Mendota Pow Wow 2009 @ Mendota Minnesota

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Rhoda’s movie was filmed in many locations in the Twin Cities. The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community was one of those places.  Our own Jim Anderson was one of the actors, with Mitch Walking Elk, Philip Little Thunder,  and other familiar faces. I watched many of the scenes and enjoyed it very much.

Congratulations to all of you who made the movie possible.

A very special congratulations to Rhonda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNIE3NnpsHY .

Click here for a copy of the award.

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This C-D is for one of the singers who passed away in 2009. A Tribute to Hayna Fatz.
There are 17 wonderful songs.
If you are interested in buying a C-D you can call the Mendota Office 651-452-4141 there are no C-D’s at the office. We will get Nation Wright or Pat Mellang to call you.

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222-Paper
Please check out these sculptures, they are wonderful!

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This is are very own Tiffany Eggenberg from our community, lets go  support her. Sharon

 
Opening Reception is at 6pm, Screening at 7pm.

All my Relations arts program will debut “Magic Wands” by film maker Elizabeth Day along with a new short by Jonathan Thunder, and a presentation of Hawk Eyes by Barbara Britain-a documentary recorded in Ancient Traders Gallery.  Other short works by American Indian filmmakers to be announced. 

In Magic Wands an Ojibwe elder (speaking Ojibwemowin) tells her granddaughter the story of a young boy who experiences wild ricing for the first time.  The boy is captivated by the power of his ricing sticks, which he believes to be ‘magic wands’.  Immersed as the grandmother narrates the tale in Ojibwe, she answers her granddaughters question about the sacredness and importance of wild rice to the Ojibwe people. 

Ancient Traders Gallery, 1113 E Franklin Ave

Please enter near Marias Cafe.  All My Relations arts programs at Ancient Traders Gallery are a cultural collaboration of Great Neighborhoods! Development Corporation.  For more info call 612-870-6115

I had displayed my 3 pieces of the Dakota Commemorative March in a show in January and Barbara Britain filmed me talking about the pieces for the documentary Hawk Eyes. 
Tiffany

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Leonard Peltier to get first full parole hearing in 15 years

MORE ARTICLES ABOUT PELTIER

A hearing is set for this coming Tuesday in Lewisburg, Pa., where Peltier is incarcerated in a federal prison, according to this story.

Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 standoff on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He has claimed the FBI framed him, which the agency denies. His case has become a cause celebre among activists and celebrities.

A 1992 documentary film, “Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story,” was produced and narrated by Robert Redford. Author Peter Matthiessen’s book, “In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,” which came out that same year, also details the events surrounding Peltier’s case.

Imprisoned Native American Activist Leonard Peltier Parole Hearing
RIGHT NOW, today, Tuesday 28th, 2009!

Video tribute to Leonard Peltier Original music by Buggin Malone

Actor Peter Coyote, good friend of Peltier, urges people to write their congressional representatives on behalf of Leonard Peltier’s release.

As of this year, my good friend, Native American leader Leonard Peltier, has been imprisoned for 29 years for a murder that even the government has no idea if he committed or not. The Appeals Court judge that sentenced him wrote a letter to President Clinton asking for clemency, and informing the President that the case had many errors in it, but that his hands had been tied. Furthermore, he held the FBI equally culpable for the events that started a massive fire-fight on the Sioux reservation that resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents.

Leonard has been in prison longer than many people convicted of murder. He has been eligible for parole for many years and every appeal has been denied. Both his parents have died while he was incarcerated and he has survived two attempts on his life; had his jaw wired shut after botched surgery and is now suffering from old age. During the 1996 Democratic Convention I asked a Deputy in the Justice Department about Leonard and he told me, "When you first spoke to me, I thought you were crazy. I’m embarrassed to say that everything you told me was the truth. All I can say is that there are some very powerful people in Washington that do not want to see him leave prison alive."

Here are the facts of the case.

In 1973 the highest per capita murder rate in the country was the Sioux reservation at Pine Ridge. The head of Oglalla Sioux police force, a virtual dictator named Dick Wilson and his GOON Squad (Guardians of the Oglalla Nation) were systematically picking off everyone working for electoral reform on the reservation and traditional elders—more than 60 in that year alone. The situation got so bad, that the tribe’s elder women called the American Indian Movement (AIM) for help, and they arrived and set up an encampment, with women and children, schools and kitchens.

In this tense and murderous climate, on June 26, 1975, two FBI agents in unmarked cars followed a pick-up truck onto the Jumping Bull ranch supposedly to serve a warrant on a young boy who had stolen some cowboy boots. It also happened to be the same day that GOON Squad chief Dick Wilson was in Washington, illegally signing away the tribe’s uranium rights to multinational mining corporations. The families immediately became alarmed and feared an attack. Shots were heard and a shoot-out erupted. Tribal police had been readied as back-up outside the ranch, but when they heard the return fire, they abandoned the FBI men who were wounded, then eventually executed at close range. Everyone who was there insists that Leonard was minding the children and not even involved in the gun-fight. When they searched the bodies and found the Federal ID the Native leaders dispersed far and wide, correctly anticipating that the reservation would be over-run ‘y Federal forces. It was, and they shot it to pieces, instituting a week long reign of terror where elders were harassed and beaten, houses burned and shot up, and the native population terrorized.

Leonard was finally captured in Canada and brought to trial where he and his cohorts were freed by an all-white jury. The FBI was enraged and assembled a new case by fabricating evidence, suborning witnesses, breaking the chains of evidence, having witnesses perjure themselves—all errors cited by the Appeals judge who later petitioned on Leonard’s behalf, but despite numerous errors, Leonard was sentenced to life in prison.

His case was masterfully explained by author Peter Mathiessen in his book, The Spirit of Crazy Horse which was kept off bookstore and library shelves for eight years due to a suit brought by two FBI men who did not like the way they were portrayed. More than 16 million people around the world have signed petitions demanding his release. Amnesty International, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Congress of American Indians, the Robert F. Kennedy

Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others, have called Leonard a political prisoner who should be immediately released. Even the government finally admitted they had no idea of who had killed the agents. Native warrior has confessed to the crime, but refuses to turn himself in saying it was an act of war.

29 years later Leonard languishes in prison, a political prisoner, tarnishing the reputation of the legal system of our country; offering cheap propaganda to our enemies, and a reminder of the deep injustice any country is capable of committing when they abandon the rule of law, to seek a predetermined outcome. I have been Leonard’s friend since before he went to prison. I have never abandoned efforts to see him freed and I am asking anyone who hears or reads these remarks to learn something about the case by reading Peter Mathiessen’s book or going to www.freeleonard.org If you do, you will certainly want to do something. You might begin with a call or hand-written letter to your congress-person. Thank you.

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This story from http://www.NewsForNatives.com

Love him or hate him, Think he should remain in custody or think he never should have been, Please leave your comments below:

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www.StewartDesigns.com

Designs can be taken from your own photos or even your own art work.  All engravings are one-of-a-kind, created for unique one-of-a-kind people! Your imagination is the limit!

Styles of engraving are done free hand with miniature grind stones and is very similar to scratch board art or an ink sketch only it is created on glass or mirror like the Blue Ridge Lodge or the Family Time Wolves engravings on 24 X 36″ bronze mirrors  found at the website.

There is an other option that is of Sand Carving, to get a

better idea of what can be created for any special occasion. Please go to the website at

www.StewartDesigns.com

She may be making mugs for the Pow Wow. She does beautiful work.

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There are  two main purposes for the CD.  One, it is to be played at wakes, funerals, and memorials with the hope that the CD will provide comfort, encouragement, and spiritual strength for those who are  in mourning.  For those Dakota individuals who grew up with these Dakota hymns, either from the Presbyterian or the Episcopalian Hymnals, or both,  these hymns are memories.  They are memories of certain places, or at certain times, or of the loved ones who have passed into the spirit world.  For example, p. 97 of the Episcopalian hymnal, “Sweet Bye and Bye” (which is on the CD), always reminds me of my father, Chris Cavender Sr.  This was one of his favorite hymns and it was sung at his graveside.

Two, it is to be used as one of many teaching tools/helps in revitalizing the Dakota language, which is in crisis.  For example, in my community, Yellow Medicine Community, there are only six (6) speakers left in a population of approximately 450 individuals (this is about one percent, or 1%).  I have tried to pronounce (articulate) the words as clearly as I can so that it will be helpful in the teaching of and in the revitalization process.

I have titled the Compact Disc, “Mato Nunpa Ic’icidowan,”  that is “Mato Nunpa Sings With Himself.”  The reason for this title is that I sing all four parts:  the melody (or lead), the tenor, the baritone, and the bass.

Also, I wish to thank Gordon Bird and his wife, Joanne, who encouraged me to do this project and who, also, helped me considerably.  In fact, I don’t think this CD would have materialized without them.  So, I thank them very much!

This has been a labor of love.  Although the CD project cost me close to $3,000, I am giving it free to each Dakota person who wants one.  Also, I am giving it, free of charge, to those non-Dakota individuals who are interested in the CD.  In September 2009, I will be 69 winters.  So, this is a legacy which I leave for the Dakota People of Minnesota.  I want them to say, after I am gone, “Mato Nunpa sang these hymns, and wanted the Dakota Language to live.”

Chris Mato Nunpa Dakota, Wahpetunwan, “Dwellers In the Leaves”

Member, Pezihuta Zizi Otunwe,  Can Kaga Otida, “Loghouse Dwellers” (My Ospaye, or kinship unit, or clan)

“Yellow Medicine Community”

(BIA terms, Upper Sioux Community)

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I’m a comedy club business owner in the Twin Cities. I produce monthly comedy showcases at the new Burnsville Performing Art Center.  On July 10-11^th I have a great Native American Comedian named Marc Yaffee from Los Angeles that will be performing.  I’m trying to get the word out to Native American communities to hopefully come out and see his performance. A video preview of his act can be found on my site www.minnehahacomedyclub.com/bpac.html.    Any other suggestion as far as newspapers or radio that market the Native American Communities would be great help.  I have flyers Id be willing to mail out as well with show information to pass along.

Marc Yaffee’s personal website is www.marcyaffee.com

Thanks!

Michael Orensteen

Owner – MinneHAHA Comedy Club

www.minnehahacomedyclub.com
651-270-5783

HOW MANY DAYS ARE IN A MILLION SECONDS 

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