A good omen today

I am currently studying Ho-Chunk history, beginning of all things to 1634 to 1900.  Too much, I know, but my thesis team members said it was time that I learned about our history.  While I considered the voluminous material and resources I felt that there was no way to do it justice.  As I finished the beginning to 1634, it dawned on me that my Choka used to talk about what it must have been like to live in the old days.  I added his thoughts to the end of the section in narrative form.  Suddenly I had an epiphany.  Why not do this for each section?  So I did.  I added the stories and comments and oral history that I have garnered at the end of each time period.  It was great!

Later in the day after spending hours on this paper having gotten through the 1700s' to 1800s', I went to pick up Amalia from school.  As I traveled down River Road Parkway I saw an eagle.  I was traveling west to east and it was traveling south to north.  I felt so invigorated at seeing this eagle and grateful that I made a breakthrough in my massive paper, that I rolled down my window and let out a ladies war hoop.  The eagle turned 180 degrees and circled so that it was over my car.  Seeing that I had its attention I yelled out again.  It hovered over me, flapping its enormous wings.  I sped along my way and didn't see it again.  I felt as if my ancestors were saying something to me.  It was as if they were spurning me on.

It was a good day.

Ho-Chunk History

A wonderful break this semester!  I get a chance to explore in depth the history of my people and GOM's people.  Oral tradition is at the forefront of my studies and my myopic view has been expanded.  My study has been hastened a bit because I have an opportunity to present "The Ho-Chunk Nation in Minnesota: A Historical Perspective" on February 28, 2012.  Let's hope I can keep all of my sources, historical facts and oral tradition facts straight.