Bears Ears National Monument – Image credit: brucerinehart (Bruce Rinehart) – CC BY-SA 4.0
WASHINGTON – As TWH reported on Friday, President Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation officially declaring today Indigenous People’s Day. In the past, it was the federally recognized holiday of Columbus Day.
This a positive move towards recognizing and celebrating Indigenous people for their culture, their countless contributions, as well their resilience. Biden also took action to restore the land boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument, both in Utah.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said Biden’s actions write “a new chapter that embraces Indigenous knowledge, ensures tribal leadership has a seat at the table and demonstrates that by working together we can build a brighter future for all of us.”
“Bears Ears is a living landscape,” Haaland noted. “This is a place that must be protected in perpetuity for every American and every child of the world.”
Secretary Haaland was instrumental in getting the land restored as part of the national monuments, having visited the sites in April and meeting with tribal leaders and elected officials. She submitted a report to Biden’s office in January requesting the land be restored.
Not everyone in Utah is pleased with the decision.
Utah governor Spencer Cox had stated publicly in April that he would “likely” sue if the land was restored. Cox released a statement last Thursday ahead of Biden’s announcement expressing disappointment at the restoration. He also stated a desire for a more permanent legislative solution to be established to prevent future adjustments from expanding and shrinking the state’s monuments.
According to Shaun Chapoose, chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe, told NPR, “The state of Utah is probably going to have a tantrum. They’re all for the congressional fix for when it’s what they wanted to begin with. … It’s just the usual song and dance.”
Biden also added extra protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of New England, which includes Oceanographer, Gilbert, and Lydonia canyons; and Bear, Mytilus, Physalia, and Retriever seamounts. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was the first U.S. national marine monument to be created in the Atlantic ocean, declared by President Obama in September of 2016.
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Sami flag – Public Domain
KARASJOK, Norway – The Indigenous people of Norway, the Sami, have requested that Queen Margrethe of Denmark allow a Sami drum that has been on loan to the Sami museum in Karasjok be allowed to remain in Norway permanently since it is considered to be an important and cultural treasure to the Sami people.
In April, the Sami Museum sent a formal request, but so far the Danish Queen has yet to respond.
The drum was originally confiscated in 1692 in connection with the “witchcraft trial” of Sami shaman Anders Poulsson who was the owner of the drum. Poulsson was murdered by a servant while being held in custody. The drum was sent to Copenhagen and remained in the Danish king’s art chamber until in 1849 it was transferred to the Danish National Museum.
Since 1979 the drum has been on display at the Sami Museum but the agreement for its loan from Denmark and the Danish Royal Family’s art collection is set to expire on December 1.
Sami Parliament President Aili Keskitalo said in a statement to the Norwegian and Danish press, “This is unworthy. Should we beg and smile like kind girls to keep our own cultural objects? We have very few drums left in Sami ownership, and this specific drum has great significance for our cultural history. It is horrible that Sami can hardly see our own cultural objects, without going to Germany, Denmark or London.”
The Danish Royal Court has referred the matter to the Danish National Museum which has stated the situation is difficult but is considering returning the drum. The final decision will be made by the Danish Minister of Culture, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen who is currently weighing the matter.
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TWH – This week the Parliament of World Religions holds its first-ever completely virtual conference. In addition to providing access to a variety of presenters from across the globe, the event will also offer virtual booths for exhibitors.
Among the Pagan and Heathen participants that will be in attendance virtually, Circle Sanctuary will be presenting as they have every Parliament since the event was renewed in 1993. Among their presentations Circle will have a panel on their international, multilingual, multicultural Pagan podcasting with Circle Sanctuary Minister & Podcaster Laura Gonzalez moderating the discussion that will include Circle Sanctuary Community Member and Podcaster Petrucia Finkler of Brazil and Selena Fox.
Fox and other members of Circle Sanctuary will also be facilitating a live-streamed virtual ritual titled, Circle for Planet Earth which is also part of their work with the global GreenFaith Circle.
As TWH reported last week, Ethan Stark of Heathens Against Hate and Trinity Lutheran lead pastor, Rev. Andy Behrendt will repeat their interfaith exchange, A Necessary Conversation.
Other members of the Pagan and Heathen communities that will be presenting are Pagan Federation International Director Morgana Sythove of The Netherlands, Jo Carson, Ellen Everett Hopman, Diana Paxson, Catherine Starr, and Oberon Zell.
Phyllis Currott, who served as Vice-Chair of the 2015 Parliament and now serves on this year’s Board of Trustees and will also be presenting.
Registration for the event which runs from October 16-18 is still open and the cost of admission is $90 through October 15 and increases to $110 on October 16-18.
In other news:
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- Chokecherry Grove near Denver and a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship is scheduled to hold its Rocky Mountain Retreat on October 15-17. Featured presenters include Ian Corrigan, Gaarik Hamr, Diane Cacciato, Kristoffer Hughes, Anthony Murphy, Kirk Thomas, Shaz Cairns, James “Pigeon” Fielder, and Jean “Drum” Pagano. The event is being presented via Zoom and admission is $20 for the entire weekend schedule of events.
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- A petition to have February 1, St. Brigid’s Day declared a national bank holiday in Ireland has garnered roughly 12,000 signatures. The Irish government had recently announced that it would add an additional holiday to recognize and honor the many sacrifices that citizens made during the pandemic. The Goddess Brigid is celebrated by many Pagans as part of Imbolc around the world. Other dates have also been suggested but the group Herstory that started the petition said in an interview, “Brigid is synonymous with healing and this is the perfect date to honour the victims and heroes of the pandemic.” The government will announce its decision for the holiday tomorrow, October 12.
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- The city of Christchurch in New Zealand announced it was terminating its contract with Ian Brackenbury Channell as The Wizard of New Zealand. Brackenbury Channell has functioned as The Wizard for the city for 23 years. The Christchurch City Council said, “The promotional landscape in Ōtautahi Christchurch is changing, with new and different promotional programmes that will increasingly reflect our diverse communities and showcase a vibrant, diverse, modern city that is attractive to residents, domestic and international visitors, new businesses, and skilled migrant workers.” As for The Wizard, while disappointed in the city council’s decision, he intends to continue making appearances and performances at the city’s Art Centre. He said in an interview, “It makes no difference. I will still keep going. They will have to kill me to stop me.”
A street dog named “Boji” has become a commuter celebrity in Istanbul. Over the past few months, Boji has been using public transportation–buses, trains, and even ferries. He has learned how to access the various systems and has become a frequent and welcome passenger.
Aylin Erol, the Head of Customer Relations for Instanbul Metro, says that Boji is respectful of other travelers, and waits for passengers to disembark before boarding. A microchip placed by Istanbul municipal officials to track his adventures revealed that Boji travels as much as 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) a day and on average visits 29 metro stations each day.
Omer Taskara, an operations manager for Istanbul metro, said, “We had a chip fitted to check whether Boji is hungry or thirsty, to find out which trains he takes, and where he is.” Taskara added, “Boji is a calm and peaceful dog, he’s also a very spirited dog. Istanbulites have embraced Boji.”
Instagram and Twitter accounts feature posts from Boji and pictures and videos of fellow travelers who encountered Boji have taken. According to the Twitter account, Boji is provided with veterinary care and regular checkups.
Boji’s name is the Turkish word that refers to a middle section of a subway carriage, which is where he prefers to sit.
Tarot of the week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Dark Angels Tarot, by Luca Russo, published by Lo Scarabeo.Card: Ten (10) Discs
The week ahead is likely to have a focus on material wealth and resources. Careful planning combined with hard work and an eye to the future offers a positive and harmonious outcome.
Conversely, reckless spending, short-sighted investments and poor planning can result in future losses and division.
Decks generously provided by Asheville Pagan Supply.
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