Native American members of Congress, Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland, released the following statement in solidarity with the African American community following the death of George Floyd:
“We share in the heartbreak and pain felt by millions across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd, as well as the countless other Black Americans who have died at the hands of brutality and injustice in this country. We mourn for the lives lost, for the families grieving, and for every person who has been affected by the systemic, pervasive injustices across the United States…”
The Tulalip Tribes reservation in the state of Washington went on lockdown on Sunday night after the reservation was hit with looting and vandalism.
Indian Country Today has been following 40 Native candidates running for various offices in Tuesday’s primary. Successful candidates include: Paulette Jordan (Coeur d’Alene) in Idaho; Yvette Harrell (Cherokee) in New Mexico; U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) in New Mexico.
Filmmaker and Oscar-winning director, Spike Lee is participating as a mentor for the 2020-2021 Rolex Arts Initiative, an effort initiated to assist up-and-coming artists by pairing them with leaders in their fields, and has selected 33-year-old Native American filmmaker Kyle Bell as his protégé.
High Country News published a piece covering the Rural Tribal Priority Window that allows tribes to apply for free 2.5GHz spectrum licenses that can help close Indian Country’s digital divide. The window to apply began in February and closes in August.
Meanwhile in Alaska, the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska is restarting their Census outreach efforts to increase their current response rate.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Nationwide Protests:
Two American Indian Congresswomen Stand In Solidarity With African American Community Following Killing Of George Floyd
Native News Online, June 2
On Monday, the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, Congresswomen Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), released the following statement in solidarity with the African American community: “We share in the heartbreak and pain felt by millions across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd, as well as the countless other Black Americans who have died at the hands of brutality and injustice in this country. We mourn for the lives lost, for the families grieving, and for every person who has been affected by the systemic, pervasive injustices across the United States.”
United South And Eastern Tribes: Unrest Exposes America’s Original Sin Against Indigenous Peoples
Indianz.com, June 2
America is suffering and her people are hurting, angry, and concerned about our fragility and our collective future as a nation. We have reached a tipping point that has long been bubbling under the surface. For the last several days, we have watched the explosion of centuries-old frustrations and tensions, rooted in injustice, erupt in protest and chaos in communities across this country.
Tulalip Reservation Was On Lockdown After Looting & Vandalism
Native News Online, June 2
The Tulalip Indian Reservation in the state of Washington went on lockdown on Sunday night after the reservation was hit with looting and vandalism. Tribal officials said the looting and vandalism came under the pretense of a Black Lives Matter protest in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death by excessive police force in Minneapolis.
Redskins #BlackOutTuesday Tweet Goes Viral As Social Media Confronts Team For Its Controversial Name
WUSA9, Nick Boykin, June 2
People are responding negatively to the Washington Redskins on social media after the team participated in the #BlackOutTuesday initiative that is helping bring awareness to social injustice and police brutality after the killing of George Floyd last week.
COVID-19:
Navajo Nation Adds 131 New COVID-19 Cases; Death Toll Stands At 248
Native News Online, June 2
The Navajo Department of Health in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service reported 131 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation. The total number of deaths has reached 248 as of Monday.
‘Fighting COVID-19 Like Building An Airplane While Flying
Indian Country Today, June 2
The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona is one of three tribes near the Phoenix metropolitan area. Early on the tribe started aggressive testing and getting the word out to their people to stay home. The tribe also closed casinos that have since reopened with some changes.
COVID-19 In Arizona: Navajo Nation Sees A Spike In Cases
Indianz.com, Abigail Vaerewyck, June 2
Despite promising trends last week, the Navajo Department of Health reported a spike in COVID-19 cases Monday, with 98 new cases and five additional deaths. As of Sunday, the total number of deaths on the Navajo Nation reservation was 246. Officials said 5,348 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, and they estimated 1,840 people have recovered.
Native Sun News Today: Northern Cheyenne cancels pow wows, rodeos due to coronavirus
Indianz.com, Clara Caufield, June 2
Friday, May 15, 2020 eight members of the Tribal Council issued a public letter to Cheyenne Tribal members announcing that all Pow Wows, Rodeos and other public events which normally take place on the Reservation from Memorial Day through Veterans Day are cancelled. This is an additional measure to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Cares Act Funding:
‘Incompetence’: Trump administration Warns Of Delayed COVID-19 Relief For Tribes
Indianz.com, Acee Agoyo, June 2
With a status report due in federal court by the end of the day, the Trump administration is once again making Indian Country wait for the COVID-19 relief they were promised more than two months ago. Tribes have repeatedly been forced to jump through bureaucratic hoops for the $8 billion set aside for their governments. From hurried consultations and missed deadlines to a massive data breach and questionable payment amounts, the distribution of the money has been flawed to say the least.
Casinos:
Michigan’s Gun Lake Tribe Issues $7.9 Million In Spring Revenue Sharing Payments With State And Local Governments
Native News Online, June 2
As it prepares to reopen the doors next week on its shuttered Gun Lake Casino, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawtomi Indians announced that it shared more than $7.9 million of spring revenue sharing payments with state and local governments.
Other:
An Opportunity To Close Indian Country’s Digital Divide Is Expiring
High Country News, Joseph Lee, June 2
Under the best circumstances, Linnea Jackson’s 85-year-old grandmother would struggle to navigate a virtual doctor’s appointment, but a poor internet connection made it nearly impossible. With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting visits to medical offices, Jackson, the general manager of the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District, ended up using her cellphone as a hotspot — a Band-Aid for her community’s longstanding connectivity problems.
40 Native Candidates Compete In Tuesday Primaries
Indian Country Today, Aliyah Chavez, June 2
Results will begin pouring in Tuesday night in the nine states holding primary elections. Indian Country Today is following 40 Native candidates running for various offices, including U.S. Congress and state legislatures. The candidates are running in New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Iowa. Tuesday night is also expected to include results from Idaho’s first mail-in primary, which began May 19.
Alaska Area With 5% Census Response Restarts Outreach
Indian Country Today, June 2
Charlene Shaishnikoff, deputy administrator for the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, said the tribe began reaching out to its membership of more than 800 earlier this year to promote the census. “I think in the past there wasn’t a good count of (Alaska Natives),” Shaishnikoff said. “And for funding purposes, it’s so important for Alaska Native people to be counted and to make sure they put in the tribe they are enrolled in.”
Spike Lee Mentors Native Filmmaker Kyle Bell
Indian Country Today, Vincent Schilling, June 2
In February, iconic filmmaker and Oscar-winning director, Spike Lee was one of four influential artists participating as a mentor for the 2020-2021 Rolex Arts Initiative. It’s an effort initiated to assist up-and-coming artists by pairing them with leaders in their fields. As part of the initiative, Lee selected 33-year-old Native American filmmaker Kyle Bell as his protégé.