Anishinawbe Blog

Act Preserves Heritage & Honors Life of Tewa Storyteller

WASHINGTON – The New Mexico Congressional Delegation today announced that President Bush has signed into law the Esther Martinez Native Languages
Preservation Act.
The new law helps prevent the loss of an important part of New Mexico’s
heritage, the Native American languages that are rapidly disappearing. The
bill, written and introduced by Congresswoman Heather Wilson in February, was
passed by the House in September and the Senate earlier this month with the
support of the entire New Mexico delegation.
“These languages will be preserved with attention and effort. Once lost, they
will never be recovered,” Wilson said. “The native languages were precious to
Esther Martinez, and this bill is designed to help preserve them. It is a
fitting tribute to her life’s work.”
“This bill is a tremendous way to honor the memory of Esther Martinez. It aims
to preserve the unique linguistic heritage of Native Americans, and I’m pleased
to see it become law,” said U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who worked to ensure
passage in the Senate.
“For many years, tribes were discouraged from speaking their native languages
and now many languages have disappeared. This legislation will help ensure
native languages are preserved, and passed on to future generations, ” U.S.
Senator Jeff Bingaman said.
“Considering Esther’s dedication to preserving her native language, it is a
fitting tribute that this legislation be named after her,” said Rep. Tom Udall.
“The urgent need to protect and preserve Native American languages is clear. We must invest in their preservation by implementing immersion programs. This
legislation is an important step toward reversing the trend of disappearing
native languages. I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Wilson on this
legislation being signed into law, and thank her for her efforts on this
important issue.”
“This innovative and timely legislation helps stem an impending tragedy for our
nation; the rapid decline and potential loss of Native American languages,”
said Rep. Steve Pearce, also a co-sponsor of the legislation. “I commend Rep.
Wilson for her leadership in reconnecting younger generations of Native
Americans to the language and culture of their ancestors while preserving an
irreplaceable treasure for every American.”
The bill was designated in honor of Esther Martinez of New Mexico, following
her death in September. On September 14, Esther Martinez of Ohkay Owingeh was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in Washington, DC. She died at 94 years of age in Espanola en route home after attending a ceremony at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sadly, only an estimated 20 of more than 300 pre-colonial indigenous languages
will remain by the year 2050. In 1996, 175 of these languages remained, but now
we’re losing them at a rate of 12 languages every 3 years. New Mexico is home
to 19 different pueblos and 3 tribes. Among the tribes and pueblos, there are
six major languages, plus varying dialects. Language is a key element of each
community’s identity.
A recent survey of Native languages found that among the Lipan Apache on the
Mescalero reservation in southern New Mexico there are just ten speakers of the
native language remaining. At the Sandia Pueblo, north of Albuquerque, most of
their Native speakers are middle aged or older. Even Navajo, spoken more than
any other Native Language in the U.S., is spoken fluently by less than half of
the Navajo children entering kindergarten.
The bill authorizes competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services to establish Native American language “nests” for students
under the age of seven and their families. It supports Native American language
survival schools. It will help to preserve all the indigenous languages that
are still being spoken, and increase the support for Native American language
immersion programs to create fluent speakers, and allow tribes and pueblos to
develop their own immersion programs.

The sacred scrolls took a 275-year journey from a medicine lodge to a doctor then to his grandson in Kentucky — who came to realize he was their guardian, not their owner.By Larry Oakes
Minneapolis Star TribuneTOWER, MINN. – For those who believe in spiritual forces, the story of the sacred scrolls of the Bois Forte Chippewa offers a wonderful affirmation. For those who believe we walk alone, the story offers an amazing coincidence.
In September, members of the northern Minnesota tribe gathered at Spirit Island on Nett Lake for a ceremony. There, according to witnesses, a drumkeeper named Shane Drift recounted his recent dream that forgotten stories and songs of the tribe would somehow “come back to us.”
About two weeks later, in early October, the phone rang at the new Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum, next to Fortune Bay Casino.
The caller was Raymond Cloutier, a physician in Bowling Green, Ky.  Cloutier said that hanging in glass cases on the walls of his study were 42 birch bark scrolls inscribed with symbols and pictures.
Cloutier said the scrolls had come with a letter saying that some of the scrolls were more than 200 years old, and all originated “at Nett Lake on the Bois Forte Reservation.”
The letter — a report from a historical society that had sought interpretation from Ojibwe medicine men — said the scrolls depicted ceremonial songs “concerning the most fundamental laws and needs of the [Ojibwe] people.”
Cloutier told the astounded museum curator, Bill Latady, that he had cherished the scrolls for decades, but he had come to believe they belonged with the tribe. Last week the band announced that the scrolls are back at Bois Forte, in a climate-controlled museum room, after untold decades away.
A group of elders has confirmed that they are long-lost records of the Bois Forte lodge of the Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine Society, a selective Ojibwe religious order that preserved its rites on birch bark and was driven underground for most of the 20th century, when Indian religions were outlawed by the U.S. government.
“Spiritually, this is probably the most important thing that has ever happened [to the tribe],” said Rose Berens, the tribe’s preservation officer. “I was awestruck.”
The Bois Forte Reservation is largely in Koochiching County in far northern Minnesota.
The band’s elders decided the scrolls cannot be photographed, or even seen, by anyone who doesn’t belong to the religious order, except for curator Latady.
Berens says that even she has not seen them, and won’t until she is initiated into the order next spring in a ceremony on the Red Lake reservation.

Mysterious journey

Cloutier said his grandfather, Dr. Herbert Burns, acquired the scrolls when he was superintendent of Ah-Gwah-Ching tuberculosis sanatorium near Walker, Minn., in the early 1900s. Bois Forte leaders speculate that poverty-stricken ancestors might have bartered them for treatment.
Cloutier isn’t so sure. He said Burns was a “Renaissance man” with many interests and collections, including a trove of Indian artifacts, most of which eventually went to a museum in Walker. Cloutier suspects his grandfather bought the scrolls and the authentication letter accompanying them, probably from another non-Indian.
A few years after Burns died in 1949, the scrolls, packed in cardboard drums, went to Cloutier, then only about 12.
The scrolls range from 9 by 3 inches to 6 by 2 feet, according to Latady. The drawings are on the brown side of the bark, some drawn with charcoal and others applied with red paint. Some images are carved, he said.
Out of respect to the band’s wishes, neither Latady nor Cloutier would describe the drawings, but experts who have studied similar scrolls say they most often contain “mnemonic,” or memory-aiding symbols, to recall songs among a people with no written language.
“The coming of the gods is portrayed bestowing creation of men and other creatures upon the land and in the waters of the earth,” says the Bois Forte scrolls’ accompanying report, written in the 1930s by the Becker County Historical Society. “The heralds of these gods, half land and half water spirits, serve the gods as ambassadors. … Another song relates how the gods give the Indians the privilege of for the first time eating meat.”

From owner to guardian

Cloutier said that in the 1990s he became aware of a law requiring institutions that get federal funds to return sacred artifacts to Indian tribes. The law didn’t apply to him, but he said a nagging idea grew in him: “The people the scrolls came from were not some dead Indians from a dead culture; they were still there, and they may have been suffering somewhat for having lost part of their culture. About the time I realized this, I stopped being an owner and became a guardian.”
He found the Bois Forte band’s website, saw that a museum had opened in 2002, and decided to return the scrolls. His only stipulation was that the band retrieve them; he didn’t want to risk shipping them.
A few days after hearing from Cloutier, Berens, spiritual adviser Vernon Adams and Bois Forte elders Myra Thompson and Phyllis Boshey drove to Kentucky, dined with Cloutier and his wife, Joyce, and left with their precious cargo.
“Once I got over the damage to my greed, it made perfect sense to return these things,” Cloutier said. “Unfortunately, most of the time, these things were taken from their owners in ways that probably wouldn’t make us proud today.”
Tribal Chairman Kevin Leecy wrote to Cloutier that his “thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated by everyone … from the elders who listened to the songs and stories in their youth to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will once again have that opportunity due to your generosity.”
Adams said he now wonders if the strange journey of the scrolls was fortunate. Similar scrolls were destroyed by missionaries and others during the century that the Midewiwin was outlawed.
“To me, they took a path they were meant to take,” Adams said. “They left, were preserved and now have come back. It’s exciting to see. This is where our past meets the future.”

The highlight of the Liberal Biennial Convention for me.

Our New Leader…  I am thrilled about our new leader Stephane Dion.  Throughout the week, I’ve gained a respect for him and his stance on economic prosperity, social justice and environmental sustainability.  These are exactly what First Nations government are looking for as well.  His vision of Canada is compatible with our vision.
He is a visionary.  He can see the change coming.  That is something that I look for in a leader.
He’s going to be a great leader, alongside the “Liberal Dream Team”, Bob Rae, Michael Ignatieff, Gerard Kennedy, Scott Brison, Martha Hall-Findley, Ken Dryden, Joe Volpe.

What an exceptionally long day…  No doubt conventions are exciting, but they are truly a lot of hard work.  Spent most of the day working to fend off Ignatieff camp.  (Just kiddin’).  They wore me down eventually, I supported Iggy on the final ballot.

My Voting History…

• First Ballot: Dryden

• Second Ballot: Dryden

• Third Ballot: Rae

• Fourth Ballot: Ignatieff

Was I the jinx?…  Sure I was disappointed with my poor record.  I felt I was a jinx, as each time I voted, my guy was eliminated.  But to tell you the truth, I was excited to see Dion in the lead after the third ballot.  I cheered loudly, much to the chagrin of my Ignatieff friends surrounding me.  But I was impressed with his support as well as his message.

Top 10 Personal Moments at the Convention

1. Sitting with Paul Martin…  My far the most exciting and memorable moment of my life.  I had just passed my resolution and The Right Honourable Paul Martin came over to sit with me during the APC meeting.

2. Passing the Recognition as a Nation Resolution…  A short presentation, an amendment, a short debate then a vote.  It passes easily.  Miigwetch.

3. Dion Wins!…  Announcement of results of the 4th Ballot and Speech by Dion

4. Ken Dryden’s Speech…  It’s too bad most journalists didn’t analyze it better, but it was the best speech of the convention – bar none.

5. Honouring Paul Martin…  What an excellent show and emotional evening.

6. The Bear Pit with Bob Rae…  My question sparks the passion and humanity of Bob Rae.

7. Policy Workshops and Plenary Sessions…  a chance to speak out and affect change on gender parity, semi-automatic weapons, non-voting members, and so-help-me-God, legalizing pot and pot-heads.

8. In Line for the first Ballot…  Hedy Fry, Belinda Stronach, Andy Scott, Michael Bryant, Roger Valley, David Orchard, Ethel Blonin-Andrew, Herb Daliwahl.  Talk about networking.

9. A Quiet Evening… The one and only hospitality event I went to, enjoyed some great conversation and company of Mr. and Mrs. Ferris from Erin, Ontario.  Smoked meat sandwich and Diet Coke courtesy of Ken Dryden.

10. Casino Royale…  Damn fine movie.  A raw and emotional James Bond just gets his promotion to OO7.  Lots of great plot twists, and the new Bond is awesome.  Very Sean Connery-ish.

Musings on the next election…  It can’t happen soon enough.  Let’s get these Neo-Conservatives out of Ottawa.  Perhaps, some honourably good guys like Tony Clement, Michael Chong and Bruce Stanton would consider crossing the floor?

Symbols are important, candidate says,�
but he won’t reopen the Constitution

By Tonda MacCharles
Toronto Star

(BOB:  Yes, I’m guilty.  I made Bob Rae cry.  I was the one who asked this question, to which he gave an excellent albeit emotional answer.  Which showed me he really cares.)

MONTREAL – For a moment there, it looked like Liberal leadership hopeful Bob Rae would lose it.�
Not the race – that’s anyone’s guess. His composure.�
As Rae answered an Ontario aboriginal delegate who asked whether he would enshrine aboriginal First Nations as a “third level of government under the Constitution,” he exhibited heartfelt concern, passion, impatience and constitutional fatigue, and then, perhaps, just plain fatigue.
He is tired, that’s clear. During the open “bearpit” session here – the only one by a leadership candidate yesterday – Rae’s voice cracked several times, not a good sign for tonight’s speech.�
Fatigue is obvious, and understandable, after nearly 10 months of campaigning.
Until that point, the session had showcased Rae’s humour, intelligence and ease in front of an audience — all assets going into tonight’s first ballot vote.
He took jabs at the media, getting laughs from his listeners.
He bandied questions about his record having run a government deficit as Ontario’s NDP premier in the mid 1990s. Rae reminded the audience of his skinny-dipping appearance on national TV: “Anyone who saw me on Rick Mercer will know I don’t have a lot of baggage.”
And then he launched into his stock, serious answer about having made mistakes and having “learned” that governments cannot ignore deficits even as they try to tackle the social and economic fallout of a recession. In fact, Rae’s strategists say they are confident he “has scaled that mountain in this race.”
Now, asked about reopening the Constitution, after “Quebec as a nation” threatened party unity, Rae said flatly, not now.�
It is, he said, a near-impossible task that distracts from and does not address real problems.
He touted his efforts as Ontario premier to work on a government-to-government basis with native communities, regardless of the Constitution. He praised the $5 billion Kelowna accord, negotiated by Paul Martin.�
A veteran of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accord debates, Rae then went on a rant.
“Frankly, once you get diverted … then you’ve got to go back and listen to all the other groups who also want something. And every other part of the country, `Well, while you’re at it would you mind adding this, and would you mind adding that.’ And then say, okay, now we have to go back and get a referendum in each and every province to agree with it.
“I don’t want to spend my time doing that. I want to spend my time allowing aboriginal communities to improve self-government. I want to spend my time making sure education is available for aboriginal kids.
“I want to focus,” he said, drawing applause before going on, “I want to focus on what the real issues are, and what the real questions are …�
“Symbols are important, but believe me, cutting down the suicide rate, providing opportunity for people, making sure that every aboriginal child wakes up in the morning,” and suddenly, it looked as if Rae would turn away, as tears welled up, his voice broke, and he stammered the rest of his answer: “feeling that there is a real future for them.”
The room, which was filled to overflowing with about 400 delegates, many of them Rae supporters, but many also uncommitted, burst into applause.
He recovered quickly. Only those sitting close to the front of the room saw the tears.
Last night, a rumour had Joe Volpe ready to support Rae, something Volpe’s camp denied. The Rae team would only say, “rumours are running rampant tonight.”

Second Ballot Support

Following a brief discussion with Bob Rae and individuals in the Rae organization, I’ve made my decision to support Bob Rae on the second ballot, if and when Ken Dryden is eliminated. My decision is based on the overall commitment to First Nations issues specifically, and due to his previous history and experience in working in partnership with First Nations. He’s made a number of great overtures to our First Nation organization, including a lengthy dinner with National Chief Phil Fontaine and my boss, Grand Council Chief John Beaucase just this past week. Although he did not commit specifically to re-introducing First Peoples into the Constitution, by virtue of the resolution it will now be worked into modern Liberal Policy. If and when the Constitution is opened up, this resolution is on the books – which was my specific intention. It may not be Rae’s priority right now, but it will be something that the leader will have to integrate into our Party’s future plans. I want to say Bravo to Mr. Ignatieff for his commitment to recognizing our Nations. You’ve reached out to the Metis Nation and wholeheartedly gained their respect and support. I also want to applaud Mr. Dion’s couragious environmental policy. I hope that whoever is leader will take a strong look at Mr. Dion’s ideas which need to be fundamentally supported by our Aboriginal Peoples Commission.

Constitutional Debate…

This time, I’m referring to the constitution of the LPC. Yesterday, I voted for an amendment to continue with the current practice of electing our leader by Convention as opposed to the one-member-one-vote. This is what makes us uniquely Liberal, now that the Conservatives and NDP have opted for a de-centralized vote. This decision also allows for a forum for candidates to meet with and speak directly to their electorate. The one-member-one-vote proposal effectively ensures that any candidate would never have to visit or meet with aboriginal electors in the electoral district. Also, these conventions are really exciting and fun. At least, our people will not be able to integrate into, and effect change directly at the microphone and face-to-face. Next challenge, the need to subsidies for First Nations people to attend the Convention. At $995 a piece, plus travel – it’s pretty steep.

Constitutional Debate 2…

I failed in an effort to persuade the delegates to vote in favour of a motion to amend the Liberal constitution to allow for voting of non-resident members of an Electoral District Association. I am a non-resident member of the Nipissing-Temiscaming Federal Liberal Association. The reason for this is because my home of Nipissing First Nation was arbitrarily, and mistakenly cut-in-half by the Electoral Boundary Commission. I have always been an elector and supporter of the Nipissing riding and have never had anything to do with the Nickel Belt riding. I think many other First Nations are in the same boat. We have many historical linkages and alliances with centres away from our home communities. We should be able to choose which organization we support. Unfortunately, the Convention did not agree. I guess I will have to vote for my candidate in East Sudbury – NOT!

I have been kinda’ stingy with the photos and graphics on my Blog, so I downloaded all the stuff from my camera and came up with this little montage.  These photos are from the Canadian Aboriginal Festival in Toronto from November 24-25, the Three Fires Fall Ceremonies in Bad River, Wisconsin on November 11, and my boys, Griffin and Miigwans at the London Children’s Museum on October 28.

Viva La Dryden…  Although I didn’t hear the first three speeches from Martha Hall-Finley, Scott Brison and Jow Volpe, I felt that Ken Dryden takes the award for best speech and best performance of the night.  I’ve been critical of Ken’s public speaking in the past.  Sometimes he is pretty dull and bureaucratic.  Sometimes he doesn’t get a good flow going.  But other times, he nails it.  Tonight, fortunately, was the best speech of the campaign.
He was dynamic, he was engaging, he was interesting and he was funny.  More importantly, he was most definitely Prime Ministerial.  He came off like a true statesman that he is.  I’m confident he’s not only regrouped his troops, but may have convinced others that he’s worth looking at and not worth counting out.

Second place…  Bob Rae.  What a character!  Without a “safety net”, Bob Rae delivered tonight: no speech no teleprompter, no problem.  He was courageous and enlightening.  He displayed his best characteristics, his integrity, honesty and experience.  There is no question he showed his charisma as well.  Way to go, Bob!

Third Place…  Gerard Kennedy.  The man made me think twice. 

And what about Ignatieff?…  I don’t know what it is.  He’s saying all the right things.  Good policy.  But there is just something that is not genuine about the guy.  His brother was on TV, stating that the perceived arrogance about the man is actually his “shyness”.  If that’s what it is, he’s got to shed it before election day.  He was weak, robotic.  Even behind the likes of Martha Hall-Finley and Scott Brison tonight.

Welcome Joe…  Joe Volpe passed his support to Bob Rae.  This gives me some releif in two regards:  1.  It means one less ballot to stand in line for; 2. More support for Bob Rae.

Going to bed soundly…  After tonight’s speeches, I feel I can go to bed soundly, knowing that I’m supporting the two best candidates for leader: Ken Dryden and Bob Rae.  I won’t lose any sleep second guessing my choice not to endorse and vote for Ignatieff.

Ouch My Feet…  Waited in line for three hours to vote.  Standing on hard concrete.  Walked over to listen to the remaining speeches, Dryden, Dion, Kennedy.  No seats, standing room only.  Couldn’t take it anymore and walked, through the underground downtown tunnels, climbed up lots of stairs, up to my hotel room.  From my bed, with my sore feet up, I watched the remaining two speeches on CBC.

Premier Dalton McGuinty, The Right Honourable Paul Martin, The Right Honourable John Turner listening to Ken Dryden’s speech.

Above and Below: Attentive Ken Dryden supporters.

My question to Mr. Rae

By Hélène Buzzetti
Le Devoir 

En outre, le candidat Bob Rae a été obligé de se prononcer sur la résolution d’urgence adoptée la veille par la Commission des peuples autochtones reconnaissant les nations autochtones et exigeant un débat constitutionnel pour inscrire cette reconnaissance. Un des parrains de la résolution, Bob Goulais, a interpellé Bob Rae, qui s’est lancé dans une longue réponse passionnée de plus de quatre minutes.

M. Rae a ajouté qu’il préférait s’attaquer aux problèmes concrets des communautés autochtones plutôt qu’aux «symboles». Interrogé par la suite, M. Goulais a indiqué qu’il avait apprécié la franchise de M. Rae, qu’il songe appuyer au second tour.

Roughly translated:

Further, candidate Bob Rae was obliged to come to a conclusion about the urgently adopted resolution the day before by the Aboriginal Peoples Commission recognizing the Aboriginals as Nations and requiring a constitutional debate recognition this. One of the movers of the resolution, Bob Goulais, challenged Bob Rae, who launched a long, impassioned answer of more than four minutes.
(Paraphrasing): I will not say to you that the constitutional changes are one of my priorities because it is difficult to undertake. Once you are take that on, someone will wonder how that will be written, what this comma means, what this sentence means. We saw it with this simple resolution of the House of Commons. What does this mean? What does that mean? Bla, bla, bla. Afterwards, you must go towards all the groups which want also something and, as long as to be there, why not add this or that? And afterwards, you must take it and approve it through referendums in all the provinces. I do not want to spend my time doing that.
Mr. Rae added that it preferred to attack rather the concrete problems of aboriginal communites than to address “symbolism”. Questioned later, Mr. Goulais indicated that it had appreciated the frankness from Mr. Rae, that it thinks of supporting on the second turn.