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Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren addressed sexual harassment allegations made by Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya on Tuesday, May 28. In a live-streamed press conference, Nygren disputed Montoya’s allegation that he sexually harassed her during a staff meeting in August 2023.
“There was no assault, and there was no sexual content or advances of any nature. I am deeply disappointed and offended that this interaction has been taken out of context. It was only out of concern for her wellbeing,” he said.
Nygren detailed their meeting in which he said he inquired about Montoya’s marriage ending and gave her a side hug. He said it was in effort to show support between the president and vice president, and the hug was never meant to make her uncomfortable.
“She claims I told her she could not leave; this did not happen,” Nygren added. READ MORE— Kalle Benallie, ICT
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As the sun beat down on the streets of Portland the second Saturday in May, hundreds of families lined the sidewalks to watch the annual St. Johns Parade.
Near the middle of the procession, 15 convertibles drove past with this year’s Portland Rose Festival Court. Leading the Court, Heleen Red Bird, a junior from Roosevelt high school, smiled and waved. A warhoop echoed out from the crowd and Red Bird offered an extra big smile.
“Of course she looked, she’s Native,” said the audience member who let out the call.
A descendant of the Fort Peck Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes, Red Bird won the honor of serving as the Rose Princess for Roosevelt High School this year, joining 14 other young women from high schools across the Portland metro area. READ MORE — Nika Bartoo-Smith, Underscore News + ICT
Around the World: Police chief issues apology for atrocities against Indigenous children in Australia, Guyana road projects raise concerns for wetland development, and a report reveals over 700,000 Tibetans forced to relocate.
AUSTRALIA: Police chief apologizes
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has issued an apology to Indigenous communities across the state for the police’s involvement in the Stolen Generations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation News reported on May 23.
At an event in Melbourne’s north attended by leaders of the Indigenous community, Patton extended an apology on behalf of the force and committed to doing better.
“It remains crucial for Victoria Police to confront and acknowledge the widespread harm caused to Aboriginal people due to the role police played in forcibly separating children from their families,” he said. “I express deep remorse for the harm this has caused and the ongoing impact it continues to have.” READ MORE — Deusdedit Ruhangariyo, Special to ICT
For a decade, wind farm companies had been eyeing Molok Luyuk — a mountain ridge of religious importance to tribes in northern California, whose people have worked for years to protect it. It’s also widely biodiverse with elk, mountain lions, and black bears, as well as 40 rare plants such as the pink adobe lily.
Mia Durham is the secretary for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, a tribe that has been in a relationship with Molok Luyuk for thousands of years. In response to petitions filed by wind energy companies that wanted to develop the area, the tribe and its allies asked President Biden to protect it in 2019.
“That’s what heightened it for us and put us on track of moving forward as quickly as possible,” Durham said. “We wanted to protect sacred sites that are there. They were going to be severely impacted.”
One way to protect landscapes and waterways such as Molok Luyuk is to have them declared national monuments, a term used to designate that a section of land is federally protected from development and harm. While Congress designates national parks, only a president can designate a national monument. READ MORE — Grist
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This year marks 100 years since President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act into law. At the time only half of Native Americans were already considered citizens of their state or the united states. While this act granted citizenship to Native Americans, it did not immediately ensure equal rights. ICT political correspondent Pauly Denetclaw has more.
In many indigenous languages, there is no word for art. And for one Nipmuc man, it’s his life work. Shirley Sneve has this interview with Hawk Henries–a photographer and flute maker.
This Friday, the Canadian Screen Awards will be given out. This year a record number of nominees are Indigenous. Miles Morrisseau caught up with Kerry Swanson from Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office to mark this milestone.
A tribe in southern Arizona is teaching its community a trade that is not widely known. The Tohono O’odham nation to learn more about farriers, which are individuals who specialize in care for horse hooves. Cronkite news reporter Denzen Cortez has the story.
WATCH
Within the heart of the Navajo Nation and in the shadow of the sandstone arch that is the namesake of the tribal capital, a simple greeting and big smiles were shared over and over again Friday as tribal officials gathered: “Yá’át’ééh abíní!”
It was a good morning, indeed, for Navajo President Buu Nygren as he signed legislation in Window Rock, Arizona, outlining a proposed settlement to ensure three Native American tribes have water rights from the Colorado River and other sources — and drought-stricken Arizona has more security in its supply.
The signature came a day after the Navajo Nation Council voted unanimously in favor of the measure. The San Juan Southern Paiute and Hopi tribes also approved the settlement this week.
Now, the three tribes in northeastern Arizona will be working to get Congress’ approval for what could be the costliest water rights settlement in U.S. history. READ MORE— Associated Press
- Orville Moody: Indian of the Year: Family of pro-golfer recounts tales of Orville Moody’s Everyman persona and triumphs on the green
- Final South Dakota tribe bans governor: The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s decision to ban Gov. Kristi Noem means she is now banned from the lands of all nine tribes’ in her state
- Children’s book shares Billy Mills’ journey to Olympic gold: The iconic Lakota athlete talks new children’s picture book, Olympic gold and more
- Jurors in Trump hush money trial end 1st day of deliberations after asking to rehear testimony
- To recuse or refuse? A look at Supreme Court justices’ decisions on whether to step aside in cases
- College sports departments gearing up for ‘economic earthquake’ with direct pay for athletes looming
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