Both men and women are welcome to participate.  Bring drum sticks if you have them.

Join us at this important community meeting.  As of June 30, we will no longer be a division of White Bison, Inc.  See the story behind this meeting here! 

We need to hear from you!!  Bring your ideas and positive energy to address:

Education and cultural activities
Roles you and your family will play
Ideas for developing an income base
Ideas for increasing membership
Services you would like to see offered
Sustainability

The Board will provide refreshments.

NOTE:  SEE the front page of the May 2012 newsletter for update on what happened at the meeting!

INVITATION TO SPRING PRISON PROGRAM    (attached application must be completed)

Our spring 2012 prayer, song, and drumming event will b e on May 19^th at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex.  This event will have two parts.  A few of us will take one hour, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., for a brief social visit at the Minimum Lodge.  The main event will be at the Medium portion of the facility, from noon to 2:30 p.m.  Please arrive at the facility one half hour early.  We will all meet in the southwest corner of the parking lot and enter together.  The facility would like us to come in as a group.  For those of you who have previously attended one of our events, you know what this clearance procedure is like.  Do not bring tobacco, money, or anything that DOC might interpret as a weapon or as a means of escape. 

You must bring a photo I.D.  A driver’s license or Colorado I.D. is best.

The application form (attached here) must be returned to us no later than April 27^th.  Please feel free to bring your regalia if you wish.  Otherwise, please dress conservatively.  Anything that you are bringing other than your regular clothes should be listed on your application.  We know that the inmates are thrilled to have you visit.  We all look forward to seeing you again.  Any questions, please call of email.

Suzanne MacDonald, NAPSG Coordinator/Attorney

Les Messamer, Board member, Event Chairman

Last time, for the Colorado Springs Indian Center, Territory Days was HOT!!  Not only did we have wonderful sunny days, but we had so many visitors at the site we shared with Rock Ledge Ranch. It was like a litte Frontier Village! CSIC Board President Jim Ramirez (So. Ute) went “traditional” complete with bonnet! He visited with Eugene RedHawk (Mohawk), artist and storyteller, and with Ron Wright (Osage) who is President of the Living History Association that supports the Rock Ledge Ranch.   Rock Ledge Ranch had interpreters there to demonstrate life styles and crafts from the Homestead years.  

In anticipation of the Native American dance demonstration , Steve Howell (Pawnee) began playing the drum and the poeple left their places in the lines for turkey legs and funnel cake to make a huge circle, many people, deep to watch.  After a few introductions, announcements and a thank you to the Veterans, by Jim Blackwolf,  Steven Howell introduced the dancers:  Mitchelene BigMan (Crow) from Lodge Grass, Montana. (Mitchelene, jingle dancer,  is also an Iraqui Freedom Veteran; and the Tveter family kids (Mandan-Hidatsa):  RaeVen (jingle dance), Shotea (fancy dance), and R.J. (grass dancer).  The entire parking lot was filled!   The dancing was great. Steve also explained the purpose of each dance to the crowd.  At the end of the demonstration, he called for a community dance.  The dance group led people from the crowd in a big circle and then they snaked their way through the parking lot to the beat of the drum. 

Members from the CSIC spent most of the day on Saturday and Sunday “meeting and greeting” —we ran out of flyers, gave out information about where to find resources, invited people to the next community dinner and made many networking connections with area organizations and native business people. 

To learn more about Territory Days and see pictures from previous years go to the website.