Sometimes, the ‘Various’ of the world is epic. Sometimes the world slows down for a week. This week, the focus is on two campaigns on Indiegogo:
—
Amos Kennedy Jr (who has a letterpress studio in Gordo, Alabama) wants to build a letterpress printing plant in Detroit for others:
I am letterpress printer, Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., and I am asking for your support to help me build a printing plant in Detroit, MI for people who are interested in letterpress printing and need a space to practice it.
When I first started printing, it was the generosity of older printers that helped me grow and develop and I think it is now my responsibility to pass on this generosity to others.
What I want to do is develop a space that if you have an interest in letterpress printing, you can come and experience it and decide if this is what you want to do with your life.
We all have dreams and aspirations of doing things, and this is about helping people accomplish their dreams.
http://www.indiegogo.com/project/236802/widget
*and* in its honor, 20k films has made available, free, the ‘Proceed and Be Bold’ documentary on Amos:
—
Another Indiegogo campaign right now is that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation needs to protect sacred ‘Hickory Ground’ from the Poarch Band who is excavating the site for a casino. From the site:
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation demands a halt to construction of the “Creek Casino Wetumpka” expansion project, which is desecrating the sacred Hickory Ground. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians already excavated approximately 60 human remains to build the casino, and the recently announced $246 million expansion will cause further desecration to Hickory Ground.
“The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is committed to protecting the burial and ceremonial grounds of our ancestors,” said Principal Chief George Tiger. “We have attempted to convey to the Poarch Band why it is wrong to disturb the peace of our ancestors and burial grounds. However, the Poarch Band does not seem to share our cultural values and respect our traditional ways.”
Hickory Ground, known as “Oce Vpofv” in the Muscogee language, was the last Capitol of the National Council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, prior to forced removal to Indian Territory in the 1830s. The sacred place includes a ceremonial ground, a tribal burial ground and individual graves.
Hickory Ground was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 1984, the federal government officially recognized the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, descendants of Muscogee (Creeks) who were not removed and did not live in Alabama as Muscogee Creeks. The Alabama Historical Commission transferred Hickory Ground to the Poarch Band, even though they had no direct ancestral or cultural connection to the ceremonial ground.
Although the Poarch Band promised to preserve the Hickory Ground for the benefit of all Creek Indians, the Poarch Band exhumed Muscogee human remains and ceremonial objects to build the Creek Casino Wetumpka, with assistance from researchers at Auburn University. The excavated human remains belong to the lineal ancestors of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma, who hold Hickory Ground as sacred and oppose development on the ceremonial ground.