July, 1999
Cherokee Cultural Society Meetings
Thursday, August 5, 1999 7:00 p.m. social gathering, 7:30 p.m. program
CCS members Patty and Joe Davis will enlighten us on "American Indian
Ceremonials" including information on the Stomp Dance.
Meeting location: The Tracy Gee Community Center, at 3599 Westcenter, one block south of Richmond, east of the Sam Houston Tollway West Belt. Guests are eligible for the door prize awarded that night. Look forward to these great CCS programs and bring a friend to enjoy them:
- September 2: Community activist Otilia Sanchez/Yaqui will speak on "Chiapas - Brothers and Sisters to the South".
- October 7: Charles and Regena Green will share their professional performance of "Western Reenactments".
The CCS Membership Contest
September 2, 1999 is the deadline for contestants to bring in at least six (6) new CCS members. The top three contestants will be eligible to choose one of these prizes:
- Tickets to "Scrooge", December 18, at Theater Under the Stars in Houston, donated by Judith Bruni;
- a signed, numbered and framed poster print of beautiful eagles by a famous Nativeartist, donated by Carroll Cocchia and CCS;
- a Pendleton blanket, donated by Victor Carroll;
- or free dinner for two at Hungry's Restaurant in Houston.
Contact Vicki at vhenrich@swbell.net for membership applications, or Houstonians can contact Terry Thompson, 281-890-4403, for applications. Good luck in your trek toward a great prize and more CCS members!
Our Thought Are With You
BEST WISHES AND PRAYERS FOR DAN CROSBY AND FAMILY as he undergoes lung surgery during July. Our long time friend is most intent on a full recovery and has many friends pulling for him.
SPEEDY RECOVERY TO TERRY THOMPSON, our CCS Membership Chair and avid
supporter, who is enduring spinal surgery also during July. Terry is enthusiastic for a healthier future, and we all wish him the very best.
Most Sincere Sympathy To:
Long time CCS member Millie Barnes, on the death of her mother, Edith Howerton Barnes, who was born in Shamrock, Creek County, Oklahoma, the daughter of Jacob Columbus Howerton, and is listed on the 1910 census. Millie attended the very first CCS meeting at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston in November, 1992.
To all loved ones of our friend Ed Cornplanter on his passing June 26, 1999. Most remember Ed as a very talented artist, writer and dancer who was a most gentle and kind person. His final resting place is back home, in upstate New York near his Seneca family, where he was buried in full regalia July 2, 1999.
Poetry Corner
"Black Are The Memories"
by Katy Ward
Black are the memories of hope that never came;
Black are the memories of hate's accurate aim.
Black are the memories that took their speech away;
Black are the memories of that Colorado day.
Black are the memories as chills ran up their spines;
Black are the memories of those awful, awful crimes.
Black are the memories of friends they will never again see;
Black are the memories of not being able to flee.
Black are the memories, now turned to families' sorrows;
Black are the memories of those who will breathe no more tomorrows.
Black are the questions of wondering "why?"
Why did all those school children have to die?
Katy Ward, now 13, was 12 years old when she wrote the poem about the Littleton, CO school massacre. Her mother is CCS member Joan Douglas.
"My Trail"
by Anastasia Allen
As I am taken from my home
The place where I am happy
To the place of my despair
I go strong
For I will never leave my home forever
I leave a promise of return
For as I go
I leave my spirit behind
So remember me
Because I will return
With the lines of life
And scars of labor
Creasing my hands,
My story written in my face.
And when I lift my head,
And hear the song of my soul
Calling on the eastern wind
I will know that the time has come
To walk the path
Led by the rose
And silent mothers
Home.
So don't forget me,
I will come home and
I will have a story to tell
Anastasia Allen is an internet friend who is Eastern Cherokee and Osage, with relatives from North Carolina and Arkansas. Currently a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland who grew up in New Mexico, she is the youngest council woman in the Cherokee Nation of The Appalachians Tribal Council at age 19.
News From North Texas
The Northeast Texas Intercultural Alliance is a nonprofit organization currently developing 158 acres in Daingerfield, Texas into the Black Mountain Nature Center. Upon completion, the Center will be available for meetings, campouts, pow wows, etc. It is associated with the Jane
Goodall Institute and her "Roots & Shoots" program for children. Many CCS members recall Martha Sebastian as a feisty, innovative Cherokee elder in Houston. Yes, she is the driving force behind this too, along with Gregg Howard and others. Contact for further information: Project Manager Linda Deermoon Turner, e-mail netia@bluebonnet.net.
Web Watch
- Native Seed/SEARCH at http://www.nativeseeds.org has a multitude of resources from unusual books on planting, food preparation, seed preservation, to Native CD's and tapes. See their conservation programs, including the Arizona Regis-TREE, designed to recognize and protect outstanding heirloom fruit and nut trees.
- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War at http://suvcw.org/ contains history and education on the Civil War including commemorations celebrated in the succeeding decades.
http://suvcw.org/gene.htm has numerous genealogy links, great for checking ancestors active in the Civil War on either Confederate or Union side.
- September 3, 4, 5, 1999 (Labor Day weekend) is the Cherokee National Holiday. For accommodation lists, business directory, and special attractions in the Tahlequah Oklahoma area, see http://www.tahlequahok.com/chamber/.
- http://www.aaip.com/student/naresources.html is a special link for financial aid to Native American students. Includes the American Indian Scholarship Fund Association and the American Indian Teacher Training Program. (Associated with the web page of the Association of
American Indian Physicians at http://www.aaip.com/resources/)
Job Openings
Pamela Petersen-Frey of Magnolia Studios wrote June 21, 1999 that they are a multilingual design and printing company in Atlanta Georgia, with 50 employees, seeking qualified individuals to fill the following positions by September. (1) Receptionist (2) Proofreader/Quality
Control and (3) Customer Service Support. The company employs persons to translate and typeset in all languages. Most involve from English into Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. They are always happy to meet new translators! The company is especially interested in offering opportunities to Native Americans and individuals with multicultural backgrounds as a way of expanding their capabilities. Individuals can respond by phone 770-988-9551, fax 770-988-9539, or e-mail: mstudios@mindspring.com.
Mailing address: Magnolia Studios, 120 Interstate North Parkway East, Suite 444, Atlanta, Georgia 30339.
We Need To Plug Into The REST of the Story...
ALL THOSE OTHER READERS!
Many of you are familiar with our CCS webpage, but many more have NO COMPUTER or use "e-mail only" accounts at someone's computer. The PRINT VERSION of this newsletter goes to all the rest of our readers! It keeps our name out there in the public, at events such as pow wows. WE NEED A DONOR SOURCE TO KEEP THE PRINT VERSION ALIVE! Now is the time to support the newsletter project with ANY timely source to fund black and
white, two-sided, ledger-sized pages. Monthly needs are about 325 copies. Contact Wade McAlister (h) 281-440-7676, (w) 713-465-7590, e-mail tradewinds.wsm@pdq.net OR e-mail vhenrich@swbell.net
Question: What Will $20/Year Get You?
Answer:
- Membership in the highly respected Cherokee Cultural Society and great friendships.
- Essential support for CCS events - including the annual Red Nations Remembering, the CCS Trail of Tears commemoration.
- Free monthly meetings, featuring outstanding presenters on history, crafts, language, wildlife, innovative new projects and current issues.
- A first class newsletter telling you about upcoming events, available resources, who does what, plus great stories and poems, recipes and ideas, and much more from Native communities across North America.
Now you can support CCS and get some great perks in return! Mail us your membership now. Send $20 payment to The Cherokee Cultural Society of Houston, P.O. Box 23187, Houston, TX 77228-3187. CCS maintains a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Donate a membership for a loved one or a friend who lives far across Indian Country. We know they will reap the benefits.
Copyright © The Cherokee Cultural Society of Houston