Many Waters Town Newsletter                August   2009 Editor- Wayne ‘Will’ Stringfellow Ed.D.        Osiyo, My Relations, It has been a busy, but exciting summer. I have attended Blackpowder/ Mountain Man Rendezvous from California to Montana. These get-to-gethers are reenactments of the American fur trade era, where the original mountain men and Indian tribes would meet with traders from the East to trade fur for man-made items. For me, these reenactments are an opportunity to join up with old friends, tell stories, trade goods, shoot our muzzleloading rifles and bows in friendly contests, and learn new skills. Several members of Many Waters Town participate in the various rendezvous. I have been fortunate to meet some great people at the rendezvous. In California, at the Pacific Primitive Rendezvous, this year, I met a flutist, Todd Johnson. We spoke of our Tsalagi heritage and the various activities that we share in common. I invited him and any other Cherokee members from California to join us for our Fall Gathering in Idaho. We enjoyed a fine 4th of July get-together at Gabe and Emmette’s place. They have expanded their wonderful garden to help meet the needs of the Town Food Bank. Hopefully, all who attend the Gathering will bring a few cans of food to stock the foodbank this year. As usual they cooked buffalo, beef, pork, and antelope in their underground cooker. The meat would melt in your mouth. There were about 50 people there, including some well- known western artists. I was fortunate to get to spend time with my daughters, son-in-law, and beautiful granddaughter. I also slept in my lodge/ tipi which is always a treat. Getting closer to nature is a blessing. Driving home, I was welcomed by a big bull moose with antlers that would be the envy of ol’ Bullwinkle. He was still in velvet and was a majestic sight to behold as he stood in chest deep grass with the mountains as a backdrop. I am always thankful for those precious moments that I enjoy. My daughter, Jamie, and I attended the Gathering of the Northwest District of the Tsalagiyi Nvdagi , which was held at the home of Frank Perkins in Chehalis, Washington. We saw lots of elk and deer grazing along the road and in pastures as we traveled through the Yakima Reservation and into the mountains. The famous Yakima cherries were ripe and we stopped at one of the many fruit stands to get our fill. Along the road, we could see high waterfalls as they plummeted to the river below. I can’t say enough about the hospitality and charitable attitude of Frank and his family. They have a beautiful place with the rain forest surrounding their home. Huge ferns cover the ground, beneath the trees. Mt Ranier National Park and the National Forests are to the east, while the Pacific Ocean is to the west only a few miles away. Frank is a master gardener and his extensive vegetable and flower garden attest to his knowledge and hard work. As a tribal leader, Frank has shown strength through his humble, but skillful sense of collaboration and his visionary journey. I continue to learn by his example. Wado. I have been honored this week to have the visit of a group of Cree girl dancers and their sponsor as they rested at my home for a couple of days on the way from Manitoba, Canada to Portland, Oregon for a powwow/gathering. It was great to have so much laughter and goodwill fill the rooms of my house. I look forward to their return next year. Many Waters Town is in full swing towards preparing for our Fall Gathering on September 19-20, 2009. Having been a coach and administrator in the public schools, I am always concerned about schedules and promptness. My friends keep telling me to relax and let the activities flow naturally, rather than forcing them by strict schedules.   I thank those that give me that good advice, such as Brett Perkins and Gabe Gabel. Of course, they will have to continue to ‘remind’ me. The Gathering is a celebration of who we are and is a ‘laid-back’ event, where sharing of knowledge and friendship is an important aspect. The presenters and honored guests list adds much excitement and sense of honor to our preparations. We are planning to set up a number of lodges for the guests who will fly in to the Spokane Airport and rooms in Emmette and Gabe’s home for some. We will gladly pick-up any guests who fly into the airport. As in all of our Gatherings we will be cooking meat in the underground cooker at the site. Members will also be hosting a potluck for all guests. The June Newsletter presented much information for those who are planning to attend. Please review it for additional information. If you have knowledge and/or skills that you would be willing to share with others at the Gathering, please contact us, so we can assist you in any set-ups that will be required. People will be arriving throughout Friday, the 18th, setting up their camps, and visiting others.        There will be an evening fire and perhaps a little music. The meat will be put into the underground cooker and there will be lots of fresh vegetables from our gardens and probably huckleberries from the Idaho forests. We expect the ‘opening’ ceremony to begin on Saturday, September 19 at approximately 10 o’clock a.m.  Feel free to stay until Monday, when several people plan to fly and drive back to their homes. Please keep in mind that donations for our food bank, in the form of nonperishable foods or cash will be welcome. Also remember those in need by receiving food for them from the food bank as needed. September 19-20, 2009 Many Waters Town Fall Gathering in Sagle, Idaho. See ya there….                                                 Women's Society, Northwest Pacific District   At the District Council meeting weekend, we held the first get together of the newly formed Women's Society.  All women of any age are welcome.  Our first goal is to become a group to exchange information and assistance on any matters that concern us.  This can range from recipes for traditional foods and creating the accepted Cherokee dress to getting action on tribal issues that a member would like to address.  Hopefully, as we continue to learn we can also gain knowledge of other traditions that are specifically female.   We exchanged contact information with each other.  Skills need to be shared, and we have many abilities to teach each other.  If a member wishes to learn and does not know who to ask, call me and I will try to help or find someone who can.   As our Society grows we will become more formally organized, but having been requested to start our group, I will act as leader until then.  Please feel free to contact me by telephone.     1 208 265 9613 or by email gabegabel@hotmail.com with any questions you may have.   Gabe The Bear Growls                                   We are all related!!! We need a few days of help with work parties to get the camping areas ready.  We need to clear some down brush, prepare the stone medicine wheel, and get started on the seven sided arbor.  All help is appreciated, even an hour or two.  Please get in touch if you can help. Our Town library now has in excess of fifty books on native peoples, most of them referring to our Tsalagi heritage.   Most of them are available to check out by our members.  A few though will have to remain on site here as research volumes as they are only on loan to us.  There are plenty of quiet places here to sit and read and meditate here.  We have a sign out ledger if you wish to take books home, I propose a one month limit. We need to keep our books in circulation.  We are also collecting some books of fiction by native authors about our people, some written by authors of a Tsalagi heritage.  I’d like your comments about this. Hopefully by the middle of June our Food Bank will be in place.  We need to know about any of our people that need a little help here.  Also I would like to know what you think of sometimes helping extended family and friends with this sevice.  We will have an area here for the food bank storage.  Goods and non-perishable items accepted although fresh vegetables and sometimes even fresh eggs will be available. On a more serious subject…..Where are our clans? Where and who are our clan mothers? Again we are asking for feedback  from out district and from our towns. Well folks, the old Bear is smiling.  I surprised our tribal council meeting as I walked in, flying all the way to Texas for just two days.   The Pacific Northwest District is now recognized officially as a legal district along with the Southeast District in North Carolina and the At Large District.  The Southern District was formed with Diana McDaniels appointed andconfirmed as district chief.  This brings us up to the full seven districts that our constitution and also our traditions require.  Since several other of the districts had more than one council member, there were resignations by a couple to bring us down to the legal number of seven council members.   Now let's get on with the planning and preparation for the best Gathering possible, on to create a truly memorable celebration for our guests and for our tribal family.   I have said Yona Dideyahvsgi
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