I see the resemblance in some of the younger pictures Ive seen of you, Ina. Like Lara, I also love you in your Indian Garb! I'm really enjoying this thread, glad you and Lara did it, also that Yvonne started you on the road to finding your roots.
Contributions of the American Indians This is from a US Government Document: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs141p2_024206.pdf The people of the Southwest are known for their beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry. The people of the Northwest Coast are known for their fantastic woodcarvings. The Plains Indians are well known for their beautiful beadwork. But other than art, the Native Americans have influenced many areas of American living. Some of these things were begun long before the arrival of the European settlers on North American land. ECOLOGY People today are thinking about it now but the Native Americans have always had a deep respect for the land. There was a love of every form of life. The Native Americans did not kill anything they could not use. They never killed an animal or a fish for the sport of it. Fishing and hunting were a way to survive. The Native Americans lived in harmony with nature and did not abuse the natural world. Native Americans were ecologists long before they were ever used. The Anishinaabe people do not have a word for “Conservation”, because it is an assumed way of life, it did not have to have a special word. FOODS WE EAT TODAY WERE FIRST GROWN BY AMERICAN INDIANS Native Americans learned to grow and use many different kinds of food that many people eat today, never considering that they first came from Native Americans: potatoes, beans, corn, peanuts, pumpkins, tomatoes, squash, peppers, nuts, melons, and sunflower seeds. They also helped the European settlers survive in the New World by sharing their farming methods with them. GAMES YOU PLAY TODAY Canoeing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, lacrosse, relay races, tug-of-wars, and ball games are just a few of the games early Native Americans played and still enjoy today. Many youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire and YMCA Guides have programs based largely on Native American crafts and lore. IDEA FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WAS ADOPTED FROM THE AMERICAN INDIANS Benjamin Franklin said that the idea of the federal government, in which certain powers are given to a central government and all other powers are reserved for the states, was borrowed from the system of government used by the Iroquoian League of Nations. MANY WORDS WE USE EVERY DAY CAME FROM AMERICAN INDIANS Countless Native American words and inventions have become an everyday part of our language and use. Some of these include: barbecue, caribou, chipmunk, woodchuck, hammock, toboggan, skunk, mahogany, hurricane, and moccasin. Many towns, cities and rivers have names of Native American origin. Just a few of these include: Seattle, Spokane, Yakima, Pocatello, Chinook, Flathead Lake, Milwaukee, Ottawa, Miami, Wichita, and Kalispell. SIGN LANGUAGE A system of hand signals was developed to facilitate trade and communicate between different tribal groups and later between Native Americas and trappers and traders. The same idea is used today for communicating with those who are deaf and unable to speak. The signs are different, but the idea is the same. AMERICAN INDIANS SERVED DURING WORLD WAR I AND II AND OTHER CAMPAIGNS Even though many of them were not even citizens, more than 8,000 Native Americans volunteered and served during World War I. Well over 24,000 served during World War II. One of the most notable contributions during World War II was the service of the Navajo Code Talkers, a special group of volunteers who did top-secret work using a secret code in Navajo that could not be broken. AMERICAN INDIANS EXCELLED IN MANY FIELDS Jim Thorpe (athlete), Billy Mills (athlete), Johnny Bench (athlete), Charles Curtis (vice president of U.S.), Maria Tallchief (ballerina), Johnny Cash (entertainer), Buffy St. Marie (musician) and Will Rogers (entertainer)... these are just a few. With some research, the list could be extended to include someone in every area and walk of life. THERE'S MORE TO POST LATER.
Time for a Bedtime Story... Ina...Have you read these? It's expensive so I'd check Ebay. Time to buy yourself an early Christmas present As Days Go By Our History, Our Land, and Other People The Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0295986239/natilangofthe-20 Coyote Was Going There http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/029595731X/natilangofthe-20 Also, this link for Umatilla Legends: http://www.native-languages.org/umatilla-legends.htm ……..
@Chrissy Page, The outfit belonged to my grandmother, and as you can see it is a very plain dress, not a lot a fancy stuff that so many expect. Unless you have ever had a chance try one on, you'd be surprised at how heavy and hot leather it is to wear. She also taught me to make my own moccasins, which I wear almost daily. These next two pictures are of my current moccasins, which you can see are good and worn. The other picture of an angel was carved by my grandfather as a young man when he was in a white man's school that many young Indians were forced to go to.
Your pics of family and indian attire are so interesting, Ina…and I like the Indian blessing too. How special that your grandmother taught you how to make your own moccasins. They're so cool! Something that I find fun is to read the names of tribal members. They are so literal with how they define someone's worthiness of the name. Here's an example. The caption reads: NATIVE AMERICAN DELEGATION, 1877. Delegation led by Oglala Sioux chief Red Cloud. Standing - Red Bear, Young Man Afraid of his Horse, Good Voice, Ring Thunder, Iron Crow, White Tail, Young Spotted Tail. Seated - Yellow Bear, Jack Red Cloud, Big Road, Little Wound and Black Crow. - Photographed by Matthew Brady, 1917. Haha… How would you like to apply for a Police Officer job and have to fill in your name as "Young Man Afraid of his Horse". Now THERES a deal breaker. Darn, I can't post the pic because it's too big. THIS one will have to do….guess the name of this chief
Running Bear and Little White Dove Remember this one? I'm getting silly now…oomba ugga ugga ugga Artistic license calls this this maiden…"White Dove" and of course "Running Bear" (I played matchmaker) (Maiden is a real Vintage photo circa 1925 labled "minniehaha") …..
Lara...I LOVE that song....its been so long since Ive heard it! Thanks. Ina, I absolutely love the moccasins...especially the ones that look like boots!! Where those the ones I saw you wearing in a pic from your vacation? They were the first things I noticed! Only thing I cant wear totally flat.
What an interesting subject, about which I knew very little, apart from the many quotes of the wisdom and the harmonious way of living with nature, the North American Indians possess. Your photos Ina are stunning and very evocative. Thank you and Lara for creating this thread.
I'm glad you liked it, Chrissy. Were you able to name the Chief above Running Bear? Terry, good find! Ina, I agree with Chrissy….the moccasins are so special!
Looks like Jonathon Winters? Im still light headed though. Im still thinking of those high Moccasins! With my skinny jeans or leggings, some turquoise Indian jewelry!!
@Chrissy Page, Your words paint a nice picture on an Indian maiden, but with that beautiful golden hair of your, my tribe would be in danger from the white man, let alone our young mens hearts. "Giggling now" The moccasins are simple,and really simple yo make, I've just never been much for fancy things. I guess that comes from my grandmother too. Oh, and I thought it looked like Jonathon Winters as well.
Ina, can you tell us exactly who your family members are in the framed picture just under the moccasins? Btw,that's a beautiful American Indian quote, @Ina I. Wonder . Jonathan Winters was correct. Congratulations.
Most Important Contribution of the American Indians was their Value System They placed emphasis and importance on: Respect for Mother Earth (Ecology), Respect for Fellow Man ( No Prejudice), Respect for the Great Spirit (God), generosity, sharing (no material acquisitions), honest leadership selection, bravery, courage, Respect for the aged, family tradition, No religious animosity, No major wars (no Indian nation destroyed another), Thousands of years of peace (before 1492); no tranquilizers, drugs, alcohol, ulcers, no poor, no rich, no insane asylums, no jails, prisons, lawyers, taxes, borders or boundaries, no germ warfare (smallpox infected blankets), and no complete annihilation weapons (Hydrogen bomb). Listed by the Government and can be viewed on their pdf http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs141p2_024206.pdf Blue Moon Pow Wow is pictured on the right ...