Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com May 6, 2020 Read Desert Messenger online! Sign up for free email alerts when the Desert Messenger becomes available online! Join thousands reading the paper online at: www.DesertMessengerOnline.com DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Jackie Deal GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 2018 © Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the com- munity, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the loca- tion of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be published. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 DEADLINE : WED. MAY 13 TH for the May 20 TH edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com In honor of Mothers everywhere... Mother's Day became a nationally recognized holiday in 1914 because of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, a West Virginian who campaigned to hon- or mothers after her own beloved mother passed away in 1905. Ironi- cally, by the 1920s Jarvis became disenchanted with the commercial- ization of Mother's Day and began campaigning against the holiday. Mother's Day will be a bit different this year due to COVID-19, but that does not mean we all can't honor our mother in new or old ways. Mothers connect us all to that is sacred. Without women there is no hope, no future, no carrying on of tradition and culture. The Native American way of life un- derstands the whole world as sacred. In the sacred circle of family, all life has meaning. In this circle of unity, women are grounded in Mother Earth and connected to Father Sky, bring- ing children into the world through the power of their life giving love. Native American cultures have al- ways honored and respected wom- en. Mothers and grandmothers raise the children, teaching them how to live life honorably, with re- spect for elders and for tradition. Women were not limited by Ameri- can's traditional gender stereotypes and actually fi lled several critical tribal roles, far surpassing moth- erhood. Respected by men, wom- en were known for their strength and also seen as vital contributors to their tribes. Women's roles in- clude being the Builders, Warriors, Hunters and Gatherers, Cooks and Farmers, Repairwomen, Tool and Weapon Makers, Craftswomen and Medicine Women. Regarded for their healing power and connec- tion to the spirit world, women also worked as medicine women and gathered herbs for remedies. The Navajo society, which has been hit hard by the virus, is more matrilineal, rather than patrilineal. A Navajo person will introduce him or herself using the name of the ma- ternal clan followed by the paternal clan. An article from Indian Country Today discussed the strong, indepen- dent nature of Navajo women and their ties to the Changing Woman, the primary deity of Navajo religion. To all the amazing Mothers out there: Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for never giving up; for everyone else, honor your mother for giving you life. The food bank is busier than ever. More than 120 new people signed up in March. We are doing double what we normally serve and it may only get higher. We are doing ev- erything we can to stay open but we need help from you. What can you do to be part of the solution? Volunteer if you can. Come at 7:30 am to volunteer for an hour or up to 4 hours. If you are staying at home you can still help by donating to help us keep operating. We are a pri- vate nonprofi t that needs your help. Our budget is being used up with this increase. Being a 501c3 we are tax-deductible and an AZ Tax Char- ity Credit organization. You can use both at tax time. Updates posted on https://www. facebook.com/FRIENDSOFTHE- QUARTZSITEFOODBANK Thank you to those that have been stepping up to help during this time of need. The Arizona Charitable Tax Cred- it lets YOU choose to pay AZ taxes or donate to FQFB –Up to $400 for individuals and $800 for couples! More info & donate at Quartzsite- FoodBank.com. Or mail a check and make it out to Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank, PO Box 4671, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 For more info call 480-286-8373. Thank you from FQFB and all our hard-working volunteers. Be part of the solution

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