Good Morning, NUNAverse,
Every vaccinated participant who endured serious COVID-19 outcomes as part of a new study of more than 1 million people had at least one risk factor that left them vulnerable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC research published Thursday provided further evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines protect recipients, making severe outcomes “rare.” Just 189 people experienced these outcomes out of more than 1.2 million who got their primary vaccination series between December 2020 and October 2021.
IllumiNative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of Native people in American society, is launching a national Native-led campaign to overcome hesitancy in Native communities to get vaccinated for COVID-19. The campaign is being dubbed “Aunties with Antibodies” and its first public service announcement is by Congresswoman Sharice Davids. Congresswoman Davids’ PSA is the first in the “Aunties with Antibodies” series with other videos coming from Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Dallas Goldtooth, and Native TikTokers Charlie Amáyá Scott, Tatianna Olivia Black, Ashley Good, and Jojo Jackson to encourage Native youth to get vaccinated.
Utah State University announced official land acknowledgements Thursday, publicly recognizing that the university’s campus and facilities reside on the lands of Indigenous peoples. The land acknowledgement statements are designed to be shared at any public or private presentation, course, or ceremony that includes USU staff, faculty, or students. Since USU has more than 25 campuses and centers throughout Utah, groups worked with representatives from multiple Indigenous communities in each area to make sure each statement was tailored accordingly.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Canada’s $40 Billon Settlement With First Nations Groups Not Binding, Doesn’t Change Children’s Lives
Native News Online, Jenna Kunze, January 6
Canada has tentatively agreed to a $40 billion (Canadian dollars, about $31 billion USD) settlement, to right its discriminatory child welfare system that disproportionately separates Indigenous youth from their families over the past three decades, then chronically underfundes the welfare programs meant to serve them. The non-binding principal settlement, announced on Tuesday and the largest in Canada’s history, will allocate $20 billion in payments to First Nations children who have been unnecessarily removed from their homes April 1, 1991 through March 31, 2022. The additional $20 billion will go towards reforming the First Nations Child and Family Services program by focusing on prevention. How that actually will play remains unclear. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse called the settlement a long time coming. First Nation leaders across Canada are warning that this proposed settlement, while a positive step forward, is not yet legally binding. The government and First Nation parties have until March to negotiate a legally binding settlement, which won’t be finalized until sometime next fall.
Health:
If You Caught COVId-19 Over The Holidays, Here’s what You Need To Know
CNN, Jen Christensen, January 7
If you caught Covid-19 over the holidays — and with the highly contagious Omicron variant in circulation, record numbers of people did — you may be wondering what your next steps should be. Here’s what the experts say you should know.
All Vaccinated Participants With Severe COVID-19 In CDC Study Had At Least One Risk Factor
The Hill, Justine Coleman, January 6
Every vaccinated participant who endured serious COVID-19 outcomes as part of a new study of more than 1 million people had at least one risk factor that left them vulnerable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC research published Thursday provided further evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines protect recipients, making severe outcomes “rare.” Just 189 people experienced these outcomes out of more than 1.2 million who got their primary vaccination series between December 2020 and October 2021.
Illuminative Launches ‘Aunties With Antibodies’ Series To Promote COVID-19 Vaccinations
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, January 6
IllumiNative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of Native people in American society, is launching a national Native-led campaign to overcome hesitancy in Native communities to get vaccinated for COVID-19. The campaign is being dubbed “Aunties with Antibodies” and its first public service announcement is by Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-Kansas). Davids’ PSA is the first in the “Aunties with Antibodies” series with other videos coming from Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Dallas Goldtooth, and Native TikTokers Charlie Amáyá Scott, Tatianna Olivia Black, Ashley Good, and Jojo Jackson to encourage Native youth to get vaccinated. The video series is part of the For the Love of Our People campaign, which is a partnership between Urban Indian Health Institute and IllumiNative. According to its website, the For the Love of Our People campaign provides data-driven messaging and information from Native health experts about COVID-19, vaccines, and ways to stay healthy. The website provides tools for people to learn more about vaccinations, including a local vaccine finder to find a provider for each person.
Navajo Nation Reports 294 New COVID-19 Cases, But No Deaths
AP News, January 6
The Navajo Nation reported 294 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday, but no deaths for the second time in the past three days. Tribal officials said the latest numbers pushed the number of cases on the vast reservation to 42,324 since the pandemic began. The latest count includes 59 delayed reported cases. The known death roll remains at 1,592. Tribal officials said the omicron variant was detected on the Navajo Nation by Monday and the cases totals have jumped since then — from 10 on Monday to 35 on Tuesday to 168 on Wednesday.
Elder Shares Stories Of Life, Laughter An dAmerican Indian Health
New Canaan Advertiser, Michael Merschel, January 6
Linda Poolaw loves telling stories. At 79, the Grand Chief of the Delaware Grand Council of North America has a few. Some are nostalgic, about growing up in rural Oklahoma, the daughter of a Kiowa father and a mother who was Delaware (also known as the Lenape). Some are painful, when she talks about American Indians’ struggles.
Boarding Schools:
City Seeks Albuquerque Indian Boarding School Stories
Native News Online, January 6
The City of Albuquerque is inviting survivors, descendants, and anyone else connected with the former Albuquerque Indian School to share their experiences in upcoming community conversations, aimed at uncovering untold truths about the school. The City invites the public to share stories about family members, neighbors, teachers, staff and loved ones who were part of the Albuquerque Indian School. The sessions will be held January 11-14.The city has been involved in conversations with pueblos and local tribes since June, when national attention brought by the discovery of 215 unmarked graves holding Indigenous youths was discovered in British Columbia. The discovery prompted the city to take action on it’s own Native burial ground.
Other:
USU Announces Statement Of Land Acknowledgement Of Indigenous Peoples
KSL TV, Eliza Pace, January 6
Utah State University announced official land acknowledgements Thursday, publicly recognizing that the university’s campus and facilities reside on the lands of Indigenous peoples. After a lengthy collaboration process with Indigenous communities, USU finalized a statement on land acknowledgment found here. The land acknowledgement statements are designed to be shared at any public or private presentation, course or ceremony that includes USU staff, faculty, or students. But as the press release from the university noted, land acknowledgement statements need to be more than just a statement according to Cuch. Since USU has more than 25 campuses and centers throughout Utah, groups worked with representatives from multiple Native nations in each area to make sure each statement was tailored accordingly.
Dakota, Ojibwe Memorial Ride Draws Large Crowd
AP News, Jordan Smith, January 6
Todd Finney and five generations of his Dakota family members stood out in the cold last weekend at the spot where, exactly 159 years ago, 38 Dakota akicita — warriors — were hanged at the order of a U.S. president. A Wahpekute Dakota from Medford, Finney said his people were told they would never be able to come back to Mankato. The return each year of the Dakota Wokiksuye Memorial Ride, which his uncle Jim Miller took part in founding in 2005, ensures that dozens of Dakota continue to honor their ancestors in Reconciliation Park. Men, women and children of the Dakota and Ojibwe nations rode 330 miles on horseback from South Dakota over 17 days. Native American runners, supported by a caravan, also traveled to Mankato for the 34th annual 38+2 Memorial Run, leaving Fort Snelling in St. Paul on Christmas Day.
See ‘Infinite Indigenous Queer Love’ Through The Eyes Of Jeffrey Gibson
Forbes, Chadd Scott, January 6
From genocide to stolen land, broken treaties, boarding schools, racism, health care, erasure–the Indigenous people of America have no shortage of “hugely traumatic, problematic histories.” No Native artist who has mined this material attempting to come to grips with it all could be faulted for doing so. Nor can those who will continue to do so–rightfully–forevermore. Those aspects, however, are only part of the Native American story. Spirituality, celebration, survivance, family, contemporaneity, creativity, resilience, joy. Those aspects deserve prominent attention as well. With “INFINITE INDIGENOUS QUEER LOVE,” Jeffrey Gibson, a queer Mississippi Choctaw-Cherokee artist, hopes to establish “a different conversation regarding what indigeneity could look like.”
Indigenous Artists Honor Past And Present In New Scottsdale Arts Exhibition
Broadway World, A.A. Cristi
Scottsdale Public Art will host the “FIRST: Native American Artists of Arizona” Exhibition Jan. 10 – Mar. 30, 2022, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library. “FIRST: Native American Artists of Arizona” features work by artists who descend from the first Indigenous people of North America. Artists include Chelsea Bighorn, David Butler, Ron Carlos, David Haff, Damian Jim, Zachary Justin, Marie Koonooak, Thomas “Breeze” Marcus, Mario Martinez, David Chethlahe Paladin, Roger Perkins, Melanie Sainz and Jessie Yazzie.