Monday PBS: Trail of Tears

Photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn of NativeStock Pictures

WE SHALL REMAIN: Trail of Tears

Monday, April 27, 2009 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)

"The most historically accurate, I think, of any documentaries or telling of this story that I've seen in my lifetime." Actor Wes Studi (Cherokee)

Trail of Tears explores the resolve and resilience of the Cherokee Nation, who resisted removal from their homelands in the Southeast in every way they knew: assimilating, adopting a European-style government and legal system, accepting Christianity, and even taking their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

From director Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals, Skinwalkers) Trail of Tears, the third episode in AMERICAN EXPERIENCE's five-part miniseries, WE SHALL REMAIN, premieres Monday, April 27, 2009 on PBS.

If you missed episodes one or two watch online or on the PBS World digital channel.


Every person has a story. Share yours!

“With 560 federally recognized tribes in the US, it was impossible for us to tell everyone’s story,” says WE SHALL REMAIN executive producer Sharon Grimberg.

If you have Native roots, now it’s your turn to share your experiences through WE SHALL REMAIN's Online Story Sharing tool. It allows Native people across the country to publish video, audio, or written pieces on the Web sites of public media broadcasters in their communities.

Check your local public television station website for details on the WE SHALL REMAIN Story Sharing tool, and help WE SHALL REMAIN to create a more diverse portrait of Native history and contemporary Indian life.

Coming Up Next Week
WE SHALL REMAIN: Geronimo
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 9pm on PBS (check your local listings)

Geronimo takes place at the end of the Indian Wars, near the close of the nineteenth century. Here, desperate times catapulted a controversial character to the leadership of an Apache band. To angry whites, Geronimo was an archenemy, the perpetrator of unspeakable savage cruelties. To some Apaches, he was a stubborn troublemaker whose actions needlessly brought the enemy's wrath upon them. To his supporters, he remained the embodiment of proud resistance, leading the last Native American fighting force to surrender to the United States government.


Native Now: WE SHALL REMAIN on Public Radio

On Monday, April 27, tune in to NPR's Morning Edition a new installment from WE SHALL REMAIN's companion radio series. Hear how, in spite of the horrific suffering inflicted by theTrail of Tears, displaced tribes did survive, and some flourished. Today the Chickasaw Nation confounds the "reservation" stereotype, with good healthcare, education, a strong sense of cultural independence and a thriving economy based only partly on gaming.

Photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn of NativeStock Pictures

PBS: WE SHALL REMAIN

PBS: WE SHALL REMAIN

This is a bulletin to let all the "Friends of Native America" know about a special TV series that started last Monday evening. Astounding accounts, part documentary and part re-enactments, of significant American Indian History across our nation. As an expert on photographing Native America, Marilyn Angel Wynn of Nativestock Pictures said, "so far from what I have seen from this first episode along with other programing clips, the films are all extraordinary and accurate. I highly recommend this series if you have any interest at all in US history and America's First Nations".

This remarkable television premiere on PBS titled "WE SHALL REMAIN" on the American Heritage program. This special 5 part series titled of WE SHALL REMAIN is a provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. The not-to-be-missed episodes and show dates are:

Episode 1 April 13 After the Mayflower
In 1621, the Wampanoag of New England negotiated a treaty with Pilgrim settlers. A half-century later, as a brutal war flared between the English and a confederation of Indians, this diplomatic gamble seemed to have been a grave miscalculation

Episode 2 April 20 Tecumseh's Vision
In the course of his brief and meteoric career, Tecumseh would become one of the greatest Native American leaders of all time, orchestrating the most ambitious pan-Indian resistance movement ever mounted on the North American continent.

Episode 3 April 27 Trail of Tears
Though the Cherokee embraced “civilization” and won recognition of tribal sovereignty in the U.S. Supreme Court, their resistance to removal from their homeland failed. Thousands were forced on a perilous march to Oklahoma.

Episode 4 May 4 Geronimo
As the leader of the last Native American fighting force to capitulate to the U.S. government, Geronimo was seen by some as the perpetrator of unspeakable savage cruelties, while to others he was the embodiment of proud resistance.

Episode 5 May 11 Wounded Knee
In 1973, American Indian Movement activists and residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation occupied the town of Wounded Knee, demanding redress for grievances. As a result of the siege, Indians across the country forged a new path into the future.

photography by: ©Marilyn Angel Wynn

CROW CREEK UPDATE

ALERT!!!!

Please watch this video update about the power utility cut-offs of families, elders and vets living on Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota. This week's weather: low winter temperatures, wind chills and blizzards have been reported

CROW CREEK VIDEO REPORT

Left to right: Photo-assistant Julie Teton, model Leo Teton, photographer Marilyn Angel Wynn, model James Tone

After spending years to photograph hundreds of American Indian tribes throughout North America, it takes dedication, focus and lots of travel. These pictures make up a large photo archive called the Nativestock Collection. Each year I pack up my camera gear and head out to tribal communities. Through research and some scouting, I look for individuals that know their culture, special events, historic exhibits and any other unique photo opportunity found on reservations and traditional homelands. You may have a suggestion about a special event, tourism in your area, people willing to model or for any other reason that I should come to your area. How about being hired as my photo-assistant? I pay individuals a day-rate and models by the hour. No experience necessary. You only need to be familiar with locations in your neck of the woods and know a handful of tribal members that are artisans, elders, leaders and traditionalists of any age. Maybe you have a family member that would like to be hired as a model or assistant. Post a message in the comment area or email me at nativestock@mac.com with your contact info and why you think I should come to your area for a photo-shoot. For some individuals, this opportunity could turn into a career in location scouting, assisting other photographers or a job on local film production. A few States that are on my wish list to photograph a tribal community or reservation are with an assistant for a few days are Kansas, Minnesota, Maine, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Washington and Colorado. I'm open for all areas in Indian Country and I plan to hire an assistant for a few days at each location. If you are a tribal member and interested to work with me as an assistant on one of my photo shoots, or know anyone else that would like this paid opportunity, then send me a note. Tell me a little about your homelands and why you feel it needs to be documented with pictures. Oh and by the way, those interested need to have a good sense of humor to apply for this position.

Target areas and events planned for 2009:

• Seneca, Niagara Falls NY
  
• Mohawk territory, Canada
  
• Ojibwe Tribe, Land of Lakes
  
• Spirit Journey, West Coast
  
• Mescalero Apache, NM
  
• Cayuse, Umatilla, Oregon
  
• Klamath Rez, Oregon
  
• Sioux Artist Ride, South Dakota
  

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Native American NEWSPAPERS

Research Tribal Newspapers and The Web Before You Go

Photography By: ©Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock Pictures

Before visiting an area to photograph, in Indian Country USA, I do the research. One of my main tools for information are tribal newspapers for stories of annual events, new developments and interesting people. I to be a subscriber of many of these weekly's and monthly's. On occasion I've even placed ads in some to hire models or look for an assistant. Now, instead of the printed versions, I go straight to a tribal newspaper's website to search through a wealth of information. Their stories vary from governmental issues to special events all the way down to local gossip on the rez. Photo researchers that call my office looking for images of specific current happenings, which I generally do not have at the time of their request, are directed to a tribal community paper or one of the National Native American circulations. Here's a list with links to many of my favorite websites to gather information.

• Native Radio
• The Navajo Times
• The Cherokee Phoenix
• The Eastern Door
• Lakota Country Times
• ShobanNews
• Shastawind News
• NativeBiz
• Potawatomi Traveling Times
• Indian Country Today
• NativeWeb News
• Turtle Island Native Network
• Navajo/Hopi Observer
• News from Indian Country
• Red Lake News
• Indianz
• Native American Times

Let me know your favorite newspapers or websites that you use. I'd like to hear from you.

The Cherokee Phoenix was one of the first tribal newspapers published in the early 1800's using both english and the Cherokee syllabary language. The Phoenix press was located in New Echota Georgia and began distribution several years before the infamous Trail Of Tears.

Hollywood Movies Indian Style

photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn

As part of my business of Indian Country travel and photography, I'm always in search of historic and contemporary films for entertainment that are primarily based on tribal cultures. Most of the stories are drama based but you will find some genuine Indian humor scattered throughout a couple of scripts. Here's a list I made up of 16 movies (Hollywood-style) that, to various extents, present Native Americans where the script content is realistic and somewhat accurate. They range from feature films where the narrative genre involves reservation life today, historic periods, specific events and includes documentary films. These are movies that I've personally watched and feel that they all, on the most part, provide a respectful image of Native Americans and other Indigenous cultures around the world. This list is in no special order. Many of these films are available at BlockBusters.com where you can view detailed information on each film, such as actors, directors, etc. Sometimes an included plot summary is provided. Suggestions to include other films are welcome.

MOVIES:

• Whale Rider
• Rabbit Proof Fence
• A Man Called Horse
• Last Of The Mohicans
• The Last Of His Tribe: Ishi
• Skins
• Dreamkeeper
• Wardance
• Thief of Time
• Water
• Little Big Man
• Dances With Wolves
• Edge Of America
• Smoke Signals
• End Of The Spear
• Pow Wow Highway

YouTube - "I Support NATV"

YouTube - "I Support NATV"

Native Americans Participate in Obama's Inauguration

Indian participation in Obama’s inauguration takes shape

Photography by: Marilyn Angel Wynn
More pictures at: Nativestock Pictures

The UTTC (United Tribes Technical College) delegation will join a total of 10 American Indian and Alaska Native groups that have been announced so far to appear in the inaugural parade. The parade is one of many inauguration-related activities that will happen Jan. 20 after Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden are sworn in to their new positions. American Indian groups and individuals also plan to have their own inaugural ball and pow wow in Washington, during which they hope to see an appearance by Obama himself.

“I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the inaugural parade,” the incoming president said in a statement. “These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity and commitment to service. Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”

Indigenous groups scheduled to march include members of the Crow Nation of Montana, veteran members of the

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Suurimmanitchuat Eskimo dance group, and members of the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce Tribes. The UTTC delegation will feature members from five more tribes, including the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold, the Spirit Lake Tribe, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. UTTC’s participants will include employees and students who have served in the Armed Forces, as well as singers and dancers using traditional hoop drums. David Gipp, president of the institution, also plans to take part in the historic event. He gave an address focused on tribal colleges and Indian issues at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Presidential Inaugural Committee officials said that invitations were extended to the Native groups in keeping with a

commitment to hold inaugural events that celebrate the country’s common values and reflect the diversity and history of the nation.

Longfeather, who served in Operation Desert Storm, is not only coordinating UTTC’s participation, he’s also going to be in the parade. “I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around all this,” said Longfeather, who is looking forward to seeing progress on Indian issues under Obama’s leadership. “It’s just such an honor.”

Robert Old Horn, executive assistant to the Crow Nation Chairman Carl Venne, said that tribal members had long been interested in being part of the parade, especially after the Crow’s adopted Obama into the tribe when he visited the reservation on May 19. During that campaign visit, he was given a Crow name, which translates to “One who helps people throughout the land.” Members of the family that adopted Obama were special guests of his at the DNC. Old Horn said that Crow Nation parade participants will ride painted horses single file, while wearing special traditional regalia. “We want to celebrate and support not only the President of the United States of America, but also celebrate with one of our own,” Old Horn said. “We feel very humbled, but also proud that we will be able to come forward with our support.” “The chairman would like to take everybody he can,” Old Horn added. “But we can only take so many, and that’s the hard part.” Twenty-four members are currently scheduled to be part of the Crow contingent.

The Oneida Nation Veterans Color Guard of Wisconsin, which hosted members of the Medal of Honor Association in 2007, plans to feature a five-person group of veteran members marching in the parade. “We’re looking forward to this,” Kerry Metoxen, director of the Oneida Nation veterans department, told local media outlets after learning of the tribe’s invitation to march. “This is great news.”

The parade is open to the public, and will take place down Pennsylvania Avenue following Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol. Tickets are not required to attend the celebration, which will also be televised. More information about attending is available at http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/InaugParade.htm.

An Inheritance Of Arrowheads

A Purpose in Life...To Photograph Tribal Nations

It all began when I inherited a few ancient stone tools and arrowheads. That was when the moment when I dreamed up this awesome career, at least for me anyway. This self-created job description was to "specialize and photograph American Indian culture's for the who's who in publishing".

Now after several years of travel to document Native America, reading hundreds of books and speaking with a variety of tribal elders, I dreamed of another project. Through much research, I came across many inspirational speeches from tribal members past and present who eloquently spoke of their spiritual philosophy on living.

In fact, this obsession with photographing American Indian tribes and to read their leaders quotes, inspired me so deeply that I set out to self-published a book. Titled 'Voice of the Spirit: Words of Wisdom From Indian Country USA' this photo book was designed to include my own personal selection of 100 of my favorite photographs I've had the honor to capture along with snippets of meaningful quotes so eloquently spoken by Native people recorded throughout post-contact.

Here is a small sample of photographs and exerpts from my book 'Voice of the Spirit'.

"Knowledge is inherent in all things. The world is a library" -Chief Standing Bear

"When you see a new trail, or a footprint you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing" -Uncheedah

"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself" -Chief Seattle

NEW YEARS '09 GOAL #1

©Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock.com

Friends of Native America Group members list has surprisingly grown in the last few months. A big THANK YOU to all of you and your caring. This group is for people of tribal heritage and for those who are passionate to learn about Native American culture. We are here to network together to help protect sacred sites, promote economic development and recommend travel destinations throughout Indian Country through photography and stories. My big goal this year is to keep you members up-to-date on tribal culture, people and up-coming events. This will enable all of us to help out in some way or another, small or large. Through our networking, donations to coat drives, food drives, emergency aid, voluntary contributions or even just your time to write the odd letter are all very helpful. If any of you hear of any specific news from Indian Country that may be of interest to other members then I invite you to leave a comment. May our networking through Friends of Native America bring us all new and exciting opportunities for 2009. Kindly share any meaningful goals that you are hoping to achieve this year.