Latest news with #Sauk
Daily Express
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
200 share Kaamatan joy in UK celebration
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: The guests dancing away during a 'Sumazau' session. Kota Kinabalu: Some 200 guests took part in the Kaamatan celebration organised by the Sabahan Abroad UK (Sauk), which was held at Old Basing Village Hall in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Themed 'Kaamatan for Everyone', the event brought together Sabahan families and friends from across the UK, as well as guests from France, Norway and Germany. Their presence added warmth and strengthened the bonds of a growing diaspora community there. Sauk, a non-profit organisation active for nearly a decade, aimed at uniting Sabahans living in the UK through cltural events, friendship and heritage preservation. With an estimated 5,000 Sabahans residing in the UK, including professionals, students, and second-generation Sabahan-British, Sauk continues to build a sense of home away from home. The day-long celebration featured traditional games like 'mimpulos' (arm wrestling) and 'tarik tali' (tug-of-war), a lucky draw for charities in Sabah as well as a lavish spread of Sabahan and Malaysian cuisine, including bambangan, tuhau, hinava, basungan and a variety of Malaysian pastries. Guests were welcomed with Lihing shots (rice wine), produced by Nelda Hendon, who also demonstrated the art of Lihing-making. Cultural highlights included the Momokis ritual performed by Jennifer Lasimbang, the Magavau chant led by Olga George Kiloh, a Huminodun sketch directed by Savillah Angell, and a poem reading by Alfred Raymond Lee. The Kulintangan dance crew, led by Jessie Roberts, delivered captivating performances, while the evening's Magagung session, led by Hayden Hansanon, a student from Penampang, captured the Kaamatan spirit. A key moment was the Unduk Ngadau pageant, where five young women of Sabahan heritage – Mia, Anya, Cami, Maya, and Clara – graced the stage with pride and poise. Mia Ming-Steel was crowned Sauk Kaamatan 2025 Unduk Ngadau, earning admiration for her cultural pride and grace. The event also received personal greetings from Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor and Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, recognising the community's efforts in preserving and promoting Sabah's heritage abroad. Now in its eighth year, Sauk's Kaamatan celebration continues to grow in scale and significance, serving as a bridge between generations and geographies. Sabahans abroad are keeping their culture alive and sharing it with the world through such events. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Susan Koch: The magical sight of a cottonwood snowing in spring
There's something magical about spring on the farm. In part, it's what poet James Hearst called 'the chores of birth,' and we've certainly seen plenty of that during the past several weeks. Nearly a hundred shiny black calves are frolicking in the pastures, including twin bulls (birthweight of 72 pounds each) whose mother is completely unruffled by this unusual occurrence and its maternal responsibilities. A pair of Canada geese have returned to the pond, building a nest of reeds and down near the weeping willow tree. I used a pallet to build an island home for them this year, hoping to keep their eggs safe from the usual predators. But they were determined to occupy the same real estate as last year, and I'm crossing my fingers they'll have a successful hatch. Animals aren't the only organisms coming to life in spring. I can almost hear shoots pushing upward everywhere beneath my feet. Now is the time for wildflowers — ephemerals that bloom when sunlight warms the forest floor before the leaves of trees completely emerge. A recent walk in the woods revealed patches of fragrant bloodroot, tiny purple violets, shooting stars with their pink petals dangling downward and my favorite bluebells with their nodding clusters a lure for butterflies and bees. I'm still watching for the sweet Dutchman's breeches — each bloom resembling an upside-down pair of trousers. But one of the most magical spring events on our farm is still a few weeks away, and I don't need a Farmer's Almanac to predict it. Around the end of May and in early June, it's going to snow! Yes, snow. And for that I can thank the majestic Eastern cottonwood tree that has been growing on the farm on the edge of a creek since, well, before the farm was cultivated. It was growing there before Iowa became a state in 1846. It may have been knee-high when the land was Sauk and Fox tribal hunting ground. The cottonwood, widespread and native to North America, is dioecious — meaning each tree is either male or female. This particular cottonwood is female and, thus, the anticipated snow. The first sign in April is long strands of yellowish-green catkins dangling from every twig — thousands of them. These catkins develop into fruiting capsules that will, when ripened, burst open and launch millions of seeds like miniature parachutes, fluffy down carrying them across the landscape in a blizzard of white. With just the right breeze and a little luck, a few of those tiny seeds will land in wet soil on the edge of a ravine and become the next generation. According to Kathleen Cain, author of 'The Cottonwood Tree: An American Champion,' a single Eastern cottonwood can produce as many as 30 million seeds in one season. The older a tree grows, the more seeds it makes. It's no wonder this magnificent tree snows for several days — clouds of white floating over fields newly planted with corn or soybeans. It's dramatic! It's fantastic! It's magical! For residents of Chicagoland, that same snowy magic is not so far away. Illinois' state champion Eastern cottonwood, the largest in the state, is in the Byron Forest Preserve near Mount Morris, about 100 miles west of downtown Chicago. According to the Illinois Big Tree Register, she stands over 120 feet tall and is the largest tree of any species in Illinois. Her trunk measures more than 28 feet around with a crown spread of 116 feet. She is a dramatic, fantastic, magical sight at any time — but especially in the spring — when it snows. Susan Koch is a former chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield. She and her husband farm and raise purebred Angus cattle in Muscatine County, Iowa.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to ban Native American mascots could impact 7 schools in northern Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Seven schools in northern Illinois could be required to change their name, logo, or mascot if a recently passed Illinois bill banning Native American-themed imagery is signed into law. On Thursday, the Illinois House passed a bill that would ban schools from using Native American names, mascots, or logos. , introduced by Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) passed with a vote of 71-40 and now heads to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, schools that currently have Native American mascots can continue to use them through 2030, providing they select a new school or athletic team name, logo, or mascot; do not purchase materials using the old mascot; and replace the mascot the next time the facility is remodeled. Schools with team names of Native American tribes or persons can continue to use that name if consent is obtained from that tribe. The following schools in northern Illinois could be impacted by the bill's passage: Hononegah High School, in Rockton, is named after the Native American woman who was married to Rockton's first settler, Stephen Mack. The school's mascot is the Indians. Marengo High School, in Marengo, whose mascot is the Indians. Stockton High School, in Stockton, whose mascot is the Blackhawks, named after Sauk leader Black Hawk. Winnebago High School, in Winnebago, whose mascot is the Indians. The school and county are named after the Winnebago or Ho-Chunk tribe. Pecatonica High School, in Pecatonica, whose mascot is the Indians. The village of Pecatonica takes its name from the Algonquin words for 'slow water.' Dakota Junior/Senior High School, in Dakota, whose mascot is the Indians. The village is named after the group of Sioux tribes known as the Dakota. Blackhawk Elementary School, in Freeport, named after Black Hawk. The school uses 'Indians' for school activities. On Tuesday, the House West's bill to prohibit schools from using a name, logo, or mascot that is derogatory of a disabled individual or group, after a complaint was filed accusing the Freeburg High School mascot, the 'Midgets,' of offending people with dwarfism. Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) called the bill's passage 'political theater,' saying, 'This bill doesn't carry a penalty if a school ignores it. That tells you right there that it's more about political spin than actual change. If we're going to talk about this issue seriously, then let's have a conversation based in reality—not political performance.' 'There are ways to make respectful changes that don't break the bank. But this bill isn't about solutions—it's about woke politics,' said Cabello. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about the Black Hawk military helicopter
(NewsNation) — The Black Hawk military helicopter that was involved in the midair collision with an American Airlines regional jet is known as a proven workhorse in the U.S. Army's fleet of aircraft. The helicopter has been used by the military for more than 40 years after it entered service in 1979, according to the U.S. Army. The aircraft was first developed, the Army said, as a requirement made by the Army that simple, robust and reliable utility helicopters be available. DC crash co-pilot 'at the prime of his life': Dad The Black Hawk is named after the Native American war chief and leader of the Sauk tribe in the Midwest. The aircraft includes powerful twin engines, a reconfigurable cabin and 9,000 pounds of cargo capacity, according to the Lockheed Martin website. The company's description of the helicopter indicates it can be used to transport troops, deliver supplies and fly search-and-rescue missions. Lockheed Martin says that the Black Hawk helicopter has flown more than 15 million flight hours and has completed countless critical missions across the globe. Lockheed subsidiary Sikorsky manufactures the Black Hawk. The utility version of the Black Hawk helicopter has a maximum gross weight of 22,000 pounds and is capable of transporting 12 fully equipped seated troops in combat, the manufacturer said. Officials said that the helicopter was involved in an annual proficiency training flight when the collision took place Wednesday night. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash and were included among the 67 people who are presumed dead. Pete Hegseth, the newly confirmed U.S. defense secretary, said in a video statement Thursday that the crew aboard the Black Hawk at the time of the collision was 'fairly experienced' with night-vision goggles. President Donald Trump, however, questioned the helicopter's pilot along with air traffic control workers at Reagan Airport for their roles in the crash. The helicopter was featured in the 2001 major motion picture 'Black Hawk Down,' which is based on the book with the same title that detailed the United States' actions during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
