Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 12, 1 December 2012 — NATIVE CONNECTIONS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NATIVE CONNECTIONS

Members of two indigenous peoples, Hawaiians and Piscataways, found themselves on eommon ground during a traditional welcoming ceremony marking the beginning of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Club's 53rd annual convention. The ceremony, led by Gabrielle Tayac of

the Piscataway Indian Nation-Tayac Territory, on the grounds of the Nahonal Museum of the American Indian, was the first contact of many exchanges between the two groups to take plaee throughout the convention week. A second welcoming ceremony, on the banks of the Anacostia River, featured the Hawaiian delegation announeing its arrival with a pū (eoneh) and oli, asking permission to enter the Piscataway's territory, and Piscataway youth

responding with a weleome dance. Ceremonial blessings for the convention were also offered by Rico Newman, from the Beaver Clan of the Piscataway-Conoy tribe, inside the convention hall, by Clan Mother Joan Proctor, at Ka Lei Maile Ali'i HCC's Kū'ē name sign display on the Nahonal Mall and by Natalie StandingontheRock Proctor, tribal chair of the Cedarville Band, at the Ka Lei Maile Ali'i historical re-enactment at the Nahonal American Indian Museum. Hope Butler, a member of the Deer Clan of the Piscataway-Conoy, offered blessings at the welcoming ceremony, and gave a closing ceremony.

She said the eonneehon with Hawaiians was a life-changing experience. Butler and her cousin, Natalie Proctor, took part in several convention activities, including the historical re-enactment Ka Lei Maile Ali'i. Butler, who was one of the audience participants vowed to share what she leamed about Hawai'i's struggle.

She and Proctor also joined delegates for paddling on the Potomae - Butler's first excursion in a eanoe on her native waters. "I felt like this was me stepping back in time with my ancestors," says Butler. While Proctor joined the 'Aha Mele on Friday night, Butlerhad dinner in Chinatown with a group of her new Hawaiian friends, discovering more cultural connections over duck, rice and noodles. "When you all intro-

duce yourselves, you introduce yourselves by acknowledging who your parents are first," Butler said. "In our tribe, we introduce ourselves by telling people who our grandparents are. You're always a representation of your ancestors. That's they way I was brought up." Addressing elders who aren't related to you as "aunt" and "unele," a deep respect for ancestors, and inclusiveness were other similarities she noticed. Hawaiians and Piscataways also share in struggle for federal recognition, although Butler noted the Piscataway did gain recognition by Maryland's governor in January of this year. ■

<ASS0CIATI0N 0F HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS W 2012 C0NVENTI0N /

A REP0RT FR0M THE ASS0CIATI0N 0F HAWAMAN CIVIC CLURS C0NVENTI0N IN WASHINGT0N, D.C. Stories and photos by Mary Aliee Milham

Rogerlyn "Ihi'ihinui" Kaneali'i Wakinekona, a member of Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club and a 201 2 recipient of the Kukui Lama Kū Award from 'Ahahui o Manokalanipō (Kaua'i Council), delivers her lines as an audience participant in the < Ka Lei Maile Ali'i re-enactment at the JW Marriott.

Ka Lei Maile Ali'i re-enactors Moanike'ala Sitch and Donnie Carnvel greet audience members as they portray Hui Aloha 'Aina o Nawahine (Women's Patriotic League) leaders Emma 'Aima Nōwahī and Abigail Kuaihelani Campbell entering the 1 897 signature-gathering meeting at the Salvation Army Hall in Hilo.