Archive for Native Americans

word for the day…disorder in the universe

August 25, 2009 · Filed under Native Americans, Word for the Day · Tagged , , , , , ,

Today’s word comes from the book “California Indian Shamanism” edited by Lowell John Bean, a fascinating study of California Native religious systems.

entropy- a measure of the disorder within any given system

Source cited: The American Heritage Dictionary, Houghton-Mifflin,New York.

*** a more technical explanation follows:

Entropic 1. Thermodynamics. a. (on a macroscopic scale) a function of thermodynamic variables, as temperature, pressure, or composition, that is a measure of the energy that is not available for work during a thermodynamic process. A closed system evolves toward a state of maximum entropy. b. (in statistical mechanics) a measure of the randomness of the microscopic constituents of a thermodynamic system. Symbol: S

2. (in data transmission and information theory) a measure of the loss of information in a transmitted signal or message.

3. (in cosmology) a hypothetical tendency for the universe to attain a state of maximum homogeneity in which all matter is at a uniform temperature (heat death).

4. a doctrine of inevitable social decline and degeneration.

Origin: Greek, Entropie (1865); see en- 2 , -tropy Source cited: “entropic.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 25 Aug. 2009. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/entropic

 **** If you’re reading any books that have an interesting word in it, please feel free to share your findings, I LOVE to learn new words this way.

To The Dance of Life!

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Good Env News About the Grand Canyon

July 23, 2009 · Filed under Native Americans, Water issues, environment · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Good News from the Environmental News Network-

“GRAND CANYON, Ariz.- Conservationists are applauding a notice issued Monday by the Obama administration to temporarily place 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon off limits to new mining claims and exploration or development of existing, unpatented claims. The order complies with a June 2008 resolution by the House Committee on Natural Resources enacting the same protections across the same area. The protections do not affect three existing mines in the area slated for reopening or the exploration of existing patented claims.

Uranium prices have caused sharp increases in new uranium mining claims, exploration, and permitting to reopen old mines on public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. Uranium development threatens to damage wildlife habitat, industrialize iconic wild lands, and contaminate surface water and groundwater feeding regional water wells, seeps, springs and the Colorado River – prompting concerns from former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Kaibab Paiute tribes, Coconino County officials, and independent geologists.” For the balance of the article see: www.enn.com

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Our groundwater is a precious source of clean water, which is in short supply in many southwestern states. Last year 50% of the states in the US were under drought conditions, which threatens human health, as well as our food supply. Conservation can only help to a certain extent, we need to keep our water sources uncontaminated and find new ways to create fresh water supplies, as through desalination of sea water, and smaller systems like catchwater and grey water filtration systems.

May You Never Thirst, Diane T.

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Summer Solstice is called Niman by the Hopitu Shinumu

June 21, 2009 · Filed under Hopitu Shinumu culture, Native Americans, Word for the Day, sacred imagery and spirituality · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

How do you celebrate Summer Solstice (June 21-22)? I remember being part of the Candelaria for Yemaya on a summer solstice ….. vibrant blue ocean… warm clean sand…flower petals as offerings…..quite lovely!

Astronomical Significance:

Niman is the time when we say goodbye to our Kachinas (or spirit helpers) who have stayed with us for the last 6 month cycle, from Winter Solstice on December 21st (Soyal) to Summer Solstice on June 21st (Niman). They have brought us lessons and knowledge, now it is the time for playing and relaxing in the sunshine.

Special Dances/Celebrations:

Traditionally, Niman, or the Home Dance, is a sixteen day ceremonial that begins shortly before the summer solstice and ends in mid-July. The dance marks the final performance of the Kachinas before they return to their homes on the San Francisco Peaks until next Soyal.

Agricultural Significance:

This is a time when our first corn harvest arrives from the March equinox planting season. This is the beginning of the slow summer’s gleanings of abundance.

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June Full Moon in the Hopitu Shinumu Tradition is called Kapnakoyapana, which means “Corn Tassel Coming Out Moon”. The moon’s energy reminds us to listen to the voices of balance, to try to gain the strength from both our male and female principles. The harvest will not grow if we have too much sun (male) or too little rain (female), we must both care tend our gardens as well as aggressively weed them for the plants to be healthy, and we must both consume the plants and save something back to encourage the growth cycle.

To The Dance of Life!

Diane Tegarden (aka) Esthana Thlehiya, white shell woman, abalone woman

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Did you Know that each full moon has a different name in the Hopi culture?

May 10, 2009 · Filed under Hopitu Shinumu culture, Native Americans · Tagged , , , , ,

Diane in Native "broom" skirt

Diane in Native "broom" skirt

Did you Know that each full moon has a different name in the Hopi culture?

In the Hopitu Shinumu Wheel of the Year, May Full Moon is called Iakapana, meaning corn planting moon. The agricultural calendar calls for the 3rd corn planting of the season, with the first and second plantings coming along well.

At this time there isn’t any particular astronomical significance, as the next marking of the Wheel of the Year will be in June for the Summer Solstice (June 21st), which is called Niman.

If you aren’t growing crops, and are an urban shaman, the personal medicine (lesson or knowledge) is that at this time of year it is prudent to work hard for what you want; your personal energy and the energy of the great Corn Mother is powerful now! At the same time, you must also have an acceptance of life’s realities, and be at peace with the good in your life.

Special Dances/Celebrations at this time include the second round of Night Kachina Dances, both for fun and to bring rain.

Blessed Beeeees on this full moon night,  Diane T. and furfamily

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31 Days of Notable Women- Winona LaDuke- Native American activist

March 27, 2009 · Filed under Native Americans, Women's History, environment, politics, women in politics, womens issues · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) is an internationally respected Native American and environmental activist. She began speaking about these issues at an early age, addressing the United Nations at the age of 18, and continues to devote herself to Native and environmental concerns, as well as political and women’s issues. LaDuke also served as Ralph Nader’s vice-presidential running mate on the Green Party ticket in the 1996 and 2000 presidential elections.

Source Cited: http://www.speakoutnow.org/userdata_display.php?modin=50&uid=79

 Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabe, Native American, environmental, activist, United Nations, women’s issues, women in politics,

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Did you know that….1 in 3 Native American women will be raped in her lifetime?

March 12, 2009 · Filed under Native Americans, Women's History, womens issues · Tagged , , , , , , ,

“A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors or strong its weapons.”- Cheyenne Saying

The truly oppressed aren’t heard at all, their plight has been covered up by other voices, strident and loud, voices that no longer need our help. Understand that a minority are people who are not represented or underrepresented; it’s not the ones who you hear screaming about oppression, it’s the voices that have been silenced that need our help now.

Did you know that….1 in 3 Native American women will be raped in her lifetime?

Native American and Alaskan Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the United States in general. A complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourage assaults.

To read more about the violence against Native American women, go to Amnesty International’s website at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/maze-of-injustice/page.do?id=1021163

You can help end violence against Native American women!

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The First Minority group remains the poorest…The First (Native) Americans.

February 22, 2009 · Filed under Hopitu Shinumu culture, Native Americans · Tagged , , , ,

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The First Minority group remains the poorest…The First (Native) Americans.

We hear little about the poverty, squalor and helplessness of the First Americans…the Native Americans, who are a REAL minority, their numbers seriously dwindling (less than 1% of the US population is comprised of Native Americans).

The Southwest Indian Foundation is a group (of Native Americans) who make and sell beautiful clothes, jewelry, pottery, rugs, books, CDs and other cool gifts. The money you spend is tax deductible, and the profits from this non-profit organization go directly back into helping the Native American community.

One of the big projects they have going on is building houses for the residents of the reservation, who are among the poorest people in America. Native Americans suffer from high unemployment rates, low graduation rates for their high school children, and high levels of alcoholism due to the hard life they live.

Here is a letter from Deacon Dan Nez Martin, explaining the 2009 Housing Assistance Program at the Southwest Indian Foundation in his own words.

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“Greetings from the super windy Southwest!

We have vicious winds here today, but we are insulated inside our warehouse where we are building new homes for the “poorest of the poor” in America. The advantages of having this facility is that we can build both outside and inside this manufacturing site, depending on the weather.

We are entering a busy building season where we are going to start 6 new homes. We have 58 families on a waiting list that desperately need a home. We are setting as our goal 30 homes for this coming year. We would do anything to build more homes. We just need the materials and the labor.

These are families that would have no way to have a home without assistance. Won’t you join us in this project? It really is a great thing. A hammer, a small bucket of nails, and a pile of 2 by 6’s go a very long way.

God Bless you a thousand times. Please consider helping us, we would be forever grateful. Have a great springtime.

God Bless You always,
Deacon Dan Nez Martin
www.southwestindian.com

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Buying from the SWIF either online or from their colorful catalog, you accomplish a triple win…..you are purchasing original, authentic gifts for yourself or a loved one, you are getting a tax deductible receipt for the goods you buy, AND you are helping to employ Native Americans who would otherwise be unemployed!!!

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