DRUMS ALONG THE OHIO

Summer/ Indian Summer 2009

In is Issue Medicine Crow Receives the Congressional Gold Medal Open Letter to Barack Obama Working to Reduce the High Rate of Suicide Among Native American Children e People’s University

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Drums Along the Ohio

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Drums Along the Ohio is not modeled after the standard American magazine or newspaper publication. There is no editor, senior editor, etc.

Rather it is produced jointly by the members of our Council, whose names are listed below. Council members make every effort to ensure that the information contained within Drums Along the Ohio is accurate; however, the Council assumes no liability for errors in content or copy. All materials herein are property of Drums Along the Ohio and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Council. Š2009 Drums Along the Ohio COUNCIL MEMBERS Cliff Clay Julie Soto Tony Soto Marie Buffalohead (deceased) Barbara Twelveeagles Norbert Kelsey Jan-Ellen French Marilynne Speed YOUTH ADVISOR Tica Blaser

Choctaw Ohlone/Costanoan/Esselen Nation Ohlone/Costanoan/Esselen Nation Poncas/marriage Cherokee Ottawa Mohawk

Ohlone/Costanoan/Esselen Nation

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Sonny McMillan Choctaw MISSION STATEMENT The mission of this publication is to inform and enlighten its readers of the past, present and future of the indigenous people of North America. To preserve the tradition and cultures of all Native Americans by educating all people. To promote local and national events. To showcase the arts, traditions, and culture of the first people of this land and others. We want this publication to be enjoyed by all persons, both native and non-native alike.

This publication is not affiliated with any groups or political organization.

We are non-profit.

DISTRIBUTIONS AND SUBMISSIONS Drums Along the Ohio is a free publication distributed through more than 120 city and county libraries throughout Ohio and beyond its borders. Our goal is to reach every Indian community across America. If you wish to have a copy of Drums Along the Ohio sent directly to you, we ask that you make a donation to help defray the cost of mailing and administrative fees.

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Cover photo courtesy of Ray and Velma Falconer.

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Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Picture Pages

Drums Along the Ohio

from our library of historic photographs

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Picture Pages (continued)

Drums Along the Ohio

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Left

One of the many early photos by Edward S. Curtis. Markings at the bottom indicate that the scene was at Tahola, Washington, suggesting that the fisherman was probably a member of the Quinalt Tribe. Photo courtesy of Ray and Velma Falconer.

Previous Page

Top Photo Scalp Dance is picture, showing a scalp dance performed by Ponca women was recorded near Ponca City, Oklahoma on August 25, 1920. Photo courtesy of Ray and Velma Falconer.

Bottom Photo In this photo, taken in August, 1935, Chief White Hawk (right) and Chief Many Wounds (center) of the Nez Perce accompany L. V. McWhorter, historian and writer of Indian lore (left) as they cross Nez Perce Creek in their attempt to retrace the trail taken through the park by the Nez Perce band. Why McWhorter is leading the two chiefs is not clear, although it is said that Chief White Hawk could recall only a few outstanding landmarks such as the Fountain Geyser. Photo courtesy of Cleveland Public Library.

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Drums Along the Ohio

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Medicine Crow Receives the Congressional Gold Medal Cliff Clay

It is about time we took a look at Dr. Joe Medicine Crow, who is a Crow Indian from Lodge Grass, Montana.

Ninety-four-year-old Medicine Crow was born with the full name of Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird on the Crow Res. in Montana.

He always seems to expect nothing but the best from himself. Well, it looks as though he has achieved a number of goals which most of us only dream of. He was the first among his nation to receive a Master’s Degree. It was all most impossible for a Native American to achieve such goals in his time as a youth.

But then Medicine Crow put his education on the “back burner” for a while. He went off to war in World War II. While in Europe he became a standout in hand-to-hand combat, as well as capturing horses from the enemy. Probably his most memorable and compelling war encounter was a hand-to-hand fight with a young German soldier. Medicine Crow got the upper hand on his youthful enemy and was preparing to kill him when he heard the soldier cry out what was to be his last word : “momma”.

Medicine Crow realized he could not carry out what he saw as a merciless deed. Such compassion, as well as his bravery, are the kind of deeds which made him a war chief among his nation.

After serving in the army he returned to the Crow Agency and became involved in tribal history and anthropology. Medicine Crow has earned three PhDs and has written a number of books on the history of the Crow nation. He also had a hand in establishing the Plains Indian

Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, located in Cody, Wyoming.

In his acceptance of the Congressional Gold Medal, Medicine Crow expressed his appreciation for this prestigious award, though in truth, recognition for the many unselfish deeds he has performed throughout his life are long overdue. Indeed, for his service in the war, it was France, not the United States, which bestowed

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its high award for his bravery and service while in France: the French Legion of Honor.

Medicine Crow is probably the last living war chief. Medicine Crow is just as outspoken as ever, and is known for expressing his opinion on a variety of subjects. Oddly enough his prime concern is about the many issues which affect his nation, the Crow nation. However, as most of

us know, what is good for his nation is by and large good for the Indian people in general.

He was in the audience when the Crow nation was addressed by president-to-be Barack Obama. At that time, Medicine Crow expressed his hopes for his nation. Obama did not forget about Medicine Crow when he became President. As President he presented Medicine Crow the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Medicine Crow seemed to have enjoyed the dialogue with President Obama.

There is little doubt that Medicine Crow loves to interact with people.

Of course, having had a extended and colorful career in the armed service and being involved with a number of higher learning institutions is a plus when it comes to his speaking skills.

It is interesting to note that whenever he was on the war front he wore war paint beneath his uniform and a sacred eagle feather under his helmet.

It is said that he did not realize it at the time but he had completed all four tasks required to become a war chief. He touched a living enemy in battle; he disarmed an enemy; he led a successful war party; and made a midnight raid stealing horses from the Germens. These are the acts of war which made him the last war chief of the Crow nation.

He is proud to say that he is well pleased to rank with the other war chief such as Geronimo, Sitting Bull and the likes. But when it comes to discussing warfare and wars he seems to have a fairly short and direct opinion: “nobody wins in war, both sides lose,” he says.

A Prayer To e Creator ALL MIGHTY CREATOR ... allow us if You will to give thanks to You for the endless love and patience which You have reason to grant us. And now we ask this special prayer for Your blessings that You may be generous enough to see fit to grant a sense of well being to our friends and family: Faye Brings em John Robinson Al Turay

Barbara Two Bears Lorraine Patsouras Clark Hosick

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Drums Along the Ohio

Open Letter to Barack Obama

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Leonard Peltier As released by the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee upon the occasion of Leonard Peltier’s 64th birthday.

Leonard Peltier I have watched with keen interest and renewed hope as your campaign has mobilized millions of Americans behind your message of changing a political system that serves a small economic elite at the expense of the peoples of the United States and the world. Your election as president of the United States, where slaves and Indians were long considered less than human under the law, will undoubtedly constitute a historic moment in race relations in the United States.

Yet symbolism alone will not bring about change. Our young people, black and Native alike, suffer from police brutality and racial profiling, underfunded schools, and discrimination in employment and housing. I sincerely hope your campaign will inspire some hope among our youth to struggle for a better future. I am, however, concerned that your recent statement on the Sean Bell verdict, in which the New York police officers who fired 50 shots at a young man on the eve of his wedding were acquitted of criminal charges, displays a rather myopic view of the law. Until the law is harnessed to protect the victims of state violence and racism, it will serve as an instrument of repression, just as the slave codes functioned to sustain and legitimize an inhuman institution.

As I can testify from experience, the legal institutions of this nation are far from racial and political neutrality. When judges align with the repressive actions and policies of the executive branch, injustice is

rationalized and cloaked in judicial platitudes. As you may know, I have now served more than three decades of my life as a political prisoner of the federal government for a crime I did not commit. I have served more time than the maximum sentence under the guidelines under which I was sentenced, yet my parole is continually denied (on the rare occasions when I am afforded a hearing) because I refuse to falsely confess.

Amnesty International, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, my Guatemalan sister Rigoberta Menchu, and many of your friends and supporters have recognized me as a political prisoner and called for my immediate release.

Millions of people around the world view me as a symbol of injustice against the indigenous peoples of this land, and I have no doubt that I will go down in history as one of a long line of victims of U.S. government repression, along with Sacco and Vanzetti, the Haymarket Square martyrs, Eugene Debs, Bill Haywood, and others targeted by for their political beliefs. But neither I nor my people can afford to wait for history to rectify the crimes of the past.

As a member of the American Indian Movement, I came to the Pine Ridge Oglala reservation to defend the traditional people there from human rights violations carried out by tribal police and goon squads backed by the FBI and the highest offices of the federal government. Our symbolic occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 inspired Indians across the Americas to struggle for their freedom and treaty rights, but it was also met by a fierce federal siege and a wave of violent repression on Pine Ridge. In 1974, AIM leader Russell Means campaigned for tribal chairman while being tried by the federal government for his role at Wounded Knee.

Although Means was barred from the reservation by decree of the U.S.-client regime of Richard Wilson, he won the popular vote, only to be denied office by extensive vote fraud and control of the electoral mechanisms. Wilson’s goons proceeded to shoot up pro-Means villages such as Wanblee and terrorize traditional supporters throughout the reser-

vation, killing at least 60 people between 1973 and 1975.

It is long past time for a congressional investigation to examine the degree of federal complicity in the violent counterinsurgency that followed the occupation of Wounded Knee. e tragic shootout that led to the deaths of two FBI agents and one Native man also led not only to my false conviction, but also the termination of the Church Committee, which was investigating abuses by federal intelligence and law enforcement agents, before it could hold hearings on FBI infiltration of AIM. Despite decades of attempts by my attorneys to obtain government documents related to my case, the FBI continues to withhold thousands of documents that might tend to exonerate me or reveal compromising evidence of judicial collusion with the prosecution.

I truly believe the truth will set me free, but it will also signify a symbolic break from America’s undeclared war on indigenous peoples. I hope and pray that you possess the courage and integrity to seek out the truth and the wisdom to recognize the inherent right of all peoples to

self-determination, as acknowledged by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

While your statements on federal Indian policy sound promising, your vision of “one America” has an ominous ring for Native peoples struggling to define their own national visions. If freed from colonial constraints and external intervention, indigenous nations might well serve as functioning models of the freedom and democracy to which the United States aspires.

Yours in the struggle.

Until freedom is won, Leonard Peltier # 89637-132 U.S.P. Lewisburg, P.O. Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA USA 17837 Leonard Peltier has served more than three decades in federal penitentiaries after he was convicted and sentenced to two life terms in the shooting deaths of two FBI agents on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975

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Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Drums Along the Ohio

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Working to Reduce the High Rate of Suicide Among Native American Children Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, a Sioux, was named director Indian Health Service (IHS) recently. is is a position which cannot be placed within a daily eight hour frame span. ere are several aspects of this position, which includes the overall well-being of the Native American population, when it come to keeping families and communities healthy. Most of us are aware of many of the commonly known illnesses which are challenging for Native Americans such as alcoholism, diabetes and so forth.

However, this article is designed simply to address one of the most troubling conditions which is rampant through Indian Country.

Nearly all Native Americans have been touched in one way or another by the drastic means by which so many of our young people are literally killing themselves. It is quite interesting that Dr. Roubideaux grew up on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and did not have the luxury of having help with her studies as many of her peers. She also had quite a ways from home to get to school. Most Native Americans were also lonesome or homesick because often there were few Indians to relate to. Because we know that this is such a huge and complex problem, we are reminded that we are placing emphasis upon the Native American youth. Dr. Roubideaux knows the isolation, loneness as well as ongoing racism which is are factors. She has a better understanding of the many obstacles which many young Native Americans are forced to address.

First of all the number of young Indians committing suicide is staggering: Native American youths have the highest number of suicide deaths in the nation. One study out of St. Louis, from Washington University, found that discrimination was one of the leading causes.

A report by the Indian Health Service, which is a service housed within the Health and Human Services Agency has documented that among American Indian youth, 33.9 per 100.000 committed suicide. e rate for youth suicide is most prominent in the age range of 15 to 24 each year, is is 2.5 the national rate for all youth, a function of decimation, isolation, poverty, a history of alcohol abuse among family and associates. Today there are so many organizations which are involved in attempting to resolve the breeding seeds of this Dr. Yvette Roubideaux long standing complex enemy. No one or no organization social service to notice symptoms of has been able to come up with a depression. silver bullet. Although as bad and Although we focus here on the as complex as the suicide numbers effect of depresssion on our youth, are, it seems as though are a great the fact is that symptoms of depresnumber of successes. Of course it is sion are likely to be a part of all of somewhat unfortunate that we have us at one time or another. So we no true barometer to measure the all have a sense of what to look for, ones which were prevented. even though we may have recovered We would like to see more from depression ourselves. actual or physical outreach and Unfortunately, young people can involvement by Native Americans easily fall into depression at such who are skilled or semi-skilled in an early age and may not have the a profession or a trade use such patience to work out a recovery on experience and work ethics in a their own. So a key to recovery is matter that can be duplicated by for those who see the depression those who may have not had the to express the importance of being opportunity or the encouragement patient, along with giving the youth to better themselves. If you know opportunities to engage in dialogue of a young person who is doing and by being willing to ask queslittle or nothing with their lives, it tions in a non-threatening and inofmay be a fair assessment that you fensive manner. At the same time take it upon your self to intervene a bit of silence on the part of the by simply giving a small amount of observer may give the person at risk your time to such person. It doesn’t an opportunity to think as well as to take a professional in psychology or express themselves.

After all, many times these children would like to confide in a parent or older relative—someone in whom they believe they can place their trust.

And there are people who have had experience with their own adolescents who presented such tendencies in one way or another and may have noticed that their son or daughter was not willing to express their concerns to a professional. Often time in such cases the parent or others trusted by the young person may see the need to act as a second party. Which means that this person relates to the adolescent on a more personal level and works with the psychologist or social service person as the third party until the youth is willing to have an audience with a professional. At the same time the first person (parent or older person) needs to be in touch and informed by a professional until the youth or person at risk is willing to meet with the professional You could call this problem among the young an epidemic. Young people on reservations throughout the nation are contributors to this sad chapter in Native American history. ere seems to be more of an intensive study made in regards to this tragedy. Yet there are some remarkable inroads made by a number of organizations designed and dedicated to serve the Native American in a vast number of ways from gaming rights, strip mining, treaty alterations, mountain topping, land and water pollution, tribal solvency and the list goes on. All these things have their place and order, but there is nothing more important than various health challenges which confront Native Americans, both young and old.

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Drums Along the Ohio

e People’s University Cliff Clay

ere is a wave of cutbacks that are threatening libraries across the nation. It is understandable, of course, that we are facing economic crisis in just about every area of instruction within America as well as worldwide. However it is the current state of the libraries which we wish to address in this brief article. e libraries throughout Ohio are no exception to this economic threat.

Recently there was a meeting held at one of the Cleveland Public library branches. is meeting was called by the Director of the Cleveland Public Libraries, Mr. Felton omas, Jr. He called the meeting to inform those in attendance concerning the state of the Cleveland Public libraries as well as receive such information as the people in attendance might have to offer. His message was well received by an overflowing crowd of persons from a variety of backgrounds as well as a wide range of age groups ere’s an old saying that can be used both as a statement as well as a question: “What’s in a name?

Refleccting upon the things being said in the meeting, I was reminded of the meaning and the richness in the title e Peoples University. Perhaps, I thought, a library is a university, onewhich allows anyone to be educated in nearly any subject that one can imagine. is University is a freewill institution. It has hundreds of thousands of books, tapes and computers as well as people within this institution to help you. Is this institution a University? Of course it is, without the campus, tuition fees and rules ere are other libraries in Dayton, Akron, Cincinnati, Colum-

bus, etc. each seeming to have similar approaches in answering what is needed to help remedy their financial bind. It is difficult to understand why such vital institutions would be in such dreadful condition!

Perhaps, though, the Peoples Universities have been taken for granted.

Let us also add that in spite of all the resources which are comprised in these libraries we ( the general public as well as a number of persons who work within this institution) have been creative enough in taking operations further in putting more effort in having young people make better use of the library. is applies in particularly to inner-city kids and young people on reservations. (We dare not mention foreign countries, especially third-world countries).

Instead of the threats of closing many of the libraries, perhaps it may be beneficial if there were a library in many of the most remote reservations. However just putting them in place will serve little purpose unless there are also strong, sound plans put in place to promote their presence and all the benefits and potential they have.

One of the reasons for this is drawn from the sound fixes put on two things that in most important to a race or a body of people. First the emphases are placed on the health of such people, both young and old. e Second most important thing you will hear is education. Perhaps it is or could be the Peoples University which is the unsung hero as an education by-product. Every one of us has an opportunity to make some form of a contribution.

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

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Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Drums Along the Ohio

A New “Teaching” Moment Richie Plass

e following is the text of an email sent last July in the wake of the events described therein. e past two days I had our exhibit, “Bittersweet Winds” at a conference at the Radisson Hotel Convention Center here in Green Bay, which of course is owned and operated by the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.

Yesterday, July 1, 2009, at about 10 am, I was approached by an employee of the Radisson. He was a young man who works as a “set-up” person in the convention center.

He told me, “ere have been some complaints about the incense you are burning, so You need to get rid of it.”

I said, “Sure thing, no problem.

But just to tell you, it’s not incense, it’s Sage. We use it for cleansing and praying.” I can’t really remember what his reaction was, but I took the Sage out of the bowl I use and took it out of the building.

Now, and this is the biggie. When I came back into the building, he was spraying air freshener close to items of our exhibit. I actually kind of laughed to myself, but I was “taken back” by him doing this. Now, and I say this whenever and wherever I take the exhibit someplace. I am a guest at these locations, so I do my best to be professional and courteous to everyone. So, when this young man told me there had been some complaints and I had to take care of this, I did. But, as Paul Harvey would say, “Now…the rest of the story.”

I immediately went up to the lady in charge of the conference, told her about the situation and told her, “I’m sorry about this, but I took care of it.”

She looked at me really strange and said, “Wow…I haven’t heard anything. I don’t think anyone from

our group complained because I for sure would have heard it.

Well, I then approached the person in charge of the set-up crew, and I believe she’s also in charge of all the services in the convention center, including food service. After I told her the whole story, she said, : Richie, I just found out about this, so I asked him [the young man who had approached me] about it, and he said, ‘Well smoking isn’t allowed in the building.’”

She kind of blew up and said, “No one was smoking! It was Sage. Indian people use that to cleanse and pray.”

Her name is Lori. She is married to a good friend of mine from the Menominee Nation. She and her family reside on the Menominee Reservation and as she told me (but I already knew this), she knows our ways. She grew up around Indian people and she has total respect for our ways and what we do. Plus, she told me she had said to him, “Don’t you realize who owns this place?

Don’t you know anything about Indian ways?” But of course, he doesn’t.

She also told me she asked him if he had called Security about when the complaints were made, and he said, “No.” She said this was a red flag for her, because Security has to be made aware of things that happen, especially when a complaint like this is made. Lori then told me that she was going to talk to the General Manager of the Radisson.

Well, when Lori got back, here is what she shared. She said the

General Manager was not in, but she shared with his secretary what happened. is lady then told Lori, “Well, there is no smoking allowed.”

Lori said that she told her, too, “No one was smoking! ey were smudging with Sage.” e secretary had no clue. en this lady told Lori, “Well, it’s over and done, so don’t worry about anything.”

Lori told her, “Nope…this is not over. Believe me, it’s just starting.” en Lori went back to the young man and asked him for the name or names of the people who complained. She said he kinda looked down, stuttered a bit, and then she told him, “I don’t like liars, so punch out…you’re done for today.”

Now, I appreciate everything Lori said and did, and I told her that this was a perfect example of how nonNative people who work at casinos, hotels, and even in tribal government positions have no clue of our ways, heritage, culture and traditions. I told her that this was the first time I was ever asked to remove my Sage, but it blew me away because of where we were. But, I told her the thing I REALLY took offense to was when I got back in the building and I had seen this young man “spraying” around.

She told me that she had told him, “Do you realize how much you disrespected Richie and all Native people?

Look at the things he has in his exhibit. ere are sacred items there and he smudges them. at’s what he does. at’s the proper thing to do, and you totally disrespected him and

Page 9

other Native people. How would you like it if someone came to your house and just started “spraying” stuff in your house?”

But, after talking with Lori more, here is what she and I feel. Because he smokes, we feel he didn’t like the “smell” of the Sage burning so HE made the decision by himself to approach me and spray the air freshener. Plus, from what Lori told me, no one complained. Like she said, any and all complaints MUST be presented to her, and she didn’t get any, so maybe he did it because he isn’t allowed to smoke in the building so he took it upon himself to approach me, tell me to get rid of it, and then sprayed the air freshener.

From what Lori told me, I will be getting a phone call from the General Manager. I will share with him that this is a perfect example how and why Tribes who employ non-Native people need the exhibit and our training. People need to know of our culture. ey need to know what we do. But I have been at other functions at the Radisson for years and Sage and Tobacco have been used in Opening Ceremonies for conferences and gatherings. ese functions will continue, but this is a perfect example of how and why “Bittersweet Winds” should be thought of to teach.

Richie Plass is Director of Education at the Changing Winds Advocacy Center

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Drums Along the Ohio

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

A STRANGE VISION QUEST

Never Give Up Part 42

Mack Johnson (emjay) “Legendary” Poet There will be great trials and tribulations in life Most people give up at the first sign of defeat Just remember your adversity is there To build your positive character “The new person inside of you” Don’t let discouragement and hopelessness set in No matter what The problem, situation or disappointment You must not accept what happens to you Because you can fix whatever it is Your inner strength will help you This isn’t as high as you can go You can go as high as you want to go The sky is unlimited and the world is abundance If you don’t give up on life Remember, “quitting is not an option” You have to deal with your problems Your reward is on the other side of a problem You may get knocked down so many times You can’t even count them But you can get back up better than before What makes you a failure is you stay down forever You can face all challenges with great joy I know things have come against you like a storm But you have to learn to live in victory The battle is already won for you That’s why you must never give up Just keep going until you get your abundance 5-9-2008

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Web site: nativechildalliance.org.

For quite some time I was doing very little within the Native community. In other words, I had become inactive. One afternoon, a Lakota woman stopped by my office and introduced herself to me. She was from South Dakota; the Rose Bud Res. She said she had heard of me by way of dialog with local Natives. She came with a strong request: “You are doing the Indian Community a disservice by not taking an active role in using your knowledge and experience to aid in the improvement and overall wellness of the Native community.”

I listened to this woman for two hours. She was a social worker, and much of her conversation was based on her professional and her urban experience. I told her that I would become more active. It’s hard for me to explain but, for some strange reason I did not feel that she was speaking from the heart. It almost seemed as though at times she was reciting a script. Yet the message was a fair and sensible one. Her light scolding took me in a number of directions. She stated, “Just because you are an artist living on the east side and doing your own thing doesn’t mean you should feel free in doing little to nothing when it comes to contribute to the Native American community. Take advantage of your Choctaw linage.”

A number of things happened as a result of my becoming active again within the Native community, such as being active with a Native American Center and later receiving a young gifted artist who was a member of the Omaha Tribe to work with me as my apprentice. He was my apprentice for six months. It was a good and memorable experience for both of us.

However, after a couple of years I was not pleased with the direction the Indian center was headed.

I believed it was not presenting the quality of service it was capable of providing. is went from an issue to a conflict. Finally, I decided to resign from that organization. Upon my resignation nearly half the board

resigned. Shortly after, the organization became inactive.

About a week before my resignation, I began to have dreams about a job or position that I was to be involved with. But this vision or dream appeared in bits and pieces and was a bit confusing. Still, I had an impression I would get a clear picture of this “assignment” pretty soon.

I’ve told only about a vision and I began to think maybe it was a mistake talking about dream or vision when I have not gone on as vision with the quest or had full knowledge as to what I was being ask to do. A few people I told about this vision asked about; when will I know; how long will it take? My answer was simple: I don’t know.

After about three weeks I received a full view: the vision brought forth a form of communication. I finally saw the Ohio River, Ohio valley, the Erie Canal and other things that underscored the beauty in Ohio, including a variety of nations. Many I could not recognize. But I seem to recall Huron, Ottawa, Mohawk and Erie. e answer was a Native American newspaper: Drums along the Ohio. is message, as well as most all visions, was not crystal clear.

First of all I didn’t know anything about the newspaper business. Yet I was reassured that I was to carry out this venture. Yet there were two other things I recalled in this revealing message. One was that this venture would be an Indian newspaper for Native Americans in Ohio and beyond. However it is equally designed the general public or the non-Indian as well in order to foster knowledge of the American Indian culture to others. It was also made known to me that this would not be an easy project to carry out. is was clear in the vision.

I was not too long into this publication when I found that it would not be an easy project to get the Indian community involved. this came about within the first two years. In time much of the excitement and growth has improved and thanks to the Creator we are still growing.

Cliff Clay , November 2007

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

Drums Along the Ohio

POW WOW CALENDAR The number of Powwows being scheduled around the country is quite impressive. By our count there are more than 200 scheduled around the country this summer, more than we can possibly hope to list on this page. Moreover, information concerning contact information and scheduling changes is forever subject to change. Below are events which we believe are currently scheduled over the next few months in Ohio and contiguous states along the Ohio River. Of course, it is always best to contact the individuals who are in charge shortly before you make the trip to participate. One great source to use for this purpose and to locate powwows in other parts of the country not listed here is www.powwows.com, which provides Google maps showing the precise location of the event, contact information, driving directions and web links to specific information about the event. There is even information on places to stay. In other words, more than we could ever print here, given the number of Powwows around the country and the amount of information concerning each of the events.

B B I-T Clinton , MO 10/02/2009 - 10/04/2009 2 I P-W Martin Farm I-24 Martin Springs South Pittsburgm, TN 10/03/2009 - 10/04/2009 A   M B G 4309 Lancaster Rd Granville , OH 10/03/2009 - 10/04/2009 A L M T P- 9298 Atwood Lake Rd. Mineral City , OH 10/03/2009 - 10/04/2009 I P D T 96 Beech St. Berea , OH 10/03/2009 - 10/04/2009

2 A G   N  H  V Goodrich Park on Union St Winchester , IN 10/09/2009 - 10/11/2009 12 A M P 6847 Central College RD Millington , TN 10/09/2009 - 10/11/2009 12 A N C C P R P-W 3011 Port Royal Road Adams , TN 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 5 A N A W 14099 Wolf Creek Rd Brookville , IN 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009

22 A A I G 1 Campus Drive Monaca , PA 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 B B C N A F 5842 Highway 30 Benton , TN 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 11 A “S   W” Jefferson St. at Reasor Ave. Taylorsville , KY 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 A N A D G Port Royal Road Belle Vernon , PA 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 I L P F P 28163 Willow Ave Farmington , IA 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009 10 A B R P W 1690 Airport Ridge Rd Linden , TN 10/16/2009 - 10/18/2009 17 A L  F W T P W 2400 Fourth Street Jackson , MI 10/17/2009 - 10/18/2009 M S P W 104 School Rd. Spraggs , PA 10/17/2009 - 10/18/2009

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2009 H M P W 1721 West Canal Street Milwaukee , WI 10/23/2009 - 10/25/2009 R C P W 1140 Red Clay Park Cleveland , TN 10/24/2009 - 10/25/2009 10 A C V D P- 5615 Park Street Clearfield , PA 11/07/2009 - 11/08/2009 3 A H M W 2421 Princeton Rd. Hamilton , OH 11/07/2009 - 11/08/2009 56 A C P 1150 W. Harrison Street Chicago , IL 11/07/2009 - 11/08/2009 NHCC T P W 7411 85th Avenue North Brooklyn Park , MN 11/14/2009 S. C TRAILS Y O R R T 24663 Angeline Ave Webster, , WI 12/12/2009 A S PW Hospital Drive Martinsville , IN 12/31/2009

Be a Warrior! Help Us Help Others!

One dollar will help a Native American or Veteran in Ohio with supportive service through our Helping Hands Program. “How?” you ask.

One person (You) donates just $1.00 = $1.00, however, 500 Individuals donate $1 = $500 1000 Individuals donate $1 = $1.000 10,000 Individuals donate $1 = $10,000 Our goal is to reach $20,000 by December 2009. Can you help? Send your donations to: NAIVC - Helping Hands, 655 N. Main, Suite 2, Akron, Oh 44310.

Or visit our website at: http://naivc.synthasite.com and donate online.

NAIVC is a 501 (c) 3 social service agency. Your donations are tax deductible.

Join our “Native Fire” Group, which meets the 2nd Monday of each month at “The Father’s House”, 2983 Wadsworth Rd., Norton, OH 44203. The group is focused on bringing Native Pride back to our people and hope into difficult times. For more information contact Viv Price at 330-807-2340.

NAIVC Community Night: Join us the 3rd Monday of each month. Fun activities, fellowship, food, and special guest speakers. Public invited: Norton Community Center, 4060 Columbia Woods Dr., Norton, OH. For more information contact Jack Lyons/NAIVC: 330-258-0909. Email: NAIVC1@aol.com.

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Drums Along the Ohio

Summer/Indian Summer 2009

(440) 526-3011

AMBERGRAM METAPHYSICAL BOUTIQUE

6601 Harvard Ave Cleveland, OH

REIKI CENTER

Since 1982

1450 Hayden Ave Cleveland, OH

8071 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., Ohio 44147

Silverman’s Serving Clevelanders’ Diverse Heritage For Over 60 Years

INDIAN MUSEUM OF LAKE COUNTY, OHIO Featuring Arts and crafts of Prehistoric Indians of Ohio Area: 10,000 BC — 1650 AD Today’s Indians: from Whole North American Continent 1800 — Present

September—April

HOURS

Monday-Friday: 9am-4pm Saturday-Sunday: 1pm-4pm

May—August

Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday: 1pm-4pm

Indigenous PeopLes Day Traditional Pow Wow October 3-4, 2009

Berea, OH

Gift Shop–Library–Group Tours by Reservation Technical Center – Building B Corner of River & Center Streets Willoughby, OH 440-951-3813 www.indianmuseumoflakecounty.org Admission

YOU SAID THIS HORSE WAS SMART–HE’S LAZY!!

THAT’S WHAT MAKES HIM SMART. HE WORKS WHEN HE WANTS.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Baldwin Wallace College, 96 Beech St. Berea, OH 44017 Native American Singing, Dancing, Foods and Arts & Crafts Gates open @ 10 am each day Grand Entry: Sat (10-3-09) 1 pm & 5 pm, Sun (10-4-09) 1 pm

Admission $6 Adults $3 Seniors & Students $10 Weekend Pass Free BW Students with ID and Children 5 and under

For more info or for group rates please contact: Cathy Sayre @ 216-251-8988 or Faye Brings Them @ 216-322-7098