By Santee Ross, University of Montana
“Call me Zits.
Everybody calls me Zits.”
This is the beginning of “Flight,” a book written by Sherman Alexie.
Alexie is pretty well known in Native circles for his books as well as his iconic and gut busting screenplay “Smoke Signals.”
I read “Flight” over the summer and as with most of Alexie’s work, I laughed till I cried then cried till I laughed.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Elouise Cobell died Sunday at the age of 65 according to an article at but left a legacy of inspiration.
Cobell was given the name Yellow Bird Woman and was the great granddaughter of Mountain Chief of the Blackfoot tribe.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Where is the line between offensive and playful?
For years national sports teams have used Native American symbols for mascots. This has been the center of debate among native communities for years.
One recent controversy involves the University of North Dakota, whose mascot is the Fighting Sioux and has the two tribes that live within the state torn, according to The Iowa State Daily.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Occupy Wall Street is coming upon its fourth week since it started September 17th.
Since then it has quietly grown into a revolution that has sparked similar protests in major cities like Boston, Los Angeles and now has arrived in Missoula, Mont.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
“Let’s celebrate Columbus Day by walking into someone’s house and telling them we live there now,” this well-phrased quote was posted on Facebook by one of my relatives.
Yesterday was Columbus Day and to some the native community that means the rest of the country openly acknowledges a murderer.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
Eastern Shoshone Business council member Ivan Posey attended the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing to testify on the one-year evaluation of the Tribal Law and Order Act.
A little fun fact for those Obama supporters, the president signed this act in July of 2010. Personally, I think Obama may have some Indian blood in him. Maybe his great grandma was a ... never mind.
By Lee Longhorn
Happy Columbus Day! I see on Facebook that people are against the celebration of Columbus Day. Before we begin, I must tell you that according to Strengthquest, one of my strengths is positivity. I like looking at the glass as half full.
By Santee Ross, University of Montana
As the new generation trades childhood games like hopscotch for Facebook, Wyoming Indian High School hosted an all day seminar on September 8th, according to a story in the Sept. 15 edition of the Wind River News. Middle and high school students who attend any of the four schools within the Wind River Reservation, in west central Wyoming, sat through a presentation that addressed many issues, one including the dangers of cyberland.
Part III: “Am I saying this right?”
By Lee Longhorn
Languages can be fun to learn. When you are around people from other cultures, it’s always good to learn bits and pieces of their language. A couple of months ago, I posted on my Hmong friend’s wall on Facebook in the Creek language. Basically, I just said “Happy Birthday.” He responded, “Thank you my friend,” in Hmong. Now we both meant what we said but it was interesting seeing it in two different languages. I like when things like that happen.
Part II: “Mom, how do you say that?”
By Lee Longhorn
A word that my mom cannot pronounce is the word for knife in the Creek language. I can’t even write it. My mom, if you recall, is where I get the bulk of my tribes. As a kid and even a young adult, my mom would not only teach me what Creek she knew, but also Shawnee. It was nothing big, but just words, mostly animals, that she remembered from when she was a part of that side of the family.
