Jemez Pueblo Sues United States

Jemez Pueblo Sues United States for the Return of Valles Caldera

(Source: Red Rocks Reporter Aug 2012)

On July 20, Jemez Pueblo filed suit against the United States for return of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP.)

“We believe this may be the first time that any American Indian tribe has sued the United States to return Indian lands outside the reservation,” says Tom Luebben, Jemez Pueblo special counsel for land claims. “Just like the return of the sacred Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo, this effort may take many years. The Pueblo must prove that it holds aboriginal Indian title to the Valles Caldera going back more than 800 years to the time when the Hemish people first migrated into the Jemez Mountains.”

“We have never relinquished our aboriginal rights to this area,” says Gov. Madalena. “The many traditional cultural sites on the Valles Caldera remain critically important to our people. The area also includes natural resources, including herbs and wildlife, that are important to our way of life. We will reclaim these lands for our people and our cultural heritage.”

The VCNP is currently managed by a Board of Directors and mandated to achieve financial self-sufficiency by the time their terms expire in 2015.

“We are working on a management plan to train and prepare tribal members for professional land management responsibilities. We are also seeking other professional resources as we need them," the Governor says.

Gov. Madalena adds that he wants to keep the Valles Caldera open to visitors. “We want to preserve and protect these sacred lands for our people as well as share them with others who will appreciate this special place.”

Gisewa Pueblo and Church National Historic Landmark

Source http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Designates-27-New-National-Landmarks.cfm

Press Release
Contact: Hugh Vickery (DOI) 202-208-6416
Kathy Kupper (NPS) 202-208-6843
AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS: Secretary Salazar Designates the San José de los Jémez Mission and Gíusewa Pueblo Site in New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the designation of the San José de los Jémez Mission and Gíusewa Pueblo Site in New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark. This designation is a part of the National Park Service’s new American Latino Heritage Initiative that increases the opportunities both for historic places associated with American Latino history to be documented, preserved, and interpreted and for the American public to better understand and appreciate the role of American Latinos in the development of the United States.

The San José de los Jémez Mission and Gíusewa Pueblo Site is associated with the spread of Spanish control northward into the American Southwest during the early seventeenth century. As such, the site provides an exceptional representation of the intersection between European and native cultures in the United States. One of the best preserved of New Mexico’s seventeenth-century mission complexes, the site includes a portion of a pueblo dating from the fifteenth century, the ruins of a church erected by the Franciscans and the remains of a convent as well as other mission features.

“Landmarks teach us about the history of our land, our people, and our nation, from archeological sites dating back more than two millennia to a mid-twentieth century building,” Secretary Salazar said. “In designating these sites as National Historic Landmarks, we complement President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to reconnect people, especially young people, to our nation’s historic, cultural, and natural heritage.”

“This new listing will join approximately 2,500 other sites in the National Historic Landmark Program,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These places showcase our rich and complex history – from prehistoric time right up to the modern era.”

The National Historic Landmark Program, established under the Historic Sites Act of 1935, is administered by the National Park Service on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. The agency works with preservation officials and other partners interested in nominating a landmark. Completed applications are reviewed by the National Park System Advisory Board, which makes recommendations for designation to the Secretary of the Interior. If selected, property ownership remains intact but each site receives a designation letter, a plaque, and technical preservation advice.

Additional information on the designations can be found at www.nps.gov/nhl. ###

Tonto Matters: Native Appropriations blog matters

The following link is to a blog-post by Adrienne K of Native Appropriations in regards to comments she made about Johnny Depp as Tonto and why it matters how Depp portrays a Native character. Millions of people are going to see this new Depp movie and millions of people will have a new or old view of Natives, and ultimately ALL Natives. Read the post and see how some Natives are being so closed-minded about her views of this whole situation.

You know what I've learned in the last few months? Apparently I'm not a real Indian. Apparently, going to grad school and questioning how Native people are portrayed in pop culture makes me less "real." I knew, in starting this blog, that being a white-looking Cherokee from SoCal trying to talk about Native issues would cause some problems, and my "legitimacy" would, at some point, be called into question. What I didn't anticipate was the shit hitting the fan over Tonto. *TONTO*. So a disclaimer: In the post that follows, I'm going to be departing from my usual don't-engage-with-the-haterz approach, and calling some people out. This makes me immensely uncomfortable, and I fear what stirring the pot is going to cause in terms of repercussions. But I'm going to share my thoughts and opinions about how the things that were said to (and about) me in the last few months have made me feel, because if you haven't noticed, the blog's been silent for over a month. Also, this is about to be the longest post in the history of Native Appropriations (sorry!):

Full Post here LINK

So I care about how Native people are represented, and I will fight for our right to be portrayed with accuracy, dignity, and respect. So while "real Indians" might not care about Tonto, I do, and despite what others might think, I'm just about as real as you can get.

- Adrienne K., Native Appropriations blog

Running update July 8th and Some FLUTES

I have been losing a bit of my motivation lately so I haven't been running as much as want. I have recently been walking around in a pair of Puma Tekkies, and they have been really nice. The have a nice thin sole and the insole is removable. They are nice to walk in.

On a few of my runs I developed some blisters on the balls of my feet, but they haven't been to much of a problem. They heal quickly. I try to concentrate on my form as I run, I try not to push off with my feet but just lift them. So far I have been able to run 3 miles in just under 30 minutes consistently. My goal is start running a little further, 6 miles or so.

FLUTES

I have been working a few flute orders lately. A few went to Russia, some to Australia, Canada, and few more here in the States. I have been wanting to take a break on flutes so I could work on painting, but the flutes are able to bring a small amount of money and it helps. I don't know if any paintings I make would bring in any extra income. I guess I'll just have to find out. 

Water Shoes and Thoughts on Sandals

Water shoes

I have recently found some great new minimalist footwear. They are light and feel very nice with or without socks. They are water shoes from Walmart. Op - Men's Dominica Water Shoes I found them at the local Walmart when I was looking for skate shoes. These water shoes have very good ground feel and are light weight. Running in them is hard for me, because I am too used to running in my sandals or barefooted. But I am sure they could be a good running shoe.

I have been obsessed with finding alternatives to the expensive footwear out there. Skate shoes have a flat outsole and the insoles on most of them are easily removable. Vans are nice, Converse are too, but the are too narrow for me. There are also some nice Shaun White brand shoes at Target that I purchased. eBay also has some good deals if you don't mind used shoes. The next shoe I will be looking out for is a work shoe or work boot. I did find some nice Skechers at a Goodwill, but there aren't that many good boots out there with low heel or no heel. There are some Uggs that are nice but cost a lot. Some service boots might work too.

Basically I look for shoes that have no heel, a removable insole, and a wide toe box. I look for the same type of shoe for my daughter so that her feet don't become too dependent upon high heeled shoes, well, at least for the time being.

Some thoughts on sandals.

Sandals first got me interested in barefoot running last year. I wondered about what my ancestors hundreds of years ago would have worn for everyday work and travel. I am sure they had leather from deer, elk and antelope but not every one had a pair or access to leather. Their other options were sandals or barefoot.

Most of the sandals were made from thick yuccas leaves and spun yucca fibers and were woven into some of the most beautiful sandals. Many of these sandals date back more than a thousand years. The book, "Treading in the Past: Sandals of the Anasazi", reveals 312 examples of woven sandals from the Four Corners area that are stored at The Utah Museum of Natural History. I feel obligated to find out more about this lost art and perhaps I can start making some myself.

"Some of the finest Anasazi weaving appeared in their sandals." -Robert Mirabal, Tiwa Farms Journal