Smoke Signals via the Internet is an
ongoing class project that metamorphosed from a term
paper to an indigenous cyber community. I am an
Internet novice and an enrolled member of the Oglala
Sioux Tribe. In the fall of 2004 I will be a senior student at Oglala
Lakota College in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The community roots are based on times of meditation
on Eagle Nest Butte near Wanblee, South Dakota. On
Eagle Nest Butte a desire to facilitate options of
modern technological communication methods to better
utilization of continuing traditional values in the
micro and macro world of cultural interaction sparked
the creation of this humble web site for others to
share and contribute in cyber council.
The desire to respect traditional icons of
cultural relevance in a format of digital
communication was the spark of the web site's
creation. When one communicates with another it is
often important to outline from where one bases the
information being shared. This is true in personal
real world communication or in cyberspace. The
message is paramount to evolution of thought
interaction and rather than the tool of
communication.
It was necessary to learn how the Internet was
structured and to decode the essential elements for
design purposes. Methods of communication will to
some degree affect communication whether the tool is
a stuttering shy person or an Internet traffic jam
with slow download times. Nevertheless it is
essential for communication purposes to facilitate
the message as best one can in the circumstances one
finds oneself in. Facilitation maybe burning wood or
high speed T3 broad band Internet communication.
Communication with others may be limited to the
degree of cultural interaction possible by language,
bias, physical barriers, distance and/or other
factors.
I was surprised to learn the number of Internet
communications facilitated by language software
programs. The Internet is merely another tool that
people may use for the purposes they desire or that
they may not. One may encounter others of
cross-purposes and opposing designs with the
resultant exchange of ideas creating new dynamics of
thought patterns.
My communication on the Internet has been to
people across the world (Italy, Australia, Brazil and
other.) and to people who turned out to be on the other side of the campus (SDSM&T). The barrier of language was reduced due to online language
facilitators; Communication has been primarily with
indigenous peoples and people who relate to
indigenous causes. I believe this to be factored by Internet search engines and selection of Internet communication methodology options. I wish to thank
all people who shared their thoughts with me. I
encourage any and all to email me privately or post
any public views (you wish to share) on the upcoming
bulletin board or chat room beginning the 1st weekend
of the New Millenium.
Online communication with the exchange of ideas
and online resources is the intended purpose and
mission of websites and Chat
Thank you,
R.Wagers
Riverside, Ca. 92506
Send Email to:
Kola@Lakota.net or
Click to
listen to
American Indian Radio on Satellite
Return Home
Thank you,
R.Wagers
Riverside, Ca. 92506
Send Email to:
Kola@Lakota.net or
Click to
listen to
American Indian Radio on Satellite
Return Home