Lecture offers historical perspective of Pueblo dance controversy of the 1920sSMU takes a closer look at the American Indian struggle for religious freedom as Tisa Wenger, the 2002-2003 Bill and Rita Clements research fellow for the study of Southwestern America , takes the podium Wednesday to dicsuss the Pueblo dance controversy of the 1920s.
The Pueblo dance controversy began with a Bureau of Indian Affairs circular aimed at discouraging traditional Indian dancing on all reservations, and centered on the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico because of allegations of immorality in their ceremonies. Pueblo leaders and the modernist reformers who allied with them ultimately defeated these attacks on Pueblo dancing. Underlying the competing positions in the controversy were very different assumptions about what counted as “religion,” and these definitions of religion were critical to understanding the arguments used both for and against the Pueblo dances.
This talk describes how Pueblo Indian leaders participated in this controversy, and examines various Pueblo uses of the English-language categories of “religion” and “religious freedom.” While they rejected the white reformers’ categories of “pagan” and “primitive” religion, defining their traditions as “religion” quickly became a useful strategy for defending Pueblo ways of life against those who wanted to completely assimilate Indians into white American culture.
The lecture is in the Texana room of the DeGolyer library from noon until 1 p.m. today.
Cha-ching: saving money at the pump
Despite the 9 percent drop in price per barrel of gas Monday, prices at the pump remain at a 40-year high. But experts say consumers can follow a few simple steps to squeeze some extra miles out of every tank.
* Lighten your load: remove unnecessary items from your trunk before hitting the road. Every 200 pounds of weight reduces gas efficiency by one mile per gallon. If you have to carry a lot of baggage, avoid roof-top containers, which increase air drag. The same goes for truck beds, so invest in a cover.
* Check your pressure: oversized and under-inflated tires decrease fuel effficiency. But don’t go rushing out to the air pump without checking vehicle and tire manufacturer instructions for proper inflation.
* Find other ways to beat the heat: avoid turning on the air conditioner as a first response to the rising Texas temperatures. Start your drive with your rear windows open to exhaust the hot air out of the car. Then put on the A/C if needed. This will also enable the air conditioning to work faster and more efficiently when turned on.
* Take it nice and easy: smooth out your driving style by avoiding “jack rabbit” starts and sharp braking. Both expend more gas than maintaining a constant speed.
* Drive like your Grandma: It’s estimated that every mile per hour driven above 55 MPH costs 1 percent in fuel economy. If road conditions permit, use your cruise control to maximize your fuel potential.
Wanted: Winston Cup volunteers
The Denton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center needs volunteers to help work a concession stand for the NASCAR Winston Cup March 28, 29 and 30. The money raised by the event will benefit the DCMHMR Center.
Volunteers are not required to attend an orientation prior to the event, but must stay at the Texas Motor Speedway the entire day they plan on volunteering.
Volunteers are required to wear a white polo-style collared shirt, black or khaki pants and tennis shoes. Carpool from the DCMHMR Center at 2519 Scripture Road in Denton, Texas will take volunteers to the speedway each day.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Teresa Heimdal at (940) 565 – 5210 or visit www.dentonmhmr.org.
