Feather Chronicles 2018

Feather Chronicles 2018 Edition

Feather Chronicles 2018

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Feather Chronicles 2018 Edition Feather Chronicles has been in publication since 2007 so 2018 is our eleventh year. 2018 also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the College of Menominee Nation. Like the College, the magazine continues to grow and improve. Works of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction stand alongside beautiful photography and digital art to create this wonderful collection of creative work from CMN students and others in the greater CMN Community.

Several years ago, Feather Chronicles began publishing academic works by CMN students. This issue includes several works of creative non-fiction – not traditional academic papers, but information pieces intended to shed light on important aspects of life in the CMN Community (essays by Adam Schultz and Adam LeMieux) alongside personal affirmations, including a heartfelt essay from Rebecca Edler and This I Believe essays from Adam Schultz and Kayla Diamond. We are also pleased to present works of short fiction, some by authors whose work appeared in earlier editions of the magazine (Dolly Potts), and some by authors first appearing in this edition (Michelle Peters, Mary Perez). These creative pieces appear alongside art photography from several photographers (Madona Wilber, Sheila Solenos-House, and Jenna Steeno) and drawings from Madona Wilber.

As always, Feather Chronicles thanks our contributing authors and artists. The cover image, a hopeful spring image to brighten even this bleak January day, Apple Blossoms, is by Madona Wilber.

The 2018 edition of Feather Chronicles is published online through the digital publishing platform, Issuu.com. Everything published in the magazine since the first issue is accessible in this one online place, with formatting that features state-of-the-art appearance and paging. Thanks to CMN’s Webmaster, Sue Delrow, for developing this platform for the magazine and for her work formatting and uploading content. Paperback copies in the 6-by-9 inches format introduced last year are also available through Amazon.com.

Feather Chronicles is produced by College of Menominee Nation students and includes contributed work from students (current, former, and future), CMN staff and faculty, and anyone engaged in the college’s many community activities. Submissions are welcome; please email them to DVickers@menominee.edu. Feather Chronicles content is protected by copyright controlled usually by the original author and in all other cases

by Feather Chronicles. U.S. and international copyright laws apply. Content may be reproduced only for personal, non-commercial use.

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Feather Chronicles 2018

Table of Contents Forest Story by Dolly Potts (Fiction) .............................................................................................................................. 5 Trees Above by Madona Wilber (Photo) ...................................................................................................................... 7 Why? by Rebecca Edler (Reflection) ............................................................................................................................... 8 Old Schoolhouse by Jenna Steeno (Photo) ................................................................................................................. 9 The Switch Dance by Michelle Peters (Fiction) ......................................................................................................... 10 Robin on the Wing by Madona Wilber (Photo)......................................................................................................... 12 Internship Summary by Adam Schulz (Essay) .......................................................................................................... 13 Sharpie Drawing by Madona Wilber (Drawing)....................................................................................................... 15 The Perfect Tree by Ethan Fregien (Poetry)............................................................................................................... 13 Old Barn by Sheila Solenos-House (Photo) ................................................................................................................ 17 An Educational Visit to the Reservation by Adam LeMieux (Essay) .................................................................. 18 Clouds Behind Trees by Madona Wilber (Photo) .................................................................................................... 20 Equality by Adam Schultz (This I Believe) ................................................................................................................... 21 Sharpie Drawing II by Madona Wilber (Drawing) ................................................................................................... 22 Never Give Up by Kayla Diamond (This I Believe).................................................................................................... 23 Persistent Leaf by Madona Wilber (Photo) ............................................................................................................... 24 Kokoh’s House by Mary Perez (Fiction) ....................................................................................................................... 25

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Forest Story by Dolly Potts (Fiction) As the woman ran toward the forest she could still hear the songs in her head. The water song, the food song, and the prayer song - songs going through her thoughts as she covered the distance to the tree line. The woman recently lost a child in an accident. In preparation for the four days to come she asked the people of her circle to hold a ceremony for her. The grief she felt was so miserable that she could not focus on what she must do now. All her circle came together and sang the songs of blessings for her. Now she must go into the forest to release her grief and prepare to face making ready for her child’s journey into the afterlife.

She ran through calf-length grass, over the prairie flowers and the sandy loam of the field. She ran across a rainbow of color, grasses in hues of green and gold. Prairie flowers dotted the field with pastel hues like scattered pieces of confetti strewn about. All around the woman colors and light displayed happiness that she could not feel anymore.

Her feet were pounding the rhythm of the shaker and the songs echoed in her mind. The bottom of her skirt skimmed over the grass smoothly through the flowers. The woman focused only on what was in front of her. She was running, she did not want to trip or fall. She looked ahead to see the edge of the forest coming rapidly toward her.

The field was awash with light and color but the forest edge was a deep, dark, green awaiting to envelope her in the darkness. The darkness was where her emotions lay, deep in her chest wrapped around her heart. She felt completely washed in anguish for the tragedy that had befallen her.

As she moved into the edges of the tree line she immediately felt the coolness of the shaded canopy on her skin. The cold quelled her elevated heart rate and temperature. Around her was a deep emerald-green foliage. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. The quiet enveloped her like a soft green velvet robe stopping the songs and replacing them with a crystal calmness. The woman’s movement slowed and with measured steps she begins to walk down the path in the forest. Under her feet the softness of the moss she walked on sent a calming signal to her mind.

The woman knew that this was her escape from her grief, here in the forest. She would continue down the path until she found the tree to release her sadness. She would know when she

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Feather Chronicles 2018 came to the tree that would receive her prayers. The woman passed through the trees, massive pines and huge oaks standing like strong chieftains in the forest. Her steps were measured and respectful, she knew that she was in the presence of her people’s royalty. The woman was in a court of spirituality greater than herself.

The woman had gone to her family for comfort after the accident happened. People could only sympathize; she still felt the crushing grief. Her child’s death left this dark monster consuming her emotions. Looking up at the tall, stately giants over her she felt the soothing strength of the trees.

Soaring into the sunlit sky these giants reached into the heavens closer to Creation than people. The trees would take the woman’s remorse to the universe then return it to her as energy to face life.

This was the reason for the ceremony, she would pour her grief into one of these giants leaving it here so she might heal.

There ahead of her stood the giant, a centurion standing in the forest. The woman inhaled a slow deep breath at the sight. Dark, rippling brown bark blanketed the trunk. Deep grooves lined its massive circumference. Enormous limbs reached for the sky above, forming an intricate mesh of veins carrying warmth and water to nourish the chief. The leaves of the giant were jade jewels perfectly draping the chief like a robe. Some of the leaves pointed upward sending life-giving oxygen into the atmosphere, turning poisons into the next breath.

The woman quickened her step, when she reached the tree she threw her arms around the trunk. The bark was rough against her cheek. The sharpness pressed into her skin bringing her awareness of her life and memories of her child. Weeping, the woman inhaled a deep gasp filling her lungs with the atmosphere of healing. When the woman exhaled she let out a loud, long wailing cry.

She put into the cry all the dark monster’s hurt, all the dark monster’s pain. Spent, she collapsed into a kneeling position, her hand slowly caressing the bark as she went to the moss-covered earth. A relieving sigh followed as the woman felt the dark monster leave her soul. There was no other sound in the forest but the sound of the woman. It was as if the animals stopped their noises in a moment of silence. The woman looked skyward and said a quiet prayer of thanksgiving in her mind. Using the tree as support the woman rose to face the world.

The woman walked back through the forest with the medicine of the forest healing her spirit.

She knew in time she would feel happy and whole again. The happy memories of her child will always be there. By going to the forest, she placed them in her heart. She put the tragedy

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Feather Chronicles 2018 somewhere for creation to take care of. The woman would not pick it up again to wash over herself and her spirit. She felt strong enough to face the preparations for her child’s journey. She had left the dark monster in the forest receiving rejuvenation for her soul. The sun shone through the leaves of the forest dappling her path. Her faith in Creation had been restored now she must bring order to her life.

Trees Above by Madona Wilber (Photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Why? by Rebecca Edler (Reflection) When I was not yet one year old, my mother received a telephone call asking her to, “come home…. something happened.” As she drove to her parents’ home, thoughts of uncertainty ran through her head. What could it be?

Upon arriving, driving the car up the long driveway, and turning in front of the garage, she instantly knew. Her father, a man she loved dearly, lay in a pool of his own blood. Words cannot describe the moments that followed. The gun, that awful gun, lay across his chest. Where is mom?

The body, oh, the precious body. Dad what did you do? Then the question entered her head, the question that remains today… why? Why suicide? Why? There is no cultural boundary for suicide. Although females attempt suicide more often, males are more successful at committing suicide. This can be linked to the fact that males use more lethal methods. Over half of the suicides completed are done with the use of a firearm.

Suicide is a reality, and below are some possible warning signs:

Says, I don’t want to live: If some mentions something like, “You would be better off without me”, or “I don’t want to be here”, take them seriously.

Unhappy: If a person exhibits moody, or unhappy behavior, or displays signs of hopelessness.

Ill: If a person cannot eat, or has trouble sleeping.

Change in habits or interests: If you notice that someone has a drastic change in interests within the family or with peers.

Impulsive behavior: If you notice a person taking unnecessary risks or disregarding their personal safety.

Declining grades: If a student displays a lack of interest in school, or if their grades take a drastic drop.

Exists in their own world: If a person becomes withdrawn or seems secluded.

According to Joel Dvoskin, a psychologist at the University of Arizona Medical School, "The main cause of suicide is intolerable, usually psychological pain, and suicide is most often an exit strategy. It's a way of ending a person's pain when they can't think of any way to end that pain."

Depression is a risk factor for suicide; but despair, or not seeing a way out of pain can become suicidal.

As in the case of my Grandfather, I cannot say why he committed suicide. Our family does not speak of it much. In fact, within the family different opinions are held as to the reason why it happened. However, I do know the effect of his suicide changed my family forever. And, I can tell you that the loss of someone by suicide forever leaves the question...why?

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Old Schoolhouse by Jenna Steeno (Photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 The Switch Dance by Michelle Peters (Fiction) When I entered the powwow circle that day, I never would of thought that I would be wearing a beautiful men’s fancy dance full regalia, feeling overwhelmingly happy as I ever have been, or as infatuated for a man as I have ever been, especially one that I just met.

Here is how the powwow trail life in the Midwest can be. It can be very tiring, but also very rewarding. I get to meet up with old friends and make new friends all the time. I love camping with my relatives. After we pitch our tent and unpack our gear, it's time to start braiding everyone’s hair.

Getting our regalia on, we make sure everything is fastened tightly so we don’t drop anything in the powwow circle. We make our way to the arbor to get lined up for Grand Entry. I love feeling the heartbeat of the drum and being as one with it. I am blessed to be able to dance for those who cannot dance. I am blessed to be able to lift my prayers up to Maec-Awaetok for my Menominee ancestors when I am in the circle.

I can be free as I want to be when I’m dancing as my shawl swings fast and graceful to the beat of the drum, swishing, twirling, swirling all in time with the beat of the drum. This is my happy place - the place my spirit rises and is free. After the first three honor songs, I move to our seats to set down my shawl, grab a water bottle and go off to look for my friend Shanice who is usually selling her wonderful merchandise in the vendors’ arena.

“It’s about time you make your way over here, Reyelle” says a familiar voice.

“Hello my neskunii, Shanice!” She is sitting behind her tables that hold her beautiful Blackfeet beadwork.

“Come help me with these two boxes in the van, I have something for you”. We walk behind her stand to her van only a few feet away. She tells her cousin Tasii to keep an eye on the stand. She pulls out the first box that is smaller, and has newspaper hanging out of it. As I open it I find a beautiful beaded black and silver medicine pouch in it.

“Shanice!!” I yell from the top of my lungs. “It’s so beautiful!!” It is a beautiful leather medicine bag that has my deceased mother’s original woodland print of flowers swirling around it in a square. “How did you get this?!” I am so excited.

As I carefully run my fingers over it I can almost feel my mother’s breath all around me. My heart beats faster with excitement as tears run down my face.

“I took it from one of her pictures I have of both of you in your regalia, when you were dancing at Crow Fair back in 2000”.

I can’t believe it. It is like getting a piece of her all to myself. I hug Shanice so tight because I can’t hold back the tears.

“You made this for me?” I ask.

“Yes, I had a dream of this print back in February, so as soon as I woke up, I started to make this. I knew you’d love it.”

“Oh my god, Shanice, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” I say as I look up at her with a big smile.

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Feather Chronicles 2018 “You can dance hard, just like she always did, and pray for our people while doing it.”

“I will, always, I promise.”

Shanice began looking for the other box she had, moving blankets, and clothing out of her way. At last she found it, pulled out the medium-sized box, and handed it to me. I had already attached the medicine pouch to my belt. The box was a little heavy, so I sat it on the ground as I opened it up. Inside there was a long, beautiful cedar feather box that had my mother’s design carved into it, as well as a red t-shirt, and another red piece of cloth. I opened up the box, and inside was a new fan full of eagle feathers bound by red cloth and beaded with my mother’s design. My heart was overjoyed! As I could feel the lump in my throat forming again, I grabbed the red t-shirt. I opened it up and there was my mother and me in our regalia at Crow Fair. It had MMIW written on the sleeves. I turned to Shanice.

“What does MMIW stand for?” I asked her, as tears fell from my eyes.

“Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Reyelle.”

I grabbed the red cloth and unfolded a huge red flag that had “Remembering our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women” written in bold black letters. I stood there sobbing into my friend’s embrace. Remembering my mother and all that she meant to me, I was sad and happy at the same time. I was so thankful for my friend and these gifts she had for me. ************************************************************* The second day of the powwow was warm, sunny and bright. I woke up to the sounds of children running and playing outside our tent. I put on my capris, and red t-shirt I got from Shanice, put my tennis shoes on, and walked out of my tent. My cousin Tammy sat the firepit drinking some coffee.

“About time you roll out. Let’s go see what kind of breakfast food we can find at the stands.”

“S’koden” “S’toodis” I said, as we both laughed and began walking towards the food stands.

We walked towards the only stand that was open with a few people lined up. As we were looking at the breakfast menu written on a white dry-erase board hanging on the pole, a man’s voice said “Try the Dancer’s Special, it’s good and it’s the healthiest choice they have.” We both turned around and there stood a tall dark and handsome man with long braids that fell onto his chest. He wore black jogging pants, and a black t-shirt that said “Cree Nation” in big, white letters.

“Nice shirt,” he said to me. All I could do was a forced half-smile.

“It's a picture of me and my mom”. I could barely croak the words out. I was nervous and feeling butterflies in my stomach. I turned back around after we ordered our food, and he was gone.

Tammy and I sat down at the picnic table and ate our food before we walked back to our tents to get ready for Grand Entry.

After I danced a few songs I sat down on my lawn chair and drank a bottled water. The emcee said the next dance was going to be the “Switch Dance.” What the Hell is the ‘Switch Dance’ I thought. I gave my cousin Tammy a weird look. Suddenly that man’s voice was behind me again.

“Don’t you know what the Switch Dance is?” I turned around and saw a strong looking Traditional Men’s dancer standing before me.

“No, do you?”

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Feather Chronicles 2018 He said, “Yeah, of course I do. Wanna switch outfits?”

After he explained to me that the Switch dance was when a man and woman switch into each other’s regalia and dance together, I felt so dumb.

“My name is Joey Tallow by the way. I’m a Cree Indian from Edmonton, Alberta”.

“Okay, but you gotta promise me to take care of my regalia.” I said as I began to remove my regalia. I couldn’t believe how totally smitten I was with this man.

Robin on the Wing by Madona Wilber (photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Internship Summary by Adam Schultz (Essay) Koolamalsi, My name is Adam Schulz and I am a student and Agriculture Research Intern at the College of Menominee Nation’s (CMN) Sustainable Development Institute (SDI). Today I am going to share a synapse of the research project that my partner, Dolly Potts, and I have been working on since last year.

Our research project is growing Bear Island Flint Corn testing three (3) amendments and a control. This is a randomized replication study with each treatment being repeated four (4) times.

Our plots are laid out in sixteen (16) ten-foot by fifteen-foot plots. Each plot contains four sub-rows of corn. Each row has thirty plants. The garden is set up with four plots per row. The garden is set up with walking paths between each set of plots and a two-foot buffer zone around the garden.

Our research mimics the use of two of the amendments found in the archeological work of Dr. David Overstreet, Menominee tribal archeologist - bio-char and aquatic substance. The third amendment is a conventional fertilizer available for everyday use called Urea. Urea is a nitrogenbased fertilizer. Bio-char is made by burning wood down to a charcoal state and then raking it into the soil. We substituted fish emulsion for aquatic substance because of safety concerns. Fish emulsion is ground up fish and is available for purchase at gardening stores and online. If one wanted to make their own fish emulsion they would need one part fish or fish guts, one part molasses, and two parts saw dust. First, cut or blend the fish parts into a fine mixture, then combine with molasses and saw dust. Store outside in direct sunlight to ferment, stirring the mixture daily.

The last amendment is the control, which means nothing is added to the soil.

We are using a corn that Dr. Overstreet found in his archeological digs in ancient Menominee garden beds. The corn is called Bear Island Flint Corn and is commonly associated with the Ojibwa people. The corn is named after an island in Canada where it originated. Bear Island Flint is a perfect corn to grow in Northern Wisconsin. It has an 85- to 90-day maturity rate that coincides with our growing season. Traditionally, flint corn is a grinding corn used for a wide range of purposes from flour to soup. If it is picked in the green stage, the stage sweet corn comes from, it is very sweet and highly nutritious. Our seed had over 90% germination rate. This high germination rate is common of this species and better than the 60- 80% germination rate common of store bought varieties.

The western scientific part of this research project included collecting and analyzing data on corn yield, kernel size, moisture content of the plants and seed, and differences among the four treatment methods. We were trained by our UW Extension partner, Jamie Patton, on how to use different soil monitoring devices such as moisture meters, soil probes, and lab equipment. Jamie also showed us how to measure for plant growth, how to examine the corn and decide when it is dried

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Feather Chronicles 2018 enough to pick, and she provided workshops on soil morphologies. I built data sheets in Google Docs to record various data we collected. Once the year-one data was compiled, I got the chance to work with CMN Mathematician Harlan Pygman to analyze our compiled data. Our hypothesis that the bio-char and fish emulsion would grow better was further supported by the analysis.

The inferential data suggested the corn averaged 30% bigger kernels in the bio-char plots over the other three treatment plots. The data also showed a higher biomass in grams in the fish emulsion treated plots. We are in the process of repeating the study this year to provide more statistical evidence supporting our ancestral indigenous knowledge.

An exciting aspect of the research project is the demonstrations and speeches I have had the chance to attend and present. The first presentation and conference I took part in was the SDI intern report-out in August of 2017. This report-out session gives interns the chance to recap their summer projects for the mentors, family, and community members. The second presentation I took part in was the Red Lake Nation Food Summit in Red Lake, Minnesota.

At the food summit we learned about all the food sovereignty projects taking place in Indian country. Dolly and I talked about our corn project and met some new friends who are also growing corn. I met a Red Lake gentleman named Jack who is growing a Red Lake strand of Flint Corn. Jack taught me how to make hominy corn. I brought this new skill back to Wisconsin and have since made several batches of hominy, including for the planting feast we held at the start of this year’s project at the end of May. There have been several other national conferences that I attended and presented our research. We left Red Lake and traveled south to Mystic Lake, Minnesota for the Native American Nutrition conference that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Nation hosts. Dolly and I attended several breakout sessions with our mentor, SDI Sustainability Coordinator, Rebecca Edler. We also presented our research paper at a two-hour poster session. Our posters were also on display for the entire time we were at the conference. I have also presented at American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) events in New Mexico and Washington D.C. This research project has given me the chance to supplement the skills I accumulated while attending CMN. Furthermore, I learned a lot of interesting tidbits about corn, research, and the quest for food sovereignty across Indian country. I have learned how indigenous knowledge on food is rapidly supplementing and educating western approaches to gardening. I highly recommend to anyone interested in Indian agricultural traditions to look into the research being conducted at CMN and SDI and consider CMN for your educational needs. Thank you kindly for taking time to read my report.

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Sharpie Drawing by Madona Wilber (Drawing)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 The Perfect Tree by Ethan Fregien (Poetry) Christmas is coming Soon they will need a tree I want them to take me My mother talks of heaven Where you are bright Where you are dressed Where you are king.

I see them coming now One old and one young This will be my year The girl sees me “Here daddy! The perfect tree!”

My mother talks of heaven Soon I will see The man carries a strange cane The end glistens and gleams “The perfect tree” he says This is it! I am king!

Thwack!

Shock Pain What is he doing to me?

Suffering, agony Thwack Thwack Excruciating Please mother make it stop Thwack Thwack I try to scream No sound comes out Sobbing I fade away Wake Is this it? Heaven have I heard?

I am here, I am weak, I am king.

Weights hang heavy, the pain returns Shining bright wire burns my flesh Mother, please help me Bring me death’s sweet luxury 16 | P a g e

Feather Chronicles 2018 My tormentors sing songs And hang more weight I cannot bear Twenty more days in hell Boxes at my feet Soon I will be thrown away Tossed to rot, the worms will consume Do not worry mother The man is coming now He looks at me, he smiles “Beautiful, shame you must go You were The perfect tree.�

Old Barn by Sheila Solenos-House (Photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 An Educational Visit to the Reservation by Adam LeMieux SDI Phenology Research Intern (Essay) People who drive past the College of Menominee Nation (CMN) in Keshena may notice the small building just south of the College. Some may wonder what goes on in that building. That building is the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) of the College of Menominee Nation.

SDI uses interns from CMN and other colleges to help with sustainability projects that benefit our area. One of the projects SDI and the interns worked on last summer was the Visualizing Future Forests (VIFF) project. This project, which is a collaboration between CMN SDI and other colleges including Penn State, uses traditional knowledge and modern technology to show how the things we do in the present will affect the forests in the future. Another project, for which I am an intern along with Cat Majer and Luke Perez, is the Plant Phenology as an Indicator of Climate Change project. Plant phenology is the study of how seasonal and climatic changes affect the timing of life cycle events (phenophases) that occur in plants and other living organisms during an annual growth period. This project is a collaboration between CMN SDI, Menominee community members, the US Forest Service, and the University of Minnesota. During the last growing season, we explored whether plant phenology can be used as an early indicator of climate change. Besides these two, there are many other projects that interns at SDI worked on last summer. Through these projects the interns got to learn more about our environment and how to better take care of it for our future generations while also getting vital work experience.

There are many other learning opportunities for SDI interns besides their projects. During the week of June 4th, all of the SDI interns attended an annual event called the Indigenous Planning Summer Institute. This was a week-long event that helped introduce the interns to the SDI staff, each other, the projects that they would be working on, and the surrounding area. One of the trips we took that week was a tour of the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation.

On the morning of June 7th, the interns met at the SDI office and, with Sustainability Coordinators Rebecca Edler and Cherie Thunder, we loaded up a bus and headed to the reservation.

The tour started with a drive to the Arvid E. Miller Stockbridge Munsee Historical Library Museum.

Even though I am a tribal member, I had never visited this museum and I was looking forward to it.

When we arrived at the museum, we were greeted by Jeff Vele and Molly Miller. To start the tour, we

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Feather Chronicles 2018 watched an informative video about the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee people. When we finished, we looked at the wall of elders and I was able to find pictures of two of my relatives, my great-grandmother Alice Gardner and my great-aunt Eunice Stick. I also found out that I am distantly related to Adam Schulz, another one of the interns. Molly then showed us the exhibits that are on display in the museum. I felt that the museum did a great job explaining the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee people.

After we left the museum, we went to the Longhouse in the North Star Casino for lunch. This was a nice treat since I have always enjoyed eating at the Longhouse. During lunch we met Kellie Zahn. Kellie is in charge of maintaining the garden plots on the reservation. We also got to meet Tribal President Shannon Holsey. She stopped in and introduced herself to our group while we were eating. After lunch Kellie took us to one of the garden plots.

When we arrived, we were greeted by tribal member Joe Miller. Kellie and Joe explained how important the garden plots are to the community, especially during harvest time. Kellie then gave us a demonstration of how they plant and weed the gardens using time- saving tools like a flame weeder. After that, we wrapped up the tour and headed back to SDI. This tour was extremely informative and taught me many things I did not know about my own people. Jeff, Molly, Joe, and Kellie were all very helpful and were able to answer any questions the interns had. Thank you to all of them for taking time out of their schedules to take us on the tour.

So, if you feel bored and are looking for something to do, take a tour of the museum or contact Kellie Zahn about volunteering at the garden plots. The gardens are a big task and Kellie could use the help.

If you are in college and looking for an internship, or just curious about sustainable development, stop in at SDI and learn about all the different projects they will be doing this spring and summer.

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Clouds Behind the Trees by Madona Wilber (Photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018

Equality by Adam Schultz (This I Believe) I believe that every person is equal and should be treated as such. It does not matter what color one’s skin is. It does not matter what sexual orientation one has. It does not matter if a person is of a certain country. The religion one practices should not make them inferior to any other person.

Equality is the right of all mankind. Humans put up barriers that no other animal in the kingdom puts up. The sooner mankind can get over our prejudices, the better off we will be. This is my reason why I believe.

Color of one’s skin: Great leaders have started down the path of unity. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that he shared with the world. King had a dream that colored people would be held as equals with white people. His dream has been met with resistance, violence, and hatred. Still he persevered. King fought for the same civil rights for colored people that are afforded to white people.

He never used violence nor tried to bring white people down. King instead used his platform to elevate colored people to the same status as white people. King, as do I, believed all people should be treated as equals.

When I was a little boy I witnessed my dad countless times help people who were broke down on the side of the road. One day the people my dad helped had dark skin. I had never seen anyone close to me help a black person before. I asked my dad why he helped those people. My dad told me, “Son, if you have the skills or the power to help someone you do it. Always treat everyone equally and never withhold your help because someone is different then you.”

Years went by and I find myself helping people who are broke down on the side of the road, my dad’s message always ringing in my head. I smiled when my daughters asked me the same question as I asked my dad. My dad has since passed but I imagined him smiling down on me as I passed his message of treating people equal on to my daughters.

Country and nationality: Take the Allied forces of World War Two. They fought against white supremacy in the form of German Nazi’s. The Allied forces fought for freedom and equal treatment for numerous nationalities. Millions of Jewish people died because of intolerance and ignorance: intolerance of their differences, skin tone, and way of life and ignorance of celebrating our differences, not fearing them. Ignorance of accepting one’s own faults. Ignorance of taking ownership of equality.

Orientation and religion: I believe everyone is equal and should be treated equal. It does not matter if one loves other men or women. One should not be feared or treated as an inferior for following their heart. People will hide their ignorance and intolerance behind their religious views. If one is to follow the teachings of religion, then they should follow a path of tolerance and forgivingness. The Bible says honor thy neighbor. It does not put limitations on honor. The creator is about acceptance and love, as am I. This I believe is mankind’s greatest strength, equality.

When I was in high school I was faced with a choice - accept my friend who just told us he was gay, or act like the rest of our friends and shun him. I remembered what my dad did in the same

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Feather Chronicles 2018 situation. A lady my dad has been friends with since high school told him and their group of friends that she met a lady she really likes, and she was a lesbian. She told them she was scared of going to a gay club and meeting this lady. My dad was the first one to say I will go with you. I witnessed my dad treat his friend with equality, no matter what her sexual preference was. I too showed my friend with equality.

Conclusion: I believe all people are created equal and should be treated that way. Skin color, sexual orientation, nationality, and religion are not disqualifiers to humans being equal. We do not honor the great spirit when we show hatred and fear of human kinds differences. Make a difference, treat all of human kind as equals and the world will be a better place. Treat the environment and animals as equals. Equality is our rights and responsibility, this I believe.

Sharpie Drawing II by Madona Wilber (Drawing)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Never Give Up by Kayla Diamond (This I Believe) I believe you should never give up. No matter how good or bad your life is going, you can always find an excuse to give up. But it works the other way too. There comes that moment in all of our lives when we feel like completely giving up, when nothing seems to go the way we planned, and the future looks bleak. In times like these, we feel that there is no reason to keep on trying. If you look for a reason to keep going, you can find it. Everyone goes through tough times in life where it would be easier to call it quits versus pushing through. Believe me; I’ve been there many times. I can honestly say that I don’t even remember how many times I wanted to just call it quits, but instead of quitting, I kept going.

I didn’t have the easiest life growing up. My parents divorced when I was really young and they never got along. My mom had boyfriends that weren’t the greatest come and go my whole life.

As much as I wanted to be successful right out of high school and do something with my life, I wasn’t.

I got married and had my first child at a young age. That marriage took a turn for the worse and I soon found myself in an abusive situation that could have ended very badly. When my son was two, I decided if I wanted to give my son the life he deserved, I had to leave my abusive husband. This meant I had to start over with nothing. I didn’t have a house, job, or any money saved up. I ended up moving into a small bedroom in the house of a distant family member.

It was tough being a single mom and coming out of the relationship I was in. There were many nights I cried myself to sleep because this wasn’t the life I wanted, let alone a life I wanted for my son. I wanted to give up and just be done with life, but at the same time I knew I had a little boy that depended on me and would look up to me one day. I tried my hardest to find a job but was unsuccessful. At this point I knew the best decision for myself and my son was to go back to school.

I was the first in my family to go to college, so I didn't have much help from my family when it came to the process of starting school. I was so nervous and scared that I almost gave up, but once again I knew giving up wasn’t an option. In Spring of 2013, I started my first semester of college. It was definitely not easy being a full-time student and being a mom, but I did it. I was about halfway through my Associate Degree when I had my second child. I knew I was going to have to work twice as hard to accomplish the goals that I had set, but I was determined to do it. In May of 2017 I walked across the stage and received my Associate Degree in Business Administration. At that time, I had no intentions on continuing on for my Bachelor’s Degree, but after explaining to my six-year-old son what a diploma was and how all the nights of studying and doing homework at the table was for this, he said “I can’t wait to get a diploma and graduate just like you mom.” His saying that made me thankful that I never gave up.

It has been said that life can never be carried out and truly lived to its fullest unless there has been some sort of suffering and pain. Mistakes are to be learned from, and a hard past can only result in a stronger present. Though many might find themselves alone in their misery the truth is they are not, everyone has struggles. If I would have given up the very first time that I wanted to I wouldn’t have met my current husband, I wouldn’t have my daughter, my son wouldn’t have an amazing father that stepped up and is raising him as his own, and I wouldn’t be the mother, wife, student, and employee that I am today. This is why I believe that you should never give up.

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Persistent Leaf by Madona Wilber (Photo)

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Kokoh’s House by Mary Perez (Fiction) When she arrived at the church that day, she could feel the mean stare, coming from that one bitter person. Alice ignored it and focused on her Grandmother, “Kokoh,” laying in a pine box.

There was nothing fancy, no pillows or big ornate handles. A plain, pine casket, made from the trees out of our beautiful forest. That was how she wanted it. Kokoh made all of her own funeral arrangements herself, when her mind was still able. Alice had brought a blanket for her Kokoh and placed it in the casket with her. Kokoh’s hands were placed neatly together, with a rosary draping over them and an eagle feather placed under them. Alice leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s hands. The hands that held her lovingly, the hands that gently brushed Alice’s long hair, the hands that taught her how to cook and bake so well. Now those hands just lay there, still. Alice couldn’t hold back her tears, they came flooding down her cheeks uncontrollably. She whispered, “Maec wae non, journey well, Kokoh. Ketapanen”. Alice took some Kleenex from her pocket and wiped her wet face, then blew her nose.

She turned around to sit down at a pew nearby, and there she was, her ‘mother’ Diane. She was staring at Alice with a hateful look on her old, wrinkled face. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, that’s how Diane always looked at her. Alice found a spot to sit, not close to Diane. Before arriving at the church, the thought crossed Alice’s mind, what if her ‘mother’ tried to hug her? How would she handle that? She disliked her ‘mother’ and did not want anything to do with her. Diane was mentally unstable, and unpredictable. Alice lost all respect, and any love that she had left for her, when Diane screamed and yelled obscenities at her own elderly mother, because she was giving the house to Alice. Kokoh was so upset and scared that she moved out of the home that she had been in for sixty years. Alice’s aunt had power of attorney over her grandmother and moved her into a nursing home. Alice stayed at the home and told Kokoh that she would be there for her if she ever wanted to come home. Diane went to the house and told Alice that she had to move. She was the oldest, and she was going to live there. Alice’s aunt who had power of attorney told Diane that Alice was going to stay there because that was her grandmother’s wishes. Diane was furious.

When Alice was one, her father died in a car accident. Diane decided to take Alice and move to some city three hours away from the reservation. It didn’t take long for Diane to find herself a new man and get pregnant. Alice was two then. Diane’s new man was an abusive alcoholic. When Alice was about three years old, she told her Kokoh how mean her stepfather was to her mother. Diane was embarrassed, and she was mad at Alice for telling her. Diane was constantly praising up her new man, Jim. Alice’s grandmother could see that Diane and Jim were focused on themselves and their new son. Alice went home with her grandmother, and never went back.

Jim and Diane moved to his reservation forty years later. His reservation was very close to ours. Diane would visit her mother and Alice occasionally. She was jealous of the relationship between Alice and her Kokoh. She saw how loved Alice was and wanted her son to get the same attention. Diane felt resentful. Diane found out that Alice was getting the house when Kokoh died.

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Feather Chronicles 2018 Diane felt that she was entitled to the house, since she was the oldest daughter. Her mother told her that she was leaving the house to Alice, and she could choose whoever she wants to give her house to. Diane told Alice that the house rightfully belonged to her, and that she should step down. Alice replied, “Over my dead body.”

After Diane verbally abused her mother, she went home and wrote her a terrible letter. Alice wanted to read the letter but her Kokoh wouldn’t let her. “It’s terrible, you don’t want to read it,” she said. Alice wondered if she was mentioned in the letter. Nobody ever found the letter. Diane stayed bitter up until Kokoh passed away.

Alice stayed for the dinner at the church hall after they buried Kokoh in the catholic cemetery.

She sat down and was enjoying the delicious homemade dinner that was offered. It wasn’t a fancy dinner, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn. It was the usual funeral food, and the cooks out-did themselves for this particular funeral. When Alice first sat down with her plate, she took a quick look around, and Diane still had that bitter look on her face when their eyes met. Alice quickly looked down at her plate and started to pick at her food. Diane always made her feel so sad.

Family members started to stop and sit down by Alice, hugging her and offering kind words.

Alice forgot all about Diane and her negativity. She ate and visited with family until everybody start clearing out of the hall.

Alice was feeling better by the time she started to head home. She thought about Kokoh, and how she was in a better place. She thought about her smiling and laughing with her loved ones that had journeyed before her. She smiled while she pulled into the driveway. “It’s just a matter of time when she’ll come home to visit me, she thought.”

She turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To her horror she saw Diane sitting in front of the stove. Her eyes were wide open. She had slit her wrists and there was blood draining onto her lap. It was clear she had been there for a while. Her face was grey, her lips blue. It was clear that she was dead already. Next to her, there was a piece of paper, the puddle of blood almost nearing its edges. Alice grabbed the note, it said, “OVER MY DEAD BODY!”

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