While the Trump Administration appears to be abandoning its request for a COVID-19 related deadline extension for the 2020 Census, officials at the Census Bureau warn that it is already too late to have the numbers ready without an extension, and outside experts predict that speeding up the timetable for a full enumeration will lead to an inaccurate count that misses people in hard-to-count communities.
The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County California has reclaimed a small part of ancestral lands on California’s scenic Big Sur coast that were lost to Spanish colonial settlement nearly 250 years ago. It marks the first restoration of any lands to the tribe, which lost 90% of its approximately 1,000 members to disease and other causes by the early 1800s.
The Yurok Tribe’s Education Department Director, Jim McQuillen, has become the first Yurok tribal citizen to serve on the California State Board of Education after California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed McQuillen to the board early this month. Members of the State Board of Education are first nominated for the position and then appointed by the governor. Each appointment requires confirmation from the California State Senate and from there they serve a term of four years.
Several tribal leaders in Washington State are denouncing “incredibly personal and targeted acts of violence” against Seattle’s only Indigenous City Council member, Debora Juarez, who is receiving death threats and being harassed at home by mobs of protesters after her home address and contact information were shared online. The protestors are believed to be linked to the public outcry for the defunding of police forces across the country.
A federal judge ruled in favor of nine Oklahoma tribes that argued their gaming compacts automatically renewed for a 15-year term on January 1. The judge’s ruling ends a months long court fight after Governor Kevin Stitt said the compacts needed to be renegotiated. The compacts define how much gambling revenue the tribes must pay to the state and which games are allowed.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Census 2020:
Experts Worry About Errors If Census Schedule Is Sped Up
Associated Press, Mike Schneider, July 29
After asking for coronavirus-related deadline extensions in April, the Trump administration now appears to be abandoning that request by asking Congress for extra funding to wrap up the 2020 census “as quickly, and safely as possible” in a move that could help ensure the number-crunching for redrawing congressional districts takes place on President Donald Trump’s watch.
Alaska’s Response Rate To The 2020 Census Is Among The Lowest In The Country
2 KTUU, Gilbert Cordoba, July 28
The state of Alaska right now is trending the lowest in the country in regards to response rate to the 2020 census.
During a U.S. Census Bureau news conference held Tuesday afternoon, it was announced the response rate to the Census is 49%, this number is for Alaska but doesn’t include the remote Alaska response.
Law:
Judge Sides With Oklahoma Tribes Over Gambling Compacts
Indian Country Today, Kolby Kickingwoman, July 28
Oklahoma tribes secured another win in court Tuesday, this time regarding tribal gaming compacts with the state. A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ruled in favor of nine tribes that argued their compacts automatically renewed for a 15-year term on Jan. 1. The judge’s ruling ends a monthslong court fight after Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, Cherokee, said the compacts needed to be renegotiated. The compacts define how much gambling revenue the tribes must pay to the state and which games are allowed.
California Indian Tribe Gets Back Big Sur Ancestral Lands
AP News, July 28
A Native American tribe has reclaimed a small part of ancestral lands on California’s scenic Big Sur coast that were lost to Spanish colonial settlement nearly 250 years ago. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County closed escrow on 1,199 acres (485 hectares) about 5 miles (8 kilometers) inland from the ocean that was part of a $4.5 million deal involving the state and the Western Rivers Conservancy, The Mercury News reported Monday. It marks the first restoration of any lands to the tribe, which lost 90% of its approximately 1,000 members to disease and other causes by the early 1800s.
Lawmakers OK Bill Reviewing Controversial State Seal, Flag
AP News, July 28
Massachusetts’ Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday creating a special commission to review the state seal and motto, which includes a controversial depiction of a Native American man. The bill still needs House approval, but Native American groups praised the vote.
Republican Governor Suffers Another Setback In Dealings With Tribes In Oklahoma
Indianz.com, Acee Agoyo, July 28
Embattled Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) suffered yet another setback to his Indian Country dealings with a federal judge’s ruling in favor of tribes whose gaming operations are a primary driver of the state’s economy. In a long-awaited decision on Tuesday, Chief Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti held that tribal nations can continue to operate their casinos under agreements signed more than 15 years ago. Their Class III gaming compacts did not expire, as Stitt had repeatedly contended throughout the high-profile dispute, the ruling stated. Instead, DeGiusti said the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation were right all along about the lawsuit they filed on December 31, 2019.
Native Mascots & Imagery:
Lawmakers OK Bill Reviewing Controversial State Seal, Flag
Associated Press, July 28
Massachusetts’ Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday creating a special commission to review the state seal and motto, which includes a controversial depiction of a Native American man.
Other:
Indian Country’s Seat At Joe Biden’s Table
Red Lake Nation News, July 29
The presidential election is 98 days away. It will be an election we have never seen or experienced before all due to COVID-19. The pandemic has changed the usual ways campaigns are handled, there are no public gatherings and even the polling sites will be restricted. It’s a challenge to reach Indian Country in any election and now in the age of the coronavirus it’s especially challenging.
Yurok Education Director Appointed To The California State Board Of Education
Native News Online, Nanette Kelley, July 28
Jim McQuillen, the Yurok Tribe’s Education Department Director, has become the first Yurok tribal citizen to serve on the California State Board of Education. California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed McQuillen (Yurok tribal member, Tolowa Deeni’, Irish) to the board early this month. Members of the State Board of Education are first nominated for the position and then appointed by the governor. Each appointment requires confirmation from the California State Senate and from there they serve a term of four years.
Cannabis Firm Opens Dispensaries On Michigan Tribal Lands
Native News Online, Joe Boomgaard, July 28
A cannabis company is working with two Michigan-based tribes and is involved in active discussions with others to open marijuana dispensaries on trust lands throughout the state. Troy, Mich.-based Lume Cannabis Co. announced last week that it had received state licensing for a retail dispensary on land held in trust for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., a small city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project follows the opening this month of retail stores near Petoskey and in Mackinaw City on trust lands for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
Protesters Threaten Indigenous Seattle Council Member
Indian Country Today, Adrian Jawort, July 28
Several tribal leaders in Washington state are denouncing “incredibly personal and targeted acts of violence” against Seattle’s lone Indigenous City Council member, Debora Juarez, who in recent weeks has received death threats and been harassed at home by mobs of protesters who support defunding police. Juarez, Blackfeet, says she began receiving “really vile” messages July 10, after protesters shared her home address and contact information online.
Indian Country’s Seat At Joe Biden’s Table
Indian Country Today, Patty Talahongva, July 28
The presidential election is 98 days away. It will be an election we have never seen or experienced before all due to COVID-19. The pandemic has changed the usual ways campaigns are handled, there are no public gatherings and even the polling sites will be restricted. It’s a challenge to reach Indian Country in any election and now in the age of COVID-19 it’s especially challenging.