Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Post walleye-opener and walleye-hunt-skunk linky post

'Arctic exile' monuments to strengthen Canadian sovereignty claim. Inuit artists will help Canada stake sovereignty in the Arctic by creating and installing sculptures, ironically commemorating Inuit communities "exiled" to remote, non-traditional locations.

I think that this is actually a great idea, that the Canadian government should pursue, with vigour. Fund Canadian First Nations people to create and install monumental sculpture throughout the arctic archipelago and create a greater Canadian presence in the North.

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An island has been discovered in Mexico, with a pyramid belonging to the Apupato people, enemies of the Aztec Empire.

Ancient Gem-Studded Teeth Show Skill of Early Dentists
"...The ornamental stones—including jade—were attached with an adhesive made out of natural resins, such as plant sap, which was mixed with other chemicals and crushed bones..."

Stone Age Superglue Found -- Hints at Unknown Smarts?. The title says stone age, which is not very precise. The date for the "superglue" is 70,000 years. The ingredients are acacia resin and red iron oxide. The presence of this "red ochre" in archaeological context has long been considered evidence of ritual or artistic use in prehistoric humans. However, its use as a glue ingredient for tool manufacture means that its presence, alone, cannot be evidence for artistic development in human evolution.

A" closer look contains hints of sham artist, not a shaman". I hadn't been following the Dan Hauser story too closely; "another child of religious folks letting their offspring die from treatable disease because they elected to follow the prayer route", I figured. But, it's worse than that. His parents have fallen for some plastic shaman selling berry juice treatments under a pseudo-Native religious hoo-ha. Apparently the 13-year old is a certified elder and medicine man (after having paid his "donations").

Here is a great new resource for Native historians and treaty researchers, a digitised database of "Documents Relating to the Negotiation of Ratified and Unratified Treaties With Various Indian Tribes, 1801-1869".

'Status Indians' face threat of extinction. Loss of legal "status" through intermarriage to non-natives threatens the Rez, in Canada.

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This clip is a music video for "Indigenous Holocaust" (Link to video notes); song by Ahnishnahbeh artist Wahwahtay Benais. Video by Missy Whiteman.



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funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

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Brenda Norrell's 'Censored News' podcast. Native news podcast.

I was glad to meet and work with Metis performer, Paul Chaput, while reviewing grants applications for the Ontario Arts Council.

Daphne Odjig exhibit at Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, Santa Fe N.M., only American venue scheduled. August-September, 2009.

Lakota Sioux woman awarded damages, based on historic treaty. Under a "bad men" provision of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, the woman is to be compensated for being assaulted by a military recruiter.

Pine Needle Productions to shoot feature film
"Darlene Naponse is preparing to shoot a feature film this fall in her home community of Whitefish Lake First Nation. It's a drama about a girl returning home," Naponse says, describing her upcoming film, Every Emotion Costs. It deals with identity and community..."

Another Native Blog, Radical Indian. I may have linked to this blog before, but I wanted to point you all to it again, because it has been flagged by Blogger.com and requires an extra click to view. I didn't see anything offensive on the site, other than news that may be inconvenient to the greater society.

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New Tim Giago articles at Huffington Post:

Native Americans in Black and White. Negative images in the news breeds stereotypes in society.

A Ripe and Rank Case of Dishonest Dealings. The Black Hills are not for sale; but, could they be rented?

A Holiday to Celebrate the Victory at the Little Bighorn. June 25: Death to the Morningstar-oppressor day.

Small Successes Come Hard in Battle Against Mascots. "Fan" means fanatic.

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The Right to Whale. Makah tribe continue push for traditional practice.

London gets first festival of First Nations voicesNative artists, performers and filmmakers get showcase in London, England. Ended May 17.

Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video. Although these "fair use" "best practices" were developed for U.S. copyright law, they may be handy for Canadian artist's consideration.

'National treasure' may be headed home.
"... only a few dozen totem poles from that period still exist... the late 1800s was a difficult and dark chapter for the Haida. Their population was decimated by diseases such as smallpox. Missionaries and government officials also moved in and tried to separate the Haida from many of their traditions and cultural beliefs... Many were chopped down and burned while others were sold off; the bulk went to museums around the world..."

Buffy Saint Marie's homepage, Creative-Native.

Awaken100.Net "Contemporary Aboriginal Arts And Culture". A Redwire Magazine site. Not much there, yet, but some interesting artist galleries.

8-strand flat braid, at Instructables.com.

Nadya Kwandibens, Ahnishnahbeh photographer from my Rez, NWA#37. Her Myspace.

"2 Disputed Indian Wampum Belts Pulled From Auction".
"... lawyer for the Onondaga nation, said the Onondaga considered the belts community property... no Onondaga had ever had the authority to sell or transfer them... "these belts were originally taken out of these communities without proper ‘title.’... "

Rabbit and Bear Paws Colouring Contest. Any artist, age 3-15, June 1 deadline.

Native American Trade Blankets at Woodson Art Museum. Famed glass artist Dave Chihuly has a collection of 750 Native Trade Blankets, 80 of them on display until June 14 at the Woodson Museum (Wausau, Wisconsin), along with 15 of his blanket-inspired glass pieces.

TVO's "Big Ideas" lecture series presents John Ralston Saul.
"In this lecture, essayist and novelist, John Ralston Saul, presents the themes of his latest book, A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada. Central to his text is the argument that Canada is a Metis nation, critically influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas. He believes we've lost touch with this essential part of our mythology and identity and appeals for a return to the original priniciples of peace, welfare, and good government."

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1 comment:

willie said...

Skunked? Take a look at this post, you'll see that even with Finlander fishing technology we're not doing much better over here.

http://willielahti.blogspot.com/2009/05/katiskafish-trap-rowing-on-lake.html