April 19, Day of the American Indian

[Maximilianus]

By means of this humble thread I want to salute the first and original inhabitants of our dear continent, as well as their descendants, on occasion of their day



We still have a lot to learn from all of you!
Thanks for your culture and teachings!

[billl]

Beautiful image, and a beautiful sentiment.

[Maximilianus]

Thank you billl. I felt the need to do something about this date. I spent a whole afternoon working on the image, and it was worth it, I think

[JuniperWoolf]

Wow, you made that?

[Maximilianus]

Yeap, I did.

[JuniperWoolf]

It's nice, I especially like the wolf a lot.

[Maximilianus]

Thank you!

[billl]

I like where the red flares up in it. But, anyhow, it's a big continent (or pair of them, South and North--I think actually stretching over to Siberia, etc. as far as at least some of the people's history goes), and I wasn't aware of the holiday. They certainly deserve the attention and recognition, and your inspiring art sets a good tone for things here on this forum.

[Maximilianus]

Thanks for your kind words billl. I wasn't aware of this holiday either. I just found out a few days ago.

[BienvenuJDC]

Thank you, Max! Although it isn't a great amount, there is Cherokee blood running through my own veins. I have never heard of this holiday either. It is a shame that some ethnicities are regarded more than others, especially of those whose origin lies here. In America, the month of November is set aside to recognize the Native Americans. In 1990 President George Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.


I would like to suggest that everybody research a different native American, a food, or a custom. I look forward to learning more about a part of my own heritage.

____________________________________________

The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of some Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans (typically tepary beans or common beans).

In a technique known as companion planting, the three crops are planted close together. Flat-topped mounds of soil are built for each cluster of crops. Each mound is about 30 cm (1 ft) high and 50 cm (20 in) wide, and several maize seeds are planted close together in the center of each mound. In parts of the Atlantic Northeast, rotten fish or eel are buried in the mound with the maize seeds, to act as additional fertilizer where the soil is poor.[1][2] When the maize is 15 cm (6 inches) tall, beans and squash are planted around the maize, alternating between beans and squash.

The three crops benefit from each other. The maize provides a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide the nitrogen to the soil that the other plants utilize and the squash spreads along the ground, monopolizing the sunlight to prevent weeds. The squash leaves act as a "living mulch," creating a microclimate to retain moisture in the soil, and the prickly hairs of the vine deter pests.
______________________________________________

[Maximilianus]

Great post Bien, and an excellent suggestion!

I will see what I can find and I'll come back later

[BienvenuJDC]

The First Native American Novelist
John Rollin Ridge


Inventor or Cherokee Syllabary
Sequoyah


Here are some great American Indians in Literature.

[stephofthenight]

thank you max.