European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 24, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Is photos by Daveme Ancon american flags add a final touch to dancer s american Indian outfit. American indians the dancers and the dance by Dave Melancon Wurzburg Bureau Merlean Indian soldiers stationed at Gie Belstadt army Airfield in Germany celebrated their heritage earlier this month with the Rainbow singers a 10-rrtember drum and dance group from the Chippewa nation 6. The purpose of the afternoon Long event was to introduce non Indian members of the Cie Belstadt Community to american Indian culture. We want to show what s inside of the drum not Only look from the outside said sgt. 1st class Lindberg Namingha Secretary for the native american inter tribal society. There Are about 400 members of the organization in Germany he said. The society was formed in 1974 and Many of its members Are soldiers and their families but the organization is open to anyone interested in american Indian culture. At left member of the Wieb Ekstadt Community join in a dance. Above Andi marshal is one of the German members of the native american inter tribal society. One of the part plants loses himself in the traditional Musk and dance. Its Overall goal is to provide support for american indians in Europe and to introduce indians to other cultures through monthly powwows and get together Namingha  see a lot of negative things about the indians on the reservations he said. Here at the powwow we re trying to show what the actual native people Are , who is stationed in Kaiserslautern is travelling this month with the Rainbow singers and 10 other soldiers and their families throughout Europe As a part of native american month celebrations. Because Many of the european society members have military obligations the Rainbow singers and dancers were invite to join the demonstrations and celebrations he said. Member of the Rainbow singers from Michigan perform. Above sgt 1st class Undberg Namingha h Secretary of a native american society. A dancer s Steps carry her away. The 23 powwows which Are being conducted at military and civilian locations Are open to everyone he said. American Indian service members and their families also Benefit from the gatherings said master sgt. Jos Camboa who helped organize the Cie Belstadt event. A lot of then come from reservations and they feel lost and isolated when they Are assigned overseas he said. This gives them a place to  the powwow is a cultural Exchange for All members for the Community he said. It s something to say we Are Here he said. I Hope they see a Little bit of what Indian culture and customs Are said Andrew Leblanc the Rainbow s master of ceremonies. I try to explain a Little about the spirituality of the dances to give people a better understanding of our  the Rainbow singers Are not an official organization he said. It s just a group of people who live within 20 Miles of each other on Michigan s upper Peninsula who get together to dance and sing. We lust get together and have powwows and have fun Leblanc said. That s pretty much what we re doing  but they Are doing More than having fun. By teaching others about their culture the indians learn More about themselves he said. Life is so Short he said. It is Good to know your identity know who you Are and feel Good about yourself and then you can enjoy  dispute continued from Page 19 Sites makes relocation unthinkable. We re told to give up our lifestyle and to move to another place so this land can be open to strip mining and ranchers says Benally who lives in a traditional log Hogan on big Mountain deep in land Congress gave the Hopes. The Federal government is mired in the dispute both As a Steward of Indian land and As a defendant in some of the lawsuits Between the tribes. Washington offered to pay the Hopes $15 million As part of a Deal worked out Between the tribes by a mediator last year. The proposed settlement angered Many non indians because it would have Given the Hopes Federal state and private land off the reservation that s valued for Timber and recreational use. But ultimately it foundered because it offered 75-year leases rather than permanent land allotments to navajos on land partitioned to the Hopes by the 1974 act of Congress. Navajo president Peterson Zah has offered to reopen negotiations but the hopi tribal Council rejected any discussion of what amounts to Zah s key proposal a land Swap. Though they Don t talk of Force Many Hopes suggest the navajos must be somehow compelled to leave the hopi land. I Don t see any alternative other than to go Back and enforce the Law Masayesva said after talks collapsed. Many navajos who have have accepted relocation benefits and moved to government built Homes away from the hopi lands have hot found life any easier. Often their new Homes Are of poor Quality with cracking foundations and other problems says Jon Norstog Deputy executive director of the Navajo nation s Navajo hopi land commission. Wednesday number 24. Iff 3 those who be abandoned their traditional sheep herding life find there s no work for them on a reservation with an unemployment rate of 30 percenter More. Many have never had to pay taxes or Utility Bills and quickly find themselves in financial trouble Norstog says. Betty Tso lives in tuba City and works for the Navajo Legal Aid office but grew up in a Remote area where her family still lives. She sees Little Hope for her relatives if they re forced to leave hopi land. My Brothers were raised with livestock she says. That s what they do. That s who they Are. If you take that away from them i Don t know what they la  21tnistaisandst1ipcs 20 to stats and stems