Consuelo's transformation

Due to a minor car wreck and business on other fronts, I have not posted for several days. This morning, the following column came from my friend, Roberto Rodriguez. He tells such beautiful stories about beautiful people; this one about a strong and powerful young Xicana who has passed on to the spirit world. May her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched be comforted. . .
Consuelo's passage
by ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ
02.25.2009
My mother, a healer, gave me explicit directions: Pray for Consuelo to the four directions. At that, my wife and I, with Consuelo's parents, Artemesia and Mario Aguilar, went to see their 26-year-old,cancer-stricken daughter in the intensive care unit. As we prayed for her, there were prayer feathers, crosses, images of saints, cards, lotus flowers and words in several languages left behind - evidence of prayers from the four directions.On Feb. 17, Consuelo went on to spirit world, and I called a very special friend, Nahuatl elder Angelbertha Cobb.I asked her: If people don't really die, but instead simply transform into spirits, then why or how do we mourn them?
"We mourn them by remembering the most beautiful memories, and also through humor," she said. "They don't like weeping. It drives them away."I'm not weeping, but the words aren't streaming forth as they did when I first wrote in October about this beautiful University of Arizona graduate, a community organizer and a peaceful warrior for social justice.Friday, when I arrived at my office, a message was on my telephone.Before hearing it, I was prompted to listen to an older message. It was Consuelo, calling me for a recommendation.A few more days have passed, and I can only think her life was an epic love story.Paula Domingo, our spiritual daughter from Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Cuentepec, Morelos, Mexico, translates "epic love story" to Nahuatlas: "Ce tlatotl tlazotlaliztli."Paula, whose husband Luis and daughter Miahuatl met Consuelo at our house, wrote this about her:"Nochipa tikilnamikizke uan tikuikaske panin toyolo. Sihuatl kiyinaijk mikiz nochipa tuhuan yez." We will always remember her and carry her in our hearts. A woman like her never dies. She will always be with us.Her friend, Joel Garcia, describes her as his "beloved friend Consi -a strong Xicana who is now a hummingbird."
Wrote friend and UA professor Andrea Romero, "Like the ripples that come from a stone thrown in the water, her impact will continue to spread beyond the limitations of the physical time she spent with us."
Maria Molina Vai Sevoi of Tucson's indigenous Calpulli Teoxicalli wrote, "Overwhelmed with the tremendous experience of the birth of their baby girl, what more suitable and prophetic a name could Artemisia and Mario have chosen than Consuelo (Comfort). Thank you to the Aguilar family for sharing your precious gift."
Thank you, Consuelo, for giving us comfort in the knowledge that our seeds are strong enough to push through the weeds, find a ray of sunlight, and blossom into beautiful flowers . . .Thank you for your generous contribution to ours and future generations. Keep walking in beauty. See you with the sunrise."
Darlane Santa Cruz adds: "Consuelo was very passionate about bringing in just and equitable teachings into the community. She decided to work with Raza Studies before going into law school. Consuelo always hoped that one day our movement veteranos could leave egos aside and continue working together to accomplish the vision of self-determination and liberation of all oppressed people.
"I never imagined my life without her, and it is very difficult to think that I will not have her as a guide I can call up on at any moment to help me sort out the bumps in the road. I only hope she continues to guide me in that spirit world."
Finally, an excerpt from Mixelle Rascon: "Tell me about the little stories in your hair. . . . Tell me, how should I miss you? Your strength, rebellion, diligence, a character as precious as el PopulVuh. No Xikana complex here. Only the real thing. I will see you again."
Do not take the fruit of the warrior woman under your wing without leaving us the seed. Thank you, Consuelo, for shooting arrows of dignity that moved humanity. . . . Rest at ease in the melancholic gardens where all revolutionary ones go, whisper tunes of sovereignty.Once we awaken the new people's sun, my sister, we will dance again, for all of eternity."
By the way, I did give Consuelo that recommendation. No doubt she is nowadays somewhere organizing the hummingbirds in our midst.
Roberto Rodriguez, a research associate at the University of Arizona,can be reached at: XColumn@gmail.com.* For a longer version (titled: Hummingbird love songs for Consuelo) go to:http://web.mac.com/columnoftheamericas/Site/ColumnoftheAmericas/ColumnoftheAmericas.html

News from Indian youth conference in DC

Anna and her College Prep teacher at Sequoyah High School, Augusta Smith.

Anna shot this of some Osage youth, one from Oregon (first row) and Anthony Plenty Bears, Arapaho, (second row).

Anna and new friend, Erica Moore, Pawnee, Otoe, Osage from Oklahoma. Anna with Patrick Kennedy, son of Ted Kennedy, the Democratic representative for Rhode Island's 1st District.

My girl is back home after attending the CloseUp Foundation Future Leaders Academy. She said she learned so much and met a lot of super-motivated Indian youth while there. One was Erica Moore, Osage; another was Anthony Plenty Bears, Arapaho. Anna brought back lots of great photos with people like Patrick Kennedy (Ted K.'s son). She got a photo of John McCain at work in a committee session and of course many of the youth who attended. Anna had the privilege of introducing a TV show produced and aired from the Newseum with guests Jeff Harjo, Native American Journalists Association executive director, and Rhonda LeValdo, NAJA prez. It was an interesting show. Check out the NAJA Web site for their upcoming conference this summer in ALBQ. I hope to see you there.

The New American Bigot by Dr. Roberto Rodriguez

Today, I'm posting the new column (scroll down after reading this) of my friend, Roberto Rodriguez. I shot the photo (above) at a rally on the steps of the Oklahoma Capitol in April, 2007.
American Indians in the U.S. must stand with our relatives to the south, who are mostly American Indians also, on the topic of a fair and humane immigration policy. I also support amnesty for all 'illegal' immigrants already here living and working, supporting their families (and the U.S. economy), and thriving alongside us. JoKay

Face of the New American Bigot
By Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez
Feb 11, 2009

On the issue of immigration, there is little difference between conservatives and extremists. Both camps have come to greatly admire Sheriff Joe Arpaio – America's toughest sheriff. To this Arizona lawman, there is nothing wrong with racially profiling red-brown peoples and communities. And of course, his supporters applaud his every antic, including the recent public spectacle of humiliating some 220 migrants in Phoenix by parading them in public.This is arguably why the GOP is dying. Arpaio has become the Bull Conner of our times. For conservative Republicans to embrace him –akin to how extremists embrace him – gives the nation a clear message: the GOP is more interested in preserving its outdated ideology and (racial) heritage, than in expanding its base.As the economycontinues its uncontrolled convulsions, the nation also continues to convulse with an increasing number of ugly cases of racial bigotry andacts of violence against immigrants. Indeed, this era is now marked by the rise of the New American Bigot. The old one has undergone an extreme makeover; save for lawman Arpaio, the New American bigot is no longer the Aryan extremist or unrepentant segregationist. GeorgeWallace is out and CNN's jolly Lou Dobbs is in...
Link to rest of column at:http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=852f40a74bb623a207837d5d6e278c70

How a bill becomes a law - Schoolhouse Rock

I know there's more to it than this but Schoolhouse Rock explains very basically how a bill becomes a law. We should all understand the process. To see it (and find more School Rock) click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

Reclaiming our connections: the peoples of the Eagle and the Condor

Read on to the post below mine here. It is my personal and professional mission to help reclaim the ancient connections and relationships between the peoples of the American continent- the people of North America referred to as Eagle People and our relatives, the people of Central and South America, referred to as the People of the Condor. I received yesterday a request from a colleague and respected friend Roberto Rodriguez to help in some way to bring the history of 'Red-Brown Journalism,' to the people. If there is some way you can help to do this please contact him or send whatever you can to the contacts below. Guh ne gay/Wa do/Muchas gracias, JoKay (continue below to the following post:)

Feb 8, 2008
JoKay:
Saludos & hope this finds you well. Patrisia sends her hellos...I am writing to let you know that I am teaching a class this semester at the University of Arizona, titled: The History of Red-Brown Journalism & Communications.
In effect, I have put my life's work as a writer into this class.The class coincides with the Voices for Justice Project, which is celebrating 200-years of Latino/Latina Journalism. My class covers the same material, but actually goes back a bit further, also looking at Indigenous communication systems prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Thus, the class emphasizes ancient & historic media, and also the media of the Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The class is already giving students much needed exposure in terms of the oft-neglected history of journalism and communications on this continent among these communities.For the class, we will have an exhibit at the Main Library where we will showcase media from these different time periods. We will also have a symposium and program where students will present their workson the 5th of May.
As a highlight, students will publish their work in a commemorative issue based on their research. For these events, weare looking for newspapers/magazines, artwork, etc. from the 1960s-'70s for our exhibit. Also, if you were part of the ' (Red-Brown) Movement' media, or know of someone, please let me know.
Finally, if you would like to help us publish the specialcommemorative issue and to bring guest speakers to our class and to our symposium/program, we are accepting gifts from $25 to $100. The estimated budget to accomplish our goals is $3,000 and we hope toreach that through generous contributions like yours (Of course, you will receive a copy of the issue).
The donation is tax-deductible. Make check payable to: The University of Arizona Foundation.
Please mail it to:
Mexican American Studies & Research Center
Attn: Veronica Peralta
Cesar Chavez, Room 208
PO BOX 210023
Tucson AZ 85721-0023.
Thanks in advance.
Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez
Mexican American Studies-University of Arizona
Cesar E. Chavez Bldg #214
PO BOX 210023 Tucson AZ 85721-0023
(520) 626-0824.
I know times are tough, but I'm hoping to find 100 friends/colleagues to contribute so it doesn't fall on just a few.

Interesting morning

I just finished meeting with a couple of documentary film makers from Australia. They are traveling across the US interviewing 'ordinary' Americans for a documentary. They knew a lot about America and had been here before; really interesting people, themselves.
They asked questions like, 'What do think it means to be an American?,' 'What is the American Dream to you?,' 'What is good/not good about America?' They asked about global warming, 'Do you think you see signs of it?' They had a few questions on politics and race, patriotism, capitalism. They said they are meeting some interesting people in the US. They are headed to the Mississippi Delta region and to the southwest, then Alaska. I referred them to some of my contacts in those places.
They're interviewing all kinds of Americans, conservative, liberal, all races and religions, political parties, economic backgrounds. It was good to give some input from this Native's perspective of America.

Just have to crow about . .

My youngest daughter, Anna. She is a 17-year-old Sequoyah High School senior and one of only five students in the U.S. to receive a full scholarship to the National Indian Education Association CloseUp Foundation Academy and Future Leaders Conference in Washington, DC during the week of Feb. 9-13. NIEA said Anna was chosen for her academic scholarship and her involvement in community. When she was a baby, Anna would go with me to activist meetings and sleep on a blanket.As she became a toddler, she would sit at the table with some pretty renowned Indian activists, coloring in her coloring book and taking in what everyone had to say. I can't tell you the number of times in her life her name has been associated with the word 'leadership.' When she was a baby, everybody called her 'Grandma' because she had the personality of someone who had been around for a really long time. She is beautiful, athletic, confident, talented, thoughtful, and as you can see, inspires great pride in her mom. Janet Littlecrow is finishing up a jingle dress for Anna, which will be one of her graduation gifts. Pray for good things for my Anna, and for all our Indigenous young women who try hard to stay on a positive, strong path.

Close the School of the Americas

Help close the School of the Americas where thousands of 'Latin' American soldiers and military officers have been trained to torture the people of Central and South America. Sign a petition to President Obama to begin a process to close the chamber of horrors institution.

As a North American Indian woman, I understand our ancient relationship with the original peoples of the continent on which I live, now called 'The Americas." We can no longer stand in silence while the Indigenous peoples of Central and South America are tortured and killed by monsters trained in the U.S. at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The history of U.S. oppression against North American Indians will not be put to rest until the U.S. government stops the training of 'Latin American' monsters in the killing of Central and South American Indians. NO MORE INDIAN KILLERS!

To learn more about the School of the Americas click on:

http://www.soaw.org/index.php

Wow! Welcome to my blog, Indigenous Eye. I'm just getting back on line after being without power for several days due to an ice storm here in eastern Oklahoma. Thanks to blogger.com for allowing me to set up on this great site! And thanks to Dana Tiger for giving me the idea to set up my new blog here. If you haven't seen it already, check out Dana's new Obama print, honoring our new president; it's beautiful. See it at danatigerart.blogspot.com. or e-mail her to purchase one at danatiger@hotmail.com.
I'm just getting started so check back soon for news on Indigenous issues, culture, art and more.