Dine’ poet Luci Tapahonso’s “Dust Precedes the Rain” seems appropriate for both a tip of the cyber hat to April as National Poetry Month –and to focus on the joys of water, especially rain–water that falls from the sky.
“The water from the sink is no good for making pottery.
It just ruins it,” my children’s Acoma grandmother would say.
Thereafter she sent the kids to replace the full bowls of rainwater
that had filled since it began to rain.
Her son said that when he was a child, the rain smelled
and tasted so good–he and other kids played outside,
laughing and running around–and they stopped once in a while to lick
the cool adobe walls . The sides of the smooth houses were
fragrant and nurturing. From atop the mesa at Acoma Pueblo,
it is possible to see almost seventy miles in each direction.
It is the same on the reservations surrounding Phoenix.
Long before the rains come, the gentle desert wind
carries the scent of rain, wild plants flutter anxiously,
and pets frolic, acting silly. To the west, the thunderheads
loom dark and full. Thin waves of dust precede the rain,
rolling tumbleweeds and bits of paper, and the children run and skip,
allowing the wind to push them along. They yell and laugh.
The lilting sounds ae carried eastward by the blowing slants
of rain–their laughs and shouts caught in the leaves of sturdy trees.
They linger in the crevices of small hills and arroyos
and finally swirl into the slopes of the purple mountains nearby.
It must have been the same when the Hohokamiki lived here
where the expressway crosses over. The children played
in the dust- charged breezes, shouting and running in circles,
and when the rains began, they paused, their faces turned upward
to taste the cool clean rain.
Their quiet gratitude for brimming pots of water remains
now in the crumbling re-buried walls fo their small homes.
The still concentration with which they painted pottery
remains in the small toys and tiny woven sandals that are unearthed:
their spirits remain in the dry grains of dirt
that were dug up by shovels, backhoes, and bulldozers.
This is evident in the persistence of the bright wild plants
that push their way out of the dry ground.
This is evident in the new growth that springs up
along the arroyos and streams following sudden rains.
This is evident in the island of peaceful silence
that the museum cradles amid the city’s frenzy.
This is evident in the restless energy of the busloads
of children who visit the old homes of the Hohokamiki today.
They recognize the old history that is theirs.
They recognize the old history that is ours.
@Luci Tapahonso, “Dust Precedes the Rain” from Blue Horses Rush In, University of Arizona Press
For many the mention of Ireland conjures thoughts of W.B. Yeats, lush green grass and dark guiness beer freely flowing in crowded pubs. Who thinks of Ireland being the battleground for a war against the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell being waged by young people, fathers, mothers, grandparents. For over 11 years Irish people have taken action against the destruction of their land and communities by Shell. Yes there is much more in Ireland than pubs and poetry.
There are major health and safety issues with the high pressure raw gas pipeline planned so close to people’s homes – regarding an earlier pipeline route Shell admitted that homes would be put within a kill-zone from heat radiation in the event of a pipe failure. The refinery itself is in the catchment area of the local drinking water supply which would be forbidden in most other European countries.
Where there are profits to be made who gives a damn about tourism, fishing, swimming and the safety of the local residents? Clearly not Shell nor the corrupt politicians who made this deal which offers no benefits to the Irish people at large nor in the communities affected by the pipeline or refinery.
Resistance in Mayo 2008
2009
Solidarity from Australia to Ireland–yes, Australia.
A continuing complaint about the Occupy Movement is lack of focus and vague demands. Apparently some folks are hearing impaired and have serious trouble reading. Maybe that’s due to the lackluster education system in America? Or is it selective hearing and intellectual denial? Indeed none of this fits well into 30 second mainstream news coverage soundbites. Probably because the issues are too big and complex and hence mainstream news mentality FAILS dramatically with anything requiring their attention beyond 5 minutes viewing span. It’s clear many people still think this movement is a ‘joke’ that will vanish with winter snows and freezing temperatures. Well, even if the symbolic tents do disappear via snow or police action–the people involved have not and they will not be invisible nor silent — even if corporate controlled mainstream media continues their puppet plays.
While much protest music has come from the past, for example, John Lennon’s “Imagine”, there are new songs being written too.
Recorded LIVE at Occupy Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland December 10, 2011 “Foreign Lands” by Matthew. Thanks to Liam of The Fingals channel, for the video.
To protest the recent Budget Cuts on the backs of the people who did not create the continually swelling economic disaster The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope filled Dame Street with scarlet in many forms–including spoken word.
Spectacle march and proclamation
Temper Mental Miss Elayneous held nothing back on December 3, 2011.
Confused? Maybe Curly can help clear up a concept or two.
If that doesn’t work maybe Peadar O hlci ‘s song “Occupy Public Spaces” will do the trick.
Recently a “pigeon” delivered a letter of Solidarity to Occupy Dame Street from Occupy Philly. So it seems fitting to connect this post about Occupy Dame Street with a tip of the tubes to Occupy Philly with their fierce Foreclosure of Wells Fargo on November 18, 2011. If this action had aired LIVE on any television station in Philly as it did on Livestream—how could anyone who suffered foreclosure in Philly not have joined Occupy Philly at Wells Fargo?
Oh yeah, they stayed! And look who WAS watching:
That’s not an American accent, is it? O my, Occupy unites the world?
New Mexico’s annual celebration of world music and culture is held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM. Now in its seventh year, the event is recognized as one of the country’s premier world music festivals.
The festival showcases renowned artists from five continents on three stages over two days, including Native artist, Academy Award winner, Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Mark your calendars, tell you friends and family, and enjoy a festive world music experience!
Join Southwest Stages and KUNM 89.9 FM for live music from ¡Globalquerque! at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, in Albuquerque NM.
Hosted by KUNM’s Matthew Finch, and KZMU’s Christy Williams, the broadcasts span both days of the festival, with 5 hours of entertainment each day from all three festival stages.
The broadcasts will feature live performances from this year’s festival and archival sets from Native artist recorded at ¡Globalquerque! over the years, along with candid backstage interviews.
Artists scheduled to perform at this year’s event include:
And it’s up to US to clean up OUR mess. Yes, it’s our responsibility to live as lightly upon Earth as we possibly can. We’ve got to do better than we have so far. 350 carbon emissions is a memory. We’re at 393 and rising. If we don’t stop ourselves from killing Earth no one else will. I’m not counting on aliens from outer space arriving in time to save us from ourselves. I’m not counting on some divine power intervening to spank us and put us on the right path. We’ve got to count on ourselves. WE’ve got to do the right thing or perish. And perish we will when the air, water and soil no longer support life on Earth. None of us can do everything, but we each can do all we can as soon as possible. Demand clean energy not more dirty oil. Germany is leading the world with shutting down nuclear power plants after learning from the ongoing disaster in Japan. Germany is going solar and wind. Why can’t the United States learn too? What are we waiting for? Extinction?
“Cut” by Vivek Chauhan with Sanctuary Asia network (www.sanctuaryasia.com).
Main source for the footage was Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s film HOME. Music by Armand Amar.
Uploaded to Youtube by bittusahgal
Much thanks to Diane Smiling Wolf Beaty for sharing this video on facebook—oh yeah, fb is good for more than silly chatter.
Ahh time to express my delight at Esperanza Spalding’s Grammy win for Best New Artist. OH YEAH!!! IF you’ve been wandering into my blogcasa for a while, then you might recall that I’ve posted another live video of Spalding igniting jazz heat onstage. I hope this delightful young woman continues firing smoking hot jazz for decades and decades to come! If you haven’t met the incredible Ms. Spalding yet, then here’s your chance. If you have–then just relax and bask in the ”steam”.
Here are some of the Native American musical nominees for the Grammy Award for Native American Music–and New Age ~Dancing Into Silence. A Spirit’s Dance won in the Native American Album category. Clicking on the cover art will take you to clips of the music on each album. Canyon Records also has a very interesting audio clip regarding their own history of recording Native American music at
There is a wide variety of wonderful music clips on the Canyon Records site which makes it enjoyable to explore extensively.
KKFI’s Native Spirit Radio’s host Rhonda LeValdo commented today that she didn’t understand why there was still only one category for Native American music in which pow wow competes against traditional music and other various Native American genres. Yes, every style of Native American music is apparently lumped into one category.
Time out for something a tad different. Who needs a breather? A touch of nostalgia? A little fairy tale? Me. Probably everyone else too. So take the time to take a time out. Feel free to add your own “time outs” to the menu.
Here are some facts worth some serious contemplation separately and together. Though, according to recent PEW Research at least 50% of Americans are entirely clueless about events in Egypt. So if you’re an American who has fallen into that dark hole of the 50% who think what goes on in Egypt is none of your concern–well, you are excused from completing this reading assignment. Heads up though, a wake up call will come soon enough because of the way money flows around the globe.
CNN Money report: “About 40% of Egypt’s citizens live on less than $2 a day….”
I don’t think you can purchase a fast food “Happy Meal” in the states for less than $2.50 without tax. That’s one junk food meal, complete with a toy, for one tiny tot being conditioned to explode into obesity with continued long term consumption of happy meal upgrades. You might be able to buy some cheap eggs and a very poor quality loaf of bread for approximately two dollars–before tax.
Politicol News Update 9 February 2011: Mubarak family worth estimated at $90 Billion.
Egypt has a population of over 80 million.
Question: So who has has been experiencing the real economic crisis?
Enough said? Care to add something to the fact bowl?
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Wondering what Native Americans think of Johnny Depp playing Tonto in a new film? Well, surf to Native America Calling’s online former broadcasts and find out. Heads up, make sure you’re wearing your satire hat for the “win Depp” show. There’s an online archive list and summary of several years of broadcasts covering everything from healthcare to water rights to “matchmaking.” Oh yes, there is more talk radio in America than the usual media attention beasts bellowing on the sound waves. The discussions on Native America Calling are lively, smart, informative and enjoyable. Harlan McKosato is the show’s host and producer. Listeners are invited to call in and participate in the conversations.
Native America Calling broadcasts live Monday through Friday, 1-2pm Eastern time. 10 am PST. You can listen online too.
On Monday, February 7, 2011 the topic will be the “State of Indian Education.” Having blogged my thoughts about the general state of education in America, I’m very interested in hearing this particular broadcast.
They’re serving everything from Casino Jack to Adapting to Climate Change. And it all gets archived for listening at later dates.
In the Kansas City Metro area there’s only ONE hour a week of radio programming featuring Native American music, news, issues, and people. Native Spirit Radio airs on www.kkfi.org hosted by Rhonda LeValdo (Acoma Pueblo), on Sundays, 5-6pm CST. NSR streams online.
Escape the radio boxes by expanding your listening horizons to Native America Calling. Sharing your discoveries here is very welcome.
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