I realize that this is modern times, but it is about indians, and it shows that there is something to be learned from the Old Ways. ---------- > From: JPL Media Relations Office <JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov> > http://www.jpl.nasa.gov > NASA AND LAKOTA SIOUX JOIN TOGETHER TO REACH FOR THE STARS > > In a unique marriage of high-tech science and traditional > Native American teachings, NASA science educators and the Lakota > Nation will welcome the arrival of spring and exchange knowledge > of the stars in the Black Hills of South Dakota on March 19-21. > > During the traditional Lakota Spring Gathering of more than > 1,000 members of the Lakota Nation, Lakota elders will share > their traditional star teachings, and JPL educators will provide > telescopes and computers as astronomy aids. > > "We hope to excite Lakota youth about NASA space science and > see what we can learn from this cultural interchange," said JPL > science educator Richard Shope. "We are exploring the > connections between recent space findings and traditional Lakota > star knowledge." > > "My people once hunted for buffalo - now we hunt for > knowledge," said Chief Joseph Chasing Horse, spiritual leader for > the event. For the Lakota people, the Spring Gathering marks the > time when the Sun travels with the traditional Dried Red Willow > constellation. Throughout Lakota history, it was a time of > migration for hunters who followed the movements of buffalo > herds. > > The gathering will include students from eight rural tribal > schools, along with their family and friends. On Saturday, March > 20, JPL science educators will host a star-watching session, and > students will participate in hands-on, interactive astronomy > lessons. On the first day of spring -- Sunday, March 21, known > as the vernal equinox -- the Lakota will host a ceremonial hike, > and Lakota elders will share their traditional star knowledge > through talking circles, singing and dancing. > > "We have come to your classroom, and we now invite you to > come into our classroom," said Chasing Horse. In a program > sponsored by NASA's Native American Initiative, he is working > with JPL representatives to help develop education materials that > join traditional Lakota teachings with modern science. Chasing > Horse, a direct descendant of the spiritual leader Crazy Horse, > serves as ambassador to the United Nations for the Lakota Sioux > Nations. > > At the Black Hills gathering, JPL will present to the Lakota > people several large prints of an image of the Black Hills as > taken from the Space Shuttle. > > JPL is participating in the event through a program called > "From the Outer Planets to the Inner City" designed to bring > space science to urban and rural classrooms. JPL staff members > attending the Black Hills gathering include representatives of > the Laboratory's Outer Planets/Solar Probe project, the Cassini > mission to Saturn and the Telescopes In Education program. > > A larger, public gathering to mark the arrival of summer > will be held from June 21 to 25 in the Black Hills. > > JPL manages the Outer Planets/Solar Probe project and the > Cassini program for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, > DC. JPL is a division of California Institute of Technology, > Pasadena, CA. > > ##### > 3-12-99 JP > #99-019 > > You are subscribed to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's news listserv. > To unsubscribe, e-mail jplnews@jpl.nasa.gov . Leave the subject blank, > and type unsubscribe news in the body of the message.