Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

When we show up, we win.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Let me file that under fuck it.

He really is that stupid.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

Everybody saw this coming.

People are weird.

In after Baud. Damn.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

The lights are all blinking red.

You are here: Home / Popular Culture / KULCHA! / Tuesday Evening Respite Open Thread: #IndigenousPeoplesDay

Tuesday Evening Respite Open Thread: #IndigenousPeoplesDay

by | 61 Comments

This post is in: , ,

At the intersection of language, technology, and social justice:

… The Cherokee are one of the biggest Native American nations and currently include some 3,000 speakers of the Cherokee language. But in 2002, when the Cherokee surveyed its population, they found that there we no fluent speakers of Cherokee aged under 40. This sparked the creation of the Cherokee Language Revitalisation Project.

An important part of any effort to revitalise endangered indigenous languages and heritage is making earlier records, like audio recordings and text, easily available for use today and ensuring ongoing records are made for the benefit of future generations.

But the task of managing this mass of information can be daunting, and it is crucial that the information be managed in a way that makes it accessible over time…

In Australia, at the Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC) we have created and curated a major collection of language records covering indigenous languages of the Pacific, including Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Through this work, recordings that were originally made on reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes are now digitised and readily available even on mobile phones. It means the voices of past generations can be heard and learned from by their descendants.

The methods we have established at PARADISEC over the last 20 years caught the attention of the Cherokee and we have now worked with them to help organise their recordings, transcripts, manuscripts, images, and texts, all now stored on hard disks and computers in a range of locations…

All sorts of fascinating snippets on the #IndigenousPeoplesDay twitter thread!

Reader Interactions

61Comments

  4. 4.

    SiubhanDuinne

    This thread prompts me to recommend a visit to the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian the next time you’re in D.C.  The name is a bit misleading, as it really covers indigenous people throughout the hemisphere, from Patagonia to Nunavut. Just a fascinating place — beautiful space and really interesting and informative exhibits, many of them interactive. I’d really like to get up there again and spend a day at the MAI.

  5. 5.

    dexwood

    Every day is Indigenous Peoples Day for my indigenous wife. Recognition is nice, though. Have a great evening all.

  7. 7.

    phdesmond

    I was at a party

    in Andalasia,

    and an Inuit drew me

    a diagram.

     

    It was their name for the constellation we call the Big Dipper.

  10. 10.

    Anne Laurie

    @SiubhanDuinne: The original, Manhattan-based Museum of the American Indian was one of my favorite childhood pilgrimages!

    I still have mementos (now vintage, they’re at least 50 years old)… including a little carved cherrywood bear that was labelled Cherokee…

    (Haven’t seen the new Smithsonian DC museum, but you *know* it’s on my bucket list.)

  11. 11.

    NotMax

    (Repeated.) Slightly reticent about asking because of rhymes-with-shmovid, so consider this a tentative feeler as to whether or not folks may be interested in a B-J meet-up.

    Planning to travel to NYC area August 24th through September 8th. Most popular days in the past have been on weekends, so that would mean a choice of

    Friday, August 26
    Saturday, August 27
    Sunday, August 28
    Friday, September 2
    Saturday, September 3
    Sunday, September 4
    Monday, September 5 (Labor Day)
    .
    Preference as to a date? Also too, afternoon or evening? Any strike-throughs are dates someone already has mentioned as not being amenable to their schedule.

  13. 13.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Anne Laurie:

    Now I regret that in my years of living in Manhattan, or in any subsequent NYC visits, I never got there. On the list for the next trip to Noo Yawk. Thanks.

  14. 14.

    sab

    @dexwood: Several jackals have indigenous spouses. Doesn’t Jay (the guy in BC, Canada) have a Meti wife?

    We used to think we had indigenous ancestors on the Canadian side of the family, but they all turned out to be Swiss married to Scots.

  15. 15.

    Gin & Tonic

    @NotMax: I may be a little biased, but the Ukrainian Museum on E 6th St is well worth a visit. Plus if you get thirsty, McSorley’s Old Ale House is a half block away.

  17. 17.

    prostratedragon

    @SiubhanDuinne:  At least you didn’t live in the neighborhood for several years (blush!) — or did you? At my time, in the mid ’70s, it looked rather ghostly.

  22. 22.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Speaking of Native Americans, I was watching this thing on the Comanche and the Spanish and holy smokes, the Comanche did not mess around when it came to obnoxious white people. The Comanche routed two Spanish armies, kept the Spanish confined to the Rio Grand valley and terrorized the Spanish settlers in doing things the way the Comanche wanted. They sort of came across as North American Mongolian equivalents who did not tolerate city people’s BS.

  23. 23.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @Immanentize: because the idiots on the Supreme Court screwed up trademark law, why else?

    ETA: I think that the tribes can register their own names; I have to go check the TMEP and see what it says (Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure aka the first point of reference in trademark prosecution).

  24. 24.

    The Lodger

    @Immanentize: I know the Seminole nation makes a few bucks from an agreement with Florida State University to license the team name. Maybe the Cherokees should consider a similar deal with Chrysler, Fiat, Fiat/Chrysler, or whatever they’re calling themselves this week.

  28. 28.

    Lyrebird

    @Immanentize: Seriously.

    I have the same question about the VW Touareg, but the Jeep situation seems worse.  I hope they do have a licensing deal.

  29. 29.

    Lyrebird

    @Gin & Tonic: May I ask if you have favorite cultured dairy products?  I know of ones from countries to the north and the east of Ukraine, so I imagine there might be some specialties you prefer.

  30. 30.

    Another Scott

    @Immanentize:

    Freep.com (from February 2021):

    Is it time for Jeep to put a new name on its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee SUVs?

    The principal chief of the Cherokee Nation thinks so.

    “I’m sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car,” Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, told Car and Driver for a story this weekend.

    Hoskin told the Free Press he responded after the magazine reached out to ask about it. He and his staff, he said, do not seek out examples of problematic caricatures and depictions of Native Americans, although there are many, but he will continue to comment on these issues if asked about it.

    Hoskin is more focused on trying to build a stronger community, clean up from a damaging winter storm and continue the response to COVID-19, but he is clear on the name issue.

    “Our proud name should not be a corporate marketing tool,” Hoskin said. “Our name dates back to before recorded history. It’s against all odds that we are even here. Our name is invaluable to us as part of our identity. … In 2021, it seems wholly inappropriate for a corporation to continue to make a profit off our identity.”

    […]

    The Cherokee name has been part of Jeep for years. Stellantis is heavily invested in the name, with plans to launch the three-row 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L this year. That larger version of the Grand Cherokee SUV is being built at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack Plant.

    A Stellantis official provided a statement when asked about Hoskin’s comments.

    “Our vehicle names have been carefully chosen and nurtured over the years to honor and celebrate Native American people for their nobility, prowess and pride. We are, more than ever, committed to a respectful and open dialogue with Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.,” according to the statement sent by spokesman Rick Deneau.

    […]

    Dunno if things have changed since then.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  32. 32.

    Rekoob

    @Immanentize: Since you may be keeping an eye on this thread, I was connecting some dots thanks to a recent exchange you had with Steve in the ATL/Wherever. I believe I know of your friend from W&L who wound up at the helm of a liberal arts college, since I’m an alumnus and slated to meet her in a few weeks. I’ve heard great things about her and maybe I’ll have a chance to speak to her (auf Deutsch) at some point.

  35. 35.

    Immanentize

    @Rekoob: She is one of the most impressive people I’ve ever known. Ironically, I was on the hiring committee for her first law teaching job. But I can tell you, she has surpassed me in scholarship, teaching, accomplishments, and just plain humanity. I still might edge her out on the noisy iconoclast meter. She is the real deal. If you are an alum, you know there is real work ahead. I hope you can support her.

  37. 37.

    planetjanet

    @SiubhanDuinne: The restaurant at the museum there is all kinds of amazing.  There are five different regions represented by indigenous dishes, including a lot of unique vegetarian foods.  Really memorable.

  38. 38.

    Martin

    Ford raising prices of their electric F-150 by $7K. I’m telling you, there’s no way that EV uptake is rapid enough to meet Paris timetable. Median car price is already $47K. Guessing it’ll be north of $60K by 2030. The new federal EV rebate won’t apply to it – not enough of the vehicle is made in the US.

  39. 39.

    Rekoob

    @Immanentize: Indeed, I know the task ahead. The capital campaign has been extremely successful (and I’ll take a slight bow in some of that, since that’s the reason I’ll meet her). There’s much more to do, and there’s an enthusiastic group of alumni like me who want to build on what we’ve done.

  40. 40.

    Elizabelle

    All the photos of the indigenous women are beautiful, but I especially like the last photo, with the three young women and older man.  The young woman at the back of the cart:  a lot of spirit, and someone to look out for.

  42. 42.

    Another Scott

    @Martin: I assume that Ford is treating the Lightning as a halo car – they want to get it right, and they know there’s huge demand for it.  It’s not going to be cheap, not for a few model years (especially while they have no competition in that segment).

    CleanTechnica (from July 28):

    The Volkswagen ID.4 compact SUV recently made its debut in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the company’s first electric automobile produced in the United States. It was already being imported from Germany, but now US Volkswagen dealers will get American-built cars to sell to eager buyers who are paying big for gas right now.

    “We’re just starting to write a new chapter for Volkswagen in America, and it is very much an American story,” said Thomas Schäfer, Chairman of the global Volkswagen brand. “When we promised to bring Volkswagen EVs to the millions, it always included American workers building those EVs right there in Chattanooga. We couldn’t be prouder to see that vision realized today with our ID.4 electric flagship rolling off the lines. This is another milestone in Volkswagen’s ambitious electrification strategy for the U.S. market and globally.”

    The ID.4 is by far the most popular all-electric model from the Volkswagen Group, having sold 190,000 units to customers worldwide since its inception in 2021. Later this year, Volkswagen plans to increase ID.4 production in Chattanooga to 7,000 vehicles per month, with the aim of increasing output even more through 2023. Consumers can anticipate their cars to arrive as early as October 2022. The American-built ID.4 will initially be offered in two battery configurations, a rear-wheel-drive version with a 82kWh battery and an all-wheel-drive model with a 62kWh battery. A rear-wheel-drive version with a 62kWh battery will join the lineup in 2023.

    It looks like they’re aiming for a little under $40k for 2023 the entry-level models.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  44. 44.

    Immanentize

    @Rekoob: you are a good person. Good luck! And tell the Pres. she is loved and respected even on this here almost 10,000 blog.

  45. 45.

    phdesmond

     

    “Turn your Big Dipper upside down.

    The five stars are the deck of the kayak.

    The four stars are a post

    sticking up from the deck.

     

    “Around the post we wrap the harpoon rope.”

  47. 47.

    LeftCoastYankee

    Off topic, but more appropriate here than in the Ukraine thread (maybe?):

    Dr. Fauci is throwing out the first pitch at tonight’s Mariners/Yankees game in Seattle.  He says it’s the first game he’s seen live in a while (wonder why).  He was in town to pick up an award from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (which has a pretty cool backstory).

    And despite what my Nym might suggest, go Mariners, beat those damn Yankees!

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @planetjanet:

    I’m glad you mentioned the restaurant — I meant to in my comment and forgot. Yes, wonderful food, as I recall — interesting, maybe unfamiliar to Western* palates, but not so unusual as to be scary or off-putting.

    *I have no idea what term I should be using. “Western” literally doesn’t make sense in this context. “European ancestry,” I guess?

  54. 54.

    Gin & Tonic

    My respite, or one of mine, is certain categories of Lego. So I’ve embarked on my latest build, the new Ferrari Daytona model. 3,778 pieces, somewhere around 800 pages of instructions. Should be fun.

  55. 55.

    Feathers

    @Martin: Not surprised. John Scalzi has written about being on the waiting list for one. His wife wants it. Apparently not just for the driving, but because you can set it up to use as a backup generator for the house and they live in a fairly rural area. With all the weather we’re having, that’s a pretty important secondary use for a car.

    What I can see happening is electric cars with a 75-100 mpcharge and the dealership offering a fleet of rental cars for longer trips.

  57. 57.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I sort of envision Rand Paul as the guy who didn’t even play sports because of his habit of tying his sneaker laces together, but then told everyone who’d listen he was a champion at some Calvinball shit his dad made up.

  58. 58.

    Jackie

    @Gin & Tonic: My 11 yr old is a Lego builder fanatic and LOVES exotic cars. He’s built that model and another – Lamborghini? – within days – in between school, soccer, and Scouts. He built a motorized crane – several thousand pieces in less than a week! His grandparents, aunts and uncles chip in the $$ for Xmas and birthdays. 😁

  59. 59.

    mvr

    @SiubhanDuinne: ​
     Love the National Museum of African American History and Culture and thus donate regularly. As result I get solicitation for the National Museum of the American Indian. Thanks for your recommendation! I intend to go next time I am in DC.

  60. 60.

    mvr

    Also somewhat on topic, I am enjoying the fact that so many of the conservation organizations I belong to are now recognizing indigenous peoples as partners in conservation and also that it is now somewhat extending to our own Department of the Interior. It is high time for this sort of thing and also a need I think I was blind to for too long.

  61. 61.

    Expletive Deleted

    Bit shallow of me I guess but this post reminded me to check on S2 of Reservation Dogs and I’m excited to see it is already out!

    Recommended for those who haven’t checked it out yet. Sort of quiet, small town vibe with a lot of heart and some genuinely funny bits. Also great performances all around.

Comments are closed.