Etuaptmumk- Two-Eyed Seeing February 22 @ the Institute for American Indian Studies

On Saturday, February 22, the Institute of American IndianStudies is hosting a culturally important program on research and sharing in regard to Indigenous People called Etuaptmumk- Two-Eyed Seeing. Etuaptmumk is a Mi’kmaw saying that translates to “Two-Eyed Seeing.” This concept refers to learning how to see from one eye the strengths of Indigenous knowledge and from the other eye the strengths of Western knowledge. The idea of “Two-Eyed Seeing” has been developed by Albert Marshall, an environmental voice and culture keeper for Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton. 

Join the IAIS Education Coordinator and Traditional Storyteller Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation along with IAIS Educator and Ecologist Susan Scherf for an interactive presentation and discussion that examines how people can include Etuaptmumk or “Two-Eyed Seeing” concept in their daily lives. This method of thought and research is a way for Native and Non-Native people to understand one another and to collaborate. Community engagement between the two groups is of paramount importance and leads to authenticity.

This fascinating program strives to share research paradigms and approaches that align with Indigenous worldviews. A trend in the academic world, that many scholars are using Marshall's Two-Eyed Seeing as a framework to understand and use western methods and theory with indigenous knowledge. When Indigenous people become part of the research rather than those being researched, the results of this research and understanding will be transformed. Questions will be framed differently and priorities will change.

The Etuaptmumk- Two-Eyed Seeing program takes place at 1:30 p.m. on February 22 and is included in the price of admission that is $10 adults, $8 seniors, and $6 children.

Haight-Brown Vineyard Winter Fest in Litchfield

The Haight Brown Vineyard in Litchfield on Chestnut Hill Road is hosting a Winter Fest on February 15 and 16. The event will feature roaming wine pairing and live music by Tom Burgess.

Participants will taste a portfolio of wine that is paired with tapas, cheese, and chocolate.  The wines and pairings will be served in different rooms at the vineyard. A highlight of the day will be the release of Haight Brown Vineyard's new wine Aqua Vita.

Tickets to the winter fest are available in advance by clicking here for the 15th and here for the 16th.  The winter fest runs from noon to 6 p.m. and it is suggested that you arrive no later than 3:30 pm. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door on the day of the event.

February the month of Love and the Magic of Courting Flutes @ Institute for American Indian Studies February 15, 2020

February is often called the month of love – a time for Valentine’s Day and, the time to remember and emphasize the importance of love in our lives. In Native American culture the mind, the spirit, the love of one’s roots, the love of nature, and of others is ingrained culturally. Stories are one way of communicating the love of nature and of life and courting flutes are another way of expressing feelings of love and the appreciation of the beauty of nature.

The Institute of American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington has organized a program on the magic of courting flutes that allows visitors to delve into traditional Native American Music. It is a wonderful way to top off Valentine's Day week. On Saturday, February 15, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Ojibway artist, and musician Allan Madahbee will explain the cultural significance and the hauntingly beautiful sound of the Native American courting flute. The legend of the courting flute will be told highlighting these beautifully made instruments that are deeply rooted in the traditions of Eastern Woodland indigenous peoples. Participants will see and hear a variety of courting flutes and will have the chance to examine them as they listen to their soothing sound. Courting flutes are available in our gift shop and there will be a limited selection of courting flutes available for purchase on the day of this event. If you already own a flute, feel free to bring it along!

About Allan Madahbee

Today, makers of Native American Flutes like Ojibway artist and musician AllanMadahbee craft their personal style and sound into their creations. Madahbee began to research the Chippewa flute culture and was influenced and mentored by Joseph Firecrow of the Cheyenne Nation. "We became friends and he provided guidance and feedback and explained some of his methods of flute making. With his passing last year, we have all lost a great Native American flute maker and musician. I am proud to continue our flute making traditions." The sound of the courting flute that is usually made of cedar has an uncommon scale for Western music and is entrancing.

Born on the shores of Lake Huron, Allan Madahbee is a member of the Ojibway (Chippewa) Nation that has pursued the traditional arts and crafts of his ancestors. He has been making Native American flutes for about ten years. "I had always thought they were a product of the Southwest Indian tribes, but a book that I found that was written during the 1800s about Chippewa culture, had a passage about the Chippewa flutes, along with pictures. This made me realize that they were indeed a part of my Chippewa culture. Knowing that my ancestors constructed these flutes for hundreds of years has inspired me to continue this tradition. Also, the haunting sound from these mystical instruments is a large part of my inspiration."

Along with constructing Woodland flutes, beaded moccasins, woodcarvings, Native American regalia, and rock sculptures, Madahbee always returns to his artistic roots in paintings and weavings. Mainly self-taught, Madahbee attended school with fellow Ojibway artists Blake Debassige and James Simon - two well known Anishnawbe artists that are respected and have their paintings displayed around the world.

Space is limited and reservations are suggested. To make sure you get a spot call the Institute for American IndianStudies at (860) 868-0518 or email general@iaismuseum.org to reserve your spot. The program is included in the price of admission: $10 adults; $8 seniors; $6 children; IAIS Members free.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Marks World Wetlands Day with Explorer Justin Fornal

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will host international explorer and extreme athlete Justin Fornal in a winter swim on Sunday, February 2 at 8:00 a.m. Fornal is the host of UNEXPLAINED AND UNEXPLORED, a map-themed exploration series on the Science Channel. Hisapproximately two-hour, three-mile swim will begin in the Steward B McKinney National Wildlife Refuge between Stratford and Bridgeport, continue into the inner coastal waterway and conclude back at the launch site. In June of 2018, Fornal was listed as the “#3 most adventurous person in the world” by Men's Journal. 

“Justin generously offered to use his adventurous spirit and remarkable skills to help raise awareness for the Zoo’s conservation efforts,” said Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s Education Curator Jim Knox. “We decided to hold a swim on World Wetlands Day to highlight the Zoo’s conservation success with endangered animals, as well as our work with staff and students to protect federally endangered Piping Plovers along this stretch of wetlands.”

This cold-water swim will also serve as the first of several field equipment tests leading up to Fornal's expedition this summer where he hopes to become the first person to swim unassisted from Canada to Greenland.  He is currently planning the first historic swim from Ellesmere Island, Canada to Greenland across the Nares Strait for summer 2020. 

“My work as a researcher and explorer often takes me to far off places,” said Fornal. “I wanted to do something to focus attention on the work being done right here in Connecticut. We can have a global impact by helping biodiversity locally. I hope that this swim and my television series can help inspire the next generation to unplug and physically engage their environment.” 

Fornal will be accompanied by a half dozen support-team chase boats, manned by Zoo staff and educators. The support teams will be equipped with both above and below water GoPro cameras to document the swim. Weather and water conditions will be evaluated that morning before entering the water, as a safety precaution. 

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each February 2 to raise global awareness of the importance of wetlands for people and the planet.

Native American Winter Survival Techniques February 1 @ Institute for American Indian Studies

Modern resources, gadgets, apps, and technology – we all use them to make our lives easier. But what if we didn’t have all of them to rely on? Native American communities living in Connecticut managed to live quite comfortably through the harsh New England winter. They spent the summer and fall preparing, storing, and foraging for winter by using a multitude of natural resources that are key to surviving in the winter.

On Saturday, February 1 at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut beginning at 1 p.m. join museum educator, Griffin Kalin to learn how to find shelter, make food, and stay warm when the weather is cold and your resources are diminished. An unusual highlight will be a demonstration of how to tan a hide in order to make leather for clothing. This program on how to survive in the Eastern Woodlands without twenty-first-century technology is fun, informative and thought-provoking. Best of all, the Winter Survival program is free with the price of a modest admission – adults $10, seniors, $8 and children $6.

Participants will learn how to start a fire in the snow, how to find food in the forest, and how to make a shelter from the natural environment. This is an immersive experience for program participants because they will actually visit the 16^th century replicated Algonkian village on the grounds of the Institute that is composed of several wigwams, a longhouse, a fire circle, drying racks, and the dormant three sisters' garden cultivated by the Institute every summer.

It is exciting as well as an engaging experience that is suitable for all ages. The experience will make you feel as though you have stepped back in time as you explore the forest and learn the ways of the Eastern Woodland Indians.

To participate in this event be sure to dress warm and wear appropriate footwear because some of this program will be outside.  In addition to this program, entrance to the museum with its fascinating exhibits and wonderful gift shop featuring locally made handcrafted Native American art, crafts, and jewelry among other items is also included.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and cultur

Human Dog Sled Race Just One Highlight of the Salisbury JumpFest Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020

Salisbury, CT, January 26, 2020- Are you up for some quirky winter fun? Get a group of your friends together to enter JumpFest’s Human Dogsled Race! This unusual winter event is part of the 94^th annual Ski Jumping Championships in Salisbury, Connecticut taking place on Friday, February 7, Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9.

The human dogsled team consists of six people, five pulling, and one rider. It is so much fun to watch these colorful sleds and costumed teams race against one another! The teams compete in timed, two teamed races, and the two fastest times in the men, women, and mixed categories run a second race. Trophies are awarded to the three fastest teams in each category. There is also a people’s choice trophy for the most unusual sled and costumes.

The Human Dogsled Competition takes place on Friday, February 7 around 9 p.m. after the ski jumps for the evening are over. The registration fee is only $25 (paid on February 7 at the event) and all human dogsled participants get into Jumpfest free! For detailed information www.jumpfest.org. To download the registration form click here.

The registration fee helps SWSA, a non-profit volunteer organization to continue to foster the sport of ski jumping and the Eastern National Ski Jumping Championship.

Festival Schedule

JumpFest kicks off on Friday, February 7 at 6 p.m. with Target Jumping beginning at 7 p.m. Target Jumping is followed by the infamously fun Human Dog Sled Race, a crowd favorite that begins between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Teams of six participate, five pulling the sled and one riding. The sleds and costumes, of course, boggle the imagination! Trophies are awarded for the best in men's women's, mixed categories. Competitors navigate a .3-mile course through the snow. It’s all in fun, and teams can get very creative with both their costumes and sleds. Two large bonfires and warm food and beverages are available.

On Saturday, February 8, things warm up with a Junior Meet that is followed by the practice of participating jumpers from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The main competition begins at 1 p.m. It is thrilling to watch these Olympians in the making defy gravity and soar through the air with runs of up to 200 feet. Another tradition is the Snow Ball Dance taking place at the White Hart Inn with entertainment by the Steve Dunn Band. This is the perfect time to mingle with fellow sports lovers, bid at the silent auction, and take a chance on a raffle ticket that benefits the Salisbury Winter Sports Associations (SWSA) programs. The admission to the Snow Ball Dance is $15. The highly anticipated Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships on Sunday, February 9 begins with practice at 11 a.m.; the competition begins at 1 pm. At this event, there are often Olympic hopefuls that display the tremendous coordination, skill, and grace that have what it takes to soar so far and so high with a smooth and successful landing. Make ski jumping history and be there to see if the Salisbury record is broken - perhaps a new contender for the Olympics! Even the most sedentary spectators will appreciate the extraordinary coordination and skill required to make this jump! Judging from past history, some of the competitors here will go on to the Olympics.  

Coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, hot toddies, and food will be available at all events. As this is an outdoor event, and it is winter, please dress warm - don't forget your cowbell and cellphone for great photo opportunities! On Friday, February 7, the event ticket booth opens at 6 p.m. and admission is $15; on Saturday, February 8, the event opens at 10 a.m. and tickets are $15, on February 9 the event opens at 11 a.m. and tickets are $15. The Snow Ball Dance is $15 at the door. The Human Dog Sled Race entry is $25 on Friday, February 7 with the downloaded pdf.

About Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA)

It all began in 1926, when a gentleman named John Satre (Say-tree) showed off the sport he had learned in his native Norway with the unlikely feat of jumping from the roof of a shed while wearing skis. To everyone’s surprise, instead of crashing Satre soared through the air and glided to earth. It looked like fun and by the next summer, several neighbors had gotten together to begin building a proper takeoff and ski run. A former cow pasture became the landing area. On January 29, 1927, the club, the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) held its first competition with a crowd of more than 200 spectators. This all-volunteer group has hosted several National Championships and, today continues to maintain Satre Hill, introduces young and old to the sport of ski jumping, and organizes the competitions.