October 22, 2013

19th Annual Harvest Pow Wow

A crisp autumn weekend greeted over 6,000 participants at the 19^th Annual Harvest Pow Wow which took place Sept. 21 & 22, 2013 at the Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL. As an intertribal event, the pow wow welcomed Native American dancers and vendors from across the country. This annual gathering allows the greater Chicago metro residents to experience Native American culture in a way not possible through other media sources. The city of Naperville provided partial funding with a SECA grant for the event.

Over thirty vendor booths at Harvest Pow Wow

The family friendly event had something for everyone. Participants savored the beautiful autumn weather.

With over thirty vendors selling Native American arts and crafts, there was plenty of opportunity to shop for authentic clothing, jewelry, music, foods, and herbal remedies. Children’s crafts included activities such as sand painting, beading, weaving, and flintknapping (arrowhead making.) S.O.A.R. (Save Our American Raptors) exclusive to Midwest SOARRING Foundation pow wows, brought Deshka, the American Bald Eagle and other birds of prey for display. A popular exhibit allowed the public to view and take close-up photos of owls and hawks, and learn about their care.

Many families were fascinated by the authentic Elmbark wigwam recreated by an expert craftsman. He had carefully studied drawings and written descriptions of Woodland Indians native to the Midwest. Built as a hunting lodge, the wigwam was complete with beds made of stinging nettle cords, hides, and cornhusk mattresses.

In the main arena, Native American dancers stepped in time with the drumbeat in colorful regalia specific to their chosen dance style. Thorpe and Nicole Sine, as head male and lady dancers, entertained the audience with their award winning style of dance.

The Native American drum is sacred and is viewed as the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The head drum for the Harvest Pow Wow was the Milwaukee Bucks. Two other invited drum groups from Wisconsin, Little Thunder and Sawanohsaeh Singers provided the rhythm and singing for the weekend.

The Little Bear Hoop Dancers from the Menominee Tribal School in Wisconsin demonstrated intricate dance steps with a series of hoops. Of special importance was the veteran honoring ceremony held at conclusion of each Grand Entry during the weekend. Selected veterans at each session were given the Warrior Medal of Valor.

Head Lady and Male Dancers
Thorpe and Nicole Sine

An honor blanket was given Saturday to Herman Logan, and on Sunday to Hayna Sine for their outstanding contributions to the Native American community.

Saturday evening, special guest artist and two time Grammy award winner, Robert Mirabal from Taos Pueblo, sang, played Native flute, and told stories of his people. Mirabal was sponsored by Closet Works, a Chicago area custom closet retail store. A special VIP reception was held earlier in the day where ticket holders had the opportunity to meet and greet the Native American celebrity and have their picture taken with him. Participants also had the opportunity to hear him play and answer questions in a more intimate setting.

Sunday morning the Aztec dancers blessed the crowd by burning sacred herbs, drumming, and synchronized dance steps. All wore traditional Aztec regalia. The 19th annual pow wow came to a festive close, with plans already in the works for next year’s 2oth celebration, to be held September 20 & 21, 2014. Visit us again soon for more details on next year’s 20th Harvest Pow Wow celebration.

July 12, 2013

First SOARRING Indian Arts & Craft Market

Midwest SOARRING Foundation sponsored its first Indian Arts and Craft Market on the third weekend in June, on their Native American Cultural Center grounds.

Midwest SOARRING Foundation Indian Arts & Crafts vendor tents

The public had an opportunity to visit with a variety of vendors and purchase beautiful and handmade Indian and natural arts and craft items they sold.

These included Ruthann’s Southwest Treasures (Ruthann & Darrel Motley) selling hand signed silver and turquoise jewelry from Native artists in the Southwest; Sweetgrass (Fred and Annie Harris) selling beadwork, ledger art, birch bark baskets; Spiritsong (Fran Brousil) who sells hand beaded regalia, shawls, sweetgrass and sage among other various items; Lorraine Aebi who sells soy candles and walking sticks, and Chiro One that keeps your spine in tune.

Also participating was Butter Duck Farms (Kim Biske) located in Bolingbrook, IL who formulates handmade natural and organic skin care products. Their “from scratch” product line includes soap, body butters, salves, lotions, bug spray, baby products, and lice treatment –good for people and good for the earth. And, returning was Otomi Moon (Lolly Aguilar) who displayed captivating necklaces and earrings made from colorful hand grown Indian corn. Her hand beaded bracelets were a favorite of many shoppers.

Art Shegonee, well known Native American dancer and MC at Indian Summer and other events, provided the exhibition dancing throughout both days of the fair.

If you missed this first fair Midwest SOARRING Foundation will sponsor it’s next Indian Arts and Craft Market the first weekend in October at Lords Park in Elgin, IL in conjunction with the Annual Bison Blessing with the Elgin Museum.

July 5, 2013

FRACKING IN ILLINOIS

Midwest SOARRING Foundation co-sponsored a presentation June 8, 2013 with the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter on Fracking in Illinois. The lecture helped raise awareness among a diverse group of Illinois residents about the environmental costs of fracking.

Sandstone cliff walls of Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL

Many were unaware that there are two types of mining processes that can occur with fracking. One process extracts sand from the earth which is then sent to fracking sites throughout the world. This process is occurring in Illinois just outside of Starved Rock State Park near Ottawa, Illinois. The actual frack mining involves mixing sand, water, and chemicals at high pressure into a wellbore to create fractures. Drilling a well a mile deep with numerous veins is common to extract gas and petroleum.

The audience was astonished to learn that two to 7 million gallons of fresh water per vein are required, and one frac well alone can have seven or eight veins. It was easy to understand that a tremendous amount of precious, fresh water is wasted in the process, not to mention the toxic slurry of chemicals that is left above ground, and earthquakes that can result from the destabilization of the ground due to the deep drilling.

Joseph Standing Bear Schranz believes it is all of our duty to safeguard the environment for the next seven generations. He states, “We are all accountable to the future.”

June 2013 Bison Photo Shoot & Flea Market

The first Saturday in June afforded many Illinois residents fresh country air at the Bison Photo Shoot and Flea Market in LeRoy, Illinois.

Historic tractors on display

The relaxing event was held on the grounds of the Grand Village of the Kickapoo. Co-sponsored by the Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park and Midwest SOARRING Foundation, the event sought to raise funds to bring back the Kickapoo Pow Wow in 2014. Visitors had the opportunity to view an exhibit of over thirty vintage tractors on display, and browse a wide array of craft and flea market vendors.

Food was also available as many visitors choose to picnic and enjoy the peaceful scenery. The event was successful, raising about half of the funds needed to make the Pow Wow a go!

Illinois Unique Bison Photo Op

The highlight of the day was a hay rack wagon ride into the hilly bison pasture. Many with cameras in hand, expectantly watched for any signs of the bison as the tractor pulled wagon crossed a small ravine, and entered a wooded field with tall grass.

Lounging in the distance was the herd of fifteen bison, which included two calves and a new born calf, just borne the day before.

Hayrack wagon ride for bison photo shoot

On some of the rides the curious bison came close to the hay wagon, other times they grazed and rested at a distance of 100 to 150 feet. Riders snapped photos excitedly at the herd of bison who watched the visitors, and herded their young thru the brush.

Everyone was in awe at the magnificent animals, and hoped their photos would capture the strength and wild nature of America’s great four legged, so vital to Native people for thousands of years. Joseph Standing Bear Schranz, Founder/President of Midwest SOARRING Foundation said he was given a vision to create a herd of bison as a spirit herd, as a way of honoring all that the bison had done for native people. Tours of the bison pasture continued for the rest of the day and the sponsors were pleased with the turn out for the event.

May 8, 2013

Phase I – SOARRING Native American Village

On Saturday, May 4, Midwest SOARRING Foundation organized another work day on the grounds of the Native American Center. More work days are scheduled, as the organization prepares for the construction of the Native American longhouse. On April 27, 2013 a combined force of forty-three volunteers- – including Comcast employees and Midwest SOARRING Foundation members– finished phase I of the grounds preparation for the Native American village concept.

Volunteer Work day at MSF Culutural Center

Volunteer work day for Native American village grounds clean up.

Joseph Standing Bear Schranz, Founder and President of Midwest SOARRING Foundation, was elated with the success and generosity of Comcast. In addition to their time and committed work effort for Comcast Cares Day, Comcast donated volunteer t-shirts, breakfast, lunch, juice, water, soft drinks, trash bags, work gloves, dirt and grass seed.

The day began with a traditional Native American blessing for our Mother Earth and for all who attended. The volunteer efforts included

moving of a very large hardwood mulch pile to the village area,
transporting cinder blocks and other materials away from the work area,
filling in several large holes from trees that had fallen,
and cleanup of the parking area, five acres of land, and gardens surrounding the cultural center.

Midwest SOARRING Foundation was honored to have Sharisse Sheridan of Comcast light the village fire for the day. The foundation was also privileged to host a raffle for all of the volunteers who participated. Schranz said,

“I am happy that we have formed this relationship between Comcast and Midwest SOARRING Foundation in our efforts to promote awareness of Native American culture. We all need to work together to protect and conserve our environment, for now and for future generations.”

On Saturday, May 4, MSF had another work day on the grounds of our Native American Center. More work days are scheduled, as we prepare for the construction of our longhouse.

Future Work Days

Additional MAY work days are as follows:

Sat. May 11th, 10am-2pm
Thurs. May 16th, 10am-2pm
Sat. May 18th, 10am-2pm
Thurs. May 23 10am-2pm

For further information call (773) 585-8613.

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