Native American Studies Northern Michigan University 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette, Michigan 49855 an EO Institution
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Anishinaabe News c/o Center for Native American Studies Northern Michigan University 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette, Michigan 49855 An EO Institution Fall 2012 Volume 8, Issue 2 12th annual First Nations Food Taster By Ariel Dennis The 12th annual First Nations Food Taster was held on Novem- ber 9 at the D.J. Jacobetti Complex. Over 250 total tickets were sold for this two hour event, which was hosted by the Native American Student Association (NASA), and featured a variety of Native American cuisine. Several recipes from the Decolo- nizing Diet Project were included in this year’s menu, such as venison/bison meatloaf, turkey pumpkin soup, and maple fla- vored great northern beans. These new dishes allowed those who attended a chance to sample some of the Indigenous foods of our region, along with standard favorites like fry bread and Volunteers Anna Lang, Josh Lesage, Ariel Dennis, Shelby Segerstrom, three sisters casserole. The combination led some to comment and Justin Lukowicz preparing maple sugared pecans. that this was the best food taster yet. Not including members of NASA or the staff of the Center for Native American Studies, there were at least Native American Studies - Winter 2013 69 volunteers who signed in, either during the three days of preparation or at the event itself. There were many eager faces and helping hands in the kitchen and out in the main dining area, and our volunteers jumped right in with whatever they were asked to do. It was great seeing so many students working together in the kitchen. There are still open seats! NASA would like to say chi-miigwech to all the volunteers who helped out at this event! Your hard work was greatly appreciated and made the event a success. We hope to see you again at our upcoming events. The proceeds from this event will help to fund the Learning to Walk Together traditional powwow. NAS 101 - Anishinaabe Language, Culture and Community I NAS 102 - Anishinaabe Language, Culture and Community II You can contribute Inside this Issue to the Anishinaabe News! NAS 207b - Winter Experience - Anishinaabe Language Author Joseph Bruchac Do you like to write? NAS 342 - Indigenous Environmental Movements * First Nations Films Take photos? Draw cartoons? NAS 486 - American Indian Educational Law and Leadership * Or… Native Month Workshops do you have an opinion? NAS 488 - Native American Service Learning Project * Decolonizing Diet Panel Be a part of the Nish News team and * build your resume while sharing your Louis Erdrich’s Award- opinions and knowledge of Native issues. Visit www.nmu.edu/nativeamericans or call 906-227-1397 Winning Novel * Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac plays the drum during Call Gabe at 906-227-1397 for more information. his reading and performance on November 8. And much more Learn more about his visit and other Native American Heritage to find out how. Month activities in this issue. 2 Anishinaabe News Anishinaabe News 15 Continued from page 11 - “My favorite Nene” Award-winning Author Joseph Bruchac Visits NMU Town.’ Small things like being served “Skins” and “Smoke Signals” Reviews hemlock tea to calm down, or the By Gabe Waskiewicz Native American Studies has been he once met the now mythic figure ‘knot wood’ story, to more extrava- By Christine Knudson Smoke Signals (1998) is based on a One of the highlights of this year’s working on in recent years, includ- during his own childhood, at time gant tales of his Catholic school mis- The Story of Skins (2002) centers on book written by Sherman Alexie Native Month was Joseph Bruchac’s ing the Decolonizing Diet Project when he didn’t yet grasp the impor- adventures. I relish the days when he two brothers on the Pine Ridge called The Lone Ranger and Tonto visit to NMU’s campus on Novem- (DDP) and the production of the tance of who he was meeting. He has time to sit and tell me stories Indian Reservation. The movie was Fistfight in Heaven. The film was ber 8. The award-winning author anthology, Voice on the Wa- also told a couple while we drive around town together. directed by Chris also directed by Chris Eyre and stars held two presentations in the after- ter: Great Lakes Native of traditional sto- Whether it be about jumping out two Eyre and stars Eric Adam Beach as Victor Joseph and noon, the first dealing with Native America Now. ries that kept the story windows to run away from abu- Schweig as Rudy Evan Adams as Tho- foods and cultures while the second The work being done with younger audience sive nuns, or when my Granny lady Yellow Ridge, a mas. Thomas was described some of the methods for the DDP tied in nicely with members on the makes his drunken friend ‘Duwop’ tribal cop and Gra- saved from a house fire sleep in the garage because he clogs reading and teaching Native Ameri- his own presentation on edge of their seats, ham Greene as his by Victor’s father, Ar- the toilets. Stories of when he first can literature. He then gave a spell- Native cultures and foods, while at the same older brother, nold. Both of Tho- binding reading and presentation met my Granny lady in high school. I Mogie Yellow mas’s parents perished in which he focused on the time teaching a miss just sitting with him, even when that evening. All three sessions were Ridge. Mogie suf- in the fire, so he was relationship between Native moral lessons for we don’t talk. free to the public, and those who cultures and stories and the young and old fers from alcoholism. Their parents raised by his grand- My Buppa is so wise, I don’t know were alcoholics as well. Alcohol is were able to attend were treated to a Indigenous foods that have Joe Bruchac playing Native flute alike. The per- mother. After a dispute what I would do if he weren’t there to banned from the Pine Ridge Indian truly masterful storyteller. By blend- sustained Native Americans formance left one guide me. He is my reason for coming with Victor’s mother, Arnold leaves Reservation, but this doesn’t stop its ing his vast knowledge of Native in the past, and hopefully will again NMU English professor to call the to college, for pursuing my dreams. his family. Ten years later, Victor inhabitants from getting it; they sim- American culture and traditions in the future. During the presenta- author, “a true renaissance man.” He never had the chance to, so I am finds out his father passed away in with his own personal experience, tion, Bruchac described how After each session, the always doing it for him. I am the first person ply go out of town to buy their alco- Phoenix, Arizona. At first, Victor Bruchac weaved together the educa- “Indigenous plants for centuries, gracious and hospitable author made in my family to go to college in I hol. Rudy becomes fed up with the doesn’t know how he is going to get tional with an entertaining and longer, have sure to take time to have pictures don’t know how many generations, way life is on the reservation when a to Phoenix, until Thomas offers to mix of allusions and side taken care of taken with audience members and and it may not have been that way body is discovered. This causes him pay his way there. The only catch in stories to keep audiences human beings in sign copies of his books for them. without him. We talk of someone get- to become a masked vigilante of a the proposition—Victor has to take mesmerized. the Americas.” This day of cultural revival will ting an education to make him seem sort, letting him bring his own idea Thomas with him. Smoke Signals is Bruchac, who began pub- Native people have stand out in the memory of those smarter. It is useless; he is the smart- of justice to those who have done both funny and emotional all while lishing in 1971, is the author “a 7,000 year lucky enough to have attended for est, strongest, sweetest nene I have wrong. One night, Rudy decides to tackling themes such as family, alco- of more than 120 books that history of using some time to come. ever known. I guess what I am trying set the liquor store on fire just out- holism, friendship, and growing up reflect his Abenaki Indian corn,” with beans to say is I am extremely thankful for side of the reservation. Little did on the reservation. heritage and Native American and squash being my Buppa. Miigwitch Buppa, I will Rudy know Mogie was inside. The traditions. In addition to his used for a couple be home soon. film tackles themes such as alcohol These two films were presented abuse, domestic violence, family, during Native American Heritage Month books, the author’s poems, of thousand years by the Multicultural Education articles and stories have also less. This long and the harsh realities of life on the and Resource Center. Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. appeared in over 500 publica- Author Joseph Bruchac performs. history of using tions. This prolific list of these foods has led creative works has helped earn him them to being named “the three sis- such honors as the Lifetime ters,” and they remain a vital source Local Native artist to Create Enhanced City of Marquette Pins Achievement Award from the Na- of sustenance among Native people From Marquette City Manager Bill Vajda tive Writers' Circle of the Ameri- everywhere to this day.