Ending the Silence

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?

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

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

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

REZ GOT GAME

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


http://rezgotgame.com/

From Indian Country Today

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

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

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!

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

9 August

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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

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?

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"

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

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.