[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

That was fun. BTW, is anyone going to the Red Earth festival this weekend?

Yes, I "think" one of my sis' grandkids will be in the Parade's tiny tots division.

Not sure what day we will go, but the art show is worth the price of admission. We have, another friend , (for someone who is anti-social, I sure talk about my friend's alot on these threads!!) who will have a booth for the American Indian AIDS coalition.

Colleen, you have GOT to meet him. He is a great friend and works with Two-Spirit organizations. Let us know if and when you decide to go.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

Yes, I "think" one of my sis' grandkids will be in the Parade's tiny tots division.

Not sure what day we will go, but the art show is worth the price of admission. We have, another friend , (for someone who is anti-social, I sure talk about my friend's alot on these threads!!) who will have a booth for the American Indian AIDS coalition.

Colleen, you have GOT to meet him. He is a great friend and works with Two-Spirit organizations. Let us know if and when you decide to go.

We'll definitely go. Most likely Saturday because Anna works Sunday. Let's plan to meet up, or if you can't go Saturday, give me the info on your friend. I would love to meet him. When is the tiny tots parade?

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

We'll definitely go. Most likely Saturday because Anna works Sunday. Let's plan to meet up, or if you can't go Saturday, give me the info on your friend. I would love to meet him. When is the tiny tots parade?

We usually go on Saturdays. The parade is downtown on Friday mid-morning to noonish, I believe.

They usually have a rule that all dancers who plan on entering contest dancing must attend parade. So that makes them get out of bed! Not sure what time or where the parade is. We probably won't go for that because I have to work friday.

Not sure if his booth will be by the art show or what. Will just have to wait and see. I'll send you a pic offline.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

........if others do not care for the Northern Cherokee, well, what can I say?

It isn't the Northern Cherokee that bother me, it's those durn Kiowa that think they rule the roost. I knew a good Winnebago once upon a time........he was an outsider at the Tewa community he married into......but he was a good man and a good friend.

[_redbird_]

Here is a family portrait for you GrandPa.

[keen cat]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

I think some people are so far removed from Indian country, they don't realize the struggles that went on to survive.
There were Indian Wars, Indian Removal, then forced Assimilation via Boarding Schools, etc. All within 100 years.

I know all about what went on at those boarding schools. I heard the horror stories from both my grandmothers and grandfathers about the boarding schools they attended. I'm grateful I only heard what happened and didn't experience the trauma they went through but hearing these stories made me cry a lot. They were beat severely and witnessed other children getting beat and abused, some were their siblings. They were treated worse than animals.

My grandma would only be allowed to return home for two months in the summer and she never celebrated special holidays like xmas or easter with family during those times. One time my grandma told me when she was 13 she got a very bad beating from the principal and was taken into a private room and was told to take her clothes off and was beaten all over her body with a strap for about a half hour. She suffered alot of bruising and swelling all over her body that lasted for days. The only reason the principal quit beating her was that he got too exhausted. My grandma said as long as she lives she will never forget what they did to them.

This is barely a fraction of the horror stories. I can go on and on. They only get worse. I will stop here cuz it really depresses me to think about them.

[colleeng47]

The abuse in the schools was horrendous, but the most vile act was the attempt to wipe out an entire culture by ailenating and brainwashing the youth.

[peggydavis]

Even with all the attempts to wipe out the culture over hundreds of years, the culture still remains. It's amazing to me how much perseverance the Indians have shown.

[_redbird_]

Here is the little girl who greeted us as we entered.



The Art Show was very cool with lots of various genres represented.







Grand Entry at 7:00 PM.





The people-watching was fun. This kid had his grandparents buy him a drum.



Anybody thirsty?



Carvings on cottonwood.



How much did you say that painting is?

[Goodpasture]

Wado,

I am sorry to have missed it, but I was in the classroom on Friday and Saturday.

Give me some advance notice of the Kiowa dances and I will try to make it then. I have been too busy in todays world to participate or celebrate our heritage.......and that part of me needs to reconnect.