kuhseshèhé ßuØ 2017€¦ · picnic grove nekayèkwiraØnehkyeh reservoir...
TRANSCRIPT
Kuhseshèhé:ßuØ 2017
Page 2 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
Volume 8, Issue 12
December 2017
Haudenosaunee Grand Council
Tuscarora Council of Chiefs and
Clanmothers
HAUDENOSAUNEE ENVIRONMENTAL
TASK FORCE (HETF)
Oren Lyons, Political Co-Chair
Henry Lickers, Scientific Co-Chair
David Arquette, HETF Director
TUSCARORA ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM (TEP)
Rene Rickard, TEP Director [email protected]
Bryan Printup, GIS/Planning [email protected]
Bradley Thomas, Env. Technician
Following the United Nations Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the
Haudenosaunee held a Grand Council to
discuss the environmental degradation of
our communities. In accordance with the
Great Law of Peace, the Grand Council
passed and agreed, based on
Haudenosaunee protocols and cultural
beliefs, to establish the Haudenosaunee
Environmental Task Force (HETF).
The SKARU:RE MONTHLY is the
official publication of the Tuscarora
Environment Program. You can submit
articles, artwork, photographs, editorials
and letters of love and happiness to:
SKARU:RE MONTHLY
c/o: Tuscarora Environment
5226E Walmore Road
Tuscarora Nation
Lewiston, NY 14092
#716.264.6011
www.tuscaroraenvironment.org
or our Facebook page
“Tuscarora Environment”
December 11, 2017 - Survivor Series, Woodland Cultural Center,
Brantford, Ontario. 10 am – 12:30pm. Every month, a Mohawk Institute
Survivor will share their experience and stories of living in The Mohawk
Residential School. Admission is $10 per person. Pre-Registration is
required. FMI: To register please contact 519-759-2650 ext. 230 or
December 15, 2017 - 2017 Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative
Conference, University of Vermont, Davis Center, Burlington, VT. 9am -
5:30pm. This annual Conference provides an important opportunity for
communication, exchange of ideas, and expanding collaboration around
forest ecosystem management and monitoring. The conference includes
topics like Science for Impact? Know Your Audience; How Weather and
Other Factors Influence Fall Leaf Color Displays; What Sap with That? A
Look at How Native Americans are Adapting to Climate Change and
Maple Sap Production; and more. FMI: www.uvm.edu/femc/, Jim Duncan,
December 16, 2017 - 118th Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count,
Wilson-Lake Plains site, Wilson, NY. If you are interested in participating
in this year’s Wilson-Lake Plains CBC, there are two ways you can help:
1) In-Field observation with a team already assigned to one of the eight
territories. 2) Bird Feeder Watchers - Watch and count the birds that visit
your feeders on December 16th. FMI: Audubon.org, Wilson-Lake Plains
coordinator Garner Light, [email protected], FB group: “Wilson-
Lake Plains CBC.”
January 12-13, 2018 - 2018 Stewardship Network Conference, The
Kellog Center, East Lansing, MI. A conference that will focus on the
Science, Practice and Art of Restoring Native Ecosystems. The 2-days will
include a wide array participants from across the Great Lakes Region and
beyond; student poster and photography competitions; Midewewin water
ceremony; and more. Keynote spears include Sharon Farrell and Dallas
Goldtooth. FMI: www.stewardshipnetwork.org,
March 22-24, 2018 - Native American Critical Issues Conference,
Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways, Mt. Pleasant, MI.
This year’s theme is “Water is Life.” Indigenous peoples of the Great
Lakes Region have always defined themselves in relation to the water.
Traditional knowledge and Western Science must come together to support
our students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) and the Arts which will be necessary for sustainability of our First
Nations and Mother Earth. FMI: miec.org.
Coming up ...
Brad using our new tractor to work a field
(on Susies Lane) as part of our Habitat
Restoration project. If you’re interested in
participating in our project please give our
Office a call, #264.6011.
Page 3 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
T his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Tuscarora Environment Program. From the small beginnings in 1997
with Neil Patterson Jr. to where we are today, it’s been a great ride and we look forward to many more years serving
our community. We say nya:we to everyone at Tuscarora for letting us carry on with our work and to allow us to
continue providing education to our people.
Here is a list of just a few of our accomplishments over the past 20 years, 1997-2017:
Closed open dumps and removed abandoned cars at Tuscarora resulting in more than 110 abandoned cars removed,
14,000 tires hauled out of Tuscarora over 20 yrs and more than 135 tons of debris removed from open dumps.
Safely disposed of household hazardous waste at more than 6 HHW collection events. Over the last five years we’ve
removed: 25 cubic yards of aerosols, propane tanks & enamel based paints; 446 fluorescent bulbs; 660 gallons of
hazardous liquids, antifreeze & acid liquids; 16,732 pounds of electronics waste and batteries; and many more
hazardous materials.
Addressed failing septic systems and unsafe wells through the creation of a water and wastewater program in
conjunction with the Indian Health Services (IHS) in 2007. We have assisted 73 Tuscarora homes with a new septic
system and/or residential well in the past 10 years.
Responded to illegal dumpings of hazardous waste, tires, and gasoline spills, and other garbage in more than 100
incidences. When applicable, we worked with local outside agencies to ensure the site is remediated and the culprits
were addressed.
Provided over 31 educational and outreach workshops for the Tuscarora community including husking bees, basket
making, cultural presentations, medicine walks, seed exchanges, outdoor skills, energy training, and Community
Emergency Response Team classes. Including this 2017 20th anniversary year where we provided an Earth Day Fair,
Water and Wastewater Training, and an Evening with Tom Porter.
Engaged over 55 young people from our community in summer internships for high school students and college
students. These paid internships provided employment opportunities to our Tuscarora youth and hopefully gave them
new insight to future possibilities and potential job endeavors. But more importantly a love and appreciation for our
community and environment.
Created multiple opportunities for our community to stay informed about environmental issues and education. Our
Office has a monthly newsletter, Skaru:re Monthly (which won a 2004 U.S. EPA Environmental Quality Award);
the tuscaroraenvironment.org website which is updated with notifications and monthly newsletters; and an active
Facebook page “Tuscarora Environment” which reaches beyond Tuscarora to other Haudenosaunee communities
and to those Tuscaroras who can’t live here at home.
Participated in 5 years of Plum Pox Virus testing at Tuscarora to help prevent the spread of the disease in our region.
Of note, our Tuscarora site has annually collected the most leaf samples in all of Niagara county thanks to our
summer interns. In addition we continue to work on our Forest Pest Inventory which aids in detecting any new
invasive insects in the area like Emerald Ash Borer and Gypsy Moth. And for the last 15 years we’ve worked with
local and national agencies to help slow the spread of gypsy moth populations with over-head spraying by plane.
Shared with our youth many opportunities to participate in cultural and environmental camps over the past 20 years.
Well over 85 youths from Tuscarora and other Haudenosaunee communities have participated in: Haudenosaunee
Environmental Youth Corps (HEYC) camps about outdoor skills and material culture; Native Earth Camps open to
all northeast native students; NYS DEC summer camps where we provide a free opportunity to attend for 4 students
from Tuscarora; and our own Tuscarora winter camps for the past 3 years open to our students from Tuscarora.
In 2013 we completed one of our biggest projects ever - The 2013 Tuscarora Migration Project. A hard and
complicated project to plan, we’re able to map out a 70-day 1,300 mile course across 6 states and coordinate
multiple volunteers and assisting partners to make it a success. To help share our Tuscarora story was a joy and we
say nya:we to everyone for all their support during that time.
Page 4 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
Winters in the Northern Hemisphere are cold
because the Earth’s axis is tilted away from the Sun,
giving us fewer daylight hours. Winters in the
Southern Hemisphere are much milder than in the
Northern Hemisphere because the Southern
Hemisphere has significantly more ocean and water
heats up and cools down more slowly than land.
http://www.noaa.gov/
During the winter, birds rely more heavily on seeds
and nuts than they do in the summer when insects
are plentiful. Some birds cache food throughout the
late summer and autumn so they have extra supplies
for the winter. The berry bunches on Sumac trees
are one important source of winter food for the birds
that stick around during the cold months.
www.audobon.org
Did You Know . . .
On average, thirteen inches of snow equals one inch
of rain in the U.S., although this ratio can vary from
two inches for sleet to nearly fifty inches for very
dry, powdery snow under certain conditions.
www.nssl.noaa.gov
D on’t forget to apply for the Tuscarora Nation book grant. The
monies are open to enrolled Tuscarora attending college,
university, trade school or vocational training program. The money is
intended for books and/or supplies. In return, their clanmother may call
upon them to help out at Nation events for the betterment of our people.
When the grants arrive via check, a list of possible avenues to help will
be attached. The checks are written and mailed the 3rd Monday of
January.
Deadline for Spring Term: January 1, 2018
Amount of Grant
Full-time student: $250/semester
Part-time student: $125/semester
Trade/Vocational: $250/program
To apply and for more detailed information about requirements and
eligibility please pick up an application at the TEP office, Tuscarora
Indian School front office or at www.tuscaroraenvironment.org.
REMINDER: Book Grant Applications Due
NYS Indian Aid Award 2017 Fall Semester
T he following is a summarization of the Postsecondary Grant-in-Aid
Award program for Indian Aid from the NYS Education
Department. For this fall 2017 semester they received 535 applications.
Of those 535 applicants only 396 were approved/funded for a total of
$383,735 awarded this semester in NYS Native American Education
Awards.
Allegany Reservation: 8 students; $8,000 funded
Cattaraugus Reservation: 103 students; $97,635 funded
Cayuga Nation: 3 students; $3,000 funded
Oneida Territory: 25 students; $24,510 funded
Onondaga Reservation: 29 students; $29,000 funded
Shinnecock Reservation: 11 students; $10,510 funded
St. Regis Mohawk Reservation: 177 students; $171,080 funded
Tonawanda Reservation: 10 students; $10,000 funded
Tuscarora Reservation: 22 students; $22,000 funded
Unkechaug Reservation: 8 students; $8,000 funded
For Fall 2017, there were 121 colleges and universities attended by
students.
* * *
Page 5 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
Page 6 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
W here are you going? We’re
always on the go these days,
and our destinations can be just as
important as the journey. Here is a
list of places you could be going:
Farm úØwneh Circus kateØkwaØníhre Sawmill nekayèsweØkarurehskyeh School yerihètyaØthaØ Old Gym unèhaØ kayèkèØthekskye Cemetery yeØnehná:ryèh
Swamp uwihreh Spring yuçaØtuhstikèhe: Clinic kakunèhwaksyehah Picnic Grove nekayèkwiraØnehkyeh Reservoir thyakutyèwarètyaØnè Lacrosse Barn yunèØruhar yerakhwehstaØ TEP Office skaru:rèØ aØwnawèØte ute:ye Church yeØruçrèhkwha Grocery Store krú:siØ Court kaçi:snayèØ Shop/Store utèhninêhsteh Homeless Shelter yakú:tèht wásßher Cottage unêhseh Beach uçá:takwt neyutehúharèw River Bank uhßêØkareh Ridge yunèØnyê:tiØ
Fair neyètkê:nyèhs Woodshed yeyèkwirayèØnáhkhwaØ Woods urhaØneh Bathroom kayènyèkehstaØ Storehouse yèØnènawayèØnáhkhwaØ BTW: Here is the pronunciation key to help you with the letters. A good suggestion is to say letters and words out loud to help your ear become accustomed to the Tuscarora sounds. Tuscarora Pronunciation Key:* /a/ law; /e/ hat; /i/ pizza; /u/ tune; /e/ hint; /c/juice; /
ch/cheese; /h/ hoe; /m/ mother; /s/ same; /t/ do; /th/
too; /k/ gale; /kh/ kale; /n/ inhale; /r/ hiss (before a consonant or word final), run (trilled elsewhere); /
w/ cuff (before a consonant other than y or word-
final), way (elsewhere); /y/ you ; /sy/ fish; /θ/
thing; /Ø/ uh-oh; /:/ long vowel, /ˊ/high pitch; /`/low
pitch.
*Adapted from Blair A. Rudes, Tuscarora-English.
Hundreds of different toxic
pollutants are created by
burning tires as well as a
tremendous number of small
particles that settle deep in the
lungs.
Dioxin, a byproduct of
chlorine, and a chemical
released into the air from
burning tires, can travel long
distances before settling onto
the soil, water, plants and
animals where it remains and
becomes absorbed. Dioxins
don’t break down and can
lead to reproductive
impairments, and increase risk
of diabetes.
The heavy metals that are
released from burning tires do
not break down and will
build up into an alarming
concentration level in soils.
They will also reduce crop
yields and eventually destroy
plots of agricultural land. The
side effects to human
exposure to these toxins in our
food chain can lead to serious
health conditions.
Wise up and stop burning tires, it
leads to nothing good.
T here are no good reasons to
burn tires. Not to make
money off of it. Not to get rid of
them because you’re too lazy to
dispose of them properly. There
are no good reasons. Here is a list
of reason’s why burning tires will
hurt you, your family, your land,
your food, your community and
your environment:
Tires are not designed to be
burned and contain hazardous
ingredients (the rubber in tires
contains 25% extender oils
derived from benzene, 25%
styrene, a derivative of
benzene, and 25% 1,3
butadiene - both benzene and
1,3 butadiene are suspected
human carcinogens.)
Burning tires releases a toxic
soup of pollutants. Children
are especially at risk.
Tuscarora Word List: Destination
Page 7 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
By Taylor Hummel
Fun fact: Your windows let in more
radiant energy than gets out,
meaning warm sunlight can enter
through the glass, but the glass also
blocks the sun’s heat from escaping.
During the day, you should open
your south-facing curtains to let the
sunlight in but keep curtains drawn
over windows that don’t get much
sun. If you still want light to come
in, I suggest using any bubble wrap
you might have lying around. Bubble
wrap can actually cut your heat loss
through windows in half! When it
gets dark, shut your curtains!
Curtains (and bubble wrap) provide
an extra barrier to heat loss, add
insulation, and reduce drafts. If you
don’t have curtains or heavy drapes,
you can always hang up a blanket
over your window. Hanging blankets
over doors also prevents heat loss.
Draft guards can be purchased and
slipped under the door to prevent
heat loss from the space under the
door. A rolled up towel placed under
the door also works well! In extreme
cold, hang blankets along the wall,
even where there aren't any
windows. Cold can radiate through
the wall if the insulation isn't that
great.
If you have a chimney and are not
using it, make sure its flue and draft
(if it has both) are closed. Open
chimneys can suck the heat right out
of your home. Consider blocking the
chimney with a fireplace insert to
reduce heat loss if it will be left
unused, just don't forget to take it out
if you decide to use it again. Also,
make sure your chimneys and
woodstoves are cleaned. Any build
up could be a potential fire hazard!
To keep heat moving through your
house as efficiently and cheaply as
possible, consider rearranging your
furniture. Make sure your furniture
isn't blocking vents, and that the
vents are open where you need heat.
Avoid placing large pieces of
furniture in front of a heater because
they will absorb the heat that could
be warming your home. By moving
your couch away from the heater,
warm air can move throughout your
living space more freely. Also, heat
rises, so if you live in a two story
house, consider spending more time
upstairs. Alternatively, to bring heat
down from the ceiling, most ceiling
fans come with a switch that reverses
the direction of the blades so the
blades are spinning clockwise. Air
pooled near the ceiling is circulated
back into the living space, keeping
the heat right where you want it!
Let us not
forget
about the
wonders
of
layering.
Layer any
extra
blankets
around
you that are not hanging over
windows or doors. Put on that
sweater, wear those fluffy socks and
slippers, and don the hats and
scarves grandma made you. Don’t
forget to snuggle with your favorite
cat (or dog) and utilize those little
mobile heaters! Remember, at the
end of the day, it’s not about keeping
your house warm, it’s about keeping
you and your loved ones warm this
winter!
T he whole idea behind
winterizing your home is
simple. You want to keep the cold
outside and the heat inside. Here are
some things you can do to keep
warm during the winter with
minimal effort!
First, you want to focus on weather-
proofing your house. Most homes
lose heat around doors and windows.
What’s great about this is they are
some of the easiest places to modify
for the winter. Warm air can escape
and cold air can enter your house if
there are gaps around your doors or
windows. Weather-stripping and
caulk can be used to fill any gaps
you might see in siding, windows,
and doors. Duct tape also works to
help prevent drafts. Remember,
we’re trying to keep things warm
with minimal effort! But you really
should make sure your home has
proper insulation, especially if you
have an attic, which is a major
source of heat loss.
By Bryan Printup
ABOVE: 1939. Shown above is a scene during
inauguration of electric service on the Tuscarora Indian
reservation, with members of the Tuscarora tribe and Power
company officials who took part in the ceremonies. Those
in the picture, reading from left to right, are Wilfred
Stephens, vice president of the Buffalo-Niagara Electric
corporation; Rob Roy MacLeod, executive vice-president of
the Niagara Falls Power company; Homer Patterson, James
Greene, and Edison Mt. Pleasant, members of the tribe, and
Harry Anderson, superintendent of the Buffalo-Niagara
Electric corporation.
Page 8 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, December 2017
The Niagara Falls Gazette Saturday, August 19, 1939
CEREMONY MARKS INAUGURATION OF
ELECTRIC SERVICE TO RESERVATION
TUSCARORA RESERVATION. - Wilfred C. Stephens, Buffalo,
and Chief William Chew, president of the Tuscarora chiefs’ council,
pushed on a pair of bar switches on the Philip Wendt farm in the
Walmore road at 4:20 o’clock yesterday afternoon. A smoke bomb
exploded; Niagara Falls electric current coursed into the Indian
community for the first time.
Today electric radios, irons, curlers, and other equipment were in use
for the first time in local Indian homes. Six other homes not on the
line yesterday were being speedily wired to accommodate the new
convenience.
“It will mean a lot to the reservation. We’ll be able to hold lawn
socials, use moving picture machines for educational programs,”
commented Eli Henry, vice-president of the Tuscarora Agricultural
society, prime mover of the reservation electrification proposition.
Rob Roy MacLeod, executive vice-president of the Niagara Falls
Power company, Harry C. Anderson, Niagara Falls superintendent of
the Buffalo Niagara Electric corporation; Bert Wardell, B.N.E.
superintendent; George Piper, Benjamin McCormick, Henry Quick,
Frank Wahl, Benjamin Leonard, A.F. Bond, Edwards Johns, Robert
Cossair, Jack Foster and Frank Wilcox were agents for the utility at
the ceremonies. In regalia were Chief Chew, Edison Mt. Pleasant,
Tuscarora 4-H club president, James Greene known as “Running
Deer,” and representing the council and people were Chief William
Mt. Pleasant and Mr. Henry.
The new reservation circuit will effect line economies in the
Lewiston area permitting a loop circuit system by which it will be
possible to allow almost instantaneous restoration of service in case
of accident in any part of town. Rates will be the same as in the town
outside the village and the mile strip in the block system of
computation: that is, for the first 14 kilowatt hours the monthly rate
per kw. Will be $1 for each kw., of the next 46 kw., the charge is 4
cents, for each of the next 140 the rate is 2 cents. For each unit above
200 kilowatt hours per month the rate will be 1 1/2 cents. ‘Frank
Power, district representative of the power company, will be in
charge of service and complaints for the reservation area. Sixty cycle
equipment will be in use.
Wiring his home for electricity proved a boon to Chief Chew before
the current actually came into the community. The wiring in Chief
Chew’s home became the path which led a charge of lightening
safely to the ground at 2 a.m., Sunday. A nail in contact with the
lightening rod cable in Chew’s home deflected a bolt from the storm
into his home. The heavy charge followed the house wiring safely to
the ground. The current is expected to make the local gymnasium a
night sport center. The building has not been wired but sports leaders
are at work raising funds to fit the building as a site for Gazette
league basketball games in the coming season.
Chief William Mt. Pleasant, secretary of the Tuscarora council, acted
as liaison agent between the community and the power company in
the extension of service and the locating of lines which have been
strung to accommodate families on the Walmore, Mt. Hope, Chew
and Upper Mountain roads.
ABOVE: June 1934. Tuscarora lacrosse team, Buffalo Junior
League Champions. Front row (l-r): Harry Jacobs, John Hill,
Vernon Jack, Warren Dexter, and Eddie Fraser. Back row (l-r):
Si Chew, Pete John, Dave Seth, Allison Printup, Elwood
Jacobs, Irving Bissell, Cliff Printup, John Gansworth, Steve
Seth, John Pembleton, Osborne Chew and John Williams.