Greetings, relatives.
A lot of news out there. Thanks for stopping by ICT’s digital platform.
Each day we do our best to gather the latest news for you.
Okay, here’s what you need to know today:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday morning that tribes are like any other state or government and cannot use sovereign immunity in Bankruptcy Court.
The ruling derails an argument made by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, which tried to extend the reach of tribal sovereign immunity in bankruptcy proceedings.
“The Code unequivocally abrogates the sovereign immunity of all governments, categorically. Tribes are indisputably governments. Therefore, unmistakably abrogates their sovereign immunity too,” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said in the opinion of the court.
Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that basically means a government cannot be sued unless it wants to. READ MORE. — Pauly Denetclaw, ICT
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Two Alaska villages have joined a federal lawsuit opposing what would be the largest pure-gold open pit, hardrock mine in the world. Five villages total and the nonprofit environmental law organization EarthJustice are suing to have permits and authorizations for the Donlin Gold project invalidated.
Tribes for the villages of Kwigillingok and Chevak cite concerns about harm to subsistence resources both during mining operations and for future generations, inadequate consultation, and a flawed permitting process as their main reasons for joining the suit.
Developer Donlin Gold said its goal is to be a good neighbor, and bring economic opportunity to the region. Native corporate landowners say the project also aligns with the vision and values of elders to be good stewards of the land and resources. READ MORE. — Joaqlin Estus, ICT
Nathan Chasing Horse has been charged in Alberta, Canada, with new sex crimes in the latest criminal case to be brought against the former “Dances With Wolves” actor, who remains jailed in Las Vegas as he awaits trial in a sweeping sexual abuse case that stunned Indian Country and has helped law enforcement in two countries corroborate long-standing allegations against him.
At a virtual news conference Wednesday, Sgt. Nancy Farmer of the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service acknowledged that the Alberta case is largely symbolic. Chasing Horse — who faces not only decades in a Nevada prison if convicted in the Las Vegas case but criminal prosecution in five jurisdictions — might not ever return to Canada to answer to these charges.
“At the end of the day,” Farmer said, “it is important for us to have these warrants in the system so our victims know they’ve been heard. It’s extremely important that we continue to support them that way.” READ MORE. — Associated Press
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Young leaders gather in Dakota Territory. The Oglala Lakota open a new artspace. The Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community welcomes youth baseball players. Montana mourns the loss of a young relative.
Watch:
Growing up in her ancestral homelands on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Maria Givens saw and tasted the important foods in her community.
She learned first through her father, a lawyer fighting for the ownership of the Coeur d’Alene lake as a means of food production for the reservation. And then fishing for salmon and picking berries with her mother in the Idaho mountains.
Now, years later, she will be competing on PBS against eight other talented home cooks in Season 2 of “The Great American Recipe,” a competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food vibrant and unique. READ MORE. — Sandra Hale Schulman, Special to ICT
- Former Washington state Sen. John McCoy dies at 79: Tulalip Tribes citizen used education and negotiation to win support for bills.
- Denied for wearing beaded graduation cap: Despite new Illinois bill waiting to be signed into law, Indigenous student unable to wear cultural clothing to graduation.
- New Academy Award ‘inclusion’ standards draw praise from Native filmmakers: New rules kick in requiring diversity for a film to be eligible as Best Picture starting in 2024.
- Growing the Indigenous news hub: The organization continues to branch out and further its mission of telling Indigenous stories.
- Zach Whitecloud, Vegas Golden Knights win Stanley Cup: The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba celebrated Whitecloud’s success with a watch party and fireworks.
- Meet the Native American Tribe Behind Award-Winning Olive Oil.
- Mermen of Manitoba First Nations a new species surfacing on social media.
- Jermain Charlo missing persons case hits five-year mark.
We want your tips, but we also want your feedback. What should we be covering that we’re not? What are we getting wrong? Please let us know. dalton@ictnews.org.
