The Wrap: Protecting Indigenous homelands

x̌ast sn̓yak̓ʷqín, relatives.

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“​​This may be the easiest thing I’ve ever done so far as President.”

That’s what President Joe Biden said Friday afternoon, speaking from outside the White House, to celebrate the presidential action that will expand two national monuments in Utah, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.

While introducing Biden, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, gave a land acknowledgment and got a little emotional describing the presidential action as “bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice.”

“Thank you Mr. President, for the profound action you are taking today to permanently protect the homelands of our ancestors,” she said. “Our songs, our languages and our cultures are strong, and many people from many Indian tribes have sung and spoken in unison to protect the sacred place.”

The presidential action by Biden reverses a Trump era mandate that reduced the size of Bears Ears by 85 percent and cut the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante by more than 800,000 acres.

Biden called national monuments and parks part of our identity as a people and natural defenses to the climate crisis.

“These protections provide a bridge to our past but they also build a bridge to a safer, more sustainable future,” Biden said. “One where we strengthen our economy, and pass on a healthy planet to our children and our grandchildren.” READ MORE. — Kolby KickingWoman, Indian Country Today

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Ellison “Tarzan” Brown was not favored to win the Boston Marathon in 1936. Multiple Boston champion Johnny Kelley was. Brown won. And three years later won again, breaking a world record.

Brown, whose Narragansett tribal nickname was Deerfoot, finished with a time of 2:28:51 on his second victory at Boston and represented the U.S. in Hitler’s 1936 Olympics in Berlin alongside the great Jesse Owens.

“He ran like a bat out of hell,” The Boston Globe reported at the time about his second Boston Marathon win.

He became an instant hero to Native people across North America and inspired the name “Heartbreak Hill” to describe the most iconic — and dreaded — section of the Boston Marathon course. READ MORE.— Kalle Benallie, Indian Country Today

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We gathered a list of events happening on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the week of. Some are in person, while most are virtual. All times are local time unless noted and organized by time zones from east to west. Remember to practice COVID-19 safety measures if you attend an event in person.

The list will be updated periodically so check back! READ MORE. — Indian Country Today

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States have taken various approaches to sports betting, Connecticut penned out exclusive rights for tribes and the state lottery, while Arizona has opened the gates to corporations.

Tribal gaming experts across the nation are monitoring the situation closely with excitement and skepticism.

More than half of the country is currently offering sports betting in some form, with even more states expected to offer it in 2022 and 2023.

Ten states are offering in-person sports wagers only, with an additional 11 offering full mobile betting with multiple options and six others have limited mobile betting options, according to Action Network. Read More.— Carina Dominguez, Indian Country Today

• Justin Trudeau says he regrets vacation on reconciliation day
• Oklahoma tribe awaits action on environmental damages
• Bill Burr is the ‘Reservation Dogs’ Cukoce:
• WATCH: Preparing for our future generations

• A pageant like no other: ‘Can you imagine Miss USA or Miss Universe butchering a sheep?’
• EPA grants Tununak $6.4M to install running water

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. Email dwalker@indiancountrytoday.com.