Park offers traditional Lakota love songs

(HARRISON, NE)  Michael He Crow, Miniconju Lakota/Apache, was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  Michael’s family was instrumental in shaping his passion for Lakota history and tools.  His father, Francis He Crow, a direct descendant of Chief Big Foot, taught him at an early age how to craft his first bow.  This sparked an interest in the Lakota tradition of creating functional artwork.   

He Crow started the 2008 Artist-in-Residence season at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument visitor center on Memorial Day Weekend. The summer hours are 8:00 am – 6:00 pm with the two hiking trails open from sunrise to sunset.

Traditionally Lakota artwork consists of functional items that are then decorated to reflect events, visions, ceremonies, or battles.  Michael’s artwork is based on these principles.  It is reflected in his hand carved bows, chokecherry arrows, traditionally flintknapped arrowheads, and his beautiful Lakota courting flutes made from cedar.  

He Crow taught himself to flintknapp obsidian, chert, and Knife River flint and is unique among flintknappers as he uses only antler and rock to complete authentic pieces.  Michael finds straight chokecherry branches on his grandfather’s land in Oglala, South Dakota and using sinew and hide glue, he fastens his arrowheads to chokecherry branches that have been heated and straightened. He then paints a design with earth paint and attaches turkey tail feathers.  The arrows are replicated in great detail using books and museum pieces as guides.  These arrows are functional, and can either be used for hunting, or displayed as pieces of art.

Hearing the Lakota story of the woodpecker bringing the flute to the People sparked He Crow’s interest in flute making.  He started with a diagram of measurements and from that crafted his own style of flutes with a deep rich sound.  Michael enjoys playing traditional Lakota love songs.   In addition to crafting bows, arrowheads and flutes, he also makes parfleche storage bags, moccasins, spears, tomahawks, knife points, quill and bead jewelry, and brain tanned hides.  Please call ahead (308-668-2211) to confirm dates. 

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is located 22 miles south of Harrison,

Nebraska, or 34 miles north of Mitchell, Nebraska, on State Highway 29.  The visitor center/museum is open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day with the artist available from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  An entrance fee of $5.00 per vehicle OR Interagency passes, as well as the tri-park pass with Scotts Bluff National Monument and Fort Laramie National Historic Site are accepted and/or sold at the information desk.

National Park Service offers 74 parks spanning 25 coastal states and U.S. territories

"In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth." -- Rachel Carson

Have you ever wanted to dive on a vibrant coral reef, witness the majesty of a towering glacier, or stroll along a remote barrier island? The National Park Service (NPS) offers opportunities to do all of those things and more. National Parks contain more than 5,100 miles of beaches, coral reefs, kelp forests, wetlands, historic shipwrecks and forts, and other features that attract more than 75 million visitors every year. In 74 parks spanning 25 coastal states and U.S. territories, people come to camp, fish, snorkel, scuba dive, boat, and watch wildlife.

Each of these Parks maintains a rich legacy of ocean wildlife, native culture, U.S. maritime history, and beautiful landscapes above and below the waves. Marine life abounds in coral reefs in Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Islands, and in kelp forests in California and the Pacific Northwest. Salt marshes framed by barrier islands provide a haven for birds, and fish and wildlife along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Glaciers and fjords offer a stunning backdrop to thousands of years of native traditions and tribal culture in Alaska, and shipwrecks and maritime museums record centuries of commerce and military history.

Established for their natural beauty and national significance, these Parks play a critical role in conserving our nation's ocean and Great Lakes heritage. The National Park Service is proud to manage and conserve these jewels above and below the waves on behalf of the American people. As one of the premier conservation agencies the National Park Service will strive to prevent the loss of productive fisheries, habitats, and wildlife, and continue conserving our ocean resources and the recreational opportunities they afford to park visitors. In that effort, an Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan has been developed by the NPS for restoring and maintaining the rich legacy of ocean parks for current and future generations.

Celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8

World Ocean Day was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Although not yet officially designated by the United Nations, an increasing number of countries mark June 8th as an opportunity each year to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. The Ocean Project, working closely with the World Ocean Network each year, helps to coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, businesses. Together with the World Ocean Network, we are also working to have the United Nations officially designate World Ocean Day as June 8th each year. Take time to do something good for our ocean: Sign the petition today!

Strawberry cactus (pitaya), Big Bend National Park, Photo by Rick LoBello.

May 11, 2007, Washington D.C.

 “The Centennial Challenge will help prepare our national parks for a second century of service to our children and grandchildren. The House Natural Resources Committee’s action today is a major step toward making it a reality,” said NPCA Vice President for Government Affairs Craig Obey. “A great deal of hard work has gone into Rep. Grijalva’s substitute to H.R.3094. While the authorization level does not yet achieve the ultimate goal of $100 million per year for ten years, the Committee has taken an essential step on which to build. We are optimistic that the administration and Congress can now work expeditiously to build on the Committee proposal and ready it for consideration in the full House of Representatives.”

The innovative National Park Centennial Challenge embodied in the Grijalva substitute will – if enacted – create a 10-year partnership between the federal government and private American citizens to begin to repair and enhance the national parks before their 2016 centennial. It seeks to double private philanthropic and other non-federal donations to carry out projects and programs in the parks beyond what is possible through the yearly federal budget and appropriations process, and to inspire continued public and private investment in America’s national parks.

“We thank Chairman Rahall, Chairman Grijalva, Congressman Young, Congressman Bishop, and other key committee members for their leadership in helping to move the bill. It is truly an investment in our national heritage, our economy, and the continuing legacy we leave to future generations,” Obey said. “We call on Congress to act quickly to enact this historic legislation, and we pledge to do everything we can to help make that happen.”

Park Soundscapes

Elk bugling in the cool autumn air of Rocky Mt National Park, birds calling in the Everglades, waterfalls thundering into Yosemite Valley, the quiet reverence at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. These are examples of natural sounds that make a trip to our national parks a unique and unforgettable experience.

Cultural and historic sounds are also important components of the many National Park units. The sound of a cannon shot echoing across a civil war battlefield or the hypnotic drumbeat of a sacred tribal dance provide visitors with insight into historic events or an earlier lifestyle, people, or culture. Cultural and historic soundscapes are treated and managed as a park resource with a truly unique and inherent value, and as an important component of the park experience for visitors.

National Parks were also created in part to allow the public to enjoy and appreciate the unique natural and cultural resources protected within our parks. Therefore, the sounds of people enjoying the parks through a variety of recreational activities are a common element of National Park soundscapes. Careful management will ensure that the sounds that contribute to our park experience are protected for current and future generations.

Definition of Soundscapes:

A soundscape refers to the total acoustic environment of an area. Both natural and human sounds may be desirable and appropriate in a soundscape, depending on the purposes and values of the park. For example, the sound of canon fire and muskets may be appropriate and desirable at Gettysburg National Military Park but not in the wilderness of Yellowstone. Soundscapes often vary in their character from day to night and from season to season and can be affected by changes in numbers of visitors who introduce human-caused sound into the environment. The soundscape of a national park, like water, scenery, or wildlife, is a valuable resource that can easily be degraded or destroyed by inappropriate sounds or sound levels. As a result, soundscapes require careful management if they are to remain unimpaired for future generations.

How are Sounds Experienced?

Sound is defined as pressure variations or a wave traveling through the air that can be detected by humans and other animals. How we experience sound depends on two important characteristics: Frequency and Amplitude. The number of pressure variations per second in the air or the number of peaks and troughs in the sound wave is called the frequency of the sound and is expressed in hertz (Hz). Humans are usually able to hear sound with frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Amplitude is what we normally refer to as volume or loudness. As an object vibrates it creates sound waves and as it vibrates harder, the height of the wave, or the distance between the peaks and troughs in the wave, increases. This height (or the distance between the peaks and troughs in the sound wave) is known as the amplitude and is measured in decibels (dB). Most sounds contain numerous frequencies and each frequency can have a different amplitude. This complex combination of frequencies and amplitudes is how we experience the unique soundscape within a park.

Featured Sound Clip

National Park Service hires nearly 10,000 employees

Since its founding in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to the preservation and management of the country’s outstanding natural, historical and recreational resources.  Today, the NPS encompasses more than 391 sites across the United States and in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Every year, millions of people visit our beloved national park areas.  To meet the needs of visitors and help manage and protect park resources, the NPS hires approximately 10,000 temporary and seasonal employees annually.  While temporary positions are available in a range of career fields, most jobs available are in the following categories: 

• Visitor Use Assistants
• Park Guides
• Biological Science Technicians
• Park Rangers
• Seasonal Maintenance Positions

Some seasonal positions are advertised and filled centrally (call 1-888-279-9193).  Many others are advertised directly by NPS Human Resources Offices around the country.  Either way, all job openings can be found on http://www.usajobs.gov, the official job site for the United States Federal Government.  Just go to the site, click on Basic Search and type in “NPS” to find a complete listing of job opportunities and application procedures.  Hint: Check back often, as new positions open regularly.

Franklin Mountains State Park and adjacent Bureau of Land Management lands in New Mexico cover most of the Franklin Mountains but not the entire range. On the east side of the mountains, a particularly significant parcel belongs to the U.S. Army. It’s the Castner Range, an old artillery range no longer in use.

West of the Patriot Freeway, Castner Range covers some 11 square miles, extending almost to the mountain ridge line. It is land of surpassing beauty and biological richness. Castner Range has a combination of unique Chihuahuan Desert plant and animal habitats, complex geology, spectacular scenery and rich cultural features unequaled anywhere else in the Franklins.