PRAY FOR OUR WATERS

I was bailing out a Mishoon at Plimoth Plantation

As indigenous people we protect the land and the water and have been doing so since we were created. As time passes in this society our strength grows as the battles become more and more complicated.

The strongest we are is TOGETHER.Northwest Tribal Canoe Journey's I have paddled and held protocol for communities here in the North Eastern Coastal region twice. I was not able to make it to the Qatuwas 2014 PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER.

All over Native people feel the pain of the land and water because we are connected to them. One of the most powerful healing ceremonies I have ever experienced in my life is the canoe journeys. I was unable to make it this year; however, I have been following with canoe families, sent prayers and will be sending gifts.

Paddling through the Peconic Bay
(2013 Paddled From Shinneock to Pequot & Mohegan)

As a paddler I have experienced first hand the pain of the waters both PACIFIC OCEAN and ATLANTIC OCEAN. I have seen the red tide, the oil, the pollution of tankers, trains, boats, ferries, etc.

In Indian Country Today Richard Walker writes and very interesting read Canoe Journey Message: Protect Our Fragile Environment He states "Canoes from the Lummi Nation near Bellingham passed Cherry Point, a sacred and environmentally sensitive area where Gateway Pacific proposes a coal train terminal; early site preparation was done without permits and desecrated ancestral burials."  Talk about #IDLENOMORE we cannot neglect our environment.!!!!!!!!!!Remember to take the time out of our assimilated lives to honor what our ancestors fought for. This is the reason why WE NEED more presence in the water ALL OVER. When you are travelling by canoe your become more intimate with the environment. Our ancestors show us what we have failed to pay attention to.

Bryson (Quileute Nation) Sing Paddle song in Canoe Journey

To know that beaches are being shut down because of high bacterial count in the water should raise more than a few eyebrows. In recent news Rhode Island State Health Department  tells the public "State health officials have recommended the closure to swimming of six beaches in Rhode Island because of high bacteria counts in the water" These waters are sacred to our people. EAST COAST, WEST COAST, IN-LAND, MAIN-LAND, CREEK, RIVER, STREAM, POND, LAKE. We need to help heal these waters. I encourage people to start praying for the water.

Just paddled to Conscience Point Long Island
(2013 Paddled From Shinneock to Pequot & Mohegan)

More than often we go to the water to heal us, we cleanse ourselves in the water, we let all of our frustration and emotions go and release them into the water. It's time to take the strength the water has given us to HEAL THE WATERS ALL OVER. This is ceremony. Doing this individually together is powerful! Doing it together in our individual communities strengthens us as individuals to come together for our environment! We cannot be like the immigrants and their ancestors who have came here to continuously take from the earth and never give back! We must give back to the environment.  

Kali K.O. Mequinonoag Reis Warrior Woman

The First Female Native American fighter to come out of New England. Representing the Seaconke Wampanoag community. Ladies and gentleman this is a huge accomplishment for her as a young adult; moreover, a huge accomplishment for native people in New England! She has been fighting since she was about 15 and has successfully grown to become a powerful fighter. She trains hard and fights harder. She has been featured in a cumulative amount of articles The New England Patch WBAN 

Those who know the boxing industry know that Boxers have a HUGE following of people especially indigenous boxers. I encourage each and every one of your to Follow and support K.O. You can check out her record on Box Rec. She ranked in the US  #1 Female Middleweight Boxer and #2 in the world! 

She is not only going to be in the ring fighting for the North Eastern Coastal Algonqin people, but all of the indigenous communities in the states!!!!!!!!! The world gets caught up in the negative tit for tat things that happen on a daily, and seem to over look the valuable and inspiration actions that our young leaders are doing.

K.O.-Kali Reis

As a Leader in our community she fights the many battles indigenous people face on a daily. Native people still fight in so many ways! We Fight For Land, For Our Rights, For Equality, For Strength, For Our Culture itself, and For Our internal Struggle. 

With so many reasons to fight our people fall behind because we become so heavily oppressed. Once we as individuals find a way to channel our fighting strategy we become stronger as a whole. It’s people like Kali that our people look to be the leaders in these fights. She has found a way to fight for our people! Every punch and hook is for the pain our people endure in the daily struggle.

I believe it is this generation of leaders has the balance of our tradition and today’s modern society. K.O. has branched out of the native community to breech mainstream, which is the mission of this Blog. I encourage all young people reading this blog that if you are lost right now in finding your way, take the time to sense what it is that you are truly passionate about and fight your way through mainstream and you too will become an activist in uplifting our people. We need more activist in this time!

Be sure to follow her on facebook K.O.-Kali Reis

Aponi's Wind Production Presents:Fashion Your Seat Belt

I invite you to the Fashion Your Seat Belt....a. NATIVE AMERICAN FASHION SHOW

Aponi’s Wind is a production company that is in collaboration with the Native American culture, and is centered on promoting the awareness of the Native American culture and tradition. With the vision of using technology, fashion, music, film and performing arts Native American culture will be brought to a relevant place in today’s society. Rhode Island Indian Council, INC is providing the proper platform for this vision to be seen. The Rhode Island Indian Council, INC is a private non-profit agency that promotes the social, economic, and cultural well-being of all tribal communities in Rhode Island.

This year’s biggest campaign for the Rhode Island Indian Council is Seatbelt 1^st Our Families are Sacred Program which is supported by The Department of Transportation of the State of Rhode Island. Safety is first and is also a brilliant way to bring all cultures together. Therefore, the fashion show will promote more than Native American fashion but safety altogether.

This fashion show will provide the proper platform for Native American artist. Today in the fashion world much of the creativity is Native American inspired, but not Native American created. This fashion show will not only help to exhibit Native American creation but will become a visual experience for the proper education of Native American art. The designers selected, come from various Native American communities that originate from this region. The participants in the production will be both Native and Non-Native.  

The event is free so I hope to see you there!