Saturday, January 31, 2009

Canada's most decorated "Indian" soldier. Francis Pegahmagabow

Dad and I went to Ottawa for Christmas vacation, to see the sisters and my niece (Beebee!). While we were there, we also went to the Canadian War Museum. This is the first installment posting of our trip there.

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[Pics click to enlarge.]

Regalia Headdress of Canada's most decorated "Indian" soldier.

headdress, francis pegahmagabow

Closeup view of Francis' medals.
Canadian military medals; Francis Pegahmagabow.

[Canadian War Museum interpretive plaque, below:]

SNIPER

Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow is the most decorated First Peoples soldier in Canadian military history.


An Ojibwa from the Parry Island Band in Ontario, Francis Pegahmagabow enlisted in August 1914 and served until the end of the war. He was a skilled sniper and trench raider, and one of only 39 men un the entire Canadian Corps to receive the Military Medal with two bars (in other words, three times). After the war, Pegahmagabow became chief, then councilor, of the Parry Island Band.


Canadian War Museum plaque for Francis Pegahmagabow

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Francis_Pegahmagabow's Wikipedia article

Review of Three Day Road, Novel inspired by Francis.

Francis Pegahmagabow singled himself out at the Battle_of_Passchendaele

The movie, Passchendaele, has become the biggest movie of all time in Canadian cinematic history.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Minus 40, with the mindchill

Politics and Culture stuff:

Leonard Peltier moved and assaulted. his sister feels that this may be an attempt to interfere with his upcoming parole hearing.

Interviews from the "Defenders of the Land" gathering.
"... Between November 12-14, 2008, the historic Defenders of the Land gathering took place in Winnipeg. The gathering brought together dozens of grassroots activists, elders, youth, women and men from Indigenous communities across "Canada" who are in active struggle to defend their land and assert self-determination..."

Ted Haggard facing more charges of hypocrisy.

Winona LaDuke article; Uranium Mining, Native Resistance, and the Greener Path.

More than words: Can Canada's dying languages be saved?
"... there are around 50 indigenous languages spoken in Canada (other organizations reach higher figures by counting certain dialects as separate languages), and 222,210 people reported them as a mother tongue in the 2006 census. Only a handful of these languages -- principally Inuktitut, Ojibway and various dialects of Cree -- can be expected to survive without active intervention, according to linguistics experts. In 1951, 87% of aboriginal Canadians reported an indigenous language as a mother tongue compared with 21% by 2001 and 19% in 2006..."

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, April 20-24, 2009.
"... The purpose of the summit is to enable Indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to develop key messages and recommendations to be articulated to the world at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009..."

My friend, Larry Mitchell (Potowatomi, deceased) of The Native Blog, would have been very interested in this story; Daniel Inouye, American Senator, is trying to get compensation for a band of U.S. Potowatomi who fled to Canada, after being dispossessed by the ethnic cleansing of Andrew Jackson in the 1800's. U.S. senator campaigns to pay back Canada's 'lost tribe'.
"... As early as the late 1800s, petitions were being made by the Pottawatomi heirs in Canada to collect payments promised by the U.S. government at the time of the removals.
A 1908 report to Congress concluded that if the claims from Canada were judged "solely on the basis of descent, then it would seem that these Canadian Indians would be entitled to the same share in any fund arising from the claim" as U.S. Pottawatomi.
But American officials repeatedly balked at issuing payments to natives beyond the U.S. border. Although Pottawatomi descendants in the U.S. have received recognition and compensation for the displacement of their ancestors, their Canadian cousins have so far received nothing..."

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The National Film Board of Canada has put is putting all of its works online. This is an incredible resource that all Canadians (and the world) can now freely access.



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Artstuff:

Bingorage wishlist item at Jerry's Artarama: Item# 62532; 96" x 30 Yards, Unprimed Cotton Duck Roll.

Casting call for young Native actors, for upcoming "Twilight" sequel. January 30 deadline.

Another Native Blog; Keex' Kwan. Pics and reflections on Alaskan coastal life.

Voting Opens for Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.

Gitxan hereditary chief and carver, Walter Harris (Simogyet Geel), died January 12.

An example of a growing problem: Norval Morrisseau works are being faked to cash in on his growing reputation. But, at the same time, real Morrisseaus may be "denounced"; collateral damage in the battle to protect the value of real works. Collectors sue gallery over disputed painting.

Native actor and playwright is turning his one-man show, Tales of an Urban Indian, into a show for APTN.

Art opportunity, for U.S. Native artists, including Hawaiian. Design NIEA blanket.
"NIEA is soliciting qualified artists and designers to participate in an open competition for works of art design to be incorporated onto the Pendleton Commemorative Blanket - A 40th Annual NIEA Pendleton Exclusive Limited edition..."

8'th Annual New Sun Conference on Aboriginal Arts: Inspiring Resilience. February 28, 2009, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Exhibit exploring the Indian Residential Schools era, at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, in Owen Sound, Ontario. Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools. January 23 to March 8 2009

Television writing and production workshop opportunity: The Institute of American Indian Arts 2009 Television & Film Summer Workshop. March 27, 2009 deadline.
"... workshop will be divided into two separate tracks, with cross-collaboration between the Writers Workshop and the Production Workshop..."

Native Californians arts grants; Native Cultures Fund, 2009 Community Partnerships grants.

Canada Council for the Arts Aboriginal Peoples Music Program March 1, 2009 deadline.
"... Program supports activities that contribute to the career and artistic development of Aboriginal musicians, and to the continued vitality of Aboriginal music..."

Additional Canada Council for the Arts "Aboriginal Arts" grants. (Mostly May 15 deadlines.)

New England Foundation for the Arts National Native Artist Exchange. Grant for U.S. Native artists to travel within the USA.

Blogpost about early abstract work in Northwest Coast Art, specifically a piece by Doug Cranmer called "Ravens in Nest".
"... And in the mid-Seventies, who else was doing abstracts? Back then, even Bill Reid had just complete his mastery of traditional form and had yet to edge towards the free-form works of his last period. It would be almost two decades, too, before Robert Davidson would become one of the best known artists to move towards abstraction and post-modernism..."

Canadian Native music concert film, "Larger Than Life" is being shown at Cineplex theatres across Canada; one day only. January 28, 2009; tomorrow, if you are reading this posting fresh.

Young Saugeen artist, A.J. Vandrie is steeped in the "woodlands school" and uses thick, bold colours. Stuff looks fresh, even though I thought I had 'seen it all' within the "woodlands school" style.

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

false melts bring high hopes

You Are Being Lied To About (Somali) Pirates. Article at Huffington Post.
"... As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN envoy to Somalia, tells me: "Somebody is dumping nuclear material here. There is also lead, and heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury - you name it." Much of it can be traced back to European hospitals and factories, who seem to be passing it on to the Italian mafia to "dispose" of cheaply... other European ships have been looting Somalia's seas of their greatest resource: seafood. We have destroyed our own fish-stocks by over-exploitation - and now we have moved on to theirs. More than $300m worth of tuna, shrimp, lobster and other sea-life is being stolen every year by vast trawlers illegally sailing into Somalia's unprotected seas..."

Congress member suspended before he could raise (Patrick) Brazeau allegations

Earthquakes, El Ninos fatal to earliest civilization in Americas.

The Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness
"White Bison(.org) is currently making plans for a 40-day, 6,800-mile cross-country journey to present and former Indian school sites in 2009. It's goal is to promote awareness, dialogue and forgiveness among Native peoples for the historical trauma carried home from these schools. This intergenerational trauma is believed to be at the root of substance abuse, suicides and domestic violence plaguing Native American communities today. This will be the 5th multi-state journey that the Sacred Hoop has made bringing its gifts of healing, hope, unity and forgiving the unforgivable to Native American communities across America..."

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From the lolcats (click for original posting):

funny pictures of cats with captions

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Top 13 Native American Art Events in early 2009, from Tribal Artery blog

Urban Shaman Gallery, in Winnipeg presents: This Neechi Wants You!; a series of films by Darryl Nepinak. January 16 – February 21, 2009.

AACE Logo contest. January 30, 2009; postmark deadline.

Another Native Blog, Urban Coyote TeeVee.

Interview with Ojibway poet, KATERI AKIWENZIE-DAMM.

New article from Tim Giago: A Journey to Heal and Forgive.
"... The priests at the mission school I attended first denied that I ever was a student there and when pressed admitted that "perhaps I was a student there for a short time." Some former students immediately came to the defense of the school administrators by saying they had spent 12 years at the school and had never seen any of the things happen that I wrote about. Denial, denial, denial. By attempting to kill the messenger, the priests and some former students hoped that my book would then fall into the pit of meaningless rhetoric..."

Native hip-hop singer, Kinnie Starr interview and photoshoot.

Podcast download link; Producer Profile: Chris Eyre and Ric Burns. Read the article.

Dancing Across the Page - Native American Works on Paper.
December 14, 2008 - March 15, 2009; PhilBrook Museum of Art

Monroe Tsatoke and the Art of the Kiowa FiveJanuary 18 – March 29, 2009; Jacobson House Native Art Center.

Native Art Blog, Native Art and Design

7-time NAMMY winner, Jana Mashonee released a free mp3 download of the song she sang at Inaugural Ball; "A Change Is Gonna Come". Download link [may be temporary].

New pictograph found in Tennessee cave.
"... the artist most likely lived during the Mississippian Period between A.D. 1000 and 1600 and used a paint based on a prehistoric recipe whose main ingredient was pulverized clay..."

Review of 2-day Indian mini film festival at Seattle Art Museum, with links to film productions.
Princess Angeline
"... daughter of Chief Seattle, is seen on many postcards and toward the end of her life, she lived alone, refusing to leave her homeland. What historical events led to her being one of the few Duwamish people left in Seattle by the 1890’s, only 35 years after the peace treaty?..."

Hot Docs turns spotlight on Alanis Obomsawin.
"Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, who has been focusing her camera on aboriginal stories for more than 40 years, is to be given the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2009 Hot Docs festival in Toronto..."

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Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Linkie post at Minus 30... celsius

Gems ("Nanodiamonds")Point to Comet as Answer to Ancient Riddle
"...A thriving culture of Paleo-Americans, known as the Clovis people, vanished seemingly overnight. Gone, too, were most of the largest animals... impact hypothesis explains three major things that have been enigmatic and not particularly resolvable."
Those three things are the extinction of the megafauna, the disappearance of the Clovis culture and the climate change of the Younger Dryas (ice age extension)..."

National Geographic's: Top 10 Archaeology finds of 2008.

Here is an idea for a belated Xmas present, for me and the Bingorage: Haida carving knives.

Climate change solved? "Backyard" nuclear power.

Job opening: Native American Public Telecommunications, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. "Applicant review begins January 16."

Hunter S. Thompson motivational posters.

43 reasons we won't miss pres. Bush.

Great Old Fishing Photos Gallery. Includes Zane Grey and Hemingway.

Upcoming battle over "Native appointment" to Canadian Senate:
Patrick Brazeau's Senate appointment comes as no surprise, observers say. Stephen Harper's administration has been under fire for making numerous senate appointments in the last few weeks, considering his promises about senate reform and threat of unseating by coalition government.
... "People are wondering how much this is a recognition that the Congress supported Stephen Harper's party when they first became government and how much of it is a snub at the other national chief," said Barnsley, referring to Assembly Grand Chief Phil Fontaine...

Circle of trust: Prison resource officer just talks to inmates. Using "talking circles" in prison.

NATIVE RIGHTS UNDER LOCK & KEY. Rally in Ottawa today (January 7) to support Barriere Lake Algonquins and imprisoned chief. Rally in Quebec tommorrow.

Help plant a million 'Native' trees in the Peruvian Andes.

Ottawa considering turning grants into loans for aboriginal students.
"... Statistics Canada reported this month that the employment rate for aboriginal people who have not graduated high school is 50 per cent, but it jumps to 80 per cent for those with a post-secondary education..."

Fly-fishing blog; The Trout Underground

Native Americans in Philanthropy
"... organization that promotes, facilitates and celebrates philanthropic giving to Native communities from both Native and non-Native donors. NAP also provides professional development opportunities and support for Native Americans working in the field of philanthropy."

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Video of "eviction demonstration" in Vancouver, March 2008; Squamish peoples serve eviction notice, from Squamish lands, upon Christian churches for not fully addressing crimes of the residential school period.



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Ipperwash, official racism and the future of Ontario. Land and Jail 1, Land and Jail 2.

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New Tim Giago articles:

"... Without the language, the spirituality of the people would have died... Perhaps the missionaries knew this better than anyone else..."

Yes Virginia, There is a BIA.

Native Colleges: America's Best Kept Secret.

Indian Country Looks to Tom Daschle for Help

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Great Canadian song: Diamond Mine; by Blue Rodeo. I really love this song.



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Review of new show, Rabbit Fall, from the makers of Moccasin Flats. RF just finished its second season; I will be looking for it, now that I've seen this review.
"Rabbit Fall is based around the fictional northern community of Rabbit Fall where many super natural stories occur through the intense drama that unfolds... (Police constable) Tara (Wheaton) has been dispatched to this community but soon discovers the cases she’s taking on aren’t your average B and E’s (break and enters) or domestic abuse issues. Instead she spends her time trying to catch Weetigos or solving mysterious plagues or finding medicine men that disappear. These are just some of the strange happenings around Rabbit Fall that drive her to the brink of insanity..."

RabbitFall.Com

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Eighth Festival of Native Film & Culture. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, March 4 - 8, 2009. [Deadline was November, 2008.]

Native Art articles resource; Native American Representational Art.

Free, huge, hi-res Earth-image downloads. True Marble.

2009 Native Radio Theater Call for Scripts. Press release PDF download. Deadline: February 13, 2009.

Indigenous World Film FestivalJanuary 9/10/2009-Alaska Native Heritage Center. Flier PDF download.

Saskatchewan Native Theatre presents: Velvet Devil. February 5, 2009.
"... Andrea Menard tells the story of the fictional Jazz singer Velvet Laurent, a gifted rebellious girl from Saskatoon who ran away to Toronto to become a star. Twelve years later, the famous singing sensation of stage and radio returns to her secret Métis roots accompanied by a flood of music, images, and feelings that have been locked away far too long..."

Another Native Blog: Unofficial News and Events of the Spokane Tribe.

5'th Annual Native Media Summit, March 31, 2009 in Portland, Oregon.
"... Participate in opportunities for staff development, skill building, networking, inspiration, new ideas, discussions and exchanges..."

Minnesota's 150th birthday is viewed through American Indian eyes in a show at Ancient Traders Gallery. Minneapolis MN, through January 24, 2009.

Another Native blog; "Make No Bones About It".

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program, 2009-2010. Deadline; January 15, 2009.

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Any Native Filmmakers willing to submit contact information to a networking database (in progress) for Native Filmmakers wanting to collaborate with other interested Native Filmmakers are now invited to reply to this post, or e-mail- nlongsoldier@hotmail.com.
I have been contacted by some veteran Native Filmmakers who are interested in bridging the gaps within the Native Filmmaking community. This is in the interest of forming an understanding betwixt Natives interested in film, who would like to begin establishing a place for Natives in the movie industry while defining that place for ourselves. I hope this message finds you well, and that you might be willing to pass this along to any and all who you might consider interested. Thank you for your time folks!
Cinematically,
N R Long Soldier

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Stolen handcrafted flutes are returned

Listing of "Native festivals and awards".

Native actor appearing in 2 Sundance premiers. Patrick D. Shining Elk; in La Mission and The Only Good Indian.

Another Native Blog; Native Talent

Are you tough enough for the official Russell Means website?

Litchfield, Arizona Native Arts Festival. DATES: January 10 & 11, 2009

WestHaven Centre For The Arts; Native Arts and Culture. January 4 - February 22, 2009.

NAMMY winner, Jana Mashonee

Native Art Blog; Red Earth Arts Photo Design.

Southern Cloud blends his native religion with art. Up through March 5, 2009, Lansing Michigan.

Another Native blog; Kumeyaay.

Crystal Shawanda the biggest winner at Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

Native Art blog; Eaglesbrother's Gourds and Art.

Blog for gallery specialising in Northwest Coast Art; Lattimer Gallery

Native blog; Sad Red Earth.

The Toronto Sun polled some prominent Natives to compile an Aboriginal Wishlist

Online Native arts store; Prairie Edge

The city of Tacoma has commissioned a giant carved wooden figure for public installation.
"... the sculpture will be placed in a grassy area near South 17th Street and Pacific Avenue... The sculpture, which will be carved from Old Growth Cedar from the Quinault Rain Forest, will stand 18 feet tall and atop a four foot pedestal. It will be designed by Puyallup tribal artist Shaun Peterson and master carver Greg Colfax of the Makah Nation..."

Native American Donald Montileaux takes up art. Now 60, took up art 5 years ago.

2009 Native American Student Artist Competition. Deadline is Jan. 16, 2009

Mohawk Artist Honored for His Work
"... has been making traditional Native American costumes since he was a boy. Bill Loran was recently honored by Traditional Arts in Upstate New York for his contribution to the local culture of the region..."

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Awesome beadwork!!! Dig those shoes. TERI GREEVES page, at Jane Sauer Gallery.

Kiowa bead artist, Teri Greeves beadwork. "Great Lakes Girls".
Teri Greeves beadwork. Great Lakes Girls.