Day four of Judge Amy Coney Barret’s Supreme Court hearing before the Senate Judicial Committee began this morning – if you’d like to watch the ongoing proceeding, click here.
Today is the final day to fill out the Census after the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration can end the enumeration efforts early. Online responses remain open until 11:59 P.M. Hawaiian Standard Time, and door knocking efforts end at 11 P.M. local time. If you haven’t already, click here to fill out the Census online. California Native Vote Project, Northern California Indian Development Council, The Yurok Tribe and NUNA are hosting a last day Census highlight discussion via Facebook LIVE at 1:00 P.M. PST here.
Earlier this week on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, two groups from the Tohono O’odham nation set up a blockade in Arizona near a Border Patrol checkpoint to protest construction of a border wall on their ancestral land. Twelve people were arrested, including three minors, after Arizona Department of Public Safety officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Meanwhile, Congressman Raúl Grijalva has called for an investigation into Arizona’s Department of Public Safety’s use of tear gas on the protestors.
The National Museum of the American Indian will open the new National Native American Veterans Memorial Wednesday, November 11. The moment will be marked with a short virtual message to honor the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families.
President Donald Trump’s campaign is launching the “Native Americans for Trump Coalition” on Thursday with an Arizona event featuring Donald Trump Jr. The gathering at the rodeo grounds in Williams, west of Flagstaff, is free to the public, and registration is required, according to coalition information online.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Politics:
Donald Trump Jr. To Host Native Coalition Launch
Indian Country Online, Mary Annette Pember, Indian Country Today
President Donald Trump’s campaign is launching the “Native Americans for Trump Coalition” on Thursday with an Arizona event featuring Donald Trump Jr. The gathering at the rodeo grounds in Williams, west of Flagstaff, is free to the public, and registration is required, according to coalition information online.
Kevin Killer Leads In Oglala Presidential Primary
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, October 14
Former state lawmaker Kevin Killer is in the lead in the primary race for Oglala Lakota Nation tribal council president, according to unofficial results released Wednesday. Killer has received 660 votes, followed by John Yellow Bird Steele with 413 votes, KILI radio reported.
Border Wall Protests:
House Rep Seeks Probe Into Police Response To Native Protest
AP News, October 14
Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona has called for an investigation into the state Department of Public Safety’s use of tear gas on protesters who blocked traffic near a border crossing. The demonstrators protested Monday on Indigenous Peoples Day against the construction of the Trump administration’s border wall on sacred Native American land in southern Arizona.
Tohono O’odham Nation Condemns Use Of Chemical Agents Against American Citizens
Indianz.com, October 14
Members of the Tohono O’odham Nation were tear gassed by law enforcement in southern Arizona. They had gathered to protest the ongoing desecration of sacred and burial sites by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s construction of the border wall on the Nation’s ancestral homelands, and to try to prevent further desecration.
Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets, 12 Arrests: Indigenous Peoples Day Anti-border Wall Blockade
AZ Central, Daniel Gonzalez, October 13
Tensions Over Protests Against The Construction Of A Border Wall On Ancestral O’odham Land In Southern Arizona Have Escalated. Two O’odham Groups Set Up A Blockade On Arizona 85 Near A Border Patrol Checkpoint To Protest The Trump Administration’s Construction Of The Border Wall.
Use Of Force Against Protestors At Quitobaquito Springs An “Abhorrent Attempt To Silence Their Voices”
Tucson Weekly, Nicole Ludden, October 14
Officials from the Arizona Department of Public Safety used excessive force and tear gas against demonstrators protesting the construction of a border wall at sites considered sacred to the Tohono O’odham Nation
COVID-19:
Navajo Nation Reports 9 Cases Of COVID-19, As Health Experts Recommend More Weekend Lockdowns
Native News Online, October 14
On Tuesday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 9 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths.
CARES Act:
CARES Act Funds Bring Much Needed Relief Utilities To Navajo Nation
Native News Online, October 14
The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the lack of running water, electricity and broadband on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, the country’s largest that encompasses 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Census 2020:
2020 Census Set To End On Oct. 15, Tribal Organizations Condemn Decision
Native News Online, October 14
Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court stay on a federal court order means the final U.S. Census count will only include those counted through Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. The Census Bureau late Tuesday sent out an announcement of the self-response and field data collection operations for the end of tomorrow.
Other:
New Mexico Names Leader Of Indigenous Education Reform
AP News, Cedar Attanasio, October 14
Former Navajo Nation legislative staffer LaShawna Tso has been selected to lead New Mexico’s Indian Education division. The announcement by the Public Education Department follows a months-long search. Tso will fill a key role in a state where 11% of the population is Native American.
Oklahoma Judge Rules Triple Killing Occurred On Tribal Land
AP News, October 14
A death row inmate in Oklahoma is likely to get a new trial in federal court after a judge determined that the victims in the case were tribal citizens and the killings happened on Indian land, as determined by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Smithsonian’s National Museum Of The American Indian To Open National Native American Veterans Memorial November 11
Indianz.com, October 14
The National Museum of the American Indian will open the new National Native American Veterans Memorial Wednesday, November 11. The moment will be marked with a short virtual message to honor the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families.
Two More Major Native Art Markets Pivot Online
Native News Online, Tamara Ikenberg, October 14
The 2021 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair, along with the 2020 Cherokee Art Market, will both be held online, according to recent announcements. The Heard Museum Indian Guild and Fair will take place March 5-7, 2021, and the Cherokee Art Market will be held Dec. 7-21, 2020.