#americanindian

[epicforwards]

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart."

-- Native American Proverb

[chessamade]

Three of Cups

Back from August 2020: The Three of Cups is a card of community and union between three close relationships, usually women. I thought about three legendary women and remembered the Three Sisters of Native agriculture: a staple in many Native foods. In order of their cultivation, they are the Winter Squash, Maize, and Climbing Beans.

The Three Sisters are planted together and benefit each other in their coexistence. The maize provides a foundation for the beans to climb, the beans provide nutrients to the soil, and the squash on the ground prevents the growth of weeds as well as creating a microclimate that keeps the soil moist. This sort of cohabiting relationship was perfect for this card, and I included bowls of the crops to work in the cup symbology.

I initially didn't know if I wanted to make the Sisters have human-colored skin or plant-colored skin, as I didn't know if any of these colors would be problematic (obviously red is unacceptable). I checked with three of my Native friends to make sure orange, gold, and green would be okay, and they were happy with it. I'm glad the plant colors worked too, because it makes the Sisters seem more like spirits instead of Native women who decided to put a bunch of plants on their heads. Another color I struggled with for a time was with Sister Maize, as obviously corn husks are usually a dark green in color. I was concerned that Sister Beans was already taking up a lot of green, and thought a golden corn husk color would help balance the colors, as well as draw in some of the warmth of the squash colors from the eldest Sister. Because of the presence of both green and warm colors in Sister Squash, she serves as a balance between Sister Maize and Sister Beans.

My favorite part of painting was definitely dotting all the exquisite maize colors. They come in so many beautiful varieties of blues, purples, magentas, whites, yellows, and a dark blue almost green raven-like color. If you would like to read a bit about the Native cultivation of maize and the Western colonization of maize, this interview with botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer is an enlightening read about the sacred properties of the Corn Mother.

Three Sisters is just one of the many Native farming techniques that kept North America alive and vibrant, utilizing different plants' abilities to fertilize the soil in preparation for new growth, and keeping the ecosystems balanced. Western farming techniques in comparison do not use the land to its fullest potential, and we've ruined much of the landscape because of this.

If you were to draw up this card, remember those who support you. Think about the strong feminine presences in your life and how you look out for one another. You are vital to this bond, pulling your weight and beautiful in the eyes of those who love you. Each of you is different, but that's what gives you strength.

If you would like to learn how to cook Native dishes, I recommend the cookbooks The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley, and The Mitisitam Cafe Cookbook by Richard Hetzler.

Here is a link to my shop. All proceeds of the Three of Cups prints go to Real Rent Duwamish.

[ancient-healer]

How long we have to tell people this?! How long before they admit the truth?! How long?! They're comfortable in their hypocrisy! They're comfortable in their greed and hate!

[thebronzedstandard]

Reposted from @chestnutschoolherbs Alternatives to Native North American culturally significant plants by Solange Aguilar @shesanargonaut, an Apache/Yoeme/Kalinga/Kapampangan artist, photographer, and poet.

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"DISCLAIMER: I am one Indigenous person sharing my own personal opinion, advice, and thoughts on my cultures. I do not control you. You do not have to listen to me. You are a beautiful, free-thinking individual and have the decision to do whatever you want. This list is purely for those who want non-culturally appropriative/eco-conscious burnable alternatives to these relatives and want to be respectful to Indigenous peoples/cultures."

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@shesanargonaut has also just published a zine, including many more botanical alternatives. You can purchase a copy via the link in their bio 🌹

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*Comments are turned off for the weekend so our staff can step away and will be turned back on Monday*

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTJ5aMBJlr/?utm_medium=share_sheet

[rymingtahn]

EVERY single day, I’m reading, listening, watching… RElearning my culture, my history, my ancestors’ stories. REdiscovering what was forcefully taken away from my and my people. Eye WILL NOT STOP. 😮The American Negro/ African American are THE Indigenous Aboriginals of the Americas. Today we are a mixture of tribes (most of us), and other races maybe, BUT this does NOT make us ANY less of an “American Indian”/ insert your tribe than the next. 💪🏽🏹💕 Regardless of your tribe or tribes (you have to start to genealogy so you can know), we must UNITE in order to restore balance between nature and wo(man). A’ho! ANa! AHiya!👋🏽 💕Repost from @chappaquiddickwampanoag #rymyremedies #america #history #juneteenth #black #blackhistory #blackindians #slavery #autochthonous #niiji #niijiofturtleisland #turtleisland #americanhistory #history #aboriginal #warrior #1828definitionofindian #1828definitionofamerican #americanindian #wewerealreadyhere #afroindian #reallife #truth #indiginouspeople #realtalk #education #enlightenment #wakeup https://www.instagram.com/p/CP8gw70BOmt/?utm_medium=tumblr

[noaasanctuaries]

Today is #NativeAmericanHeritageDay, and we want to celebrate the history, tradition, and values of American Indians and Alaska Natives and recognize the struggles and challenges they have faced. 

We want to thank American Indians and Alaska Natives for their contributions and achievements to the ocean, maritime traditions, and sanctuary communities.

Every year, members of the Chumash community undertake a traditional tomol journey to their homeland in Limuw, now also known as Santa Cruz Island. Traveling through NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. "Paddling in, there's no other homecoming like that," says paddler Eva Pagaling. Hear the Chumash paddlers' stories in this Story from the Blue.

[lootbylouise]

The final piece of Native American Art in my #etsy shop: "Chief Strong Wind" Elder Indian Proverb Alfredo Rodriguez Western 16x20 Print Leanin' Tree Sidekick Prints 1977 #indianchief #americanindian #indigenouspeople #westernart https://etsy.me/3ndUGuI (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRyvuENWUZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[coridallasmultipass]

Native American Remains Found in Montecito, CA

I ranted about this on Insta the other day, but I want to bring it up here where I have more space to vent without text-walling my story.

Sources: https://www.independent.com/2021/06/04/riven-rock-remains-are-native-american/

Follow-Up Article: https://www.independent.com/2021/06/09/mystery-surrounds-human-remains-found-on-montecito-property/

This is an extremely depressing discovery I learned about earlier this week. Made even more depressing by recent circumstances.

Let me start with a bit of backstory for the area… Montecito is known to be the area where Rich People move to retire or get out of LA. It’s basically all multimillion dollar homes (the whole southern area of Santa Barbara County is like that, too) and sits comfortably facing the Channel Islands. Montecito/SB are known for being the homes of celebrities like Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and now the new royal couple Prince Harry and Megan Markle.

Now, if you ask me, there are too many Multimillion Dollar McMansions in our county. I’m from the Chumash tribe (specifically Ineseño, the one inland from Santa Barbara; we have the Reservation.) Just a couple years ago, my tribe purchased a plot of land that was historically ours - as in, part of the original Reservation documents. My tribe made a large contribution to the county along with the purchase. But owning the land was not the same as annexing it into the rez.

I’m a 90s kid so I remember what the rez used to look like before our casino grew in the early 2000s. Multiple generations would have a house, and have to keep adding onto it to make room; each property would have multiple trailers so others could live there too. Space was cramped. Especially pushed up along the Santa Ynez River that used to flood before we got the drought (which made for some fun times swimming in the rain as a kid..) Housing on the rez is a lot safer now, though, but the space is still needed.

Our tribe had planned to use that land, purchased in 2010, for more (badly needed) tribal housing. Then comes along this racist group called “Save The Valley”/“Santa Ynez Valley Coalition” who claimed that our tribe was a leech on the county, and that building (necessary, modest) housing there would “ruin the view”… They, and the county, took the tribe to court over and over - county court, state court, federal court, all because they did not want us to use our land for our people.

I should also mention here that the Chumash Reservation is probably THE GREENEST place in the entire county. The casino and resort are all ~ zero waste, solar energy, whatever. They have won awards for being so eco-friendly. So the new housing was going to follow suit, as well. Certainly nothing I would call a leech with how much business the casino brings to the local shops and wineries around the county.

Things are still up in the air in regards to this issue, but it seems to be moving forward finally.

Source: https://lompocrecord.com/news/local/bureau-of-indian-affairs-makes-final-decision-on-taking-camp-4-into-trust-for-chumash/article_0e798813-1710-5d27-9d2d-5e2618db8da9.html

Conversely, here’s another anecdote about an appropriate way to preserve “the view”: This year (this month!! June 2021), a group planned to permanently alter the landscape of the foothills of the San Marcos mountains in Santa Barbara, by building more multimillion dollar mansions over this historically Chumash land, and keeping it as a private community. Another group, Save The San Marcos Foothills, crowdfunded over 18 million dollars (!!!!) to halt the construction, purchase the land, and work WITH the county AND the Chumash to preserve it and keep it as an open space that the public can go to, to enjoy the natural landscape, without harming the wildlife.

Source: https://www.savesanmarcosfoothills.org/

Let me take a little time to explain a bit of Chumash history. I’m no expert, and might not do it justice, but it’s important to understand the full context of why I’m so upset. The Chumash people originated on the Channel Islands. We grew and prospered and lived happily alongside wildlife, until our islands seemed too small for all of us. Our mother goddess Hutash decided that we were ready to travel to the mainland and grow as humans do. She built us a rainbow bridge and cautioned us not to look down. Those who became scared and looked down, fell, and transformed into dolphins, who we consider family. As we move into the mainland to live, so we return towards the sea when we die. Our spirits venture to Point Conception (near Lompoc, CA) where we begin our trials and journey through the afterlife.

Our lives and spirits are deeply tied to this local area of California, and it’s a damn shame that it’s been branded as the expensive rich white people area to retire or the pricey beachy getaway for celebrities to buy privacy.

Historically, the Chumash have lived here for a long time. We’re a long ways away from Central America, but even our language has a few loanwords from Nahuatl. It’s also theorized that we had (peaceful) contact with the seafaring Polynesians, too. When the Spanish brought native Mexicans with them, we saw them as our bretheren, yet we were treated as a much lower class during the Mission Period. This is where we were hit the hardest. We lost our language in such a way that it is not natively spoken today. (Though there is still hope with many people studying and learning it on their own and with the help of language experts.)

So, back to the original link I posted. Native American remains found in Montecito. It is truly, deeply, filling me with a sorrow I can not come to terms with. It’s depressing. It’s angering. It’s Disturbing. The fact that these remains were found during the construction of a (likely) multimillion dollar mansion is bad enough. And after the decendant/tribe is notified (it’s still not clear if he was Barbareño Chumash or a visitor), they’re going to continue building that mansion.

But to make matters even more disturbing, is that the neighbors within earshot include Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s fancy new estate.

Let that sink in.

A tribe that had no historical contact with British Imperialism, now has a royal couple living (basically/almost) on top of the grave of one of us. One of us that had been left to the elements for so long that the bones found were in fragments.

Not far from Montecito is a street in Santa Barbara that, up until last year, was called Indio Muerto Street (“Dead Indian”) because a dead Chumash man was found there. ((Thankfully, the street was renamed in 2020 to Hutash Street, and a memorial made to all the natives who died alone.))

Source: https://www.independent.com/2020/09/30/santa-barbaras-indio-muerto-street-to-be-changed/

I just can’t get over how much of this county we lived in, like, we Really Lived In and With the land. Our spirits are tethered to this land while we live. And so many of these fancy rich houses are built on soil that was once soaked in our blood. All while our tribe has to fight the legal system that favours racist objectors, just to try and get land that is appropriate to house our tribe.

Words do not bring justice to describing how deeply discoveries like this hurt. I’m still crying about it because there’s nothing I can do. The real battles are long over, and the only way to fight now is with money, so I sit here and mourn and cry for the dusty remains of my long-forgotten cuzin.