October 2021, vol 16
Kwai Everyone
Blessings for a beautiful Fall Equinox last month! Welcome to the 16th issue of the Ko’asek Tribal Tidbits! Today’s exciting segments are by tribal members: Chief Paul, Dolores Hebert Shoultz, Mary Doonan,and Michael Byers. Thank you for your great contributions! Everyone has talents, pictures/art and stories to tell. I love hearing from you! Let’s contunue to share.
New changes coming. The Ko’asek Tribal Tidbits will now be sent out bi-monthly starting with November/December.
Quotes, thoughts and news:
Today’s quote for October is from “365 Days of Walking the Red Road” by Terri Jean (Thank you Chief and Elder Paul):
Walk the good road…… be dutiful,
Respectful, gentle and modest….
Be strong with the warm,
Strong heart of the earth.
Anonymous male Sioux
Historical Note More than 8,000 Indians served in World War I,
25,000 World War II,
41,000 in Vietnam
24,000 in Operation Desert Storm(From the Red Road Book)
Spiritual Thought
When doing energy work with Creator, Ancestors, Spirit totems, Ascended Teachers, etc. , we are shown signs that express acknowledgment, gratitude and love. Some we can see and some we do not. I captured this image after doing an afternoon of journey and energy work. The message was clear and beautiful. A’ho. Blessings and light. Bemosa Spiwi – Walks with the Earth. (GiGi)
Tribal News!
From Chief Paul. Fall Equinox Ceremony on our Tribal land
“We had 37 attendees, 8-9 children that all got gifts. Everyone got my medicine bags with imitation eagle feathers. We had a past elder come with her family, Theresa Olsen; A Home school family with their two children; Several Community Village Members; Gary & Donna from NY; Business people and residents of Claremont; E-News of Claremont; and a big thank you to all of our Koasek members who traveled far to be with us.
This could not have happened without War Chief David Nepveu who was in charge of all traffic issues; and Dan Duhaime who cut lots of wood and arranged the grounds, and Rita his partner. It was nice to meet many in person.”
Come and share your creations: Kwai tribal members! I am interested in the books you have written, websites you have your stories on, etc. I will be sending out a special edition of what you have created! Please email me with titles of books and where they can be purchased, and websites of your stories etc. Thank you GiGi
Homeschooling Project: A reminder that Chief Paul is looking for tribal members to contribute their skilss to the Homeschooling Porject. Come and share your talents with the children! Please contact Chief Paul for more information!
Special thanks! A shout out and big thanks to tribal member and Web Designer and Specialst Theresa Styles for all her work and creativity to the tribal website and the homeschooling videos and the YouTube page! You have done a lot for the tribe and we give you great thanks!!!
Classes and Facebook Page News
Ko’asek Drumming From Daniel Duhaime, “Kwai Kwai,nidoba,s Friends ,relatives,fellow members.join us in learning songs of the abenaki and other northeastern tribes .come and learn and share in our culture .please join us in sharing the heart beat of the drum and the shaking of the rattle and our voices in song.please join us in friendship .thanks Dan “
Members of Ko’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation Facebook Page:
We have 47 members on our Private Facebook page. There are many great topics posted from the histories of different tribes to videos and garden pictures. This is a secure way to share tribal news and have fun. Please email Chief Paul for an invitation to join!
Our private tribal page was created by Candy Connor. She has also set up a DNA project for members only to help with genealogy work and see who you are related to in the tribe. The Chatter House genealogy chat room is a great way to help each other with those brick walls we get stuck on in our trees. A great resource!
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:
“Hurricanes, storms, fires and the “Wheel of Profiles” game that a certain DNA company is playing with our Ethnicities. Have given us much to chatter about at the Chatter House. Here’s what we know with certainty: weather is prone to severe change, but ethnic heritage is not subject to the whims of computerized algorithms.’
Today’s Bio features tribal member Dolores Hebert Shoultz. Thank You Dolores!
“Kwai to All, let me say by beginning I am very honored to be a member of the Ko’asek Tribe of the Abenaki Nation. I live in Texas but I was born in Covington and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and am of Cajun decent. Baton Rouge means Red Stick in French. I attended Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge. Istrouma means Red Stick (Totem pole) and we were the Indians, of which I was very proud and felt a kinship, now I know why.
I am the proud mother of four wonderful children, 6 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I have to thank my husband for his insisting that we look into our roots. I have always felt that my Grandmother, Achee, looked like a lovely Native American lady, little did I know that we had so much Native American heritage. After much research we needed help and somehow GiGi saw our need and got us pointed in the right direction, which was Chief Paul, thank you.
I love nature, gardening, sewing, art, music, dancing, and making a home for my family!”
A’ho,Always be Kind,Dolores Hebert Shoultz
The Herbalist Corner-Mary H. Doonan, Traditional Herbalist
Traditional Herbalism.
American Ginseng – Officially known as Panax Quinquefolius, this Adaptogen herb is of the ivy family and native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America. Used by Native Americans long before Europeans arrived, it was used not only to heal a wide variety of ailments; but also for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. Recognized as one of the five most valuable plant medicines by Seneca. Traditional uses included Flu, Colds, Fever, sinus problems, stomach upset and lack of energy and are still practiced today. The herb was smoked like tobacco by the Iroquois Nation and Wabanaki Nation and used in sweat baths by the Several Nations. It was also dried for use in teas by the Abenaki, Mi’Kmaq, Mohegan, Houma, Potawatomi, Creek and Cherokee for a variety of medicinal purposes. Some Tribes used it as a body rub. Another not so common use was using the herb to attract a mate, such as the Meskwaki women to gain a husband and Pawnee men who used American Ginseng as a love charm. Europeans quickly saw its benefits in the early 1700s, so much so that French traders in Quebec, who had contracted with local Weskinaki Abenaki to purchase the North American Ginseng they could find, effectively eliminated the native herb around Montreal. Hardy to Zones 4 to 8 cultivation. Ginseng Tea anyone?!?!
Mary H Doonan , Traditional Herbalist, Ko’asek Abenaki Deer Clan.
Abenaki History: The Creation Story, Part II. Artwork by Michael Byers
Gici Niwaskw dreamed of fish “Namas”
Gic and the bird “Sibs”…
and the moose “Moz”
The Abenaki story of Creation will be continued in the next issue!
Please email submissions by the 15th of each month for publishing. Also articles need to be between 120 and 150 words with 1 to 2 pictures. Quotes, pieces of history, bios, recipes and everything is welcome!
Please email submissions to: snoopy8u@yahoo.com Olwini,GiGiBemosa Spiwi – Walks with the Earth
Have you seen our new website? www.koasekabenakination.com
Our next Meeting is Sunday October 17, 2021 at 1pm (Eastern Time). Come share your thoughts and ideas!!
