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On a stretch of highway between Tulsa and Okmulgee that cuts through the Mvskoke Reservation, commuters have grown accustomed to passing Duck Creek Casino, owned and operated by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Now the view includes a neighboring business, Looped Square Meat Co., the tribe’s latest economic venture that draws its name from a symbol representing the balance of nature. The $15 million meat-processing facility includes a retail space that sells what has been branded as “reservation worthy” meats and other foods. READ MORE.— Liz Gray and Morgan Taylor Mvskoke Media

At The Crossroads

“At the Crossroads: State of the Economy in Indian Country,” was produced through a collaboration with the Institute for Nonprofit News, Indian Country Today and nine other news partners examining the state of the economy in Indian Country with funding from the Walton Family Foundation.READ MORE. – Indian Country Today

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The Navajo Nation loosened coronavirus pandemic restrictions Tuesday to allow more people into businesses, including casinos, and for social and other gatherings.

Tribal casinos, restaurants, movie theaters, campgrounds, museums, movie theaters and other businesses now can operate at 75 percent capacity, up from 50 percent capacity that had been in place since last summer. Businesses must submit a plan to the tribe’s Division of Economic Development before they can implement the new limits.

Up to 25 people now can gather in person for traditional ceremonies, church, youth programs, training events and holiday gatherings — up from 15 previously.

Outdoor events, such as organized races or walks, and bicycle rides now can have up to 50 people.

Schools also have capacity limits for orientations and other gatherings not related to instruction and for sporting events. Indoor arenas can be at 50 percent of maximum capacity, and outdoor seating areas at 75 percent.

The Navajo Nation has been more cautious with the pandemic than the states that surround it. Utah, New Mexico and Arizona do not have mask mandates, and businesses there have been fully reopened for months.

A mask mandate in public places on the reservation remains, and tribal officials reemphasized a safer-at-home order.

President Jonathan Nez said the new guidelines are based on what’s been a consistent decline in daily coronavirus cases since a large spike in January after the holidays. — Associated Press

Credit: NDN Collective, the American Indian Movement and Cheyenne River Grassroots Collective organized a rally against Grand Gateway Hotel from the Memorial Park Bandshell to Rapid City’s federal courthouse on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Photo courtesy of NDN Collective social media video)

A man who was shot at a Rapid City hotel last month has died of his injuries, according to police.

Myron Pourier, 19, of Porcupine was shot March 19 at the Grand Gateway Hotel and died Sunday at a hospital. His alleged assailant is being held on $1 million cash bond at the Pennington County Jail.

He is charged with aggravated assault and committing a felony while armed. Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel says her office will reconsider charges in the wake of Pourier’s death. READ MORE – Associated Press

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosted a business meeting today to consider acts that would transfer land back to tribes and bills that address hunting and fishing rights.

Here’s a break down:

  • S. 3123 A bill to amend the Siletz Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
  • S. 3126 A bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community
  • S. 3273Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act
  • H.R. 1975Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021
  • H.R. 4881Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act

WATCH the meeting here. 

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On Wednesday’s ICT’s newscast we are learning about candidates running for Alaska’s House seat. Plus, an Alaska Native Engineering Program and another special report. READ MORE

WATCH:

Pope Francis apologizes to First Nations people for residential school abuses, a study finds Indigenous lands are key to achieving the Paris climate agreement, portions of Brazil’s Amazon are facing decimation in the next 30 years, and Indigenous people win awards for business in New Zealand and music in Australia

ITALY: Pope apologizes for residential school abuses

This week starts in Italy, where Pope Francis finally said the words the First Nations people of Canada have been waiting to hear for more than a century.

“I am sorry,” the pontiff said during an in-person meeting with First Nations, Inuit and Métis members of a delegation to Vatican City, APTN News reported on April 1. READ MORE – Deusdedit Ruhangariyo, Special to Indian Country Today

Credit: Assembly of First Nations member Rosanne Casimiro Ttes talks to journalists outside St. Peter's Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

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