Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: State of Oklahoma bans "Killers of the Flower Moon" from schools

 

Although Oklahoma's state measure HB 1775 doesn't specifically ban David Grann's award-winning novel Killers of the Flower Moon about how dozens of members of the Osage Nation were killed by white settlers who wanted in on the oil profits, its wording is so vague that teachers are afraid to include it in their school curricula.  The measure prohibits schools from 

"teaching the idea that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously” or that “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.”"

Educators fear that assigning the book will result in them being punished or fired.  Oklahoma school districts are not longer to use terms including 'diversity' and 'white privilege' in classrooms.  To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned and teachers are to teach students that slavery was 'beneficial' to African Americans.  

Oklahoma, where the hate comes sweeping down the plain.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Maria Tallchief, Osage and America's first Prima Ballerina

Elizabeth "Marie" Tallchief, born January 24, 1924 in Fairfax, Oklahoma, became America's first major prima ballerina and the first Native American (Osage) to hold the rank.  She started dancing at age three and when she was eight, her family moved to Los Angeles hoping to advance their daughters' dance careers.  Both Marie and her younger sister Marjorie studied dancing and both became leading figures in the world of ballet.

At 17, she moved to New York City and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.  There, she met choreographer George Balanchine.  With his difficult choreography and her passion for dancing, ballet was revolutionized.  Her performance as the Sugarplum Fairy in the Nutcracker changed the ballet from obscure to being America's favorite.

In 1949, her role in The Firebird, a work by Igor Stravinsky, put her on top of the ballet world.  She became the first American to perform in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater.

She retired in 1966, and actively promoted ballet in Chicago, serving as the director of ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from the Kennedy Center.  

She passed away in April 2013 in Chicago from complications from hip surgery the previous December.

Celebrating Pride Month - Guy Erwin, first openly gay bishop in the ELCA

Guy Erwin, born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma(!), is the first openly gay bishop elected to office in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), in the Southwest California Synod.  He is also a member of the Osage Nation, and is the first Native American bishop in the ELCA. 

He married his long-term partner, Rob Flyn, in 2013.