Email
Print2009 March/April On the Wind (News)
Another Shame Pole Rises in Alaska
Ridiculing people’s shortcomings is a vibrant tradition among Native cultures in southeastern Alaska. In 1869, U.S. President Andrew Johnson’s secretary of state, William H. Seward, who had negotiated Alaska’s purchase from Russia, toured the newly acquired territory. On Tongass Island, Tlingit Chief Ebbit honored Seward with a potlatch and lavish gifts. Perhaps ignorant of local customs, the visitor failed to reciprocate, and Chief Ebbit advertised that shortcoming by commissioning a totem pole shaming Seward, which featured a pale-faced politician atop the pole.
On March 24, 2007, the 18th anniversary of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, another shame pole went up in southeastern Alaska—this time in Cordova on Prince William Sound, site of the disastrous spill involving the Exxon Valdez. The seven-foot–tall yellow cedar pole mocks Exxon’s promise, “We will make you whole again,” to Native and non-Native fishermen whose livelihoods have been ruined. Instead, the corporation appealed the court’s decision to award damage payments of $5 billion to thousands of plaintiffs. In June 2008, Exxon was informed it could deduct money spent on clean-up, leaving some $500 million to be paid in reparations—one-tenth the original sum. But the company challenged even this figure.
The new shame pole was carved by Mike Webber (Tlingit), a fisherman turned artist. Among the designs he incorporated into the pole are dead ducks, eagles and otters, deformed salmon and herring, an impersonation of Blind Justice, and at the very top, a Pinocchio-nosed CEO spewing crude oil and lies.
History remains silent about whether or not Chief Ebbit eventually received his gifts. But as the 20th anniversary of the Prince William Sound debacle approaches, Exxon is just now beginning to pay out restitution—in some cases as little as a few hundred dollars to plaintiffs whose lives have been forever diminished. —Michael Englehard
Forged by Fire: Ron Colombe
On the back of his first book of verse, Silent Shouting, Quiet War (Dream Catcher Publishing), Lakota poet, speaker, powwow dancer, and feather and bead artisan Ron Colombe declares: “I was born into tragic circumstances, a child of tragic people, loved like a tragic child—what else, but a poet, could I become?”
He was referring to the fact that in 1954, at the tender age of two, he was taken from his parents on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and put into foster care in an attempt by the federal government to end Native culture by assimilating its children into mainstream American life.
His start in life was indeed tragic. But Colombe’s life has been anything but. His foster parents turned out to be wonderful people who adopted him, encouraged his imagination and aided his desire to learn. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1975, and bucked the system whenever he could, talking to people and writing things that would make them sit up and take notice. He continues in that vein today by giving talks and readings at colleges across the country, and entertaining and inspiring people at festivals and powwows with his wise words from the heart.
To help him finally put closure on the events of his early childhood, Colombe is currently writing his second book, The Adoption Papers. “What happened to all those poor children is part of the unfortunate reality of this country,” he says, “and almost no one knows about it. I want them to know and never forget.” If you ever get the chance to hear Colombe perform, you won’t forget either him or his words.
Upcoming performances include the Chasco Fiesta, March 19–29, in New Port Richey, Florida, and the annual Memorial Day Weekend gathering in Rancocas, New Jersey, home of the Powhatan Renape Nation. He also has a spoken-word CD out, titled Thoughts Like a Bullet. When he’s not traveling, Colombe lives in Georgia. Details: e-mail lakotapoet@earthlink.net. —Wendy Dunham
Santa Fe Film Festival: A Brief Report
Another batch of interesting, creative and, in some cases, provocative films by and about Indigenous life, culture and history were screened at the ninth annual Santa Fe Film Festival in December in the “City Different.” Among the many documentaries, shorts, animated works and features was the excellent Rez Bomb.
This 95-minute feature, written, directed and produced by Steven Lewis Simpson, was shot entirely on the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. All the Lakota characters (including the very convincing Russell Means as a card shark) were played by local actors. It is a gripping tale set against the grinding poverty of Pine Ridge, with excellent acting, dialogue and plot; a distinctive visual style; and high production values.
In comments following the screening, Means noted, “It’s put together well and I’m very pleased with it—though I disagree with the happy ending, because I haven’t seen any on our reservation.” The film should be available on DVD in spring. Details: www.rezbomb.com.
However, taking the audience prize for Best Indigenous Film was the documentary Welcome to Enurmino, directed by Aleksei Vakhrushev, which profiles a Russian community in the autonomous region of Chukotka. Here, walrus hunting, preparations for winter and the pending departure of the village’s children to a state-run boarding school echo the experiences of the Inuit people of North America.
Other major Native works in the festival included Restoring the Mauri of Lake Omapere, set in New Zealand, directed by Simon Marler and part of the National Geographic All Roads Film Project; Breaking the Maya Code, a lengthy look at Maya hieroglyphic writing directed by David Lebrun; The Linguists (www.thelinguists.com), about global efforts to save endangered Indigenous languages; and the powerful Our Spirits Don’t Speak English, focused on the often-tragic Indian boarding school experience in the U.S.
Shorts included the atmospheric Ancestor Eyes with Tantoo Cardinal, Rulan Tangen and Raoul Trujillo; Maq and the Spirit of the Woods from Micmac director Phyllis Grant; Hawaiki from Maori director Mike Jonathan; A Sketch of Wathone (the most popular of the All Roads works) by Burmese director Kyi Phyu Shin, about one of Burma’s best-known painters; The Hand Drum by Stephanie Painter; and Keao, about a young hula dancer, from Native Hawaiian director Kaliko Spenser. Festival details: www.santafefilmfestival.com.
Lines
A new Oklahoma license plate features an image of the original sculpture “Sacred Rain Arrow,” created by the late Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache), which resides at the entrance to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa … The Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho is seeking the return of a Jefferson Peace Medal presented to the tribe by Lewis and Clark in 1806, and subsequently lost; it recently was rediscovered in the American Museum of Natural History … The Navajo Nation has opened its first casino, Fire Rock, at a location west of Gallup, New Mexico … The home of activist, speaker and author Winona LaDuke (White Earth Ojibwe) near Ponsford, Minnesota burned down on Nov. 9; LaDuke directs the White Earth Land Recovery Project in Callaway … Native-directed broadcast television companies in Canada (APTN), New Zealand, Australia, Norway (home of the Sámi people) and a handful of other nations have formed the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (www.witbc.org) … In February, First Nations Dance Theater, led by Richard Donaghey (Caddo/Delaware), returned for the fourth time to Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the city’s Mystical Music Festival, and in January performed in the Netherlands at the Western Experience organized by Dutch television producer Bob De Jong … Under threat from encroaching non-Indian colonists, 37,500 acres of land of the Shuar people of Ecuador have been formally protected and reserved for the exclusive use of tribal members, with the help of the nonprofit organization Nature & Culture International … A dictionary of Passamaquoddy-Maliseet language, some 30 years in the making, has been released by Goose Lane Editions (800/926-8377); it was compiled by David A. Francis and Robert M. Leavitt … A movement is underway to rescind the 20 Medals of Honor given to the members of the Seventh Calvary for their butchery at Wounded Knee in 1890; numerous Web sites have online petitions, including www.ipetitions.com/petition/12-20-1890.
Shards
Painter, sculptor and muralist Chris “Icebear” (Ojibwe) is painting away on a large canvas inspired by Michelangelo to present at the prestigious Florence Biennale in November. The talented artist also is set to begin work on a 14-foot bronze called “Equilibrium,” which will grace a spot a block away from renowned Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, British Columbia. The artist lives in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver Island.
Actor Wes Studi (Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo, Heat, The Only Good Indian and numerous television films, including the Tony Hillerman works on PBS and Comanche Moon) will play a significant role in the new NBC series Kings. Studi plays General Linus Abner in the fictional modern-day kingdom of Gilboa. The show will have a special two-hour premiere on March 19 from 9 to 11 p.m. (EST), and will air weekly on Thursdays at 10 p.m. (EST).
A group of Indian teenage classical composers of Chickasaw, Ojibwe, Navajo and Hopi heritage, led by composer Jerod Tate (Chickasaw), listened as a non-Indian quartet magnificently performed their original works at the Classical Native Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. last fall. For excellent video and recordings, visitwww.violinist.com/blog/caeli.
Shawn Michael Perry (Flathead Salish) is a busy man these days. The musician, actor (Last of the Mohicans, Hidalgo, The Slaughter Rule, Wild Bill and My Indian Summer) and motivational speaker performed at a major musical industry convention last January in Anaheim, California, hosted by the National Association of Music Merchants. He is working on a project to provide musical instruments to a school for Native children in Colombia and hoping to produce a documentary film on the effort. He is also seeking to create a showcase of Indian talent to perform in Indian casinos nationwide, while polishing up his next CD, Hungry for Heroes. His previous release, Shawn Michael Perry and Only the Brave—with two tracks, “Forever” and “Family,” produced by Oingo Boingo bassist John Avila—did quite well.
Sheephead Films, producers of Mile Post 398 and other noteworthy feature films, shorts and documentaries, has posted all its productions online for free downloads. The company is helmed by Shonie and Andee De La Rosa.
Passages
Ray Fadden, the great teacher and reviver of Mohawk traditions, customs and pride, passed away on Nov. 14 at age 98. Fadden taught social studies at the St. Regis Mohawk School from 1936 to 1957 and later launched the Six Nations Indian Museum in Onchiota, New York (see May/June 2006 issue). In recognition of his accomplishments, many years ago he was adopted into the Mohawk Nation’s wolf clan and given the name Tehanetorens (He Walks Through the Pines).
Mary McDowell Hansen (Samish) passed away on Dec. 17 at age 86. Hansen played an instrumental role in the battle for federal recognition of her tribe, which was dispersed by the federal government in the late 1800s.
World-renowned ballerina Rosella Hightower (Choctaw) passed away on Nov. 4 at her home in Cannes, France, where in 1962 she established one of the world’s top ballet schools. Hightower was one of the “Five Moons,” the five famed Native American ballerinas that sprang from humble origins in Oklahoma to international prominence. In 1991 the state of Oklahoma honored the five dancers when it dedicated a mural depicting them, titled “Flight of Spirit,” in the Oklahoma Capitol Rotunda in Oklahoma City. In 1975, France selected her for a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, the country’s premier honor. Hightower was 88.
Vi Hilbert (Skagit) of La Conner, Washington, passed away on Dec. 19 at age 90. Hilbert devoted her life to preserving her Coast Salish heritage and Lushootseed language, founding the Lushootseed Research Center in Seattle and teaching at the University of Washington and Evergreen State College. In 1989 she was selected as a Washington State Living Treasure and in 1994 was presented a National Heritage Fellowship.
Ernest Moore, Jr. (Hopi), the noted katsina carver, passed away on Dec. 23 at age 73 from a number of physical maladies. Though he only began carving some eight years ago, among his accomplishments was his selection as the Best of Show artist at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in 2003 (see Jan./Feb. 2004 issue). This summer’s Hopi Market at the Museum of Northern Arizona is expected to be dedicated in his honor.
Influential Indian trader J.B. Tanner of Gallup, New Mexico, part of an extended family of important traders in the region, passed away in October at age 84. Tanner spent more than 50 years in the business and spoke Navajo fluently.
Honoring
The First Peoples Fund has announced its 2009 Community Spirit Award honorees: Theresa Kenkiokoktha Fox (Akwesasne Mohawk) of New York for her singing and songwriting, Bud Lane III (Confederated Tribes of Siletz) of Oregon for his basketry, Theresa Secord (Penobscot) of Maine for her ash and sweetgrass basketry, and Mary Louise Defender Wilson (Standing Rock Sioux) of North Dakota for storytelling.
November’s 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco awarded prizes in several categories. Best Film: Before Tomorrow, directed by Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu; Best Director: Georgina Lightning for Older Than America; Best Actor: Trevor Duplessis, in In a World Created by a Drunken God; Best Actress: Candace Fox in Moccasin Flats: Redemption; Best Documentary: River of Renewal, directed by Carlos Bolado; and Best Supporting Actress Misty Upham, in Frozen River.
Notable ledger artist Terrance Guardipee (Blackfeet) was chosen in late fall as the poster artist and as a presenter at the first annual Native American Arts Festival in Lincoln City, Oregon, hosted by the Chinook Winds Casino.
Joyce Begay-Foss (Diné) and Rebecca Webster (Oneida) have been named chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. The IACB, an institution of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is charged with promoting the development of Indian arts and crafts and with the important and under-funded task of protecting American Indian arts and crafts sales from fraudulent works.
A video made by University of Kansas graduate journalism student Rhonda LeValdo (Acoma Pueblo) was one of 10 to make it to the semifinal round of YouTube’s Project: Report for aspiring journalism students. Her work focused on the endangered Wakarusa Wetlands of Lawrence, Kansas (see cover story, May/June 2007 issue).
On Dec. 4, then U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne presented Kelly Jackson, tribal historic preservation officer for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, with a major historic preservation award for her work.
Linda Hogan (Chickasaw), outstanding essayist, poet and novelist (see Nov./Dec. 2005 issue), has been inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame. Her works include the recent excellent and atmospheric novel People of the Whale.
Among those winning major honors at the annual Intertribal Arts Marketplace at the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles in November were Ed Archie NoiseCat (Shuswap/Stlitlimx/Salish), Best of Show for his sculpture “Endangered”; Glenda McKay (Athabascan) (see Nov./Dec. 2008 issue), Jackie Autry Purchase Award for her miniature snow owl mask; Benson Manygoats (Navajo/Diné), in Jewelry; Daniel Ramirez (Saginaw Chippewa/Odawa) in Paintings/Mixed Media/Photography; Andrew Harvier (Taos Pueblo/Santa Clara Pueblo/Papago) in Pottery and also in Textiles/Basketry; and Clarence Lee (Navajo/Diné) in Other Art Forms for a silver box.
Sam Bradford (Cherokee), the phenomenal sophomore quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners, was awarded the Heisman Trophy for his record-setting accomplishments during the 2008 season, in which he threw for an impressive 4.464 yards and 48 touchdowns, with the team racking up a major college-record 702 points. In the NFL, Chester David “Tuff” Harris (Crow), a University of Montana graduate, also had an outstanding year, finishing up as the starting safety for the Tennessee Titans.
Among the thousands of participants in the 56th Inaugural Parade held in Washington, D.C. in January were 24 horse riders from the Crow Nation of Montana, the Oneida Nation Veterans Color Guard of Wisconsin, the Suurimmanitchuat Eskimo Dance Group of Alaska, and staff and students of the United Tribes Technical College of Bismarck, North Dakota.
One of Canada’s greatest competitive cowboys of all time, Kenny McLean (Okanagan Nation) of British Columbia, and his prized bronc War Paint have been immortalized in a life-size bronze statue in Okanagan Falls, B.C. The project is being financed by sale of 18-inch replicas. Details: www.kennymcleanbronze.com.
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle has hired Dr. Deanna Dartt-Newton (Coastal Band Chumash) as its new curator of Native American ethnology.
Kelsey Leonard (Shinnecock) was one of 37 students nationwide recently chosen to serve as a Fellow of the Institute for International Public Policy.
The American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque recently marked its 40th anniversary as a leading institution for assistance to Indian students pursuing university graduate degrees.
The Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson has received a 2008 National Preservation Award for its care of its vast and varied collections, particularly its 20,000-plus-item collection of pottery works.
