Despite a curfew exemption from the Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, the American Indian Movement (AIM) Patrol found themselves under attack by both the National Guard and Minnesota State Police, who fired rubber bullets and flash grenades at the AIM patrol while protecting Native-owned businesses, organizations, and programs from looting and riots.
Donations to rebuild the Migizi Communications’ building that was destroyed by fire in rioting last week have reached more than three-quarters of a million dollars in about five days of fundraising.
The Trump administration has threatened to deny COVID-19 funds to tribes if they do not submit additional data to the Department of the Treasury by Saturday, despite some tribes having sent information that the Treasury has deemed “incorrect” with little to no explanation.
Oklahoma’s Republican legislative leaders asked the state Supreme Court to settle whether Governor Kevin Stitt overstepped his authority when he reached deals with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation to allow sports gambling within their casinos.
The Yurok Tribal Council recently authorized the distribution of $2 million in CARES funding to help the many Yurok business owners and entrepreneurs that have experienced devastating losses due to the global COVID-19 crisis.
Members of the Elders Council of The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have been working on protecting their community by making over 1,400 face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A new report from the Native American Rights Fund outlined the challenges that many tribal members will face as states move to mail-in ballots without opportunities to vote in person. Challenges include online registration hampered by spotty or no internet service, ballots delivered to rarely-checked Post Office boxes and turnout curbed by a general reluctance to vote by mail.
“We’re all for increased vote by mail,” said Jacqueline De Leon, a staff attorney with the group and a member of Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. “We’re absolutely against all vote by mail. If there are no in-person opportunities, then Native Americans will be disenfranchised because it will be impossible for some of them to cast a ballot.”
Keep reading for a full news update.
Nationwide Protests:
Exempted From Curfew So They Could Protect American-Indian Neighborhoods, AIM Patrol Was Hit With Gunfire And Flash Grenades
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, June 4
Armed with a curfew exemption from the Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, the American Indian Movement (AIM) Patrol set out last Friday night to protect one of the city’s American Indian neighborhoods from looting and riots. Even in quiet times, AIM members routinely patrol Native-owned businesses, organizations and programs in the Twin Cities, which has a population of some 35,000 American Indians.
Support Pours In For Minneapolis Native Youth Nonprofit
Indian Country Today, Eddie Chuculate, June 4
John P. Gwinn was shocked to see donations to rebuild Migizi Communications’ building, which was destroyed by fire in rioting last week, reach more than three-quarters of a million dollars in about five days.
Cares Act Funding:
‘An Utter Disaster’: Trump Administration Threatens To Deny COVID-19 Funds To Tribes
Indianz.com, Acee Ayago, June 4
The Trump administration is planning to deny critical COVID-19 relief to dozens and perhaps hundreds of tribes who have been forced to jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to secure the funds they were promised more than two months ago.
If tribes do not submit additional data by 11:59pm Alaska time on Saturday, the Department of the Treasury will not provide them shares of the money that remains in the $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.
COVID-19:
Virus Fears Ease As Alaska Salmon Fishing Season Starts
Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, June 5
When the coronavirus was declared a pandemic and began spiking in parts of the lower 48, people in Alaska fishing towns got worried.
Relatively few cases had emerged in their state, but fishing season was approaching, meaning workers would soon be arriving from across the U.S.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 Cases Reach 5,661; Death Toll At 259
Native News Online, June 4
The Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 128 new cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation and seven more deaths. The total number of deaths has reached 259 as of Wednesday.
Pokagon Band Of Potawatomi Elders Make 1,400 Masks To Fight COVID-19
Native News Online, Mikayla Steele, June 4
While COVID-19 remains a growing health concern across Indian Country, members of the Elders Council of The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have been working on protecting their community — one mask at a time. Over the past couple of months, the council has kept busy creating and distributing face masks to protect Pokagon Health Service employees, patients, Pokagon Elders, spouses, and Pokagon Citizens from the potential spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Update For The Pueblo Of Laguna
Indianz.com, June 3
Earlier today, the POL Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has identified two additional positive cases of COVID-19 within the Pueblo of Laguna. The EOC has acted quickly to ensure the safety of all involved. The EOC has been in direct contact with Governor Herrera and the Village Officials. Contact tracing began immediately and rapid testing has been administered to individuals who were in direct contact with the positive cases, and have been put in isolation.
Casinos:
Oklahoma Justices Asked To Settle Compact Tiff With Governor
Indian Country Today, June 4
Oklahoma’s Republican legislative leaders asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to settle whether Gov. Kevin Stitt overstepped his authority when he reached deals with two Native American tribes to allow sports gambling. That was Attorney General Mike Hunter’s conclusion in a formal opinion and letter to the U.S. Interior secretary last month.
Other:
Report Highlights Voting Inequities In Tribal Communities
NBC Washington, Felicia Fonseca, June 4
Native American voting rights advocates are cautioning against states moving to mail-in ballots without opportunities for tribal members to vote safely in person.
In a wide-ranging report released Thursday, the Native American Rights Fund outlined the challenges that could arise: online registration hampered by spotty or no internet service, ballots delivered to rarely-checked Post Office boxes and turnout curbed by a general reluctance to vote by mail.