Wilma Pearl Mankiller

Wilma Pearl Mankiller was both the first woman deputy chief and the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma..

Wilma was born at Tahlequah, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation in November 1945, and lived at Mankiller Flats until she was ten years old. Her father, Charlie Mankiller, was a Cherokee, and her mother, Irene Mankiller, was of Dutch Irish decent. Mankiller grew up with four sisters and six brothers. She overcame many personal hardships and returned home to Mankiller Flats, Oklahoma, to establish herself as a political powerhouse working for the betterment of all people.

The Native community was saddened by this e-mail from Charlie Soap, Wilma’s husband:

Charlie Soap regrets to announce his wife Wilma Mankiller has been diagnosed with stage IV Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. Mankiller is an author, lecturer and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Mankiller has served 12 years in elective office at the Cherokee Nation, the first two as Deputy Principal Chief followed by 10years as Principal Chief. She retired from public office in 1995. Among her many honors, Mankiller has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton. Soap requests that the public respect the family's privacy during this time.

As many of you know we have a Native American forum thread on Etsy to promote the Native American spirit and arts. When I received this news, I posted it there as well as in other team forum threads.

One of the frequent and beloved contributors to our NA thread, Taxcoandmore, was so touched that she created a wonderful treasury of Native American art on Etsy as a tribute to Wilma and those of us who grieve her condition. Here is the featured art:
Wado Taxcoandmore! Please visit her store at http://www.taxcoandmore.etsy.com/
Perhaps you could leave a "heart" for her store. It would be a nice “Wado” for her taking the time to honor this great woman.

This morning I received this e-mail written by Wilma.

"I decided to issue this statement because I want my family and friends to know that I am mentally and spiritually prepared for this journey; a journey that all human beings will take at one time or another.

I learned a long time ago that I can't control the challenges the Creator sends my way but I can control the way I think about them and deal with them.

On balance, I have been blessed with an extraordinarily rich and wonderful life, filled with incredible experiences. And I am grateful to have a support team composed of loving family and friends.

I will be spending my time with my family and close friends and engaging in activities I enjoy. It's been my privilege to meet and be touched by thousands of people in my life and I regret not being able to deliver this message personally to so many of you.”
Wilma Mankiller

Wilma served as a wonderful example of leadership and compassion during her life time. She faced issues head long and continues to do so. She demonstrated that one inspired woman can make a gigantic difference in the lives of others. She is now serving as a wonderful example for those entering the next phase of their journey. Bless you, Wilma, for all that you have done and know that your light will serve as a beacon to us for many years to come.

Elizabeth Graf: An Artist's Artist!

Elizabeth Graf is an artist's artist! She is not only tremendously accomplished herself, but she is a connoisseur of the arts created by others. I met Elizabeth when she visited a thread that I started to promote National Native American Month and Native American inspired artists on Etsy.


Elizabeth is a master at creating treasuries on Etsy. She is able to take 12 pieces of art created by others and combine them in a visually appealing "gallery". There is always something special about an Elizabeth Graf created Treasury! She has been a friend to the Etsy Native American community and frequently honors them with a spot in one of her treasury galleries.

This is an example of one of Elizabeth's recent Treasuries. I was honored to be featured. Those are my earrings on the top left of the gallery. Elizabeth, Wado (thank you in Cherokee)


In her shop announcement, Elizabeth says, "From the moment I could hold a crayon I have been an artist -- and possessed a "lightbulb" inside my head that was always shining. It is a wonderful way to live Life -- being creative and always inspired. I feel very lucky."

Elizabeth attended one of the finest art schools in this country -- Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan. Her work has been shown in Manhattan, upstate New York, on both coasts of Florida (including Miami and Miami Beach).

The berry painting above is one of my favorites from Elizabeth's store. If you want to admire this artist’s talent, please visit her store at http://www. Elizabethgraf.etsy.com
I know there will be a piece that speaks to you.

Elizabeth, we cherish you as an artist, a maker of wonderful treasuries, and as a friend to Etsy's Native American community. Wado again!

A Sad Day In American History

APPEAL DENIED!

Today we received word that the parole decision has been affirmed by the U.S. Parole Commission. The Parole Commission made no concessionsexcept for one -- to finally recognize Leonard's "recent prisonrecord of good conduct."

The Parole Commission went on to say thatLeonard's age, health, and release plan were all considered, but that these elements "don't warrant his release at this time."

All legal arguments made by the Peltier attorney Eric Seitz were rejected. Once again, we're told that innocence is no defense. Yet again, the government has singled out Leonard Peltier as a scapegoat. As has always been the case, they intend to force Leonard Peltier to pay the price for the killings of their agents despite the lack of evidence against him. This is nothing short of politicallymotivated vengeance.

Leonard won't receive another full parole hearing until he is nearly 80 years old. Already at risk for blindness, kidney failure, stroke,and certainly premature death given his diet, living conditions,and health care, this parole decision is also nothing less than a death sentence.

Don't accept the unacceptable. Demand Leonard's freedom. Call theWhite House comment line every day to express your outrage. Call:(202) 456-1111 or (202) 456-1112. You also can send an e-mail to the White House. Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/. Mail or fax a letter to President Barack Obama, The White House,1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC20500; Fax - (202) 456-2461.

When is enough enough? When will it stop? When will justice be served? It is a sad day.

34 Years of Incarceration

Today marks 34 years of incarceration for Leonard Peltier. To be exact, as I type that is 12419 days and 15 hours.

I received this e-mail today with the words of this courageous man on the 34 th anniversary of his being jailed.

Greetings to everyone,

34 years. It doesn't even sound like a real number to me. Not when one really thinks about being in a jail cell for that long. All these years and I swear, I still think sometimes I'll wake up from this nightmare in my own bed, in my own home, with my family in the next room. I would never have imagined such a thing. Surely the only place people are unjustly imprisoned for 34 years is infar away lands, books or fairy tales.

It's been that long since I woke up when I needed to, worked where I wanted to, loved who I was supposed to love, or did what I was compelled to do. It's been that long-long enough to see my children have grandchildren. Long enough to have many of my friends andl oved ones die in the course of a normal life, while I was here unable to know them in their final days.

So often in my daily life, the thought creeps in-"I don't deserve this". It lingers like acid in my mouth. But I have to push those types of thoughts away. I made a commitment long ago, many of us did.

Some didn't live up to their commitments, and some of us didn't have a choice. Joe Stuntz didn't have a choice. Neither did Buddy Lamont. I never thought my commitment would mean sacrificing like this, but I was willing to do so nonetheless. And really,if necessary, I'd do it all over again, because it was the right thing to do.

We didn't go to ceremony and say "I'll fight for the people as long as it doesn't cost too much". We prayed, and we gave. Like I say, some of us didn't have a choice. Our only other option was to run away, and we couldn't even do that. Back then,we had no where left to run to.

I have cried so many tears over these three plus decades. Like the many families directly affected by this whole series of events, my family's tears have not been in short supply. Our tears have joined all the tears from over 500 years of oppression.

Together our tears come together and form a giant river of suffering and I hope, cleansing. Injustice is never final, I keep telling myself. I pray this is true for all of us.

To those who know I am innocent, thank you for your faith. And I hope you continue working for my release. That is, to work towards truth and justice.

To those who think me guilty, I ask you to believe in and work for the rule of law. Even the law says I should be free by now, regardless of guilt. What has happened to me isn't justice, it isn't the law, it isn't fair, it isn't right.

This has been along battle in an even longer war. But we have to remain vigilant, as we have a righteous cause. After all this time, I can only ask this: Don't give up. Not ever. Stay in this fight with me.

Suffer with me. Grieve with me. Endure with me. Believe with me. Out last with me. And one day, celebrate freedom with me.

Hoka hey!

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier has spent his years in prison perfecting his art and writing. Should you like to view his fine work, visit this website. http://www.leonardpeltier.net/

The Anatomy of A Birthday Cake

We recently celebrated my husband's (Warren's) birthday. His favorite part of the celebration was that his 11 year old Granddaughter, Olivia, made his cake from start to finish.

As many of you know, Warren is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. He appreciates and analyzes how things are made. And this cake was no exception.

Olivia is on her way to becoming the family's official cake baker. For her birthday two years ago, we got special permission for her to enroll in an adult Wilton cake decorating class. She loved it.

So on Saturday, she arrived at my house with all of her tools in hand. Olivia, her brother, Mason, and I marched off to the grocery to purchase the supplies she needed for her masterpiece.

She chose a recipe that only made two layers and she wanted three. So, she promptly did the math and meticulously measured out her ingredients.



Once the ingredients were combined, she equally divided the resulting batter.

Then Mason arrives to play an important role in this process....LICKING THE BOWL!

Once the cake layers are baked, the fun begins! She fills the layers with "Carmellow" filling. Carmellow filling was invented for this cake. Once the layers were filled, she frosted the cake with her the homemade Butter Cream Frosting she learned to make in her class.

A chocolate sculpture dubbed "The Tree of Life" was created from a mystery ingredient and decorated with flowers. It became the cake topper.

Olivia blended her own colors from her large collection of food dyes. She used various tips from her growing collection of tools.

After dinner on Sunday, Olivia and Mason present the cake for the customary blowing out the candles and singing Happy Birthday.

Grandpa is so pleased that Olivia did this just for him! He declared, "Move over Ace of Cakes, Olivia is on her way!"

Footnote: Big sister Sydney was not present for the cake making. She was out of state with her dance team. But she returned for the celebration and with the news that her team placed first in all of their events except one. They got second in that one. Congratulations to Sydney. She danced while the cake baked!

Proud To Be Featured In Eve's Fund's January Newsletter

I just received the January 2010 Eve's Fund Newsletter. I am so proud of being affiliated with this worthy foundation. It was one of my proudest moments when I was asked to bead their logo into bracelets. The bracelets are gifted to qualifying donors or may be purchased exclusively through the fund.

Here is an excerpt from the Newsletter:

How about an Eve’s Fund logo bracelet for Valentine’s Day?

We feel very lucky to have well-known Native jewelry maker, Joni Stinson, as one of our partners and fans. With a donation of $70 to Eve's Fund, you will receive one of our beaded logo bracelets made by Joni.

These beautiful bracelets would make wonderful gifts for Valentine's Day...or purchase one for yourself.

Click on the photo or the donate button to order one and you can follow Joni's creative world on her Trail of Treasures blog. Please be sure to scroll down on the blog to her November 19, 2009 entry, dedicated to Thanksgiving and Eve's Fund. It was a powerful statement.

Another person to whom we are extremely grateful is award winning graphic designer, Jenny Sofologis owner of Kohl Designs. Jenny learned about Eve's Fund from Eve's cousin Larissa Kulczycky of LCB Communications and with enthusiasm and inspiration developed our Eve's Fund logo. Jenny was able to capture the essence of our organization by creating a culturally sensitive logo reflecting our new direction and commitment to the Native American Community.

Jenny believes it is important for professionals like herself to give back to charities and non-profits. Please read her comments on her blog by clicking here. If you have a chance, visit her innovative website by clicking on the Kohl Designs logo.Our sincerest thank you to Joni, Larissa and Jenny, all of whom dedicated their time and talents to Eve's Fund. All terrific Eve’s Fund partners.

If you would like to read the Newsletter in its entirity or learn more about this wonderful Foundation, here is the link:

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=ba836138c9a4e931791157dab&id=b44cc82d3f&e=b747db987f

Thank you Barbara, Mary and Dr. Crowell for giving me this opportunity.

Thank you Jenny for giving me such a nice logo to bead.

Thank you for reading this and should you be looking for a worthy charity, put this one on your list!

Winter In Nebraska

It is winter in Nebraska! Here is a shot of Patrick's friend, Thelma Miske, to prove it. This was taken on our patio for Thelma to send to her family in the Philipines. I am sure they will find it hard to believe that their daughter is out in the snow and seeming to enjoy it.

This morning, my good friend Nancy sent me this poem by an unknown poet. It just about says it all!

Winter in Nebraska

It is winter in Nebraska
And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Nebraska

When the snow's up to your butt

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Nebraska

Cuz I'm frozen to the ground!

There is hope for us. The sun is shining brightly today. Maybe it will get up to zero!