RUNNER'S BLOG ABOUT KARATE

See Runner in his first karate competition (inc 2 videos)
Ina's Intro:

The AKWE:GO program ran a few different programs this summer (2009) so each child did their own thing. For Runner this was karate. He an a group of about 6 other NDN kids from the community all took lessons. When the summer was over the top 2 students got a free spot in the dojo for a year. Not to leave anyone out the Sensei and the AKWE:GO program coordinator made sure the rest of the kids all got signed up through pro kids. The Katarokwi Native Friendship Center (through AKWE:GO), provides a ride for the kids once a week. The other day we drive. Runner is really enjoying Karate. He is more confident and also proud of himself. I am very thankful to those involved. From our friend who drives for the friendship center, to the program coordinator, to the Sensei and pro kids.

RUNNER'S KARATE BLOG:

I like shotokan karate it is fun

I know lots of things. I have 2nd stage white belt. To do this I showed my Sensei and Senpei front snap kick, front stance, low block, chest level punch, some wrist grabs & hi block. My friends from AKWE:GO got their 2nd stage as well. I like doing karate with my friends. My favorite things to do are my kata and front snap kick. I don't like doing push ups. I say thank-you to my Sensei so I don't get more push ups. I learn to be respectful so I don't get more push ups. There are 4 kinds of push ups. The hardest kind is with legs crossed. I like doing crunches even though they hurt. They will give me strong stomach muscles. We do lots of stretches. My Mom and sisters did these same stretches in ballet. ;)

CHRISTMAS BAKING

Well I was never a fan of the kitchen....dishes...cooking....more dishes :(

But then I discovered that baking is more enjoyable then cooking. I found this out because I was determined to have nice baked treats for my grandkids like my Grandma always did. Yeah I know long way off....hopefully a very long way. But I have never been kitchen compatible so I figured I had better start learning. Seem that making yummy sugary stuff is way more fun and I am not so bad at it. so First off was Chocolate Pepermint Shortbread.

Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread

Heat oven to 325 F. grease 2 (9 inch) glass pie plates. In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 4 oz melted bittersweet chocolate, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, with electric ixer on medium until light & fluffy. On low speed, beat i 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup cocoa. Divide dough in half and press into pie plates evenly. Bake 22 - 24 minutes, or until edges pull away from sides of pie plates. Cool in plates. Cut each round into wedges carefully. Do not remove from pie plates. In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup icing sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa and enough milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) until glaze is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Break up and or smash candy canes. Drizzle chocolate glaze over shortbread. Then sprinkle candy cane bits over top.

Peppermint Marshmallows.
Heavily grease 11X7 inch baking dish with butter or margerine. dust with icing sugar. In (good size) bowl sprinkle 2 1/2 table spoons unflavored (clear) gelatin over 1/2 cup water. Set aside. In 2 quart saucepan heat 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt & 1/2 cup water over low heat stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Heat to boling. Cook without stirring about 20 - 30 minutes to 240 F on candy themometer. If you don't have a candy themometer drop small amount into very cold water. Whn if forms a ball that holds shape and is pliable then it is ready. Remove from heat. Slowly pour into softened gelatin while beating on low spead. Increase speed to high. Beat 8 - 10 minutes or until mixture is white and also increased it's volume 3 times. Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract. Beat on high speed for 1 minute. Pour into baking dish, patting with lighting wet hands. Drop food colouring randomly on top of marshmallow. **tip: make sure your red comes out red...mine came out purple. Pull knife through marshmallow mixture to create swirls. Let stand uncovered for 8 hours (or overnight). Dust cutting board with iccing sugar and grease long sharp knife. Remove marshmallow from pan in one piece. (use a large spatula). Cut into once inch squares. Dust each piece in icing sugar. Place in air tight container for 3 weeks.

Shortbreads.
Use your fave shortbread recipe. I used this one. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx For icing I mixed margerine, icing sugar and a (little) bit of milk. Mix to very smooth ans tiny bit runny. (I didn't measure). Keep mixing until white. Spread over each cookie. (for some such as the tree I used food colouring to making icing green). Sprinkle with granulated sugar for sparkle. Now freeze until day before your ready to use. When defrosted decorate with icing pens. I used sparkly ones. Very nice and easy to control.



We of course worked in some school work. There is science in every thing. So we learned about hand washing because children can always use a reminder. And we learned about what happens when you bake a cookie. I admit the lesson was light but as you can see we did a lot of baking. Math of course is easy to work in. How much do I need if we triple or double the reciepe is easy way to do fractions and also for an older child you can have them convert the recipe from cups to milileters. The measuring and puring is all good too. Here is the link to the website I used for cookie science.
http://www.cookies-in-motion.com/Baking.html

THE WEARING OF SKIRTS

The Wearing Of Skirts.

I made the choice not to long ago that I would wear skirts. Not miniskirts (which shouldn't be worn by those in their thirties anyway) Not pencil skirts for the board room (can you imagine trying to chase 5 kids in that ROFL). I made the choice to wear ribbon skirts.

My Mohawk Mom in Law, Grandma Claus (oh did you think Santa was white...lol...nope the Claus' are Mohawk). She wears a ribbon skirt everyday with a t shirt, her two long grey braids and a bandana headband. I always admired her look. She looks like such a proud Skindian at all times. I always thought one day I will dress like this too. I didn't know if I was yet ready to give up my jeans and sweatshirts. Not that I look great in them anymore. Some how those low riders struggled to say on my less youthful hips after baby #5. I no longer looked approvingly in the mirror. I looked just OK now a-days. I put on my skirts time to time but never left them on because they didn't look any better with my sweatshirts.

So I happened into the conversation with Grandma Claus and she told me how it took her a while to fully commit to the choice of skirt wearing herself. But eventually she didn't want to wear her jeans any more. She told me how if she were to have something happen to her and she collapsed somewhere at least people would know she was a Native Woman. We talked about how not to many generations ago, where ever you went in the world you could identify the people and the ethnicities and Nations they originated from. Nowadays many think we should all blend for the sake of equality. I disagree. I think we will achieve equality when we are all believed to be and excepted as equals with our differences. When I am dressed clearly as a Native Woman and my neighbors dressed in a way that identifies their ethnicities and these differences are celebrated, and positives. Then our world will have equality.

So I am wearing ribbon skirts with Native prints. I am wearing nice shirts, sweaters and wraps with my own Native design applique work. When I walk down the street I will look like a proud Skindian Woman. I will not be asked "are you Asian, Palistian, Latino..."etc etc. Yes it seems few can identify a Native person. They think we all look like we walked off the set of Dances with Wolves. We don't. We come in various shades from dark brown to light tan. Green eyes to brown eyes. Straight hair to curly hair. Some mixed NDN's even have European colouring...the rare redhead too. So yes we have all been asked if we are every ethnicity under the sun. I have had enough. I will be identifiable.

So I woke up the next morning. Dressed in my modern take on my ethnic style. As if everyday is a powwow as Grandma Claus says and I felt like a million bucks. So this NDN is standing tall in her skirts.

By Ina.

INTRODUCTIONS

INTRODUCTION:
Ok so today we are just introducing our blog. We will update on Wednesdays because that is our creative and independent study day.

MOM
INA: I am Lakota. I am a Mom of 5 and I am married to a Mohawk man. I homeschool my children except my elldest. She was made for public school, or it was made for her. I dance Women's Traditional at powwows, I sing traditionally and am active in our community. I sew powwow regalia and traditional everyday clothes on my website http://www.freewebs.com/bethspowwowthreads/ I also enjoy posting my opinions on yahoo answers, powwows.com and JPAA. I am also on several homeschool boards such as Native American Homeschoolers, The Homeschool connection and babycebters homeschool board. Our family includes my Mom in law and sister in law and yes I love living in an extended family.

OLDEST SON:
SW the Brave: I am an 11 year old boy. I am Lakota, Anishnwbe Metis. I dance Men's Traditional. My favorite powwow is Algonquin park and I enjoy hanging at the point there. I like playing basket ball, wii, bicycling and other sports. My favorite subjct is gym. I go to the Native Learning Center 3 afternoons a week and am part of AKWE:GO. I like hanging with my friends, playing with my baby brother and babysitting my cousins.

MIDDLE SON:
Runner: I am 7! I am Lakota and Mohawk. I grass dance and will also be dancing Men's Traditional. I take karate. I like playing manhunt, wii, astronomy, hot wheels, trains. I like my telescope. My favorite powwow is Scugog. I go to AKWE:GO. My favorite video game is Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. and I am like wii sports resorts Island Flyover. My favorite movie is Minute Men. When I grow up I want to be an engineer and build skyscrapers. The pic is me and my best friend, my regalia is green and blue.


YOUNGEST DAUGHTER:
Ko-Ko. I m 9 years old. I am Lakota and Mohawk. I dance Fancy Shawl and sometimes Women's Traditional. My favorite powwow is Algonquin Park with Aunt Lisa and going to the point. My favorite movie is resident evil. I like tv, my ds and computers. My favorite games are Starfry, Zelda and mario. I have lots of friends. My best friends are Liam, Ashley and Charlie. I like to draw and play outside. I am good at fishing. I like travelling,swimming, Halloween and Christmas and candy.


YOUNGEST SON:
Indy: Our baby is 20 months old. He was born on St. Patty's day. He is Lakota and Mohawk. He dances Men's Traditional at the powwows with us but he usually sleeps through grand entry. He like books, playmobile and music. When we are doing schoolwork he likes to draw on the bottom of the whiteboard and play with playdough. He likes to help with cooking and often takes potatoes out and puts them in the oven and pots.


OLDEST DAUGHTER:
Sunny Not: I am 13. I am Lakota, French, Roma and Maori...a real 4 directions Woman. I dance Fancy Shawl at powwows and hang out with my powwow friends and my cousin Cheyenne. I go to Calvin Park which is a middle school. I sing in choir and take voice lessons after school. I hang out with my friends, go to dances and take lots of pics. I do photo editing and run a photo contest on facebook and upload videos to youtube. I also can play guitar and like sports. I could go from shopping, painting nails to playing football all in one day.