| Editorials ,photos and things ... 
Crowds welcome Grand Excursion boats
By: Sonja Young, Herald Staff Writer June 28, 2004
CLINTON - Cannons roared as the Twilight riverboat made her way up the Mississippi River. The Grand Excursion 2004's entrance into Clinton was under way.
Hundreds of people lined Clinton's riverfront Sunday as they gathered to celebrate the river's heritage and commemorate the original Grand Excursion of 1854.
Each of the riverboats received a seven-cannon salute when passing through the swing span railroad bridge. The cannon smoke mingling with the sweet smell of kettle corn and the notes of a Dixieland band performing in the band shell blending with the calliope of the Celebration Belle took everyone back in time - if only for a brief moment.
Clinton Mayor LaMetta Wynn estimated the crowd to be "many" hundreds.
"I am so pleased that the weather is as nice as it is," Wynn said. "I think people are having a good time even though the boats are later than expected."
Although the first two boats were pretty much on schedule, the Anson Northrup and the Harriet Bishop were more than two hours late.
According to Grand Excursion officials the strong river currants worked against the paddlewheelers as they navigated their way through the locks down river.
But the delay didn't dampen spirits. The crowd cheered as the Spirit of Peoria pulled into dock with the strains of "When the Saints Go Marching In" being performed by the Do-Wa-Ka-Dixie Band on the upper deck.
And celebrants didn't lack for anything to do as they waited for the last two boats.
The Clinton County Historical Society featured a Pioneer Village and there was continuous musical entertainment in the band shell from noon to 10 p.m.
Native Americans wandered through the crowd telling stories and answering questions about their culture. The Bearland Exhibit hosted several storytellers, Native American artifacts and the Bearland Trade Post.
Kent Wipf, public relations manager for the Grand Excursion 2004, said the event started out as a concept on paper some four years ago. As his eyes swept the river banks he commented on the tremendous crowd and the support the event received from the community.
"What a great location for the Grand Excursion, with the riverbank and the view and the park behind you," he said.
We couldn't find enough good words to say about Julie Allesee, director of the Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau, and all of the volunteers who helped make the Grand Excursion a memorable event. |
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See more about the Spirit Walkers Here:
10-11-04 Channel 6 News
Video[To see it you'll have to install media player if you do not have it] click link below
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?qu=bearland
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?qu=bearland
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Heritage alive at trading post
http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1037273&t=Business&c=31,1037273
NOTE:
Although in this article they that some people said he was a medicineman,we want to make it clear that he was Not. Some people just said Medicine Bear "Seemed" like one cause he knew so much and had an answered cure for everything and was so very knowledgable about plants and things of that nature and how they could be medicinally used. None the less,we will be calling/writing into the paper for a correction on this) Perhaps this should have been worded differently by them but it was an oversight that was a simple mistake that we are now correcting. To make it clear he was not ever a true offical medicine man... We would never think of dishonoring anyone that is a true medicineman. For Bob was never offically in any tribes etc. to make a claim such as this. But so there is no disturbance about it we are posting this here so you know it was a simple mistake that was printed. To some of us Bob seemed as though he was one. And to those whom don't know any better, he was one in their eyes. All in all, this is to clarify and to not dishonor the true medicinemen of tribal orgin on mother earth.Thank you for your understanding.
Thank you KWQC! Your Good People!!!!
Great station so go here to see the current news
Click here to watch this week's Made in the QCA.
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Other things:
Living History Day past event 2002
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Spirit Walk 2003:
We helped with The Spirit Walk 2003
The goal of Spirit Walk 2003 is to create awareness and interest in preserving the Lakota tradition and culture through teaching the Lakota language. Like so many other indigenous cultures facing the reality of their loss of heritage and potential cultural extinction, the Lakota Nation is fighting to preserve their way of life.
Spirit Walk started on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota and traveled through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia before landing in Washington D.C. in late September where the organizers met with government representatives and requested assistance for all programs that preserve Lakota and other indigenous cultures in the United States. The walkers averaged 20-30 miles per day, stopping in communities to share their message of hope through storytelling and music.
Spirit Walk 2003 was instumental in the raising awareness to the critical situation facing the Lakota. As a result several langauge programs have been developed and are working to preserve the language.
http://www.7fires.org/
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OLD ARTICLE:
Sarah Graham of Albany, Ill., was named a “Native Princess” recently at the Spirit in the Oaks event.
medicinebear and his daughter Mary (left) and Sarah after being crowned on the right
ALBANY, Ill. - Next week, Albany teen-ager Sarah Graham will travel to Rhode Island as part of a church organization that includes other youths from this region.
The event is a "Flying With Eagles" youth peer leadership training event that allows her to combine two of her major interests - peer counseling and her American Indian heritage.
From an early age, Graham was involved with American Indian activities and events. Her grandfather, Bob Putnam, first involved her with powwows and living history events. This year, she was named a "Native Princess" at the Spirit in the Oaks celebration in Joslin, Ill.
Then she became involved with the workshop camp at the suggestion of a local member of the organization, Joan Restich.
The Native American International Caucus of the United Methodist Church is the organizer for the Rhode Island event, which begins Wednesday at Camp Aldersgate just outside Providence, R.I. It lasts until Oct. 13 and includes workshops on leadership, substance abuse and suicide issues, as well as activities centered on both Christian faith and American Indian heritage.
Graham, who already participates in peer counseling with her church, said her religion is an important part of her life.
"I don't think I'd be the person that I am now without my faith," she said.
She also said that many youths in the Gateway area deal with substance abuse and issues with suicide.
"Sometimes they don't have anything to do, so they decided to get into drugs and alcohol," she said.
The Flying With Eagles event began in 1994, when American Indian youths in Ohio got together to try and understand how they could meet the challenges and dangers that teens faced on a regular basis. They also wanted to do more to connect their identities as American Indians and their Christian faith.
Graham's mother, Mary, said she believed the event would be a good opportunity for her daughter.
"I think there's really a need for young people to see other young people and find out their alternatives out there," she said.
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An Older Article we are in(Above)
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Above Stop The Hate Walk photos..thanks everyone:-)
