Artist, writer and presenter Don Conroy explains his connection to the Native American Indians.
Painter and wildlife enthusiast Don Conroy explains how four years ago, when his mother passed away, he discovered he was,
A blood brother of the Saskatchewan Indians.
Don Conroy's great great granduncle had a cherry farm in America and he looked after the Indigenous people when they were kicked off their land in Washington State. He provided them with paid work and became a blood brother with the Saskatchewan Indians.
Don Conroy talks about the significance of the religious symbols of Totem Poles which feature carved animals representing different aspects of God. He shares a photograph of himself in in full Native American Indian head dress.
Aoife Kershaw from Dublin calls into the programme with a question for about what the younger Native Americans wear. Don Conroy explains that the younger members of the population also have traditional clothing which is largely worn for ceremonial purposes. Feathers are added to the clothing as a measure of bravery.
Sarah McGlinchey from Belfast has a question about the type of houses that the Native Americans live in. Don explains that while some of them live the traditional way in teepees, most of them now live in log cabins.
This episode of 'Echo Island’ was broadcast on 7 October 1996. The presenter is Carrie Crowley.
'Echo Island' was an Irish young people's television programme on RTÉ Network 2 that was broadcast as part of 'The Den'. It was preceded by 'Jo Maxi' and followed by 'Sting' on Network 2. It first aired in September 1994 with two episodes a week and grew to four episodes a week - two in English and two in Irish - in 1995.
It featured segments such as 'Make and Do', Pet Clinic with Pete Wedderburn, interviews with adults in The Shack, books, film and television reviews, regular appearances by Rocco a Moluccan cockatoo and showcased young Irish rock bands. It ran for six seasons and concluded in June 1999.
The presenters included Dara Ó Briain, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Alan Hughes, Derek Mooney, Mary Kingston and Carrie Crowley.
