April 12, 2023 | Sign Up | Support Us
TOGETHER WITH
Good morning Wichita!
Happy birthday to Lyndsey Copple (today) and to Rhonda (tomorrow)! Thank you for sharing this newsletter!
In today's Wichita Life Update
Let's get to it!
- Landon Huslig
TOGETHER WITH ARCHER HOTEL
Planning a vacay?
Make ARCHER Hotel your welcoming home base for your next family vacation, romantic escape or girlfriend getaway. With the award-winning boutique hotel collection’s parent company based in Wichita, you can take advantage of a locals-only perk while enjoying Archer’s luxe accommodations and signature hospitality.
They’re extending an EXCLUSIVE OFFER to their ICT-area friends and neighbors:
Book your stay at any Archer Hotel through September 4 and get 20% off our best available rates.
Use promo code ICT23.
Plus, when you book directly with them, you’ll receive an immediate bonus for your stay — a $25 drink + dine credit that can be used throughout the hotel (bars, restaurants, in-room dining, takeout).
A short list of ARCHER locations includes: Austin, NYC, Napa, and several more!
Your Room is Ready |
WICHITA LIFE IS TURNING SIX!
Please join us on the downtown rooftop of IMA on April 20th (NEXT THURSDAY) from 5:30pm to 8:30pm for a night of fun!
Your all-inclusive ticket includes:
- A delicious taco bar from Rent the Chef
- Desserts from September Moon Cupcakery & The Popcorner
- Speciality cocktail from Una Vida Tequila
- Beer & wine
- Live music from J Michael
- Networking with the most interesting people in Wichita
- A special gift
Dress code: Business Casual
Thank you to our sponsors: IMA, Rent the Chef, Meddy's, Una Vida Tequila, Love of Character, September Moon Cupcakery, The Popcorner, CBD Plus, Il Primo
A portion of ticket sales will benefit Giving the Basics, a nonprofit founded on the premise that no one should go without the basic hygiene items needed to be clean and live a healthier life.
Get your ticket today. Space is limited!
Did Wichita steal the flag?
Did we steal the logo / symbol on our beloved flag?
Before we answer that, who or what would Wichita even be stealing from?
The whole debate really started back in 2019 when an Albuquerque news organization wanted to stir the pot.
Let's take a look at the Wichita Flag:
and now let's take a look at the flag of New Mexico:
The New Mexico Flag is beautiful. It has a yellow background, but in the center is a symbol that looks somewhat familiar to Wichitans.
This icon is the sacred Zia sun symbol.
History of the New Mexico Flag
New Mexico became the 47th state in the US of A in 1912, but they didn’t have a flag. Years later, physician and anthropologist Dr. Harry P Mera came across a sun-like design on a 19th-century clay pot at the Santa Fe museum.
How this pot ended up in the museum in the first place is another story.
In 1890, anthropologist James Stevenson got to know the Zia people and even attended sacred ceremonies.
He wanted to buy some pieces of pottery with the Zia sun symbol, but the Zia people were not having it so he stole it and wrote about it in a book he later published.
Since then the pottery was returned to the Zia people.
Dr. Mera used the bright red Zia sun symbol on the yellow color from the Spanish flag and submitted to a flag competition where he won $25 ($350 in today monies).
Who are the Zia people?
The Zia are an indigenous tribe that is originally from the Four Corners region before they migrated to the base of mountains in northern New Mexico.
There are two things that are sacred to the Zia people:
The Zia sun symbol nicely wraps up the two of those things. Obviously it’s in the shape of the sun, but the number 4 is intertwined beautifully. It stands for:
The 4 elements are then tied together by a circle of life. This symbol is as sacred to the Zia tribe as the cross is to Christians or the Star of David is to Jews.
The Zia do not want businesses to use their symbol, although it is already entrenched in New Mexican culture (see the flag). It is not technically trademarked since it’s been in the public domain for 40+ years, but they do own the cultural property right. Businesses have started to pull back on using the logo.
Madison, Wisconsin even uses the specific Zia sun shape on their flag since 1962 (that also got them into some hot water).
The Wichita Flag
That brings us to the Wichita Flag.
Wichita was founded in 1864, but the flag as we know it wasn’t adopted until 1937 (10 years after the New Mexico Flag was adopted).
Local artist Cecil McAlister submitted the now famous and beloved design to a flag design competition from the rotary club where he won $40.
The red and white stripes represent honor and virtue, but what does the circle in the middle represent?
That is what is known as a hogan or Hoag which is a Navajo or American Indian symbol that represents a permanent home aka Wichita.
The white circle represents the sun and the white stripes are symbols of courage that radiate from the circle.
According to McAlister, he drew inspiration from several sources including traditional symbols from Plains Tribes.
This design is also not trademarked which means anyone and everyone can use it.
TL/DR (Too Long, Didn't Read):
Did Wichita steal the logo? Eh, maybe. But at this point, nearly everything has been done already.
The Wichita flag is different enough that it doesn’t touch on the sacred number 4 of the Zia people. And it is also different colors.
Now, I’m not vexillogist (someone who studies flags), but I’m going to call it all a gray (or grey?) area where ole Cecil may have drawn inspiration from the Zia sun symbol, but who is to say?
What do you think?
SHARE THE UPDATE, EARN REWARDS
Share on Twitter - Share on Facebook - Share via email
Or, copy/paste your referral link to others:
[RH_REFLINK GOES HERE]
You currently have [RH_TOTREF GOES HERE] points.
Quick Event Rundown
That's it for today! We hope you enjoyed this deep dive.
Thanks!
- Landon
How did you like today's email?
Any additional feedback? |
Support the Update! |
Copyright © 2023 Wichita Life LLC, All rights reserved
Wichita, KS | USA
Not feeling the update? Break my heart: Unsubscribe
The Wichita Life Update goes out 3x per week to cover local news, events, and everything else in Wichita to keep you updated in just 5 minutes.
September 5, 2024 | Sign Up | Support Us Together With Good morning, Wichita! Tonight is the first game of the 2024 NFL season, but more importantly the first game as the Chiefs attempt to be the first team to ever win three championships in a row. And you can bet Taylor Swift will be there. Let's get to it! - Landon TOGETHER WITH DELTA DENTAL Small business owner? Keep your team smiling with Delta Dental of Kansas. They make benefits easy for members and for you, as they offer local and...
September 4, 2024 | Sign Up | Support Us TOGETHER WITH Good morning, Wichita! Today is National Wildlife Day which makes today's topic all the more topical. Let's get to it! - Landon Huslig TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF WICHITA If you haven't heard, the City of Wichita is in Drought Stage 2. Here are a handful of Outdoor Watering Tips: 🌿Limit watering to once per week. 🌿 Water just enough to keep root systems alive; allow lawns to go dormant. 🌿Water before 10 a.m. 🌿Do not overseed lawns or plant...
August 30, 2024 | Sign Up | Support Us Together With Good morning, Wichita! No email on Monday due to the holiday (Happy Labor Day everyone, I hope you have a 3 day weekend)! Let's get to it! - Landon Huslig News Nomar Eatz & ICT Comic Con There is plenty to do this weekend. Start off your weekend with Nomar Eatz tonight on the north side of town. Festive ICT is partnering with Alma Negra Mexico and Wichita Park & Recreation Department to create this unique food market experience. Saturday...