November 25, 2021

Title: THREE HOPS THIS TIME

Constructor: Brooke Husic

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

ALCATRAZ ISLAND (16A: 1969-1971 Red Power occupation site now home to the annual Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering)

DUST BUNNY (38A: Clump of lint, cutely)

SELF-DRIVING CAR (64A: Autonomous vehicle)

Theme synopsis: The last word of each theme answer can precede the word HOP, giving us ISLAND HOP, BUNNY HOP, and CARHOP.

And now a word from our constructor:

Brooke: I am immensely thankful to Erik for his support and editing.

Things I learned:

• HAILE (19A: "Living Lively" author/chef Thomas) HAILE Thomas is an activist, motivational speaker, author, and chef. At the age of 16 she graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as a Certified Integrative Health Coach in America. Her book, Living Lively, contains 80 plant-based recipes, along with advice and insights from HAILE and others. 
• WOLF (35A: Animal on the Pawnee Nation flag) The Pawnee Nation flag was designed by Brummet ECHOHawk. It features a red WOLF head and a crossed peace pipe and tomahawk on a blue background. Below these symbols are nine white arrowheads. A miniature U.S. flag is to the left of the WOLF's head.
• ECHO (60A: "In the Courts of the Conqueror" author Walter R. ___-Hawk) Walter R. ECHO-Hawk is an attorney, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Pawnee Nation, and an adjunct professor of law at the University of Tulsa College of Law. His 2010 non-fiction book, In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided, looks at Federal Indian Law and describes reforms necessary to make U.S. Law more just. 
• JAR (4D: Piece of Sikyatki Revival pottery) Sikyátki (meaning "Yellow House in the Hopi language) is an archeological site and former Hopi village in First Mesa in Arizona. The Smithsonian Institution funded an excavation of the site in 1895. Pottery shards found at the site influenced the work of Nampeyo, a Hopi-Tewa potter whose style became known as Sikyátki Revival. You can see some examples of JARs created by Nampeyo here. 
• SENATOR (10D: Robert Latham Owen's title from 1907 to 1925) Robert Latham Owen was one of the first two U.S. SENATORs from Oklahoma. 
• EDEN (41D: "Monkey Beach" author Robinson) EDEN Robinson was born in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, and is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations. Her debut novel, Monkey Beach, was published in 2000. The book was adapted into a 2020 movie of the same name.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• JESA (4A: Korean ancestor ritual) I learned about JESA ceremonies from the April 28, 2021 puzzle.  JESA ceremonies are usually held on the anniversary of a person's death, and are a way to honor and remember one's ancestors. 
• ALCATRAZ ISLAND (16A: 1969-1971 Red Power occupation site now home to the annual
  
  Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering) From November 20, 1969 to June 11, 1971, ALCATRAZ ISLAND was occupied by a group that chose the name Indians of All Tribes (IOAT). The group claimed that under the Treaty of Fort Laramie, ALCATRAZ ISLAND had become Indian property when the penitentiary located there closed on March 21, 1963. (The treaty stated all retired, abandoned, or out-of use federal land was to be returned to the Indians that previously occupied it.) One of the lasting effects of the occupation of ALCATRAZ ISLAND was setting a precedent for activism by indigenous people. Since 1975, The Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Ceremony has been held annually on ALCATRAZ ISLAND to honor indigenous people and promote their rights. I learned about the ALCATRAZ ISLAND occupation when my daughter and I visited ALCATRAZ in January 2020. 
  
• DIA (38D: ___ Internacional de los Pueblos Indigenas (Aug. 9 observance)) August 9 is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, or the DIA International de los Pueblos Indigenous. It is a day focused on raising awareness and protecting rights of indigenous people around the world. The Day was first announced by the United Nations in 2004. I learned about this observation when I wrote about the TV series, Reservation Dogs, (that premiered on August 9) featured in the October 22, 2021 puzzle. 

Geography review:

• ORLANDO (2D: Central Florida city) One of ORLANDO, Florida's nicknames is "Theme Park Capital of the World." The ORLANDO area is home to Walt Disney World, Universal ORLANDO, SeaWorld ORLANDO, Legoland, and Fun Spot America.
• OMAN (9D: Yemen's eastern neighbor) Just yesterday we saw Yemen in the puzzle. Like Yemen, OMAN is located on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

There's a lot happening in this puzzle. First, let's talk about the title-related theme. Taking its title, THREE HOPS THIS TIME, from the "Cha Cha Slide," it was a clever and fun theme. I liked that one of the new phrases, BUNNY HOP, also referenced a dance. Non-theme answers that were highlights include DO DIRTY, ALT TEXT, GO AHEAD, and END GAME. So many great 7-letter entries in those columns in each corner! There was another theme in this puzzle, that of highlighting stories of indigenous people. As you can see, I learned a lot from this puzzle. For many years I've known that the "story of Thanksgiving" I was taught in grade school was erroneous. I welcome opportunities to learn more about indigenous cultures and people. When one NOTICES (45D: Becomes aware of) gaps in one's knowledge, it's good to be open to learning in whatever form it presents itself, even (especially) if its the Thanksgiving crossword. 

I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy some time with friends and family and some delicious food on this Thanksgiving Day. I also hope you take a moment today or in the near future to learn more about some of the topics mentioned in today's puzzle. I am thankful today and everyday for you - thanks for reading my blog! I'm also thankful, today and every day, for the USA Today crossword constructors and editors, who produce puzzles that entertain, educate, and challenge me (and give me plenty to write about!) This puzzle was a great way to begin my Thanksgiving Day.