NCGLNAC Newsletter
The National Center for Great Lakes
Native American Culture, Inc.
Volume 6, Number 1 January 2006 Eighteenth Issue
Land Transfer
National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture, Inc. (NCGLNAC) is now the extremely proud owner of nearly 30 acres of land in Jay County, Portland, Indiana. The deed for the land was officially transferred from the Jay County Fair Board to NCGLNAC on November 4 at the Jay County Courthouse in Portland.
This event was the culmination of nearly 15 years of searching for land and a place to call home for NCGLNAC and those organizations that preceded it. Since the formation of NCGLNAC in May of 2001 we had looked at numerous locations to call home. Portland was chosen because of its location, the warm welcome and support we have received from the community, the very progressive nature of the community, the obvious cooperation among the community’s leaders, the many facilities that were available to use for NCGLNAC programs while our own Center was being developed and built, and the generous offer of the land to call our own.
Without the necessity of raising funds to purchase land, NCGLNAC’s building plans can move forward at a more rapid pace while we continue to develop and present more programs in the Portland community and surrounding area. As of this writing, in 2006 there are nine public NCGLNAC events scheduled in Portland, all helping to make Portland a travel destination for people from all over the country.
The Site Master Plan created by Scott Shoemaker (Miami) in January of last year and funded by The Portland Foundation illustrates the diverse learning opportunities the land offers. There are five distinct ecosystems: mature woodland, immature woodland, prairie, pond and wetlands. Each ecosystem offers its own learning experience. Future development includes creating a ‘source’ for the spring-fed pond, restoring the wetlands, creating educational trails including constructing a boardwalk over part of the wetlands, restoring native plants and prairie grasses, building a traditional early 1800’s Native American village and gardens, creating several outdoor learning centers, constructing a wetland stormwater filtration area for excess runoff from the Culture Center building and parking areas, building a permanent fire circle, and constructing a 14,000 square foot Cultural Center building, surrounded by rain gardens. The Cultural Center will have classrooms, a large multipurpose room, 2 small apartments for artists-in-residence, office and storage space, a small kitchen, an interpretive center/gallery for permanent and revolving exhibits and a sales gallery for the art and craft work of Great Lakes Native American peoples.
NCGLNAC’s spring-fed pond in early spring
NCGLNAC plans to utilize natural materials and sustainable design following Native American teachings while striving to become a national showcase of environmental design in architecture and landscaping in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
NCGLNAC 2006 Upcoming Events
Sue Snow-Willi presenting Seneca history and
traditions at the 2005 Fall Friendship Fire
2005 Fall Friendship Fire
Great fellowship, friendship and connection were enjoyed by all that attended the Fall Friendship Fire in November at the Women’s Building at the Jay County Fairgrounds. Chairman Ray Lutz (Choctaw) from near Pittsburgh, PA again planned several activities of importance to the Native Peoples culture. Ray taught about the significant cultural tradition of tobacco ties and then everyone learned how to make them. Paula Butcher (Wyandot descent) now from Rapid City, SD, told some of the stories about the dream catcher and then taught everyone how to make them. Later on Saturday afternoon several car-loads of participants walked the land and discussed placement of many of the future features to be developed for the NCGLNAC Cultural Center.
After a delicious Saturday evening banquet Susan Snow-Willi (Seneca) from Peoria, IL presented a very informative program regarding the Seneca, their matriarchal traditions and history. Sue also used her marvelous storytelling in her presentation. Sue wore her beautiful traditional beaded regalia, which was appreciated and enjoyed by all.
Making tobacco ties at Fall Friendship Fire
Celebration with Jay Fair Board
On December 3 at the Women’s Building of the Jay County Fairgrounds, NCGLNAC’s Board and guests hosted the Jay County Fair Board and guests for a celebration of the transfer of the land to NCGLNAC.
The evening began with a feast of traditional woodlands Indian foods. Elk and venison stew was cooked over an open hardwood fire; roast goose was stuffed with wild rice, mushrooms, green onions and pinon nuts. Pinto beans were slow cooked in bacon, molasses and maple syrup over the open fire. Great Lakes succotash, fry bread, Shawnee spice cake and Creek blackberry cobbler rounded out the meal. The delicious feast was prepared by Karen and Jerry Cochrane and was enjoyed by the 35 in attendance. A generous donation by Ray and Linda Lutz helped with the cost of the meal.
Following the feast, Ray Lutz talked about the long journey NCGLNAC has traveled in the last 10 to 15 years in search for a place to call our own for a permanent home. The $1 NCGLNAC paid the Jay Fair Board for the land was symbolically returned to NCGLNAC’s Board Chair Kay Neumayr. Mickie Mann and Jerry Cochrane also talked about the journey and entertained all with their beautiful Native American flute music.
NCGLNAC Tradition Bearers in Native Peoples
The two most recent issues of Native Peoples, Arts and Lifeways magazine mentioned NCGLNAC Tradition Bearers Boni Bent-Nelson and Robin McBride Scott.
The November-December 2005 issue featured Boni in the Quillwork section on page 30 of the article “Tradition! Ancient Arts and Crafts Revisited” which covered several ancient art forms and their adaptive use of today. According to the article, Boni is considered one of the top living modern porcupine quill workers. A photograph of one of her hummingbird pendants accompanied the article and NCGLNAC member, Board member and official photographer Linda L. Andrews is credited for the photograph.
In the January-February 2006 issue Robin is credited by Cherokee basket weaver Peggy Sanders Brennan on Page 39 for teaching her how to gather and process the river cane used in the double-weave baskets. Brennan also credits Jackie Carlson’s book “Flowing Water” for helping her master the double-weave technique. Robin is the illustrator of Carlson’s book. The article “The Art of Basketry weaving a new life into ancient forms” covers several types of basket weaving.
NCGLNAC placed an ad in Native Peoples last year to publicize the Douglas Blue Feather concert. We received an incredible response from that ad and plan to place two ads in 2006.
2006 Lecture Series
The NCGLNAC Calendar on page 2 of this newsletter briefly describes the February, March and April Lecture Series that will be held at the Jay County Historical Society, 903 East Main Street, Portland, at 7 p.m. All are free and open to the public.
The first lecture in the series will be February 11 and presented by Professor Elizabeth Nesbitt (Miami Nation), English and Native American Studies, Ball State University. Her lecture is entitled “Treaties and Casinos: What You May Not Know” and discusses the legal issues of Native American Nations within the United States.
Dr. Malea Powell will present the second lecture of the three-part series March 11, entitled “Andrew J. Blackbird, A Glimpse at an American Indian Intellectual.” Dr. Powell, American Indian Studies Faculty and Associate Professor, Michigan State University, will discuss Andrew J. Blackbird and two of his published works: “Complete both Early and Late history of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, of Michigan, a Grammar of Their Language, Personal and Family History of Author” and “The Indian Problem from the Indian Standpoint.” His writings are important because of his views on religion, education, and politics in Indian-white relations in the upper Great Lakes area during the 19th century.
The third and final lecture will be presented April 8 by Daryl Baldwin, II (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Director of the Myaamia Project at Miami University. His lecture is entitled “Language is Life: Miami Language and Cultural Revitalization.” He will discuss Miami culture and history and the revitalization of the Miami language, including his work at the Myaamia Project.
Please plan to join us for these very informative lectures and learn more about local Native American and Great Lakes tribal history and culture.
Eiteljorg Museum’s Famous Deer Fountain
2006 Spring Workshops
NCGLNAC and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will host a workshop March 25 and 26 at the Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center of the Eiteljorg’s new Mel and Joan Perelman Wing in White River State Park, Indianapolis. This will be the first of four corroborations by NCGLNAC and the Eiteljorg planned for 2006. Five 10-hour classes will be held. A curatorial presentation discussing the Native American Quilts Exhibit is planned during Saturday’s lunch at the private dining room for the Sky City Café.
The 2006 Spring Workshops are funded in part by an arts project support grant from the Regional Partnership Initiative. These grants are made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission with funds appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly and the U.S. Congress and by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The class fee is $50 per person for NCGLNAC and the Eiteljorg members ($55 for non-members). Scholarships are available. Registration deadline is March 15. A complete Workshop flyer is included in this newsletter. Contact Kay Neumayr at 765-426-3022 or kay.neumayr@ncglnac.com for more information.
2006 Summer Workshops
The NCGLNAC 12th 2006 Summer Traditional Arts and Crafts Workshops will be held at the Jay County Fairgrounds in Portland August 7 – 11. This is a move from the beautiful Freeman Scouting Facility where the 2004 and 2005 Summer Workshops were held. Everyone loved the rural setting of the Freeman Scouting Facility but the re-location to the Jay County Fairgrounds will offer workshops, camping, motels, shopping and eating establishments all within a few blocks.
Several classes are still being finalized but those to be offered at this writing include moose hair appliqué (Robin McBride Scott), flintknapping (Ron Kennedy), pre-contact stone (John Teegarden) and antler (Don Cochran) carving, bone carving (Craig White), Iroquois bead work (Susan Snow-Willi), silversmithing (John Teegarden), sweet grass basket weaving (Mavis Kiyoshk) and porcupine quill work (Boni Nelson). A Children’s Class (ages 6 – 14) will again be offered all day Wednesday, August 9. Paula Butcher reports that the grandparents and parents had as much fun as the children last year so they will again be able to attend at a reduced fee.
Gary Morseau will be cooking Native foods all week to the culinary enjoyment of workshop participants.
Camping is available right on the Fairgrounds for tents, and there are also electrical hookups and full hookups for campers and recreational vehicles. Fees are quite reasonable at $10 to $15 per night. Tent campers may also camp on the NCGLNAC site. The registration fee for each 15-hour workshop session remains at $70 for NCGLNAC members. Scholarships for one session are available. Session 1 is Monday morning through Wednesday noon and session 2 is Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon. For more information, contact Workshop Chair Kay Neumayr at 765-426-3022 or kay.neumayr@ncglnac.com.
Kerry Holzworth working on his personal gourd drum at the 2005 Summer Workshops
NCGLNAC Benefit Concert
Internationally-known opera and popular singer
Tim Noble (Shawnee descent and adopted Miami) will treat the audience in the Hall-Moser Theatre at Arts Place in Portland to his magnificent baritone voice in an eclectic mix of songs on the evening of August 10. Tim has been most generous in offering this concert as a benefit for NCGLNAC to help in our fundraising for future building, educational and programming needs. Tickets are $12 ($8 for Summer Workshop participants and students) and will go on sale June 1 at Arts Place or through www.artsland.org.
Tim Noble is recognized as one of the world’s leading baritones and he continues a long and stellar career with opera houses and orchestras in the United States and abroad. He debuted successfully at the Metropolitan Opera in 1988 and has been subsequently cast for numerous return appearances since that time.
Tim Noble has performed with many of the nation’s leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony and has been a regular soloist at the Cincinnati May Festival and the Hollywood Bowl. He has starred in The Music Man and release an intimate recording of the songs of Cole Porter.
Detail on Robin McBride Scott’s reconstructed river cane mat pattern
Robin McBride Scott at Heard
Robin McBride Scott, one of NCGLNAC’s tradition bearers recently attended and demonstrated at the 10th Annual Celebration of Basket Weaving Festival & Marketplace at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.
The Celebration was organized by the Tohono O’odham Basket Weavers Association and the Heard Museum. Robin attended the Festival and Marketplace as part of her involvement as a member of the Curatorial Advisory Council for the “Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions” festival and exhibition. This is a project of the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Michigan State University Museum, in collaboration with Native American Basketmaker organizations throughout the country.
Robin has also continued her independent research on pre-contact Southeast river cane basketry and mat making and the uses of river cane by Native Peoples of the Ohio River Valley. She recently obtained permission from the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma to study their pre-contact river cane mat fragments and basketry. Hernando Do Soto crossed the Mississippi River downstream from present day Memphis, Tennessee, around 1540. He found a large population in about 50 Caddo and/or Coosa settlements in what is now eastern Arkansas, along the river where he crossed.
Line-up of beautiful ladies at the 2005 Gathering
2006 Gathering of Great Lakes Nations
NCGLNAC’s third annual Gathering of Great Lakes Nations will be held Saturday, June 24 at the Jay County Fairgrounds in Portland. Hours will be expanded to 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Grand Entry at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The 2007 Gathering will expand to two days, but will most likely be earlier in June.
This is a celebration of Great Lakes Native American culture and a feast for the eyes, ears and taste. Enjoy Native American drums, singing and dancing, a pre-1840’s living history camp, artisan demonstrations, storytelling and an auction of museum quality items. Taste authentic Native American foods. Shop at vendors selling Native American items. Learn about pow wow etiquette, why all entrances to and exits from the dance arena are in the East, the reasons for the circle, why you stand to show respect and why there are times that pictures shouldn’t be taken. For more information, contact Kay Neumayr at 765-426-3022 or kay.neumayr@ncglnac.com.
2005 Head Lady Dancer Robin Scott, Head Veteran Dancer Jay Hartleroad and Head Man Dancer Jason Dorin
NCGLNAC Membership
Why should you join NCGLNAC? Why should you renew your membership in NCGLNAC?
There are many reasons for maintaining a membership in NCGLNAC. Membership dues support the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter you are reading, dues support the cost of many of the public programs sponsored by NCGLNAC, they support other operating expenses such as facilities rent, storage costs, insurance costs, purchase of new equipment, memberships in other organizations such as the Portland Chamber of Commerce, East Region Tourism, the National Museum of the American Indian, the cost of creating and printing resource materials, postage, advertising, photocopying and so on.
What are the member’s benefits? Members receive NCGLNAC’s quarterly newsletter, discounted registration fees for NCGLNAC workshops and events, and the opportunity to learn traditions, arts, crafts and the culture of Great Lakes Native American tribes. More membership benefits are in the planning stages, including reduced membership benefits with other organizations and/or reduced subscription rates for national Native American publications.
AS NCGLNAC moves into the second stage of its development, a large membership base is more important than ever. If you haven’t done so already, please renew your membership or join the NCGLNAC family. Thank you.
Annual Fund Update
THANK YOU, again, to all of YOU who supported NCGLNAC’s first annual fund drive campaign! The final 2005 Annual Fund campaign total is in – NCGLNAC raised a total of
(drum roll please………)
$9,875 dollars through YOUR generosity!!!
The fund drive was a HUGE success due to YOU and the commitment YOU have made to the NCGLNAC organization.
This was our first Annual Fund campaign and the beginning of a new era for NCGLNAC. As our organization grows each year so must the Annual Fund grow to support the outreach of the organization locally, regionally and nationally. Each year an annual fund drive will be conducted beginning with the Board of Directors being asked to donate first in March-April, followed by a direct appeal to the membership and supporters in April- May.
PLAN to give yearly to NCGLNAC. Add us to your donation calendar on a regular basis. Your financial support enables NCGLNAC to provide needed year round Native American educational programming for youth and adults
THANK YOU, again, to all of YOU who supported NCGLNAC’s first annual fund drive campaign!
George Wieske at Nokomis Center
NCGLNAC Membership Registration
I wish to become a member of the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture, Inc. (NCGLNAC) to support the preservation and sharing of Great Lakes Native American culture through my gifts and membership activities.
Name (s) ______________________________
Address _______________________________
City __________________________________
State _________ Zip Code _________________
Telephone ______________________________
Email _________________________________
NCGLNAC Membership Year is the Membership
Anniversary
Annual Standard Membership Categories
Student (Full time to age 23) $15
Individual (1 adult) $25
Family (2 adults & children to 18 yrs.) $40
Grandparent (2 adults & grandchildren
to 18 yrs.) $50
Annual Patron Membership Categories
Otter Circle $100
Corporate $100
Those interested in becoming patron members of NCGLNAC at other levels by making special donations are invited to contact Membership Chair Janice Tierney at janice.tierney@ncglnac.com
Please make checks payable to NCGLNAC, Inc. and send completed form and dues to:
Janice Tierney
Membership Chair
NCGLNAC, Inc.
5361 Elmsford Drive
Flint, MI 48532
810-230-0875
About NCGLNAC
The National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture, Inc. was formed in May 2001 as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. The Center is composed of Native and non-Native members whose mission is to continue and preserve traditional Great Lakes Native American art, history and culture by helping pass those traditions on to Native People and by educating the general public about the importance of Great Lakes Native peoples, their art, history and culture.
The Center has no political agenda. Our focus is on education. We have seen far too many of our treasured elders and tradition bearers begin their Spirit Journey without knowing who would carry on in their place. Additionally, we know too many Native people who are displaced from their tribal land-base and separated from their traditional tribal cultures.
Over the past 15 years, the Center’s tribal elders, tradition bearers and members have been presenting
National Center for Great Lakes
Native American Culture, Inc.
P.O. Box 1063
Portland, IN 47371
Funded in Part By
at workshops, symposia, university classrooms, conferences, powwows, elementary schools, libraries and other cultural and educational events. We look forward to helping Native peoples, urban cultural centers, universities, public and private elementary and secondary schools, Elderhostel and the general public raise their awareness and understanding of the cultural heritage and history of Great Lakes Native peoples in an inviting, comfortable place with a friendly learning environment.
The Jay County Fair Board has generously donated to NCGLNAC nearly 30 acres of beautiful, wooded land, complete with pond and wetlands, located just north of the Jay County Fairgrounds in Portland.
If you would like to know more about NCGLNAC or receive membership information, please log on to our website at http:/www.ncglnac.com or contact us at P.O. Box 1063, Portland, IN 47371.