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ON THE COVER
The Honor totem Pole
Glass artist and carver Preston Singletary (Tlingit), wearing a traditional Northwest Coast button robe, stands besides a magnificent new totem pole created in Washington through the efforts of a large group of artists working together. Photo by Russell Johnson.

FEATURES

The Honor Totem Pole
A group of Alaskan carvers led by John Hagen (Eskimo) and glass artist Preston Singletary (Tlingit) team up with the famous Pilchuck Glass School of Washington and its students to honor the school’s founders and glass artist Dale Chihuly with this magnificent totem pole. By Gary Wyatt.

Katsinas: Back to the Roots
Join us for a look at the newest wrinkle in katsinas—a move back to the simpler, original forms—and a quick look at the newer hyper-real style. Story by Bruce Hucko and Georgiana Kennedy Simpson. Photography by Bruce Hucko.

Holiday Gift Guide
We present our annual holiday gift guide of handmade arts and crafts, books, music and other material goods drawn from the rich heritage of Native America, and a brief essay on the nature of giving among Native cultures. Photography by Hilary Wallace.

Message to Parents and Youth
A vital message to families on the importance of finishing what we start, particularly when it comes to learning. Story and photos by Howard Rainer (Taos Pueblo).

Three Generations of Tewa Women Painters
With this story, we launch a new ongoing series titled “Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters,” which will trace multigenerational art dynasties among Native cultures. We begin with a look at painters Pablita Velarde, Helen Hardin and Margarete Bagshaw-Tindel. By RoseMary Diaz (Santa Clara Pueblo).

A Star Is Born: Roger Willie
Ready, set, ACTION! Visit with the newest Hollywood hero, Navajo actor Roger Willie, as he talks about life on the set with Nicolas Cage, Christian Slater and Adam Beach in the new MGM film Windtalkers. By Daniel Gibson.

Oreland Joe’s Monumental Tribute
Ute/Navajo artist Oreland Joe creates yet another monumental bronze, this one honoring the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. By Daniel Gibson.

DEPARTMENTS

Letters
A linguistics professor weighs in on word meanings; a chaplain writes to suggest creation of a national Native holiday; and a “mixed blood” Native tells of her early ordeals.

Viewpoint
Taffy Gallagher (Chinook) notes that there is no more devastating theft than the loss of one’s identity.

On The Wind
Lack of Native talent in film and TV media is still the norm, but change is coming; an exciting new museum opens in Spokane; and a sneak peek at the Navajo exhibition at the Olympics. Plus, other news of importance in the Native realm. By Daniel Gibson.

Happening
Join us at a celebration in Phoenix in December, the Pueblo Grande Museum Fair, and at other happenings around the nation in November and December. By Daniel Gibson.

Spirit of the Harvest
You’ll be eagerly anticipating the holiday feasts after perusing this tasty tale of duck stuffed with wild rice accompanied by cranberry-maple sauce and hazelnut-honey baked squash. By Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs.

Focus on Education
“Tribal Colleges Establish Health Programs” looks at the health and wellness renaissance under way in Poplar, Montana, sparked by the opening of the House of Good Living by Fort Peck Community College. By Suzette Brewer (Cherokee).

Pathways: Guatemala
Head way down south to the temperate highlands of Guatemala for a trip with an emphasis on villages where the Maya residents can be identified by their traditional traje (clothing). Story and photography By Hilary Wallace.

Collections
A beautiful home in Marin County north of San Francisco is the setting for a wonderful collection of Native art gathered by Malcolm and Karen Whyte. By Mark Cotta Vaz. Photography by Jay Graham.

Galleries
We take a tour of Pittsburgh’s outstanding Four Winds Gallery, home in December to a unique exhibition of works by sculptor Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) and Italian metalsmith Carol Krena. And, notes on other shows nationwide. By Russ Tall Chief (Osage).

Museums
Join us for a look down the camera lens and its “framing” of the American Indian over the past century in Spirit Capture, now on view at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. And, a guide to other important exhibitions nationwide. By Andrea Handley (Navajo) and Michael Tsosie (Mojave).

Books
Qayaks and Canoes: Native Ways of Knowing and its companion video provide a wonderful look into the world of Native boat-building traditions in Alaska, says our reviewer. He also enjoyed a children’s book this issue, Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon. By Alan Tack.

Film & Video
Our reviewer digs into a new documentary exploring the controversial subject matter of The Buffalo Wars, and explores the ancient pre-Columbian music traditions of our neighboring cultures to the south in Codex: Music of Ancient Mexico. By David Claudio Iglesias (Kuna).

Music
This month we settle in with a CD from the Todi Neesh Zhee Singers, their release For All Eternity. And, we take a quick listen to two releases with Carlos Nakai and stir up the dust a bit with Pima Express. By j. poet.