Comparing Native sex mags

Another Native magazine is exploiting women for allegedly lofty reasons. This time it's annual literary issue of Spirit, "Canada’s leading Aboriginal magazine."

Thanks to Latoya Peterson of Racialicious for alerting me to this and the Shameless blog for writing about it:

It’s Exposed and In Control, so read Spirit!Spirit is Canada’s leading Aboriginal magazine, featuring cutting edge material from the Native community across the country.

This current publication is their very first SEX issue and I am so darn excited and happy that it exists. The beautiful young woman you see on the cover is none other than Métis burlesque extraordinaire Veronika Swartz, photographed by the Über talented Ojibwe photographer Nadya Kwandibens.

Within these pages you will read some of the most progressive and provocative literary masterpieces as they pertain to sex and sexuality. The sweet essence of breaking down social taboos will linger in your mind as you are drawn into the demystifying truths of how beautiful and sacred sex really is in the Indigenous world. What remains is pride and ownership over our own bodies (a concept we actually started!).

It moves me to tears to know that we are taking back what has been exploited so harshly from us and letting it out now on our own terms. And it’s a pretty powerful thing.Comment:  I believe Spirit is a legitimate and serious Aboriginal magazine. I may have seen an issue, but I don't remember.

I don't have anything against half-naked Native women. Far from it. But I do have something against magazines exploiting half-naked Native women. Even if the purpose is allegedly noble and the women are allegedly willing.

But compare this to Redskin magazine's approach to selling sex using Natives (or selling Natives using sex). At least Spirit's people are, er, upfront about the magazine's contents. They aren't trying to, er, titillate us with a coyly controversial title. They aren't pretending to be fighting a highminded battle against stereotypes while engaging in stereotypes themselves.

No, Spirit's approach is arguably better. Without reading the magazine, it seems to be a case of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). That's always the best approach if you ask me.

Still, does "sex issue" have to equate to "semi-naked woman on the cover"? A third way would be better than either magazine's approach. If you need to illustrate the concept of sex, do it the way movie posters or album covers or romance novels do it. Suggest sex with subtle looks and poses, but don't spell it out. Be provocative, not blatant.

Overall, there are too many women on magazine covers and not enough in parliaments, boardrooms, and laboratories. And neither Redskin nor the Spirit sex issue does anything to address the issue. What will a Native girl say when she sees these mags? "Mommy, I want to be an astronaut?" Or, "Mommy, I want to be pretty like the cover girls?"

I trust you'll never see a semi-naked Native woman on the front of a Blue Corn Comics product. (Unless it's absolutely essential to the story, that is.) I don't need to make a living from exploiting women. Life is too short to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

For more on the "redskin" and Redskin magazine, see Red·skin n.  Dated, Offensive, Taboo. For more on semi-naked Native women, see Indian Women as Sex Objects.

Below:  "Buy me and get your sexual literary gratification."

Newspaper Rock is No. 2

This is what you get if you search Google for "Newspaper Rock." This blog used to be way down the list. Now it's No. 2 (with a bullet). It's higher than the Wikipedia entry, which is almost always the first or second posting for anything. Quite an accomplishment if I do say so myself.

"Newspaper Rock"

Newspaper Rock State Historic Park, UT (DesertUSA)
Comprehensive guide to Newspaper Rock State Hisroic Park, Utah, with map, color photos, camping info., mileage guides to many offsite and onsite links, ...
www.desertusa.com/newut/du_newut_vvc.html - 29k - Cached - Similar pages

Newspaper Rock -- Where Native America Meets Pop Culture
PEACE PARTY: Two young heroes fight everything from prejudice and pollution to supervillains and the supernatural. An ongoing series from Blue Corn Comics.
www.bluecorncomics.com/newsrock.htm - 130k - Cached - Similar pages

Max Bertola's southern Utah - Newspaper Rock State Park
Just 12 minutes off the main road between Moab and Monticello is Newspaper Rock. Filled with images, this panel is a fun side trip. ...
www.so-utah.com/souteast/newspapr/homepage.html - 9k - Cached - Similar pages

Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument - Wikipedia, the free ...
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument is located in some 25 miles (40 km) north and west of Monticello in eastern Utah, western United States, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper_Rock_State_Historic_Monument - 38k - Cached - Similar pages

Submissions for the FAITA awards

I was wondering how certain films and roles won FAITA awards this year and other didn't. Here's the answer from one of FAITA's trustees: They're volunteers and don't have the resources to seek out every Native film. I gather they rely on whatever is submitted to them.

Which is unfortunate if you ask me. As readers of this blog know, the information is out there. Spend a minute here each day and you'll undoubtedly hear about the significant Native-themed movies and TV shows. Then all you have to do is e-mail the producers and request a submission.

The actual process requires the filmmakers to do all the work without giving them a clue how to proceed. Okay...so now we know. Filmmakers, if you want your 2008 films to be considered for a FAITA award, send a DVD or videotape by September 30 to:

First Americans in the Arts
Post Office Box 17780
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
Tel: (310) 270-5388
Fax: (800) 708-7561
Email: admin@firstamericans.org

We're talking about feature-length films that have appeared in theaters, of course. FAITA doesn't cover documentaries, short films, or videos.

That's all you have to do, apparently. So get with it.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

"Indians" vs. "NovaMundians"

Another debate over the best term to use for the first inhabitants of the Americas. Writer Russell Bates tries to justify an alternative to "Indians":'Indian' though it may be contained in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, is a misnomer and should be corrected. ... In writerfella's science fiction stories, he invented the term, 'NovaMundian,' literally 'New World Man.'

Sunglasses and snowmobiles

Here's an interesting picture essay about Inupiaq (Eskimo) hunters. Check it out and see if it fulfills your expectations about life in the Arctic.

HIGH in the Arctic .. .. Eskimo!!Hello people(s). My name is David and I live @ the top of the world in Alaska, Barrow Alaska.

I have been living with Inupiaq Eskimos for almost 30 years now. I have some amazing photographs to show you in this most unique

PHOTO ESSAY life in the Arctic @ 50 below zero !!

These hunters sleep outside, for two months, with no tents. They chop a trail with pick and axe for many miles, to move supplies, equipment and 700 people move the whole village out to that ocean ice pack.Comment:  These photos because they reveal the reality of Inupiaq life. Even out on the ice, far from the village, they aren't living a purely primitive lifestyle. Here's what you should notice:

They wear fur-lined parkas...made of the latest waterproof fabrics.

Under their hoods they also wear baseball caps and sunglasses.

They pull sleds behind them...on the snowmobiles and ATVs they ride.

They eat the meat they catch...cooked on what looks like portable stoves.

They also eat the store-bought supplies they've brought, and drink the liquids from their Thermos bottles.

They build ice walls to protect themselves from the wind...but generally camp out in tents.

They use traditional weapons and boats...when they're not using high-powered rifles.

They enjoy the fellowship of men...along with the fellowship of women and children.

So much for the stereotype of Eskimos as solitary hunters who live in igloos, wear parkas, use harpoons, and travel by dog-sled. That may have been the case 100 years ago. It isn't the case today.

A hundred years ago, most Americans were living on farms and riding in horse-drawn buggies. But that isn't how we portray them in media such as cartoons. Only American Indians and Alaskan Natives get stereotyped as living in the distant past.

The myth:



The reality:

"Fear the Spear" no more

Morris:  A change in name only

The reasons for Newberry’s name about-face are less than commendableAs much as I would like to sing the praises of the school for finally caving to the NCAA’s mandate—on behalf of Native American tribes nationwide—to eliminate the offensive nickname, I cannot do it. Newberry officials are making the change for the wrong reason.

“Absolutely not,” were the words of Chuck Wendt, the school’s vice president for institutional advancement, when asked if Newberry finally had conceded that calling its teams Indians might be offensive or racist.And:“In the final decision, the board centered (on) what is right for the kids,” Wendt said. “That’s the important thing, the student-athletes. It wouldn’t be fair to them not to allow them to be able to host playoff games, or they would have to cover up their ‘Indian’ name with duct tape if they went some place to play.”

Actually, what is right for the student-athletes is for the board of trustees to show some integrity and strong leadership skills. The board should recognize that using arrowheads in logos, celebrating with “war chants” and calling its teams Indians is no way to honor Native Americans.Here's an example of how the college "honored" Indians:Newberry is reluctantly removing its previous nickname and logos from its uniforms and arenas. “Fear the Spear” will no longer be a battle cry at athletic events, and the football coach’s cell phone ring tone no longer should be a “war chant.”Comment:  Honoring Indians by portraying them as spearchuckers...sigh.

So Newberry celebrated Indians' bravery by crying "Fear the spear!" It celebrated their tenacity with "war chant" ringtones. And how did it celebrate their nobility...by waving scalps? Maybe some mock rapes to celebrate their respect for women?

I could go on.

How pathetic are these rationalizations for the perpetuation of racist and stereotypical imagery? Very. It amazes me that stupid schools like Newberry keep claiming that savage spearchucking is a sign of respect and honor, but they do.

Artisan trail like Appalachian trail

Proposed Native Artisan Trail seeks to bring unique experience to northern Arizona visitorsThe network of Appalachian artists has grown to more than 2,300 people, Neuman said. "The model for the Native Artisans Trails Network idea was developed and implemented in western North Carolina by HandMade in America," Neuman explained. "In 1997, HandMade's director, Becky Anderson, spearheaded formation of a place-based Craft Heritage Trail Network throughout Appalachia. After the first three years, artisan income on average was up 23 percent for artisans based in studios, and up 28 percent for those based in galleries. Now, over 26 percent of tourists to the region purchase arts and crafts, with more than 11 percent spending $500 or more.

"Because of the Craft Heritage Trails Network's success, similar trails networks have been established in at least 13 other states," Neuman continued.

There were other spin-off benefits as well.

"People were more excited about living in Appalachia," Neuman explained. "Suddenly the youth, who used to grow up and move away, were saying that they wanted to stay."

The idea of a Native artisans' trail has been kicked around for the past couple of years, Neuman said, but in the last six months, interest has peaked. Suddenly people were saying, "We'll put a little in the pot if someone else will."Comment:  This sounds like an excellent idea. I'd be likely to stop at any location that was officially part of the trail.

Seminole rock 'n' roll park

Hard Rock Opens Music Theme ParkThe $400 million park in the heart of South Carolina's $16 billion tourism industry had a soft opening in April that it called a "sound check." The grand opening is slated for June 2 and 3, with concerts by the Eagles and The Moody Blues.

As has Led Zeppelin, both groups have lent their names to key attractions at the 55-acre park built around a lake dominated by 70-foot replica of a Les Paul guitar.

The Eagles' "Life in the Fast Lane" roller coaster spins through what appears to be an abandoned saw mill as the hit song plays. "Nights in White Satin, The Trip" winds through the dark amid psychedelic lights and images set to the 1960s Moody Blues hit.

Nearby looms a reproduction of the Statue of Liberty with sunglasses, holding not a torch, but a Zippo cigarette lighter. Engraved on the pedestal is a quote from Neil Young: "Keep On Rockin' in the Free World." The park also hosts nightly fireworks shows choreographed to "Bohemian Rhapsody," and one of its eateries is called Alice's Restaurant, after the Arlo Guthrie song.

The park is the first foray by Hard Rock, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Native woman overturned marriage ban

Multiracial nation keeps evolvingHere is what happened to the Lovings that changed history: Mildred Jeter, a 17-year-old Rappahannock, Cherokee and African-American woman, had fallen in love with Robert Loving, a 26-year-old white construction worker. They’d married and lived together in Central Point, Va.

Then, someone called the police because they were a black person living with a white person. They were taken to jail at 2 a.m. and charged with unlawful cohabitation. The judge told them they wouldn’t be jailed if they left Virginia, so they moved to Washington, D.C.

After five years, the Lovings returned to Virginia to visit Mildred’s mother and were arrested again for traveling together. Mildred Loving wrote to attorney general Robert Kennedy, was referred to the American Civil Liberties Union, and the rest is history.

More on Rez Got Game

Opinion:  Games teach Native kids to tackle tough topics“Rez Got Game”--a set of four games intended to be used under adult supervision--is being embraced by counselors, psychologists, mental health practitioners and Native family advocates across the country.

“It's the right time, there's nothing like it anywhere,” said Glenda Ahhaitty, a retired Los Angeles County mental health director. “It's a really good tool for mental health professionals who are working with Indian children. It will work for all children.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Indian Board Game Shows Consequences.

"Blue Corn Comics is a great site!"

We get e-mail:Subj:  Blue Corn Comics is a great site!

Dear Mr. Schmidt,

Just wanted to say that your webpage is amazing. I am an aspiring educator working on a curriculum plan for a unit in Anthropology on Aboriginal People and your site has been really helpful. I look forward to purchasing Peace Party comics for my classroom in the coming years. Thanks!

Preview of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I've just started paying attention to the Indiana Jones hype--the trailers and commercials. One TV ad brought an ugly thought to mind.

I've briefly wondered what and where the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is supposed to be. I kind of figured it would be in sub-Saharan Africa, since the Indiana Jones series hasn't featured that region yet. And because a crystal skull sounds like something that might be found there. But now I know the answer.

It's a "lost city" in the Amazon jungle, which means it's inhabited by Indians. I gather it's supposed to be the "real" counterpart of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. The trailer shows what looks like the Iguazu Falls on the Brazil/Paraguay border, which would place the "kingdom" in southern Brazil.

Indiana Jones and the Jonesing Indians

The Indians make a brief appearance. They're half-naked, with painted faces, waving spears, yelling and chasing people. They look much like the hideous creatures in King Kong or Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

They're apparently protecting their crystal skull, an artifact that's cursed. So not only are they scary savages, they're supernatural savages. They practice evil magic and kill anyone who tries to violate it.

Their architecture looks to be moldy and crumbling. I'm guessing these Indians are degenerates who long ago forgot their arts and sciences and descended into barbarism. I'm guessing they haven't built anything more demanding than a sacrificial stone recently.

Will the movie show the builders of this monumental city as fully-dressed, intelligent, and sophisticated masters of art and science? I'm guessing probably not. I'm guessing these Indians will be about as civilized as Zagar the barbarian.

Perhaps the film won't even acknowledge them as the city's founders. Perhaps it'll say some "lost race" built the city and the savage Indians merely took it over.

Indiana Jones and the World of Savagery

Let's review. With a whole world of "savage kingdoms"--places full of magic, mystery, and menace--to chose from, the Indiana Jones franchise has twice given us deadly Indians. We have the Amazonian headhunters at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Hindu heart-stealers in Temple of Doom, and now...more Amazonian evildoers. (No ancient Egyptians appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the Petra locale in The Lost Crusade was arguably an advanced civilization.)

So two-thirds of the "primitive" races in the Indiana Jones series have been Indians. Thanks, Speilberg, for showing us that the Amazon is the last bastion of savagery. We wouldn't want to get the idea that some Indians had a sophisticated worldview, a mastery of monumental architecture, or an advanced knowledge of medicine. Nope, they put curses on skulls and chuck their spears at intruders.

You wouldn't dare show black Africans as screaming savages. And no one would buy the Chinese as savages. But it's still okay to show Indians as savages. Because to most people that's what they are.

Below is the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer. Watch it and see for yourself.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.

Native Voices takes Australia

Native Voices at the Autry Takes The Red Road to AustraliaNative Voices at the Autry Takes The Red Road to Australia

to represent the United States at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Adelaide, Australia, May 9–18, 2008,

followed by a Native Voices artist residency at the Originals Festival at the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane, May 18–23

Native Voices at the Autry is in demand at two international events in Australia, where Native Voices artists will showcase their creative talents and exchange ideas with diverse groups in workshops, panels, and performances.

First, the Native Voices production of The Red Road by Arigon Starr has been selected from among 200 international entries to represent the United States at the 16th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young People (ASSITEJ 2008). The festival is a celebration of performing arts for young people by the people who make, administrate, research, and experience its creation. “It is a huge honor to be representing the United States and also Native America and to be doing this in a contemporary way. I’m proud to be showing my people in a modern setting, in situations everyone can relate to,” says Starr.

“ASSITEJ 2008 aims to bring together diverse people from diverse cultures with diverse stories to share, experience, and celebrate this diversity,” said ASSITEJ Artistic Director Jason Cross. The festival’s theme, Old Knowledge, New Word, provides a departure point for this framework with shows from the Asia Pacific; shows by Indigenous artists; diverse practice in form and content including dance, musical theater, spoken word, puppetry, and large-scale and smaller works; shows for all age groups from 1 to 18 years; and works that demonstrate collaborations between companies and artists from different countries or cultures.

Arby's "tribe" guilty of fraud

American Indian tribe called bogusA federal judge ordered a $63,000 civil-fraud judgment against four people who claim to be chiefs of an American Indian tribe in eastern Utah.

The men, who got organized at an Arby's restaurant and claim to have hundreds of tribal members, refuse to recognize U.S or state laws, have issued their own drivers' licenses and filed countless lawsuits against Utah authorities for ignoring their sovereignty.

In a decision Monday, following a trial last week, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot ordered the men to stop pretending to be Indians and pay Uintah County damages. He called their tribe a "complete sham."Bogus tribe claims to be WampanoagsA federal judge has ordered four Utah men to stop fraudulently claiming they are members of the "Wampanoag Nation."

The men were ordered to pay $63,000 in damages to Uintah County, retribution for a host of lawsuits the self-proclaimed "chiefs" filed against Utah authorities for ignoring their purported sovereignty.

Members of the Utah group have challenged traffic stops and other encounters with authorities, filing lawsuits and unenforceable debt judgments against prosecutors, law enforcement officers and judges.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Facts About Native Sovereignty.

New center for Hollywood's Indians

If you're like me, you're wondering what the American Indian National Center for Television and Film (mentioned here) is. I've read most of the entertainment articles about Indians published in the last two decades and I haven't heard of it.

Well, here's the answer (thanks to James Lujan of Intertribal Entertainment):

Institute of American Indian Arts and Major Television Networks Launch American Indian National Center for Television and FilmTaking a lead role in developing entertainment career opportunities for Native people both in front of and behind the cameras, the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Development (“IAIA”) has partnered with ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in establishing the American Indian National Center for Television and Film.

According to Dr. Robert Martin, President of IAIA, the center, located at Los Angeles’ historic Prospect Studios “will serve as a bridge between Native American talent and opportunities in the entertainment industry. From independent producers to filmmakers, editors, screenwriters and actors, the center will foster professional development and industry networking.”

The country’s major broadcasters--ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC--have joined IAIA to underwrite the cost of launching the center and will provide their expertise to support the goals of the center.

Puzzling over the FAITA awards

Despite all I've written about this year's FAITA ceremony, I don't understand the awards themselves. I mean, who is Chauntal Lewis and what the heck is Seance? (A mediocre 2006 made-for-TV movie, apparently.) I saw Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but I don't remember Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse's performance. Tortilla Heaven, for which Irene Bedard won an acting award, was completed in 2000 but not released until last year.

Were these really the top performances of 2007? The year produced a bumper crop of Native movies: Four Sheets to the Wind, Mile Post 398, Imprint, and Turquoise Rose. Yet they earned only one FAITA award between them (to Sterlin Harjo for directing Four Sheets). What's up with that?

In November I listed the American Indian Film Festival's winners. I've seen all these films and yes, these people are deserving. Other performances may have been just as good--for instance, you might prefer Tamara Podemski as supporting actress in Four Sheets--but these are sound choices. They're a lot sounder than FAITA's choices seem to be.

Clinton and Obama support Lumbees

Election '08:  Chelsea stumps for mom in regionThe 28-year-old Clinton quickly got down to politics, tailoring her brief remarks for the welcoming audience.

“I fundamentally believe my mom will be the best president for all of us,” Clinton said. “The best president for the Lumbee tribe because she supports federal recognition.”

Legislation to grant recognition to the tribe has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed for a possible Senate floor vote later this spring, Goins said.

Hillary Clinton and her primary opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, support the tribe’s petition to the federal government, Goins said.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Obama and the Race Debate.

Tribal canoes to meet tall ships

Tribe to welcome state ship May 14Leaders of the Chinook Indian tribe will canoe on the Columbia River to trade goods in the traditional manner with the tall ships Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, and her companion ship Hawaiian Chieftain, when the vessels return to Washington May 14.

After the rendezvous in Baker Bay, the tribal canoes and tall ships will proceed together to the Port of Ilwaco, where the replica sailing vessels will offer public tours and sailings.

This marks the fourth year the Chinooks are welcoming the lady Washington to Ilwaco. The activities harken back to a visit to the Columbia River by the original Lady Washington in 1792, when traded for furs with native peoples.

Tribute at the FAITA awards

One highlight at the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) ceremony was a video tribute to three actors who died recently: Julius "Josh" Drum (Thunderheart), Billy Ray Dodge (Dr. Quinn), and Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Dances with Wolves).

Charlie Hill continued the tribute to Westerman, saying he'd remember his old friend asLakota Man
Guitar Man
Family Man
Fighting Man
AIMster Man
Powwow Man
Angry Man
Laughing Man
Loving Man
Giving Man
Grumpy Man
Soul Man
Dancing Man
Peaceful Man
Ladies' Man
Holy Man
Horny Man
Music Man
Fried Bread Man
Country Man
Showman
Shaman
WestermanHill added several remarks about Westerman, among them:He loved coming here [to the FAITA ceremonies], 'cuz he loved his people, and he loved all people. Not just the Indians. He loved everybody, and he made everybody feel included. And he opened the doors to all the performers you see here tonight.

Floyd Westerman took me on the road for 30 years. ... Me and Floyd were Harold and Kumar before there was Harold and Kumar.

Floyd was a giant. He was the greatest Indian ambassador ever.Hill pointed to a guitar that had been set up on the stage:It's like he said in the clip: "You might know me from the movies. That's what I do." But you know what...this guitar? He says, "This is what I am."

So I want to ask all of you, for these three warriors that fell, that stood up for all of us, to stand one more time and give them their final standing ovation.Comment:  For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

Raccoon & Crawfish at the FAITA awards

Another treat at the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) ceremony was seeing Raccoon & Crawfish, the short Oneida film I've mentioned before. My conclusion: It was good but not great. Here's why:

The story was pretty mundane. Raccoon hunts Crawfish in shallow water. Crawfish hurts Raccoon with his claws. Raccoon goes behind a rock, comes out, and appears to die. Crawfish acts like a hero to his crawfish people. Predictably, Raccoon isn't dead after all.

The humor wasn't all that great. After some initial "Tom and Jerry"-style antics, it kind of fizzled out. If you compare it to other waterlogged cartoons such as The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo, you can see many opportunities for jokes.

The message was a tad obvious: Don't count your dead raccoons before they're buried...pride goeth before the fall...let sleeping raccoons lie. In other words, be humble and honest, not bold and boastful. Since you can get this message from almost any Bugs Bunny or Roadrunner cartoon, I was hoping for something deeper.

The CGI animation may have been the best thing about the film. It obviously took a tremendous amount of work. But it's still not up to the Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks level. As you can see below, the figures look expressive but artificial. And other than the figures, only the water moved.

All in all, I wouldn't give Raccoon & Crawfish any awards, as others have. But it was a decent first effort. I expect the Oneidas' Four Directions studio will go on to bigger and better things.

Native playwrights express themselves

Coeur d'Alene student playwrights promote expressionThe crowd was enthusiastic and responsive as the eight young student playwrights from schools on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation gathered to take a bow after hearing professional actors read their plays. Comments like "motivational as well as inspirational" and "hallelujah, great job" reflected the reaction of those in attendance at the public presentation.

It was all part of the Mentor Artists Playwrights Project from Los Angeles, which returned to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation for the third time in four years to work with local youth. It was sponsored by the tribe's Department of Education, headed by Chris Meyer, and its commitment to arts programming.

Students are each paired with a mentor who works one-on-one in a series of workshops to create these two-person, one-act plays. Some of the mentors themselves are Native students from North Idaho College and the University of Idaho. The subjects come from the students who are encouraged to look within themselves at their hopes, dreams and innermost thoughts. Then, using metaphor--often using animals or forces of nature as the media to communicate these thoughts--and with dramatic, emotional monologue, the plays unfold.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Democratic values = Indian values

Native American Superdelegates growing in importance and numbersFree, a Choctaw Indian who once ran for Congress was also interviewed by the Native American Times. How will the participation of Native Americans at the convention affect Indian people, the Democratic Party, and you? “I always say that 'Little Indian boys and girls cannot be what they cannot see.' We will have an historic number of Indian delegates at the National Convention--which will be a wonderful opportunity for us to inspire the youth to follow in our footsteps, not just to become active as voters, but as party activists and leaders, and ultimately as candidates and elected officials.”

“The Democratic Party’s values are the values of Indian people: taking care of the elderly, the children, those less fortunate, giving a helping hand to those who need it the most. The Democratic Party is about “We” not “Me,” which is so in tune with our Indian values. Key Democratic Party leaders like Chairman Dean know and appreciate this. The Democratic Party under his leadership has reached out in immeasurable ways to include Indians at all levels of the Party. Having Indian delegates at the convention will showcase that Indians are 'coming home' to a place where we are respected, valued, and needed most,” Free said to the Native American Times.Comment:  For more on the subject of values, see Hercules vs. Coyote:  Native and Euro-American Beliefs.

Kristallnacht game and Redskin magazine

Here's a comment about a role-playing game originally named Kristallnacht that applies to Redskin magazine. Neither group of creators seems to understand the problem with its chosen name.

LJ Drama--Role Playing Game Named “Kristallnacht” Causes ControversyYou did mean to offend people; you knew you were going to offend people. You just hoped to silence them with pitiful, sophomoric disclaimers. It doesn’t work that way.

You took the title of one of the most horrible, pivotal events in human history and used it for the purpose of your own entertainment. You knew you were going to hurt people and you simply didn’t care, because it was more fun and cool to use a ‘dangerous’ word for your game. Your GAME. Your pretend game based on a fictional world, that you didn’t even invent. You decided to use people’s pain and anguish and horror to have fun.

Stop saying you’re sorry, because you aren’t. You don’t have any remorse, or guilt, or intent to make reparations to the people you’re harming. You are appropriating the destruction of human lives and the horror that followed so that you can have more fun in your GAME. This is who you are. You are that kind of people.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Red·skin n.  Dated, Offensive, Taboo.

Another issue of Red Ink

Nothing but positives

Red Ink magazine celebrates latest editionIn the world of business, red ink has a negative connotation. But in the Indian world, Red Ink--the nation's only nonprofit, student-run American Indian grass-roots publication--offers nothing but positives. Printed twice a year, the glossy four-color magazine is the only publication of its kind in the country published exclusively by graduate and undergraduate students, Native and non-Native.

The latest celebration of diversity and strength of Native cultures took place on the University of Arizona's Tucson campus in late April, as the Spring 2008 issue ("Native Voices") arrived from the printers. As a full moon peeked over the red brick Poetry Center building, drummers drummed, singers sang, and event master of ceremonies Leandra Bistie, a Navajo youth leadership motivator, introduced Managing Editor Eddie Welch as "the master blaster of everything that exists in Red Ink."Comment:  I haven't read this issue, but nice cover!

Free endorses Obama

Oklahoma superdelegate endorses ObamaAnother Oklahoma superdelegate has pledged support for Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race. Kalyn Free's announcement today means four of the state's 10 superdelegates are backing the Illinois senator.

Free, a former Pittsburg County district attorney who now runs a group dedicated to recruiting and backing American Indians for public office, called Obama a "once-in-a-generation kind of leader" who is "committed to bringing American Indians into the national discussion and into the political process as voters, organizers and leaders."Comment:  For more on the subject, see Obama and the Race Debate.

Natives denounce Redskin

A couple of Natives make an obvious point: that it's fair to label Indians who would shill for a magazine named Redskin "sellouts."

Our Greatest Enemy--Sell Outs For Greed--Redskin Magazine--Spirit HawkDo they talk of returning to traditions?

Do they print articles pointing our youth to help from drug addiction, alcoholism, gang life and suicide the exploitation of our women?

Of course not. Not much money in that!

They sell way more magazines by printing trash that encourages these very things. The very name is a slap in our faces!

They claim this rag is Native owned so it's all ok? No folks, I think not. It is SELL OUT owned!

Their sole purpose is to make money at our expense, but more shameful, more treacherous, more despicable than words can describe....they do so at the expense of our youth.Redskin MagazineOn the front cover of the magazine, it proclaims "Our people have accepted the colonial perception of the words "red" and "skin" as something to be ashamed of. Hundreds of years have now passed and it's time we educated ourselves against blinding racism."

We at RSM support our women whom fight for rights while hanging a poster of a hot indian man on their wall..."

Not only are you racist Jody against your own people, but in my opinion, add sexism in there as well. Hundreds of First Nations women have been murdered and no one cares, law enforcement has done little to nothing to find out what happened to these women, who is responsible for the killings. Don't you read the news? How dare you compare your skin magazine to the efforts of hundreds of native people who put their lives on the line fighting for life--equality, justice and the true rights of all First Nations and American Indians.Comment:  The colonial perception of the words "red" and "skin" isn't the same as the modern perception of the word "redskin," which most people perceive as a slur.

I've yet to see or hear an example of Redskin magazine doing any educating against racism (whether "blinding" or otherwise). As far as I can tell, the only "educating" the magazine is doing is telling people it's okay to call Indians "redskins." In other words, to stereotype them as a separate race of savages known for their blood-colored skin and bloody behavior.

I'll say it again to any Indians who own or work for Redskin: If the turncoat fits, wear it.

Suppose the magazine does make money. Are the owners planning to give some of it back to Native people? Or are they in it solely for themselves?

True, some Indians may be able to rationalize their participation in Redskin. Perhaps they genuinely feel "redskin" isn't a slur and they'll say it to anyone, including their elders. Or they genuinely think they'll help more people than they'll hurt by appearing in the magazine. For instance, they're promoting a fundraiser for the victims of racial profiling (such as labeling Indians "redskins").

But everyone else has little or no excuse for being part of Redskin. That includes everyone who admits "redskin" is a slur and would never think of saying it to their friends or family.

Below:  Someone else known for being a turncoat.

Entertainment at the FAITA awards

The entertainment highlights at the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) ceremony included:

Keith Secola performing his anthem "Frybread" accompanied by Doors drummer John Densmore and Charlie Hill on the harmonica.

Leon Thompson and the Northwest Experience performing a fancy dance to an electronic synthesizer tune.

Chauntal Lewis and her dance group Fem doing a hot hip-hop routine.

Other performances included an opening song by the Tongva Dancers and two songs by Shelly Morningsong.

Incidentally, for those who don't know Chauntal Lewis, she's described as "Choctaw/Osage on her mother's side." Here's her official website, some photos of her, and the video that apparently made her famous:

Lindsay Fully Loaded



Alas, I couldn't find a video of Fem, but here's a video that gives you an idea of Chauntal's dance style:

Britney Spears--Gimme More



From genocide to treaty rights to Chauntal Lewis, this blog covers it all.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

Educating Russ about Redskin

Since Russell Bates is too lazy or incompetent to visit the Redskin magazine site himself, I've helpfully copied its covers to educate him about the title. In other words, to point out how incredibly wrong he.



"Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duh.
"Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duh.



"Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duh.
"Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duh.



"Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duh.

That makes three more covers in addition to the first two. Add those to the nine text examples I gave and you have 14 examples of the magazine's title being "Redskin," not "Red Skin." Duhhh.

Humor at the FAITA awards

With Charlie Hill as the host, there was a lot of humor at the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) ceremony, naturally.

Hill did a bit of his standup routine and got off some good jokes. For instance, he said it was nice to see all the brown faces in the audience so he wouldn't go snowblind. He said one of the themes the show considered was "Russell Means: Bad Dude or Bad Actor?" And he finished with some political hits. For instance, "America's going, 'Gee, are we ready for a black president?' I say why not? We already had a retarded one."

Hill later came out wearing a "I Hate the Environment" t-shirt. His rationale was that the Bush administration opposes everything that Indians value. He hoped his t-shirt might spur the administration to take global warming seriously.

Hill and actress Kateri Walker produced a video to commemorate the show's actual theme: The Long Walk to Hollywood. In it they took a long walk through Hollywood to look for signs of Indians.

They found stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Will Rogers, Jay Silverheels, Johnny Cash, and Kay Starr (Iroquois). (They drew a star for Will Sampson.) They posed in front of the studios where movies such as Dances with Wolves were produced. They visited the American Indian National Center for Television and Film, a resource center for Natives in the biz, where they met Arigon Starr in disguise. They stood in a church where Silverheels taught the first Native acting workshop, and the Bob's Big Boy where FAITA's founders first gathered. They met a passerby who just happened to be Navajo, and they passed a street named Cherokee Ave.

Note:  If they had included Indians or part-Indians such as Wayne Newton, Jonathan Winters, Burt Reynolds, and June Foray, their star search would've been more successful.

Drew Hayden Taylor told a joke from his book Me Funny. An Indian woman named all her 10 children Lloyd. When asked how she told them apart, she said she calls them by their last names.

Hill and Keith Secola did a live game-show bit titled "Name that Lyric," in which contestants had to name a song to win a prize.

Incidentally, Hill shook my hand as he walked by. I think he kind of recognizes me as the guy who works with Victor Rocha at PECHANGA.net.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

The truth about Sitting Bull

Bill Yenne’s biography of Sitting Bull strips away the mythsSitting Bull was a complicated man. Yenne said that “for more than a century, there have been those who have painted Sitting Bull as the ultimate hero or the ultimate villain of the Old West or of the Indian Wars. In fact, he was neither. He was much more complex. He was a man who could strike a hard bargain just as easily as he could strike with a coup stick. At the same time, he found himself occasionally confused, burdened with indecision, changing his mind back and forth, unsure of what to do.”

Another aspect Yenne addresses is that of Sitting Bull as mythic image of a warrior.

“I’m still stunned by how many people truly believe that Sitting Bull put on a big eagle feather headdress and led the warriors against Custer at the Greasy Grass. This is the image that had gotten him painted as the ultimate hero or ultimate villain. He becomes a caricature to support a viewpoint. This caricature has taken on a life, or parallel lives, of its own, becoming a myth that I have tried to dispel.”Comment:  I'm guessing most Americans don't know much about Sitting Bull. They don't think of him as anything but a great chief, period.

Suppose you asked them some questions about his life? E.g.,

True or false:  Sitting Bull led the charge against Custer at Little Big Horn. (False.)

True or false:  Sitting Bull appeared in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. (True.)

True or false:  Sitting Bull died at Wounded Knee. (False.)

I'm guessing most Americans wouldn't do any better than chance. They don't have misconceptions so much as no conceptions.

P.S. Those who read the graphic novel SITTING BULL get a reasonably complex view his life.

Hopi ear candling

Hopi:  a candle brought music to my ears

Liz Mulholland waxes lyrical about a treatment used by the Ancient Greeks and American IndiansI am now addicted to what is known as thermal auricular therapy, or ear candling. Though subsequent treatments have not proved as dramatic as the first, the decongested life is a revelation, and more pleasant than knocking back Sudafed.

Ear candling, a traditional therapy used by the Ancient Greeks, was popularised by the Hopi Indian tribe of the American south-west. The narrow, hollow rolled column of cotton flax is impregnated with beeswax. Now know as Hopi candles, they also contain honey, sage, St Johns Wort, and camomile. The patient lies on their side and a candle is gently inserted as far as is comfortable into the ear canal. It doesn't hurt, but it feels odd.

Winners of the 2008 FAITA awards

Saturday evening I attended the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) awards ceremony. It was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in (of course) Beverly Hills. With comedian Charlie Hill as the MC, a good time was had by all.

Here are the awards, in the order they were presented, and the presenters, to give you an idea of who was there.

Will Sampson Memorial Award:  First Nations Composer Initiative. Presented by Mary Kim Titla, the San Carlos Apache woman running for Congress in Arizona.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV (Mini-Series), Lead:  August Schellenberg for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Presented by Gil Birmingham. (Schellenberg wasn't present.)

Birmingham said that Schellenberg said that Sitting Bull was his favorite role. Schellenberg first played Sitting Bull in Crazy Horse.

Outstanding Achievement in Directing:  Sterlin Harjo for Four Sheets to the Wind. Presented by producers Gale Ann Hurd and Valerie Red Horse.

Harjo noted that he was amazed by Will Sampson's first words in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: "Juicy Fruit." Amazed that an Indian said something modern--in this case about chewing gum. He said these words stuck with him and were partially responsible for his making films about modern-day Indians.

Outstanding Musical Achievement (Contemporary):  Fara Palmer. Presented by actor Miko Hughes. (Palmer wasn't present.)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress, TV:  Tonantzin Carmelo for CSI: Miami. Presented by newswoman Hattie Kauffman and Oneida Represenative Ray Halbritter.

Carmelo noted that the CSI: Miami episode has caused some controversy, but she thanked CBS for devoting an hour to a modern-day Indian story. (An episode about an Indian murdering and scalping someone? I'll say it caused some controversy.)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV Series:  Adam Beach for Law & Order: SVU. Presented by FAITA trustee Shawna Clay and Gary Farmer. (Beach wasn't present.)

Outstanding Literary Achievement:  Drew Hayden Taylor for his book Me Funny. Presented by Jhane Myers, head of the American Indian National Center for Television and Film.

Trustee Award:  Christina Wright for costume design for Native Voices at the Autry. Presented by Mark Reed of American Indians in Film and TV.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor, TV (Mini-Series), Supporting:  Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Presented by Delanna Studi.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:  Chauntal Lewis for Seance. Presented by Bird Runningwater of the Sundance Institute.

Outstanding Musical Achievement (Traditional):  Davis Mitchell. Presented by FAITA trustee Donna Talamantes and Saginaw Grant. (Mitchell wasn't present.)

Legacy Award: Silent actress Minnie Ha Ha. Presented by Maree Cheatham.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Film:  Irene Bedard for Tortilla Heaven. Presented by actor Zahn McClarnon.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

Simpsons roundup

The Simpsons is one of the most popular and influential TV series of all time. Therefore, it's instructive to see how the show has treated Indians. Here's a roundup of links on the subject.

Adam Beach at NIGA

Adam Beach:  ‘Our Worst Enemy Is Us’A member of the Saulteaux Tribe of Manitoba, Canada, Beach indicated his support for gaming in Native America and encouraged future generations to show interest.

"Everything's a cycle," he said. "It takes three generations to make a change, and if we as the younger generation don't participate and look at the future of gaming within ourselves, we're going to lose the strength to push forward.

"It's important just to participate, to learn where our new direction is going."His planned Internet venture:Beach said he is "putting together an Internet TV show, basically using the Internet to profile who we [Native Americans] are and what we're doing, just change that perspective more than what Hollywood can do."

Beach said he hopes that the show, which he expects to start shooting as early as July, would depict lives of people he has known.

"I have friends who are in gangs, I've been talking to a lot of people who are in prostitution and talking to a lot of people who are senators, wealthy businessmen, actors, writers, lawyers," he said. "I'm trying to address every issue that needs to be told and talked about, from success to struggles."Comment:  For my sightings of Adam at NIGA, see Off to San Diego. For pictures of Adam at NIGA, see More Pix from NIGA.

For more about Adam, see All About Adam Beach. For more on the subject of gaming, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.

"Squaw" on the way out

Pressure for place names to drop 'squaw'Moves to eliminate the term "squaw" from names of geographical sites are accelerating because of protests that the term is offensive.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has renamed 16 valleys, creeks and other sites so far this year. Pending proposals mean 2008 should see more changes than any year in a decade, the board says.

American Indians consider "squaw" a derogatory term for women, says Jacqueline Johnson of the National Congress of American Indians. Native Americans have pushed states and the federal government to eliminate it.Below:  Piestewa Peak in Phoenix.

Lacrosse crosses the Pacific

Lacrosse instills warrior camaraderieSince 2001, the Okinawa Lacrosse Club has strived to bring people together through the full contact sport and provide the opportunity to enjoy the game.

The club is open to all service members, and includes several Japanese members as well. This creates a diverse group and a sense of camaraderie between local citizens and their military neighbors, said Jim Peterson, the club's manager.

In recent years, the lacrosse club has traveled to mainland Japan, Spain and Hawaii to play in international tournaments, where many team members discovered that the warrior spirit transcends all cultural boundaries.

Roundup of Native documentaries

A roundup of links on Native documentaries and videos, filmmakers who make such films, and film festivals and websites that feature them. That includes TV documentaries and news reports.