MN Native News: “Bowwow Powwow” Released

HEADLINES: Marie: This week on Minnesota Native News:

A new children’s book written by Brenda J Child, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder, and translated into Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain, has hit the shelves.

This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.

STORY 1 AND ONLY:
HOST (Marie): The book, BOWWOW POWWOW, is a celebration of storytelling, dreams, and Ojibwe language through the eyes of Windy Girl and her trusted dog, Itchy Boy.

Here’s Leah Lemm with the story.

SOUND:
Leah: Windy Girl and Itchy Boy knew that Uncle’s pickup truck was the best place for stories. Windy especially like to hear about the powwow. Sometimes Uncle remembered things from when he was a boy.

Child: Look at! What’s that?

Leah: That is a big piece of fry bread that he’s eating! (:20)

REPORTER: That was me reading BOWWOW POWWOW to my four-year-old son. He was enchanted by the colorful illustrations and the dog, Itchy Boy, who was barking at everything in sight.

The author, Brenda Child, is a professor of American Studies and American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota. Full disclosure, she is now also an Auntie of mine.

Brenda Child is the author of several books, but her recent book project has combined her knowledge of history and her personal history to reach people of all ages and backgrounds.

CHILD: When I was growing up, I was very close to my uncle who was the person who gave me my Indian name. And I noticed that my daughter has a similarly strong relationship with her uncle today. Windy Girl is probably somewhat of a hybrid between me and my daughter.

REPORTER: Windy Girl spends times with her dog Itchy Boy and her Uncle… while riding around in Uncle’s mint green pickup truck… while ice fishing and… while at the powwow.

Windy Girl has a dream about all the dancers at the powwow, big and small, old and young, and from many tribes.

CHILD: Native people and native children will see themselves, I hope as they read and look at the beautiful illustrations in BOWWOW POWWOW, but also for folks unfamiliar with powwow traditions, I think it also introduces children to the various styles of dancing and it introduces them to the powwow as well. So I think there's something in the book for everybody. (:28)
REPORTER: BOWWOW POWWOW includes a telling of the story in the Ojibwe language, translated by Lac La Croix First Nation member and first-speaker, Gordan Jourdain.

CHILD: We wanted this book to be accessible to all the parents out there working in Ojibwe language with their children, but also all the efforts in schools in the Great Lakes where people are wanting materials like this to use with young children.

REPORTER: The illustrations in Bowwow Powwow are particularly vibrant and nuanced with Ojibwe and Native culture. Award winning artist and Duluth resident Jonathan Thunder was approached by Brenda Child and by Minnesota Historical Society Press, the publisher of the book.

I caught up with Jonathan Thunder at the Macrostie Art Center in Grand Rapids, MN, where his work is currently on display. (You could cut this if short for time)

THUNDER: We sort of lined up because she's got the Red Lake background and she’s a world traveler herself. I think her writing style and my drawing style really synced up. A lot of my work has to do with dreams and spirituality, so the fact that Windy Girl has a dream… I love a dream sequences.

REPORTER: Both Brenda Child and Jonathon Thunder are citizens of Red Lake, which is also evident in the artwork… one can see Red Lake Nation flags and license plates throughout the book.

THUNDER: In order to feel confident signing onto this project, I had to do a lot of research of the powwow culture, I drew from a lot from memory stuff, the scenes where Windy Girl’s in the pickup with her uncle and riding on the Rez road and uh, getting chased by dogs… and just various little nuances that go into the outer ring powwow setting.

REPORTER: Particular items of note include illustrations of Anna Gibbs ice fishing and Amik Larry Smallwood as the powwow emcee, both of whom were Ojibwe language carriers and passed away in the last couple years.

More information about Jonathon Thunder and his work can be found at THUNDER FINE ART DOT COM.

The book launch for BOWWOW POWWOW takes place June 9th at Birchbark Books in Minneapolis.

SOUND:
Leah: That night Windy Girl understood the powwow is always in motion, part old and part new, glittering and plain, but still wonderful, almost like a dream.

Child: Almost like a dream… Bowwow Powwow.

For Minnesota Native News, I’m Leah Lemm.

Minnesota Native News: A Year of Firsts

HEADLINES: This week on Minnesota Native News - Prairie Island Indian Community vies for 40-million dollars for renewable energy projects, tribes come together to support Native health and Hopkins School District American Indian Ed. has a year of firsts.

Story #1- Prairie Island Net Zero Project
The Prairie Island Indian Community may receive 40 million dollars from the state legislature for renewable energy projects.

Reporter Melissa Townsend gives us the details.

The Prairie Island Indian community is a Dakota community in southern Minnesota.

Shelley Buck, President of the Tribal Council, says they’ve been talking about developing renewable energy sources - like wind and solar - for a long time.

BUCK: Back when we first started talking about it, everything was so expensive, because it was so new. And we were like well, we just can’t really do it right and we’ll try and figure it out later. (:09)

Well now may finally be the time.

[The Omnibus Job Growth and Energy Affordability Bill (HF 4289)]
A bill in the state legislature includes 40-million dollars for Prairie Island to develop renewable energy sources on the reservation.

Buck says the money could help the Dakota community become net zero — meaning they would generate as much energy on the reservation as they use.

BUCK: We can become one of the first net zero tribal nations in the country. (:04)

Now there’s an interesting story behind this 40 million dollar grant.

The money comes from a deal the state struck with Xcel Energy about nuclear waste.

Back in 1994, the state mandated the company contribute millions of dollars each year to a state fund.

In exchange, Xcel energy is allowed to store nuclear waste on the grounds of its 2 nuclear power plants - one in Monticello and one in Prairie Island.

The money has been granted to Xcel customers who want to develop renewable energy projects.

Even though the Prairie Island Indian reservation is less than a mile away from the Xcel nuclear facility — the tribe was not eligible to apply for hte money.

Again, Tribal President Shelly Buck:

BUCK: We are not Xcel customers. We are Dakota Electric customers. (:03)

But last year the tribe successfully lobbied the legislature to change the law so they could apply for the funds.

BUCK: We were not happy with the bill last year and we were like if this is the way it’s going to go through, then we need to be included as well. (:07)

And this year they have submitted their first proposal.

BUCK: Xcel is literally 600 yards away from us and we are the ones that shoulder the majority of the risks from the plant, so it’s good that we are finally going to get something out of it. (:12)

Buck says the community has some ideas, but the tribal council is working with consultants to identify specific projects where wind and solar will be suitable.

The bill has a few more hurdles but if granted, the money will be dispersed to the community over the next 5 years.

For Minnesota Naive News, I’m Melissa Townsend.

#2 - Hopkins
This is a big year of firsts for the American Indian education in the suburban Hopkins School District.

In 2016 the state legislature allocated more funds for American Indian education in districts across Minnesota.

As a result, this year, the Hopkins Public School district hired its first American Indian Education Coordinator…

organized its first American Indian Parent Advisory Committee…

And this month - the district will host is First Annual American Indian Culture Celebration.

Allegra Snistik [Smee-sheck] says the idea came from the new American Indian parent group.

SNISTIK: They made the point that how can we better support he cultural identity of our students and that that was what was missing and what was needed as a priority. (:13)

Snistik {Smee-sheck] says the event will start with an elder’s blessing, and a feast.

There will also be arts activities, vendor booths and free books for families by regional Native authors.

The event is at the Hopkins High School on Saturday May 19th from noon to 3 P-M.

#3 - Race
The Ho Chunk Nation, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community are teaming up to support a 5k run later this month.

DULONG: The name is XXX. That’s a Ho Chunk phrase which means taking back our health or reclaiming our health. (:09)

Danielle Dulong has been organizing this annual 5k race since 2012.

The first race had 40 American Indian families participate.

But last year, there were nearly 500 people in the race.

And this year there are already 400 signed up to take part.

DULONG: It’s definitely a site to see American Indians united and reclaiming their health. doing something positive as families and as a community, being active and acting towards health. (:11)

The 5K race is on May 24th at lake Phalen Regional park in St Paul.

Along with the tribes, a number of St Paul American Indian lead organizations are also supporting the event.

Minnesota Native News: Ogichidaa Robotics Competes

INTRO: This week on Minnesota Native News, the robotics team from White Earth’s Circle of Life Academy takes their robot to the regional tournament. Reporter Melissa Townsend brings us the story.

SOUND OF STUDENTS AND MENTOR WORKING IN COLA LAB

DOUG: What we’re going to do is, we’re going to put those on…

MELISSA: Doug Schulz is the adult mentor to the robotics team at the Circle of Life Academy.

There are 6 students in the group and they meet 4 times a week.

It’s early February and the group is building their robot from scratch.

The team is building this robot designed specifically to compete in a big robotics tournament in late March.

DOUG: We’re going to have some motors that suck the cube in here…

The robot has to be able to pick up a stuffed cube, lift if over its head and drop it on a platform behind its back.

The robot will do all these things — by remote control.

[fade out building sounds]

[fade in tournament sound]

It’s the end of March now and we’re here at the North Star and Medtronic Regional FIRST Robotics Tournament in Minneapolis.

We’re at an arena on the University of Minnesota Campus.

The Ogichidaa team from White Earth is here with Squeevercoon - their robot.

They’re competing with 59 other teams from around Minnesota.

They are the only tribal school team here.

[tourny sound]

The team includes TITUS, JOEY, CAMERON, OLIVIA AND DEREK.

Titus Alvarado is the team captain. He is 15 and in 9th grade.

MELISSA: How long have you been doing robotics?
TITUS: Ah, first year.
MELISSA: What got you interested?
TITUS: Friends told me to join robotics and I got nothing to do at home so. Gave it a shot and I like building, engineering, learning about new things.

MELISSA: What do you think about all these other teams?
TITUS: Good robots, cool designs.

The Ogichidaa robot is also a cool design.

It stands about 3 feet tall.

It has a metal frame with plexiglass sheets that protect its inner core of wires, tubes and other machinery.

It moves on wheels.

MELISSA: So are you excited to be here? How does it feel?
TITUS: A little nervous. But fun. (:09)

There is a field set up on the arena floor where the robots compete.

Each team is trying to score as many points as they can in each round.

How do you score points?

Your robot picks up small yellow stuffed cubes from the floor and puts them on one of two small platforms.

It’s actually more complicated than that - but that is the basic idea.

[doot doo doot music]

The round begins and the Circle of Life robot takes off toward the middle of the field but then it stops.

It stutters back and forth.

I’m watching with Team member Olivia Mason.

MELISSA: Is it stuck?
OLIVIA: Seems - probably the connection went out with the robot and the system.

[sound]

When the round is over, the team carries the robot off the field back to the pit.

I catch up with Titus again.

MELISSA: OK, so that first round didn’t exactly go as you had planned, huh?
TITUS: Yea, we lost the left side of our motor. So we are trying to figure out what’s going on. We got a new joy stick to figure out if that does anything.

In a few minutes, with a new joy stick and a new computer, the team gets another chance in round 2.

[doot doo doot music]

Squeevercoon takes off.

MELISSA: Man it’s working great now. 1,2,3,4,5 cubes. Oop - there is another robot totally in the way. Oh that aint right. That robot is totally blocking you - on purpose?
OLIVIA: Yup, they are trying to defend the blue shoots on the other side.

Even with the other team’s block, the Ogichidaa team does exactly what they planned.

In the end Squeevercoon has landed 5 cubes on the switch.

[sound]

Back at the pits — Doug Schulz talks to his team

DOUG: I am the proud proud proud coach of team 3367 Ogichidaa robotics. That was awesome you guys. We had failed but we found some resources, we got some help and we competed. I’m super excited about that match. And now we’re going to run for it.

The Ogichidaa team and their robot Squeevercoon competed in 10 qualifying rounds in total.

In the end, they were awarded the Switch Master Award.

Congratulations Ogichidaa team from Circle of Life Academy.

For Minnesota Native News, I”m Melissa Townsend.