Native American Village @ Blogspot

Should American Indians and Alaska Natives buy their own health insurance?

2010-04-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Should Indian Country opt out, considering the failure of the Indian health system to bring to the res decent health care, and begin to choose their own health plans? There's a strong argument for doing so.
Read the AlterNet blog here.

Lessons at Navajo hospital about humane births

2010-03-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

This article, from the NY Times earlier this week, is inspirational and should signal a turnaround in the assembly-line and callous way women are treated at this crucial juncture in their, their children's, and all of our society's lives. Would it be too much to hope that the Tuba City model be studied and replicated throughout the country?
Read here.

Is the future of Indian education now at stake?

2010-02-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

With the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, the retirement of his son, Patrick, and Hawaiian Rep. Abercrombie leaving his seat to run for governor, actual and potential booster of appropriations for Native Americans, especially in the field of education, seem in peril. Rob Capriccioso's account for Indian Country Today is comprehensive if not daunting.
Read it here.

Upcoming Scholarship Deadline: Native Chemistry Students

2010-02-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students who are high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors are among those who can now apply for a scholarship from the American Chemical Society Scholars Program. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2010, for the 2010-2011 school year.

Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

For more details, see The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program accepting applications for minority students studying chemistry.

Adventures in Multicultural Living: Last chance to see the 'Native American Dioramas in Transition' exhibit at Univ of Michigan museum - AnnArbor.com

2009-12-29T14:38:00.000-08:00

From IMDiversity.com Asian American Village Editor Frances Kai-Hwa Wang:

You don't have to spend more than a few minutes hanging around the Native American Dioramas in Transition Exhibit at the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum to see several children run up excitedly, thump up onto the ledge in their big snow boots, and squeal, “Ewwww, they’re naked! Why are they naked?”

A tired parent struggles to explain—or not—leaving the children to figure it out for themselves - “They must be really poor,” “They must not know any better,” or “That’s their culture.” There are no Native American doctors, lawyers, professors, engineers, architects, librarians, activists, or astronauts depicted.

It is not difficult to understand the hurt these diaramas must have caused Native American children seeing the exhibits with their classmates during the fourth grade Native American social studies unit, or how easily misperceptions and stereotypes are perpetuated.

I can feel it, too. Imagine if it was you and your family depicted there - tiny, naked, nerdy, weird, frozen in time. And all your friends and random strangers, looming giants overhead, pointing and laughing from on high about all the things that set you apart as different. (click on link for more)

Last chance to see the 'Native American Dioramas in Transition' exhibit at University of Michigan museum - AnnArbor.com

Adventures in Multicultural Living: Creating our own multicultural Thanksgiving traditions - AnnArbor.com

2009-11-29T05:07:00.000-08:00

From IMDiversity.com Asian American Village editor Frances Kai-Hwa Wang. Some interesting conversation in the comments about the ethics of celebrating Thanksgiving once you know the true history about Thanksgiving, with links to the National Day of Mourning and more...

My neighbor Lisa always celebrated two Thanksgivings while growing up in Ohio, a tradition she and her siblings continue every year. First, they have a traditional “American Thanksgiving” on Thanksgiving Day with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Then, on Friday, they have “Lebanese Thanksgiving” with hummus, kibbe, fattoush, grape leaves, hashwe rice pilaf, and meat and spinach pies. That makes for a lot of cooking and a lot of food, but with five six siblings and a ton of cousins, nobody misses a beat.

At Thanksgiving time, many families are caught wondering how to celebrate this quintessential American holiday — a holiday that is as much about the food as it is about family and giving thanks. Family is easy, everyone has family, as is the idea of giving thanks — especially for families that may have come to America because of war, oppression, poverty or lack of opportunity. However, celebrating a tradition that is not your own is more complicated than it looks.(click on link for more)

Creating our own multicultural Thanksgiving traditions - AnnArbor.com

Some truths to ponder this thanksgiving season

2009-11-26T12:22:00.000-08:00

From Organic Consumer's Association

75% of the World's Food

Seventy-five percent of the food and fiber we grow today was discovered and cultivated by the native farmers and hunter-gatherers of North, Central and South America.

These indigenous varieties include corn, beans, peanuts, cotton, potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, avocados, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, squashes, black walnuts, pecans, chocolate, tobacco, rubber, sunflowers, and medicinal herbs and plants. Today, every one of these varieties are threatened by Monsanto, Big Pharma, and industrial agriculture, among others, who are privatizing and patenting seeds and the gene pool, eroding biodiversity, degrading the soil and water, contaminating the food chain, and destabilizing the climate.

A CULTIVATED EDEN DESCRIBED AS A WILDERNESS

What European colonists mistakenly described as wilderness was actually a human-created and nurtured landscape, providing food, medicinal herbs, bountiful wildlife, healthy, living soil, and clean water.

Native Americans "managed" the environment "organically," producing and/or maintaining for themselves and the future generations native animals, birds, fish, berries, nuts, greens, fruits, bulbs, corn, mushrooms, roots, basketry and cordage materials, firewood, hunting and building materials, herbal medicines, and plants for ceremonial use.

Many "wild" or commercial plants or varieties that exist today are in fact derived from ancient Native American seed saving and cross-breeding that produced better-tasting, climate adapted, and nutritional varieties.

The popular belief that pre-Columbian America was a "pristine wilderness" is false. This destructive myth is based upon essentially racist stereotypes that reduce the highly successful plant and animal husbandry of Native American rural societies to the instinctual behavior of wildlife or "noble savages."

Native American elders remember better times. "The white man ruined this country," said Southern Sierra Miwok elder Jim Rust. "It's turned back to wilderness. In the old days there used to be lots more game: deer, quail, gray squirrels and rabbits."

There are no "spontaneous Edens" on planet Earth. The New World Gardens of Eden spread across the Americas and the Caribbean, mindlessly exploited by the European conquerors, were the product of the wisdom, hard work, and perseverance of millions of Native Americans, caring for what they believed was a "sacred Earth" and an interconnected web of life that included all living things. In a similar manner, we must understand today that there will be no spontaneous organic or green revival, nor magical climate re-stabilization. An organic and healthy life for the present and future generations will require the dedicated work and perseverance of millions. In the near future we will either stop the deadly assaults on our biodiversity, our food chain, our health, and our climate, or else the biological carrying capacity of the Earth will collapse, along with "modern civilization" as we know it.

A WEALTH OF BIODIVERSITY, STILL PRESERVED TODAY

Millions of indigenous people continue to farm and raise animals the ancient way, the organic way.

4,200 Years of Farming on the Colorado Plateau

On the Colorado Plateau farming has been an unbroken cultural tradition for at least 4200 years. The Navajo, Zuni, Apache, Hopi, Paiute and Tewa have cultivated the most diverse annual crop assemblage in the New World north of the Tropic of Cancer.

The Wayana's Cultivated Eden

The farming system of the Wayana society of French Guyana is based on diverse and flexible cultivation, with characteristically high biodiversity. Organic agriculture and permaculture form a rich, biologically complex system of food production, complimented by wildcrafting, fishing, and hunting. In Wayana, there is no artificial separation between cultivated and wild areas, which is the basis for what we call permaculture.

The Milpa System and 20,000 Varieties of Corn

Few regions in the world have an organic farming system as sustainable and productive as the traditional milpa or "three sisters" organic corn fields of Mexico and Central America. The Mayan milpa tradition is the planting of heirloom varieties of corn in mounds or raised beds, intercropped with biologically complimentary species such as beans and squash, fertilized through natural processes, weeded, harvested and hulled by hand and tended individually. The ancient milpa tradition, in fact, has produced traditional varieties that are healthier and more pest-resistant than modern chemical and water-intensive hybrid and GMO varieties. There are over 20,000 varieties of corn in Mexico and Central America. In southern and central Mexico approximately 5,000 varieties have been identified. In one village in Oaxaca, researchers have identified 17 different micro-environments where 26 varieties of corn are growing. Each variety has been cultivated to adapt to elevation levels, soil acidity, sun exposure, soil type, and rainfall. Unfortunately Monsanto's genetically engineered corn - forced on Mexico by the Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations - has begun to contaminate traditional Mexican corn varieties, while industry and consumer-induced global warming has spawned drought, pestilence, flooding, and killer hurricanes.

Andean Terraced Potatoes, With Thousands of Varieties

In the Andean region of South America, generations of farmers have domesticated thousands of potato varieties. Today, farmers cultivate up to 50 varieties on their farms. In the biodiversity reserve of the Chiloé archipelago in Chile, local people cultivate about 200 varieties of native potato. They use farming practices transmitted orally by generations of mainly women farmers. A long list of cultural and agriculture treasures from the Inca civilization has been carefully preserved and improved over centuries to guarantee living conditions over 4000 meters above sea level. Although grassroots opposition has stopped Monsanto's attempted invasion on the Andes and other regions of the Americas with its genetically engineered potatoes, constant vigilance and struggle will be required.

One of the most important and sustainable features of Andean agriculture is the terracing system used to capture water and prevent soil erosion. Terraces allow cultivation on steep slops and in different altitudes. From a range of 2800 to 4500 meters, three main agricultural systems can be found: maize is cultivated in the lower areas, potato mainly at medium altitudes. Above 4,000 meters the areas are mostly used as rangeland, but can still be cultivated with high altitude varieties as well. In the high plateau, around Lake Titicaca, farmers dig trenches (called "sukakollos") around their fields. These trenches are filled with water, which is warmed by sunlight. When temperatures drop at night, the water gives off warm steam that serves as frost protection for several varieties of potato and other native crops, such as quinoa.

Learn more about indigenous peoples in the Americas and their contribution to sustainable agriculture here!

Can we turn this daunting news linking Alzheimer's disease with obesity and diabetes into a wake-up call?

2009-10-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Indian Country Today once again comes up with cutting edge news about the Native American community that can't be ignored, relating the obesity and diabetes that have already been undermining Native Americans' health and advancement with increasing rates of Alzheimer's disease. To date, the association of Alzheimer's with obesity and diabetes in Native Americans has been empirical, but the Banner Alzheimer's Foundation in Pheonix and other organizations have pledged to further studies investigating the link and what can be done to stem the growing tide.

Sucker Creek First Nation-- Grand Chief Cardinal Gathers Support in Europe

2009-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

October 5th, 2009
 Jaret Cardinal, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 Alberta and Chief of Sucker Creek First Nation is working in Europe to build strong international relationships when it comes to Climate Change discussions and implementation of the Treaties signed between the Queen of England and First Nations in Canada.
Before leaving for Europe, Cardinal attended the National Treaties "Honoring Our Ancestors" Gathering held at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta,
"The numbered treaties are international treaties signed with the Queen of England and a key outcome from this meeting was our need to begin building relationships at the international level," said Cardinal.
This is precisely what Grand Chief Cardinal is doing in Europe. On September 29 he attended the Annual Energy Roundtable Conference in London, England where he met national and corporate leaders from across Europe and Canada to discuss building a transatlantic energy partnership.
Discussions on industry consolidation, supply, regulation and investment issues in infrastructure and new energy technologies took place. Organized by the Canada-Europe Roundtable for Business (CERT), the conference was co-hosted by the Canadian High Commission.
"As First Nations, we are at a critical time in the continued development of conventional and renewable energy in Canada. These developments need to be done in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way that is acceptable to First Nations people."
On Monday, September 28, Grand Chief Cardinal met with the High Commissioner to discuss the critical issues facing Treaty 8 First Nations; the impact Climate Change is having on our traditional ways of live and to discuss how First Nations can be involved in the UN Climate Change Convention in Copenhagen.
"I sat with the Elders, before leaving for this trip; it is their messages I am bringing forward. We, as First Nations leaders, must listen to what our Elders have been saying. I have travel to England because this is who we need to talk with when it comes to implementing our Treaty. We signed the Treaty with the Queen."
Cardinal will be in Europe until October 9, meeting with many government and industry officials.  "It is my hope that through these meetings the international community will begin to understand the role England and Her Majesty plays when our Treaties are discussed and people will begin to see we want our voices heard when the international community talks about climate change".
 
For more information, please contact:  Grand Chief Jaret Cardinal  (780) 523-7973 (Cell)  (780) 523-4426 (Sucker Creek Office)  (780) 444-9366 (Treaty 8 Office)  chiefjaret@suckercreekfirstnation.ca - E-mail  www.suckercreekfirstnation.ca - SCFN Website

Johnny Whitehorse rides again

2009-09-04T03:42:00.000-07:00

Hey music fans! Robert Mirabal's "other," mystical persona--also Grammy winning--is out with a new CD. Here's a rundown from his label, Silver Wave Records

Things to Do in Denver When You Need Job Search Help

2009-08-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Denver Indian Center Native Workforce Program has published its schedule of Career Development classes for the fall at http://www.denverindiancenter.org/node/804.

With a well-coordinated series of sessions focusing on different aspects of the search, application and interview process, this valuable service appears to be time well spent if you're looking for employment. Check for changes at the link above before contacting them, but so far their two classes or "clubs" are scheduled as follows:

Career Development and Exploration

Class Schedules:

Job Club 1
September 15, 2009, Tuesday 9 am pm to 12 pm Introductions/Overview
September 16, 2009, Wednesday 9 am to 12 pm, Job Search Class
September 17, 2009, Thursday 9 am to 12 pm, Job Search Class

Job Club 2
September 22, 2009, Tuesday 9 am to 12 pm, Application Workshop
September 23, 2009, Wednesday 9 am to 12 pm, Resumes
September 24, 2009, Thursday 9 am to 12 pm, Interview

Job Club 1
October 12, 2009, Tuesday 9 am pm to 12 pm Introductions/Overview
October 13, 2009, Wednesday 9 am to 12 pm, Job Search Class
October 14, 2009, Thursday

Job Club 2
October 20, 2009, Tuesday 9 am to 12 pm, Application Workshop
October 21, 2009, Wednesday 9 am to 12 pm, Resumes
October 22, 2009, Thursday 9 am to 12 pm, Interview

Attend the One Stop Career Centers for Resume, Interview, and Customer Service Workshops. Schedules can be downloaded from each County’s Workforce websites.

* Incentives for Job Search needs may be issued for scheduling a class with your local One-Stop for additional Job Search classes.
* Incentives may also be issued for attending Job Fairs and other networking opportunities.
* Incentives are issued for completing both weeks without absences.

Please contact :
Lynda Teller Pete, Workforce Specialist
303 936-2688 ext. 25

Artist, thinker, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux man becomes, at 45, Dartmouth's oldest freshman

2009-08-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Good, inspiring piece from, as usual, Indian Country Today.

The Navajo go way green

2009-08-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

Living on Earth independent media project reports on how the Navajo are looking for alternatives to mining on their reservation as well as minimizing dependence on fossil fuels. The Navajo Nation Council has approved green jobs legislation that will support economic growth and renewable energy based on traditional methods.
Download or read the transcript of the program.

You go, Episcopalians!

2009-07-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Indian Country Today reports that, thanks to a little help from their friends at ICT, the Episcopal House of Bishops unanimously passed a resolution called "Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery," renouncing the European settlement of the New World and its subsequent devastation of its land and peoples in the name of the Christian god. The document also urges the U.S. to endorse the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and encourages Episcopalian churches to support all indigenous peoples in their struggle for sovereignty and pursual of fundamental human rights.
The story here

Expanded Job Board, Streamlined Tools at IMDiversity.com

2009-06-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Following IMDiversity's recent migration to a new jobs database and job tools format at http://jobsearch.imdiversity.com, the editors have begun to restore a number of previously popular jobs quicksearch features including our jobs by location and jobs by occupation quicksearches, our $100K-Plus Featured Jobs section, and our weekly Featured Jobs section.

Just one one new improvement to our job tools is that jobseekers can now quickly and easily schedule a Saved Search from any search results page to send them a job alert email whenever any new jobs match their custom criteria. Jobseekers can "subscribe" to a Saved Search agent without opening a full job tools account, but they will enjoy improved tools for managing multiple alerts and posting employer-searchable resume by creating a quick Job Tools account first

We've also added a much expanded network job search, greatly extending the range and variety of the job postings searchable from one site.

Stop back for updates about the new jobs center in coming weeks.

Guidelines, applications for tax-exempt bonds now available

2009-06-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

Filing deadline, 15 August.
Read the story in Indian Country Today

Journalist Webinar Briefing: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

2009-06-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

The Media Consortium, the Insight Center

MC Contact: Tracy Van Slyke
tracy@themediaconsortium.com

America's most glaring economic injustice is the racial wealth gap: families of color have only 15 cents of wealth to the white family's dollar. The racial wealth gap has been caused by government policies from the expropriation of Indian lands and slavery, to many aspects of the New Deal like the GI bill and Social Security, to current policies like the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction and unregulated housing and financial markets. The Oakland-based Insight Center's Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Initiative has over 120 experts of color across the country who are resources to journalists and elected officials on federal, state and local economic stories and policies.

On Tuesday, June 16, this call will feature story ideas and investigative journalism proposals from:

Michael E. Roberts, President, First Nations Development Institute, on Closing the Racial Wealth Gap in Indian country

Avis A. Jones-DeWeever, Ph.D., Director, National Council of Negro Women, Research, Public Policy, and Information Center, on her new report Assessing the Double Burden: Examining Racial and Gender Disparities in Mortgage Lending, co-released with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Janis Bowdler, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, National Council of La Raza on the housing crisis and Latinos

Short presentations will be followed by Q&A.

To access ECON, the Experts of Color Network, visit www.expertsofcolor.org. For narratives on the racial wealth gap and proposals to close it, visit www.racialweathgap.org. For more information on The Media Consortium, visit www.themediaconsortium.org.

WHAT: Journalist Webinar Briefing: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
WHEN: 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. EST, Tuesday, June 16 (40 minutes)
WHO: Insight Center Closing The Racial Wealth Gap Initiative and The Media Consortium

To RSVP: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/854239593.
Please RSVP by Monday, June 15 at 3 EST.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

About The Media Consortium
The Media Consortium, a network of the country’s leading, independent media outlets has formed to amplify our voices; increase our collective clout; leverage our current audience and reach out to new ones; transform our sector’s position in a rapidly changing media and political environment; and redefine ourselves and progressivism for a new century.

About NAM
New America Media is the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate for more than 2500 ethnic news organizations. Over 51 million ethnic adults connect to each other, to home countries and to America through 3000+ ethnic media, the fastest growing sector of American journalism. Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM is headquartered in California with offices in New York and Washington D.C. NAM also partners with journalism schools to grow local associations of ethnic media around the nation.

Visit NAM's homepage for news and updates on our programs here.

Featured Job: Associate Director Heart of American Indian Center (MO)

2009-06-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Recently posted on our new job bank:

The Heart of American Indian Center of Kansas City, Missouri, seeks applicants for an Associate Director to provide support to the Acting Executive Director and serve the will of the Board of Directors. The Associate Director will perform administrative duties and will over see; operational, fiscal, personnel and program functions of the Heart of American Indian Center. This Position requires the ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound independent judgment and take initiative. Inquiries will be accepted until position is filled.

Read the full posting and apply here:
Featured Job: Associate Director Heart of American Indian Center (MO)

Navajo Fashion Show at Trickster Gallery, IL

2009-05-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

June 13th, 2009 Schaumburg, IL-The American Indian Center of Chicago s Trickster Gallery is excited to announce its very first Navajo Fashion Show. Up-and-coming Navajo designer, LeAnn Ward, along with her mother Lillian Bancroft from Arizona, will showcase their one-of-a-kind traditional and contemporary designs on the runway. Their beautiful fashions will be modeled by young Native American girls and boys, ages newborn to teens, from the Chicago area. This event is the first of its kind in Chicago.

I started sewing in mid-2007, but before that I always used to design my own clothing in high school and have my mom sew them for me. I knew that I always wanted to carry on the tradition of sewing, and once I became a mother, it was my calling to start, says designer LeAnn Ward. My mother Lillian Bancroft has been sewing since junior high. To this day she sews for her mother, my Grandma Nez Bancroft, whose naturally woven rug will be in the show as well. My Grandma is a rug weaver and pottery maker who speaks only Navajo.

The public is welcome to attend at 190 South Roselle Road in Schaumburg, IL. There you can enjoy music performed by the current Miss Indian Chicago 2009, Arissa Yolanda St. Germaine, as well as 2008 s Miss Indian Chicago, Jasmine Alfonso. On hand will be local Native arts and crafts vendors, with traditional Native American food being served.

Designs by LeAnn Ward have previously been exhibited as part of the Native American Women s Artists Guild and Spirited Daughters, which are both Chicago area organizations featuring Native American female artists. This is her and her mother s first show, and will represent three generations, as LeAnn s daughters will be modeling during the show. The designs will be on display in the gallery through the end of August and available for purchase.

In addition to the Navajo Fashion Show, Trickster Gallery will be opening two new exhibits June 13: The Office of Indian Education s 2008 student competition exhibit Circle of Empowerment: Education, Language, Culture, Tradition and its first multicultural show by 2009 graduates of the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

For additional information on the Navajo Fashion Show and other events, contact LeAnn or Monica, or visit www.myspace.com/trickstergallery.

Trickster Gallery opened its doors in 2005, as an extension of the American Indian Center of Chicago s arts programming. The American Indian Center is the oldest urban Indian Center in the country, serving the Chicago area for almost 56 years. The gallery features contemporary art from Native artists from all over the country, and has featured award-winning Native performers. The gallery regularly conducts school and group tours, has film screenings every Friday, and Native American book club bi-monthly. Events include cultural workshops, powwows, concerts, Native arts market, book signings, artist talks, demonstrations and more.

Are Native Americans finally making inroads into journalism?

2009-05-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

With cautious optimism, we can digest a recent India Country Today article that points to a slight rise in the pitifully low numbers of Indian journalists, and think that maybe the tide against the white male press establishment is beginning to change. Asians and Latinos have also gained in numbers, but the number of African American journalists has declined.
Here's the article.

Deadline: HBS Summer Venture in Management Program 2009

2009-04-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

Release from Harvard Business School:

The Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) is a week of Harvard Business School instruction that exposes high-potential college students in the summer between their junior and senior year to the HBS MBA experience and the variety of opportunities a degree in management can afford. Participants from diverse backgrounds spend the week on campus living the MBA student experience - attending classes, analyzing case studies, and debating management issues with peers and faculty. This unique educational experience, in combination with a summer internship at a sponsoring company or organization, gives participants a broader understanding of the challenges business leaders face, the innumerable opportunities that exist in management, and the impact they can have on their community and the world through leadership.

In order to attend, a completed application is due by May 11, 2009. Click here for particulars on the application process.

For more information about this program, please visit the SVMP Website.

Best regards,
MBA Admissions
Harvard Business School

More on imperiled Native languages

2009-04-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

From the Seattle Times
This on a last-ditch gathering of Salish speakers from the Pacific Northwest.

Merrie Monarch Festival Winners for 2009 (w/ clip)

2009-04-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Posted by our sister site, IMDiversity Asian-American Village:

The results of the 46th Merrie Monarch Festival, held in Hilo, Hawai'i last week. The new overall winners were Ke Kai O Kahiki, and the Miss Aloha Hula 2009 honor goes to Cherissa Henoheanapuaikawaokele Kane.

The Merrie Monarch Festival was founded for "the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. The festival is considered the world's premier forum for people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula."

To learn more, see: http://www.merriemonarchfestival.org

The fate of imperiled Native languages

2009-04-20T07:50:00.001-07:00

For many indigenous people world-wide, language is an endangered species, and when language dies, so, too, in many ways, does a people. I've seen it in more veiled, deceptive circumstances in the non-indigenous world, such as in Italy where the replacing of perfectly useful Italian words by English is a signpost for the Americanization of the whole society. The disappearance of Native American languages, though, is even more portentous, as it signals the absorption of a people into the culture that historically would rather have been rid of them completely.
Kara Brigg's article in India Today is both a perceptive analysis and a call to action.

Should Columbus Day be shunned?

2009-04-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

The recent decision by Brown University to rename Columbus Day "Fall Weekend," and to rededicate the day to educating people about Columbus' legacy as a conquistador and the true history of Native American peoples has caused much controversy around town.
The article I've linked to, thanks much to Patty Talahongva's headsup, talks to the precarious position of the prestigious university, which, having taken the decision, finds itself in the midst of the debate between activist students and Italian-American supporters of Columbus.

Revitalizing Native Languages Campaign

2009-03-19T13:00:00.001-07:00

After weeks of intensive advocacy by Cultural Survival, tribal leaders, the National Alliance to Save Native Languages, and leading Native American policy groups, the United States Congress has appropriated an additional $1.5 million over the enacted 2008 budget (which was $2 million) for the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act. This means that there is $3.5 million in the 2009 budget for Native American language restoration, programs, or schools, in addition to the funds that the Administration for Native Americans makes available out of its overall budget for language revitalization. Cultural Survival and the National Alliance to Save Native Languages also pushed for $5 million in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funding in the federal economic stimulus package for "shovel ready" projects at Native language immersion schools desperately in need of repairs and renovations. The BIA's Office of Economic Development Workforce Construction Training Programs will be funded at $6 million, according to the best current estimates available from NCAI, but it is still unclear how much of this allocation will support local renovation projects at immersion schools. The National Alliance continues to monitor local language school construction projects. Read the Alliance's congressional testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs summarizing immersion school facilities needs.

Scholarship Deadline March 1: Chemistry Majors

2009-02-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

For full description, see the complete release published on our sister-site, THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online: ACS Scholars Program Accepting Applications for Minority Students Studying Chemistry.

Notes from Antigua, Guatemala

2009-02-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

I’m in Guatemala for a week, visiting a friend, staying mostly in Antigua, a jewel of colonial grace and comfort. Antigua is arguably the most prosperous of Guatemala’s cities. It is top-heavy with ladinos (Guatemalans—and other Central Americans--of Spanish or mixed European and Amerindian descent) and foreigners, come either to study Spanish or to stay as pensioners or workers in the many NGOs trying to make life bearable for the country’s overflow of orphans, war-wounded, battered women, and more.
Indigenous Maya weave through the town, come down from the nearby hilltowns, most of them women in multi-hued traditional dress. The cloth for their magnificent ancestral traje--a cotton poncho-like huipil, sometimes elaborated with embroidery, worn over a corte, or woven panel that gets wrapped in layers around the waist and secured under a yards-long cloth sash—is becoming harder to come by as the weaving is so labor intensive. Much of the tela found now is computer woven in Indonesia and recognizably inferior. They used to sell trajes on the streets and in the parques, but now most of the wares are smaller woven tourist items and trinkets.
Other indigenous women walk the streets or settle onto the narrow sidewalk, selling tamales or dulces (sweets) to native Guatemalans from checkered cloth lined baskets.
Antigua is an anomaly, its Western face and well-being contrasting unsettlingly with the grime the pollution and grinding poverty of neighboring Guatemala City and the insularity and, again, extreme poverty of the highlands.
I’d recently posted an AP story about the growing indigenous presence in the U.S. Mexican, Guatemalan, Ecuadorian and other Latin American indigenous have been arriving to work the fields in increased numbers. For the first time, we have to recognize folks from “Latin” America who have never learned Spanish nor adopted European ways of dress, food, and social structure. Some withstood the pressure to embrace Christianity, or have done so only half-heartedly.
These new indigenous arrivals may look like our accepted image of a Latino and bear a Hispanic surname (many do not), but their ethos is not Latin. Moreover they may have almost nothing in common with Native Americans, already having a hard time with inclusionism—is an Alaska Native or a Native Hawaiian an American Indian?—yet they are being tossed in together with all of North America’s First Peoples. Some day these new indigenous will compete with Hopi and Oglala and other “card carrying” indigenous groups for the benefits (or the crumbs) they’d fought so long to win.
When I sit in the parque central or go to the market, especially when I go out of town, I can’t help but wonder how difficult the decision must be to face the perils of coming north, and I imagine, despite their clear marginalization in their own land (a civil war that was essentially one of genocide endured from 1960 to 1996), how much more poignant and scary it becomes once they exchange their traje for farmworkers’ overalls and aprons.

Jodi Archambault Gillette (Standing Rock Sioux) gets key Obama post

2009-02-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

She'll be overseeing Indian and tribal affairs. Gillette is the third Native American to be named to a top administration post. Indian Country Today reports that a fourth nomination is expected.
Read the article.

Carrie Billy, AIHEC president, shares her views on tribal colleges

2009-01-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to better times with the new president and congress, Billy says she'll push for the expansion of renewal energy practices and programs on campus and for establishing more tribal colleges while enhancing those already existing.
Find the interview here.

Grassroots Indian groups push to be included in Obama's renewable energy efforts

2009-01-05T07:01:00.000-08:00

American Indian groups are pressing for inclusion in the implementation of President-elect Obama's new, greener energy policies. About 250 grassroots tribal organizations are represented in a statement sent to the incoming administration, requesting that "old energy," such as coal, oil and nuclear be phased out in favor of renewable technologies and conservation.
From Indian Country Today

Job Hunting? A career change may be in order

2008-12-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

With unemployment figures skyrocketing and businesses biting the dust, the picture painted is of a long-term crisis and much hardship if not anxiety for many of us. The promise of at least a partial recovery with the incoming administration notwithstanding, there are even today bright patches in the darkened sky.

A closely watched media reveals that optimism, as reports emerge on careers and industries where jobs are largely available or even go begging. Securing them will likely require a change of career, maybe even some training, but there is no question that, yes indeed, there are growth industries today.

We've posted on our career page a helpful article published last week in the Wall Street Journal. And I recommend that you find WNYC's Brian Lehrer show of the 23rd, Dec., or the podcast (Where the Jobs Are).

One of Brian's guests, Dennis Demp, author of Health Care Job Explosion, reports informatively and optimistically on those specific industries that can't help but grow. Health care, insurance and working for the feds (especially in the areas of IT, public health, the census) are examples that he expands on. Demp also gives us the useful website: Federaljobs.net.

Check it out. Happy hunting! And may 2009 be brighter for us all.

Salazar at the Interior

2008-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

Indian Country Today reports that Ken Salazar, Barack Obama's Latino pick to head the Departmet of the Interior, has been, will be, friendly to Native Americans.
Read it here.

Ending the Silence

2008-12-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

Amnesty International's YouTube video of an Alaska Native woman's experience as a rape victim is straightforward, sobering and powerful.

A day of thanksgiving?

2008-11-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

Though I’ve been holding down the fort (so to speak) of the Native American Village while we reorganize, I’m not of American Indian blood or culture. At the same time, for many years, probably since my college days, I’ve refused to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, creating for myself the illusion perhaps of solidarity with Native Americans. Yearly, I make a big deal over my boycott, protesting that we’ve made a charade and a big lie of the true history of our relations with the people whose land and lives the colonists stole as they usurped east and marauded west. To me, expressing thanks on that post-harvest day for the whole host of things—the bountiful meal, familial ties, material goods, good health—oftentimes a mere litany instead of conscious stock-taking, makes that much more glaring, by its omission, the shameful episode of our history that continues in its present-day guise of the mythologizing, patronizing, and neglect of native peoples. But mine is one wet blanket opinion, that of an admitted outsider with fears, even, of being patronizing herself.
Seeking authenticity, I wrote to the Native American Village’s new contributor, Patty Talahongva—about whom we’re just tickled! (see her first article for us)--and asked what Thanksgiving Day means to her. Here’s some of what she said:

"I'm amused at this time of year because it's when American Indians become 'popular' and 'visible' -it's like non-Indians are given some sort of special permission to consider American Indians. We are taken out of the box and dusted off, given some scant attention before we are put back in the box and stored away for another year. We aren't even special enough to warrant a china cabinet for special storage...just a box. (And of course we don't have a federal holiday either.)…
…do I celebrate Thanksgiving? Yes, but not for the origins of the holiday and not to 'commemorate the first Thanksgiving' but just the overall thankfulness of life's blessings, which for Hopi is everyday. We thank our Creator for waking us up to another day of light and life and ask that we make the most of it and not squander our day/life. So every day truly is Thanksgiving Day. Do I like the turkey, the stuffing, and the pumpkin pie- you bet!"

Here are a couple of links I’ve pointedly selected, perhaps to check out while digesting that turkey that missed the pardon. Food for thought, shall we say?
Native Americans Will Mourn Thanksgiving
Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States

May your day be peaceful and augur prosperity for us all.

Corporate Glass Ceiling for Women and Minorities is yet to be Shattered

2008-11-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

It's same old, same old, says SocialFunds.com as they report on findings by the Calvert Group, a social investment fund, that found little advancement of women and minorities in corporate executive positions. Equally problematical, a second report finds, is that the corporate world is lax--perhaps better said, uncooperative--in disclosing Equal Opportunity information regarding diversity in their workplaces. You'd think they had something to hide, eh?
A possible remedy? Shareholder resolutions forcing the brass to get with it. Here's a perfect pitch for "spreading the wealth," no?

Indian country support aided Obama

2008-11-07T04:02:00.000-08:00

Rob Cappriccioso reports for Indian Country Today that, in the final days of the campaign, John McCain's support among a host of traditionally Republican Indian leaders practically vanished, making way for a rush of support for Barack Obama amongst their constituents.

Check out these new board games for Native kids

2008-10-14T02:38:00.000-07:00

REZ GOT GAME

Family, friends, home, school, community or church center, these games breathe positivity.

http://rezgotgame.com/

From Indian Country Today

2008-10-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Pre-emptive strike

Tribal historic preservation officers lay out priorities for new administration

By Rob Capriccioso

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/enews/alerts/30284139.html

Help Revitalize Native American Languages

2008-09-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sign the Petition:

Your help is urgently needed to save and revitalize Native American languages. Among the more than 300 original languages once spoken in the U.S. only 155-175 are spoken today. Scholars estimate that only 20 of these remaining indigenous languages are being widely transmitted to today's Native children. Fully 70 languages could vanish within the next 10 years without immediate and significant funding for tribal language programs.

More here

Native Hawaiian Self-Determination Included in Platform Adopted by Dems

2008-08-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the Denver convention saw a step forward for the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, or so-called Akaka bill.

The Democratic Party determined to include its support for Native Hawaiian self-determination and sovereignty in its platform formally adopted during the convention.

Barack Obama himself, who was raised in Hawai'i, had already expressed his support in january and promised to sign the bill that would allow Native Hawaiians to negotiate over control of land and assets.

John McCain, who had served as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has said he opposes the bill.

Colleen Hanabusa, a member of the Hawaii Delegation at the convention, praised the decision. The fact that you have Native Hawaiians recognized alongside Native Americans is really a major statement," she said in a report on KHON News.

For a concise background account of the bill, its status in the election season, and the two candidates' positions, see the Honolulu Advertiser's report.

There is hope for the world!

2008-08-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

From the Guardian:

Paraguay: Former slave gets cabinet position

Margarita Mbywangi, a tribal chief who'd been captured and sold into slavery, has become the first indigenous person to oversee ethnic Indian affairs in Paraguay. She'll serve under newly-elected progressive president, Fernando Lugo.

Here:

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

2008-08-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

9 August

By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided to celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. In 2004 the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade by resolution 59/174. The goal of this Decade is to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

In April 2000, the Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000. The mandate of the Permanent Forum is to discuss indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, the environment, health and human rights.

The Case for Diane Benson, first Native American women to run for Congress

2008-08-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Nation magazine editor, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, blogs her strong support for Diane Benson, waging a tough fight to unseat Repbulican representative Don Young for Alaska's at large Congressional seat, despite the fact the Young faces criminal allegations for bribery and extortion. But first Benson must defeat a Democratic challenger in the primary on August 26, Ethan Berkowitz. Berkowitz has got the Democratic establishment on his side. But Benson, who grew up poor, even destitute, has grass roots and progressive support.

Tough self love or self hate?

2008-07-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Writing for Indian Country Today, Charles E. Trimble (Oglala Lakota) is challenging Indian country to adapt on the reservations Bill Cosby's tough, self-policing script for what Trimble cites are a litany of ills--"gangs, drugs, epidemic alcoholism, violence and crime"-- remedied only by the most stringent self-cure.

It's a provocative piece, making a heavy indictment and throwing down a challenge that's sure to make many downright mad, a la Cosby's reception by segments of the black community for his tough talk.

Read it and respond. Let us know what you think!

Paula Gunn Allen: "A woman of great words"

2008-06-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

MariJo Moore writes in Indian Country Today of the passing last month of Native literary lioness, Paula Gunn Allen. Gunn Allen was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2004. In this insightful life's review, the author links Gunn Allen's womanist writings to the history of her people, the Cherokees, and their pre-Columbian tradition of strong, powerful women.

Tribal Scholarships--Hurry! Deadline's Near

2008-05-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Indian Country Today for this list which we’ve lifted from their on-line article of the 7th, May.

The following scholarships are available for the 2008 - 09 school year. Applications are due May 31. For more details about all scholarships, visit www.collegefund.org.

Tribal college students

" The Cartwright Scholarship Program - for men based on financial need. Recipients receive $2,000 and are required to mentor other male students in their community by encouraging them to attend college.

" The Citi Foundation Scholarship Program - $4,000 scholarship to tribal college students in South Dakota.

" The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship - $5,000 for tuition, fees and unmet need for a student's first year in college. Students maintaining a 3.0 grade point average with strong participation in campus and community life can continue the scholarship throughout their academic career at a tribal college.

" The Ford Motor Co. Tribal College Scholarship - need-based scholarships for up to $5,000 to students majoring in math, science, engineering, business, teacher training or environmental science at a tribal college.

" The General Mills Foundation - need-based scholarships of $2,000 to outstanding tribal college students currently enrolled in Minnesota and New Mexico.

" The Lilly Foundation - one $8,000 Distinguished Scholar Award to a graduating valedictorian or salutatorian of their 2008 high school class, and one $8,000 Keepers of the Next Generation Award to a single-parent student demonstrating exceptional academic achievement.

" The Morgan Stanley Tribal Scholars Program - $2,500 annually to outstanding tribal college students currently enrolled with an interest in business and financial services.

" The Nissan North America Inc. Scholarship - $3,000 annually to outstanding tribal college students.

" The Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund Endowment - a permanent endowment supported by American Indian Nations and American Indian-owned businesses. The American Indian College Fund awards $2,000 scholarships to tribal college students.

" The Time Warner Scholarship - $2,500 to outstanding tribal college students.

" The Winners for Life Foundation - $2,000 to young tribal college students based on academic achievement and unmet need.

Mainstream institution students

" Morgan Stanley Scholarships - up to $10,000 for outstanding students who have an interest in the business and financial services industry and attend a mainstream four-year institution.

" The Ford Motor Co. Scholarship - need-based scholarships of up to $10,000 for deserving students at mainstream four-year institutions who are majoring in accounting, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering, finance, information systems, marketing or operations management.

" The Nissan North America Inc. Scholarship - $5,000 to selected students attending a mainstream four-year institution.

" The Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund Endowment - a permanent endowment supported by American Indian nations and American Indian-owned businesses.

Graduate students

" The Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund - $2,000 scholarships to students pursing a graduate-level degree.

" The Vine Deloria Jr. Memorial Scholarship - for graduate students.

Is Evo Morales the Depak Chopra of the Global Indigenous?

2008-04-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Following is a digest of Bolivian President Evo Morales' speech at the UN, on April 21. In it, he offers 10 recommendations on "how to live well" in the face of "unbridled" development and the devastation of the environment. His suggestions are true to indigenous understanding and respect for Mother Earth. The digest was prepared by the UN's Department of Public Information and, from what I can gather after hearing snippets of the speech itself, is somewhat watered down. At the same time, the UN folks did not excise Morales' warning that the way to change is through "social movements, such as the indigenous people’s movement, which would not fall silent until it had brought about change."

EVO MORALES AYMA, President of Bolivia, said the Forum was to be viewed as a model for “living together” and was an extension of the decades-long struggle of indigenous peoples for equality and justice. It was also appropriate that the Forum focus on climate change and the role of indigenous peoples in tackling that problem, since indigenous peoples were human beings with the same rights and responsibilities as anyone else.

He noted that the indigenous movement had successfully organized itself to defend access to land and basic services, in the face of attacks and threats of extermination. That fight should continue for as long as needed. In the meantime, the Forum, along with similar bodies, could put forward alternative economic models to ensure the survival of indigenous peoples as they continued their quest.

In the context of finding solutions to environmental issues, including climate change, he said indigenous peoples had the moral authority to participate in those discussions, having lived closely with Mother Earth and defended it for ages. Indigenous peoples in Bolivia had “achieved the Presidency”, enabling it to proceed in the fight for justice and equality. It now fell to gatherings of indigenous peoples, such as the Forum, to work with other world leaders to encourage them to play their part.

He said indigenous peoples wanted to express “how to live well” within their vision of Mother Earth, which was the source of life. Living well was not possible under the current capitalist system, which sought to turn Mother Earth into a capitalist good. The conclusion had been reached in many circles that the authorities of many places were to be blamed for encouraging climactic factors that caused harm to peoples, which had brought floods and global warming. A conversation must be held with other communities on establishing a new model for living. World leaders must encourage more contact with indigenous peoples.

He offered a series of “ten commandments” that he thought should underpin the new model, beginning with the first: a call to end the capitalist system. The capitalist system was inhuman and encouraged unbridled economic development. The exploitation of human beings and pillaging of natural resources must end, as should wars aimed at securing access to those resources. Also, the world should end the plundering of fossil fuels; excessive consumption of goods; the accumulation of waste; as well as the egoism, regionalism and thirst for earning where the pursuit of luxury was taking place at the expense of human beings. Countries of the south were heaped with external debt, when it was the ecological debt that needed paying.

Second, the world should denounce war, which brought advantage to a small few, he said. In that vein, it was time to end occupation under the pretext of “combating drugs”, such as in South America, as well as other pretexts such as searching for weapons of mass destruction. Money earmarked for war should be channeled to make reparations for damage caused to the Earth.

Third, there should be a world without imperialism, he said, where no country was dependent upon or subordinate to another. States must look for complementarity rather than engage in unfair competition with each other. Member States of the United Nations should consider the asymmetry that exists among nations and seek a way to lessen deep economic differences. Moving along those lines, he said the Security Council -- with its lifelong members holding veto rights -- should be democratized.

Fourth, he said access to water should be treated as a human right, and policies allowing the privatization of water should be banned. Indigenous peoples had a long experience of mobilizing themselves to uphold the right to water. He proposed that they put forth the idea of forming an international convention on water to guarantee it as a human right and to protect against its appropriation by a select few.

Fifth, he said the world should promote clean and eco-friendly energies, as well as end the wasteful use of energy. He said it was understood that fossil fuels were nearing depletion, yet those who promoted biofuels in their place were making “a serious mistake”. It was not right to set aside land not for the benefit of human beings, but so that a small few could operate luxurious vehicles. It was also because of biofuels that the price of rice and bread has risen; and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were now warning that such policies must be prevented. The world should explore more sustainable forms of alternative energy, such as geothermal, solar, wind and hydro-electric power.

Sixth, he said there should be more respect for Mother Earth, and the indigenous movement must bring its influence to bear in fostering that attitude. The world must stop thinking of Mother Earth in the capitalist sense -- which was that of a raw material to be traded. For who could privatize or hire out his mother?

Seventh, he stressed the importance of gaining access to basic services for all. Services such as education and transport should not be the preserve of private trade.

Eighth, he urged the consumption of only what was necessary and what was produced locally. There was a need to end consumerism, waste and luxury. It was an irony that millions of dollars were being spent to combat obesity in one half of the globe, while the other was dying of hunger. He said the impending food crisis would necessarily bring an end to the free market, where countries suffering hunger were being made to export their food. There was a similar case with oil, where the priority lay in selling it abroad, rather than domestically.

Ninth, he said it was important to promote unity and diversity of economies, and that the indigenous movement should put forth a call for unity and diversity in the spirit of multilateralism.

Tenth, the world should live under the tenet of “trying to live well”, he said, but not at the expense of others.

He said the best way forward lay in social movements, such as the indigenous people’s movement, which would not fall silent until it had brought about change. He ended by greeting fellow South Americans in the room, acknowledging their role in the fight. In Bolivia, the provisions of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples had been made into law, and he expressed hoped that other countries would do the same. He welcomed the attention, good or bad, he was receiving as a member of that movement, saying that perhaps it would lead to ideological clarity.

See a report of Morales' visit on the Native American Village home page.

Campus Lockdown: Women of Color Negotiating the Academic Industrial Complex

2008-03-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

DATE: Saturday, March 15, 2008
TIME: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Michigan Union, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
For more information & to register online: http://www.woclockdown.org/

Campus Lockdown: Women of Color Negotiating the Academic Industrial ComplexCampus Lockdown is organized by undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Michigan. Its aim is to promote dialogue on the politics of women of color scholarship in a post-Proposal 2 (anti-Affirmative Action) environment. Women scholars of color from universities across the country will participate in critical discussions of a host of issues relating to politics, pedagogy, and campus climate for women devoted to pubic scholarship. The conference is intended as an organized community forum space and all attendees are encouraged to contribute to the day's ongoing conversations.

Statement of University of Michigan students and faculty in support of UM Native American Studies Director Andrea Smith's tenure case. | Action alert.

Speakers:
Piya Chatterjee, University of California, Riverside
Angela Davis, University of California, Santa Cruz (via teleconference)
Rosa Linda Fregoso, University of Southern California
Ruthie Gilmore, University of Southern California
Fred Moten, Duke University
Clarissa Rojas, San Francisco State University
Haunani-Kay Trask, University of Hawai'I

CO-SPONSORS: University of Michigan Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program, Center for the Education of Women, Department of History of Art, Department of Women’s Studies, Division of Student Affairs, Michigan Student Assembly, Museum Studies Program, Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Students of Color of Rackham Native Caucus, William Monroe Trotter Multicultural Center, Women of Color in the Academy Project

Film Explores WWII Internment on Colorado River Indian Reservation

2008-02-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Cross-posted from our sister site, Asian American Village:

Following up on the Annual Day of Remembrance -- marking FDR's signing of Executive Order 9066 -- we feature a contribution by filmmaker Joe Fox, whose new film Passing Poston: An American Story, debuts in New York City tonight.

The filmmaker and writer discusses the inspiration behind the new film about Poston concentration camp, and about the film's exploration of connections between the Japanese Americans who labored there and the Colorado River Indian tribe, whose desert reservation served as its host.

As Fox states, "A filmmaker is nothing more than a storyteller. And one really searches high and low for those amazing stories to tell."

He and partner James Nubile have found an amazing story indeed. Learn more at http://www.passingposton.com/.

Johnny Whitehorse Wins 2008 Grammy for Best Native American Music Album

2008-02-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

A nice note sent over from Silver Wave Records about the Grammy Awards:

Silver Wave Records is pleased and excited to announce that "Totemic
Flute Chants" by Johnny Whitehorse (aka Robert Mirabal) is
the winner of the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album.

Mirabal and co-producer Larry Mitchell were honored with the prestigious
award on Sunday, February 10 in Los Angeles.

Thank you to all the fans, voters, retailers, distributors, radio, and
media people who have supported Johnny Whitehorse and Robert Mirabal. We
sincerely appreciate you.

For more about Robert Mirabal, see/hear the VoA report from last fall, "Musician Robert Mirabal Draws Inspiration from Land," on the Native American Village.

What Do American Indian and Alaskan Native College Students Want in a Career?

2008-02-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

What Do American Indian and Alaskan Native College Students Want in a Career?:

2007 Diversity Employers survey finds flexibility, opportunities to serve, higher priority than just making money

By the IMDiversity Career Center Staff

A follow-up to last year's Diversity Employers survey finds flexibility, opportunities to serve, remain highest priorities for Native college students and MBAs, when compared with surveyed groups of other backgrounds. However, it also shows shifts within the Native student population from last year, and sees increasing common ground being built among Natives, African Americans, and Pacific Islanders, South Asian Indian Americans, and Latinos in particular.

Just for one thing, Healthcare has dropped fairly significantly as a top ideal industry since last year, while interestingly, Non-Profit work has risen. Also of interest is how the most common definitions of "diversity" have changed since last year's survey, among Natives and all ethnic groups.

Some survey highlights posted on the Village were extracted from a larger, illustrated report, the Top 100 IDEAL Employers - Diversity Edition 2007, presented by Universum and our sister publication from IMDiversity, THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.

We give our light take on it in the article on NAV, but are also really, really interested to hear how you might interpret the findings. We hope you'll leave us a comment letting us know your thoughts on what this comparative survey might say about our work values, commonalities and differences, not just between ethnic groups, but also possibly genders, tribes and generations.

Chippewa Designer Builds Vet Memorial in MT

2008-02-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

We know, it's been a while since posting. We've been pretty hopping with other areas of the site, in particular reworking some parts of the IMDiversity job bank portion, which is getting some enhanced search features this season.

Meanwhile, we wanted to pass on this word sent in from a visitor, a Chippewa Indian who has designed and built "one of Montana's finest Veteran Memorials". Located at the Kiwanis Park in Dillon, Montana, the Beaverhead County Veterans Memorial allows people to purchase inexpensive bricks with three lines of text (14 spaces) or even some more complex graphics commemorating friends and loved ones who served and died in America's wars.

The Progress section of the site shows a photo essay of the memorial's construction, and a few sample bricks provide ideas for possible layouts. To apply for a brick, you have to download a form in Adobe PDF format from the site.

Designer Ron Lake writes that "What I'm trying to get is at least one brick from every state to go into the www.beaverhead.com/veterans memorial."

"Any Veterans or Guard can get a brick," Lake says, but he suggests that the memorials can also be non-specific, such as:

Thanks Vets!
The Boys at
_________

Well, we were happy to help him spread the word, and encourage visitors to view the site and the tasteful memorial design, and consider adding a brick of your own. Gift certificates are also available and can help complete the work.

For more information, contact Ron Lake (406)683-1269.

Head on Down to Thunder in the Desert 2008 - Tucson

2007-12-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

It's big, it's massive, it's HUGE...it's Thunder in the Desert - 2008, aka the First Peoples' World Fair & Powwow, running in Tucson from Dec. 28-Jan. 6.

With a kind assist from Wordswork Consulting, we got wind of what promises to be a terrific bash of the kind that only comes every four years. The event, sponsored/promoted by Reservation Creations Women's Circle Charitable Trust and usaindianinfo.org, will celebrate "10,000 years of culture, 150 tribal nations" at Rillito Raceway in Tucson, AZ.

For more detail about the event as well as images by Nancy Smith - Jones, see http://www.usaindianinfo.org/.

Featured Opportunity: Benefit Plan Advisor Michigan Tribal Government Retirement System

2007-11-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Calling attention to a new recent opporutnity posted on the Career Center of interest to Michigan readers:

The Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan in Lansing has posted an opening for a Benefit Plan Advisor responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the marketing plan, focusing on Tribal Government Retirement System (TGRS) members and potential members, and on 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations. This position will assist in the oversight of all aspects of the TGRS and ERISA plans, including receiving requests for new plans and providing on-going service to existing plans.

Some of the baseline qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, marketing or management related course of study
• Three to five year’s of experience in administration, marketing or management, or of progressively more responsible experience
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

For more details, see the posting at the link above. For more opportunities, not all Native-specific, see Featured Jobs at IMDiversity or do a custom search.

Find: Alaska Native Heritage Month Projects

2007-11-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

According to the U.S.Census Bureau, "American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month originated in 1915 when the president of the Congress of American Indian Associations issued a proclamation declaring the second Saturday in May of each year as American Indian Day. The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994."

Still, you can be hard put to find much in the way of widespread programming commemorating Native American / Alaskan Native Heritage Month in general. But the TV documentaries, film festivals, local events, and so forth that really focus on folks up in 49th state? Particularly slim pickins, yes?

One good starting point we stumbled across is Alaska Native Heritage Month, which provides a list of events programming in the state ranbging from plays to films to museum exhibitions and talks.

Another project in progress is a blog put together by a student crew at the University of Alaska in Anchorage that "seeks to highlight resources and research related to Alaska's indigenous people and their history." Although its tendrils focusing on specific aspects of community life (seperate blogs dedicated to business, culture, housing, and women) are still sparsely posted, they say they'll be updating this month, and the main nav is a good launching point into an extensive network of UA- and community-based bibliographic and other websites including the UA-Fairbanks Alaska Native Knowledge Network.

Happen to be in (or planning to be in) Anchorage? The Alaska Native Heritage Center has published a number of events for its Winter/Spring running right up through April.

Happen to not be in Alaska? You can still reach out and hear some news, views and tunes on KBC - the Koahnic Broadcast Corporation - a nonprofit, Alaska Native governed and operated media center located in Anchorage, Alaska.

You know of other good sites? Let us know.

Enjoy.

[Jobs in Alaska from IMDiversity Career Center]

American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month 2007

2007-11-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

This from the U.S. Census Bureau, whose Facts for Features series always gives some good statistical fun at the launch of the country's various commemorative heritage months:

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. Red
Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting
endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American Indians.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution
designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994. This Facts for Features
presents data for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as this is one of the six
major race categories....

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2007
Facts and stats from the Census Bureau

National American Indian Heritage Month, 2007
Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

9th Annual NAMMY Nominees Announced

2007-08-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS & ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE NOMINEES FOR NINTH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

BRULE’ LEADS WITH FIVE, JANA, JIM BOYD BAND, SHELLY MORNINGSONG WITH FOUR NOMINATIONS EACH

TO BE HELD SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2007 AT SENECA NIAGARA CASINO & HOTEL IN NIAGARA FALLS NEW YORK

New York, NY (August 6, 2007) - Nominations for the Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards were announced today by The Native American Music Awards & Association (N.A.M.A). Due to a record number of recording submissions received in the past year, the Awards have expanded both its number of categories and nominees; from 26 to 30 music categories and from five to six nominees in each category. This year, 180 nominees are featured throughout the 30 music Award categories.

Topping this year’s nominations are; Brule’ and AIRO featuring Paul LaRoche (Lakota) with five nominations for Kinship and Silent Star Night; Jim Boyd Band (Colville) for Live At Two Rivers, Jana (Lumbee) for An American Indian Story, and new artist Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne) for Out of the Ashes all with four nods each. Arigon Starr, JSK, Pipestone, Susan Aglukark, Tamara Podemski and Arvel Bird have three each, and Brian Hammill, Corn-Bred, Donna Kay, Douglas Blue Feather, Evren Ozan, Exit Wound, Night Shield, Jamie Coon, Jan Michael Looking Wolf, John Two-Hawks and Bastiaan, Keith Secola & Karen Drift, Mary Youngblood, Michael Bucher, Michael Jacobs, Peter Buffett & Chief Hawk Pope, Radmilla Cody, Raven Hernandez, Robert Mirabal, Robert Tree Cody, Talibah Begay, Thoz Womenz, Tonemah, Wade Fernandez and Women of Wabano have earned two nominations each.

“This is an absolutely incredible assemblage of professional artists and talent that have exceeded our expectations for the year. They truly are the best of the best. These outstanding music initiatives are reflecting the tremendous growth and artistic expressions taking place within our genre and in our communities not only here in the United States but also from other parts of the world including; Canada, South America and Australia,” states Ellen Bello, Founder/CEO of the Native American Music Awards. “The Ninth Annual Awards show will be nothing less than a monumentally magnificent show.”

The Ninth Annual Native American Music Awards will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Seneca Niagara Casino Events Center in Niagara Falls, NY and will be broadcast on the new MHZ Networks in November 2007.

To see the complete list of nominees (and hear good clips from some) in zillions of categories, check out http://www.votenative.com/

Call for Nominations for NAMMYs

2007-05-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, seems a bit early, but this from a release sent in by Silver Wave:

The 2007 Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS) are now underway. Silver Wave artists have won a multitude of NAMMYS over the years and this year Shelley Morningsong and Mary Youngblood are entered in several categories. The public is invited to participate in the first round voting on line at http://www.votenative.com. We encourage you to support these Silver Wave artists and help make them winners at the exciting NAMMY Awards show in October.

Featured Jobs of the Month from IMDiversity Career Center

2007-04-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

A listing from our Featured Jobs of the Month from IMDiversity Career Center:

"Native American Village Contributors
IMDiversity.com Native American Village
Location Open"

Native American Village is inviting applications from talented, engaged people in all locations who might be interested in contributing to the Village. Having recently emphasized news and careers, the Multicultural Villages network has been quite a bit, and its staff and contributors diversifying. As a result, we hope to contact like-minded folk to help us both present a wider range of content and ideas, and continue in our effort to promote job recruitment for a more diverse workforce. We welcome both applications and any other input.

ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining

2007-04-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

According to the American Newspaper Editors Association 2007 survey on the representation of minorities in U.S. news media, the percentages of minority and women journalists working in America’s newsrooms both declined in the past year. According to ASNE, it is only the second time since the survey started in 1978 that the percentage of minorities has declined.

In a year marked by news organization layoffs that were headlines in themselves, ASNE’s annual “census” found that the percentage of minorities fell to 13.62 percent, down from 13.87 last year. The percentage of women also dropped from 37.70 to 37.56 percent.

The percentage of minorities in supervisory roles at daily newspapers dropped to 10.9 percent, equal to the percentage from two years ago. The downward trend holds true for student and entry-level employment as well. According to ASNE’s release, the percentage of minority interns stands at nearly 27 percent, “a number that has continued to fall as newspapers cut back” on internships.

The one silver lining in the report seemed to come from online media. ASNE’s census of daily newspapers for the first time counted full-time staffers who work entirely at online publishing activities by their companies. Among online media staffs, the percentage of minorities on staff was an estimated 16 percent, which helped make the drop in overall employment numbers seem less severe than they might have been.

See a fuller report at IMDiversity, ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining, or view detailed data tables from the census at the ASNE website.

From Reznet: Moving Images from a Spring Break on the Gulf

2007-04-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year across the country that "boys and girls go WILD," as the screaming video boxes and late-night direct response ads put it, descending on tropical cities en masse for spring break. But in recent years, some young people have undertaken to put their spring break energies towards something other than drinking and carrying on, through alternative spring breaks providing assistance to the rebuilding of the Gulf region.

Just one such young person was Sarah Welliver, Métis, a contributor to Reznet and a senior studying photojournalism at the University of Montana in Missoula. We wanted to call attention to her moving photo essay at Reznet, Rebuilding the Abandoned. It is based on her travels to volunteer in Mississippi, reminding us that while our company's hometown of New Orleans certainly faced its share of catastrophe during and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there remains enormous work to do throughout the impacted neighboring states that are sometimes left out of the public eye. Among the smaller communities devastated but little covered in the major news headlines was the area ofwith death comes life" and that such personal acts have the capacity to bring about positive change after the crisis is over.

Hats off to the young journalists at Reznet for their continuing coverage. And hats off, too, to the thousands of students of all backgrounds across the country who are bringing their volunteer energies to aid their southern neighbors this season.

Weekend Maintenance on IMDiversity

2007-03-31T03:57:00.000-07:00

http://asianamericanvillage.blogspot.com/2007/03/weekend-maintenance-on-imdiversity.html:
Our site servers will be undergoing maintenance this weekend, starting midnight Friday. During this period there may brief outages on our sites at IMDiversity.com and the Multicultural Villages, the IMDiversity Career Center and Job Bank, and THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online Job Bank. We apologize for any inconvenience to our visitors and thank you for your patience."

Seeking Native American Village Contributors

2007-03-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

From Featured Jobs of the Month from IMDiversity Career Center:

IMDiversity.com Native American Village seeks contributors to help update the Village and perhaps other site areas with fresh, relevant content from an in-community perspective. Location open. Click "Native American Village Contributors" for more.

Professional Women's Village @ Blogspot: Women's History Month 2007

2007-03-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

http://womensvillage.blogspot.com/2007/03/womens-history-month.html

Work, Leadership in Healthcare Not Just for Doctors & Nurses

2007-02-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

So, you want to be a doctor?

A little while ago, we reported the findings of a recent survey on the career preferences of diverse college students, conducted by Universum and reported in our sister publication, THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.

Among the interesting, but maybe not surprising findings: Asked to define the preferred industry suiting their career goals, American Indian/Alaska Native students were the only group whose majority preference lay in public service or educational sectors rather than in the financial or management arenas. -- even when factoring the MBAs. For the AI/AN group, the most desirable careers were in either the Government/Public service (23%) or Healthcare (23%) sectors. Tied for second place among their preferences were careers in Education/Teaching (15%) or Academic Research (15%).

In additional research we uncovered while redesigning our Healthcare Industry Career Channel, these interests marry well among those Native executives already entrenched in the industry. According to the American College of of Healthcare Executives, Native American healthcare executives overall are focused in small, government hospitals, and have the highest percentage working at public health agencies or military (non-hospital) services. Some 81 percent of Native American healthcare executives report working at a government-owned facility of some kind. They are also by far the most likely of all ethnic groups to work at smaller hospitals (median number of beds from 35 for women to 75 for men).

On the flip-side, they are also least likely to work at a freestanding hospital or as private consultants, where compensation is generally higher.

With healthcare among the fastest-growing industries in the country, certainly the opportunities for those who wish to help others in need are multiplying, and the needs of employers are swelling as well. Rural locations, in particular, face serious shortages of doctors, dentists, nurses and other professionals, including much of Indian Country.

At a time when funding for Indian health is rocky, finding dedicated healthcare professionals may become even more difficult and competitive than it already is.

But what our research reminds us is that not everyone is cut out to be doctor, and that those devoted to working in healthcare on principle have many and increasing paths, regardless of the school major or previous career paths. Technicians, IT, office management, billing and support staff and more are in increasing demand in this sector, and much of the growth centers on smaller, non-hospital entities such as home care services or nursing homes. In fact, in one of the Channel's recently published articles, Employment Outlook: Top Fields for Job Hunters by the CareerJournal, healthcare is listed as the top for 2007, but the focus is on nonclinical jobs.

We've expanded our Channel with additional information about some of the healthcare-related positions that don't require a specialized medical degree, and we'll keep adding to it with outlook and earnings reports, and more in future updates.

----

“I commend Senator Byron Dorgan, the new chairman of the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs, who is working on legislation to increase clinic hours and
doctor availability on reservations and encourage more low-cost health care for
American Indians and Alaska Natives. But the battle from last year is
still underway. When we win it, we will see the Indian health care system
brought into the 21st century to address matters at the heart of family and
community life: mental health, substance abuse, youth suicide, and the challenge
of attracting and retaining health care professionals of the first rank.”
- NCAI President Joe Garcia Delivers 5th Annual State of Indian Nations Address at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., January 25, 2007

Census, Tribes Get Going on 2010 Count

2007-02-05T19:34:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Census Bureau has begun to mail out advance informational booklets to all federally recognized tribal governments asking for assistance in providing updated addresses for their reservations and off-reservation trust lands.

This early, concerted effort is part of the Census Bureau’s plan to make the 2010 Census as accurate as possible, says the Bureau's release.

The Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota was one of only two sites nationwide selected by the Census Bureau to participate in a 2006 Census Test designed to improve counting methods for the 2010 Census. Additionally, the Census Bureau plans to conduct a series of American Indian and Alaska Native consultation meetings this year with federally recognized tribes across the country in preparation for the 2010 Census.

Learn more at the Census Bureau or check out our homepage.

Native American Village / IMDiversity Career Center Featured Opportunities

2007-01-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

Editors' Picks Featured this Weekend:

Multicultural UG Paid Internship Program - Museum and the Arts
The Getty Foundation - Los Angeles
In order to increase diversity in the professions related to museums and the visual arts, the Getty is offering summer internships at the Getty Center and Villa to undergraduates of culturally diverse backgrounds. Specifically invited are outstanding students who are members of groups currently underrepresented in museum professions and fields related to the visual arts and humanities: individuals of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander descent. Internships provide training and work experience in areas such as conservation, library collections, publications, museum education, curatorship, grants administration, public programs, site operations, and information technology.
Deadline: March 1, 2007

For additional opportunities related to the visual and digital arts, also see iDMAa Jobs: The International Digital Media & Arts Association, powered by IMDiversity through our Employment Opportunity Network.

January - Welcome Back, and...Apocalypto

2007-01-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

After some time off for family and travel, the editors wish everyone a happy, healthy and productive new year. We hope you had a chance to stop by over the holidays for some the features on the Village, where at least one of the more persistent stories was the buzz surrounding Mel Gibson's Apocalypto.

Sure, some viewers were pleased at least to see Maya represented on the silver screen, and often in-language -- nothing if not a rare movie-going experience.

For Gerardo Aldana of New America Media, though, one question about the film was simply, Where Was the Maya Civilization in Apocalypto?

In asking this question, Adana is inserting "Real" before "Maya Civilization". Although most viewers are doubtlessly not experts in background of this civilization, to many scholars familiar with the intricate, complex legacy of the Maya, "Mel Gibson's new film is an affront and embarrassment to that history," the article claims.

Writing for The Nation, Earl Shorris had stronger words regarding "Mad Mel and the Maya".

What do you think?

What Do Native American College Students Want in a Career?

2006-11-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

Comprehensive survey takes the pulse of American Indian and Alaskan Native undergrads and MBAs; finds that work/life balance, opportunities to provide service, and opportunities to both teach and extend their own education are higher priorities than just making money.

Further details about the comparative, multiethnic survey can be found this week at the Native American Village Online.

PWC Diversity Leadership Scholarship, Internship, Conference Deadline Dec. 31

2006-11-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

Financial services giant PriceWaterhouseCoopers has announced a December 31, 2006 deadline for applications to its annual PWC eXceed scholarships, a comprehensive program offering opportunities for Native American, African American, and Hispanic American college students to explore careers at PWC through internships and participation in an annual Diversity Business Leadership Conference, along with a $3,000 support stipend.

Applications are accepted from Freshmen or Sophomores with a 3.2 or higher GPA, and an interest in Accounting, Management Information Systems, and/or Computer Science.

Also of Interest: It's that season for students to apply for next year's internships. Most deadlines are coming up by early December. Visit IMDiversity's seasonal Internships & Co-ops special page with categorized internships listings.

Job Opps: American Indian Studies Faculty - Univ. N.Carolina

2006-11-10T01:12:00.000-08:00

The Univ. N. Carolina @ Pembroke in southeastern NC is looking to fill two full-time, tenure track positions after July 1, 2007 -- one Assistant Professor and one Associate.

The deadline is upcoming on November 15, but the posting specifies that applications may still be given consideration until the positions are filled. If interested, go copy the posting and apply now!

Description from the posting on IMDiversity.com's job bank:

One of the positions includes both administrative responsibilities as department chair and teaching responsibilities within the American Indian Studies program at upper and lower division levels. Minimum qualifications for both positions include a PhD by time of hire in American Indian Studies, Anthropology, History, Ethnohistory, Folklore or a related field. Applicants should have a strong commitment to teaching and research/scholarly activity as well as sound leadership and interpersonal skills. Applicants must be interested in and willing to work with local and state tribal communities. Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications. Please indicate position of interest in cover letter.
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke was established in 1887 as an institution for Native Americans. Since 1953, it has had a multi-racial student body and today, 25% of the student body is Native American. UNC Pembroke has the distinction of being one of the only two universities east of the Mississippi which offers a bachelor's degree in American Indian Studies.

The University is located right off of I-95, 90 minutes from Raleigh-Durham, and two hours from Charlotte, N.C.

It is hiring for a number of other positions as well.

Affirmative Action Ban Passes in Michigan

2006-11-09T23:38:00.000-08:00

Michigan vows to seek legal remedies; drop in Black, Latino and Native American enrollment expected to follow.

Report by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, IMDiversity Asian American Village Acting Editor, in Ann Arbor, and by attorney, author and dean of Wayne State Law School, Frank Wu.

Whalen falls short in S.D. House race

2006-11-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

South Dakota Republican Bruce Whalen, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who served as as coordinator of the tribe's judiciary committee, fell short in his effort to oust incumbent Democrat Stephanie Herseth to represent the state in its lone House seat.

According to CNN projections, Whalen had garnered only 29% of the vote (with 100% of precincts reporting) as of 9:01 ET this morning.

Hawai'i Senator Akaka a Survivor -- Again

2006-11-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

After surviving a very tough primary challenge by fellow Democrat Ed Case this year, Hawai'i Senator Daniel Akaka is projected by CNN exit polls to be more than safe in his quest to return to Washington. As of 5:17 ET this morning, the incumbent Senator held a wide lead over Republican Cynthia Thielen, at 61% to 37% respectively.

As the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry (he is of mixed Native Hawaiian and Chinese background), Akaka serves on the Indian Affairs Committee and chairs the Congressional Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues, and was the chief champion of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act (popularly referred to as "The Akaka Bill".)

Accompanying Akaka to Washington will be a new House colleague, Democrat Mazie Hirono, who won her campaign for the 2nd District, and incumbent 1st District Rep. Neil Abercrombie. The state’s other Senator, Daniel Inouye, did not face reelection this year.

Joe Shirley Jr. re-elected as President of Navajo Nation

2006-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Incumbent Joe Shirley Jr. has beaten back a challenge by Lynda Lovejoy to win a second term as president of the Navajo Nation, whose domain extends over the largest reservation in the U.S. Although Lovejoy had won a good deal of attention during her campaign to become the first woman to serve as Navajo president, Shirley prevailed by a comfortable margin, with 65% turnout, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The win makes Shirley the first Najavo leader to hold successive terms since 1982. See the full report here.

A historic election for ethnic, women voter engagement nationwide

2006-11-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

Nov. 8 - In a historic midterm election night, high turnout among American voters has significantly changed the balance of power in Washington DC, with the Democratic Party retaking the majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Anti-incumbent sentiment and dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq led to sweep in which Democrats wrested control of at least 28 seats, with 14 still undecided.

With two key Senate races, in VA and MT too close to call as of this writing, and likely headed to recount challenges, Democrats also stand chance to take back majority control of the Senate.

The election saw historic landmarks set in a number of aspects. These include: Positioning Nancy Pelosi to become the first woman Speaker of the House; electing Deval Patrick as the first African American governor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and sending Democrat Keith Ellison, an African American, to represent Minnesota’s 5th as the first Muslim in the House of Representatives.

Preliminary exit polling indicates that unusually high turnout was reported nationwide, affected by a number of controversial ballot initiatives as well as support for specific candidates. Minority voters, swing voters and non-traditional coalition-building also played an important role in the shift. In the most recent exit poll figures by CNN, non-white voters veered strongly to the left, with 76% of non-white men and 78% of non-white women going Democrat.

The same data indicate that while white voters overall leaned Republican, it was by a smaller margin (51% GOP to 47%) than expected, due largely to a 49/49 split among white women voters. African American voters leaned even more heavily Democrat than expected, at 89%, despite the GOP’s fielding a number of prominent Black candidates in high-level races in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Latino and Asian voters, who have traditionally been more inclined to lean Republican, emerged as clear and growing swing voters, breaking to the Democrats at 69% and 62% respectively.

Although the CNN data do not breakdown the percentages of American Indians, or Alaskan and Hawaiian Natives, its exit poll figures specify that "Other" non-white voters tracked split 56% Democrat to 41% Republican.

A good idea: How about American Indian Awareness Week?

2006-11-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

November is, ostensibly, National American Indian Heritage Month. This year, according to a proclamation by the White House, "we honor the generations of American Indians and Alaska Natives who have added to the character of our Nation. This month is an opportunity to celebrate their many accomplishments and their rich ancestry and traditions."

Nonwithstanding the odd construction "generations...who have added to the character of our Nation," the sentiment can be appreciated. The month can be an opportunity to celebrate -- as good an opportunity as any. The problem is, American Indian Month, like many of the ethnic-themed commemorative heritage months, usually passes with little fanfare or attention -- only more so.

But a story from a student newspaper at the University of Dayton raises a good idea to think about this year: how about designating November a time to encourage awareness about Native Americans today?

The article, written by Staff Writer Carly Schott, reports that that university is for the first time organizing a "Native American Awareness Week" from Nov. 13-17. Acknlowedging that there are few Native Americans on UD’s campus, the article suggests that the emphasis on "heritage" -- i.e., more or less traditional forms of cultural/artistic expression -- is a way to move beyond culture to introduce students to contemporary social and political issues.

As more young people undertake this kind of effort on college campuses, it will hopefully provide opportunities for a greater and more diverse number of American Indians to share their news and perspectives about contemporary life, and not only focus on cultural traditions.

NCAI Empowers Native Youth through New Youth Ambassador Leadership Program

2006-10-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

The National Congress of American Indians announced in a release this month that it has created the Youth Ambassador Leadership Program (YALP) to acknowledge and develop the strong leadership capabilities and skills present within Native youth.

The program takes the form of a competition in which two Ambassadors (male and female) and two Under-Ambassadors (male and female) are chosen based on "an oration, contemporary dress, extemporaneous question, cultural presentation and debate," as well as academic performance. Those selected receive a $2,500 scholarship, and a chance to "serve as spokespersons for the NCAI Youth Commission to raise public awareness about the many important issues impacting American Indians and Alaska Native youth throughout Indian Country."

For the list of the winners and details about the program, click here.

Native American Village @ Blogspot - Under Construction

2006-10-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Coming soon - the editorial companion blog to the Native American Village @ IMDiversity.com.

Meanwhile, we'd welcome you at some of our other hotspots:

Native American Village HOME

Native American
& IMDiversity Daily News

MY JOB TOOLS @
IMDiversity.com