And, here in CT, the Native Americans are represented pretty much by a couple of large and extremely successful resort/casinos, so, as far as I know, don’t often have to deal with the issues of which you write. But I was moved by the story of your Grammy. So many wise and strong women have gone before us!

I have a GF who has done a lot of shamanic work, and one of the images she shared with me is of “the Grandmothers” weaving the web of the Universe – always there, always wise, always connecting everything to everything else. My own maternal grandmother died of TB when my mother was less than two years old, so, of course, I never met her, and my mother remembers very little about her. I have two photos of her, taken at a sanitarium in Montana… I look a lot like her – which I think is wonderful!

Thanks for inviting me to your blog!

Gato

Alaskapi, I LOVE it when your point of view busts out. Thanks for sharing your Grammy with us and trying to explain the VAWA from your Alaskan perspective.

I bet you have a whole lot more Grammy stories you could share on her life there in Alaska…?!

From the Federal Recognition of Alaska Tribes and Relations with the State of Alaska section :

“After ANCSA, however, there was considerable debate and challenge as to whether or not ANCSA extinguished the status of the tribes in Alaska. The land settlement placed the land with profit-making Native corporations rather than with tribes, and Congressional findings in ANCSA specified that the settlement should be accomplished “…without establishing any permanent racially defined institutions, rights, privileges, or obligations, without creating a reservations system or lengthy wardship or trusteeship, and without adding to the categories and institutions enjoying special tax privileges or to the legislation establishing special relationships between the United States Government and the State of Alaska.” The findings went on to say that the Act shall not diminish any federal obligations to protect and promote the rights or welfare of the Alaska Native people. Even though some thought these findings indicated that tribal status was terminated, the Act did not expressly terminate tribal status. After the Act passed, tribal activity was relatively quiet during the 1970s, and was mostly expressed through tribal organizations receiving federal money to provide services through the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
The tribal sovereignty movement in Alaska picked up during the 1980s, as tribes became more active in asserting their existence and jurisdiction through their tribal governments and courts. ”

Tribal sovereignty is an uncomfortable subject within as well as without the Native community. At present,the state of limited certainties and vast uncertainties as regards the scope of limited self-determination available to Alaska Native tribal governments turns on case law found in section 2 of unit 4.
The lack of territorial jurisdiction, post ANCSA, makes for muddy, muddy areas of influence/jurisdiction since lands were lodged with the regional for-profits, not with the tribal governments.
We even had to spend years arguing whether tribes existed here post ANCSA. (THAT was a major waste of time in my book.Like waving our collective hands and insisting some basic part of people’s identity doesn’t exist has ever really worked for resolution of issues… sure, right. I try to be somewhat even handed here at AB but sometimes my own POV can’t help but bust out)

I hope you stop back by and that we can talk more.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Tanana Chiefs Conference for all the work they do on so many fronts .

Rock The Post is too unknown and didn’t have the reach of Kickstarter. We suffered for it, bombarding our known market with very little exposure beyond – I felt it fatigued our base. We are considering a Kickstarter campaign, but with a break – don’t want to over-saturate our supporters again.

We did post our Rewards on our website so donors can still pledge and collect if they want.

However, the situation remains, we have 216 kg’s of tundra botanicals we can put into 250,000 4.2 oz soap bars and enough extract to produce 100,000 units of 2 oz. tottles of crowberry lotion. This is for a mid-range price, so theoretically will meet more price points compared to an unknown luxury brand. We have a budget and materials, just need the capital (no small feat.)

So we are going the traditional route to solicit investors or guaranteeing a loan (if we are lucky enough to retain majority ownership.)

Thanks again everyone, your support means a lot to us, the little company that thinks it can. : )

Michelle

And I hope the Sparck sisters know how many of us out here all over Alaska and elsewhere are pulling for them to succeed on all fronts. So much of what they are trying to do with their business is exciting and way overdue .

Best wishes ARXOTICA !
http://www.arxotica.com/
In case folks, don’t know- those who still want to help fund this business project can. Yay!