APACHE PRISONER OF WAR, MILDRED, SERVED AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE OKLAHOMA INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION AT FORT SILL. SHE HAS BEEN HANDCRAFTING RAG DOLLS WEITH BEADWORK FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. THEY ARE REPLICAS OF AUTHENTIC COSTUMES DATING FROM 1900 AND EARLIER. THERY ARE IN MANY MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. SHE HELPED DESIGN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN IN WASHINGTON.
HER GRANDPA WAS GEORGE WRATTEN A WHITE MAN WHO LIVED ON THE RESERVATION AND SPOKE THE APACHE LANGUAGE VERY WELL. I GUESS HE RODE WITH GERONIMO AND WAS AN INTERPRETER. GERONIMO SURRENDERED IN 1887 TO THE ARMY AND THAT ENDED GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE US. MILDRED'S COUSIN MADE A SCULPTURE OF GERONIMO AND HE WON A MEDAL OF THE ARTS .
MILDRED CAME FROM FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. SHE WAS BORN IN 1910 IN PRISON OF WAR CAMP. THERE LIVED 3 YEARS. HER FATHER WAS MOVED TO SAINT AUGUSTINE , FLORIDA. THEY STAYED A YEAR AND THEY BECAME ILL. AND MANY DIED.
TWO NUNS TOOK ACTION TO HELP CONDITIONS AND THE CHILDREN. THEY GOT PERMISSION TO USE A CELL FOR A CLASSROOM. THEY TAUGHT THEM ENGLISH AND RELIGION. THEY HAD THE REMAINING PEOPLE MOVED TO MT. VERNON IN ALABAMA UNTIL 1894. THEY MOVED TO FORT SILL WHERE WE LIVED UNTIL 1913. THEN THEY WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF GOING TO MESCALERO, NEW MEXICO OR GETTING ALLOTMENTS IN OKLAHOMA. 82 STAYED IN OKLAHOMA, AND THE REST WENT TO NEW MEXICO. SHE MOVED TO THE FARM. HER PARENTS STAYED AT FORT SILL. KIOWA. COMANCHE, AND APACHE WERE ALL LOCATED THERE. WHEN THEY WANTED TO VISIT RELATIVES THEY TOOK A 12 MILE
RIDE IN A HORSE AND WAGON.
SHE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE WERE ONLY FIVE INDIANS THERE. SHE GOT MARRIED IN 1949 TO OTO CLEGHORN. SHE WENT TO A COLLEGE AND GOT A DEGREE IN HOME ECONOMICS AND BECAME A HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT.
SHE HAD BEEN IN KANSAS AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO OKLAHOMA.
IN THE LATE 70'S SHE GOT INVOLVED IN TRIBAL AFFAIRS. I FELT I NEEDED TO HELP OUR PEOPLE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN MY TRIBE AND IN MY CHURCH.
FRANK WRIGHT, A CHOCTAW, ESTABLISHED AN ORPHANAGE IN 1895 AT FORT SILL FOR THE REFORMED CHURCH. THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THEIR CEREMONIES.
IN 1976 THEY ORGANIZED AT THE FORT SILL APACHE TRIBE AND MILDRED WAS ELECTED CHAIRPERSON.
SHE HELPS KIDS GET LOANS FOR SCHOOL AND PEOPLE GET HOUSING. IN 1980 THEY GOT A LAND GRANT , AN OFFICE, AN ALL PURPOSE BUILDING WITH A GYM. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 350 PEOPLE. HONESTY WAS A MUST FOR THIS GROUP. THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE WAS NOURISHED BY THE REFORMED CHURCH. IT'S AMAZING HOW THE VALUES THEY LIVED BY THEIR INDIAN FAITH WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE BIBLE. WHEN THEY DANCE AROUND THE FIRE. EVEN THOUGH THE APACHES WERE LATER BROUGHT UP WITH THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THEY STILL HAD HISTORIC CEREMONIES.
THE PUBERTY FEAST IS ONE OF OUR MAIN CEREMONIES. IT LASTS FOR EIGHT DAYS IN PUBLIC AND 4 DAYS ALONE WITH THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY. A MEDICINE LADY TAKES CARE OF THE CEREMONY AND IS LIKE A GODMOTHER. SHE DRESSES HER AND DOES HER HAIR. THEY USE PAINT AND CORN POLLEN, WHICH IS OUR MEDICINE . SHE IS HER TEACHER AND MUST TEACH THE GIRL HOW TO LIVE.
THEY HAVE A FOUR DAY DANCE OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS. THE GIRLS WEAR BUCKSKIN DRESSES, SKIRTS, AND BLOUSES. THE MEN WEAR THE SAME TYPE OF SKIRTS IN THEIR DANCE WITH HEADPIECES. THE PEOPLE EXCHANGE GIFTS.
THESE NATIVES HAD MEDICINE FOR TUBERCULOSIS. AND THE PATIENT HAD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD WORK. THEY USED SONGS AND POLLEN AND THEY STILL DO TODAY. YOU GIVE AND YOU GET AND THAT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
SANDY JOHNSON
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
WE VISITED THE EVERGLADS A NUMBER OF TIMES. I HAVE VISITED THIS PARK WITH MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. I ALSO VISITED IT WITH MY HUSBAND AND SON. WE TOOK NOT ONLY THE WALK THROUGH THIS JUNGLE ON RAISED WOODEN TRAIL HEADS BUT ALSO A BOAT RIDE. THE BOAT GOES VERY FAST THROUGH THE MARSHES AND YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MANY CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS AS WELL AS MANY TROPICAL BIRDS THAT ONLY LIVE IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. WE TOOK MANY PHOTOGRAPHS AND HAD A GOOD TRIP . THEY EVEN LET YOU TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF AND WALK THROUGH THE MARSHES AND IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE A BOG AREA AND THE MUD SQUISHES BETWEEN YOUR TOES.
APPARENTLY WHEN WE VISITED THEY WERE DOING A RESTORATION OF SOME OF THE PLANTS IN THE TRAIL ALONG THE HEAVY MARSH. YOU COULD SEE ALL KINDS OF DRAGONFLIES AND BUTTERFLIES AS WELL. THEY DID NOT WANT ANY FOOD DROPPED INTO THE MARSH NOR ANYONE TO FEED THE ALLIGATORS.
APPARENTLY WHEN WE VISITED THEY WERE DOING A RESTORATION OF SOME OF THE PLANTS IN THE TRAIL ALONG THE HEAVY MARSH. YOU COULD SEE ALL KINDS OF DRAGONFLIES AND BUTTERFLIES AS WELL. THEY DID NOT WANT ANY FOOD DROPPED INTO THE MARSH NOR ANYONE TO FEED THE ALLIGATORS.
GEORGE WASINGTON 'S BIRTHPLACE NATIONAL PARK
THE BUILDINGS IN VIRGINIA HERE ARE REPLICAS OF THE 1730 KITCHEN AND HOUSE AND PLANTATION. THEY HAVE COLONIAL FURNISHINGS. IT HAS A FARM WITH ANIMALS AND A BLACKSMITH SHOP. IT WAS THE SECOND FARM OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER JOHN WASHINGTON WHO EMIGRATED HERE IN 1656. IT OVERLOOKS THE POTOMAC RIVER. THE VIEWS ARE FANTASTIC HERE AND THE RIVER IS QUITE WIDE.
WE VISITED THIS PLANTATION AS WE EXCAVATED SOME HISTORIC SITES IN 1975. I KNOWN THEY HAVE EXCAVATED SOME OF THIS SITE FOR TESTING BEFORE THEY REBUILT IT. AND THEIR ARE SOME OF THE CERAMICS AND ARTIFACTS IN THE ROOMS.
WE VISITED THIS PLANTATION AS WE EXCAVATED SOME HISTORIC SITES IN 1975. I KNOWN THEY HAVE EXCAVATED SOME OF THIS SITE FOR TESTING BEFORE THEY REBUILT IT. AND THEIR ARE SOME OF THE CERAMICS AND ARTIFACTS IN THE ROOMS.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK
THEODORE ROOSEVELT WAS BORN IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1858. IN 1970 HIS FAMILY TOURED EUROPE. AND IN 1883 HE BOUGHT A RANCH IN NORTH DAKOTA. THE NATIONAL PARK IS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN NORTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING. WE COMPLETED A NUMBER OF SURVEYS THERE FOR A PRIVATE ARCHAEOLOGY FIRM AND FOUND NUMEROUS TEMPORARY CAMPSITES. THERE WERE BUFFALO AND DEER ABUNDANT IN THIS PARK. IT IS A VERY RUGGED TERRAIN WITH BADLANDS AND VERY EROSIVE SANDSTONE SOILS. WE ALSO SAW PRAIRIE DOGS, ELK, DEER, EAGLES, AND PRONGHORN ANTELOPE.
ROOSEVELT PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE 1800'S IN PRESERVING MANY LANDS FOR NATIONAL PARKS. THIS PARK IS NOT VERY HEAVILY USED OR KNOWN BY THE PUBLIC. ROOSEVELT'S FIRST WIFE DIED EARLY AND HE REMARRIED IN 1886.
AS WE HIKED THROUGH THIS PARK TO SURVEY DRILL SITES FOR MINING COMPANIES WE WALKED ALONG THE DRY DRAINAGES AND SAW PREHISTORIC BISON BONES EXPOSED IN THE ERODED CREEK CLIFFS, BUT DID NOT HAVE TO RECORD THEM.
ROOSEVELT PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE 1800'S IN PRESERVING MANY LANDS FOR NATIONAL PARKS. THIS PARK IS NOT VERY HEAVILY USED OR KNOWN BY THE PUBLIC. ROOSEVELT'S FIRST WIFE DIED EARLY AND HE REMARRIED IN 1886.
AS WE HIKED THROUGH THIS PARK TO SURVEY DRILL SITES FOR MINING COMPANIES WE WALKED ALONG THE DRY DRAINAGES AND SAW PREHISTORIC BISON BONES EXPOSED IN THE ERODED CREEK CLIFFS, BUT DID NOT HAVE TO RECORD THEM.
ROCKY MOUNAIN NATIONAL PARK
OUR FAMILY WENT TO THIS PARK DURING A SUMMER TWO WEEK VACATION, AND VISITED ABOUT FIVE OTHER NATIONAL PARKS WITH OUR TEENAGE SON. THIS PARK IS IN COLORADO AND HAS AMAZING ANIMAL LIFE THAT ARE VISIBLE EVEN FROM THE ROAD. THERE ARE SEVERAL VISITOR CENTERS AND I BOUGHT A BOOK ON SMUDGING AND HOW TO USE DIFFERENT CRYSTALS FOR HEALING.
WE VISITED DURING THE SUMMER AND BECAUSE OF IT'S HIGH ELEVATION FROM 8000 TO 14,000 FEET IT IS VERY COLD DURING THE NIGHT. THERE IS STILL SNOW ON SOME OF THE GLACIERS. WE CLIMBED SO MANY HILLS AND HIKED ON NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL TRAILS. THE ANIMALS THAT ARE VISIBLE INCLUDE RED TAIL AND OTHER HAWKS, BIGHORN SHEEP , ELK, MOOSE, DEER, COUGARS, AND MULE DEER. IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO ADAPT TO THE HIGH ELEVATION.
WE CAMPED IN A CAMPGROUND WHILE IT RAINED, AND THERE WERE BEARS AROUND SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR TABLE CLEAN. WE SAW A MOOSE THERE IN AN OLD CAMP WITH HOUSES FOR THE TIMBER CREWS. WE HIKED IN A BEAUTIFUL MEADOW WITH SOME WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING AND A HUGE ARRAY OF BUTTERFLIES.
WE TOOK A CAR TOUR ALONG AN OLD JEEP TRAIL THAT WAS OPPOSITE A GLACIER. THE TRAIL WENT ONE WAY ALONG A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND THROUGH A TUNNEL AND IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR. PEOPLE FROM ALL COUNTRIES WERE VISITING THIS PARK.
THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE RUNS NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE CENTER OF THE PARK.
WE VISITED DURING THE SUMMER AND BECAUSE OF IT'S HIGH ELEVATION FROM 8000 TO 14,000 FEET IT IS VERY COLD DURING THE NIGHT. THERE IS STILL SNOW ON SOME OF THE GLACIERS. WE CLIMBED SO MANY HILLS AND HIKED ON NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL TRAILS. THE ANIMALS THAT ARE VISIBLE INCLUDE RED TAIL AND OTHER HAWKS, BIGHORN SHEEP , ELK, MOOSE, DEER, COUGARS, AND MULE DEER. IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO ADAPT TO THE HIGH ELEVATION.
WE CAMPED IN A CAMPGROUND WHILE IT RAINED, AND THERE WERE BEARS AROUND SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR TABLE CLEAN. WE SAW A MOOSE THERE IN AN OLD CAMP WITH HOUSES FOR THE TIMBER CREWS. WE HIKED IN A BEAUTIFUL MEADOW WITH SOME WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING AND A HUGE ARRAY OF BUTTERFLIES.
WE TOOK A CAR TOUR ALONG AN OLD JEEP TRAIL THAT WAS OPPOSITE A GLACIER. THE TRAIL WENT ONE WAY ALONG A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND THROUGH A TUNNEL AND IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR. PEOPLE FROM ALL COUNTRIES WERE VISITING THIS PARK.
THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE RUNS NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE CENTER OF THE PARK.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
KLAMATH INDIANS
FOR THE KLAMATH INDIANS THEIR NAME MEANS PEOPLE OR COMMUNITY - MAKLETS. THEY LIVE NEAR THE OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA ALONG THE KLAMATH RIVER. THEY DEPENDED ON FISHING INLAND WATER WAYS. THEY HUNTED SMALL GAME AND WILD PLANT FOODS SUCH AS ROOTS AND WATER LILY SEEDS.
THEY ARE A PLATEAU TRIBE THAT SPEAKS PENUTIAN DIALECT. THEY USED TO BE WARLIKE AND THEIR BOWMEN COULD SHOOT AN ARROW RIGHT THROUGH A HORSE. THEY HAD RAIDS ON MANY NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN TRIBES, AND TOOK CAPTIVES AS SLAVES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY TOWARD THE ANGLOS. A CANADIAN, PETER OGDEN FIRST ESTABLISHED TRADE RELATIONS WITH THE KLAMATH IN 1829.
THEY SIGNED A TREATY IN 1864 AND AGREED TO GIVE UP SLAVERY. THEY WERE INDIRECTLY PART OF THE MODOC WAR IN 1872-1873. BECAUSE THE MODOCS DID NOT GET ALONG WITH THE KLAMATH THEY HEADED SOUTH AND EVENTUALLY FOUGHT THE MOST VIOLENT INDIAN WAR IN CALIFORNIAN HISTORY. IN 1954 THE KLAMATH LOST SOME OF THEIR LAND TO THE GOVERNMENT.
CARL WALDMAN
THEY ARE A PLATEAU TRIBE THAT SPEAKS PENUTIAN DIALECT. THEY USED TO BE WARLIKE AND THEIR BOWMEN COULD SHOOT AN ARROW RIGHT THROUGH A HORSE. THEY HAD RAIDS ON MANY NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN TRIBES, AND TOOK CAPTIVES AS SLAVES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY TOWARD THE ANGLOS. A CANADIAN, PETER OGDEN FIRST ESTABLISHED TRADE RELATIONS WITH THE KLAMATH IN 1829.
THEY SIGNED A TREATY IN 1864 AND AGREED TO GIVE UP SLAVERY. THEY WERE INDIRECTLY PART OF THE MODOC WAR IN 1872-1873. BECAUSE THE MODOCS DID NOT GET ALONG WITH THE KLAMATH THEY HEADED SOUTH AND EVENTUALLY FOUGHT THE MOST VIOLENT INDIAN WAR IN CALIFORNIAN HISTORY. IN 1954 THE KLAMATH LOST SOME OF THEIR LAND TO THE GOVERNMENT.
CARL WALDMAN
MENOMONEE INDIANS
THE MENOMONEES COLLECTED WILD RICE (ACTUALLY A SEED OF A GRASS) FROM CANOES IN SUMMER. WILD RICE HAD SIXTY DIFFERENT NAMES. WOMEN COLLECTED THESE SEEDS, MEN USED BOWS TO HUNT SMALL GAME OR FISHED FOR STURGEON WITH HOOKS, SPEARS, NETS, AND TRAPS. THEY BENT THE TALL GRASSES OVER THE CANOE AND BEAT THE GRASS HEADS INTO THE BOAT.
THESE SEEDS WERE DRIED AND POUNDED, AND THEN WINNOWED IN BASKETS TO SEPARATE THE HULL FROM GRAINS. IT WAS AN EASY FOOD TO COLLECT AND TO PREPARE. THEY DID NOT NEED CORN.
THE GREAT LAKE TRIBES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES AND RARELY KNEW PEACE. THEY COULD TRADE THIS RICE FOR OTHER ITEMS. THEY TRADED FOR BUFFALO FURS FROM THE PRAIRIES. RICE WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES.
IN 1634 WHEN JEAN NICOLET, THE FIRST WHITE EXPLORER, CAME TO THE MENOMONEE, THEY CONTROLLED THE NORTHWESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. THEY HAD YEAR ROUND VILLAGES. DURING WINTER THEY HAD DOMED WIGWAMS WITH SAPLINGS COVERED WITH CATTAIL MATS AND REEDS. THEIR LARGEST VILLAGE WAS AT THE MOUTH OF THE MENOMONEE RIVER WHERE IT ENTERS GREEN BAY.
THE MENOMONEE INDIANS WORE DEERSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. WOMEN WORE SHIRTS OF WOVEN NETTLES, ALONG WITH DEERSKIN NETTLES.
WOMEN WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR WOVEN POUCHES. THEY USED PLANT FIBERS, BASSWOOD TREES, PLUS BUFFALO HAIRS. THEY DYED, SPUN, AND WOVE MATERIALS INTO LARGE SUPPLIES BAGS WITH VARIOUS GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.
SMOKING TOBACCO WAS INCLUDED IN ALMOST ALL OF THEIR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE WHITES.
CARL WALDMAN
THESE SEEDS WERE DRIED AND POUNDED, AND THEN WINNOWED IN BASKETS TO SEPARATE THE HULL FROM GRAINS. IT WAS AN EASY FOOD TO COLLECT AND TO PREPARE. THEY DID NOT NEED CORN.
THE GREAT LAKE TRIBES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES AND RARELY KNEW PEACE. THEY COULD TRADE THIS RICE FOR OTHER ITEMS. THEY TRADED FOR BUFFALO FURS FROM THE PRAIRIES. RICE WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES.
IN 1634 WHEN JEAN NICOLET, THE FIRST WHITE EXPLORER, CAME TO THE MENOMONEE, THEY CONTROLLED THE NORTHWESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. THEY HAD YEAR ROUND VILLAGES. DURING WINTER THEY HAD DOMED WIGWAMS WITH SAPLINGS COVERED WITH CATTAIL MATS AND REEDS. THEIR LARGEST VILLAGE WAS AT THE MOUTH OF THE MENOMONEE RIVER WHERE IT ENTERS GREEN BAY.
THE MENOMONEE INDIANS WORE DEERSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. WOMEN WORE SHIRTS OF WOVEN NETTLES, ALONG WITH DEERSKIN NETTLES.
WOMEN WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR WOVEN POUCHES. THEY USED PLANT FIBERS, BASSWOOD TREES, PLUS BUFFALO HAIRS. THEY DYED, SPUN, AND WOVE MATERIALS INTO LARGE SUPPLIES BAGS WITH VARIOUS GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.
SMOKING TOBACCO WAS INCLUDED IN ALMOST ALL OF THEIR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE WHITES.
CARL WALDMAN
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