Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Cherokee Nation Newsletters
Cherokee Nation Newsletters
Osiyo!
The Cherokee Nation celebrated two appointments to important posts and the opening of a $9.5 million road project last week.
Delaware County residents can enjoy a new 9.75-mile stretch of paved highway that the Cherokee Nation just completed. Delaware County Road North 4580 connects Kenwood to the Twin Oaks area. It was paved to provide safer travel for tribal and non-tribal citizens living in the area and opens a new corridor to increase economic development. This year, the Cherokee Nation plans to invest $11.8 million in road and bridge repairs.
The tribe’s senior advisor of education services, Neil Morton, has been appointed as a Sequoyah Fellow by Northeastern State University. Morton, of Stilwell, will keep an office at NSU and serve as an advisor on the liberal arts, language and indigenous studies programs while continuing his position with the tribe. The honorary position had only ever been held by the late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.
Fluent Cherokee speaker Candessa Tehee was named Cherokee Heritage Center’s new executive director. Tehee, of Tahlequah, formerly managed the tribe’s language program. Tehee will graduate this spring from the University of Oklahoma with a doctorate in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology.
For more Cherokee Nation news and information on events, please follow the links below.
Wado!
Cherokee Nation building new health center in Jay – 01/27/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012714CherokeeNationbuildingnewhealthcenterinJay.aspx
The Cherokee Nation is pressing forward with plans to vastly expand its health care system across northeast Oklahoma.
Cherokee Nation Marshals investigating incident involving K-9 – 01/27/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012714CherokeeNationMarshalsinvestigatingincidentinvolvingK-9.aspx
An investigation is underway regarding an incident in which a Cherokee Nation Marshal Service K-9 bit a motorist during a routine traffic stop on Thursday.
Morton named Sequoyah Fellow by NSU – 01/24/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012414MortonnamedSequoyahFellowbyNSU.aspx
One of Cherokee Nation’s top education officials has been named a Sequoyah Fellow by Northeastern State University. The honorary position had only ever been held by the late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.
Cherokee Heritage Center names new executive director – 01/23/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012314CherokeeHeritageCenternamesnewexecutivedirector.aspx
Twenty years ago when Candessa Tehee worked as a teenage tour guide at the Cherokee Heritage Center, she had no idea she would someday be in charge of the operation. During the January board meeting, the Cherokee National Historical Society Board of Directors named Tehee the new executive director of the Cherokee Heritage Center.
Cherokee Nation completes $9.5 million road project in Delaware County – 01/22/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012214CherokeeNationcompletes$95millionroadprojectinDelawareCounty.aspx
The Cherokee Nation has completed a $9.5 million road project in southern Delaware County. Nearly 10 miles of dirt road connecting Kenwood to the Twin Oaks area was paved to provide safer travel for tribal and non-tribal citizens who live in the area.
Cherokee Nation officials hosting reception for Cherokee veterans – 01/21/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012114CherokeeNationofficialshostingreceptionforCherokeeveterans.aspx
Whether it is a service medal or a photo of a uniformed soldier, Cherokee Nation officials want to honor Cherokee veterans by showcasing military artifacts and memorabilia.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day statement from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker – 01/20/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012014MartinLutherKingJrDaystatementfromCherokeeNationPrincipalChiefBillJohnBaker.aspx
As we recognize and honor Martin Luther King today, it is a good time to reflect on where we are as a country
Osiyo!
The Cherokee Nation celebrated two appointments to important posts and the opening of a $9.5 million road project last week.
Delaware County residents can enjoy a new 9.75-mile stretch of paved highway that the Cherokee Nation just completed. Delaware County Road North 4580 connects Kenwood to the Twin Oaks area. It was paved to provide safer travel for tribal and non-tribal citizens living in the area and opens a new corridor to increase economic development. This year, the Cherokee Nation plans to invest $11.8 million in road and bridge repairs.
The tribe’s senior advisor of education services, Neil Morton, has been appointed as a Sequoyah Fellow by Northeastern State University. Morton, of Stilwell, will keep an office at NSU and serve as an advisor on the liberal arts, language and indigenous studies programs while continuing his position with the tribe. The honorary position had only ever been held by the late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.
Fluent Cherokee speaker Candessa Tehee was named Cherokee Heritage Center’s new executive director. Tehee, of Tahlequah, formerly managed the tribe’s language program. Tehee will graduate this spring from the University of Oklahoma with a doctorate in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology.
For more Cherokee Nation news and information on events, please follow the links below.
Wado!
Cherokee Nation building new health center in Jay – 01/27/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012714CherokeeNationbuildingnewhealthcenterinJay.aspx
The Cherokee Nation is pressing forward with plans to vastly expand its health care system across northeast Oklahoma.
Cherokee Nation Marshals investigating incident involving K-9 – 01/27/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012714CherokeeNationMarshalsinvestigatingincidentinvolvingK-9.aspx
An investigation is underway regarding an incident in which a Cherokee Nation Marshal Service K-9 bit a motorist during a routine traffic stop on Thursday.
Morton named Sequoyah Fellow by NSU – 01/24/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012414MortonnamedSequoyahFellowbyNSU.aspx
One of Cherokee Nation’s top education officials has been named a Sequoyah Fellow by Northeastern State University. The honorary position had only ever been held by the late Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.
Cherokee Heritage Center names new executive director – 01/23/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012314CherokeeHeritageCenternamesnewexecutivedirector.aspx
Twenty years ago when Candessa Tehee worked as a teenage tour guide at the Cherokee Heritage Center, she had no idea she would someday be in charge of the operation. During the January board meeting, the Cherokee National Historical Society Board of Directors named Tehee the new executive director of the Cherokee Heritage Center.
Cherokee Nation completes $9.5 million road project in Delaware County – 01/22/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012214CherokeeNationcompletes$95millionroadprojectinDelawareCounty.aspx
The Cherokee Nation has completed a $9.5 million road project in southern Delaware County. Nearly 10 miles of dirt road connecting Kenwood to the Twin Oaks area was paved to provide safer travel for tribal and non-tribal citizens who live in the area.
Cherokee Nation officials hosting reception for Cherokee veterans – 01/21/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012114CherokeeNationofficialshostingreceptionforCherokeeveterans.aspx
Whether it is a service medal or a photo of a uniformed soldier, Cherokee Nation officials want to honor Cherokee veterans by showcasing military artifacts and memorabilia.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day statement from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker – 01/20/2014
http://www.cherokee.org/News/Stories/012014MartinLutherKingJrDaystatementfromCherokeeNationPrincipalChiefBillJohnBaker.aspx
As we recognize and honor Martin Luther King today, it is a good time to reflect on where we are as a country
Links to videos of interest
Links to videos of interest
Jennifer Tsun Here are a couple of links to videos:
Suzanne Patles at SFU, January 24. She tells it real clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkN1Yz88VDU&feature=youtu.be
"Come Home" a song remembering missing and murdered Aboriginal women:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgPy-EAgyPQ
Jennifer Tsun Here are a couple of links to videos:
Suzanne Patles at SFU, January 24. She tells it real clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkN1Yz88VDU&feature=youtu.be
"Come Home" a song remembering missing and murdered Aboriginal women:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgPy-EAgyPQ
STEERING THE REVOLUTION
STEERING THE REVOLUTION
http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2014/01/29/steering-the-revolution/
http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2014/01/29/steering-the-revolution/
Race is a Construct
Race is a Construct
From the Eagle Watch
January 30, 2014
Commentary from Kittoh Nokomis
Race is a Construct
We are All Human Beings
It's a fact! Any fertile human being can produce fertile offspring with
any other fertile human being of the opposite sex. We are not separate
species like lion & tiger, donkey & horse or gorilla & human.
Women cannot make babies with women nor can men make babies with men.
Regardless of our cultural proclivities, this is a fact.
So then, what about race? It's easy to put labels on things but are they
accurate? What does race really describe? Is it a shade of skin colour?
Or is it a place of origin?
It looks to us that we are all shades of brown, some very pinkish and some
purplish. We all shed the same red blood when cut. We share over 95% of
our DNA, not only with each other but also with our humble relatives, the
earthworms.
A social system of racism and hierarchy has been established, based
entirely on a fraud of racial difference. Many lies follow out of the
original lie of race.
When newcomers came to these shores, they were welcomed as brothers until
they attacked like enemies. The Crown sought to keep Indigenous apart
from settlers because the Crown wanted to cash in. The settlers were
wanting to become "Indians" in droves because they saw a better way of
life. This was not permitted. It's still an issue. Being a Wannabee
isn't such a bad thing as long as you're prepared to pay your dues.
Today, it appears the only choice for Indigenous is to join in the frenzy
to dig up the earth. Is this the only way we can survive?? I thought
Indigenous ties to the land were an essential ingredient in being
Indigenous. If you're out to dig it all up, can you really call yourself
Indigenous? When you can no longer hear the cries of the Earth through
the voices of all her Children, how dare you call yourself Indigenous??
Assimilation is real. Your identity is much more than your Face. Your
name is something you hide behind.
For many years, mainstream archeologists have claimed that human life
began in Africa based on the findings of one Louis Leakey. Our legends
have always indicated otherwise. A growing body of archeological evidence
also reveals human origins on Turtle Island. People like Jeff Goodman
have dedicated their lives to bringing out the truth. This is not
politically expedient so these teachings have been suppressed.
Instead of claiming to be "First Nations" who got here after the last ice
age about 12,000 to 10,000 years ago, we assert that we have been here for
"time immemorial". This is based on 125,000 years to 250,000 years which
is a really long time, forever if you only live for 100 years. It could be
even longer.
Yes, we went south for awhile. We also traveled all around the world
exchanging dna with people wherever we went.
The discussion continues on forums like this one:
http://www.thescienceforum.com/pseudoscience/27425-did-humans-originate-america.html
It appears that people cling to what they already know even when the
contrary evidence stares them in the face. How do any of us really know
where and when human life began on earth?? Isn't it rather arrogant to
think we KNOW. While some Biblical scholars claim it is a historical
record, our legends are stories that we tell to comfort ourselves. Do you
want to hear the story of why dogs sniff butt?? We got answers for
everything but not everyone takes these stories seriously.
Scientists take themselves way too seriously. They just hate to admit
they are wrong and have to change their theories. When the first
newcomers came here, our ancestors told them about tigers and elephants.
The newcomers said, no, you don't know what you're talking about. We
know better than you that tigers and elephants could not possibly have
lived here.
Then their scientists found the bones of saber toothed tigers and woolly
mammoths. They forgot how we had told them this in the first place. Some
people like to think they know it all and everyone else is ignorant.
We live in an age when science is like religion. Watch out, you don't
utter some "blasphemy" against science. Look at how scientist
whistleblowers are suppressed. We just read a piece about
microbiologists. What secrets did they take to their graves?, we shudder
to ask.
We like the legend about how the first humans fell to earth like stars,
each starting up a family, then clan, then tribe. As David Michael Wolfe
said, "Tribes and nations come and go; clans and families are forever".
We are told today that less than 20% of humans are Indigenous. Just what
does this mean? That everyone else is from some other planet? Or that
80% of people are not living in a place to which they are Indigenous. Or
does it mean 80% have lost Indigenous ties to the land, including
language.
How does it work for all the people like me and mine who are of "mixed
racial ancestry"? We're not "mixed blood" anymore than anyone else. We
are all a mixture of our two parents.
There's a thing called recessive gene which brings up a lot of unhealthy
traits. It looks like a good shot of outside blood rejuvenates a tribe.
Humans are highly promiscuous creatures as well as tending to migrate. We
adopt traits and practices that appear to help us survive in some way.
Today, everybody is in a big identity crisis. Here, on Turtle Island we
are caught up in a struggle where ethnic identity is of paramount
importance. It's about Indigenous title and who are the rightful owners
of the land.
Many questions arise like "what happened?" My elders taught that the land
owns us. What a piece of arrogance to claim "ownership" of the land.
Yes, we have our ancestral territories which we can mark out but it's not
the same as ownership. The word "my" has many meanings. There's a big
difference between saying, "my car" and "my mother". Describing
relationships with the word "my" is completely different from claiming
property. WTF.
The English language is greatly lacking in nuance of meaning.
We anticipate someone getting ticked off here. We have to ask, "What
about the descendants of Joseph Brant and family?? The Turtle Clan people
whose mothers are Ongwehonweh and whose fathers are Masons, sons of Robert
Kerr etc.??"
What about the descendants of the fur traders who made babies with
Indigenous women, guys like George Simpson of HBC. After turning out
their "country wives", all these colonial men now have a stake through
their offspring with Indigenous women.
Nowadays everyone is becoming more territorial and warlike. Is it because
of overpopulation? Or is it because of lifestyle that requires so much
digging up of minerals and elements that also destroys the water and air
as well as the face of the land where animals and plants, All Our
Relations, can thrive in harmony?
Racial hatred is based on a lie. We had to say this finally. It is just
self evident to us. Racial hatred is not going away but only seems to be
getting worse these days.
Many questions must be addressed. The historical record desperately needs
to be corrected.
We can now kill each other in droves or we can find a way to overcome our
hatred and fear and make peace. We each have a choice. What is yours??
Kittoh
From the Eagle Watch
January 30, 2014
Commentary from Kittoh Nokomis
Race is a Construct
We are All Human Beings
It's a fact! Any fertile human being can produce fertile offspring with
any other fertile human being of the opposite sex. We are not separate
species like lion & tiger, donkey & horse or gorilla & human.
Women cannot make babies with women nor can men make babies with men.
Regardless of our cultural proclivities, this is a fact.
So then, what about race? It's easy to put labels on things but are they
accurate? What does race really describe? Is it a shade of skin colour?
Or is it a place of origin?
It looks to us that we are all shades of brown, some very pinkish and some
purplish. We all shed the same red blood when cut. We share over 95% of
our DNA, not only with each other but also with our humble relatives, the
earthworms.
A social system of racism and hierarchy has been established, based
entirely on a fraud of racial difference. Many lies follow out of the
original lie of race.
When newcomers came to these shores, they were welcomed as brothers until
they attacked like enemies. The Crown sought to keep Indigenous apart
from settlers because the Crown wanted to cash in. The settlers were
wanting to become "Indians" in droves because they saw a better way of
life. This was not permitted. It's still an issue. Being a Wannabee
isn't such a bad thing as long as you're prepared to pay your dues.
Today, it appears the only choice for Indigenous is to join in the frenzy
to dig up the earth. Is this the only way we can survive?? I thought
Indigenous ties to the land were an essential ingredient in being
Indigenous. If you're out to dig it all up, can you really call yourself
Indigenous? When you can no longer hear the cries of the Earth through
the voices of all her Children, how dare you call yourself Indigenous??
Assimilation is real. Your identity is much more than your Face. Your
name is something you hide behind.
For many years, mainstream archeologists have claimed that human life
began in Africa based on the findings of one Louis Leakey. Our legends
have always indicated otherwise. A growing body of archeological evidence
also reveals human origins on Turtle Island. People like Jeff Goodman
have dedicated their lives to bringing out the truth. This is not
politically expedient so these teachings have been suppressed.
Instead of claiming to be "First Nations" who got here after the last ice
age about 12,000 to 10,000 years ago, we assert that we have been here for
"time immemorial". This is based on 125,000 years to 250,000 years which
is a really long time, forever if you only live for 100 years. It could be
even longer.
Yes, we went south for awhile. We also traveled all around the world
exchanging dna with people wherever we went.
The discussion continues on forums like this one:
http://www.thescienceforum.com/pseudoscience/27425-did-humans-originate-america.html
It appears that people cling to what they already know even when the
contrary evidence stares them in the face. How do any of us really know
where and when human life began on earth?? Isn't it rather arrogant to
think we KNOW. While some Biblical scholars claim it is a historical
record, our legends are stories that we tell to comfort ourselves. Do you
want to hear the story of why dogs sniff butt?? We got answers for
everything but not everyone takes these stories seriously.
Scientists take themselves way too seriously. They just hate to admit
they are wrong and have to change their theories. When the first
newcomers came here, our ancestors told them about tigers and elephants.
The newcomers said, no, you don't know what you're talking about. We
know better than you that tigers and elephants could not possibly have
lived here.
Then their scientists found the bones of saber toothed tigers and woolly
mammoths. They forgot how we had told them this in the first place. Some
people like to think they know it all and everyone else is ignorant.
We live in an age when science is like religion. Watch out, you don't
utter some "blasphemy" against science. Look at how scientist
whistleblowers are suppressed. We just read a piece about
microbiologists. What secrets did they take to their graves?, we shudder
to ask.
We like the legend about how the first humans fell to earth like stars,
each starting up a family, then clan, then tribe. As David Michael Wolfe
said, "Tribes and nations come and go; clans and families are forever".
We are told today that less than 20% of humans are Indigenous. Just what
does this mean? That everyone else is from some other planet? Or that
80% of people are not living in a place to which they are Indigenous. Or
does it mean 80% have lost Indigenous ties to the land, including
language.
How does it work for all the people like me and mine who are of "mixed
racial ancestry"? We're not "mixed blood" anymore than anyone else. We
are all a mixture of our two parents.
There's a thing called recessive gene which brings up a lot of unhealthy
traits. It looks like a good shot of outside blood rejuvenates a tribe.
Humans are highly promiscuous creatures as well as tending to migrate. We
adopt traits and practices that appear to help us survive in some way.
Today, everybody is in a big identity crisis. Here, on Turtle Island we
are caught up in a struggle where ethnic identity is of paramount
importance. It's about Indigenous title and who are the rightful owners
of the land.
Many questions arise like "what happened?" My elders taught that the land
owns us. What a piece of arrogance to claim "ownership" of the land.
Yes, we have our ancestral territories which we can mark out but it's not
the same as ownership. The word "my" has many meanings. There's a big
difference between saying, "my car" and "my mother". Describing
relationships with the word "my" is completely different from claiming
property. WTF.
The English language is greatly lacking in nuance of meaning.
We anticipate someone getting ticked off here. We have to ask, "What
about the descendants of Joseph Brant and family?? The Turtle Clan people
whose mothers are Ongwehonweh and whose fathers are Masons, sons of Robert
Kerr etc.??"
What about the descendants of the fur traders who made babies with
Indigenous women, guys like George Simpson of HBC. After turning out
their "country wives", all these colonial men now have a stake through
their offspring with Indigenous women.
Nowadays everyone is becoming more territorial and warlike. Is it because
of overpopulation? Or is it because of lifestyle that requires so much
digging up of minerals and elements that also destroys the water and air
as well as the face of the land where animals and plants, All Our
Relations, can thrive in harmony?
Racial hatred is based on a lie. We had to say this finally. It is just
self evident to us. Racial hatred is not going away but only seems to be
getting worse these days.
Many questions must be addressed. The historical record desperately needs
to be corrected.
We can now kill each other in droves or we can find a way to overcome our
hatred and fear and make peace. We each have a choice. What is yours??
Kittoh
"Hearts on the Ground" video
"Hearts on the Ground" video
From the Eagle Watch
January 30, 2014
FYI
This video deals with the heart wrenching issue of Indigenous children
being taken from their families. It is just another tactic of
psychological warfare with the goal of complete assimilation or death.
Kittoh
WATCH and SHARE the "Hearts on the Ground" video here:
www.LakotaLaw.org/Action
From the Eagle Watch
January 30, 2014
FYI
This video deals with the heart wrenching issue of Indigenous children
being taken from their families. It is just another tactic of
psychological warfare with the goal of complete assimilation or death.
Kittoh
WATCH and SHARE the "Hearts on the Ground" video here:
www.LakotaLaw.org/Action
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