"I set 2007 aside slowly, letting it simmer a little before I lifted the lid to have a look. This kettle of yearlong events was a good one -- a lot of rich vegetables without a scorched pot.
One of the happenings in 2007 that I certainly would put on the side of my list marked "Delightful" is the oil boom. Tapping the Bakken formation for its "black gold," as Jed Clampett of "The Beverly Hillbillies" used to say, has brought change to North Dakota.
Praise for the Shooting Star casino, which made at least a quarter of its space a nonsmoking area. Questions for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its "modernization initiative," which I wrote about in October. I've been through this before, as many tribal people have, and I'll believe things will get better when I see it.
The issue of UND's nickname and mascot is a different story; there is dialogue on the issue, and that is good.
Finally, a woman or a black person may be president. I like them both; however, Barack Obama is my choice. Hillary Clinton does have her forces and will be hard to beat, however. And that will be a story for the year to come.
Time to stoke the fire and start a new kettle of events for 2008. "
Get the Story:Dorreen Yellow Bird: Heady aromas of '07 linger into '08 (The Grand Forks Herald 1/12)
pwlat More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: Artman right on off-reservation gaming (1/9)
Yellow Bird: Barack Obama's big win in Iowa (1/7)
Yellow Bird: Wild animals in our environment (12/31)
Yellow Bird: Russell Means makes a point (12/24)
Yellow Bird: Christmas can be depressing too (12/19)
Yellow Bird: It's McCain v. Clinton in 2008 (12/18)
Yellow Bird: UND graduates Indian nurses (12/12)
Yellow Bird: Candy shop in Grand Forks creative (12/11)
Yellow Bird: Teachers and cultural sensitivity (12/5)
Yellow Bird: Instant wealth in a poor community (11/29)
Yellow Bird: Don't feel guilty about Thanksgiving (11/22)
Yellow Bird: Indian people take care of their own (11/19)
Yellow Bird: From 'Nutcracker' to a 'Beat Down' (11/14)
Yellow Bird: Ghosts haunt Standing Rock veteran (11/7)
Yellow Bird: Reservation center helps those in need (11/5)
Yellow Bird: Put an end to 'Fighting Sioux' nick (10/31)
Yellow Bird: Generosity of Shakopee Tribe (10/24)
Yellow Bird: Foreign journalists shared cultural gifts (10/22)
Yellow Bird: Domestic violence happens every day (10/15)
Yellow Bird: Indian adoptees find their way home (10/10)
Yellow Bird: The BIA and its broken promises (10/8)
Yellow Bird: Halloween marks coming of winter (10/3)
Yellow Bird: Diabetes too common among Indians (10/1)
