AAA Native Arts

2009 Calendars

The 2009 calendars are in!

What is the meaning of Indian jewelry?

QUESTION:
I have been searching for information on the significance of Lakota jewelry in the past. I am a teacher and during watching a film on Lewis & Clark, which included some references to the Lakota, some students were very interested in the pictures of the beautiful bear claw necklaces, etc. They wanted to know what the jewelry really meant. So far, I've had no luck with internet searches. Can you help?
~Submitted by Jewell S.

Leonard Peltier eligible for parole hearing in December

AUTHOR: Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

Leonard Peltier is eligible for a parole hearing in December 2008, after more than thirty-three years in prison. There are several things you can do to help insure this hearing has a positive outcome.

Native burial grounds near Tisch Mills may include Viking ship

AUTHOR: Lee Lawrenz

A 200-acre wooded site west of Tisch Mills guards its secrets well. Maybe that's what its original inhabitants intended.But for historian Bruce Vandervest and several other investigators, the site, confirmed to be a sacred Native American burial ground, continues to draw them back in their determination to find out more: a Viking ship also may be part of the find.

Prohibition Party's interest in Rum River name-change movement

By Thomas Dahlheimer

In response to a message about my movement to change the name of Minnesota's Rum River, a message that was sent to Gene Amondson, the 2008 Presidential nominee for the National Prohibition Party, I received a supportive call from him. We talked about the work we are doing to bring back Prohibition as well as establish dry states, counties and cities, etc. In respect to keeping him updated on the progress of my Rum River name-change movement and associated movement to bring back Prohibition, Amondson told me to call him whenever I would like to. Amondson is an international speaker and he has been on the John Stewart Daily Show once and on the Oprah show twice.

Sen. Barack Obama has been meeting with tribal leaders throughout the country

AUTHOR: Wilma Mankiller

Now, as the campaign has narrowed to a general election, my hope for the future of this country and its policies toward tribal governments and individuals only grows. I know we have an advocate in Sen. Barack Obama, who unveiled his First Americans platform while the campaign was still in its infancy and has since been meeting with tribal leaders around the country.

Unrecognized indian tribe found guilty of defrauding immigrants

AUTHOR: Roxana Hegeman

The self-proclaimed leader of a group that claims to be an American Indian tribe was found guilty Wednesday of defrauding immigrants by falsely telling them tribal membership would make them U.S. citizens.

Fake indian tribre found guilty of defrauding immigrants

Would John McCain be good for Indian Country?

AUTHOR: Jerry Reynolds / Indian Country Today

McCain entered the presidential campaign with considerable standing in Indian country - not bad for a Republican on overwhelmingly Democratic turf. But even prior to the rapprochement with Reed, a number of announcements and positions had compromised his support in some quarters and led to a re-evaluation in others.

How do I know if 'Indian Jewelry' is authentic and made by a real indian?

QUESTION:
My sister taught school on the reservation in Pine Ridge (Porcupine) about 20 years ago. She will be 50 this year. I am looking to buy her turquoise jewelry. I'd like to know it's authentic and made by the Indians. She would hold this as being very special. I understand that some jewelry has tribes' names inscribed on the back. Can you give some reputable stores or web sites that I can look at and buy. I would be particularly interested in Lakota, Sioux.
~Submitted by Kathy C.