June 2021, Vol 12
Kwai Everyone
Welcome to the 12th issue of the Ko’asek Tribal Tidbits! Today’s exciting segments are by tribal members: Chief Paul, Melvia Hasman, Steven Wright, and Sub Chief/Elder Sandra.. . Thank you all for your fantastic contributions!
Quotes, thoughts and news:
Today’s quote for April is from “365 Days of Walking the Red Road” by Terri Jean (Thank you Chief and Paul):
Quotes for June
History Event: Chief Cochise, who crossed over on June 8, 1874
Quote: There is a dignity about the social intercourse of old Indians which reminds me of a stroll through a winter forest.
Cochise
Tribal News:
From Chief Paul: “Our Koasek of Turtle Island Inc non-profit has the legal help and guidance of Attorney Denise Anderson, thanks to the financial support of our friends at the New Hampshire Charities Foundation in Concord, NH.”
Clan Agreements: For those who have Clan Agreements, please remember to get those Immediately to Chief Paul. Thank you .
Classes and Facebook Page News
Ko’asek Drumming: It’s never too late to jouin a great Drumming and Song class! Come join us!! We sing and have lively conversations with laughter. Please email Chief Paul and a Zoom link will be sent. We meet every Sunday at 1pm EST except on the Sunday of the Tribal Council meeting.
Members of Ko’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation Facebook Page: Our members are continuing to grow in the group! Thank you to all that posted wonderful articles. It’s wonderful to read a variety of topics!
We may have enough kits to start our project! Thank you Candy Conner for getting this all started! We are successfully adding more Gedmatch kit numbers to the Tribal DNA Project. Many are excited to be involved in this. Please remember 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.
The Ko’asek Chatter House genealogy chat room.
Here’s an update from Steven – Agma Nosok 8wdi on what’s new in The Chatter House genealogy chat group:
“Honeybees can be a nuisance(And Bridgette can tell you why)”Olikisokw” means “Good Morning”(to learn Abenaki we do try)Some of the “Buzz” at The Chatter House given her for you,Drip in and yack a bit and learn about these too!”
Thought for the Day by Gigi Brakeville (Bermosa Spiwi- Walks with the Earth)
If you have ever sent up prayers to the Creator, you are sending up energy, manifesting a response. The answer from Creator is given to us, however, we sometimes do not see it.
For instance, if a person prays for added funds to help the family, they will receive a sign, just not the way it is expected. Perhaps a better job opportunity, a raise, or by another skill is seen and can help, or another family member receives an opportunity to help.
Not all signs are exactly what one expects. Our Creator sends messages in symbols, animals, opportunities in all kinds of ways. The answer is there, we just need to see it.
Blessings and light,
GiGi (Bemosa Spiwi)
Today’s Bio features tribal member Melvia Hasman (Kin behanem – Brave Woman.). Welcome Melvia!
Melvia Hasman, a retired U.S. diplomat, served for 15 years in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, as Cultural and Press Attache and Acting Ambassador. As a “Hometown Diplomat” she spoke about the diplomatic service at US universities. During my Diplomatic career, Saul Murillo, my husband, an archaeologist originally from Honduras of native American and Spanish descent, was also a Diplomat.
Before joining the Diplomatic Service, she taught in New York Elementary schools and then at U.S. Universities and at the University of Kuwait. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Honduras, where she trained university teachers and developed curricula.
Melvia has a BA from Portland State University in Middle East Studies, her MA from the University of Idaho in linguistics, and post graduate courses at Purdue University. Since retiring, she has co-chaired the Global Issues Program in AAUW (American Association of University Women) and has given presentations on the diplomatic service at local organizations.
Melvia enjoys reading, traveling and researching genealogy, which she and her daughter GiGi do.
(Abenaki) Full Moon Names-English Full Moon Names (Part 4)
Here I the Old Farmers Almanac’s list of the English full Moon names.
(Adapted) from the Article: What the Abenaki People Called the Full Moon. The New England Historical Society by Steven Wright
And now let’s talk about…
I grew up on the Pacific Coast; Springfield, Oregon and its environs. So, I was right under the coastal flyway for several types of geese. I would see (and hear), the Taverner’s (or Lesser), Dusky, Vancouver, and Western (“Honker” or, “Great Basin”) Canada Geese. Then there was the “Cackling Goose” group, with the Cackler, and the Aleutian; also, the Greater White Fronted Goose. And, of course, the Lesser Snow Goose. I loved seeing and hearing them all, but above all the snow goose has always been my favorite.
I now live in Kansas, where there are eight or nine different types of Geese that pass through or have permanent residence (We have Eastern and Western populations of Canada geese in residence year round), but of course the Snow geese winter here only.
You have no doubt often seen flocks of geese in that V-formation, angling outward through the sky? This phenomenon — a kind of synchronized, aerial tailgating — marks the flight of flocks of larger birds, like geese or pelicans. Most observers believe that each bird behind the leader is taking advantage of the lift of a corkscrew of air coming off the wingtips of the bird in front. This corkscrew updraft is called a tip vortex, and it enables the geese to save considerable energy during long flights. The V-formation may also enhance birds’ ability to see and hear each other, thus avoiding mid-air collisions. This is the typical flight formation of the Canada goose. Snow geese also use this formation some of the time, but more impressive to me is when they are loosely grouped in great numbers, moving like a massive, ever fluctuating cloud; a large “Snowstorm” of white birds. And hearing the approach of a large group like this, and then tracking the sound to locate the flock in your visual, thrills me probably more than any other natural phenomenon. Upon first hearing the sound, every time that I do without fail, I freeze in my tracks, and begin to utter “Snow geese” the two words stuck together like one, as I begin to scan the sky to locate the flock in flight. If I am driving of course, I will probably see them before I hear them, so, I am known to roll down the windows of the car so as to hear the sound. Believe me, this is only one of the things that provide my wife with entertainment. She likes to imitate the way I say “Snow geese!” Even more amazing is to hear a flock of Snow geese in flight at night. All geese will fly at night, for a variety of different reasons including staying cool, avoiding predatory birds and less turbulence present in cool air vs. warm, but in my observation, Snow geese do this with much greater frequency than others. In darkness, it seems like you can focus your hearing even more, and being out at a time when most humans are asleep and no cars are moving about etc. certainly helps. I used to have a walking paper route for the Eugene Register Guard Newspaper. On Saturday and Sunday Mornings, the bundles of papers would arrive at about 3:00 a.m. In the Fall and early Spring, as I delivered my route, I would hear and see the flocks of snow geese. When it is dark, they fly lower in the sky, so low at times, that you can hear the movement of air produced by the flapping of their wings. So marvelous! I would listen to and watch and “Feel” group after group after group of these birds flying overhead. What a joy! Occasionally, on the full moon, I was afforded the rare gift of seeing geese silhouetted as they flew between me and my view of the moon, wow! Then with the rising of the sun would be seen, these glorious birds, white feathers glistening, reflected in the sun’s light. I carry these sights and sounds imbedded in my heart, held in reserve for those days when such medicine is needful for the soul.
The other morning early as I was making my way out the front door and toward my car, and I heard them, stopped, looked and then watched them as they flew in a Northwesterly direction – yes I said it “Snow geese!” Which event prompted me to write this for you! I have included here a picture of some Snow geese in flight. Enjoy!
Sub Chief/Elder Sandra beautiful crafts.
Thank you Sub Chief/Elder Sandra for sharing your exquisite work. The pictures below are the napkin rings and earrings she makes. The napkin rings are wood enhanced with broken craft stone and beads. The earrings are also wood and have a gemstone to enhance the beauty of the designs she creates.
Beautiful!
Napkin Ring Earrings 
Wood earrings with gemstone
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!
Please email submissions to: snoopy8u@yahoo.comOlwini,GiGiBemosa Spiwi – Walks with the Earth
Have you seen our new website? www.koasekabenakination.com
Our next Meeting is Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 1pm (Eastern Time). Come share your thoughts and ideas!!
