A Native American Student Responds to a Times Article About His Home, By Katherine Schulten,The New York Times Learning Network

Osiyo: Willow Pingree  is a student at Fort Washakie Charter High School, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He has an intense love and pride for his community, and wrote an essay that proves it.  His  essay was in response to an article he read written by journalist Timothy Williams.

Mr. Williams wrote an article published in The New York Times, February 3, 2012 entitled, “Brutal Crimes Grip an Indian Reservation,”

In his article, Mr. Williams described the  usual, drug addictions, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and suicides that occurred on the Wind River Reservation.  He referred to the “long history” of homicides that has plagued the community, which is composed primarily of the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho, making it one the country’s most dangerous areas. The only “bright” note was at the beginning of the article where Mr. Williams wrote about the school’s basketball team.

Wyoming Indian High Basketball Team-photo credit WIHS

 

 

 

 

 

“At a boys’ basketball game here last month, Wyoming Indian High School, a perennial state power, was trading baskets with a local rival. The players, long-limbed and athletic, are among the area’s undisputed stars, and their games one of its few diversions. On this night, more than 2,500 cheering, stomping people came to watch…”

In response to this article the principal of  Fort Washakie Charter High School Shad Hamilton, invited the journalist  Mr. Williams, to learn more about the school and about the community.  There was a meeting via conference call between the students, faculty members, and Mr. Williams. English teacher  Michael L. Read  was also involved in helping the students, among them Willow Pingree. The following is an excerpt from the essay:

A student from Wyoming Indian High School, dignity and pride prevails.

“I have lived on the reservation since I was born. I will be only twenty in July, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ve seen my share of good and bad things on this reservation. Not EVERTHING about this reservation is bad. Sure there is a huge problem with domestic violence and alcoholism, but we try to work together as a community to fight it. We have not given up. …The tribal councils grant funding to different programs to help the people overcome addiction…Education is an important aspect of our culture. Long before the white education system, Native people all across the continent learned education from the teachings of their elders. Young people were taught to respect everything and everyone around them and to have a positive attitude to maintain balance and harmony in their lives…The Wind River Reservation has a youth council called United National Indian Tribal Youth, or Unity, Its motive is to encourage kids and young adults to step up to be the voice for all young people. ”

 

We encourage everyone to read this beautiful essay by Willow Pingree, and the original article by Timothy Williams.

Kudos to Willow, his schoolmates, Shad Hamilton,  and to the faculty in all of the schools in this area keeping up the fight against the negative elements!

We’d like to also acknowledge journalists Katherine Schulten, Timothy Williams, and The New York Times Learning Network .

“No matter what negative things we face every day, nothing can break our spirit. We will not give up the war to save our culture or our languages, the war that all Native people in America have been fighting for since 1492. I will fight to ensure the survival of our cultures and languages for the rest of my days on this Earth.  Ha’ho! Hoo-wee-hoo! (Thank you!)”

~Willow Pingree~ Fort Washakie Charter High School

We at Talking-Feather wish to thank our readers for their continued support. We also wish to thank our new readers. Our numbers have increased in 2012 — we do appreciate all of you! -Wado-

Tags: New York Times, Willow Pingree, Wind River Indian Reservation

At Diné Bi Olta, Girl Scouting is a Hit By Alastair Lee Bitsoi, Navajo Times

Osiyo!  It is always a pleasure to pass along information about positive environments for Native children, and the wonderful adults who serve as strong role-models for these youngsters.  In this article, the adults are Amber Crotty and Nikke Alex, and the good work they and others are doing for the Cactus Pine Troop No. 3053.

Excerpt:

“When Amber Crotty decided to establish a Brownie troop at Tséhootsooí Diné Bi Olta, little did she foresee the response: Over 50 girls – about 20 percent of the student body – signed up to become members of the newly formed Arizona Cactus Pine Troop No. 3053… If you build, they will come, Crotty said during a Feb. 9 troop meeting, while simultaneously teaching a group of Daisies and Brownies how to sell cookies for the year’s big fundraiser…Crotty, who together with co-leader Nikki Alex started organizing the troop in November, said the strong response indicates a need for after-school programs not just at the Navajo language immersion school, but in most other schools as well…Before the DBI Girl Scout troop was organized, most of the girls said they either went home after school or to the local Boy’s and Girl’s Club, where they only did homework…

We’re learning the First Aid badge, said Yazzie, who is Tó áhání (Near to Water Clan), born for áshiihí (Salt Clan). The badges represent what we accomplish and what we can do… Amber supports us and encourages us to do this,” added Yazzie.  It feels a lot better because she didn’t abandon us and leave us out in the cold…

Brownie Megan Sells, …sold 150 boxes during the pre-order period. Sells said she enjoys the range of activities scouting offers such as arts and crafts and singing. I’m learning you have to respect yourself and others, and to help people, not just yourself,  she said.

Crotty also said the troop has been lucky this year to get support from the Navajo United Way and other sponsors, which helped finance uniforms for the troop…The girls plan to use of their earnings to attend horse and art camps this summer, and some to buy gloves and scarves for local elders next winter…”

For Information Contact: Amber Crotty, 505-567-0069, or Nikke Alex, 505-399-8650.

We encourage everyone to read this uplifting article and to offer what you can to help make their young dreams happen!  Kudos to Amber Crotty, Nikke Alex, The Navajo United Way, and to all of the good souls who help to make life better for children…

“These girls are our future business entrepreneurs…This cookie sale is planting the seed and your support has strengthened their confidence to dream big, plan goals,… If you build, they will come… ” ~Amber Crotty~

 

Horses In Native American Cultures, The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All through history horses have been an integral part of American Indian cultures. The NMAI has a wonderful exhibition entitled A Song For the Horse Nation which describes the relationships between various tribes and their horses, through stories, paintings and photographs. Excerpt from the introduction:

Lakota beaded coat, ca. 1890-photo credit NMAI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The story of the relationship of Native peoples and horses is one of the great sagas of human contact with the animal world. Native peoples have traditionally regarded the animals in our lives as fellow creatures with which a common destiny is shared. When American Indians encountered horses—which some tribes call the Horse Nation—they found an ally, inspiring and useful in times of peace, and intrepid in times of war. Horses transformed Native life and became a central part of many tribal cultures…Native peoples paid homage to horses by incorporating them into their cultural and spiritual lives, and by creating art that honored the bravery and grace of the horse. The glory days of the horse culture were brilliant but brief, lasting just over a century. The bond between American Indians and the Horse Nation, however, has remained strong through the generations.”

This exhibit will be on view: October 29, 2011–January 7, 2013
NMAI on the National Mall, Washington, DC

Read Stories about the origin of horses from the Dine (Navajo) and the Siksika (Blackfoot) NMAI  HERE.

You Tube Video: Wild Horses and North American Indians…

A great You Tube video of wild horses with the following message:

“Mostly wild horses and old native Indian photos in the United States. The REAL wild west. The audio track has not been modified or enhanced. Just great lively music and photos worth a thousand memories. Best viewed at my channel because of the background. Enjoy!”

Uploaded by OMisTerManon Jun 10, 2010.

Wild Horses-Youtube Video By OMisTerMan

Wild Horses Youtube video By OMisTerMan

A Sky Full of Horses

I looked over there and I saw twelve black horses toward the west, where the sun goes down… Then they showed me twelve white horses [in the north]… Then I turned around toward the east… I saw twelve head of horses, all sorrels.

Then I turned to the south… and saw twelve head of buckskin horses. These horses had horns… As they stood, the bay horse looked to the west and neighed. I looked over there and saw great clouds of horses in all colors and they all neighed back to this horse and it sounded like thunder…The bay horse said to me, ‘Behold them, your horses come dancing.’ I looked around and saw millions of horses circling around me—a sky full of horses…

~Black Elk ~(Oglala Lakota) 1932-1950 (NMAI)

 

Navajo filmmaker still shining at Sundance, By: Bernie Dotson, Gallup Independent, Native American Times.

Osiyo. Ramona Emerson a member of the Navajo Nation, has written  directed, and co-produced a wonderful film entitled Opal.  The film centers on the lives of  Navajo children, specifically a young Navajo girl (Opal) who is tough, and has a mind of her own. When she is accosted by the town bully,  Opal and her friend take steps to handle the situation. In addition to this wonderful film, Ramona and her husband Kelly Byars, a member of the  Choctaw Nation,  run their own company Reel Indian Pictures located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ramona received her B.A in Media Arts in 1997 from the University of New Mexico, one of the first two graduates of the program. Excerpt:

“Ramona Emerson swept into Park City, Utah, in 2010 as one of four writers and filmmakers selected to participate in the Sundance Film Festival’s Native Filmmakers Ford Foundation Fellowship Program…Opal is a short film about a young Navajo girl who takes on the town bully. When Opal is beat up by the bully, she and her friend Bunny take matters into their own hands. The importance of Opal’ goes beyond just getting my story on the screen,” Emerson explained. It is also a portrait of a tough little girl who won’t take no for an answer. It serves as a metaphor for all of the places that little girls aren’t allowed to go, the things they are forbidden to do. This is every little Navajo girl’s chance to power through diversity, to push by the people who are keeping you from what you want to do…Raised in Tohatchi and Santa Fe, where her mother attended art school, Emerson said she gravitates toward subjects she encountered as a youngster growing up around the Navajo Nation…Since everyone on the cast is under 12 years old, we had to work around schedules, during weekends and when we could get our lead actress (Magdalena Begay) into town from Flagstaff, Ariz…Emerson, 38, said she’s eager to enter Opal again at Sundance come 2013…”

Read the entire article to learn more about this wonderful, thought-provoking film. Click to see the film OPAL, and  the other films Ramona Emerson and her husband  have  produced.

 

“My hope is to create a story that reflects a very true representation of what it’s like to grow up on the Navajo Nation, but more importantly, questions the roles of women and girls both on and off the reservation.”

~Ramona Emerson~(1974-)

 

 

Tags: Navajo, Opal, Ramona Emerson