slow time

Sorry my posts have been slow, first the holiday weekend, and then I got sick. I'm better now, and I'll try to get things up more often.
It's kind of a slow time right now, with not a lot coming up for the group. We do have the men's prison powwow Dec. 17, there may be a few more people going in with us this time.
We've been having some great practices, with a lot of energy and a lot of fun. Mostly we've been concentrating on getting ready for Hamilton in January. Jerry got the info on hotels for us, it looks like people are choosing a motel in Nauvoo. If you want to stay over saturday night, get hold of Jerry.
I think we're about ready for it, we should have no problem doing all needed songs, but we're going to keep working.
Jerry has a cell phone now, get hold of me or Ellen or Joe if you need the number.
Katie was in Arkansas over the holiday, visiting relatives. Hope she had a good time, we look forward to seeing her back at practice.
My sister Dinah had her first chemo session today, I'm sure she would love to hear from anybody who wants to call her.
I'm going to start getting some more legends, books, etc. up again soon.
Also, I just got DSL, so it should be easier to get pictures up now. Send any you want to see here.

happy thanksgiving

We had a great powwow at the womens prison last saturday. We were short on people, but not on spirit. The ladies were there for us, like always.
Don't forget practice friday, we really need it, we have to be strong for Hamilton in january.
I hear a lot of bad things about thanksgiving, it's not our holiday, all that.
But this whole idea of the pilgrems (they stole everything, look it up) was just added on to an idea, giving thanks to whatever we believe in for what we have. The rest of the year we can complain about what we don't have.
Just this one day, let's all get together and thank the creator for what has been given to us.

Winter is on it's way

It sure got cold here today, I guess we have to expect that, thanksgiving is just around the corner. Speaking of thanksgiving, we didn't get as many requests to perform as usual, but we will be at a cub pack meeting the 30th in Kewanee. I don't have directions now, but Jerry or Ellen can tell you, and I will try to get them up here. We go on at 6:00 pm, be there early.
We have the women's prison powwow this saturday, be there by 11:30 or so. The men's prison is Dec. 16th.
Jerry has been in contact with the people running the dance in Hamilton in January, it looks good. There probably won't be another drum, so we have to work hard.
Speaking of Jerry, his wife got a job at the arsenal, so they found a house up by Milan and he stays up there most of the time now. We still have tuesday practice at his house in Abingdon, though. I don't have a phone number for their new place, but I will get it as soon as I can. If you can't get hold of him, try me or Ellen.
Richard seems a lot better now, he was going to try to go back to work this monday.
I don't remember whether I have mentioned this, but it looks like Genie and Richard Herbert will not be running the New Windsor powwow any more. I guess it's really gone this time.
As far as I know, we will have practice the friday after thanksgiving.
See everyone then.

Great war dance

Not much happening with the group. Don't forget practice tommorrow night and the women's prison powwow the 18th.
Most of you know I went up to my society ( White Bear) war dance ( man's dance) last weekend. It was a great dance. One of the water carriers didn't show up, so our Nudohanga chose me to take his place.
This is quite an honor, tho a lot of work. We didn't gt to take breaks, but that is what it is all about. I will be crowing about this for a while.
The drum was fantastic, Eli Warrior was head singer, probably for the last time (his diabetes is catching up, he's almost blind), Earl Fenner was there, Sterling Big Bear, Doc (I can't remember his name, everyone calls him Doc, he was with the Indian Health Service for years, he was close to Harry Buffaoehead and saved Amelia Warrior's life), Rex Reddick (he owns Crazy Crow), and a whole bunch of great singers, men and women.
Brenda showed up to support me (thanks bunches, Brenda), and some of the women singers were the same ones she sang with for Tim Tiyeh earlier this year.
A great dance.
I know elections don't usually help natives, but I just saw this, for what it's worth, the probable new chair of the House resource committe, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, said this:

"As Resources chairman, I will maintain NEPA, end royalty holidays in the
OCS and giveaways under the Mining Law of 1872, prioritize the reclamation
of abandoned coal mines and miners, advance Native American health care, and
tackle territorial issues such as political self determination," said Rahall
in a statement delivered to E&E Daily yesterday.

We'll see.

great party

First I'd like to apologize for the wrong date for the women's prison last post. I corrected it, but it's the 18th, not the 11th. Sorry.
We had a great party at Dinah's house saturday, lot's of people, lots of food, lots of fun. I won't try to list everybody there because there were so many, including a few we haven't seen for a while. Margo set up a traditional Cherokee wedding for Sue and Leon, which was quite a different thing for our parties (I'm cherokee, and I knew nothing about this. Oh Well). The Black Fox drum set up, and we sang a prayer song for them, then we sang the wedding song. We didn't do bad considering we hadn't sang it for years. Richard had a song he made for them, but he was ill and wasn't there (more later) so we couldn't sing it.
After that we started a fire and roasted hot dogs and had lots of other food (I mean LOTS of other food!) Later we sang some more songs, and just had a good time. All in all, a great party. I know Dinah was really happy.
About Richard, he was home, flat on his back. Seems he hurt his back at work, plus had an abcessed tooth, plus a bad cold. As of tuesday, he was still home from work, but was going to therapy. Richard, we all missed you, we hope you get better real soon.
I'm headed up to the White Bear war dance this weekend, I'll let you all know about it later, here or on my personal blog.
Not much coming up, the womens prison in a couple of weeks, then the mens in december. We are back to friday night practice, starting the 10th. See you there.