Good morning, NUNAverse:

The House Impeachment Managers wrapped up their case against former President Donald Trump yesterday, warning the Senators that if they did not vote to convict it would set a dangerous precedent for the future. The trial will resume on Friday when former President Trump’s defense team begins presenting its case that the president did not incite the attack on the Capitol.

Following a growing Republican opposition to Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s nomination to be the Secretary of the Interior, the National Congress of American Indians convened an emergency meeting resulting in its public urging the immediate confirmation of the Congresswoman.

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs elected new leadership at its first meeting of the 117th Congress yesterday morning, selecting Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii to serve as Chairman, and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to serve as Vice-Chair. Former Chairman Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota remains on the committee, while former Vice-Chair Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico retired earlier this year. 

Indian Country Today published a detailed account of how tribes across the country used their portions of the $8 billion Congress allocated to tribal governments through the CARES Act. 

Earlier this week, several dozen youth from Standing Rock and Cheyenne River ran 93 miles from Timber Lake, South Dakota to Cannonball River, North Dakota – adjacent to the Oceti Sakowin camp located just beyond the Standing Rock Indian Reservation – in sub-zero temperature to continue to pressure President Joe Biden to end the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Keep reading for a full news update.

COVID-19:

Navajo Nation President: “We Are All In This Fight Against COVID-19 Together”

Native News Online, February 11

Even though the COVID-19 vaccine is now available on the Navajo Nation, President Jonathan Nez is still advising Navajo citizens to remember the basic precautions in place to help control the spread of the deadly virus that has claimed almost 1,100 precious lives on the nation’s largest Indian reservation. “We are all in this fight against COVID-19 together. When we wear a mask and when we choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we are not only protecting ourselves, but we are also protecting our loved ones and everyone that we come into contact with,” Nez said.

COVID-19 Cases Surpass 29,000 On Navajo Nation; Death Toll At 2,086

Native News Online, February 11

The Navajo Department of Health reported 38 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and 11 more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,086 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 15,639 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 237,843 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 29,041, including nine delayed reported cases.

Cherokee Nation Prioritizes First-Language Speakers And National Treasures

Native News Online, Joe Byrd, February 11

Once vaccines were made available to the Cherokee Nation, the Council and the Administration worked together to include our first-language speakers and National Treasures in the first tier of our population who would receive the vaccine so that we could further protect our language and culture. We worked directly with the U.S. Congress once aid packages were being discussed, and, to date, we have served more than 130,000 citizens with direct assistance, not to mention thousands more through other programs and services, including drive-through COVID testing, food distribution events, distance-learning education funding for WiFi hotspots and laptops, and access to PPE and sanitizer in bulk.

How Tribes Spent COVID-19 Relief Funds

Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, February 11

A year ago as cases of COVID-19 cropped up, tribes began pivoting from business as usual to disease prevention. Some hoped the disease would pass them by. Others got hit hard right away. In March, Congress allocated $8 billion to tribal governments via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (often called, CARES). The law was enacted in March with a provision the Trump administration had to get the money to tribes within 30 days. Here’s a look back at what a few tribes did to help their people.

Politics:

NCAI Responds to Haaland Opposition, Urging Her ‘Immediate Confirmation’ As Interior Secretary

Native News Online, Jenna Kunze, February 11

The National Congress of American Indians convened an emergency meeting resulting in its public urging for the immediate confirmation of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to Secretary of the Department of the Interior, amid a growing chorus of pushback from Republican senators. Haaland, a Congresswoman from New Mexico and a citizen of Laguna Pueblo, was nominated by President Joe Biden to head the Interior Department in December. If confirmed by the Senate, she will make history as the first Native American cabinet member.

Takeaways From Day 3 Of Trump’s Impeachment Trial 

New York Times, Eileen Sullivan, February 11 

The House impeachment managers wrapped up their case against former President Donald J. Trump on Thursday, warning senators that if they did not vote to convict, it would set a dangerous standard for the country in the future. The trial will resume on Friday when Mr. Trump’s defense team begins presenting its case that the president did not incite the attack on the Capitol.

Interior Sets Tribal Consultation Dates

Indian Country Today, Aliyah Chavez, February 11

The U.S. Department of Interior announced it will begin initial conversations with tribal leaders beginning in March. The announcement follows an executive order to uphold tribal consultation signed by President Joe Biden one week after being sworn into office. The agency sent notices to every federally recognized tribe Thursday inviting them to participate in the upcoming sessions. Tribes were invited to provide written comments on the consultation series or can attend virtual meetings.

Senate Committee On Indian Affairs Under New Leadership

Indian Country Today, Aliyah Chavez, February 11

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs elected new leadership at its first meeting of the 117th Congress Thursday morning. Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii will serve as chairman while Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska will serve as vice chairman. The committee was previously led by Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico. Hoeven remains on the committee while Udall retired from the Senate earlier this year.

USDA Tribal Director Shares Priorities

Indian Country Today, February 11

The new director of the office of tribal affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture started off her job with a meeting with representatives of Native financial institutions. Thompson, Cheyenne River Sioux, told the group she is passionate about rural tribal economic development, tribal agriculture, and self determination. Thompson said another priority is getting the Department of Agriculture behind the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act which authorizes tribes to run federal programs that provide services to tribal citizens.

Other:

Standing Rock Youth Run 93 Miles To Pressure Biden To End Dakota Access Pipeline

Native News Online, Darren Thompson, February 11

On Tuesday, several dozen youth from Standing Rock and Cheyenne River ran 93 miles from Timber Lake, S.D. to Cannonball River, N.D., adjacent to the Oceti Sakowin camp location just beyond the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, in sub-zero temperature to continue to pressure President Joe Biden to end the Dakota Access Pipeline. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 without a comprehensive environmental review, a group of Lakota and Dakota youth organized a run from the Cannonball River in Cannonball to the district office of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, Neb. — more than 500 miles away.

American Indian Graduate Center Names High School Academic Team

Native News Online, February 11

The American Indian Graduate Center, a national private nonprofit and the largest provider of scholarships to Native students in the United States, named 10 high school students who demonstrate outstanding academic, artistic or leadership skills, as members of the All Native American High School Academic Team on Wednesday. The Center’s annual scholarships are awarded to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate and professional students throughout the United States, and the high school team will use them to help pay for their bachelor’s degrees. The organization has awarded more than $350 million in scholarships since its inception and empowered Native students from over 500 tribes in all 50 states with educational funding and academic support services.