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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2007)
NOTICES STCCF Helps Fund Habitat for Humanity House by Marika Pullani The Silelz Tribal Charitable Con tribution Fund awarded $10.583 to Habitat lor Humanity of Lincoln County in August. This money will go toward the foundation, plumbing, and electrical for its eighth house. Partner families are required to put in 500 hours of “sweat equity.” They can do this by helping to build their own house, building houses for oth ers. or working in the Habitat office. The average cost to build a Habi tat house is $60,000. Thanks to Lin coln County's Habitat for Humanity and tribal charitable fund, another fam ily is able to build a house. Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. Its goal is to eliminate poverty housing. Through donations of money, materi als, and volunteer labor, it’s able to build houses for families in need. Currently, more than 2(X).(XX) houses have been built around the world with the assistance of the Habitat for Human ity organization. More than 2, l(X) active affiliates exist in 92 countries. A committee chooses partner fami lies by assessing the homeowners’ level of need, their willingness to be come partners in the program, and their ability to repay the loan. Lincoln County’s Habitat for Hu manity has been part of the commu nity for the past I I years. Since 1995, Left to right: Lee Furlong, Louise, and Gladys Hartsei from Habitat: Ashley Sheppard and Kelly Johnson (Kathy's son and daughter-in-law); Chris Kirkpatrick, homeowner: Kathy Johnson (Chris' significant other): Vance Johnson (Kathy's son); Kristina Ewing (tribal member, Vance's significant other, and Alisa’s mother); Alisa Johnson (tribal member and daughter of Vance and Kristina): and Schatzi the dog. Habitat for Humanity in Lincoln County has completed seven houses and it’s starting its eighth house with the money from the tribe. This house will be built in Lincoln City, as will the organization's next two houses. For more details on how you can help Lincoln County's Habitat for Humanity, visit www.newportnet.com/habitat. Reach The Rez Successfully Completes First Year SEATTLE, Wash. - In an unprec edented nationwide campaign, the Reach The Rez Project recently made history by successfully completing its inaugural music and speaking tour through Indian Country. Covering more than 54,000 miles to meet with 211 communities, Reach The Rez delivered messages of strength and empowerment to thou sands of American Indians. While the effort is ultimately aimed at the better ment of all communities and the en richment of all people, Reach The Rez programs are specifically designed to effectively reach American Indian people, particularly youth. What once was termed “a highly ambitious idea," the tour has become a reality because of the vision of award-winning American Indian rap artist and actor. Litefoot, and title spon sors. the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Okla homa. the Cherokee Nation of Okla homa. and Daimler/Chrysler. The 2006 tour began in February and culminated with the year's final show at Seattle's Indian Heritage High School in October. Litefoot has com mitted to touring North America's underserved reservations over a five- year period to help his consistent mes 12 • Siletz News • sages of hope and prosperity take root in Native communities. “This movement is unlike any other journey our people have witnessed,” said Litefoot. “Look back at any of the campaigns where Indian people have traversed across these lands, from the Trail of Tears to the flight of the Nez Perce. Too often, these campaigns forced our retreat or relocated us. This is the first large-scale effort that has had Natives traveling across the country for something positive and healthy. “The tide is turning. We are no longer traveling such distances to flee or relocate - we are covering this ground to unite our people and make us stronger, so our young people will not merely survive but will live a life of purpose.” A member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Litefoot has invested his musical career in performing concerts for predominantly Native audiences while simultaneously delivering inspir ing speeches that show his experiences as an artist, his understanding of American Indian history, and his posi tive vision for the future of Native people. He developed the multi-faceted Reach The Rez Project with the goal of taking the program to every reser vation in the United States and Canada. In addition to the tour, the Reach The January 2007 Rez Project includes a documentary film of the tour, a weekly Reach The Rez radio show, a Reach The Rez maga zine, and the future launch of an inter active Internet community called Glo bal Lodge™. Realizing that few people travel to Indian reservations to learn about the country's first residents, Litefoot and company are proactively preparing a documentary film that will instead take the “rez” to the public. Filmed on location throughout the tour, the Reach The Rez documentary has captured the faces and places of contemporary Indian Country and will be widely distributed to schools and other organizations in the United States and Canada upon completion. With more than 760 hours of film recorded, the documentary will cata log the experiences, opinions, cultures, and viewpoints of modern-day Native people, with the mission of exposing mainstream society to the challenges of today’s American Indians. With his commitment to remain connected to the communities he vis its, Litefoot continues to engage Na tive audiences with the unique Reach The Rez radio show. The show, which first aired in December 2005, is broad cast weekly through Native Voice One (NV1) and American Indian Radio On Satellite (AIROS), and is available via Podcast and free download at www.reachtherezradio.com . Even before the wheels of the tour bus rolled to a stop, plans were under way for the tour’s 2007 leg. “We’ve been blessed to have the support of so many along the way and we're fortunate to see Reach The Rez brought to fruition,” said Litefoot, “and we’re just gettin’ started.” For additional information on future Reach The Rez events and tour stops, visit www.reachtherez.org. The Reach The Rez Project is a pro gram of the Association for American Indian Development, a 501 (c)(3), non profit organization. Litefoot has appeared in movies such as The Indian in the Cupboard, Mortal Combat: Annihilation, and The Song of Hiawatha, and TV spots on CSI and Any Day Now. Named Native American Music Awards Artist of the Year for 2005, Litefoot has recorded 1 1 albums on his own label. Red Vinyl Records, and has created Litefoot Music Group, a new label featuring rising Native artists. Litefoot and his wife, Carmen Davis, co-own several clothing lines, including Native Style™.
