11/29/05

Singing, Death and Dreaming

“The singing always teaches me something. The other day I had a sore throat, had started getting sick. This song came and after singing it my throat was healed.” From a message I wrote this morning to J.W.

Sometimes I forget these things.

Last night someone without the power to show themselves, or me without the power to see was to my left again. Kept feeling D.H, my recently passed cousin. I told her to come to me in my dreams and let me know if there was something she wanted. For instance, does she want the truck to go to S.? Or was she forced by fear and painkillers to sign a makeshift paper because this one promised to take her home from the hospital when the staff said no, she couldn't go? She told me more than once that it was to go to P., a young man who had helped her consistently through her difficulty. That makes more sense. In the end months of her life, she was duped by her daughter’s druggie friends. D.H. wanted to badly to go home and yet it was in that place that she fell ill due to lack of care. Home is home. I can easily understand that ache. What does she know now that she has left this world? Was the sense of it all illuminated? Did she remember the shine of the inner home, who she really is? Or did this freshly left place feel consequently like a dream, the way that some of our dreams feel now? We wake up with stories to tell, lives and deaths lived, visions, and question: dd it really happen? Then the day unfolds and we tell ourselves: it was just a dream and I have awakened. Then, in that world after this one, do we go on our way with our same cloud of disillusions, lack of knowledge and foresight?

11/27/05

Vine Deloria, Jr Memorial at UNM This Wednesday November 30th

Vine Deloria, Jr. was one of Indian Country’s best. He was a beloved and respected (and sometimes controversial) scholar, visionary, humorist, revolutionary, and human being. He was a primary spokesman of native cultural and political identity.

Vine Deloria, Jr. passed on from this world the morning of, November 13th, 2005 from Denver, Colorado. There was no one else like him. The magnitude of our loss is stunning.

Deloria was born March 26, 1933 in Martin, S.D. near the Pine Ridge Reservation. He was Standing Rock Sioux and trained as a theologian and an attorney.

Custer Died For Your Sins blasted Indians into the cultural atmosphere of American thought in 1969. His sardonic humor was the real power in this book, a book some have called a manifesto.

Yet some of his most important work was from 1964 to 1967, when he worked for the National Conference of American Indians. He became a leading spokesman for Indians in Washington as the group's leader.

'I think he opened Americans' eyes to the real history of Native Americans and the injustice of past federal policies,'' said John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder. '''Through Vine's leadership, tribes started to stand on their treaties and their right to self-determination,'' he said.

"If you mark down the great figures of the American West in recent times, he belongs there because of his role in reshaping Indian country," said Charles F. Wilkinson, a professor of law at the University of Colorado and a longtime friend. "I think in the last 100 years, he's been the most important person in Indian affairs, period."

"We have brought the white man a long way in 500 years," he wrote in an Op-Ed article in The New York Times in 1976. "From a childish search for mythical cities of gold and fountains of youth to the simple recognition that lands are essential for human existence."

He held a number of teaching positions during his career, and retired from the University of Colorado in 2000.

His many books include: Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties, The Metaphysics of Modern Existence, We Talk,You Listen: New Tribes, New Turf, and God is Red.

His lasting concern was for a compassionate vision for this place, one that included justice and a comprehensive understanding of the humanity of all life on this earth. The immensity of his gift--remains. We still need his vision in this world shifting drastically about us.

Vine Deloria, Jr. is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Golden; three children, Philip, Daniel and Jeanne; a brother; a sister; and seven grandchildren
A memorial reading to honor the gift of the life of Vine Deloria, Jr

November 30th, 2006
Willard Reading Room, Zimmerman Library
University of New Mexico Main Campus
1-4 P.M.
Free and Open to the Public

Hosted by The Indigenous Nations Library Program (INLP), Native American Studies (NAS), Indian Law Program -UNM School of Law, Native American Studies Indigenous Research Group (NASIRG), KIVA Club, Native American Health Sciences Society, and Joy Harjo.

If you are interested in reading, please email Joy Harjo at jharjo@unm.edu
For other information email Mary Bowannie at mkbow@unm.edu or call NAS at 277-3917
If you have photographs to share for the Powerpoint presentation, email them directly to Patrick Willink at nlwp@unm.edu

11/18/05

For a Girl Becoming (by request) for personal use only, no reprinting

FOR A GIRL BECOMING

for Krista Rae Chico

That day your spirit came to us rains came in from the Pacific to bless
They peered over the mountains in response to the singing of medicine plants
Who danced back and forth in shawls of mist
Your mother labored there, so young in earthly years
And your father, and all of us who loved you gathered, where
Pollen blew throughout that desert house to bless
With the fragrant knowledge of your pending arrival here.
And horses were running the land, hundreds of them
To accompany you here, to bless.

Girl, I wonder what you thought as you paused there in your spirit house
Before you entered into the breathing world to be with us?
Were you lonely for us, too?
Our relatives in that beloved place dressed you in black hair,
Brown eyes, skin the color of earth, and turned you in this direction.
We want you to know that we urgently gathered to welcome you here; we came
Bearing gifts to celebrate:
From your mother’s house we brought: poetry, music, medicine makers, stubbornness, beauty, tribal leaders, a yard filled with junked cars and the gift of knowing how to make them run.
We carried tobacco and cedar, new clothes and joy for you.
And from your father’s house came educators, thinkers, dreamers, weavers and mathematical genius.
They carried a cradleboard, hope, white shell and turquoise for you.
We brought blankets to wrap you in, soft beaded moccasins of deerskin.

Did you hear us as you traveled from your rainbow house?
We called you with thunder, with singing.
Did you see us as we gathered in the town beneath the mountains?
We were dressed in concern and happiness.
We were overwhelmed, as you moved through the weft of your mother
Even before you took your first breath, your eyes blinked wide open.

Now, breathe.
And when you breathe remember the source of the gift of all breathing.
When you walk, remember the source of the gift of all walking.
And when you run, remember the source of the gift of all running.
And when you laugh, remember the source of the gift of all laughter.
And when you cry, remember the source of the gift of all crying.
And when you think, remember the source of the gift of all thinking.
And when your heart is broken, remember the source of the gift of all breaking.
And when your heart is put back together, remember the source of all putting back together.

Don’t forget how you started your journey from that rainbow house,
How you traveled and will travel through the mountains and valleys
of human tests.
There are treacherous places along the way, but you can come to us.
There are lakes of tears shimmering sadly there, but you can come to us.
And valleys without horses or kindnesses, but you can come to us.
And angry, jealous gods and wayward humans who will hurt you,
but you can come to us.
You will fall, but you will get back up again, because you are one of us.

And as you travel with us remember this:

Give a drink of water to all who ask, whether they be plant, creature,
human or spirit;
May you always have clean, fresh water.

Feed your neighbors. Give kind words and assistance
to all you meet along the way--
We are all related in this place--
May you be surrounded with the helpfulness of family and good friends.

Grieve with the grieving, share joy with the joyful.
May you build a strong path with beautiful and truthful language.

Clean your room.
May you always have a home: a refuge from storm, a gathering place for comfort.

Bury what needs to be buried. Uncover the dreams of truthful warriors.

Do not harbor hurt. Laugh easily at yourself; grow kindness with others.
May you always travel lightly and well.

Praise and give thanks for each small and large thing.
Review each act and thought.
May you grow in knowledge, in compassion, in beauty.

Always within you is that day your spirit came to us
When rains came in from the Pacific to bless
They peered over the mountains in response to the singing of medicine plants
Who danced back and forth in shawls of mist
Your mother labored there, so young in earthly years.

And we who love you gather here,
Pollen blows throughout this desert house to bless
With the fragrant knowledge of your appearance here.
And horses run the land, hundreds of them for you,
And you are here to bless.

c Joy Harjo 2005

Looking for A Name in Santa Fe/Final Draft

LOOKING FOR A NAME IN SANTA FE


That night I headed to the bar--
My jones was for the music, humping out the door.
No stars yet in the ache of the sky.
A rat hung in the mouth of the fat cat.
Everyone was there in each burrow of booth,
Spook and the knot of Indian school brats—
The best artists aren’t always the best dancers.
I’ll drink to that, or anything to make me laugh.
Everyone had a name; I was still looking.
Each name carried a myth, personally.
A heart could harbor the origin story; we’d know how fire happened.
There was no doubt as to the root of the matter.
Spook got his name on the street, Nez from an ancestor,
Tall with heavy rain. Other names
Could never be spoken so far from home
In a town built at the crossroads of trade. Now we traded
Despair for vision, made art, while boxcars filled with uranium
Slid up and down the highway beside the Rio Grande.
All about a Saturday night in the Senate Lounge
Which wasn’t the senate and there was no
Lounging, only drinking, dancing, and a jumpy
Edge. Maybe it was election night. We’d voted
Or skipped the nerve.
I promised Spook I’d never forget him, moved
To the next table of adventurous fools to catch up and dance,
Then she came in, blown from Oklahoma
By an evil wind churned up by burning treaties.
We’d heard the story of her killed lover,
Silkwood: the name; the monster: Kerr-McGhee. By then nearly
Every dance was done and we were all a state
Or two away from madness, from sad.
Everyone was making their moves.
I took her in as everyone took a breather
From the race. Between our bent heads we made a temple.
She told me the story as she checked the door
Sporadically. When the night was done
I offered her refuge; she fled for another town.
We only take what we can carry,
I don’t remember her name, or who won or lost
Or what version of the music compelled me to forget
So drenched that night from tough knowledge
in the vulnerable, pulsing mother field.


c Joy Harjo November 17, 2005

11/14/05

Post re: Vine Deloria from Dr. Tink Tinker, Osage Nation

Dear colleagues:

At six am this morning I lost a mentor and a friend who was also a friend of Iliff School of Theology. The American Indian world lost a great champion. Professor Vine Deloria, Jr., had been struggling, as many of you know, with colon surgery from more than a month ago. About two weeks ago that was complicated with an abdominal aneurysm and underwent surgery for that. He died of complication from the latter after a couple of follow-up surgeries this past week. He was a giant among American Indian intellectuals, teachers, and writers. He will be terribly missed by much more than myself.

Since this has just transpired and I have just this evening returned from Palestine, I do not know what the arrangements are. Indeed, Barbara will not be able to contact a funeral home until tomorrow, since Vine passed on a Sunday. She has asked that we give her another day or two in personal retreat before we begin to contact her with condolences, etc. Their children have already gathered around her. For those who are interested, I will pass on the information as it becomes available.

I know I do not need to rehearse the multitude of his accomplishments for most of you. I was told in 1985 when I was first hired at Iliff that it was his letter of recommendation that pushed my name to the top of the stack. He was not on my list of referees. At that point in my career, I would not have dreamed of even asking him. But Iliff had its own relationship with Vine and approached him unbeknownst to me. In a curious turn-about, the University of Colorado asked me for a letter of reference on his behalf in the process leading to their offering a position to him a few years later.

He had retired as an emeritus professor from CU only about three or four years ago. I believe he was 73 years old. I was not prepared to lose such an important discourse partner.

The American Indian world is hurt by this loss. He was not yet done writing.

Tink

Dr. Tink Tinker (Osage Nation)

Professor of American Indian Cultures and Religious Traditions

Iliff School of Theology

Memorium: Vine Deloria, Jr.

Beloved scholar, visionary, humorist, revolutionary, human being Vine Deloria, Jr. passed on from this world yesterday morning, November 13th, 2005.

There was no one else like him. This morning, the magnitude of the loss of this soul from here feels overwhelming. The immensity of his gift--remains. We still need his vision in this world crumpling about us.

Our prayers for a good journey follow you, beloved one.

November 14, 2005 Albuquerque

11/13/05

Mesas and Towers, Submissions Needed for new anthology

Seeking submissions for an anthology with the working title:

“Mesas and Towers: Contemporary Stories Taking Place in the Southwest”

Salina Bookshelf, Inc. is seeking original written work by American Indian writers with stories, thoughts, and/or poetry about the Southwest. Writers from the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, Southern California, Nevada) region of the United States are strongly encouraged to submit.

Being an Indian from the Southwest is still considered exotic, and for some – cliché. It is a place often revered to as sacred by Natives and non-Natives, and is often called home for many. This anthology is searching for experiences and expressions about the Southwest from Native people. What can this anthology teach people about the Southwest? Themes can cover: romance, memoir (old and new stories), politics (war-tribal/federal/state governments), humor, family, education (teaching, learning, school experiences), landscape (environmental-nature), open to new ideas. Let’s reaffirm and shock Southwest and non-Southwestern residents! Get published!

Manuscripts considered for publication:

• Genres: Fiction, (creative) Non-Fiction, Autobiography, Biography, Poetry, Nature writing.

• Submissions cannot exceed 25 pages (6500) words.

• Unpublished, original work is preferred; should a previously published or excerpts from a previously published work require a reprint fee, the fee payment is the responsibility of the author.

• Each manuscript must have a cover sheet with the author’s name, mailing address, email address, and phone number, along with a biographical statement.

• Manuscripts need be typed, double-spaced; if sent via email, send using Microsoft Word document.

• Send disk or CD-ROM formatted for Microsoft document with a hardcopy. Do not send the only copy of your manuscript; make sure you have an original copy of your work. Salina Bookshelf, Inc. is not responsible for any lost manuscripts.

• Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage if you wish to have your work returned.

• Submission deadline: December 31, 2005

Send submissions to: DeLyssa Begay
P.O. Box 3080
Chinle, Arizona 86503
Email: delyssabegay@salinabookshelf.com
or
blacksheepwoman@yahoo.com

11/11/05

San Pedro and an urgent request

Friday morning in San Pedro. I awake not knowing where I am. Yesterday I was in Albuquerque, the morning before in downtown Minneapolis, the morning before that Albuquerque, before that, Indianapolis--and so on.

I pull on my human skin, and start all over again.

So much to report, I'm not.

Headed to rehearsal and soundcheck for an event tonight at Mother Bear's Gallery
619 S. Mesa Street
San Pedro, California 90731
(310) 221-0057 phone
(310) 221-0714 (fax)
motherbears@sbcglobal.net
www.motherbearsbooks.com

Opening prayer/blessing by Cindi Alvitre 8:00-8:15
Mankillers 8:15- 8:45
Shaunna McCovey 9:00-9:25
Joy Harjo 9:30-10:15
Arigon Starr & band 10:20-11:00

PLEASE PASS ON AN URGENT REQUEST: Will R. from Lebanon please email me, again. Didn't get a chance to talk in Mpls..

Mother Bear's, San Pedro,CA and Urgent Request

Friday morning in San Pedro. I awake not knowing where I am. Yesterday I was in Albuquerque, the morning before in downtown Minneapolis, the morning before that Albuquerque, before that, Indianapolis--and so on.

I pull on my human skin, and start all over again.

So much to report, I'm not.

Headed to rehearsal and soundcheck for an event tonight at Mother Bear's Gallery
619 S. Mesa Street
San Pedro, California 90731
(310) 221-0057 phone
(310) 221-0714 (fax)
motherbears@sbcglobal.net
www.motherbearsbooks.com

Opening prayer/blessing by Cindi Alvitre 8:00-8:15
Mankillers 8:15- 8:45
Shaunna McCovey 9:00-9:25
Joy Harjo 9:30-10:15
Arigon Starr & band 10:20-11:00

PLEASE PASS ON AN URGENT REQUEST: Will R. from Lebanon please email me, again. Didn't get a chance to talk in Mpls..

11/2/05

UNM Reading

Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-5813, michal@unm.edu
Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920, cgonzal@unm.edu

Oct. 24, 2005

RENOWNED NATIVE AMERICAN POET, ARTIST & MUSICIAN TO READ AT UNM NOV. 18

This fall renowned poet, artist and musician Joy Harjo returned to teach at her alma mater, the University of New Mexico. She's back as the first Joseph M. Russo Professor of Creative Writing and the first Native American to hold an endowed chair in the university's history.

Harjo will give her first Albuquerque reading since her return to UNM on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building Acoma room as part of the creative writing program's Poets & Writers reading series.

Full story at: http://www.unm.edu/news/OctoberReleases/05-10-24harjo.htm