Prologue - The year was 1972, the place was the huge 4 story red brick building located on the crest of a hill of the 20 plus acre grounds at the mouth of the city of Washington, DC. It has since been developed into the growing model community of new homes titled "Fort Lincoln".

In 1972 it was the site of Y.O.U.'s Leadership Training Institute, where attendees from Y.O.U. member organizations from all across the USA came for 90 day Training Cycles. They came from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and from the inner city ghettos of San Francisco's Mission District and Chinatown, Watts in Los Angeles, Cabrini Green and the South Side of Chicago, Desire Projects in New Orleans, New York's Harlem and Spanish Harlem, the Lower East Side, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Long Island ~ the came from Philadelphia, Little Rock, New Mexico, Detroit and Native American Reservations in Minnesota and South Dakota. They came ~ Asian, Chicano, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Native American Indian, Hawaiian, African-American and White.

They came to Learn, they came to Share, they came to Teach. They sometimes came as rivals and even enemies ~ Strangers to one another ~ they found that their commonalties outweighed their differences. They found they could share in the same Visions for a Brighter Future. They grew as Friends and by the end of the 90 day Training Cycle, they were as Extended Family members ~ One to Another.

Leadership Training Institute (L.T.I.) or "The Hill" as it came affectionately to be called by those who filled the Staff and Student Dormitories for the 4 to 5 years of it's life-span, had a life and energy all of it's own. It inherited that from all who graced it entrance, and all who learned in its Classrooms and shared in its Workshops. It blossomed from the scope of members coming from more than 250 organizations from all cultures, races, lifestyles, and backgrounds. It glowed with radiance from those who came as Individuals and left with the sense of power, purpose and ability that being part of a Special Group, brings.

They came ~ they learned, they shared they grew and they left, each taking new Skills, Talents, Purpose and Direction and a sense of Self-Realization, back with them, to their Home Neighborhoods and Communities. Young Men and Women Both, helping to Steer and Shape the Future, all across the breath and width of America.

On that day, He accompanied me home, and

has been a welcomed and honored guest at

my Teepee (House) ever since.

The following years in America saw Cities in turmoil. People from all walks of life touched by the ravages that drugs brought, increasing violence in communities, high rates of unemployment, dwindling social programs and ever pervasive sense of "hopelessness" across America.

Often over those years, in quiet moments of reflection, I found myself looking at the noble face of Wisdom, that quietly looked back at me. There I found a reassurance and reinforcement that gave me strength and fortitude. I had look for copies of this Poster, so that I could purchase them and share them with friends, but unfortunately the company that produced them was nowhere to be found. Posters seemed to be an Icon of the 60s and 70s, and as the times changed, so did the icons.

I made a silent promise to Sitting Bull, that at some time in the future I would do my best to have His Poster reproduced, so that it could continue to Reach, Teach, Inspire and tell His Story.

It would be more than twenty years before the advent of Computer Desktop Publishing would give me the Tools I needed to make this Promise a Reality.

The Story doesn't stop here, there is a lot more to tell ~ the Inception of ICUG, meeting Roger Ironside (Oglala Sioux) and Sunny Hill (Navajo) at a Boat show in Annapolis, Maryland who introduced us to Anne Fallis at the Dakota BBS teaching Computer skills and Telecommunications to Youth on the Reservations of South Dakota using Native American Indian Art ~ Anne's guiding ICUG to join as a member of FidoNet's "NativeNet" the Worldwide Computer Echo Conference; ICUG sponsoring a Native American Indian Historical Literature Series and then the re-creation and production of the full color Sitting Bull Poster.

I, by no means, would dare ever think that my hand was guided as I attempted to recreate the Sitting Bull Poster, but the end result was a masterpiece to my eye. I felt I understood how MichaelAngelo must have felt, after finishing the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and standing back to admire his completed work! As the Poster was an attempted recreation, my sole purpose in undertaking it, was to make it available to all who might want a copy. It is for this reason that all full color copies of his Poster, and all that followed, were Given Away Free, and no profit was ever made from them.

The Sitting Bull Poster was so well received by all who saw it or were given a copy, that it inspired me to develop a series and continue with other Historic Native American Indian figures. At the time the was a growing interest in Native American Indian Culture developing here in the USA as well as around the world. The film "Dancing with Wolves" had just been released and generated a greater focus on what was to become a "Renaissance for Native American Indian Culture".

~ ICUG sponsors "The Native American Indian Heritage Poster Series" ~

ICUG members and associates had grown to over 300 people Worldwide. Free 11' x 17"color copies of the Sitting Bull Poster were sent out to people all around the world and to all who requested them on the Native Net computer Network. From these humble efforts, Sitting Bull reached all Cultures as well as reaching members of the Native American Nations of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Navajo, Cree, Cherokee, Blackfoot and Apache to name a few.

The Sitting Bull Poster was used by Teachers in their Public School Classrooms, given away at Native American Organizations Meetings and Pow Wows, featured on Cable Television Programs, added to Fundraising efforts as Gifts for NA Radio Show Marathons and sent to Native American Inmates who were incarcerated.

Other NAIH Series Posters were to follow ~ Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Dan George, Bill Pickett, Geronimo, Cochise, Sacheen Littlefeather, Sequoyah, Wounded Knee Memorial, AIM with Russell Means and Dennis Banks, Two Moons, The Prayer Vigil on the Mall, The Walk for Justice, Cherokee Trail Of Tears, Native Visions and Miracle - the White Buffalo Calf of Native Prophecy.

Members of the Native Network championed our humble efforts, sending ideas, photos, text and money to help in production and mailing costs of the Series Posters. Joining their energies with ours were Maga WiseCarver (Cherokee) in Michigan who collectively worked toward the Bill Pickett, Chief Dan George and Sequoyah Posters; Vern Jordan (Cherokee) in Walla Walla, Washington who contributed his personal wealth of knowledge and experience, genealogy resources, Newsletter, sent an entire Archive of Historic Scans and Text on computer media as well as contributing continuing financial support to help in mailing costs to insure the ICUG NAIH Posters continue to reach an expanding circle worldwide. Vern also supplied the Cherokee Alphabet used in the Sequoyah Poster as well as the photo of Cochise. Vern went on to feature the Sequoyah Poster in reproduction in his far reaching Genealogy Newsletter. The list goes on.

Besides keeping History alive and promoting Cultural Exchange worldwide, ICUG was Honored to Design and Produce ~

ICUG NAIH Posters were presented at the First Meeting on the Mall in Washington, DC where Elders and Tribal Spiritual Leaders gathered from across the country, and received the Posters and included them in their Speaking and Purification of Sacred Smoke Ceremony, by Avrol Looking Horse, Harry Charger and Harry Bird. * see Photos on the ICUG Web Site

The Official Poster for The Candle Light Prayer Vigil for All People on the Washington, DC Monument Mall in (1993) "Sacred Circle of Teepees on The Mall" ~ Color Copies were presented to all Tribal Elders, Leaders and Organizational Representatives in attendance to take home with them.

The Official Poster for The Walk For Justice, 1994, in which Dennis Banks, (co-founder of American Indian Movement and Native American Indian Activist and Actor (movie ThunderHeart)) led a group of dedicated walkers from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, California, to Walk entirely Across America to finally reach Washington, DC at the Lincoln Memorial. ICUG was there with a Poster Display so that all of the Historic Figures could "see and greet them" as the Walkers Arrived! ICUG produced and contributed over 1000 Posters to the event. ICUG also met the Great Granddaughter of Chief Sitting Bull, at this event, and presented Her and Dennis Banks with specially made Necklaces to Honor the Walk for Justice and their personal commitments and sacrifices.
* see Photos on the ICUG Web Site.

The Official Poster for the Annual Native Youth Alliance Pow Wow on the Mall, held in conjunction with the Annual Prayer Vigil.

The Official Poster for "Miracle~The Birth of the White Buffalo Calf" (1995) told of for Generations by Lakota and Cheyenne Nation Prophecy. ICUG produce 2 very high photo quality Miracle Posters that were used in the official Ceremonies, as well as 100s of full color copies that were given away free to all at the event. One of the two photo quality Posters was presented to Vern Jordan in recognition of all of his efforts and support throughout the years.

As the ICUG Story continues, so shall the Poster Series. We have always had plans to expand it across the multi-cultural horizon to include many more. From other Cultures to Literature and Martial Arts and beyond. At ICUG we teach by doing, and so we hope to see new members and students, adding to the Poster Series as they are learning Desktop Publishing Skills and promoting Education, History and Culture Exchange. The advent of the popularity of the Internet for so many people around the world, has helped to greatly fill the vacuum that once existed in availability of historic information and photos. For that reason ICUG will present the NAIH Poster Series available in Adobe Acrobat .PDF version, which will allow them to be downloaded and printed by all who might wish to.

Thank You for Visiting ICUG and know that Your Comments,
Ideas and Suggestions are always Welcomed.