sometimes working together works

I just learned about something that made me feel good. It seems people can put aside their differences sometimes. Many people know how the whole problem of native remains has become a flash point across the nation, and NAGPRA, which was supposed to settle things, has sometimes led to worse conflicts. Well, recently a small, private ceremony was held at Mesa Verde national park, and a large number of remains from across the region were laid to rest. I don't know the details, and wouldn't talk about them if I did, but I do know that archaeologists, the government, and various tribes, including Hopi, Navajo, and Ute, overcame their conflicts of interest to see that the right thing was done.
I hope this is a good sign, especially after the mess over kenniwik man.

sept 12th is Leonards day

In case you haven't heard, sept 12th is the day when everyone is supposed to gather for Leonard Peltier. I don't know how much good it can do for Leonard, but it is a great way to promote native unity.

a busy september

After a lull through august, we've got a busy month in september. First is practice friday the 1st at Ellen's, then the men's prison the 9th. The veterans powwow at seven circles is the 16th and 17th, and on the 23rd we will be performing at Oquaka for a heritage day.
We were worried for a while that the Oquaka people wanted us to be background in their pageant, but we will be giving a seperate performance, although they would like us to provide some songs during the pageant. It starts at noon that saturday.
It's great to have Ellen back, and the friday practice's will again be at her house, but tuesday practice will stay at Jerry's.
I had a great time out west, and Ellen and I really enjoyed Taos pueblo. I'm going to have a lot more to say about the trip at Daryl's Den.
Also, if you don't mind the drive, the Tipton, Indiana powwow is over Labor day weekend again, at the 4H grounds. They always have a huge number of vendors, you can buy just about anything.

checking in

Just checking in to say I'm back, had a great time. I did meet up with Ellen, I had dinner with her and Richard twice, and Ellen and I went to Taos pueblo, where we had a short private concert from Robert Mirabels's brother on the flute.
Not much else to say, check Daryl's Den for what I did.
Practice tommorrow night at Jerry's, then Friday after next at Ellen's.
HAD A FANTASTIC TIME!

vacation

I'm headed out this morning for New Mexico and Colorado, so I won't be posting for a while. Don't forget practice friday after this, almost certainly at Ellen's.
See everybody when I get back!

Ellen's coming home

The powwow at the women's prison saturday went fine, except that no one had reserved an inside place for us, so we had go out by the sweat lodge and sit in the sun. A few clouds came over, though, and there was a breeze, so it wasn't too bad. The ladies really appreciate us, and they always invite others to join, so it is a good time. During one two step, everyone there was up and dancing!
Ellen is supposed to be back from New Mexico this weekend, so we will probably be meeting regularly at her house again.
We don't have much coming up, except practice the friday after next, like I said probably at Ellen's, and then in september a thing at Oquaca, just a regular performance as far as I know.
I am leaving this thursday for New Mexico and Colorado, and will be gone about a week and a half, So I probably won't post much for a while. I hope to meet Ellen in Taos.

great practice

Great practice tonight, we have the womens prison tomorrow, I'll get back later on that. Meanwhile, try this:
Carne Adobado (Spiced Pork)

2 cups red chile puree or 12 tablespoons chile powder
3 pounds fresh, lean pork
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, mashed

Cut pork into strips. Mix other ingredients, add to pork strips, and let stand in cool place for 24 hours. Cut meat into cubes and brown in small amounts of oil. Add chile sauce and simmer one hour or more.

To serve, add more fresh chile sauce and cook until tender.

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Red Chili Stew

2 pounds pork, cut into small pieces (save some fat)
5 dried red chiles
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste

Wash chiles, removing stems and seeds. Place in blender with 1 cup water and blend into paste consistency. Set aside.

Put pork fat into deep skillet until there is enough on the bottom of the skillet to prevent meat from sticking. Discard remaining fat.

Brown pork lightly. Add the chili paste and mix well, adding water if mixture is too thick. Add oregano and garlic. Cover pan and simmer slowly for one hour.

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Green Chili Stew

2 pounds pork, mutton, lamb or beef, cut into small pieces
3 ears corn (scrape kernels from cob) or about 3 cups frozen or canned corn
3 stalks celery, diced
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 medium tomatoes, diced
5 roasted green chiles, peeled, seeded and diced

Brown meat in large pot. Add remaining ingredients along with water to make a stew consistency. Cover pot and simmer for approximately 1 hour.

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Pueblo Posole

2 cups dried Red Corn Brand Hominy
2 lbs. pork sliced, diced and browned with a clove of garlic
1/4 cup New Mexico ground red chile* or fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 onion, diced
2 teaspoons oregano
salt to taste

Fill large cooking pot with Red Corn Hominy and water. Cook hominy, covered, over medium heat until kernels burst open and are "al dente" (several hours). Add remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer until meat is tender (2 or 3 hours).

* Not chili powder as used for Texas Chili



These are great recipes, I can vouch for it, except use cilantro in the posole, I mean it.

hot time at viola

A few of us showed up at Viola to sing, but it was terribly hot. The major problem was that Rich had truck trouble and was stuck in Iowa somewhere. That left me and Jerry to sing by ourselves. We carried on tho, and really didn't do too bad. We had a great spot for it, shady and a slight breeze, and sang from about 1:00 to after 4:00. Really, it would have been fun if it hadn't been so godawful hot. Not many people came over, it was probably too hot, and the heat and humidity caused us to eventually lose our voices.
After, Brenda had a good meal for some of us.
I heard from Ellen the other day, and right now she plans to be home sometime around the 11th or 12th, depending on whether she meets me in Taos that weekend.
Don't forget practice friday at Jerry's, and the women's prison saturday, be there at 11:30 or 11:15.