National heritage day honors American Indians

AP - Google ^ | November 28, 2008 | Mary Hudetz

[EveningStar]

For the first time, federal legislation has set aside the day after Thanksgiving — for this year only — to honor the contributions American Indians have made to the United States.

Frank Suniga, a descendent of Mescalero Apache Indians who lives in Oregon, said he and others began pushing in 2001 for a national day that recognizes tribal heritage...

After the Thanksgiving weekend, Suniga said, he and other advocates plan to lobby to place the Native American Heritage Day on the nation's calendar annually...

[dr_who]

Left wing tackiness in full display. For me at least, it’s FRIDAY!

[SandRat]

AWARD PRESENTATION -- U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Oates presents Urseloria Kanuho, a member of the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble, with a certificate of appreciation following a performance, Nov. 25, 2008, at the Victory Stage, Camp Victory, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain

NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE -- Edmund Nevaquaya, a member of the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble, performs a traditional male Native American dance during a performance, Nov. 25, 2008, at the Victory Stage, Camp Victory, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain

[BGHater]

[EveningStar]

"Congress passed legislation this year designating the day as Native American Heritage Day, and President George W. Bush signed it last month."

[kbennkc]

Navajo code talkers . Thanks , because you spoke Dine , I didn't have to learn Japanese .

[Tax-chick]

I don’t think it’s a bad idea, although another Federal day of this-n-that is always a nuisance. A weekend might be better than a Friday, though, so one could get the Scouts together to do cool Indian stuff.

[rocksblues]

So Native American Heritage Day is over before anybody knew it was being observed. LOL!

[Khepri]

Putting this day, the day after Thanksgiving, is nothing short of a provocation imho

The day after the day after Thanksgiving should be to celebrate the contributions of Caucasians to American life if we’re going to insist on splitting things out into special interest groups.

[Tax-chick]

And wow, that young lady is wearing a blinding outfit! High-tech holographic beadwork!

That’s something I miss since we moved from Oklahoma. You could take the kids to the park on a Saturday and find an Indian dance group practicing.

[SandRat]

ahh.. the O-A Ceremonial Team; “WWW in Scouts” and it don’t mean World Wide Web.

[SandRat]

Well.. take a look at this http://www.cherokee-nc.com/events-calendar.php?page=72. Think you may have some trip planning to do.

[Tax-chick]

A troop in the Tulsa area had a ceremonial team of over a dozen boys who travelled around the state (and a couple contiguous) putting on Arrow of Light and other ceremonies. They put a lot of effort into their clothes, music, and ritual, and were extremely impressive.

My oldest boy is in the OA, but hasn’t done much with them yet because of his running and music.

[Tax-chick]

We really should get up there - my husband and kids are Cherokee, although I’m pure white people :-). I’ll make sure he and boys go next time there’s a footrace, at least!

[Oldpuppymax]

Not only has the left spent decades misrepresenting the history of Thanksgiving, now it wants to make it into an official, national day of lying and distorting. Yep. Sounds like a left-wing type plan to me!

[dr_who]

Another stupid thing that George Bush did. Of course, if it was a rider to another funding (or bailout bill), it’s insignificant compared to the stupidity of the measure he intended to pass.

[SandRat]

and each state O-A Ceremonial Team focuses on a different Native American Tribe's Culture for costuming/dance. Here in AZ it's Navajo or Apache or Pima depending where you are in the state.

[Tax-chick]

I didn’t know that. Bill’s not into dressing up and ceremony, but if our second son is invited into the OA eventually, I think he will be! He took Indian Lore at camp last summer.

[SandRat]

It takes a lot of work to get the costumes right and the dances correct to honor the tribe it is coming from.

[Tax-chick]

Yes, that’s true, and I think it’s important to do it right, including avoiding performances that should not be done my non-members of a tribe.

My experience, in several states, is that most American Indians respect a good-faith effort by others to share their traditions, within appropriate limits. Some tribes have living ceremonial traditions about which they are very protective, while others don’t.

[yankeedame]

And wow, that young lady is wearing a blinding outfit! High-tech holographic beadwork!

It does have a certain Janet Jackson look about it, doesn't it?

[SandRat]

Smart O-A Chapters/Lodge contact the Native American Tribal Counsel of the Tribe they wish to emmulate/honor to seek their permission, seek guidance, and when ready for the first time, give a privite performance to the Tribal Council for a final Blessing.

[WildcatClan]

One day, one measly day, that will come and go without notice. We have Black History Month yet there are some on the thread complaining about one day.

[dfwgator]

African-Americans get a whole month, and the Indians only get one day?

[Tax-chick]

“Modern Intertribal Fusion.” The patchwork emblems are kind of Seminole-y, while the beadwork is Plains-inspired. And the colors are pure DuPont. Pretty, though, and I’ll bet it shows up really well on a stage, no matter how big the audience is or what the facility is like.

[dfwgator]

We have Black History Month yet there are some on the thread complaining about one day.

Yeah but "The Man" chose the shortest month of the year to be "Black History Month."

[Tax-chick]

That’s a good idea. This is very informative. I didn’t know much about the OA, except that it’s Secret Guy Stuff and I was supposed to drop Bill off at the campsite and not ask questions :-).

[WildcatClan]

LOL! I reckon you’re right.

[SandRat]

Ordeal... hahahaha WWW we tease to non O-A members means Wine Women and Watermelon.... hahahahaha

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[Forward the Light Brigade]

I think June 25 would be better—to honor the victory over Custer at Little Big Horn in 1876. Some tribes to celebrate the day as Victory Day.

[Tax-chick]

I think it should be a Saturday, which is impossible if a specific calendar date is chosen.

[PzLdr]

Sounds good to me. They were worthy adversaries [especially the Apache, Lakota/ Cheyenne and Comanche]. They have served patriotically in every war they’ve been invited to [including against other tribes and bands]. They didn’t get here illegally. They’ve never [except for a small minority] whined about the ‘raw deal’ they could claim to have gotten. And they do have a rich cultural heritage that has contributed to what the U.S is today. Works for me!

Full Disclosure: As a child, when I wasn’t wishing I could ride with the Mongols, I wanted to be one of Cochise’s Chirichuas.

[Tax-chick]

“Chiricahua,” and we always wanted to be the Indians when I was a kid, too. Perfectly natural: who wants to play “Midwestern White People” when you’re that already?

[Dilbert San Diego]

The left has also tried to make Columbus Day something called “Indigenous People’s Day”. They think that honoring Columbus is evil.