Native News Network

To foster the restoration and revival of indigenous California language
so that they may be retained as a permanent part of the living cultures
of native California: http://aicls.org/

 

Call to Conference:

A draft plan to remove four aging dams along the Klamath River in Oregon and California was released Wednesday, a long-awaited step toward ending a protracted dispute over the waterway.  The federal government has often played the unhappy role of referee. In 2002, environmentalists asserted that a significant die-off of fish had resulted from a diversion of water to farmers that was ordered by the Interior Department. Four years later, fishermen complained when low levels of salmon in the river led to government restrictions on commercial fishing.  Story at: http://tinyurl.com/yzt98cb

November is Native American Heritage Month, as proclaimed each year by the President of the United States.

Native Americans are routinely celebrated for their participation in the settler’s first Thanksgiving, however, there are countless other contributions that Native people have made to the development of this country. There's chocolate, vanilla, and even many of the ideals put forth in the Constitution. But that’s just the beginning! Did you know that Native American's knowledge of plants and herbs contributed to the development of more than 20% of medicines in use today? Its time to recognize what an impact American Indians had on the development of this nation, and what better time to do that than Native American Heritage Month!

In some schools, efforts are made to explore history in a broader focus, but almost always focuses on the past and barely recognizes the presence of Native Americans today. Schools should now teach about all of the accomplishments, the contributions, the heroes past and present, and include the history of this country as it was influenced by Native peoples.

The importance of providing Native role models and of celebrating Native history and culture cannot be undermined. Bringing Native American speakers in the classroom is a great way to eliminate stereotypes and introduce the culture and even history from another perspective, and a chance to learn about all of the contributions Native people have made to this country.

For more info: http://tinyurl.com/ylf8rpn

Did you know about American’s original people:

There are over 600 Indian Nations & Tribes in the United State alone, 108 of them in California

83% of federally recognized Nations in the United States have populations of less than 1,000 members.

American Indian's were given citizenship in 1924, after many Indian men fought in World War I.

American Indians were used to send message that could not be decoded during World War II.

The Cherokee had a written language before the coming of European settlers.

60% of the world's food eaten today is of American Indian origin.

The U.S. Constitutions frame was adopted from the Iroquois Confederacy.

Jim Thorpe, Sauk and Fox Indian was selected the greatest all-around athlete of the first half century.

26 of the state names derived from Indian words.

American Indians believe that patience is considered a good quality.

The respected members of some Nations are one who shares and gives of his/her wealth to others.

Many Indians have large extended families.  Aunts are often considered as mothers, uncles are called fathers and cousins are brothers and sisters.

It is believe that 75 million Indians lived here before Columbus.  In the 2000 census American Indians and Alaskan Natives number only about 2.5 million.

Many Indians do not believe that they came over the Bering Strait.

Many Nations have creation stories that tell of them coming from this land.

65% of Indians live in urban areas.

Many of the Nations are matrilineal.

There are 250 Indian languages still spoken.

Indian Nations through treaties with the federal government ceded Indian lands to America, but retained rights and cultural practices hundreds of years older that America.

Many Nations were farming as early as 1200 BC.

During the fall of the Romans, Indians were constructing the largest irrigation canal in North American.

Some Indian villages and cities housed up to 50,000 people.  Read up on Cahokia!

Most Indian Nations have a different name for themselves.  Many call themselves "people" or "real people".  The 3 tribes of Michigan: The Ojibwa (Chippewa), the Odawa (Ottawa) and the Bode wad mi (Potawatomi) refer to themselves as Anishinaabe, not native or American Indian.

There are Indian ceremonial mounds that are 2 acres bigger that the Great Pyramid of Egypt. (Read up on Cahokia)

By Columbus second trip, the Old World diseases had killed two thirds of the New World's American Indians. 

Cotton Cloth was invented by the Native Americans 

Note: The magazine issues of the National Museum of the American Indian have has good articles that could provide great knowledge for communities and classes. This publication has excellent information about America’s original people.  Back issues are available at:  aimember@nmai.si.edu   Publications are $5.00 each, but depend on availability.

You can also become a member: http://www.AmericanIndian.si.edu