes. NAYE will be a national network made up of chapters from different communities. Washington DC run itinerary day 1 July 15 depart Jemez 5:00 am destination: Santa Rosa, NM 150 miles day 2 July 16 depart Santa Rosa, NM destination: Amarillo, TX 165 miles day 3 July 17 depart Amarillo, TX destination: Elk City, OK 130 miles day 4 july 18 depart Elk City, OK destination: Oklahoma City, OK 143 miles day 5 july 19 depart Oklahoma City, OK destination: Miami, OK 167 miles day 6 July 20 depart Miami, OK destination: Lebanon, MO 157 miles day 7 july 21 depart Lebanon or Springfield, MO destination: St Louis, MO 143 miles day 8 july 22 depart St Louis, MO destination: Evansiville, IN 149 miles day 9 july 23 depart Evansville, IN destination: Frankfort, KY 143 mles day 10 july 24 depart Frandfort, KY destination: Huntington, WV 130 miles day 11 july 25 depart Huntington, WV destination: White Sulfur Springs, WV 167 miles day 12 july 26 depart White Sulfur Springs, Wv destination: Richmond, VA 170 miles day 13 july 27 depart Richmond, VA destination: Washington, DC 105 miles day 14 & 15 July 28, 29 i. meeting with Janet Reno Attorney General Bruce Babbit Ada Deer Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs NM Congressional Delegation july 29 depart Washington DC july 31 arrive Pueblo of Jemez If you can support them along the way, go the the Interstate and cheer them on when they are coming through your city or town. Help them by donating your time and support. They are also accepting monetary donations. The media of Albuquerque gave very little recognition of this historic effort of the tribe. These kids deserve all they can get. Please spread the word. thank you Jimmy Shendo --------- "RE: A Gift from the Past" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Jul 1994 14:24:48 GMT From: Mark E Warhus Subj: "A Gift from the Past" (PBS-TV, 19 October 1994) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [The following item was originally sent as a personal message, which the author, Mark Warhus, has given me permission to distribute via NATIVE-L. I will send the article to that list, as well as to NAT-EDU, since I feel that the documentary mentioned here, and Mark's Native American Map CD-ROM and book project (mentioned in an item I've relayed to the members of the "nn.outreach" list) could represent an important resource for the project I've mentioned a few times as wanting to bring together which would develop and gather curricular material for use in K-12 schools and construct e-mail and other telecommunications links between those schools. (Please let me know if you'd like to help with that project, and I'll add your name to the "nn.outreach" list.) --Gary ] Gary Trujillo, While the internet is fast I have not been able to find efficient ways to keep notes and information. Your recent comments on Indians on CD's and the plan (?) to develop educational materials by and for American Indians is of considerable interest to me. I have been on NATCHAT or one of the NativeNet lists for some time and posted a number of items including an announcement of the Native American Map exhibition I am working on. I have found it to have some advantages, but lately just keeping up is taking to much time and many of the issues discussed with such fervor on the network are not of interest to me. I am planning on unsubscribing as soon as I get a message posted which I think will be of interest to many of the network members. Curiously it is about a film which i think is an excellent example of blending contemporary Native American life with their history and traditions. I include a short description of the film with information on its PBS airing date (Wednesday October 19) and its availability to both institutions and the public. A GIFT FROM THE PAST is the pilot film for INDIAN AMERICA, a series of films about American Indian history and contemporary life being developed by Media Resource Associates, Inc. a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization. A GIFT FROM THE PAST focuses on the Makah Indians of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, and on how their community was enriched and strengthened through the unearthing and preservation of artifacts from an ancient Makah village. The film concentrates on the site of Ozette where, at around the same time as the encounter with Europeans began, part of a village was encased in a mudslide and preserved for five centuries until tides and storms began to unearth it. Compared to a New World Pompeii, the Ozette site yielded thousands of artifacts from a culture which had inhabited this area for approximately two thousand years. A GIFT FROM THE PAST examines how these artifacts helped strengthen and reaffirm the Makahs' oral traditions. At the same time the film portrays present day Makah life as a successful combination of modern culture with traditional beliefs, customs, and experience. The Ozette find reveals a people with sophisticated technology, ingenious methods of survival and the courage to travel 40 miles out in the ocean in huge canoes in search of whales and other sea mammals. In the film, The Makah, who are still expert mariners on the turbulent waters they call home, also sing the songs of their ancestors, perform traditional potlatch ceremonies, and tell legends that are centuries old. Using stunning location footage, archival film of the excavations, interviews, animation, three foot high marionettes and extraordinary artifacts, A GIFT FROM THE PAST explores how a fifteenth-century village became a prize of immeasurable worth to Indians and non-Indians. For the first time on videotape, the Makah tell a story of what the Ozette discoveries mean to them, and how the possessions of their ancestors and the oral traditions that is their history define who they are today. A GIFT FROM THE PAST is narrated by the Cherokee actor Wes Studi and was written with members of the Makah Indian Nation. The film has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Rockefeller Foundation. It is a superb portrait of contemporary American Indian life which documents the rich heritage of America's indigenous people. VHS ($59.95) and 3/4 inch ($99.95) copies of A GIFT FROM THE PAST are available to museums, schools, libraries, and other organizations as well as to individuals. Call 1-800-775-FILM(3456), or send a check or purchase order to MEDIA RESOURCE ASSOCIATE, 3615 WISCONSIN AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON DC 20016. INDIAN AMERICA: A GIFT FROM THE PAST will be aired on PBS on Wednesday, October 19, 1994 10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). Your advice on the best way to post this, and on which networks will be most appreciated. If it is just as easy for you to forward it to the appropriate places be my guest, otherwise let me know which networks might be interested and i will send it myself. I shall email separately on your comments about educational materials. Mark Warhus markw@csd4.csd.uwm.edu --------- "RE: No Clemency for Leonard Peltier (fwd)" --------- Date: Mon, 18 Jul 1994 09:02:07 EST From: mail2.lmi.org!gwelker Subj: No Clemency for Leonard Peltier (fwd) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) It seems that all the e-mail messages, protest marches, etc. are starting to get on someone's nerves. I am referring to the half page ad that appeared in the Washington Post on Fri., July 15, 1994 on page A4. Below is a short excerpt from it and I recommend anyone involved in helping him to read the entire article. I won't include the entire article, because it would cause a flame war on the Native Network. Here are the last 2 paragraphs of it: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: LEONARD PELTIER MURDERED TWO FBI AGENTS HE DESERVES NO CLEMENCY. "Mr. President, it's time for Leonard Peltier to pay up. Our judicial system is overwhelmed, overworked and has spoken in this case, again and again. It's time to move on. Leonard Peltier is a vicious, violent and cowardly criminal who hides behind legitimate Native American issues. Leonard Peltier was never a leader in the Native American community. Peltier is simply a vicious thug and murderer with no respect or regard for human life, especially when law enforcement officers are involved. Our citizens, on and off the reservations, must be protected from predators such as Peltier. Our laws must be respected and obeyed or the penalty must be paid. The punishment must also fit the crime -- and it does here. "Mr. President, since Leonard Peltier couldn't fool the federal courts, he is now trying to fool you and the public. He is shading and hiding the facts -- and playing on sympathy. Don't let him get away with it, Mr. President. Sympathy is appropriate only for the dead heroes and their surviving families. Don't let their sacrifice be forgotten". The author doesn't sign his name, but considering the source, it is evident that certain people don't want clemency to happen. I won't express how angry I felt when I read this article, because these are the facts as seen through their eyes, not what I've seen. Please read the ad and you be the judge. Here is where you can write if you would like to express your opinion: The Federal Bureau Of Investigation Agents Association P.O. Box 250 New Rochelle, NY 10801 The Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation P.O. Box 1027 Quantico VA 22134 --------- "RE: Indian Roots Grow Deep" --------- Date: Thu, 14 Jul 1994 05:21:00 PDT From: hkoehler@web.UUCP Subj: Adopted Mohawk Finds Birth Parents Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) INDIAN ROOTS GROW DEEP Jul 14, 1994 by Dave Morrison Sago! And hello from Rochester, New York. My name is Dave Morrison and I'm a Six Nations Mohawk. I was born and raised in the Rochester area and while it may not be readily apparent, I consider myself to be a Native Canadian. More on that at a later time. I was born in 1954 to a single Mohawk woman who had travelled to Rochester from the Six Nations reserve in search of a job. She was from a large family and when she found that she was pregnant, she didn't wish to be a burden to her mother. As difficult as it was, she decided to place her first-born child up for adoption with a sincere desire for a better life for the child. It would be a decision proven correct many years later. The second adopted of two boys to a white hard-working middle-class couple, we lived in the city of Rochester for a few weeks and then joined the legion of the those seeking the sanctity of the suburbs. The surroundings were typically suburban; three-bedroom ranch, dog, station wagon, large yard and a yearly vacation to a cottage on the Rideau River. It was a very secure family and although discipline was never withheld when needed, there was a lot of love. Both of us boys knew we were adopted and I was told that MY birth mother was a Canadian Indian and that her last name was Hill. That was the only information my parents were given by the adoption agency. My life-long affinity with Canada started early; somehow a part of me was 'from' Canada. Later I would find that I was more 'Canadian' than anybody knew. Looking back, my suburban childhood was cushy and insular... not exactly coddled, but definitely naive in the ways of ethnic and cultural differences. Out of 580 members of my graduating high school class, there were three African-Americans, a few Asians and one North American Indian who couldn't (wouldn't?) decide if he was or wasn't an Indian. How could I? Minorities weren't 'in' then and how would I 'prove' I was an Indian? Despite feelings of definitely being different, the embarrassment was kept to myself. All adoptees think about the circumstances surrounding their adoption at some time... how could you NOT think about it when the creepy kid comes out with, "Your REAL mother didn't even want you". The worst scars are often caused by words. My mother would explain that I was wanted and loved more than I'd ever know, but even so... WHY was I given up? This would be a question which would need an answer someday, somehow and somewhere. The U.S. in the late Sixties was in social turmoil and it probably was a tough time to be teaching a 14-year-old that the police are our friends while he watched live TV showing 'our friends' pummelling and gassing demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic Convention. It was the time of 'self-actualization' when we were repeatedly told, above all else, 'Be Yourself'. Today, I may owe some gratitude to these people for asking those 'idiotic' questions like, 'Who am I?'. That was tough in that my dirty little adoption secret was a source of embarrassment and with my darker skin, it was a quite a stretch to pretend to be the Scotsman or Dutch- English that my adoptive parents were. The whole issue would be deftly sidestepped. Naturally, repression and denial aren't the healthiest of reactions for a kid to carry around during his formative years. Neither are inferiority, insecurity and doubt. My parents tried their best... really... but as any parent will tell you, 'they don't come with instructions'. At thirteen, I found there WAS something I could do better than almost anyone else... consume alcohol. Finally! An avocation at which excelling only meant not getting sick or laughing at those who did. This was to be a source of pointless pride throughout high school and college and followed its natural progression until 1980. Out of work, out of hope, and rapidly running out of life, I finally got the help for a problem which had been denied for so long. Thirteen years later, the sobriety is still intact for this day only. After mending the body, I decided it was about time to do something about finding my identity. What WAS my identity? Needing to find out more about my Indian heritage with a renewed determination, I began to deal with a legal system which treated me as if I was legally swapped chattel. The sealed adoption records were about ME and MY birth-mother and regardless of what the State law dictated, I should be entitled to the same knowledge that the rest of the non-adopted world took for granted. It would only be possible to find my birth-mother (and my heritage) by this means. What followed was ten years of legal bantering, red tape, dealing with two federal governments, a state and a provincial government, local courts, smug office workers, more 'you can't's' than 'you can's', and enough 'I-don't-know's' to fill a file cabinet. Finally, determination at its maximum and throwing caution to the wind, I spoke with an attorney and quietly stated he WOULD get the name of my birth-mother from the adoption records to DIAND in Ottawa for a determination of status. Lawyers seem to be able to work miracles for the right price and a steady stream of inquiring phone calls. The Family Court judge agreed to release the name of my birth mother to DIAND for C-31 purposes on the provision that I was not informed of her name. DIAND agreed and within weeks, I called and was told, 'You ARE banded as an Upper Mohawk of the Six Nations Reserve'. My amazed disbelief was beyond description... I had BEEN to the Six Nations reserve with my ex-wife on several occasions on our bi-monthly exploration of the province of Ontario which lasted five years (yes, I'm FAIRLY familiar with the southern part of the province). I made a beeline to Ohsweken within two days and spoke with ANYBODY in the Administration Building who could suggest how my birth- mother could be found. Was she still alive? Did she live on the reserve? How should this be handled? Would I be a disruptive secret from the past? Would this be an embarrassment? What if she married and her husband didn't know about me? How do I go about finding an Indian woman with MAYBE a last name of Hill and 56 to 58 years old? The odds were not encouraging, but after ten years of what I'd just been through, it was WAY too close to be giving up. After meeting with a social worker from the reserve, it was suggested that a personals classified be submitted in the reserve paper, The Tekawennake. This was done reluctantly because even above MY desires, I wanted to make sure anonymity of my birth- mother was respected and protected. The social worker pointed out that if she didn't want to respond, she wouldn't; at least give her the opportunity to meet me if indeed she was alive AND living on Six Nations. The classified had a brief, non-identifying description of my birthday, place of birth, adoption agency, my surname at birth (as far as I knew) and stated that I wanted to express thanks and appreciation for what must have been a difficult decision for a 20 year-old. Then I waited. At the end of the first week, there had been no response sent back to the Teka and I started to believe this REALLY may be the end of the line. The ad ran another week with the understanding that if there were no responses, I'd have to be content knowing I'd at least found my reserve and was a Status Mohawk. That by itself was no small accomplishment considering the odds to get to THAT point. Ten days after the ad first appeared, a call came from the social worker telling me there had been a response. Her voice was shrill from excitement and she said she knew the family and the woman who was purportedly my birth-mother. Excited? Yes, but my expectations had been raised and dashed so many times by then that I thought, "Well, maybe it IS and maybe it ISN'T. This may be a person who's clutching at straws and I just happen to be a close enough description." I was somewhat dubious and who wouldn't be after 37 years? I was told I had three brothers and four sisters; one of my brothers had died. I hadn't even met the family and already a sense of loss. Coming from a very small family and being the youngest, to being the oldest of seven siblings was more than a shock... it was something I hadn't even thought about. Nothing she said to me on the phone for three of four sentences was heard. I was to call this particular number at 6:30pm that night. I waited. 6:25, 6:26, 6:27. Finally, after grabbing the phone and dialling, a voice answered and I asked to speak with her. Then a 'Hello?' and a, 'Hi, my name's Dave Morrison and I think I may be your son.' 'I think you're my son, too.' We spoke for a short while and thought it would be a good idea if we could meet. Driving to Six Nations by that point was almost a weekly thing (some 230 miles), so I said it'd be no problem for me to meet her at her house. We agreed upon the following weekend. I can't remember a lot of the following week. What went through my mind was a variety of doubt, anxiety, relief, fear, contentment, anticipation and awe. You need to remember I'd never had any contact with Indians before and here I am going to a house on a reserve in Canada to meet my birth-mother for the first time in 37 years. Nervous? Well, maybe just a LITTLE. Driving to Six Nations that Saturday I was strangely NOT nervous. Finding the house, I drove in the driveway and immediately saw a guy with a pony-tail to his butt. 'Ah, that must be one of my brothers', and sure enough it was. 'G'won in the house, they're waiting for you'. I went in and saw a lady in her 30's with eyes wet with tears who said, 'Hi, I'm your sister.' I looked up and saw a woman in her 50's (also with tears) come toward me. When my eyes met her's, my search officially came to an end. There was no doubt; this WAS my mother. We hugged and said, 'It's been a long time' and then proceeded to cry almost as if it were a movie script. I could have been in Oz, the whole thing didn't seem real. Meeting my other brother and my four sisters and their families (TEN nieces and nephews), we sat around the kitchen table with people looking at me to see who I looked like from the family. I was introduced to my Indian Dad (my Mom's husband) who said, 'My home is your home. You don't ever need an invitation to come home.' More tears. What followed must have been orchestrated prior to my arrival. I noticed people on the phone and within 30 minutes, the driveway was packed with cars and the house was crammed with, 'I'm your aunt, I'm your cousin, he's your uncle, you look like one of your uncles, you look like one of your cousins, I'm your sister; what's my name?' Stunned and overwhelmed. There were many, many trips back 'home' in the following weeks. It was a rebirth of sorts but fate was to intervene again. My adoptive parents had been supportive of my search and encouraged me even when the legal systems had been stacked against me. My 'mother-over-here' was in failing health due to the debilitating effects of diabetes. Six weeks after finding my family, my adopted mother died. I'll always remember the contented smile she had when seeing pictures of my Indian family the day I met all of them. My father asked that my birth-mother and my Indian dad be invited to the memorial service, which they attended along with my Indian aunt. My two families met for the first time at the service. I had found a mother and I had lost a mother. My pony-tailed brother was in a great deal of pain from accidents which had severely damaged his leg and he was permanently disabled. He had a gentleness which belied his gruff exterior (my little brother is the same) and I was anxious to get to know both of my 'little' brothers. Actually, both of them could toss their big brother around like a snowflake, but I knew they wouldn't. Three weeks after my mother had died, I got a call from the rez; my oldest little brother was hemorrhaging and in a coma. I went to the hospital and saw him connected to the machines. My family was there and I was told it was just a matter of time. As he faded, we gathered around the bed... touching and holding his hands as if to help him get ready for the trip he was about to take. Finally, he left and a mother and father said good-bye to a second son. My mother had found a son and had lost a son. My only little brother left is special to me; not because he's had to endure the loss of two of his brothers, or because he's my only Indian brother remaining. He's special because he and I grew up in different worlds, and I need him to teach me the things HIS older brothers taught him. In return, we'll find the things that I can share with him from what I've learned from my world. My four sisters are amazing. They've captured the strength and determination that Indian women are known for, from my mother. It's been a great experience witnessing a matriarchal culture in action and as in many other things, there's a lot the non-Indian world can learn from our families. Tough yet gentle. My Indian Dad is a survivor. A survivor of raising seven children while moving from one coast of the United States to the other in search of work. He insisted that his family be with him; not an easy undertaking. He survived the 'Mush Hole' (Indian residential school); he survived the U.S. Army and he's a survivor in cancer. He has a youth to his spirit which always brings a smile to me. We both love to laugh because there's already enough to be down about without dwelling on it. Take care of business, but above all, enjoy life and living. There was another little brother who died in 1977 in a car accident. He'll never be forgotten because I 'feel' he and I were somewhat alike. There's a sense of being cheated from not knowing him, but in a way, his spirit remains alive through the rest of my family. I feel like the eldest brother who left for a number of years and then returned home. My relationship with my Indian family is one of great joy and love. I know I'm one of the most fortunate of our Creator's children in that I was accepted and welcomed to a beautiful family. There are other similar situations where the 'return' of the long lost child has NOT been a glad time. Today at 39 I'm an Indian child, having never been exposed to Indian culture. Until last year, I'd never even been to a pow wow. I'm a Database Administrator at a large company in Rochester which employs some 38,000 people. There's a Native American Council (an employee network) with some 15 Indians; you might say there's a VERY small minority of Native Americans working here. Every time I go back to the rez, I learn something more about the Indian ways from my nieces, nephews and my family. I study my heritage and attend socials, meetings and pow wows. I'm learning and will probably never stop learning. There is much I could teach about computers and the ways of the corporate world, but all that can be learned in a university. Learning how to live as an Indian cannot be gleaned from a book. The mysterious feelings and unique view of the world makes sense to me now after all these years. There appear to be certain behavioural traits in me which make me wonder if it's the Indian in me (even though I was never raised among Indians). Is it possible there's REALLY a special spiritual core in all our people? I'm finding out there IS. The first half of my life was as a white man by chance; the second half will be an Indian by choice. - 30 - Dave Morrison is a Mohawk from Rochester. 2850 words When you run the story we would appreciate it if you would please mention the author and please credit Native News Network of Canada in your by-line. Dave Morrison can be reached at 61 Macintosh Road, ONTARIO NY 14519 U.S.A. (716)724-2672 Native News Network of Canada (A newswire service) c/o The University of Western Ontario Social Science Centre, Room 3427 LONDON ON N6A 5C2 Voice messages: (519)661-2111 Ext 5083 Harold P. Koehler, Secretary Treasurer 43 Napoleon Drive LONDON ON N5V 4A8 Voice: (519)453-5452, Fax 453-3676 e-mail: hkoehler@web.apc.org modem: by arrangement and rendezvous. --------- "RE: Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Jul 1994 12:42:00 -0500 From: ase.com!lee.francis (Lee Francis) Subj: Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Hello... My name is Lee Francis (Laguna) and I am National Director of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers. We publish the MOCCASIN TELEGRAPH (usually monthly) and work with beginning, emerging, and established Native writers. Wordcraft Circle National Caucus (Board of Directors) is composed of 16 members (8 female 8 male) as follows: D. L (Don) Birchfield (Choctaw), Vee F. Browne (Navajo), Joseph Bruchac III (Abenaki), Kimberly Calvillo (Zapotec/Waco), E. K. (Kim) Caldwell (Tsalagi/Creek/Shawnee), Robert J. Conley (U.K.B. Cherokee), Christopher Fleet (Akwesasne Mohawk), Lee Francis (Laguna), Patricia Penn Hilden (Nez Perce/Osage), Clara Sue Kidwell (Choctaw/Chippewa), Paulette F. Molin (White Earth Chippewa), Pahdopony (Comanche), Bill Penn (Nez Perce/Osage), Laura Tohe (Navajo), Eddie Webb (Tsalagi), and Craig Womack (Creek/Cherokee). Wordcraft Circle was "founded" in 1992 as an "outgrowth" of the Returning The Gift Festival held at the University of Oklahoma - Norman at which there were over 400 Native writers from all across Turtle Island. Initially, Wordcraft Circle was organized to link established/published Native writers with beginning/emerging Native writers in a one-year mentor relationship. During the year the Native Mentor would work with the Native beginning/emerging writer one-on-one offering a critique of the writing(s) and "advice" on publishing etc. In 1993 (November) Wordcraft Circle incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in Virginia and our 501-c-3 application is currently "Pending" with IRS..... Effective August 1994, Wordcraft Circle is expanding it's "services" by adding three additional CORE activities. In addition to the Mentoring Core, we now have the Community Core (which focuses on the writing workshops/conferences held throughout Turtle Island (in 1993 we held 4 -- New York city, Oklahoma city, Newport Oregon, and Lansing Michigan) with 16 scheduled to be held in 1994/1995. If you know of anyone interested in becoming involved in our vision [[ "to ensure that the voices of Native writers and storytellers --past, present and future-- are heard throughout the world"]], please ask them to contact me. Thank you. Lee Francis, Ph.D (Laguna) National Director Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers 2951 Ellenwood Drive Fairfax, VA 22031-2038 VOICE/FAX: (703) 280-1028 e-mail: lee.francis@ase.com AOL: DRFRANCIS P.S. I would like to include as many email addresses for Wordcraft Circle participants to contact.... Native folks/resources.... if they are interested....