Articles from the 'Editorial Viewpoint' series


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 6 of 6

  • TUFF DOG TELECASTER

    Kene Jackson, Kene Jackson|Updated Dec 2, 2025

    In 1998, Fender Guitars and country and western singer Merle Haggard teamed up together to create a guitar line called the "Merle Haggard Tuff Dog Telecaster." It was a strikingly beautiful instrument with extra sustain and a warm, rich, resonant tone. An American-made Tuff Dog in good shape sells today for between $6,000 and $12,000 USD. That kind of pricing kicks the door wide open for the production of counterfeits, and they can be easily found and bought (brand new) for...

  • Excuses Excuses!

    Kene Jackson|Updated Sep 15, 2025

    "... a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!" Galatian's 6:7 TLB I remember as a 19-year-old, working on reservation housing renovations and how nearly every morning, I would cut it close in getting to work on time. My boss, Pitcheech, would be standing by his truck, looking at his watch as I pulled up in my rusty, "less than trusty" 1966 Ford van. If I was more than three minutes late, he'd be shaking his head and demanding a reason! "I had a flat tire." "My...

  • He Ran The Iditarod

    Kene Jackson, NEFC Executive Director|Updated Jan 20, 2025

    Jordan's a friend of mine who lives up along the Yukon River in central Alaska. He's a sled dog musher and invited me to his place to check out his team. Pointing to his lead dog, he proudly commented, "He ran the Iditarod." Wow, now that's a canine compliment!! You see, the Iditarod is the Everest of dog races. Snaking along 998 miles of tundra, forest, mountain passes, frozen rivers and sea ice, the trail follows the old (modified) freight run to Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod r...

  • Someday

    Kene Jackson, NEFC Executive Director|Updated Aug 13, 2024

    It was a rolling chassis 1955 Chevrolet Apache 3100 truck that my friend Austin had gifted to me. I was so excited about what I could do with this shortbed stepside pickup, making plans for a mid-sixties 327 V-8 power plant and "4 on the floor" tranny to mobilize Kene's dreammobile! I was beginning to hunt for the parts I needed, envisioning how the prismatic polyester metallic paint in the semi-gloss, charcoal finish would showcase this eventual beauty! There was no time or...

  • Get Up! It's a Long Ways From Your Heart!

    Kene Jackson, NEFC Executive Director|Updated Sep 15, 2023

    If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand. Psalm 37:24 (THE MESSAGE) Playing Hockey on our reservation was a memorable experience! As a teenager, I got some really good lessons from that life frame. Lessons like "Don't get the ref mad or you'll pay for it!" and "There's no 'I' in 'TEAM'" and "Play hard or you'll ride the pine," and the most memorable one: "Get up, it's a long ways from your heart!" That was Chief Allan's line! He was there at almost...

  • Expiry Date

    Kene Jackson NEFC Executive Director|Updated Sep 2, 2021

    I'm saying good-bye to a Gospel Musician friend of mine today. We're singing a few songs at his wake and then the funeral is tomorrow. I'm really going to miss the guy! I'll remember him as one who lived his life victoriously! Attending a funeral brings to mind our own mortality-something that most of us try to avoid thinking about till the harsh reality of it slaps us in the face! Like the milk carton in your fridge, you and I have an expiry date. The biggest difference is...

Rendered 05/11/2026 18:11