Lewis Tewanima, Hopi Distance Runner
Tewanima competed in both the IV and V Games of the Olympiad (1908 & 1912). He earned silver in the 10,000 meters in 1912 and held the American record in the event until another Native, Billy Mills, broke it during the 1964 Tokyo games. Stay tuned in the coming days for more posts on NDN olympians.
source:http://tombenjey.com/2008/07/24/native-americans-in-the-1908-olympics/
From author Guy Trebay:
The two of us will talk little because, as a handout at the visitor center explains, “the general exuberance many cultures define as friendliness is not considered such by the Diné.” The flyer is an aid to newcomers who might interpret as rudeness what for Navajos is deeply observed natural courtesy. I am well accustomed to Navajo silence, to softly touching handshakes and a deflected gaze. The truth is, I come here partly to escape the din of more populated places, the wearying abrasion of what passes for civilization in a technological age. I also come because, whenever I lose track of the quirky dream machine in my head, it is here that I find it again.
Read the full article here: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/dream-weaver/
Tsé Bitʼaʼí or Shiprock is an unmistakeable landmark of the American Southwest. It is mentioned in many oral histories that Navajo people tell to better understand their past and origins. Though it is illegal to mount the fantastic monolith, a number of die-hard climbers have made the ascent over the years…and published some pretty cool photos documenting it. Click here to see the full articles from “Ascent” (1970) and “Summit” (1969) magazines.
Perhaps every Navajo should brush up on their taboo knowledge before Sunday’s solar eclipse… Albuquerque lies dead center on the phenomena’s annular phase. The People say one shouldn’t eat during an eclipse- the unusual state of the heavens might induce stomach problems. More importantly, don’t sleep- your eyes might not open again when it’s over. Finally, don’t look at the eclipse or you might go blind…this applies to non-Navajos too fyi…
Sunpainters: Eclipse of the Navajo Sun offers a worthy visual alternative to the celestial occurence if you choose to abide by superstition. Written and illustrated by Navajo artist Bahe Whitethorne Sr., this beautiful picture book tells how the color of the world is restored by Na’ach’aabii, or the Little People, after the sun dies. Definitely give it a look if you get a chance. Without a doubt you’ll need to see more of Whitethorne Sr’s work afterward.
Image Courtesy of www.bahewhitethornesr.com
Carl Moon, “Native American Runner” c.a. 1912
Lytrit Work (hand-painted photo)
“I went down badly and I was dragged for 25 yards”, says Johnny Depp when talking with Britian’s Daily Mirror about his recent experience on the set of The (new) Lone Ranger. (click here for full interview) But according to Depp, his safety came down to more than the feathers in his lucky cowboy hat- it was all about the trusty steed: “I had a good relationship with the horse, whose name is Scout, and when I look at the tape I can see that Scout saved my life”. We’re glad you’re okay Johnny. But perhaps you should be thanking “The Duke” instead? The picture below is proof enough…
S.O.L.O. doesn’t usually use our blog as a platform for bad jokes but the story and images were just too perfect not to be presented together.
On a more serious note, the making of The Lone Ranger represents somewhat of a “homecoming” for Hollywood westerns. The world’s most popular images of Native Americans might not be what they are today had it not been for Monument Valley and the hordes of filmmakers that used the stunningly beautiful corner of the Navajo Nation as their backdrop for their bang bang shoot em’ up dramas of the 1950’s and 60’s. As John Wayne himself allegedly put it, “So this is where God put the West”.
Click here for a fantastic article that tells the story of how the film industry “discovered” the high-desert wonderland and what it meant for the people who lived nearby. With this kind of legacy, it’s no wonder people flock to The Valley from every corner of the world to reaffirm their “imaginations” of the “American West”. Let’s just hope Navajos have a little more say in how their people and land are protrayed on the silverscreen this time around…
We leave you with a classic and completely relevant tune spawned from the imaginations of Native humorists: Black Lodge Singers, “John Wayne’s Teeth”
S.O.L.O. gear is finally available for purchase online! Thanks to Dr. Jessica Metcalfe of Beyond Buckskin (http://beyondbuckskin.blogspot.com/), three of our tees are available for purchase here:http://beyondbuckskinboutique.bigcartel.com/artist/dustin-martin-navajo. Launched just this morning, the Beyond Buckskin Boutique is sure to go down as something of a Declaration of Independence in the narrative of contemporary Native fashion.
Be sure to check out the work of the other 10 NDN designers featured on the site. Once again, props to Dr. Metcalfe for making the dream a reality. Sovereign Original Land Owners UNITE!
Cavalry:
Ye’ii:
Lone Resistance:
We have very limited runs of each shirt, so grab them while you can! Thank you for your continued support to make Sovereign Original Land Owners a name in Native fashion!
Navajo Rug from the UNM archives.
Unless they’ve been living under a rock, most New Mexicans know that Jonny Depp has been 505-way as of late shooting scenes for Jerry Bruckheimer’s The Lone Ranger. Depp’s character, Tonto, is portrayed as a face-paint-wearing, dishevled-hair-having, Jack Sparrow-looking “Comanche”. But as Gawker’s Caity Weaver points out in her humorous article “Johnny Depp’s Tonto is Based on a White Man’s Painting of an Imaginary Native American”, there’s something fishy about Tonto’s image. Check out the article to get the inside scoop on the authenticity of Depp’s costume.
Looks as if Vans has caught on to the “Pendelton Print” craze too. S.O.L.O. co-founder, Dustin Martin, displays a sample that might make a better cradle-board than moccasin.
We got a kick out of the faux-“purple mountains majesty” set up to serve as a back-drop for photos with our Nation’s mascot. Natives dressed in full pow-wow regalia waited in line for their chance to pose. The man on the right served as the Gathering’s resident Edward Curtis. LOL.
Though it was more than a bit awkward (rude?) to ask this young dancer if we could snap a shot of the back of her head, we couldn’t resist. Now to decide what’s more fly- her color pallete or the oh so dope feather in her hair? We’ll let you decide.
