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The Biden administration has released an interagency steering group report on Native American voting rights. The 54-page report, released Thursday, thoroughly chronicles the various issues Indigenous communities face when voting.
The report recommends specific actions for policy makers at federal, state, local levels and tribal government, legislature and executive bodies “to help break these barriers down,” senior administration officials said.
The report comes as some state lawmakers across the country are working to make it harder for voter access. Republican legislatures and governors recently have passed dozens of restrictive laws dealing with voting and elections. They have limited the use of mail voting, which proved hugely popular during the pandemic, implemented strict voter ID requirements, eliminated ballot drop boxes and created several penalties for local election officials who could be accused of violating certain laws. READ MORE – Kalle Benallie, Indian Country Today
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Award-winning actor and environmentalist Mark Ruffalo is leading a campaign to help save the lands of the Wet’suwet’en First Nations in Northern British Columbia, Canada. After learning of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary leadership and land defenders fight against a liquified natural gas pipeline being constructed in their unceded territories by Coastal Gas Link several months ago, the director and activist felt compelled to stand alongside the Wet’suwet’en.
“It had all the contours of Standing Rock,” said Ruffalo in a Zoom interview with Indian Country Today. He also stood alongside the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in 2014 to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.
“It (Standing Rock) was the same fight (as the Wet’suwet’en) and it’s the same fight that’s happening all over the world with Indigenous people standing for our Mother Earth and our clean water and air and our fellow humanity,” he said. “And most importantly, the next seven generations.” The drill pad site where Coastal Gas Link is preparing to drill under the Wedzin Kwa River which runs just beyond the treeline. READ MORE– Brandi Morin, Indian Country Today
A social media post from an owner of a South Dakota hotel attempting to ban Native Americans from the property following a weekend shooting drew quick condemnation from tribal leaders, advocates and the city’s mayor – and a lawsuit.
Connie Uhre, one of the owners of the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City, said in a Facebook post Sunday that she cannot “allow a Native American to enter our business including Cheers,” which is the establishment’s bar and casino.
Additionally, South Dakota Public Broadcasting obtained an email written by Connie Uhre as part of an email chain between area hospitality managers saying, “I really do not want to allow Natives on property … The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad Natives … so we just have to say no to them!!” According to SDPB, several of the hospitality managers included in the chain responded with criticism to Uhre’s statement, calling it “disgusting” and racist. READ MORE – Chris Aadland, Indian Country Today and Underscore News
The Alaska Native community is ready to support an Alaska Native candidate to fill the state’s sole Congressional seat if and when one steps forward.
U.S. Rep. Don Young died March 18 at age 88. Special elections will be held to decide who finishes his term, set to expire in January. In addition, there will be regular elections to decide who will hold the seat for the next two-year term, beginning in January.
Board Chairman Sheri Buretta, Alutiiq, of the Alaska Native Chugach Alaska Corporation, praised Congressman Don Young’s legacy as the longest-serving representative to serve in the House and a “tireless advocate for the Alaska Native people.” READ MORE – Joaqlin Estus, Indian Country Today
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Coming up on the weekend edition of the ICT Newscast: We continue to celebrate Women’s History Month with three more Indigenous leaders. And more on a renewed effort to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline. Plus, the Denver March Powwow welcomes dancers back to the arena.
WATCH:
March was full of big news in Indian Country. Joe Biden finally nominated an Indian Health Service director. Roselyn Tso, Navajo, brings nearly 40 years of service in the Indian health system, including most recently on the Navajo Nation. If confirmed by the Senate, she will manage the Indian Health Service’s approximately $7.4 billion budget and 15,000 employees. ICT’s Kalle Benallie has more.
NDN Collective released a climate justice report on the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. In a detailed analysis, the Climate Justice Campaign calls on the Biden administration to drain and shut down the pipeline, which the roughly 200-page report argues would protect the nation’s longest river, the Missouri River, and its basin. ICT’s Carina Dominguez has more.
An Inupiaq musher made history in Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Apayauq Reitan was the transgender woman to cross the finish line in iconic sled dog race. ICT freelancer Richard Arlin Walker has more. READ MORE – Indian Country Today
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- Tribal news deserts thrive when citizens, media lack access to public records: Freedom of Information could enhance quality of life for Native communities.
- Tribal leaders make case for critically needed water projects: ‘This is a critical time in the Colorado River Basin. We are facing a mega-drought and Arizona is Ground Zero’.
- Federal court revives claim in Havasupai education case: The Bureau of Indian Education oversees more than 180 schools that serve Native Americans in nearly two dozen states but directly operates less than a third of them.
- Alaska Native settles with city after rape report ignored: ‘It’s been a long, painful journey today, but I’m healing and trying to move forward’.
- How Native Americans Are Trying to Debug A.I.’s Biases
- ‘How I learned my language’: Ojibway man dubbing cartoons teaching Northerners to do the same
- Rotary 14 names gaiashkibos Nebraskan of the Year
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