The Seattle Native Circle
Remember to check out the Resources Page for Job and Grant Opprotunities in Seattle 
Make Our Community Count! Census Education and Training |
SATURDAY
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Native Olympian: Callan Chythlook-Sifsof |
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U.W. Winter Powwow by J.Serpa |
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U.W. Spring Powwow by Rich Summers |
First Nations is pleased to have remained strong in organizing and assisting in the resiliency of the Native Community on the UW Campus for over 39 years! We expect over 8,000 people from the UW, Greater Pacific Northwest, and members of the Powwow circuit from all corners of the country and Canada to be in attendance.
First Nation's 39th Annual Spring PowwowUpholding the Past, Present, and Future |
New Tobacco Coalition Coordinator: |
Today I want to leave you with a random (and maybe not so random) tobacco fact! One of the first Native American tobacco tycoons was Pocahantas' son Thomas Rolfe. He was fortunate to be left land from his father John Rolfe in England and land from his mother's father, Powhatan, who even though he never met his grandson, never forgot about him. In 1635, when Thomas was around the age of 20, he voyaged back to Virginia and met with his native family, particularly his uncle, Opechancanough. Where he, like his father, integrated the methods of his native relatives and the methods of the Spanish to grow and cultivate his own tobacco fields on the land given to him. He lived the rest of his life as a very well and established man in Virginia. -- Robyn Pebeahsy (Yakama/Comanche) -- The first SIHB Tobacco Coalition Meeting is March 5th.Let me know if you are interested in attending or if you would like any info about the Coalition or about tobacco prevention, cessation, education or resources. Honoring the Gift of Tradition Pow Wow Saturday, May 8th, 2010 |
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of United Indians of All Tribes Foundation by Nicole Adams |
Climbing over razor wire, enduring beatings and being jailed for their protest, these activists persevered for months until they finally succeeded in getting an agreement from the city to lease part of Discovery Park for a Native cultural center. Today, Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation are a testament to their legacy.
Please join us for the following events: March 8, 2010
1st Annual Head Start Pow WowSaturday, March 27, 2010
Honoring DinnerSunday, March 28, 2010 For more info contact Chrissy at 206-829-2219 or charris@unitedindians.org. Photos courtesy of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection Museum of History & Industry. |
The Urban Indian Experience Speaker Series: |
The Seattle Native Circle wishes to thank Saint Joseph's Church, Coll Thrush, Tricia Trainer, and other volunteers for making the first part of Chief Seattle Club's speaker series a success! The Urban Indian Experience Speaker Series: Creating Awareness of the Past, Present and Future Next month in April we are pleased to announce: Sherman Alexie, Award-winning Author and Speaker Please look for future Speakers Series dates and other announcements at our new website at www.chiefseattleclub.org. ART PROGRAM - EXPANDED DAYSChief Seattle Club's art program, headed up by the renowned artist Andrew Morrison, has expanded to Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please come and join us! Lunch is provided on both days. URBAN INDIAN LEGAL CLINIC
Please contact John Perkins, Clinic Assistant at 206-292-6214 to schedule an appointment or to volunteer. |
Longhouse Media in Action by Tracy Rector |
SuperFly Volunteers On Thursday, February 18th, 21 Tulalip Heritage School Native Lens students traveled to Seattle for an educational visit. While in Seattle, the youth were able to view a screening of Longhouse Media's March Point at the Northwest Film Forum. The students interacted in a new environment, while learning the fundamental elements of film production. Afterwards, the participants traveled to the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park to identify indigenous plants, labeled in the Lushootseed and English languages. These experiences gave students the opportunity to explore story telling, cultural preservation and experience Seattle! Keep a look out for future films produced by the Tulalip Heritage School youth!
Seattle Premiere of Sterlin Harjo's "Barking Water" Join Longhouse Media in welcoming the Seattle Premiere of "Barking Water", with the filmmaker Sterlin Harjo in attendance on April 16th & 17th. And a continued run will be until April 22nd at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle. Native American filmmaker Sterlin Harjo traces the impromptu journey taken by weathered, handsome couple Frankie and Irene as they visit the stations of their fractured relationship. Though their history has been frequently interrupted, they mean everything to one another, and this wise second feature affectionately travels Oklahoma's roads, stopping now and then to reveal itself as one of American cinema's most moving love stories-adult and unsentimental-to have appeared in a long time. Official Selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival; Winner of the Worldfest Bronze Remi Award for Creative Excellence. "Barking Water is the kind of independent film that touches the heart with its quiet rhythms and quirky characters." -Spiritually & Practice Take a master workshop with Sterlin Harjo on April 17th, 2010 from noon-3:00 pm! For more information please contact 206.240.5172. |
New Blood at Potlatch Fund: |
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Introducing the Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Education Alliance and a Request for support by Sarah Kelly |
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Location of SPS Board meeting: John Stanford Center |
"Resurrection City": |
Please join us in celebrating Bernie, Daybreak Star, and Indian unity. RES youth have been working hard with teaching artists Storme Webber, Hannah Franklin, Star Nayea, Victor Pascual, and Andrew Morrison to create a worthy tribute to the people, events and spirit of 1970. Red Eagle Soaring respectfully acknowledges the support of the City of Seattle, 4Culture, the Tulalip Tribe, the Washington State Arts Commission, and the many private individuals who make our work possible. Thank you! Resurrection City Free! Open Mike, Musical performance by RES, and Dinner!!! |
Movie Review: REEL INJUN: |
"Neil Diamond's Reel Injun accomplishes one truly remarkable feat. The documentarian, himself a Cree from Canada, sets out to craft a record of Hollywood's depictions of Native people over the years. And that he does, neatly breaking the film down into cleanly defined eras with a string of fascinating interviews from key actors, journalists, activists and more to back himself up. It's an absolutely fascinating trip. But more than that - and more importantly - in the process of creating this film about film, Diamond also creates a compelling portrait of a people still struggling to find our own voice and shape our own images. This last bit not despite, but because of, a library of over four thousand films dealing with Native people and culture, virtually all of them getting it willfully wrong." A serious yet playfully quizzical film, Diamond manages to bring to light new information with out creating an angry or resentful story. Not to say that persons watching the horrific scenes of Bugs Bunny killing off Native people will not feel upset but for many the film watching experience is one of acquiring further knowledge while having watched stereotypes be dismantled and critiqued. I highly recommend this film, which will have a US release later this spring. |
Duwamish Upcoming Events |
The Duwamish Tribe is inviting Seattle to a Frybread for Justice fundraiser to benefit the Duwamish Legal Fund . The Fund supports the court case for tribal federal recognition of the Duwamish people. Frybread for Justice FundraiserDate: Saturday, March 6th 11 AM to 5PM Duwamish Basket Making ClassInstructor: Mary Lou Slaughter |
Understanding the 2010 Census: Our Voice. Our Future.Submitted by Tobi Iverson |
If you could impact the future of your community and people in a few, short minutes, what would you do? Spend a few minutes teaching a child something new, caring for elders, visiting with your family? In March 2010, you can make a difference in your community by participating in the 2010 Census – and it will only take a few minutes. The census is a count of everyone in the United States, including people of all ages, races and ethnic groups. By participating in the 2010 Census, native people can use their voice to tell people who they are and what their communities need. It’s important that everyone participate in the census, because census data are used to determine representation at all levels of government as well as determine essential community services for your area, your family and your future, including:
One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes only minutes to complete. The majority of households will receive a form by mail in March 2010. However, special procedures will be used on many Indian reservations, in Alaska Native villages and in other rural or remote counties where homes do not have city-style addresses with a number and street name. In these areas, members of the community working with the Census Bureau will visit homes to help you fill out the form and take an accurate count. They are only asking for a small amount of time, so please speak with them. Your participation in the 2010 Census is vital. Participating in the census is easy, important and safe. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. For more information, visit 2010census.gov. |
Trip to Missoula: |
Fern Renville, our leader of the Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theater group, based in Seattle, Washington, sent out a message to all of us though Facebook. A casting call: for a feature film based on the novel Winter in the Blood, written by James Welch. The Casting director, Rene Haynes (casting director for The Twilight Saga) was searching for young Native American actors to play a young boy, a young woman, and a young man. This fit for a great deal of us. Needless to say, we all were drooling to go. The one issue was: the call was in Missoula, Montana. Dreadfully early in the morning, van packed, coffee cups filled, and snacks galore, my mother and I began our journey to Missoula. First stop, gas station. The day was already half spent by the time we had hit I-5, three more persons packed in the already half filled van. How we managed it, I will certainly be pondering for more days to come. The caravan of four cars brought a total of eleven of us to Missoula. Imagine that. Eleven teenagers and three younger siblings all ranging in ages eleven through nineteen, four vehicles packed with knees and elbows and I-pods, and endless sound track on repeat of "Are-we-there-yet?"' all the way to Montana. Eight hours after we began our journey, we sleepily stumbled in the door of the front desk. We three teenagers drifted zombie-like down the halls... until... until... there it was... the pool. We stood there, eyes wide, mouths agape. Then it finally hit us. It closed at midnight, and it was only eleven. Squealing we ran down the hallways, threw our stuff in the corners of the room and changed as quickly as we could. Moments later we jumped into the pool. The next morning came too soon as the alarm on my phone brutally woke me. I, and the rest of Red Eagle Soaring had a short period of time to make it to the college campus till the auditions began. Groggily we placed a mask of very convincing perkiness on our selves, passing most of us off as much older than we were, and some, much younger. I sat impatient, script in hand with only a few short lines on it. There were at least a hundred fifty people that day. How many were waiting to read, was hard to tell. I was number fifty four.
Well past three o'clock and I had yet to eat a shred of food, I mingled from group of friendly strangers to group of strangers. The volunteers were friendly and I struck up a nice chat with one of them. Our group stayed mostly together in a circle in the middle of the room. It dawned on me, that they had formed an instant village. Our chaperones were busy talking up their kids to the parents of other hopeful actors. The small children played and laughed at jokes played on each other. The older kids were napping, chatting, flirting, or helping each other out with lines, presenting a wonderful zone of peacefulness. Up until then, I had been just dandy. Other than my lack of an appetite I had been fine. Then, my number was called. "Numbers 54... 55.... And 56!" Oh boy, here we go. I sat by the door to the room where the panel of directors held the auditions. Feeling much like I would outside a doctor's office, breathing deeply I attempted to calm myself. After 5 minutes in a slight meditative state, a woman's fiery red head popped out, "number 54?" I stepped in the small room filled with a few important looking people behind a long table and large camera pointed in my direction. "You're only sixteen?" said the redheaded woman I later will find out was Rene Haynes. "Yes." I smiled up at her and her colleges. "I see that you are one of the Red Eagle Soaring kids." Rene said, looking at me over the top of my resume. "That's right." I kept my voice even, my heart thudding away in my throat. "Well, it appears that you have done this before. Go to the tape on the floor look into the lens, and when we say so, speak your name and your height." Walking to the tape I did as I was told. The next few minutes flew passed as I read my lines, easily fitting into the character. I finished my last line, and smiled at Rene. Under some one's breath I heard, "Wow...". Saturday night, most of the group went to a screening of 'Trail of Tears' with a Q and A by director, Chris Ayer. For the rest, it was party night: food, movies, games, and the pool till oh-god-thirty in the morning. Good thing the next day was our day off. Sunday was a day of sleeping in, games and a hike for most of us. Stress Relief for One and All. Monday was a panel discussion, with Rene Haynes, Chris Ayer, Tracy Rector, and several other renowned directors in Indian country. My mother, a few of the Red Eagle Soaring kids, Alex, Jullian, Brittany, and I all attended. It was enlightening. I enjoyed hearing the words of men and women who all succeed in the career I am taking on one day at a time. The ride home was similar to the ride to Missoula. Only quieter, everyone was sleepy as we pulled onto the highway. homebound, the mountain passes were in broad daylight. The scenes were beautiful; rolling hills and grass lands were gorgeously painted by the setting sun. This trip to Missoula, Montana was a wonderful experience with the Red Eagle Soaring group. What I learned, I will bring with me on my journey up through the film industry. |
Urban Indian History Spotlight: |
Fritz Scholder |
Wojapi Recipe: |
I believe the experts when they tell us that traditional foods prepared in the traditional way are better for us. I also believe that I used to LOVE Eskimo ice cream made with Crisco and Libby's 'wojapi'. Not so traditional but tasty all the same. Still, it's time to overcome those old eating habits and tastes and make decisions that are best for our long term health. Less tasty but keeping me from having to one day inject myself with insulin was my thinking. However as I cut out refined sugar and junk food I found my tastes changing. The natural sweetness in berries and fruit is now quite delicious. I still eat fry bread, pizza, and sweets but just not very often and I think they taste all the better for being very occasional. This week's recipe for wojapi calls for sugar but why not try to rely on the natural sweetness of the berries or maybe adding just a little bit of honey. To increase their flavor, add some lime or lemon juice. Even without sugar this is still a very tasty treat. Wojapi (Berry Sauce) Recipe
Ingredients: 2 Cups cherries, raspberries or blueberries Cooking Directions: Simmer berries, water, and add sugar to taste. |
March 2010 Crossword Puzzle |
Printable version March 2010 Puzzle (PDF) Printable version March 2010 Answers (PDF) |
February's Crossword Answer Key |
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Calendar of Events |
Visit the complete calendar |
The Seattle Native Circle Newsletter is compiled 100% from volunteers from Seattle's Urban Indian community. Please forward this to anyone who you wish to inform and feel free to submit your own articles for publication. The deadline is the 24th of each month. We hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter, find it helpful, and consider contributing in the future. Email us at info@thenativecircle.org if you have questions/comments. Thanks, |
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