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March 2021

Kwai everyone!

Welcome to the 9th issue of the Ko’asek Tribal Tidbits! Today’s exciting segments are by our tribal members.  We have an article by Melvia Hasman, a craft bio from Elder Terri Helms,  Michael Byers handmade mittens. and an article by Steven Wright. 

Quote, thoughts and news:

Today’s quote for February is from “365 Days of Walking the Red Road” by Terri Jean (Thank you Chief Paul):
“Sometimes dreams are wiser than waking” Black Elk, Oglala Sioux, 1863-1950 
The first Native American newspaper, published in 1828, was the Cherokee Phoenix

Did you know?

Submitted by Juliana Brakeville:  “Abenaki men wore breech clothes with leather leggings.  Abenaki women work wraparound deerskin skirts.”
http://www.bigorrin.org

Classes and Facebook page news:

Drumming class:   We have learned many songs thanks to Daniel Duhaime.  Come join us!  We not only sing but also have some lively conversations with laughter.  Please email Chief Paul and a Zoom link will be sent.  The group meets every Sunday at 1pm EST except on the Sunday of the Tribal Council meeting.  


Tribal Facebook Page:  We have a lot of new Units for learning on our Facebook Tribal Page!  Under the Units topic we have Language, Songs, History and the DNA Project.  I am posting articles on tribes from around the world. Some will have ancient gedmatch kits with them.  

Our new Facebook page, Members ofKo’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nationi, is a private group.  One has to be a member of the tribe to be in the group.  There is a lot of information! Please send Chief Paul an email and an invitation will be sent.  


We are still adding Gedmatch kit numbers to the DNA project.  It is private.  No kits may be shared outside the group.  This is a wonderful tool to help with genealogy and connect with others in the tribe.  For more information, please contact Candy Conner, Steven Wright or GiGi Brakeville.


Ko’asek Chatter House genealogy chat room.  We have new chat room that has started!  Thank you Jacob Waters and Steven Wright for creating a chat room for tribal genealogy!  This is a place to discuss trees and brick walls that need to be broken.  Everyone will try and help each other.  Please let Jacob or Steven know if you would like to join.  

Our daughter sending smoke up for healing.
The honor and responsibility I feel for teaching  traditions to our daughter.  

The ancestors communicate the healing of all living things on Mother Earth in my journey work.  They have come to guide and teach the ways of taking care of all with energy.  This would be everything from the rocks and dirt beneath our feet to the water we drink and the air we breathe.  Place your hand on a tree and give it love and thanks for being here.  A simple yet powerful gesture.  A’ho.  Bemosa Spiwi – Walks with the Earth (GiGi Brakeville)

Abenaki Tribal Government: Its Structure  by Melvia Hasman (Kin Behanem – Brave Woman)

As a relatively new member to the tribe, I wanted to know the form of Abenaki Tribal Government.  In researching, this is what I learned:
The Chief & 2nd Chief  are nominated by the Council and decided by election.  The Chief represents the tribe in all matters & depends on the consensus of the tribe for implementing recommendation. The Chief also advises the group & facilitates consensus.The Tribal Council  (5-13 members) makes laws & decisions to benefit the tribe. Its duties are to adopt tribal laws and policies.
The Elders Council settle disputes  and are the historical resources of the tribe.  An Elder is one who has great wisdom and knowledge of the traditions and customs of the group.

In general, it is customary among the Abenaki to decide by consensus, and if no agreement is reached, the dispute dropped.

Beading by Elder Terri Helms

“Many beaders say the beads talk to you, tell you what colors, what patterns, which way to go. In the year of 2020 where calm and peace was needed, I took up beadwork, self taught and still learning.  The beads did bring calm and did talk to me, and from that came on one particular favorite pattern.This pattern harks to my Abenaki and Mi’kmaq roots. The center is Mother Earth,  the trees (always a shade of green) branching up from Mother Earth, the pinwheel shape signifies the wind that sends the whispers of Father Sky to the trees who relay those whispers to Mother Earth.  For the Abenaki and the Mi’kmaq trees are alive, have feelings and are in touch with all of nature. Hugging a tree is a good rule to live by.  I made this pattern along with a few others on ceiling fan pulls that will be given to Chief & Elder Paul for gifting or selling on our tribal table at Pow Wow.” 

Beaver Skin and Moose Hide Mittens by Michael Byers

Kwai Everyone,

 Living in the land of our ancestors can at times get rather cold, so in the tradition of our ancestors I made a pair of traditional Beaver Mittens.

You will need a Beaver Pelt (try to talk the beaver gently out of his fur, they’re rather touchy about it), leather, backing material, patterns to fit your hands along with the tools, leather glue, leather needle (unless you think your sewing machine will handle it) and I used cording to sew with. Have an awl handy-you’ll figure out why. I can send more detailed instructions to anyone who wishes to make a pair.

Snow Moon and Snow Geese, Part I by Steven Wright

February – The Snow Moon

Photo of the full moon by By Michael Gil 

The Snow Moon marks the time of the year when in the northeastern regions the heaviest of snows fall. Because the tribes had now more time to spend inside their homes, the Snow Moon was a time for rituals, fasting and personal purification. Ancestors are now honored by passing on their stories to the younger generations.

Hunting becomes very difficult, that’s why some other Native American tribes called the February Full Moon the Hunger Moon. Other references to the weather were made by the Arapaho who called it “Frost Sparkling In the Sun”. To the Lakota, February was the “Moon When The Trees Crack Because Of The Cold;” and to the Wishram of Washington and Oregon, “Shoulder To Shoulder Around The Fire Moon.”

February is a great time to spend time in family or in the community and share stories and pass on the traditions. And although snow is still abundant this time of the year, February brings with it the hope that Spring is not far.The full snow moon will occur at precisely 2:18 a.m. CST here in Kansas. I will be out Friday night and Saturday morning looking and listening. Will you?

Please email submissions by the 15th of each month for publishing.  Also articles need to be between 100 and 120 words with 1 to 2 pictures.  Quotes, pieces of history, bios, recipes and everything is welcome! 

Olwini,
GiGi 
Bemosa Spiwi – Walks with the earth


Have you seen our new website? http://www.koasekabenakination.com

Our next Meeting is Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 1pm (Eastern Time).  Come share your thoughts and ideas!!

For comments and submissions, please email GIGI at snoopy8u@yahoo.com

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