Spring of every year brings many excitements such as NCAA Division I basketball tournament, spring break partiers, allergies, and of course to kick it off, the vernal equinox. What!? Yes, to make spring official is the vernal equinox.

The vernal equinox is when both the north and south hemispheres are an equal distance from the sun. This usually occurs on March 20, or 21. NOw that these dates have came by we can officially enjoy all the fun "spring" brings.

Imaginary Proposal

Imagine the Pendleton City Council is considering a proposal that would ban the use of cell phones in privately owned businesses. This would be places like restaurants, movie theaters, and retail stores. Any violators would be subject to a fine. Would you agree to pass this, or do you disagree?

If we were going to be subject to a fine for using a cell phone in a privately owned business, wouldn't we want to know why? First off I would want to know what me using my cell phone in a restaurant, would have an effect on anyone else. As you can see I would be against any proposal such as this one. Honestly I think the idea of this is a bit ridiculous. Most laws are made to protect, or prevent people from something that could be dangerous. Such as keeping skateboarders, or bikers off city sidewalks. The skateboard law prevents pedestrians from injuries. I would want a sufficient enough reason to be kept from using my phone. There would be simply no reason to take a step like this.

Celilo Falls Commemoration

If you were driving east or west on Interstate-84 anytime this weekend you would probably be asking what was going on at the Celilo Village, just about eight miles east of The Dalles. You'd find hundreds of cars either parked at Celilo park, or at the Village around the Longhouse. If your window was open, you'd probably smell the salmon being cooked over an open fire. If you decided to stop by and see what this was all about, then you would find vendors, representatives from local tribes, tribal leaders and speakers, food, and of course, salmon.

It is officially 50 years since The Dalles Dam flooded the famous Celilo Falls. Celilo was known nationwide, and attracted tourists from accross the country. What was so great about it? The sound of the River roaring through the rocks, and the site of it was rare.The scene is now only a memory in minds of few. If you were brave, you would probably want to step out onto the scaffolds built above the water. The scaffolds would provide the ability to dip your nets in the water to catch the salmon heading home from the ocean. That is what Celilo is so famous for, fishing. Catching salmon caused the gathering of hundreds, possibly thousands of fisherman during the spring run. Not only fisherman, but tourists, and natives from tribes in the area.

This weekend Natives from the area commemorated the 50th anniversary of Celilo's silencing. This event was complete with your average vendors, frybread, information booths, tribal representatives, and salmon. Throughout the day at the longhouse there were washat services, dinners, and other traditional ceremonies. All of it was to once again bring people back, to visit the memory of Celilo Falls.

Native American Journalist Assosiation

Today we were assigned to browse through the Native American Journalists Association website. The NAJA website leads you to links the offer a wide variety of News releases, programs, scholarships, conventions, job opportunities, internships, and so much more. I'd recommend checking out this website, to see what this group of Native Americans has to offer.

As I was browsing through the toolbar on the left hand side of the site, I came accross an article that instantly stood out to me. The article announced the releasing of "Shoot Minnie Shoot," on the silver screen. It immediately caught my attention, and made me in need of more information of this story. "Shoot Minnie Shoot," the said to be "very inspirational," book written by author Happy Jack Feder. The story is of a group of young native teenage girls in 1904. What made them known? First World Champions of Basketball at St. Louis’ 1904 World’s Fair. These girls came from living in Teepees, and never picking up a basketball, to victories over men's and women's university teams. Among 300 children attending Fort Shaw Boarding School in Montana, these girls rose, literally from nothing, to become heroes to Natives across the country. This book has been critically acclaimed by people such as the 27 year girl's basketball coach of University of Montana, Robin Selvig, to other well known authors, and well known book reviewer, Bill Croke. Reading the article led me to find out more about this book, and soon to be movie, and now has me deeply interested in this event.

"Flags of our Fathers"

Last week our publications class set aside the time to watch, "Flags of our Fathers." The movie came out October 2006, and was directed by well known actor Clint Eastwood. This Video was inspired by the book written by James Bradley, and stars well known actors; Tyan Phillippe, Adam Beach, and Jesse Bradford.

This movie was about the men who were photographed lifting the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, in Iwo Jima during World War II. Much of the movie was narrarated by the son of one of these 6 men. He interviewed the 2 other men who were still alive, or in contact. They told him the stories, and their experiences of the war. The rememberance of the war well harmed the men for the rest of their life, causing flashbacks of these harming scenes in their life. Coming back to the States from the war, the men in this photo were known as heroes. Coming back with so much recognition was something these men weren't proud of.

Being a hero, and being recognized for something you really didn't do, isn't the greatest thing in the world. What these men went through have scarred them for life, with memories of good times, and the worst times. They didn't feel they were the real heroes, the real heroes were the ones who sacraficed their lives over a war.