Hi,
I am 1/2 Inupiaq Eskimo.  My family is from Shaktoolik.  I, also, have some cousins who live in Bethel, Tununak, Soldotna, Unalakleet and Anchorage.  You are in NC?  I live in MA.  We just came back from 2 weeks in Alaska in mid July.  I decided to start the whole weight loss thing just about 3 weeks before leaving on our trip.  It was something which I had been thinking of doing for a long time but never had the nerve to do it.  What finally convinced me was that my husband and I were at a powwow and someone took a picture of us together.  I saw it about a week later.  I was totally appalled with how I looked.  I was embarassed for myself.  Anyway, I somehow managed to lose 15 pounds while we were in Alaska.  We did a lot of outdoor activities and I did watch what I was eating except it didn't quite line up with all the foods which I was supposed to be eating. (too many carbs and diet cokes!!!)When I had my next weight loss meeting with the dietician, I was told that I had to keep another month of food logs to prove to them that I could get the diet right.  I've lost 24 pounds right now which makes me extremely happy.  I have a surgery date of October 7th for a gastric bypass (not the lap band).  I am anxiously awaiting word from the insurance company on whether or not they will cover it.  How's goes your fight with your insurance?  I saw your post and I had to say hello.  Talk to you soon.  Write when you can.
~ Lorena

Hey there Colita.... I just found this board by looking around and found your message from a few weeks ago compelling.....while I am not sure of any advocate groups I think we should ban together and start looking....I had surgery almost three years ago and thankfully my insurance paid for it but if I would not have had this opp I am sure I would be so close to dying . I weighed almost 400 pounds and thankfully did not have diabetes but it runs rampant in my family including the death of my grandmother. My father is obese and diabetic with other ailments too....of course I had surgery for myself but also because I did not walk in the footprints of my family. While I did not lose all my weight (yet) it has so saved my life. I have recently married the love of my life that I would have never met without losing weight. I am a native and member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in North Central MT and would be glad to join forces with you to help find an advocate or push to get one. Let me know if you are interested and I would love to connect. Our Indian Country could use a helping hand and save their lives.... Take care, Ann

Greetings from a Metis sister from Kanata - Born in Red Lake, Ontario - now living in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am a new member and still learning about WL surgury. I also agree that Native Health Services or Public Health should help pay for the surgury. Hope it's ok to share some 411 and yahoo groups with all my relations. ------------------------------------------ www.NDNnews.com Thomas Greywolf Founder - American Indian Injustice Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/American_Indian_Injustice http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13302722/ The Native Village website, http://www.nativevillage.org To email Senator Tim Johnson http://johnson.senate.gov/offices.html To mail or fax Senator Tim Johnson Washington Office: 136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone (202) 224-5842 TDD (202) 224-8279 Fax (202) 228-5765 *Toll Free from anywhere in South Dakota*: 1-800-537-0025 Please include in ALL letters & emails your Name and mailing address. This is required info, without it, your letter will not be considered valid. Some suggested issues for the focus of your letters: The urgent need in Indian Country for housing and additional school classrooms The lack of available housing in Indian Country The substandard living conditions in the existing homes in Indian Country The South Dakota Reservations have the highest poverty rate in the country. In your letters, PLEASE BE RESECTFUL! Do not send hateful or bashing letters, it will only hurt our plea. Be respectful, use a intelligent basis on why they should help the people of Indian Country, state the urgency for housing and school houses in South Dakota. I have included some statistics and facts that I have. You may use the info provided to add to your letters. Change the wording if you wish, but keep the general basis the same. The Indian Housing Authority reports that it is not uncommon for 20 or more residents to live in a three-bedroom, one bath home with three or four generations under one roof. People regularly double up with family members and friends, waiting years until a home or apartment becomes available. The waiting list usually will include over 400 families waiting for rental and homeownership units (2003:342). The rate of homeownership on South Dakota reservations laggs substaintly behind the state of South Dakota's rate of 68.2 percent of the occupied housing units in the state. Beyond unemployment and underemployment, factors influencing this include the lack of willing lenders in the area and a lack of available housing. Conventional lenders will not loan money to build homes on trust land. Since nearly all federally recognized reservations' lands fall into this category, the majority of Native Americans are not able to secure these loans. Few people have the knowledge of how to overcome these barriers to develop housing on their own. In addition to overcrowding, many of the units available are in substandard condition. Some reservations have estimated that 24 percent of the Indian population resides in substandard housing" (SDHDA 2003:341). It is not uncommon for mobile home dealers to sell trailers on the reservation that would not be in acceptable condition to sell elsewhere in the state. Houses often lack working plumbing and functioning heaters. Some homes still use wood burning stoves to keep warm. Many of the homes have holes in the roof or floor. Often, families live in households that should have been condemned long ago, simply because there is no other place for them to go. For those of you that may be receiving this email and have not read the above mentioned article, please visit FEMA: Trailers not for Indian housing shortage MSNBC - Jun 13, 2006 ... not help Indian country relieve a housing or schoolroom shortage with the trailers not used after Hurricane Katrina. Sen. Tim Johnson, DS.D., suggested to FEMA ... I will also be generating a online petition addressed to FEMA, will forward that out later this evening. PLEASE CROSS POST & FORWARD!!!! LET'S FLOOD THEM WITH LETTERS! I already warned Senator Johnson's office that they will be flooded, they said GREAT, WE LOVE IT! If you have any questions, please email me direct at Tamra@... Thank you for your help! Tamra www.NDNnews.com "Providing news and information about Native American Issues & Causes" "Helping to make a difference for our people in Indian Country, one day at a time. What will you do today to help make a difference?" "Seek the creator in all the things you do. Cherish your time with one another. Develop your personal self discipline, which is the key to all success. Develop a sense of happiness within you that none can take away. Develop who you are and remain true to your higher self and your integrity will be an inspiration to others. Show your strengths when necessary, even if it is in being gentle or humble." Leonard Peltier, March 6, 2006 -- PLEASE cc me at: tetawin38@... During the week....can't get gmail at work!!! http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dwhg/ Home of NAMAPAHH First People's Radio Host/Producer Robin Carneen Thurs 7-8pm Sun 4-5pm PST New group: (my photo album location) http://spaces.msn.com/members/NativeRadio4all/ http://www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/9struggles.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moonlight glances off hot stones passing thru the flap of the sweatlodge to begin The Talking Sticks' second round. Candlelight shimmers mingle with the twinkles of fireflies as they dance among the labyrinth stones. Moonlight glances off hot stones passing thru the flap of the sweatlodge to begin The Talking Sticks' second round. Can you picture yourself here? If you're looking for a community of fun-loving, open-minded, environmentally-conscious, botanically-inclined, Mother Earth Lovers, then you've come home! Welcome. JOIN OUR YAHOO GROUP TO KEEP INFORMED: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HealingTheEarth_HealingOurselves/ September 27th (for camping set-up) thru the 30th ( going home after noon closing ceremony) 2007, the hills and hollers will be alive with the sounds of laughter, healing, and positive energy. Alternative healers, environmental lovers of Mother Earth and diverse multicultural experts of Appalachian and Native American traditions. . This three-day camping event will take place in Confluence, Kentucky nestled in the majestic Appalachian Mountains. This vibrant young festival is just waiting to be discovered by one and all. Getting to this Gathering is better than an E Ride at Disney. If you enjoy pristine wilderness, beautiful Appalachian settings, and are wanting to get back to nature, come join us. Greetings All, Its that time of year again. Join the yahoo group below and prepare for the Gathering. I am holding a place for you. Please help by volunteering to teach, perform, or advertise. Linda The Gathering is approaching! Our Spirits are vibrating at a higher level so join us "Come Look Up At The Stars in the sky at night, and hear them cry in joy: Come and join us in the One! Here we are: Blazing forth in bliss. Now you may set aside your parts of pain. Take now parts of joy!". There is still room for vendors, workshops etc. Check "HEALING THE EARTH, HEALING OURSELVES FESTIVAL WEBSITE": Website: http://geocities.com/beyondyonderrd/festival BEYOND YONDER WEBSITE: http://beyondyonder.net JOIN OUR YAHOO GROUP TO KEEP INFORMED: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HealingTheEarth_HealingOurselves/ 606-672-6444

Hi-My name is Martha Dunn. I am completing my doctoral degree at Antioch New England Graduate School. My dissertation research project explores post bariatric surgery behavior, struggles and needs. If you have 10-15 minutes to complete the survey, it would be a big help to me. Also, if you have friends who’ve also had the surgery and could forward this message to them, that would be great. More in-depth details are on the link that follows and thank you in advance. Martha http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=60661940436

HEYA! its that time! one year later! whats up ndns!?

Mattress padding is the BEST. In particular I use the waterproof baby crib mattress padding. Most of the beadwork done in this family has some funny design on the back of it like colorful balloons or ribbons because it was printed on the padding for the baby crib. It's AWESOME. its about 1/16 of an inch thick, super dense thread weaving so it doesn't matter what angle you put your needle in or how deep or shallow you run it, its going to catch threads. I almost never bead on leather. It rots a whole lot faster than that padding will and when it does, I snip the threads holding my beadwork to my leather piece and move my beadwork to fresher leather. It just doesn't get any better than that! hang on and let me upload a picture of that yoke I'm working on to photobucket. hang on... almost got it... dial up STINKS!... While you're waiting, watch my new favorite show: While the Face Turns ----> GOT IT! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/osage18/001-BAK-beadwork.jpg The spider is the center of it and I used photoshop to color in the unfinished bits or you'd be able to see that mattress padding. I really ought to finish that thing. Again, so glad to have met you. It's good to talk shop. (((HUGS!))) Brandy

I excited to have met you too!! As I'm sure you know, most of the people you meet on the web are new bloods. I don't have a problem with new bloods, I think its great that they're finally figuring out who their grandparents were and all. I'll help them out all I can, but when I want to talk about what it means to have lived it all your life, new bloods just can't keep up. Glad you don't have to live on the res. Some are alright but most are the pits. I grew up on the Osage res in Oklahoma. Ours is a little different than most. For one, its not technically a res. We own it. Instead of being "removed" like most tribes were (because we were some big ol' mean sonsabiches) the government gave us $1.25 per acre for the land we had in Kansas. Then we went down and bought land in Oklahoma from the Cherokees for $0.75 an acre (sorry, ya'll got the short on that one ) Well lo and behold that land was sitting on a mother load of oil and natural gas. The Osage tribe became the richest per capita people in the world for a while. It was funny too because they'd have great big beautiful homes built on their tract of land and buy the most expensive cars on the market but they'd still cook over a pit in the front yard and had to hire drivers to take them everywhere because they didn't know how to drive (and with their money, didn't have to learn.) Eeeee... sorry, I slipped into a bit of a history lesson there didn't I? Anyway, the point of the story is that our res has electricity and plumbing and nice towns and all. It's mostly poor now though. At least that much is still very much like other reservations. Hey, I hear they make Cherokee speed tape in all sorts of colors now. Even saw some pictures of girls making their prom dresses out of it. Bet they didn't know how ethnic they were being. I bet I can find the perfect match for your plastic canoe. Martha Stewart says Connecticut is beautiful country. I'd love to see it someday. Indiana stinks... sometimes quite literally (hog processing plants). But hey, in a couple of years, my butt is going to New Mexico for law school. We need a few good tribals lawyers out there. Too bad I'm not one now, I'd be all over that Abramoff fella. How far do you travel for powwows?

Boat cover huh? Well......I suppose it really could work! LOL! I know what you mean about the rosettes looking like pasties, and iot is NOT hot! LOL! What a great idea to put your beadwork on mattress padding! See, it pays to chat up other Indians and see what they're up to! I may just end up having enough buckskin to make little skirts for my daughters after I am finished cutting it up!

OMG HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA Your Great-Grandmother isn't a princess?! Next you're going to tell me that you're not related to Pocahontas either. Come on now, you can't be a REAL Indian then can you? ((((HUGS)))) Nice to meet you! I have a few Cherokee friends. We pick on eachother mercilessly. I call them chair-OKIE and they call me o-saw-Gay. And of course, every now and then, I gotta mail them a roll of Cherokee speed tape so they can fix their mocs and patch their aluminum tipis... you know? Yes, we love eachother. So what part of the world are you in?

Well, hunny. I AM Cherokee, and I guess this reply is a few months too late, too! LOL! Anyhow, no one seems to really be posting much here. Write to me and tell me how you are doing, if you are not too discusted with us Cherokees...............would it help to tell you that my Great-Grandmother is NOT a Cherokee princess? LMAOOOO!

Hey, just checking in to see how you've been. It's so cold here, I could just curl up nad DIE! LOL I've got 5 weeks until my surgery, and I just think about it every second. I'm not really scared yet, just excited. I guess the "nervous nellie's" will come later. Take care! Elizabeth

Obesity is one of the major contributing factors in the dilema with Diabetes, among everyone who suffers with it, Native Americans according to documentaries, and studies that I have seen have a higher intolerance to carbohydrates, and this leads to more diabetes among our people, I did not have a banded operation, I opted for the RNY, in my cir****tance this has saved my life. While others take the option of having the Lap Band. Whatever we do in order to help us lose the weight is a major step in the right direction. With the RNY I can no longer tolerate foods that have lots of sugar in them. I congratulate you on your surgery, and I know that it will help tremendously. Weight loss for all of us come at different levels, some lose faster than others, the main thing to remember is the weight loss, and not the rate in which you lose it. I am hoping in the near future to start having conferences for people in my area to talk to them about weight loss and alternatives to this situation. These operations aren't for everyone but it saved my life. Thanks for your reply.

Halito there my sisters, great to see your posts. I am Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek AND also live in California. Lots of us ended up here due to the relocation programs of the past, didn't we! I had my surgery in September and am going for another fill next week. OKAY--------I'll admit it--------for our New Year Day Feast yesterday I made and ate full-calorie fry-bread and our traditional dish of Pashofa. Also I ordered some pecans from Oklahoma and made pecan pie. Didn't eat much of that though. The difference is that this year I only ate small amounts. Lets talk some more, ok? Darla

Halito, I am also a Choctaw woman. How is your surgery results been? I got the lapband 3 months ago and have not done well at all. I have no health problems but have not lost much weight either. I keep hearing a voice say "bininili, impat" "sitdown, eat" . LOL! I know I need to get the band tightened and will next week. I am in Southern CA. My family is mostly in Oklahoma. I made a trip a while back to Nanih Waiya in Mississippi. Hope to hear from you! Darla

Geeez, maybe the better question is: Is there anyone here besides myself who isn't "Cherokee"?

Hi, I had Lap band surgery in May 18. I started out at 285 - now I'm 240. Lose skin is falling around!! After you get tot the goal weight, my surgeon sill probably take some skin off the pannus, and the thigh. I skin is very brown, and scars easily. So I'm not too interested in it anywheres else.

So who wants to share with me? My surgery is 15 Sep. I have studied hard and have all medical facts but wonder how my skin will do. Will anyone share thier experiences with loose skin? I have my mothers gorgeous skin color but I am dry. I am secure and confidant with my RNY surgery but the thought of possible skin surgery spooks me. I am 5'5" and 260. Anyone like me?

Donna, He can flirt all he wants. My husband divorced me since I posted that! lol I'm free to flirt with whomever I want now. Rhia

Cathy, I have never visited this board before. I saw your last name and said I know a Heckman that went to Mt. Edgecombe. So how do you get your Yu'pik food down here from home? I thought about ordering fish and having it sent down here but I'm afraid of the cost. I also live in NC (originally from Metlakatla). Anyway, I have tried fried bread. I ate a very small porton of it and did fine. You have to eat in moderation instead of like I used too (3 pieces). I hope all is well with you!

Hi well I am a little slow at messages here sorry for that. I had my surgery on May 17th and I am two weeks out now. I am down two sizes and feel pretty good about things. I just keep telling muself it is for health reasons and not weight. Doc says weight will come off if I follow program. So I am working on eating protien and fruit and veggies. Water was tough to drink but I am getting better at it. I am tired alot though. Were you at first? I do walk around two or three blocks a day and feel good about it. Seems walking makes me feel better. It is nice to meet you also I hope to continue. what part of Idaho do you live? Marylou

Scoop neighbor? I am from the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation. I will be at my two year anniversary on May 22nd. Things have been going pretty good for me. I had one minor complication and that was that I had a abdomen hernia that had to get repaired in Octoberof 2004. That surgery and recovery was far worse then that of the bariatrics surgery. I have lost 100lbs but just gained 6back since april of last year. I just started working out again so hopefully I will lose that and more. My personal goal would be to loose about another 15-20lbs. Hope to hear from you soon and let me know how you are doing.

Hower it is a lap band procedure. That was all my surgeon said I needed. Any body else out there have it? How are you doing?

Hi, I'm not living on the rez, but I'm half Cherokee and have worked for the BIA in the high schools. I love to read your posts and encourage all of you. I love reading your receipes. I live in the CA redwoods in Santa Cruz by the beach. The Ohlones occupied the area and took really care of the redwoods. Some are still around and do dances at our festivals. I am now in South CA near Riverside where they have Sherman Indian High School. Any of you ever go there? It's a neat place to be. Blessings on all of you. I hope to have surgery in a month.

Hello Yolanda, Thank you so much for your encouraging words. You will be there before you know it. I looked at your profile and you look fabulous. Keep up the great journey !!!! Be well & God bless, Loriann Choctaw/Cherokee/Blackfoot