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ON THE COVER
Fancy dancers in traditional regalia amidst a glowing cloud of dust make their grand entry into the Milk River Indian Celebration on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Montana. Photo by Ken Blackbird (Assiniboine)

FEATURES

Native Theater Takes Center Stage
The curtain goes up on our look at prominent Native theater companies and playwrights throughout the United States and Canada, plus a brief history of Native theatrical arts. Companies profiled: Native Voices at the Autry, Native Earth Performing Arts, Spiderwoman Theater, Thunderbird Theatre and De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group. Playwrights profiled: Diane Glancy (Cherokee), Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibwe), Bruce King (Oneida), Bill Yellow Robe, Jr. (Assiniboine), Marie Clements (Métis) and Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl (Samoan/Hawaiian/Caucasian). By Ann Haugo.

Return of the Buffalo Nation
Ride the range with us as we review the efforts of Plains tribes and several organizations to restore buffalo herds on their lands. Plus, history and natural history regarding this magnificent beast, and where to view them. By Win Blevins. Photos and buffalo art from a variety of artists.

Photo Essay: Life on the Northern Plains
Award-winning photographer Ken Blackbird (Assiniboine) presents
a beautiful photo essay portraying life on the northern Great Plains,
his homelands.

DEPARTMENTS

Viewpoint
The federal government owes tribes and Indian individuals billions of dollars in lost trust fund monies derived from Indian land resource extraction and lease fees. By Elouise Cobell (Blackfeet).

On The Wind
The life story of ballet dancer Jock Soto, as seen in the film Water Flowing Together; the Pueblo of Pojoaque’s massive new Hilton-affiliated Buffalo Thunder Resort; Hawaii’s Celebration of Life; and a review of the most recent Santa Fe Film Festival. Also, other important news in the arts, education, the environment, business, politics, sports, health and other realms of life in Indian Country. By Daniel Gibson.

Happening
We motor north to the Great Falls Native American Art Show in Montana for its 26th annual gathering, which promises to be the best ever, Plus details on other special events of Native interest across North America. By Daniel Gibson.

Spirit of the Harvest
The Brunka people of Costa Rica celebrate their annual fiesta with elaborate dances and rituals that reveal the mixture of their Native heritage and Spanish culture, a melding that also shows up in their mouth-watering rice and pork tamales. By Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs.

Pathways
Journey south to Bolivia’s Chiquitano people to delve into their history, contemporary life and the significance of the minga, a communal work practice. Story and photos by Shane Townsend and Kristen Evans.

History
The story of Chief Osceola and the Seminole people of Florida is a complex and fascinating tale of adaptation, survival and cultural fortitude. By Gregory McNamee. With historic illustration by George Catlin.

Galleries
From humble roots in the trading-post business have sprung two outstanding galleries, the Rain Bird shops in Gallup, New Mexico and Scottsdale, Arizona. Also, brief looks at other Native-oriented galleries throughout the continent. By Russ Tall Chief (Osage).

Museums
The foremost museum dedicated to the art, culture and history of the Iroquois, the Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, New York, mounts an exciting exhibition focused on the story
of American Indian baseball players. Also, notes on other museum exhibitions coast to coast. By Wendy Weston (Diné).

Music
We sit down to chat with the Bastard Fairies, who produced one of 2007’s great underground success stories, Memento Mori. Plus reviews of the latest work from R. Carlos Nakai, teamed up with Udi Bar-David, on Voyagers; and Robert Mirabal’s latest and greatest work, In the Blood. By j poet

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