BOOKS IN THE WORKS / CONTACT FORM
1 - Personal Life Story
2 - Traditional Ho-Chunk Story
For decades I've contemplated writing a personal life story book (with encouragement from Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Bee and others) and the second about a traditional story handed down from my father (also inspired by him and dedicated to both my parents), with a unique approach associated with science. With the second book, I may create a short film to be released shorty after completing it (I studied cinematography in Los Angeles in the early 80's with the help and support of Billy Mills). Such an extraordinary story, that it needs to be seen visually as well and the type of story that James Cameron would appreciate.
Both have been in the works for the last couple of years. I plan to finish both if time allows in the next two to four years, even possibly completing them in Panama City, Panama or somewhere remote, where I eventually plan to retire. But before that I have many upcoming projects geared to saving Mother Earth, Sacred Site Desecration and dealing with Human Rights Issues of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. And some skydiving in California, but rather than yell out "Geronimo!", I'd jump out yelling "Custer Had It Coming!" Indian humor is always good!
George Lonetree (HoonchXeDaGah), left, is seated next to Robert Greengrass (HoNutchNaCooMeeKah) 1920 ca.
Both have been in the works for the last couple of years. I plan to finish both if time allows in the next two to four years, even possibly completing them in Panama City, Panama or somewhere remote, where I eventually plan to retire. But before that I have many upcoming projects geared to saving Mother Earth, Sacred Site Desecration and dealing with Human Rights Issues of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. And some skydiving in California, but rather than yell out "Geronimo!", I'd jump out yelling "Custer Had It Coming!" Indian humor is always good!
George Lonetree (HoonchXeDaGah), left, is seated next to Robert Greengrass (HoNutchNaCooMeeKah) 1920 ca.
HO-CHUNK NATION - Notes by HoChunk Renaissance
WHY THE HO-CHUNK CALL MILWAUKEE - Tē Šišik
Before the white people came here, the Ho-Chunk lived near the Red Banks. They lived on an island. The Sioux came along with many canoes, to make war on the Ho-Chunk people. The Sioux approached the island where they saw the Ho-Chunk living on this island. They arrived during the day, but waited in hiding until night. "There were only a few HoChunk", they said to each other. When night time came, they prepared to go. The Sioux all got in their canoes, but one old man and his son were delayed and remained for a time on the land. At that time the lake had no waves but was still. There was no wind. The waters then began to swing around, like a whirlpool. Faster and faster the waters turned. The Sioux tried to return to land, but they could not do so. They knew something had happened to the water. The old man and his son, about to embark, noticed the disturbed waters. So the young man said, "There is something happening here; we are not getting into the canoe." All the other Sioux were drowned. So only the old man and his son remained to tell the tale.
That is the reason that the Sioux call it "Holy Water." That is also the reason the Ho-Chunk call it "Tē Šišik” meaning “Bad Lake.” The Ho-Chunk understand that the water behaved the way it did because of the actions of a Waterspirit deep below. The actions of this Waterspirit presuppose that the Ho-Chunk had made due sacrifices to him, or that the Sioux had failed to propitiate him before they entered into his domain. To this day, the Ho-Chunk still refer to this lake and specifically the Milwaukee area, Tē Šišik.
Before the white people came here, the Ho-Chunk lived near the Red Banks. They lived on an island. The Sioux came along with many canoes, to make war on the Ho-Chunk people. The Sioux approached the island where they saw the Ho-Chunk living on this island. They arrived during the day, but waited in hiding until night. "There were only a few HoChunk", they said to each other. When night time came, they prepared to go. The Sioux all got in their canoes, but one old man and his son were delayed and remained for a time on the land. At that time the lake had no waves but was still. There was no wind. The waters then began to swing around, like a whirlpool. Faster and faster the waters turned. The Sioux tried to return to land, but they could not do so. They knew something had happened to the water. The old man and his son, about to embark, noticed the disturbed waters. So the young man said, "There is something happening here; we are not getting into the canoe." All the other Sioux were drowned. So only the old man and his son remained to tell the tale.
That is the reason that the Sioux call it "Holy Water." That is also the reason the Ho-Chunk call it "Tē Šišik” meaning “Bad Lake.” The Ho-Chunk understand that the water behaved the way it did because of the actions of a Waterspirit deep below. The actions of this Waterspirit presuppose that the Ho-Chunk had made due sacrifices to him, or that the Sioux had failed to propitiate him before they entered into his domain. To this day, the Ho-Chunk still refer to this lake and specifically the Milwaukee area, Tē Šišik.