April 10. 1997 3
Child abuse prevention walk gathers many
Evening she will never forget. . .
Miss Warm Springs attends First Americans in the Arts awards
Warm Springs, Oregon
v& Mm i v y
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Tt, oKuco nrmmntinn walk was
Head Start Program and their teachers
Community Education
Summit
(Second of six sessions)
Wednesday, April 23
Warm Springs Community Center Social Hall
Plan to attend!
Sponsored by: - Committees - Education Branch --
509-J School District -
International
V
Gold was a presenter at the
International Weaving
Conference in Rotorua, New
Zeland.
by Pat Courtney Gold
I attended an International Weav
ing Conference in New Zealand Feb
ruary 1 through 9 and I want to thank
the Tribal Council and the Small
Business Canter for their financial
support.
The conference was held at the
Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in
Rotorua. The Native American guests
included members of the Northwest
Native American Basketwcavers
Association; Anna Jefferson, Lummi;
Lona Wilbur, Swinomish; myself,
Wasco; and Maria Dupuis, Chehalis.
Annaand I were guest speakers. Anna
spoke on her experiences as a Native
American weaver, mainly cedar bark,
and I spoke on tourism, culture and
marketing. The Maoris were espe
cially interested in the "Wannabees",
as yet not experienced in their cul
ture. The Maori Tribes accept their
members, regardless of blood quota
and do not have any formal enroll
ment. Other lecturers included a woman
Maori Museum curator; sharing her
experiences in educating non-Maoris
on interpreting Maori artifacts; a lec
turer on Native Plants discussing the
cooperation of the New Zealand
government working with Maori
weavers.
held to recoanize Aoril as child abuse prevention month. Children from the
gathered to walk from the Community
conference
The conference was rewarding in
other aspects; sharing our weaving
techniques, our cultures and meet
ing weavers from throughout New
Zealand.
I demonstrated the Wasco twin
ing technique. The Maori weavers
were astonished and told me, "It's
taniko !" Taniko is their weaving that
is very much like mine. I also twined
with local cattail, raupo in Maori.
They normally do not use raupo, but
now many of them will try. Most of
their weaving is with flax, which
grows all over New Zealand.
Maori Family
Maria and I stayed with the
Wirihanas, a Maori family that I met
during my 1995 trip. We stayed in
our own small apartment. The Maoris
are a very close-knit extended fam
ily, and we were privileged to meet
the grandmother and the brother and
his family. They were always visit
ing, and checking that everything
was all right with us. I was impressed
with the son, who was a Maori guard
when Queen Elizabeth visited the
Maori Arts Institute. He was dressed
in a traditional Maori war outfit. I
was more impressed with him than
the Queen.
Our Maori family took us to visit
their marae (village). It reminded me
of our Longhouse, but they embel
lished their building with intricate
Maori carvings and indoor weavings.
We also met the weaving group that
the grandmother taught.
We were also invited to visit the
nearby grade school. The children
were very beautiful, and reminded
me of Native American children. I
was impressed that theirclasscs were
conducted in their Maori language;
they also sat on the floors, even
though they had chairs. Their con
cept of Native Americans was the
usual "John Wayne Savages"
Maria and I had to set them right in
that respect.
The Warm Springs Public Affairs
staff and the Museum staff provided
me with information on Warm
Springs and I shared this with the
school and conference attendees.
Treaty Day
We were in New Zealand during
their Treaty Day Celebration. Their
treaty w as signed in 1 840. and unlike
our treaty of 1855. they gave up
their sovereignty. But, they were
unusual in that the English did sign a
treaty w ith them, unlike many other
colonics. I was impressed with the
attitude bv the Maoris; they cel
Center to the Trailer Park and back.
April is Child Abuse
Prevention Month
Haskell commencement to coincide with annual powwow
The Haskell Indian Nations
University announces the 1997
Commencement Celebration and
Annual Spring Powwow, May 9, 10,
1 1 , at the Haskell Stadium, Lawrence,
Kansas. The purpose of the powwow
is to honor Haskell's students who
are graduating. This year, Haskell
will graduate its first Baccalaureate
takes tribal artist, weaver
ebrated their survival for the past 1 57
years, and look to the future working
with the New Zealand government.
Yet, the younger generation marched
from one end of the island to the
other, to bring attention to the "bro
ken promises" of the treaty. ...Sound
familiar?
Sightseeing:
Maria and I flew to New Zealand
via Australia, where we spent the
night and one morning in Sydney,
the sign of the next Olympics.
Sydney, Australia:
We got up at 4:30 a.m., checked
our luggage at the air terminal, then
took the express bus to Sydney Har
bor. At 6 a.m., our companions were
the street cleaners and garbage col
lectors. We had the harbor to our
selves, and enjoyed walking around
the piers, the parks and window
shopping. We saved lots of money,
as the shops were closed. The views
were beautiful along the harbor:
strange, longlegged birds browsing
the garbage cans, Sydney Bridge,
ferries, ships and the famous Opera
House. I even watched the sun rise
over the Opera House. We took a
ferry trip in the harbor to Kirribilli.
We had a beautiful view of the Sydney
skyscrapers. Maria and I had a work
out sprinting to catch the express bus
back to the airport. We were still on
Friday time, forgetting that we
crossed the International Dateline.
On Saturday, the bus ran less often
than on weekdays.
Touring New Zealand:
After the conference, Maria and I
spent five days touring the North
Island (there is a South Island, too).
We went to the Waitomo Caves and
glow worms. The limestone caves
are featured as "cathedrals". I was
more impressed with the glow worms.
We floated in an underground river,
inside long caves, with the glow
worms above us. It was a pleasant
experience floating under these
"stars".
We also toured the East Coast
Pacific Ocean, which is warm dow n
there. This is the w ater that "ties" us
indigenous people together, to quote
a Maori friend. I loved the coast and
collected lots of beautiful shells. I
hated to leave. We w ent to the Thames
Bay area to visit another friend, who
drove us to Coromandcl, an "alter
nate lifestyle" town. This place re
minded me of Cannon Beach, w ith
all the arts and tourists shops. Alter
nate lifestyle??? People jut like Or
eeonians! Mavbe not as British as
Miss Warm Springs, Arlissa
Rhoan, recently attended I he First
Americans in the Arts awards in
Beverly Hills, California. Various
Native American actors, musicians
and artists are recognized for their
work in the entertainment w orld.
Masters of Ceremonies were Rita
Coolidge (singer) and Michael Horse
(actorartist). Attendees included:
Gary Farmer (Dead Man), Michael
C.reyFyes (TNT's Cray Horse),
Irene Bedard (Lakoia Woman), Wes
Studi (Gemimo), and Steve Reevis
(Fargo), to name a few.
It is an evening Miss Warm
Springs will not soon forget. She met
the celebrities with much grace and
only stood stunned upon meeting the
current Miss NCAI. Kaduscha Lara
ofHoopa.Ca. Hopefully, the contacts
Arlissa made will participate in the
upcoming youth conference she is
planning for our local youth. Keep
up the good work Miss Warm
Springs!
Indian Art Northwest market set for Labor Day weekend
The Affiliated Tribes of North
west Indians, the Indian Art North
westCouncil of Artists, the Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde and
Spirit Mountain Casino will present
"Raindancc" Friday, April 25 at Spirit
Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde.
Also on the same evening, Marcus
Amcrman, of Choctaw descent, will
unveil the commemorative artwork
that will be used to promote the 1 998
Indian Art Northwest market to be
held Memorial Day weekend, May
23 and 24 in Portland. Proceeds from
the April 25 Raindance performance
will help fund the Art Market.
Indian Art Northwest seeks to
preserve tribal cultural heritage by
providing a market that recognizes
Decree students of the Teacher
Education Program. The powwow
will also celebrate the 100th
Anniversary of the Indian Leader
Student Newspaper, and initiate the
75th Anniversary Rededication of
the Haskell Stadium. The public is
invited to be a part of these historical
events.
The schedule of events includes
the New Zealandcrs, so labeled as
such?
Auckland:
We spend two days in Auckland,
the capital and a big city. It was a
good experience. This is where I
saw the Maori bone carvings "made
in Asia", and the wannabe Native
American Dream Catchers. But the
international shops and accents were
experiences to remember: New
Zealand, Australia, British, Ameri
can, Canadian, Dutch, India and
Asian countries. I loved the contrast
of the 19th century brick buildings
with the 20th century sky scrapers.
Always visible was "Sky City", their
huge tower and new casino.
New Zealand Food:
We saw McDonald's all over New
Zealand. Some of the food was dif
ferent, such a Pavlova, meringue with
fruit. I loved it. New Zealand tea was
stronger than ours to be drunk with
milk. Seafood such as mussels,
shrimp and oysters, mutton and lamb
dishes and ice cream made from
cream. But no yogurt, which I like. It
was summer there, so I was in heaven
eating fresh food such as corn, apri
cots, nectarines, kiwis, watermelons
and cantaloupes.
There were a number of deer
ranches throughout New Zealand,
but most of the venison is exported
to the US, Sweden and Germany.
And there were lots of dairy farms
and kiwi orchards. I loved the "bush"
(natural areas) with the graceful 30
foot tall fern trees.
New Zealand Culture:
The New Zealandcrs drive on the
"wrong" side of the road. Most of
their roads are still two lanes. They
have warning signs. "Speed Camera
Area". You" have to watch for a
hatchback police car with its cam
era. It automatically takes photos of
speeding cars, then automatically
looks up your address and mails you
a speeding ticket.
Other observations:
Not too many people had pets,
cither cats or dogs.
It was nice not to worry about
tips.
New Zealand currency has dif
ferent colors lor different denomi
nations. Kiwis (New Zealandcrs) and
Maoris speak w ith English accents.
They hang the horse shoes w rung
way up for luck.
You have to turn on the electric
outlets.
The toilets hae two (lush but
r
t .
Arlissa Rhoan meets Wes Studi
talents.
artistic achievement, provides eco
nomic benef it for Native artists and
increases public awareness and ap
preciation for Native arts and cul
ture. A celebration of Indian arts and
artists, Indian Art Northwest is com
mitted to establishing Portland as a
major center for Native arts and a
gateway for cultural tourism to the
Northwest Indian tribes.
The market will bring together
several hundred Native artists pro
ducing the finest handmade tradi
tional and contemporary arts to the
Northwest. This is a national compe
tition, with a special focus on North
west artists.
Native artists will sell their works
the grand entry for the powwow at
the Haskell Stadium beginning at
p.m. on Friday, May 9. Saturday,
May 10 includes a parade at 10 a.m.,
and grand entry and all specials at 1
p.m., and another grand entry at 7
p.m. On Sunday, May 1 l.grandentry
will be at 1 p.m. as well as contest
finals. Admission prices arc $12 for
to New Zealand
tons; one to conserve water.
Most New Zealandcrs still hang
their wash outdoors.
I was so far south of the Equator,
that the stars were disorienting. I had
to learn to see the Southern Cross.
Rotorua, where I was, is known
for its hot springs, boiling much and
geysers. Maoris cook corn in certain
springs having less sulfur and they
have special cooking boxes over
boiling springs where they steam
meat and fish.
In Auckland, some of the pedes
trian lights let you cross the street
diagonally as well as each street at
the intersection. Traffic in all direc
tions stopped. I like this!
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Pat Gold. left, with fellow weavers
DuPuis, Chehalis.
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and many other Native American
to the public from booths Irom 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday,
May 23 and 24 in Portland. Booths
w ill be juried, with ribbons and cash
awards given to '"Best of Show",
"Artists Choice", "Peoples' Choice"
and for various art categories. Spe
cial events during the market will
include an opening sunrise prayer
ceremony, gallery shows and a pre
view reception, a monumental
sculpture exhibit and a concert, dance
and cultural performances.
For more information, to receive
an application or to volunteer, call
the ATM office at (503 ) 24 1 -0070 or
Marie Calica at the Warm Springs
Public Relations office at 553-1338.
Calica is co-chairperson of the ATNI
TourismNorthwest Arts committee.
a weekend pass, $7 for a daily pass,
with children 0-6 being admitted free
of charge. For more information
regarding the powwow, contact Daryl
Monteau at (913) 749-8417.
In addition, a Men's Fastpitch
Softball Tourney will be held May.
10-1 1 . For more information contact
Andy Girty, (913) 842-5099 or Jim
LcFlore (913) 842-3761.
Northland, New Zealand
I then went to Northland, mainly
to see the Kauri trees. These are the
native trees that are as large as our
redwoods. The Maoris carve these
for their canoes. There were Kauri
trees larger than redwoods, but the
New Zealand immigrants cut them
all down. Can we learn a lesson here?
I did get to visit Tane Mahuta,
"God oflhe Trees". I was so im
pressed that this huge, 1,200-year-old
tree has a name. I spent one hour
there, enjoying its presence, its
beauty, its magic. The trip north was
worth it and this was the perfect
experience to end my New Zealand
trip and return home.
. 4 . . ..77
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Mate Lawless, Maori and Maria