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Commissioned poem written by: ysabewordsmith

Can is the prefix for anything made of wood:
can cega the drum, canozake the fork in a tree,
cannakpaa the wood mushroom called tree-ears.

Canoni are wanderers in the woods, Dakota families
who follow cankuna, the little path, and eventually
come out onto the plains under the open sky.

Standing alone, they spot canpaza,
wood-pointing-to-the-sky, a tree.

As they harvest canshasha,
red willow bark, they see a beaver,
capa, swims-stick-in-mouth.

The words in the language are as
trees in a forest: linked, part of a whole.

Unofficial Lakota Language Guide
https://www.wolakotaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Unofficial-Lakota-Language-Guide.pdf

can (chun).... wood [preffix to anything made of wood]
can cega (chun chay-guh).... drum
cankuna (chun-koo-na).... little path
cannakpaa (chun-nah-k'pah).... mushroom growing on trees : literally "tree-ears"
Canoni (chun-oh-nee).... wanderers in the woods: some Dakota families who
eventually come onto the plain
canozake (chun-oh-zhah-kay).... fork in the tree.
canpaza (chun-pah-zah).... wood pointing to the sky, ancient term for "tree"
canshasha (chun-shaw-shaw).... red willow bark
capa (cha-pah).... beaver: literally "swims-stick-in-mouth".

ysabetwordsmith

This is the December community post for

first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during November? What plans do you have for December?

November anchor posts include:

Land

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

22 Ways To Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, when we all come together to honor and celebrate the culture, traditions, history, and contributions of American Indian and Alaskan Natives.

They left out the Real Rent / Voluntary Land Tax movement, where people of non-indigenous heritage send money to the nearest extant tribe or sometimes a formerly-local tribe that was ousted to live elsewhere. If someone doesn't have that option, they can also chuck it into any current fundraiser to obtain land for a tribe or fight legal battles over land.

Closely related, if someone owns land -- especially big enough for some of it to be wild or nearly so -- they may consider programs to share access with tribal people. Some folks have negotiated deals where the tribe will help manage the territory in return for sharing use of it, which can grant access to much better techniques. Tribal people may wish to approach nearby landowners with a mutually beneficial arrangement for land sharing.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This is the November community post for

first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during October? What plans do you have for November?

October anchor posts include:

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day. Here are some ways to celebrate it...

9 Things to Do on Indigenous Peoples Day! -- Cultural Survival

11 ways to observe Indigenous Peoples' Day with children

16 Indigenous Peoples Day Ideas, Games & Activities

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

beavertech

Sept. 30th was (Orange Shirt Day)[https://orangeshirtday.org/].

It's a day where people... wear orange shirts. Not just to be cool and get into pumpkin season. It's to raise awareness for residential school survivers and descendants of. All the kids who were taken or sent to boarding schools and either killed or put through all kinds of abuse.

These things forever change the people and their families. It affects people generations later who have likely been deprived of experiencing everything about one's Native culture. Among other issues.

Is anyone else out there a survivor or know anyone?

Also, many NDN shoppes and organizations are fundraising this time of year.

Current Mood: sleepy

ysabetwordsmith

This is the September community post for

first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during August? What plans do you have for September?

August anchor posts include:

Indigenous People

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Cherokee, Osage, and the Indigenous North American Type Collection

After five years of community-partnered research with First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada and the United States, Typotheque is proud to announce the release of new Cherokee and Osage script fonts. Accompanying these is the Indigenous North American Type Collection, a large set of fonts that support the Indigenous communities in North America and their unique writing systems, in terms of digital access, use, and local typographic needs.

Speak it. Write it. Read it. Live it. Remember it.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This is the August community post for

first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during July? What plans do you have for August?

July anchor posts include:

Green Building

Conservation

WEBINAR: THE DEMISE OF INDIAN TIME

Libraries

BLAZING THE TRAIL: CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS FIRE STEWARDSHIP

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Indigenous-designed mural doubles as a giant solar power generator, reducing 150 tons of CO2 emissions annually

What if public art could also power an entire residential building?

The SunRise Building, an apartment complex in Alberta, Canada, has answered that question — and is now the title holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest solar panel mural on Earth.
[---8<---]
On the northern wall of the building is the main mural, called “The Land We Share,” which stands 85 feet tall, by the Edmonton-based Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal. The photovoltaic panels are strategically placed to depict a tribute to the First Nations and Chinese cultures that are integral to the history of the area.

More of this would be good. People often resist green energy projects because so many of those are eyesores. Make them beautiful, and they will become more popular.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

The Thunder of Bison Finally Returns to the Osage Prairie

60 million American bison, commonly known as buffalo, once thundered across the prairies of North America — until 1889, when they were almost driven to extinction.

These mighty giants terraformed the land, diversified prairie ecosystems, and sustained many native tribes across the continent. Now, tribes and conservationists join forces to bring the species back from the brink, finally returning the American bison to their native grasslands.

The Osage Nation in Oklahoma, with help from allies at the Nature Conservancy and the Bronx Zoo, are reviving their cultural and spiritual connection to buffalo by rebuilding a herd that once shared their land. By reigniting traditional land management practices like prescribed fire, the Osage support the herd as it continues to grow, which in turn, restores natural balance that helps the entire prairie ecosystem thrive.

As a keystone species, buffalo restore prairie habitat to health. They also help restore the tribal nations who depended upon them.

Current Mood: busy

dorkbird

You’re invited to “The Demise of Indian Time”, a virtual webinar event with Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) on Tuesday, July 22, about the closure of an independent Indigenous newspaper, and what it means for its community.

RSVP NOW
FPF’s Director of Advocacy Seth Stern will moderate and be joined by:

Isaac White, Mohawk journalist and former reporter for Indian Time

Marjorie Skidders, writer, photographer, editor, and former editor of Indian Time

Stephanie Sugars, senior reporter for the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

📅 Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025

⏰ Time: 12 p.m. EDT | 9 a.m. PDT

📍 Location: Zoom (freedom.press/end-of-indian-time)

We’ll discuss the history of Indian Time, the reasons behind its closure, and the challenges Indigenous journalists face reporting on and within their own communities, from political pressure to assaults and arrests. The panel will also explore how the absence of independent local media harms public access to information and press freedom across Indian Country.

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: Turtle Island
Current Music: chirp chirp

ysabetwordsmith

Wellington Library trials new shelving system based on Māori deities

Under Tangaroa, atua of the oceans, lakes and rivers - and all life within them, and the guardian of knowledge of carving - you can find books on bodies of water, fish, art/the arts and carving.

Rongomatāne, atua of peace, the kūmara and cultivated food is where you find te ao Māori books on peace, agriculture, gardening, food and cooking.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

FireSmart Canada is pleased to release Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire
Stewardship, a beautiful, bound publication that recognizes the contributions to wildfire
prevention of Indigenous communities in Canada.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This is the July community post for

first_nations_freaks. What powwows or other events have you attended? Which traditional crafts or recipes have you practiced? What tribal news have you heard? What were your other cultural activities during June? What plans do you have for July?

June anchor posts include:

NDN NETCASTS

HORSEBACK ARCHERY

NDN TV

Current Mood: busy

dorkbird

“Whenever you take anything from the Earth, remember to leave an offering.”
–Joe Coyhis, STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE

Is this something you practice? How often do you really take something from the Earth? What do you tend to leave when you in exchange?

dorkbird

Here's a list of netcasts (podcasts) by and for First Nations Peoples. So far, this list only covers Turtle Island.

( Listen to the Red Road )

---

Do you listen to any of these?
Do you have any to recommend?

Please note if they are no longer in production, either because the story arc is over or because the hosts/network decided to quit.
Please no linking to spotify as they are very bad for the shows, listeners, and everyone other than themselves and ad brokers.

I strongly recommend using either Podverse or AntennaPod.

Current Mood: nerdy

dorkbird

*“…when faithful human beings or other creatures called upon them for help, they [the Powers of the Four Directions] must send their powers…”*
–Fools Crow, LAKOTA

ysabetwordsmith

I greatly admire horseback archery. It requires a tremendous amount of practice, horsemanship, strength, and aim. Some people today are working to revive their traditions.

The History of Mounted Archery in the Southwest.

Lars Andersen: Recreating Comanche Archery

Mongolian Horseback Archery

Native american VS Turkish horseback archery

Shooting the "Sky Dog" Native American-inspired horse bow

Current Mood: busy

dorkbird

Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network "APTN has served Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences in Canada for over two decades. During this time, the network has steadfastly adhered to its mission: To share our Peoples’ journey, celebrate our cultures, inspire our children and honour the wisdom of our Elders." They've got news, educational programming, and drama.

You likely want to use a VPN to connect to a Canadian IP address to create an account and stream videos. Conversely, you'll want a US IP for this other one.

"First Nations Experience is the first and only national broadcast television network in the United States exclusively devoted to Native American and World Indigenous content. Through Native-produced and themed documentaries, dramatic series, nature, cooking, gardening, children's and arts programming, FNX strives to accurately illustrate the lives and cultures of Native people around the world."

Current Mood: jubilant
Current Location: Turtle Island
Current Music: Pan-Amerikan Native Front - Manitouwut

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First Nations Freaks

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Recent Entries

Poem: So Many Words for Wood

December Monthly Post

Land

November Monthly Post

Indigenous Peoples Day

Orange Shirt Day

September Monthly Post

Indigenous People

August Monthly Post

Green Building

Conservation

webinar: The Demise of Indian Time

Libraries

Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship

July Monthly Post

Elder's Quote 26/06/28

NDN Netcasts

Elder's Quote 25/06/26

Horseback Archery

NDN TV

Profile

January 2026

The Freaks Club Communities

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