It is known as the Creator's Game. People in North America have been playing Lacrosse for thousands of years. In modern times high schools and colleges have developed large programs. International competition has been growing as well.  Today we are pleased to have several members of the Iroquois Nationals Organization joining the show. Executive Director Leo Nolan (Mohawk Nation), Rex Lyons (Onondaga Nation), David Bray (Seneca Nation), and Pro player Randy Staats (Mohawk Nation).

https://iroquoisnationals.org

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Fox and Raccoon continue their contentious relationship in this short story.

Based on Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children by Mabel Powers [1917]

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Today's co-host is Karl Dockstader. Karl is a member of the Oneida Nation. He is an award winning radio host and a fan of Iroquois History and Legends. Together we cover racism, treaties, culture, and history. We look at past and present Haudenosaunee generations and their impact on the world. Finally we ponder what the future of the Six Nations might be seven generations from now.

References:

Janet Rogers Poems from Peace in Duress https://talonbooks.com/meta-talon/listen-poems-from-peace-in-duress-by-janet-rogers 

John Trudell - Radio Free Alcatraz https://narratively.com/native-radio-alcatraz-fbi/

John Mohawk (Sotsisowah)Thinking in Indian https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AXS5VSK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

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A few years after the Civil War, General Grant became President Grant and his friend Ely was appointed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He was the first indigenous person to hold the office. Today we finish our three part series on the life of Ely Parker

The Life of General Ely S. Parker by Arthur C. Parker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W0LEWL0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Warrior in Two Camps by William Armstrong 

https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Camps-Iroquois-Their-Neighbors/dp/0815624956

The "Real Story" Behind the Marriage of Ely S. Parker and Minnie Orton Sackett By Jare Cardinal

http://www.pbs.org/warrior/content/timeline/hero/wedding.html

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In 1863, after years of lobbying Parker was finally off to war.  As General Grant moved up the ladder of command Ely went with him every step of the way.

The Life of General Ely S. Parker by Arthur C. Parker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W0LEWL0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Warrior in Two Camps by William Armstrong 

https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Camps-Iroquois-Their-Neighbors/dp/0815624956

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FA0JSM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

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It could be said that Ely Parker was the most famous Seneca man of the 19th Century. The grandnephew of Red Jacket became a teenage diplomat, interpreter, aspiring lawyer, domestic engineer and Sachem all before the age of 30. The crazy thing is, that is not at all what he is remembered for. Later in life he would become a General in the Civil War, a Wall Street broker and the first Indigenous person ever to be the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

In this episode we look at the early years of Ely S. Parker.

References:

The Life of General Ely S. Parker by Arthur C. Parker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W0LEWL0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Warrior in Two Camps by William Armstrong 

https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Camps-Iroquois-Their-Neighbors/dp/0815624956

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by John Meacham

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FA0JSM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

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This is an interview that Andrew did in 2018 on the One Dish, One Mic radio show. The name comes from the idea of One Dish and One Spoon. An ancient concept going back at least to the foundation or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy itself.

Sean Vanderklis (Mississauga) and Karl Dockstader (Oneida) were gracious enough to give us permission to let us air this on our channel.

http://1dish1mic.com

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Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children by Mabel Powers (Yehsennohwehs) [1917]. 

 Recorded with Ezra Guite Cotter and Ethan Cotter.

It was some moons after the raccoon outwitted fox, before they again met. The raccoon was hurrying by, when fox saw him.

Now the fox had not forgotten the trick the raccoon had played on him when he burned his mouth with what he thought was magic pawpaws.  But it was really a fire ball.

So the fox started after the raccoon. He was gaining, and would have caught him, had they not come to a tall pine tree.

The raccoon ran to the very tiptop of the pine tree. 

“Try and get me up here Fox”, said raccoon

There he was safe, for the fox could not climb.

The fox lay down on the soft pine needles and waited for the raccoon to come down. The raccoon stayed up in the pine tree so long that the fox grew tired and sleepy. He closed his eyes and thought he would take a short nap.

The raccoon watched, until he saw that the fox was sound asleep. 

Raccoon sat on the tree for a long while and when he tired to move he noticed that his paws were sticky.

And then he smiled and said to himself,

“I know how to deal with fox”

Then he took in his mouth some of the sap from the pine tree. He ran down the tree and quietly rubbed the pitch over the eyes of the sleeping fox.

The fox awoke. He sprang up and tried to seize the raccoon, but, alas! he could not see what he was doing. The lids of his eyes were held fast with the pine tar. He could not open them.

The raccoon laughed at the fox's plight, then ran and left him.

Try and catch me now fox! Said raccoon

The fox lay for some time under the tree. The pine gum, as it dried, held the lids of his eyes closer and closer shut. He thought he should never again see the sun.

Some birds were singing near by. He called them, and told them of his plight. He asked if they would be so kind as to pick open his eyes.

The birds flew off and told the other birds. 

Come and help us

Soon many of the little dark songsters flew back to where the fox lay. Then peck, peck, peck, went the little bills on the eyelids of the fox. Bit by bit they carefully pecked away the pine gum. If one grew tired, another bird would take its place.

At last the fox saw a streak of light. Soon the lid of one eye flew open, then the other. The sun was shining, and the world looked very beautiful to the fox, as he opened his eyes.

He was very grateful to the little birds for bringing him light. He told them to ask what they would, and he would give it to them.

The little birds said, 

"We do not like the dark feathers which the Turkey Buzzard gave us. We want to look like the sun”

The fox looked about him. Beautiful sunflowers were growing near. He pressed some of the bright yellow color from them, and with the tip of his tail as a brush, he began to paint the dark little birds like the sun.

The birds fluttered so with joy, he thought he would paint the bodies first. Before he could brush the wings and tails with the sun paint, each little bird had darted away, like a streak of sunshine. 

Thank you, Thank you

So happy and light of heart were the birds, that they could not wait for the fox to finish the painting.

This is why goldfinches are yellow like the sun. It is why they have black wings and tails, why they flutter so with joy, and why they never finish their song.       

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Fox and Rabbit cause a lot of mischief. Learn how fire, and war came to man.  Find out how rabbit received his split lip.

Adapted from the story as told by Arthur C. Parker (Seneca)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.