American Indian Tourism Conference

Photos and Story by Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock.com

Nearly 57 million international travelers are expected to visit the USA in 2011. Why shouldn’t Indian Country locations compete for a slice of the pie with destinations like Disneyland, Las Vegas and Niagara Falls. Tourism brings economic development to many communities, creating new jobs and extra revenue. Through culture, history, recreation and landscapes Native American Tourism has so much to offer guests.

Located in the misty cedar forest along the Pacific Northwest are the homelands of the Tulalip Tribe who hosted the 12^th annual American Indian & Alaska Native Tourism (AIANTA) conference. Over 230 tribal members and travel specialists showed-up to be introduced to Coast Salish culture and hospitality. The AIANTA event was held at Tulalip Casino Resort Hotel and Convention Center, voted as Washington State’s favorite casino.

AIANTA is a nonprofit association of Native American tribes and tribal businesses organized in 1999 to promote Indian Country tourism. The Association is made up of member tribes from six regions: Eastern, Plains, Midwest, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. The purpose of the Association is to serve as the voice and resource for it’s constituents in marketing tourism, providing training and educational resources to Tribal members, and serving as the liaison between Indian Country and governmental and private entities for the development, growth, and sustenance of Indian Country tourism.

The theme of this years AIANTA conference was “Voices and Visions of Indian Country”. Attendees were there to absorb all that was offered like keynote addresses, breakout sessions and mobile workshops. Conference gatherers also spent a good deal of time consulting one-on-one with representatives from government offices of Secretary of State, Federal Parks, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Small Business Association. Evening entertainment included a dessert reception with hip-hop artist Casper, a welcome reception with traditional Coast Salish songs and an after hours Karaoke session.

Visitors to the Tulalip tribe’s exclusive resort are emerged into a pleasing environment that strongly displays Coast Salish culture. Eye-catching artwork of totem poles, wood-carvings, glasswork and well displayed artifacts have been installed everywhere. During a speech, Derrick Jones representing the Yavapai Nation, described the amazing showers as, "the water spraying out from the wall made me feel like a salmon swimming through a strong ocean current.”

Artisan and vendor booths that specialize on Indian Country travel and destinations were set up throughout the hotel's convention area. The Suquamish tribe sponsored an Internet zone available for attendees to stay in contact with associates, clients and family. Small groups converged in quiet sitting areas that offered privacy for extended discussion and exchange contact information in-between break out sessions that ran simultaneously throughout each day.

Next year’s AIANTA conference on American Indian tourism will be hosted by the Yavapai Apache from the Southwest Region in Fountain Hills Arizona. For more information go to www.aianta.org

Native Wisdom Beauty Products

Story and Photography by Marilyn Angel Wynn

Generally I don't endorse products, especially on my blog. Except for now, I'll make an exception and mention Native Wisdom Beauty. I'm using some of their products and have been delighted to see real results.

Last fall I was in Denver for a family reunion. Through Facebook, I connected with FB friend Jennifer Wolf, a Ponca tribal member and Herbal Research Chemist. At that time my company, Native Stock Pictures, was interested in photographing Native American business owners. She volunteered as her profession was a research chemist who had been employed with the FDA (Food & Drug Administration). She also owned a small home-based business with a line of beauty products.

After we wrapped up our photo shoot, Jennifer gave me a few samples of her skincare products. She placed inside my camera bag a nice sized tin of Honeysuckle Body Butter and a bottle of her Blueberry Body Wash. It wasn't until I flew back home, unpacked when I began using her gifts daily. A few weeks later, I realized how my dry skin was improving. Scented with lovely flowery fragrances, I craved healthy living each time I used the delicious smelling cream or soap.

Jennifer's story is a familiar one today. Even though she had a prestigious career with the FDA, Jennifer dreamed to be a 'stay at home' mom. To financially help with the transition, Jennifer teamed up with her sisters to create Native Wisdom products. "As Native Americans, it was important to us to look to Mother Earth for answers on how to create natural products safe enough for a baby, but exquisite enough for the whole family" explained Wolf. All three sisters agreed to only use the finest potions used by indigenous cultures around the world.

Native Wisdom skincare products are all formulated with ingredients such as acai and blueberry extract, shea butter with honey and chamomile. Basically, anything that is good enough to eat! Native Wisdom Beauty combines traditional indigenous herbalogy with the latest in break-through technology to create sumptuous products. Did I mention my own itchy dry crepe skin? It's starting to take on the look of it's plump youthful self again. After summer, my feet resemble #1 sandpaper and feel like that of a bristle pad. When I started to rub them with Native Wisdom's non-greasy body butter each night I was surprised at the outcome.

You are probably as skeptical as I would be reading this. It's just that these results are for real. The products work. BTW, except for the first gift samples during our photo shoot, I've not received any endorsements what-so-ever! I just think that a wonderful natural product should be shared with other consumers. Another plus is that a portion of online sales benefit the American Indian College Fund.

I'd be interested to know if any of you are already using these fabulous skincare products. Or if you start using any of the lotions or soaps by Native Wisdom then fill me in on your results. I know that I'll be ordering more from Native Wisdom soon.

Children: Keepers of Tradition

Here's a 5 minute multimedia video titled " Children: Keepers of Tradition" produced by Angel Wynn of NativeStock Pictures.
Native Stock Pictures is now a full service multimedia provider. Using colorful Native American Indian photographs and stock footage with quality sound to create short productions for websites, business and education needs. "Because of recent web content demands and my original background in the film industry," comments Wynn, "it's a real natural to produce programs using stock photos and footage from my archives."
NativeStock's specialty niche is documenting America's First Nations. NativeStock's summer shooting schedule has a heavy lineup of events that include traditions, demonstrations, languages and more. Share your ideas and suggestions with Wynn by contacting her at angel@nativestock.com. In the meantime, enjoy this latest slide show "Children: Keepers of Tradition."

VIEW VIDEO HERE:

The Rainbow Boy

Here's a film project that I feel and care deeply about. I'm a backer and hope that you will donate a little something too once you watch this trailer.

THE RAINBOW BOY MOVIE INTRO TRAILER


Norman Patrick Brown is an independent Navajo filmmaker making a movie about his people with a universal message about the human relationship to Mother Earth. What began as a "short video story" has blossomed into an independent feature film with inspiring acting performances by new Navajo actors, and wonderful technical production values. This movie is a co-production between Brown's company REZWOOD ENTERTAINMENT and 220-PRODUCTIONS.

With your help we can make this feature film a reality. I hope you will join me in contributing to THE RAINBOW BOY film project. Donations start at $15. If you make one for $25 then you will receive a film credit. For a $50 or more donation you will receive a DVD, location tours and much more, depending on how high you contribute.

The Rainbow Boy is an allegorical tale about the consequences of loss of culture and human devastation of planet earth. The story tells about an ancient Navajo warrior, Eagle Catcher, who enters a sacred cave despite an ancient prophecy that warns against entering the cave. Eagle Catcher is transported to the future, which is our own present day USA, where he sees and lives the prophetic devastation of modern humans. His arrival profoundly affects young Ozzie Yazzie, a modern Navajo punk kid struggling to understand his own identity and culture.

As of March 2010, there are five more days of principle photography to be completed, which includes locations in Gallup, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Funds derived through Kickstarter will pay for the final five days, and also go towards the final editing and completion of the original score and soundtrack of The Rainbow Boy.

The goal of the producers of THE RAINBOW BOY is to seek and acquire distribution for the International European and American audiences. As of this writing the film has one American and two international distribution companies interested in distributing THE RAINBOW BOY, but first the producers must finish the film. The movie will be premiered in the five different agencies of the Navajo Nation, and Gallup, New Mexico. Other plans include a grassroots tour of Europe, Native American communities, and film festivals.

2010 Census Important For Native Americans

WHY THE 2010 CENSUS IS IMPORTANT TO ALL AMERICAN INDIANS

Photographs by:

Marilyn Angel Wynn / Nativestock.com

Should I Identify as Native American in the 2010 Census?

Any US citizen can. Even if you are of another race.

It is absolutely critical that all “non-enrolled” Native Americans, and those people that can prove lineal descent from a Native American ancestor, self-identify as “Native American in Combination with One or More Races” when completing their 2010 Census questionnaires! Get the message out – pass this along to your family members and other Indian friends.

Results of the 2000 Census
For the first time ever, the 2000 Census measured “Native Americans in Combination with One or More Races,” That number totaled 4,119,301. The number of Americans that reported themselves “Native Alone” was 2,475,956 (these are considered predominantly enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. The difference between these two numbers equals 1,643,345. This is significant because this 1,643,345 represents the number of persons that self-identified as “mixed-blood”

It must be pointed out that the 2000 Census was “flawed” - in that it did not provide a method to distinguish what percentage of the 1,643,345 were enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe that chose to identify using this category only. However, it is generally accepted that the vast majority of these (perhaps exceeding 90%) are “non-enrolled” members of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

Many of them are likely to be direct lineal descendents of an “enrolled” member that do not qualify under tribal membership policies that impose a “Content of Degree of Indian Blood” (CDIB) requirement, yet they feel strongly tied to their Indian ancestral heritage. (Example: The great-grandchildren of a ‘full-blood’ Indian will not meet a 25% CDIB).

The 2010 Census will correct this flaw to obtain accurate measures. This is due to the importance these numbers have related to funding formulas directly linked to the federally recognized tribes.

Reasons for Self-Identifying as Mixed Blood Indian in 2010
There are several reasons why “non-enrolled” Native Americans, and those people that can prove lineal descent from a Native American ancestor, should self-identify as Mixed Blood Indians:

1. The 2010 Census can accurately enumerate the number of mixed blood Indians in America that still feel strongly linked to their Native American ancestry.

2. It can be used as an indicator that identifies “unmet need” for the Native American population that is “not served” or “underserved.”

How will this benefit Mixed Blood Indians in the United States? The Census is the single most important event in America that drives all Federal “Formula” and “Need-Based” funding decisions for the next 10-year period. Mixed bloods must not miss this opportunity to document the need! Various American Indian organizations will use these Census 2010 figures over the next 10 years to apply for charitable services and grant programs to meet the needs of non-enrolled Mixed blood Indians. While most federal dollars are earmarked only for use by ‘federally recognized’ tribes – there remains millions of dollars that are “set-aside” to serve Native American Indians that live off reservations. These funding opportunities are made available to “organizations that serve Native Americans.”

· Housing, housing assistance, and homeless programs.
· Education and education assistance projects.
· Economic assistance and employment assistance programs.
· Scholarly cultural and heritage research about the Metis Nation.
· Health and wellness, substance abuse, and social justice funding.
· Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business financing loans.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE 2010 CENSUS

· Identify as Native American in Combination with One or More Races
· Get the word out quickly – pass this website link along


PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITIONS:
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-stop-native-american-discrimination
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/federal-recognition-for-chickamauga-cherokee-indian-creek-band

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cherokeeheritageNA?e

Photography: ©Nativestock.com/Marilyn Angel Wynn

Origins of Native American Beadwork

Before contact with European civilization, Native Americans were making beautiful objects decorated with natural materials obtained from their own area or through trade. Trade routes crossed the Americas and extended to the Caribbean Islands, giving access to a variety of material: shell, metals, semi-precious stones, bone, ivory, porcupine quills and feathers, to name some of the most common trade items. Beads, painstakingly made from bone and shell, had many uses including breastplates and wampum.

The arrival of explorers and traders from Europe changed the materials Native Americans used, as well as influencing traditional patterns. The Spanish, English, Dutch and French offered glass beads as gifts and used as currency in trade. Native Americans quickly adopted the new material, incorporating glass beads into traditional patterns. Although the first traders offered the finest beads they could get, including amber, glass and faceted chevron beads, soon the Native Americans were asking for beads in specific materials, colors and shapes.

Most of these early beads came from the glass factories of Murano near Venice Italy and a few came from France and the Netherlands. Venetian beads had softer colors than the brighter glass beads made in Bohemia (Czech Republic) that were introduced to the American Indians in the 19th Century. Both the new colors and the more uniform size of the Czech beads appealed to Native American beaders. This resulted in a decline in the use of Venetian beads.

Because the dominant European culture and religion discouraged traditional practices and beliefs, Native Americans began to incorporate traditional concepts into their beadwork. For example, Arctic tribes transformed tattoo patterns into elaborately beaded parkas; Northeast tribes replicated their wampum designs; across the Great Plains certain colors and patterns came to have significant meanings.

As glass beads spread across North America, each tribe used them to express their own patterns and traditions. Today, bead artists borrow beading techniques and patterns from each other. Many create new beadwork patterns based on tribal culture and traditions. Many examples of old style beadwork can be found in museums. While many contemporary designs can be found on ceremonial regalia adorned on traditional dancers attending pow wows today.

Photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock.com