First Nations Legacy - "Papoose"

Before horses and wheeled vehicles, mothers worldwide carried their babies using slings, straps and backpacks. When Europeans arrived on North American shores, however, they had shifted to putting babies in cradles and cribs and not carrying them around as often.

The term papoose is a Narragansett word for child. It is also commonly used to refer to baby carriers, backpacks and cradleboards.

American Indian women today typically keep their babies physically close and have continued many traditional child-rearing practices.

We now see women and men of all races carrying their babies close to them and going about their usual business, whether it’s hiking, shopping, washing the car… or going online to buy next season’s Rockies tickets.

First Nations Legacy - "Calendars"

For those of us who live by our datebooks, time seems to manage us more than we manage our time.

We use the Gregorian calendar, which doesn't track natural cycles like lunar months and change of the seasons. Its original purpose was to mark out the symbolic Christian year.

The Mayan calendar, or the Mayan Count of Days has been in use for over 2,500 years. It's actually a series of interconnected calendars based on planetary movements that projects backward and forward in time, spanning 5,000 years into the past and 3,000 years into the future. There are many cycles in this calendar system and the next major era ends on the Winter Solstice - December 20th in the year 2012. A new era begins on the 21st.

What happens at that time, or why the Count of Days includes a countdown to that particular date is a mystery. The Mayan time systems challenge us to think about how we use our time, and what may come in a new era.

First Nations Legacy - Series Introduction

Misquamicut, Ethete, Chinle...
Opossum, chigger, ipecac, toboggan, hurricane...

These are names and words that define American English and tell the stories of how Europeans adapted to life on this continent.

They learned about new ways of dealing with people, new ways of cooking, sleeping, traveling and governing from the people of the First Nations, and today we carry on their legacy.

During the coming months, we will take a look at the cultural legacy of indigenous Americans.

Join us during News on the Range, weekdays at 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for First Nations Legacy, on KRFC 88.9 FM and on the Web at firstnationsradionews.com.

Moccasin, Oklahoma, maraca, tumpline, potato, anorak, manatee, Canada, alpaca...


Many thanks to Eric Herrera and Price Berryman for their song "Flight of the Hawk," which is featured throughout First Nations Legacy.

First Nations Legacy - "Potlatch"

Imagine inviting your entire neighborhood over for dinner and then letting them take home leftovers… and most of your furniture. That’s the spirit of potlatch.

Many of the tribes of the Northwest coast in the U.S. and Canada have carried on this tradition despite the fact that missionaries once condemned the practice as useless and satanic. Potlatch was banned in the 1800s.

Potlatch is a way to celebrate birth, marriage, death and rites of passage. Families spend time, money and effort to gather things like blankets, horses, canoes and fabric. Giving these things away is an honor.

Most modern tribal gatherings include a version of potlatch, often called a giveaway. Music, dancing, speeches and blessings may be part of the ceremonies.

Potlatch was made legal again in the 1930s after many tribes petitioned the U.S government. They argued it was similar to celebrating Christmas.

The spirit of giving is very much a part of American culture – we are a nation of volunteers and generous contributors.

First Nations Legacy - "OK"

Okay is one of the most commonly recognized phrases around the world – from Japan to Turkey – it is a simple confirmation that everything is alright, there is no trouble and people agree.

The Choctaw people use the phrase Yakoke to say thank you, and it is their word Okeh we use today. Choctaw was the common language of trade east of the Mississippi. And back in the days before written contracts, the word Okeh was a way to end a trade or exchange. It was your promise, too, that you would live up to your side of the deal.

Trading goods also meant trading languages and customs, and okay became a very common word by the early 1800s. Years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed all official papers with the word Okeh.

When you say OK, you give your word. It’s our heritage and a way of doing business we can all profit from.

Yakoke

Celebrating Indigenous Rights and Contributions

Marking an historic achievement for the more than 370 million indigenous peoples worldwide, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13. This declaration is the result of more than two decades of consultation and dialogue among governments and indigenous peoples from all regions.

General Assembly President Haya Al Khalifa noted that by adopting the declaration, the U.N. member nations are making further progress to improve the situation of indigenous peoples worldwide.

Khalifa added that it was also another major step forward towards promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone.

In the western United States, both North Dakota and South Dakota recognize the achievements and contributions of indigenous North Americans with state holidays.

North Dakota will mark its First Nations Day on Friday, October 5. South Dakota celebrates its Native American Day on October 12.

Earlier this summer, I interviewed the former owner and editor of Indian Country Today – Tim Giago. He shared his insights on the creation of South Dakota’s Native American Day... (interview audio no longer available).