Conference ssdevo::native_americans

    
Forgive me if this is an inappropriate message.  I am not a Native American
'wanna-be', nor am I a person to push my beliefs on anyone else.
I just enjoy learning and sharing my thoughts on Native Americans.
For anyone that may be interested, I'll be participating in our church's
Native American Awareness Sunday, next Sunday (April 13, 1997)

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	Native American Awareness Sunday,  April 13, 1997

	8:30 & 10:00 a.m.,  St. James United Methodist Church
	Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, NH    603-424-7459
	    Web page: http://www.jlc.net/~cprova/stjames/

Bruce Luhrs will be the guest speaker at both services as St. James observes
Native American Awareness Sunday. Bruce has developed an interest in this 
special Sunday as he tries to trace his own heritage to see if there is
some Native American ancestry.

He has put together a service recognizing some of the unique contributions
which Native Americans have made to our understanding of our faith.

A special offering will be taken.  Part of the offering stays in our New
England conference and part of it goes to the General Church to assist
Native Americans.
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I will be sharing information about this United Methodist Church special
Sunday, Native Americans in New England, and then reflect on what I've
learned about Native American spirituality and how it influences my thoughts
and actions.  Some of the topics:
	- the goal of Native American Awareness Sunday, the offering
	- New England Native Americans, their needs
	- Native Americans in my past, Native American style teachings
	- Legends: circles, talking stick, healing stones

We will have some of the Native American items we've collected on display
in the church hall following each of the services.  I will also have some
free copies of a couple Native American prayers, some legends and a list
of Internet information pertaining to Native Americans and the United 
Methodist Church.

Please feel free to attend one of the services that morning and talk
with me after about your Native American interests and experiences.

Bruce
    

"Gifts of the Spirit" is the title of a (wonderful!) exhibit of works by
19th century and contemporary Native American artists, at the Peabody Essex
Museum in Salem, MA. 

The exhibit will be there through Sunday May 18.

Telephone # is 800-745-4054; also, on the net - www.pem.org - has lots of 
information and photos.

There's a Native American film festival currently going on at the Fine Arts 
Museum in Boston.  It's about half over but a few remain:


Friday, May 9, 5:45 pm - "If Only I Were an Indian" 
                                   
(about the "'White Wampum', a tribe of Czechs who have adopted the
traditional lifestyle and beliefs of Native Americans.") 
by John Paskievich, Canada, 1995


Saturday, May 10, 1:15 pm - two films:
 
"A Song for Dead Warriors" ("examines the reasons for the Wounded Knee
occupation in the spring of 1973 by Oglala Sioux Indians and members of the
American Indian Movement.") 

"The Sixth Sun: Mayan Uprising in Chiapas" ("portrays an epic confrontation
pitting the impoverished peasants of the Zapatista Army of National
Liberation against the government and prominent landowners.  The film
raises global questions about what is expendable in the rush to economic
integration.")  by Saul Landau,1995 

Saul Landau will be present.


Admission is $7 for non-members.
Box office phone - 617-369-3770

    
			The Peabody Museum Shop and
		      Reservation Indian Arts & Craft

				 present

	    The 17th Annual North American Indian Arts Show & Sale
                
			     May 15-18, 1997

           	Starting Thursday, May 15 (10 am - 6 pm) and running 
		Friday (10 am - 5 pm), 
		Saturday (10 am - 5 pm), 
		and Sunday (1 - 5 pm) at the

                 	   Peabody Museum Shop
                 
		Museum of Cultural & Natural History
                11 Divinity Avenue
                Cambridge, MA  02138
 
                Featuring:
                Fine arts and crafts by Native artists from the Southwest,
 		Pacific Northwest Coast, Artic, Plains and the Northeast.  

		Select from original works in jewelry, pottery, baskets, 
		carvings, masks, and beads and quill work.  
		Plus, edition prints, books, note cards, imprinted chocolates
                and more.
 
                For more information call 617-495-2249.

    
On Friday, June 6, 1997 at 6 pm, there will be a demonstration outside
Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts to protest the continued use by the
Cleveland baseball team of an offensive team name ("Indians") and racist
mascot and logo (Chief Wahoo).  The Cleveland baseball team will be playing
the Boston Red Sox on that evening.  Protest participants will meet at
Yawkey Way. 

For several years, Indigenous people throughout North America have been
conducting a campaign of protest and education to try and stop the use of
racist team names, logos and mascots by professional and amateur sports
teams.  Teams such as the Cleveland "Indians," the Atlanta "Braves," and
the Washington "Redskins" trivialize and demean Native people and culture
with their use of the "tomahawk chop," hideous hook-nosed "Indian" mascots
such as "Chief Wahoo," etc. 

The protest is being called by United American Indians of New England
(617-773-0406, e-mail: [email protected]) and the National Peoples Campaign
(617-522-6626).  All Native people and non-Native supporters are welcome. 

We are not vanishing. We are not conquered. We are as strong as ever. UAINE