Welcome to News from Native American Netroots, a weekly series focused on indigenous tribes primarily in the United States and Canada, but inclusive of international peoples also.
Our format will be evolving and our focus of coverage will broaden as the series develops.
News from Native American Netroots is unique as a news digest in the fact that this it is based on community contributions. Articles can be submitted in the commment thread or posted at Native American Netroots each week.
cross posted at Native Amercan Netroots
Edgemont woman honored with Congressional medal
World War II gunnery trainees shot at flying targets Ola Rexroat towed behind her aircraft during World War II, and now, the nation has said "thank you."
Rexroat, who lives in Edgemont, is one of about 300 members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPS, honored with a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of their military service. About 200 women attended the medal ceremony Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Rexroat, an Oglala Lakota, joined the WASPs after high school. After the war, Rexroat served almost 10 years in the Air Force Reserve. She is believed to be the only Native American WASP.
Tribal schools see future in Native American teachers
Shannon Begaye did not aspire to be a teacher. She thought she would go into law for the money, then into computers for the fun. Mostly, she wanted to live in the world outside of her tiny hometown on the Navajo Reservation.
Yet, here she was in Ganado Primary School, teaching learning-disabled kindergartners..............
Begaye, 29, had twice left the reservation. As it turned out, she needed her Navajo family to help find her gift. Now, the reservation needs her.
************************
Most students learn about the program through word-of-mouth, though recruiters scour the reservation to find potential Native American teachers. The Navajos' Chinle Unified School District
was the first to launch the ASU program, called Project WIN, for "With Indian Nations."
Reservations across the West are launching similar programs. Research shows that Native American children who live on reservations have unique learning styles and that it is easier to teach Navajos how to be teachers than it is to teach Navajo culture to Anglos.
ASU program pairs Native American teachers with students
An Arizona State University program, called Project WIN, for "With Indian Nations," is helping Native American teachers educate students on tribal reservations. Research shows that Native American children who live on reservations have unique learning styles and that it is easier to teach Navajos how to be teachers than it is to teach Navajo culture to Anglos.
Native Hawaiian government may become reality
HONOLULU — Their kingdom long ago overthrown, Native Hawaiians seeking redress are closer than they've ever been to reclaiming a piece of Hawaii.
Native Hawaiians are the last remaining indigenous group in the United States that hasn't been allowed to establish their own government, a right already extended to Alaska Natives and 564 Native American tribes.
With a final vote pending in the U.S. Senate and Hawaii-born President Barack Obama on their side, the nation's 400,000 Native Hawaiians could earn federal recognition as soon as this month — and the land, money and power that comes with it. They measure passed the U.S. House last month.
"Tribal Suicide State of Emergency" on Pine Ridge
PINE RIDGE – Tyler Randall, 17, committed suicide in January in Wanblee, Shilo Pierce, 20, took his own life in August in Rapid City, Joe Red Willow in Wanblee in October and in the last three weeks Mariah Montileaux, 14, Joshua Kills Enemy, 16 and Fred Brown Bull all committed suicide. Citing these deaths and putting emphasis on the three teen suicides and the high number of attempts and ideations, tribal president Theresa Two Bulls proclaimed an "Oglala Sioux Tribal Suicide State of Emergency" on Thursday during a press conference in the OST health administration conference room in the old I.H.S. in Pine Ridge.
Important side note to this piece:
"Sadly, no. Only the "State of Emergency" announcement is not recent, and Autumn TwoBulls is trying to draw attention to this ongoing crisis as well as to the general neglect of the Pine Ridge rez with her Facebook group activities, H.E.L.P. (Help Every Lakota Person)." tranlatorpro
First Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs sworn in
SACRAMENTO — A group from the Tule River Reservation took a trip to Sacramento last week to play a major role in the swearing-in of Pedro Molina, the first Assistant Secretary for Native American Veterans Affairs in the nation.
At the ceremony, Curly Santos, Emo Alvarado, Adam Christman and Koda Bell of the Painted Rock Singers performed the flag song.
The Tule River Native Veterans Post 1987 conducted the presentation of colors in conjunction with the Pacific Region of the Nation American Indian Veterans.
Osage Nation eyes rehearing in reservation status case
The Osage Nation of Oklahoma will ask the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear a case over the status of its reservation, Chief Jim Gray said.
Gray said the 10th Circuit ignored its own precedent in declaring that the reservation was disestablished by an act of Congress. He said the ruling threatens other tribes' rights.
"By establishing new law and not following precedent, their own and that of the Supreme Court, the 10th Circuit court has signaled that every tribe with a reservation is at risk," Gray said in a press release. "The same thing could happen to them, so we are hopeful that the (court) will reconsider its decision and remain faithful to established federal law."
Senate passes ‘Termination Era’ PACT Act; tribal leaders will continue fight
WASHINGTON – Handing big tobacco corporations a huge victory, the U.S. Senate has passed the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act – an act tribal leaders say is an attack on tribal sovereignty and economies that will devastate Indian tobacco businesses across the country.
The PACT Act passed by unanimous consent without a vote or a hearing late the evening of March 11. The act bans the shipment of cigarettes and certain tobacco products through the U.S. Postal Service, cutting off the only remaining delivery service for Indian retailers who do business through Internet sales. A few years ago, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who was ousted in a prostitution scandal, "persuaded" private carriers such as Federal Express and UPS to "voluntarily" stop shipping tobacco products.
The Senate bill, introduced by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., has 20 co-sponsors, including New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The House version, which was introduced by Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., passed the House last year by a vote of 397-11.
emphasis mine
White House weighs stance on cigarette trafficking bill
President Barack Obama is weighing his position on the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, a White House spokesperson said.
The bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from delivering cigarettes and certain tobacco product, effectively kill the Indian tobacco industry. Tribes say it was developed without their input and without full hearings into the impact on their rights.
The Senate passed its version of the bill last week. There are some differences that have to be addressed with the one that the House passed last year.
US government’s human rights record under UN review
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Indian tribal governments, Native organizations and community members have the opportunity to provide input into the first ever review of the United States’ human rights record under the auspices of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The process is called the Universal Periodic Review and it was created by the U.N. General Assembly in 2006 as a mechanism by which the human rights records of all 192 U.N. member states are reviewed every four years.
The U.S. became a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2009 and the first review of its human rights record will take place this December.
The U.S. State Department will hear input from American Indians on the federal government’s efforts to meet its human rights obligations March 16 at the University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque and on March 17 at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz. Tribal officials and members are encouraged to participate, according to a Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission press release.
Secretary Salazar Announces $3.7M In Renewable Energy Project Grants For 13 Tribal Communities
...The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, in partnership with the Office of Trust Services in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has identified 13 tribes that have significant potential for quickly developing biomass, geothermal, or hydroelectric energy on their reservations. The tribes, resources and award amounts are listed in the attached table.
Salazar noted that tribal communities have shown exceptional interest in renewable energy development.
"This attests to the tribes' desire to use their available energy resources for the benefit of its members," he said. "It also indicates the willingness of tribes to help America reduce our dependence on foreign energy resources through domestic production..."
Connecting to a Culture Using 4 Wheels
RYAN WASHINGTON, 21, said he can perform over 100 gravity-defying tricks on his skateboard, which has given him a place of honor at the local skate park. "There is no limit to what you can do on a piece of wood with plastic wheels, he said. "Whenever I master a trick, I feel like I am on top of the world."
Mr. Washington, a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe, started skateboarding at age 14 and quickly fell in love with a sport that requires tenacity. Elaborate tricks can include dizzying midair flips and twists, and mastering them takes the discipline to get back on the board after falling.
"I have a lot of determination and will. I don’t like to give up," said Mr. Washington, whose passion for skateboarding has also landed him a job.
Navajo named to Colorado Indian Affairs Post
DENVER (AP) – A former energy attorney and member of the Navajo Nation is the new executive secretary of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs.
Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien on Tuesday announced Carol Harvey’s appointment. Harvey has been on the job since Thursday.
Special thanks to our new group of researchers, advisors and diarists who make up NATIVE AMERICAN NETROOTS:
4Freedom, Aji, bablhous, Bill in MD, Chris Rodda, Deep Harm, exmearden, KentuckyKat, Kimberley, Kitsap River, Land of Enchantment, No Way Lack of Brain, Oke, ParkRanger, Richard Cranium, Soothsayer99, swampus, TiaRachel, tlemon, translatorpro, Diogenes2008, birdbrain64, lexalou, marthature, meralda.
Advisors:
Rosebud Reservation
cacamp
SarahLee
lpggirl
Pine Ridge Reservation
Autumn Two Bulls
Kevin Killer, State Rep. Pine Ridge SD Dist. 27
Cross Posted at Native American Netroots
An ongoing series sponsored by the Native American Netroots team focusing on the current issues faced by American Indian Tribes and current solutions to those issues.