National Native News Special Features

Today's feature on National Native news a Hawaiian song contest featuring traditional choral music. I'm Nelly more every year of the native Hawaiian students a kamehameha at school hold a Song Contest Hawaii Public Radio's Craig DeSilva produced this report after last spring's event. Music in the Hawaiian islands began thousands of years ago in the form of the melody Olli or chant monotone without instrumental accompany these chants were sung by Native Hawaiians to record their history and honor the gods in nature. It wasn't until the eighteen hundreds upon arrival of the Christian missionaries the native Hawaiians began singing with harmony. It's these two musical traditions that come together every spring by the Hawaiian high school students of the Camino schools young men and women from each class from freshman to senior compete against each other in the audience field or you know their nervousness are hidden by smiles as they project each note. The Song Contest has a rich history says Randy Fong a school's

performing arts director. It's a history that goes back 73 years as its history really back to the origins of the school when it was first founded 1887 in those those early administrators or early faculty members. Brought with them an east coast Western club tradition and of course the Hawaiians coming into the schools at that time already had a native tradition. And so the two mixed nicely into this whole y and choral tradition which are coming form. You know the Kamehameha Schools were for more than a century ago by the will of princes Bernice bishop who wanted to assure the education of native Hawaiian children. It's named after her great grandfather King Kamehameha the first who united the islands in 1789

to form one Hawaiian Kingdom. As the school got bigger so did the song contests not televise it's become one of the biggest events celebrating Hawaiian music the songs are usually composed by many of Hawaii's famous songwriters including Hawaii's royalty. Many of whom were composers but Funk says the event is more than just a song contests. It's a lesson in the Hawaiian heritage. That's where the song contest is one way of keeping in touch with our culture in Hawaii style text is primary. And so there's a lot of attention paid to correct pronunciation and feeling. Being sort of transported to another place and time. Type of experience. A lot of the words are from originally from chance which go back to pre western days. Not all the students come from musical backgrounds but during the months of rehearsal leading up to the competition the students spent hours outside of the regular class schedule developing an appreciation of the Hawaiian language and music.

The songs are about places and things in Hawaii. This song called Kyoto is about a favorite Hawaiian fish. It talks about how the fish swims in the water and how it's eaten. It was led by junior song leader Amy. The song is very fast it's like a tongue twister kind of song but the words spill right out of your mouth. It's a very fun song it's very popular. It's a part of the past and it's a party song. I grew up in a big musical family on Hawaiian homestead now he says. Whether they win or lose each class comes out with a victory. It brings a lot of pride to the community and that's something that hasn't been there for a while. I'm not I'm only 16 years old but a lot of people were ashamed of being Hawaiian.

Maybe in a certain way and song contests is just it's a way the world pretty much or the nation that Hawaiians have pride though we know our culture we enjoy our current culture and we still practice it for national native news in Honolulu Hawaii. I'm proud to say National Native news features are made possible by a co wanted Broadcast Corporation the country's first urban Native American radio station serving listeners in Alaska and throughout the nation. Public. Radio. International. Today's feature on National Native news a collection of photographs that explore the Lumbee culture. I'm Nelly more mintage photographs are an important part of any culture's historical documentation. They allow people to see their ancestors and how the culture has changed over the years. The Lumbee of North Carolina have lacked

such a historical compilation that is until recollections Lumbee heritage. It's a photography exhibit that was on display last spring at the Mint Museum in Charlotte North Carolina. As WFAA Susanne Stevens reports the exhibit was an attempt to tell the history of the tribe that has been struggling for years to attain federal recognition. The Lumbee s roots are firmly entrenched in North Carolina specifically Robison County. They are the largest Native American group east of the Mississippi and archeological records indicate the Lumbee Set been in North Carolina for over 14000 years. However the tribe is not recognized by the U.S. government something the Lumbee have been seeking for nearly 100 years. Mark Leach is curator of 20th century art at Charlotte's Mint Museum. He says the Lumbee are rarely included in Native American exhibits and they hope recollections Lumbee heritage will serve as a historical record of the tribes

evolution. They had their language taken away from them their land taken away from them I mean how do you prove that you're who you are. If the mechanisms that traditionally have been used by your people to identify yourselves they have no currency in a white world. The Lumbee These are survivors though in the 17 hundreds there were 30 nations in North Carolina by 1970 just six tribes remained including the Lumbee. The Lebanese lost their language land and religion. When European settlers moved into Robison County the tribe's ability to assimilate is reflected in the exhibit recollections Lumbee heritage. The photos don't fit the stereotypical view of Native Americans. The pictures show natives dressed in European style clothing. There are photos of Lumby farmers lobbying Congress in 1940 and of Lumby serving in the military. Love the rocksand Lippard says there is also a photo that looks like a mug shot.

In fact that picture was part of the U.S. government's effort to categorize the Lumbee s to document what it called the Lumbee Indian this. This is Dennehy to Wilkins. It was taken about the time of 1930 so they studied them. They lined up some men and women and asked them some questions such as Did your people speak another language. What part of you was in the. And is your mother Indian is your father Indian. The Lumbee were difficult for the government to define because they had adapted so well to European culture. Rosa Winfrey says the Lumbee had always been farmers and fisherman and were able to easily adopt other European traditions she says the Lumbee as evolution has been criticized by some in the native community. It's an effort that a lot of Indian people cross the country have not understood because I've had many people say you don't speak your

language and you don't have any of your ceremonies left. And then after I discuss the history of our people and how we were here at the onslaught. The settlers come in the end that pretty soon we knew we we wanted to survive Lumbee Vale Carter believes that ability to adapt has hindered the Lumbee effort to gain recognition from the US government. But Carter says the nation does have a distinct culture even if it's not always visible on the surface. We know that the clothes you wear in the houses you live in those things don't make you Indian Indian This has a lot to do with family and your mindset and the way you grew up and your value system where your word is your bond. We have some minor things which I guess you could say simple things like this when you're powwows spiritual gatherings this sort of

strengthens the fabric over her entire being as a tribe the Lumbee Kalter is documented in her recollections Lumbee heritage. The photos highlight the Lumbee connection to the land and water and show Native American storytellers dressed in full regalia sharing tales in animated fashion for National Native news in Charlotte North Carolina. I'm Suzanne Stephens national lead of news features are made possible by a co wanted Broadcast Corporation the country's first urban Native American radio station serving listeners in Alaska and throughout the nation. Today's feature on national news the Oakleigh last summer annals of Florida. I'm Nelly more hidden between the busy cities of Jacksonville and Orlando. The Oakland tribe is struggling to maintain its identity. Valerie Lacey reports. As the drum beats as each new heart beats the Seminole Nation faces

new challenges. They survived the wars in the seventeen hundreds by escaping to Florida then they refused to give up their land after being told to move on to Oklahoma. In many ways their battles are no less difficult today. They strive to maintain their heritage in a world where diversity may be applauded but it isn't always accepted. Tribal officials say they have found through keeping their tribal government meeting secret. They can express their culture without the scrutiny of those who may not understand Princess Flaming Star daughter of principal Chief Running BOC says as a child. The meetings were kept secret even from her. We would go to these gatherings but we were never told that this was a council of chiefs meeting. This was a gathering. Religious purpose or anything like that but we were not told because we had to move in the right world. But I mean it was very very protected. It had to be because you had to protect the home the whole as a nation not just as an individual person a

principal Chief Running BOC says many elders are still afraid their land might be taken out. And. Signs at the reservation gate symbolize their attempt to keep the outside world at bay. Written warnings say no drugs or alcohol permitted on the land but it's not an attempt to stop assimilation altogether there are some outside influences which they embrace. At a recent powwow in honor of the former chief of the selective assimilation it was evident peppered through the ritual feathers and were T-shirts and blue jeans. All of the 200 guests gathered many from Oklahoma Georgia and even as far away as Switzerland speak in English. Each person has found a place in the world but their cultural ties always bring them back to this land the land claimed over three hundred years ago.

Band away from Crewe in order and their own clan plans went out the way for me. Sure it would not be right. But their attempts to protect the band through secrecy are now backfiring. They can no longer support themselves as their ancestors did by growing green corn and fishing in the nearby river. So they're asking the US federal government for assistance but the government wants proof of their lineage before they are eligible. Back at the powwow except for the sound of the drum and very little can be heard because very little is being said. This is a time of reflection on ancestors and future generations. This is the second way the lawn's attempt to maintain their heritage. The Flaming Star says their elders stay on as an anchor for the future generations and stead of retiring from the community as many other Americans do.

They don't realize that that what they're putting right is their strength. They're hiding you know. And so when they put them away they no longer have the connection that they have the only people. We are the closest you're going to get the great spirit and we either want you to run you're separating yourself from a Flaming Star says the concept is simple remind the young of their lineage and pride in their heritage will keep them from taking the wrong path. This is an increasingly difficult task since most of the youth attend public schools. But by bringing the group together and by keeping its rituals alive the band has kept a sovereign as a nation within the United States can be principal Chief Running. Robert you haven't ever given. We see we have

more national native news. I'm Valerie Lacey. National aid of news features are made possible by Cohen of Broadcast Corporation the country's first urban Native American radio station serving listeners in Alaska and throughout the nation. International. Today's feature on National Native news a Native American classical composers work Premier's in Minnesota. I'm Nelly more aware by one of the few classically trained native American composers premiered recently in St. Paul Minnesota. Brant Michael Davids a Mohican from Wisconsin arranged a Native American suite a work based on three traditional songs. It's performed by 40 members of the Dale Warland singers a choral ensemble. This report by Minnesota

Public Radio's Jock when asked us begins with Davids and a handful of singers performing for elementary school students. Brant Michael Davids stands before about 50 students at the Four Winds Elementary School in Minneapolis demonstrating one of several musical instruments of an indigenous peoples he's made. It's a burglar or a flute on the end of a string swung around overhead on a table beside him is a wooden flute and an Apache violin made from a cactus. But judging by the kids responses the most awesome instrument is a bass Crystal Skull. David's has three such flutes different sizes for different tonal ranges. He says the crystal was heated to a temperature that would melt concrete and hand-blown at a laboratory that makes test tubes and beakers for chemists. He says it took several tries and months of effort but the crystal flutes have a sound unlike either would.

Were would lose are much more airy and whispery. And while it would if you think of one polar opposite you know that we have wood flutes and then on the other side we have like orchestral metal flutes which are very sharp and metallic very brilliant sounding Crystal is somewhere in between. David says he creates musical instruments to find ways to communicate in his imagination. He says there are hundreds of native American musicians composing songs for powwows records and tapes but he writes musical scores so others can play his compositions. He says the best thing about being a composer is writing pieces you couldn't possibly perform by yourself. David has written pieces for the Joffrey Ballet the American Indian dance theatre and the famed for radio call in and talk show called Native America Calling. Now he's working with the Dale Warland singers

best known for performing classical choral music. Davis says he's enjoying the collaboration working musically you have to listen to all the other performers play together in this and in a similar beat and figure out if you're in tune to the person sitting next to you. Ken through the process of doing all this music you learn how to form important relational skills that you don't learn by just working on your own stuff all the time. Now it's important to get out and work with other people when they are they are they are they are they are they are up and down. There you go your own theory. You were married 16 was you Dale Warland singer's assistant conductor Jerry would be you know says Native American sweet and scored written musical notes and uses keys unknown in Western Europe in classical music.

Yet he says it calls on singers to use their voices and pronounce words differently. He used things that we usually only see in Vocal Jazz in American music which are slides up to the music or falls off the music. And those are you know jazz are used to that but we don't usually see that in quote unquote classical music. And here we've now seen it in in his score he uses a lot and then as he demonstrated today it's very it's very unique to the sound and without it it doesn't sound Native American. The singers have enjoyed the challenge of learning to sing different styles the the the Native American suite Michel. Like the deal more than singles in St. Paul Minnesota in St. Paul I'm shocked when asked if a a was

was the the national late of news features are made possible by conic Broadcast Corporation the country's first urban Native American radio station serving listeners in Alaska and throughout the nation. Public. Radio. International. Today's feature on National Native news a survivor of the internment speaks out. I'm Nelly Moore. Fifty three years ago all Native people on Alaska's Aleutian and Prebble off island were removed by the U.S. military after Japan invaded Kiska and add two islands. They were put into internment camps on the other side of the Gulf of Alaska old abandoned fish canneries and gold mines. When the survivors returned home after two winters in these conditions they found their belongings gone and their churches and homes damaged by two years of occupation

by U.S. troops. Nearly 50 years later the U.S. government officially apologized to the people and Congress compensated them a part of that restitution fund is being used to fund a lecture series in Alaska giving the few in tourney's who are still alive an opportunity to tell their own stories. Producer Steven primal went to one of those talks. Anatoly like kind of stands in front of a projected picture of a family aboard a ship leaving the remote island of St. George in the Bering Sea. There's a child in the picture but he says he's not sure if the child is him or some other 11 year old boy. He apologizes that he can only bring us the memories of an 11 year old but most of those who could tell the story better were gone. This project the picture had been the famous famous picture for the alue being evacuated from prevalence from St. Paul

Island and St. George Island and later on crossing the Gulf of Alaska. The ship was a troop carrier with five layers of bunks. His sister slept near the hatch in one of those bunks and caught pneumonia. She did not survive long past landing in fronter Bay site of a cannery in a gold mine in southeast Alaska. For many years both the cannery and the gold mine site were shut down abandoned facilities and never kept up. And in the very very poor conditions these buildings were. No one should ever have been brought there to live there. Each Aljunied was allowed to carry one bag and the clothes he or she had on. Nobody had thought of bedding. Nobody had thought of eating utensils. Those were provided by the troop ships captain. Each family was expected to live in an eight by ten cubicle partitioned off with stretched canvas embarrassing situations for man and wife with the

children and one unhealthy room. They thought they did the best they could but it still was not not correct to the way we lived was not correct at all. Even before internment conditions for the AL utes on Anatolian island were far from ideal. The purple off island our Utes were actual slaves kept there by the US government and by the Russians before them to harvest first seal pelts each year. Their government caretaker Max McMillan had gone to the state of Washington seeking an internment site and even he was appalled by the conditions he found at funder Bay. He left Seattle and I arrived in finder of a very very mad. And he said I found a place for the AL utes to live and in Washington and here you brought them to this unprepared. I'm healthy. No good condition place. And when he got mad like that they fired him right

on the spot. It was many years later when I told Leila Kahn off went back to funder Bay. He went to see the cemetery a few hundred people had been interned there. He wanted to see how many had been buried there. I fly to Juneau from Juneau I chartered a small seaplane and I visited this cemetery and in my surprise I counted twenty four places in a newly formed cemetery in that internment period two year period 1942 43 and 44. Another picture along with education the restitution trust fund is being used to restore churches for National Native news in Anchorage Alaska. I'm Steve Hyman national lead of news features are made possible by a co wanted Broadcast Corporation the country's first urban Native American radio station serving listeners in Alaska and throughout the nation.

This is National Native news. Current interim production assistant is Kevin Smith with help from song Corey Campbell and Nathan Merkel. Music by making a heart for the Quantock Broadcast Corporation. I'm Nelly Moore. Public. Radio. International.