Quote of the Week:
Nature can win if we give her a chance.
~ Dr. Jane Goddall
NEWS & HOME PAGE Spring 2017
WHISPER N THUNDER Spring Issue 2017
Welcome to our spring issue. Please click on the navigation bars to access content. The Articles & Poetry Index has a drop down menu, or you can click on the title for a complete list of authors and links to their articles. Have a comment? Scroll down on this page and let us know your thoughts. Interested in writing? We welcome all Native Americans / First Nations people who have something to say, or want to write about history, a current event, or what happened yesterday! Contact us at whispernthunder1@gmail.com. Thanks! JUST ANNOUNCED - STANDING ROCK EVENT IN PHOENIX SATURDAY jAN 7TH. EMAIL bkfidlin@hotmail.com for more info. Phx Ctr for the Arts / 10 am to Noon
WINDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEWS May 2017
During the May 2017 Whisper n Thunder Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to approve 5 scholarships for Native American women in prison to attain their GED, which costs $104 per person in the Arizona prison system. As you know, salaries in prison are only pennies on the dollar and $104 can be overwhelming to save for. We are honored to help Native women in prison to move forward in their lives and we celebrate their dedication to their education!
Congrats to our 2016 WINDS Scholars
Summer Kirk Arizona State University Kevin Kirk South Mountain Community College
Ashley Jackson Arizona School of Massage Therapy Karen Richard Toronto Film School
Timoteo Honesto Arizona State University Samantha Anglen Sierra College
Michael Tula Lafferty University of Arizona
Notes from our Readers...
"The whisper of Native American
stories, the thunder of stories
that demand to be told...."
So much in the Standing Rock issue is going under reported because all wound up tight are treaty issues. Many things America would much prefer be forgotten,that along with true tribal sovereignty. L. HIlls 10.03.16
The land, the air, the water are all whole, inclusive unto themselves. So as they sustain life, they organize it as well. As one area becomes weaker and another stronger, it balances itself out in other ways, in other places, and tries to heals itself. It is not just the birth of the land,air, and water that is first and foremost. There is also the rendering of the gift of life itself--the spark, the spirit, the fire, which make life itself "more". A woman not only gives birth to human child or not, but she is the Organizer, the Healer, the Implementer, to weave the cloth whole even when the cloth of life is rendered asunder. It is not more of a gift then what men have; it is just different. There is an intuition a woman can have about aspects of her community, with individuals, and with herself. This requires learning, listening, observing, and being silent or assertive as well as being the vessel of the spirit. Great Spirit created the whole woman integrating all the aspects of life, even suffering and loss to give even the weakest link a chance to grow. When she is so damaged or closed off or angry she cannot heal herself or anything else. As the land, air, and water become more damaged women need to waken and work as vessels of the Spirit to organize the best of who they are. They can apply their gifts and wisdom for the healing of all. It's not a burden. The burden is when eyes are closed and voices are silent and ears do not hear. In this way we remain where we are. But the burden does not lie solely with women. She is the one who feels the pain deeply when she is not whole. And thus the pain ripples outward and the land is affected and so is the community. But it is a cycle and a circle. When a woman cannot heal herself all she has done comes back to her in positive ways . It works through the community and the spirit and through nature to help make her whole again. Sheri 07.17.16
With my spirit, and Sacred Spirit, I agree with this beautiful and difficult quote about Fourth of July. When I say I don't celebrate this 'holyday', as 'holiday' is derived from this, someone said, you wouldn't be here, in reference to being FREE FROM RULE. The answer is, no, YOU wouldn't be here, for obvious reasons. There is a sadness that perpetuates in me regarding the opinions in this 'country'. Such tragedies, and still so much celebration in denial. There IS trauma in our genes, which has been discovered lately. I wish to offer blessings and sage and prayers this day to all Native Americans, no matter what belief. Join together, remember the old ways, and love. Sheri 07.04.16
What a beautiful webpage. Woliwon Billie Fidlin and Phil Clarke for designing Whisper n Thunders new look. RL New Brunswick CA 07.02.16
I LOVE THE NEW WEBSITE! IT GRABBED ME! KSB Mesa, AZ 06.30.16
I think it is great how you encourage young Native writers to share their writing talents. Many creative minds out there! TH TEMPE, AZ 06.30.16
What's On Your Mind These Days?
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Thank you for your thoughts!
~ Billie K. Fidlin
President, Whisper n Thunder Inc.
Photo by Nora Moore Lloyd * All Rights Reserved
Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.com