Raven Jake Dawes

Google Salutes Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku (whose full name was a mind-boggling Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku) would have been 125 years old today, if people had indefinite lifespans and Google (through "Google  Doodler" Matt Cruickshank) saluted him with a distinctive surfboard logo. Less well known than the fact that Duke introduced the world to surfing and was the best known Indigenous Hawaiian ever) is that Duke won  five Olympic medals in swimming:

• 1912 (Stockholm) -  gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle and the silver medal with the U.S. team in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay
• 1920 (Antwerp) gold medals both in the 100 meters (bettering fellow Hawaiian Pua Kealoha) and in the relay. 
• 1924 (Paris) Silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle  (with the gold going to Johnny Weissmuller and the bronze to Duke's brother, Samuel Kahanamoku).
• 1932 (Los Angeles) Duke didn't compete, but he was an alternate for the U.S. water polo team.

Bear in mind he was born in 1890, so in 1932 he was almost 42. He also He served as sheriff of Honolulu from 1932 to 1961, serving 13 consecutive terms. Duke surfed on in 1968, having packed so much into the first 77 years of his life that it makes you wonder what he could have accomplished with another 47.  E ho'omaha me ka maluhia, Kahuna, you continue to serve as an inspiration. 

Raven Jake at the Autry

Folks, I'm making a conscientious effort to go and do some stuff.  It's been one year since my double bypass surgery, and I  still ain't 100%. But I ain't dead, and we've got a whole world to go explore. Raven Jake is on the "I'm in if it's free" plan, which is all about my budget and not the value of the experience.

Case in point: it's been a few years since I've been to the Autry. And that's a shame. 'cause they've got some great stuff goin' on. Their big exhibit right now is Empire and Liberty: the Civil War and the West, but Kim Stringfellow's photo exhibition on Jackrabbit Homesteads taken in the Morongo Valley is also terrific and I was especially drawn to The Balance of Power on the American Frontier, which is largely about the weapons of the historic Old West. And, of course, many of their exhibits explore the boundaries of the perception of the American West and the reality of the American West, exemplified by their emphasis on movie westerns, now including The Lone Ranger. 

The Autry is developing into a terrific museum and well worth the $10 fee but, in fitting with the Raven Jake Austerity Plan, it is free to the public every second Tuesday of the month.

4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462

Phone: 323.667.2000

https://theautry.org/

Naahilii: New Designation for Black Native Americans

Couple months back, Jane went off to see Radmilla Cody give a presentation about Native American identity issues.  Radmilla Cody is beautiful, talented and smart. She made headlines a few years back as the first half-Black, half- Diné Miss Navajo Nation in 1997-1998. At the time, and maybe now too, she caused a lot of waves because she didn't look like a typical Miss Navajo. Rest assured, if anything she was overqualified. See, to be Miss Navajo you don't prance around in a bikini and do floral arranging for your talent. The Navajo expect their women to work, not just sit around looking pretty and making bland conversation. So Miss Navajo has to be the best at public speaking in Diné, traditional dress, singing and butchering a sheep. She has to get things done.

At this presentation, Radmilla showed an abridged version of her film, “Hearing Radmilla.” It described her beginnings being raised by her very traditional grandmother, her experience of being bullied at Navajo schools and being called a jinny, which is a derogatory word for a mixed-race Black Navajo. That’s kind of unusual, but not as much as you might think.

Radmilla decided to come up with a new, non-derogatory word that would describe being mixed-race, but in a positive way that would honor both heritages. The word she (and an elder) came up with is Naahilii, which breaks down to:

Naa = those who came across (overcame)

hil – dark and calm

ii – oneness.

Over at the left is Diana Fletcher of the Kiowa tribe. Anyway, I think this positive re-naming is really beautiful, and it’s a concept that should be exported to all tribes so that they have an inclusive word for the many Native folk who belong to more than one race. Now it's not like Radmilla just sits around reminicing about her glory days as Miss Navajo Nation - she's got her movie out, she's working on campaigns to address domestic violence and Native identity issues and she received a Grammy nomination for her album "Shi Keyah: Songs for the People" in the category of best regional roots. 

Congratulations to Harold Kast

Last night the La Cañada City Council honored my friend,  17-year-old junior assistant Scoutmaster  Harold Kast, for earning every merit badge there is. That's right. Every one of them. Harold's dad Martin, Scoutmaster of Troop 509, chartered by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, simply explained it the best, "There have been 110 million Scouts in the past century, he explains, and only 190 have earned every available merit badge. That's one in a million; Harold is one in a million." Now that he is, and I ain't sayin' so just because of this badge thing. Harold is one of only three youths in the 103-year history of the organization to have as many as 135, according to meritbadgeknot.com, which tracks, verifies and celebrates the achievements. He had an edge there - they didn't used to have so many of them. 'Course Harold earned his Eagle when he was just 14, and his sisters set the bar pretty high too - it's a committed scouting family - so he really had to distinguish himself. And that he did. Harold's turning 18 in a couple of weeks, takin' off for Fullerton in the fall, and I, for one, can't wait to see what happens next for young Mr. Kast.

Homestead Valley Responds to Wind Turbines

Folks, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm not opposed to green energy. I think it'll be a good day when our country isn't so dependent on coal and oil. But there's green and then there's green. Instead of giving huge energy companies a bunch of money to tear up pristine desert, how about putting solar panels on every government building in every city, where that electricity is actually going to be used. And leave my desert alone!

There's a nefarious plot afoot to turn Black Mesa into a wind farm, and I am completely, 100% against that. Here's the Homestead Valley's response, and since you're unlikely to see it anywhere else, here goes: Homestead Valley Responds to Wind Turbines

Kizh/Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians at the San Marino Parade

Folks, at the same time I was participating in the Sierra Madre July 4th Parade, theKizh/Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians were marching in San Marino's Independance Day Parade. Andy Teutimez Salas and his tribe were celebrating their heritage,  bringing awareness about the Michael White Adobe, and even more importantly, honoring the mixed heritage decendents of Eulalia Perez. We sat near them at the L.A. Heritage Fair, so we've met the Kizh before, but it was a shame to miss the parade. Andy provided us with pictures and filled us in on what happened:

We'd like to thank  the city of San Marino, "Sheshiikuanungna," for having us. This was another great day in our Native Land. In regards to the Banner of the Michael White family, the great-grand children of Michael White and his wife [Maria del Rosario], daughter of Eulila Perez, were the were the ones riding in the old 1938 car behind us. They have been members of our family for decades and are members of our Tribe. In the car was Anita White and Steve White, who are great-grand children. They still live in San Gabriel today and have lots of historic photos of their family members going back to the 1800's to share. On a related note, my father Ernie P. Teutimez Salas, Chief of our Tribe, has strong family connections to both the Native Kizh/Gabrieleno and Benjamin D. Wilson "Mt. Wilson" and the Patton Family.

 

Vote for the Sun Runner on Facebook

To my Desert Rats on Facebook,

Shanghai Brown is trying to get some grant money for the Sun Runner, an independent publication that supports all sort of Desert Ratishness, and therefore it's a good cause. Only takes about two minutes, and it's a worthy cause:

Hey folks,

I'm asking for your help from those of you who use FACEBOOK, but it's really easy. My magazine, The Sun Runner, is applying for a Mission Small Business grant through Chase and LivingSocial. This grant would make a huge difference for our ability to cover serious desert issues, as well as to help promote desert arts and culture, history, tribal matters, and more.

Facebook users can help support The Sun Runner Magazine with a few clicks.
In order to be eligible, we have to get at least 250 votes before June 30. The more votes, the better for our application.

To vote, all you have to do is go to https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/, log in with Facebook - then like them & then near the bottom of the email search for Sun Runner, California, Joshua Tree, and when we pop up, hit "Vote."

That's it. It only costs you a few seconds to help us be eligible for a grant that could make a significant difference for our ability to serve the desert region. Thanks for your help and support! ‹Steve "Shanghai" Brown

Insider Magazine Article

Here's a special preview of my upcoming profile in Insider Magazine. Thanks, Matt!

Open publication - Free publishing - More blog

Sweet Honey in the Rock - Ballad of Harry Moore

I don't usually get political, but I want to send a shout out to voters in Florida. You've got problems getting counted, but stand fast. Here's Sweet Honey in the Rock, featuring Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, singing about the murder of NAACP organizer Harry Moore:

Culinary Historians of SoCal on April 14

It's going to be a busy month what with animals getting blessed and different lectures and Heritage Day and whatnot, but this one looks pretty promising too: 

The Cookbook Family Tree

 Saturday, April 14th, 2012, at 10:30 AM at the Los Angeles Public Library

Mark Taper Auditorium, Downtown Central Library, 630 W. 5th St.

Free and open to the public

Anne Willan speaking on…

“The Cookbook Family Tree”

Before 1501, the first four printed cookbooks were written in English, Latin, German, and French in four European countries. Who wrote these early cookbooks? Who read them? Who used them? Anne will explain the origin of these books and those of the centuries that follow. For her talk to the Culinary Historians of Southern California, Anne will be sharing her “cookbook tree,” a unique visual guide she has created to demonstrate how all the genres of food book we know today, such as recipe books, dining guides, gastronomic memoirs and more can be traced back to these early volumes.

Anne Willan Anne Willan has over 50 years experience as a teacher, cookbook author, and food columnist. The founder of famed French cooking school École de Cuisine la Varenne, Anne’s accolades include the IACP Lifetime Achievement Award, James Beard Award, and Bon Appétit Teacher of the Year Award. The author of over thirty cookbooks, Anne’s long-awaited The Cookbook Library: Four Centuries of the Cooks, Writers, and Recipes That Made the Modern Cookbook will be published in April 2012. The book is based on the extensive cookbook collection Anne and her husband Mark Cherniavsky have amassed through years of passionate collecting. Anne is also working on a memoir.