Illuminate The Lock - Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard. GO!

Happy 2021, Everybody! Phew, a LOT has happened since I last posted a story, and that's for many reasons, but here I am, and HI! I hope you're doing awesome (as awesome as can be expected during the still global pandemic and within such a deeply divided nation, but I bet you can think of SOMETHING awesome going for you), and are still here for good stories. Cause I am! The something awesome for me at the moment was the beautiful, excellent, deeply moving event I attended last night at the Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam in downtown Minneapolis. Illuminate The Lock was the highlight of 2021 for me so far (other than getting vaccination appointments for my Mom and myself), by far. Just WOW. 

Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard was the title of the piece by Moira Villiard that was projected on the Lock above the Mississippi River last night, and for the next two nights, Friday and Saturday. I cannot recommend this event highly enough, and if you're in the area and you can still snag a time slot for this thing - just go and thank me later. Seriously. 

 

There have been so few cool things to do during the pandemic, that when I hear of something - ANYTHING - that might inspire or beguile, I go. Even in the dead of winter in Minnesota. My creative soul needs to be fed. And THIS event was magically delicious. 

We checked in at a little tent, and were then led across a metal gangplank out to the Lock and Dam. That alone was cool, as I'd never been out on this structure in my life. We lined up and looked way down over the railing at the bottom of the Lock and nearly frozen river. All were dressed for the occasion, bundled up to our eyes to protect against the cold. One woman stood out in a beautifully embroidered long skirt, and I dearly hoped that she had long underwear on underneath (while also admiring her style).

We had the first time-slot and the sun had just set over the beautiful skyline of Minneapolis - one of the most beautiful cities in this country all on its own. But when the animation began to be projected on to the Lock wall, it was truly magical. A Native American woman narrated the story, as illustrations swooped along the concrete. Speaking to how difficult it is to retain the Native culture in the middle of a Metropolis, especially during this pandemic, that is hitting our Native citizens extra hard. I have a deep love for Native Americans, as well as a deep sense of shame for what has been done to their culture and their people by our Government since the very beginning. We owe them SO much, yet they continue to give us beauty and wisdom and dignity, and always remind us to connect with our beloved nature. Thank you. 

She instructed all to remember to offer your tobacco to Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun, and always to honor our nature. Seeing this spectacular spectacle in its bright colors and Native symbology among the skyscrapers and industrial areas of the city made it all the more moving, and nearly all jaws watching had dropped (also because someone dropped a thing for their camera over the edge).

 

The time slots were for 30 minutes, so they can get more people through and still be social distanced, and we timed our visit perfectly. We watched the story twice, and then they let you go around the top of the Lock and look at St. Anthony Falls from the other side, which was also very cool (by now, COLD). Thirty minutes was just perfect for both body and mind. My heart was more than full. 

 

 

My friend, Tracy, and I were totally enchanted as we made our way back across the slick metal catwalk (Use caution!). I was so proud of my Minnesotans, both for conceiving of and putting on such an event, but also for all the hearty souls who will bundle up and go do something fun and amazing on a weeknight in the city. I LOVED IT. I saw the woman with the beautiful skirt again, and had to go compliment her - and to find out if she had long undies on, because now I was worried. She laughed and thanked me, saying she had many layers underneath, including sweatpants. I'm totally going to copy her now. A long skirt as a mobile blanket is genius!

 

 

 

We capped off the night with a martini and wings at The Monte Carlo - where I hadn't been in well over a year and it was a delight. When I got home, I went to look up Moira Villiard on Instagram so I could tag her beautiful work in my photos of the evening. Guess what? She was the woman in the beautiful skirt. Perfect. 

 

Illuminate the Lock was one of the coolest and best things I've been to in quite a while. It is my pleasure to share it with you here, and my hope that you will be able to see it for yourselves if you can. If not, remember to offer your tobacco and to honor your Mother Earth every day! So that waves will always be able to be heard ... 

*Thank you to the Mississippi River Park Connection, to Moira Villiard and her skirt, All My Relations Arts Gallery, and to all who helped to put on this utterly charming event. Truly. 

Clogtown: The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi - A Pow WOW!

Everyone who lives in the United States of America should attend a Native American Pow Wow at some point, not only because they're super fun and extra cool, but because you will see up close the deep reverence our original residents have for their land - and their history. As we all should.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi was held this past weekend at The Meadows at Mystic Lake, and was nothing short of spectacular. I hadn't been to a pow wow since my Augsburg College days, and my Mom had never been to one, so we changed that yesterday when I loaded her (and her new prototype leg!) up and headed out to Shakopee for a day of honoring the beautiful history of this place, as well as the beautiful (seriously, stunning!) people who taught it to us through their costumes, food, crafts, art, and dance. Wacipi (or Pow Wow) actually means "They Dance". And dance they did.

Collectively, the dancing looked to be one big sun dance, as the ominous morning clouds and wind soon cleared out and opened up to the bluest skies possible, and bright sunshine that caused the sparkling costumes to gleam even more brilliantly. A huge wind turbine stood tall above the American flags, showing that the Native people are still far more in touch with our earth and natural resources than our sorely lacking government.

We got to sit in the box reserved for the tribal elders (and handicapped people), and it was a front row seat to the grand entrance of all the tribes dancing in to the Pow Wow grounds. After a solemn prayer in a tongue I didn't recognize, but wished I did, an announcer introduced all the different tribes and dance groups, all with a sense of humor and fun, though the singing and chanting sounded pretty serious.

I left the box to get a closer look, and was suddenly overcome with emotion as I watched all the wonderful dancers file past with such regal dignity. I got choked up thinking about how poorly our government has treated Native Americans historically, and yet these tribes are still thriving.

They are keeping their traditions alive, and passing them down to generation after generation. And the way they honor the earth. And their ancestors. And the fact that they still allow the white man/woman to join them in their celebrations, forgetting what atrocities their ancestors committed and understanding that we all share this place together now, so we might as well dance. It was deeply, deeply moving.

The whole affair reminded me a lot of the Merrie Monarch Festival that takes place each year in Hawai'i, when its native people perform their hulas and stories for everyone in Hilo ... even the developers trying to turn sacred lands into golf courses or telescopes. We would be such a better country if we all recognized how truly spiritual and important the native teachings really are.

Here in Minnesota, the dances were broken up into categories like: Fancy Shawl, Jingle Dress, Golden Age, Chicken Dancers, Grass Dancers and all ages competed to be the best. Tiny kids in full regalia danced or were held by gorgeous women in their breathtaking costumes or regal men in elaborate headdresses that told their own stories. It was a true feast for the eyes in every direction one looked.

It was also a legitimate feast, as food vendors were lined up (at the bottom of a hill that gave me a major wheelchair pushing workout, but we did it!) to sell the native delicacies. Indian tacos were the big draw of the day, with several different vendors dishing them up, all with long lines. Indian tacos are just like regular tacos only they are served on crisp, airy fry bread. The same fry bread is also done up as dessert, with strawberries and cream or cinnamon and chocolate. I want more today, as typing this is making my mouth water. Wild rice hot dish, walleye sandwiches ... it was a true taste of native Minnesota.

Native crafts were also on display, with blankets, leather goods, and a whole lot of things done up in native beadwork. Mom and I each got a souvenir, and we will both wear them with deep pride, tell anyone who asks all about the wonderful Pow Wow we bought them at. We were honored to be there, and the jewelry will be a reminder to us both of a very special day we spent together honoring our state's native people. We'll be gushing about it for some time to come, for sure.

At a time when there is so much talk about immigration and walls and borders and all of that, I wonder how Native Americans can even stand to hear any of it. Our government STOLE their land, and did everything they could to eradicate any memory of them or their traditions. ANY citizen of the United States that is not Native American came from an immigrant family, and would do well to zip it as far as any negativity toward new immigrant families. And would do even better to lower your head in respect when anyone Native crosses your path, in both humility and in thanks - for not only sharing THEIR original land with us, but for doing it so beautifully.

I don't know how to say thank you in the Dakota language, so I looked it up and hope it's right ...

PIDAMAYA DO!  to all involved with the remarkable Wacipi weekend! Wow.

*Yesterday was also the last day of Hearts Of Our People! I hope you made it to that exceptional exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

A Mural For Standing Rock - The Art Of Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle Sanchez

Hi! There have been some technical, personal, and national difficulties that haven't allowed me to be as prolific with Venice stories as I'd like to be lately, and for that I apologize, and thank you for being here to read again now. There is so much to say about the election nightmare, but I think it's really better to go forward now, and think and talk about things that we as people can do together in the name of good, regardless of whomever our leaders are. The climate is in deep crisis (Please everyone watch Before The Flood online asap), and it won't matter at all who's in charge for four years when no one is able to inhabit Earth anymore. So let's focus on what's really important. LIFE.

Water is Life. When we first started hearing about the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, everyone was appalled at the images coming out of there with Native Americans being tear gassed and attacked by police dogs. For peacefully wanting clean drinking water. Let that sink in.

Some people want to help more than look away, and Kim Michalowski is one of them. She owns the Ananda boutique on Abbot Kinney, as well as being a wonderful friend to all of Venice. We talked about the idea of having a mural done in support of Standing Rock on the front of her shop, and started reaching out to Native American artists. Friends connected Michalowski with artist Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle Sanchez, a Navajo from Arizona. Thunder Voice Eagle recently returned from Standing Rock, and after sitting down with him to talk about it all, I feel both inspired and encouraged, as well as super impressed with both his art and his humanity.

Thunder Voice Eagle worked for years with his father's organization, Anasazi.org, a kind of Outward Bound type group that takes at-risk kids out into nature for 50 day trips (awesome). A few years back,  he had a dream that he had a message to help his people, and that his art work would be the best tool to do so. He did a painting for a family friend that was so well-received that he began to focus on art full-time, selling paintings through Instagram and his website, as well as through various galleries.

"Nothing has changed for the Natives, now it just feels like we have a whole bunch of new allies," Thunder Voice Eagle told me. "Every reservation has crazy stuff happening. There has always been corporate land grabs, it's never on the news, and we always lose. But now we have social media."

The U.S. Government separated tribes by design, so they wouldn't band together to oppose the stealing of their land and resources. Once reservations got cell towers, the people got cell phones. MySpace days started connecting people. Facebook has connected us all. Once the Facebook Live videos started coming out about elders, pregnant women, kids, everyone being attacked at Standing Rock by police in riot gear for peacefully protesting, tribes across the nation saw it, grabbed their stuff, and went to North Dakota. United.

Native leaders can also not always be trusted, and often take the corporate money to line their own pockets to the detriment of their people. Standing Rock is not like that because their leaders said no, and realize how this awful pipeline will affect the drinking water of so many people all over the affected area, not just those on the reservation that our government tends to dismiss. All Americans, all who deserve better. "This situation has stirred something in the warriors, it has become their top priority," explained Thunder Voice Eagle. He told me that the pipeline company took the information of where Native burial grounds were and dug them up so there would be no evidence of it ... it's really that sinister. And must be stopped, for us all.

In talking about the mural and the message, Thunder Voice Eagle said, "It's really about hope. I believe that people are inherently good, sometimes they just forget. Like the mural says at the top, 'Protect the Sacred' ... People need to protect themselves, because they're worth it. You must remember that YOU are sacred. The more we remember that, the less things like this will happen." I love that. Remember that you are sacred. If you do that, chances are you absolutely will not put up with anything that harms anyone. Right?

"We have to learn forgiveness. Those police are scared too, they're doing their job that they've been ordered to do. But if we took off the riot gear and the headdresses, we're all just people. We can sit down to dinner together and talk about what's next, and how we can work together." I got a true sense of calm when talking with Thunder Voice Eagle, and am choosing now to look at things like he does. That we are now being forced into action as a people, and that we are in the time of being Rainbow Warriors - warriors of all colors standing together. We have to be to survive these times, and try to protect our Mother Earth. Nothing else is more crucial right now.

I could have sat and talked all day with Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle, but I was hogging him and others needed to hear his wisdom, so he left me with this ... "Have a heart at peace, but stand strong for what is right." And please, please remember what this wonderful new mural says ...

"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish is eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize you cannot eat money." - Cree prophecy

Support Standing Rock in any way you can. Support EACH OTHER any way you can. Now, more than ever.

#NODAPL