Good Morning, NUNAverse,
The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act, legislation that would guarantee the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal health authorities, and other Native organizations will have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), has been reintroduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Tom Cole, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and Ruben Gallego, a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus. The Strategic National Stockpile is a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if and when a public health emergency exhausts local supplies. Currently, tribal health authorities, including IHS, have limited access to the Strategic National Stockpile, and that access is not guaranteed. The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act is supported by the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Brian Weeden, who is 29 and is the youngest ever to hold the post, said last month’s decision by President Joe Biden’s administration to affirm the tribe’s reservation and reverse a controversial Trump-era order gives the tribe legal footing to continue pursuing its long standing casino dreams. But he said tribal leaders also want members to look at the idea with fresh eyes, given how much the landscape for gambling has changed. Chairman Weeden said the tribe also shouldn’t rule out abandoning the casino plan altogether and finding other ways to bring financial stability to the tribe. He’d like to see it look into opening tax-free smoke shops, tax-free gas stations, recreational marijuana shops, and other economic development initiatives on its lands.
As the first Native American director of the National Park Service, Charles F. Sams III brings an Indigenous perspective to a U.S. Department of Interior agency responsible for more than 400 national parks, monuments, and memorials, as well as more than 300,000 staff and volunteers. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved Sams to serve as director on November 18. He was then sworn in on December 16 by Secretary Deb Haaland on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., giving the department its first Senate-confirmed director in nearly five years. Sams, who is enrolled with the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes and has direct blood ties to the Cocopah and Yankton peoples, is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a confederation of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes. Sams said the story of Native peoples needs to be better told at America’s 423 national parks, monuments and memorials, including the White House.
Speaking at the memorial service in Las Vegas for the late Senator Harry Reid, President Biden on Saturday said Reid championed Native and tribal communities when it was not particularly popular for him to do so. The former Senate majority leader passed away on December 28, 2021, after a four-year fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 82. Reid’s work in Indian Country was recalled last week after Reid passed away. Navajo Nation Speaker Seth Damon remembered Reid for being a champion of the Navajo Nation and other tribal nations. Damon also said Reid played a key role writing major portions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and pushed forward the passage of the Affordable Care Act that would provide critical healthcare to millions of Americans.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Bipartisan Bill Seeks To Guarantee Tribal Health Authorities Access To The Strategic National Stockpile
Native News Online, January 7
The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act, legislation that would guarantee the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal health authorities, and other Indian organizations will have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has been reintroduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK), Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus. The Strategic National Stockpile is a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if and when a public health emergency exhausts local supplies. Currently, tribal health authorities, including IHS, have limited access to the Strategic National Stockpile, and that access is not guaranteed. The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act is supported by the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
Health:
Navajo Nation Reports 220 New COVID-19 Cases, But No Deaths
AP News, January 8
The Navajo Nation has reported 220 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths related to the virus. Tribal officials said the number of confirmed cases on the vast reservation since the pandemic began now total 42,887 as of Saturday including 45 delayed reported cases. The known death toll stands at 1,593. Navajo Nation officials reported 270 cases and one death on Friday. “Cases of the omicron variant are much higher in border towns and cities located off the Navajo Nation,” tribal President Jonathan Nez said in a statement Saturday. “The omicron variant is much more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19 and the delta variant.
Boarding Schools:
Debate Over Boarding Schools Continues
Gaylord News, January 7
Tribes across the Southwest dread the possibility that thousands of unmarked graves might be uncovered by a federal investigation into abandoned Native American boarding schools expected to wrap up early this year. The investigation, ordered by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, came in the wake of the discovery this year of more than 1,200 unmarked graves at two long-shuttered boarding schools in Canada’s British Columbia and Saskatchewan provinces. The probe also has renewed debate over Indian boarding schools, which were established in the 19th and 20th centuries with the primary objective of assimilating Indigenous youth into White culture by denying the use of their languages, dress and other cultural aspects. Boarding school alumni are widespread among Indigenous communities, and their thoughts about their experiences vary widely.
Casinos:
Newly Affirmed, Tribe Looks At Casino Plans With Fresh Eyes
AP News, Philip Marcelo, January 9
As he begins his first full year in office, the new head of a Massachusetts tribe says he intends to take a cautious approach to gambling while turning attention to social challenges and other economic opportunities for its members. Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Brian Weeden, who is 29 and is the youngest ever to old the post, said last month’s decision by President Joe Biden’s administration to affirm the tribe’s reservation and reverse a controversial Trump-era order gives the tribe legal footing to continue pursuing its long standing casino dreams. But he said tribal leaders also want members to look at the idea with fresh eyes, given how much the landscape for gambling has changed.
Other:
The Indigenous Voice At The Helm Of The National Park Service
Underscore News, Wil Phinney, January 8
As the first Native American director of the National Park Service, Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III brings an Indigenous perspective to a U.S. Department of Interior agency responsible for more than 400 national parks, monuments and memorials, as well as more than 300,000 staff and volunteers. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved Sams to serve as director on Nov. 18. He was then sworn in Dec. 16 by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., giving the department its first Senate-confirmed director in nearly five years. Sams, who is enrolled with the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes and has direct blood ties to the Cocopah and Yankton peoples, is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a confederation of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes. Sams said the story of Native Americans needs to be better told at America’s 423 national parks, monuments and memorials, including the White House.
President Biden On Sen. Harry Reid: He Championed Native Americans When It Was Not Popular
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, January 8
Speaking at the memorial service in Las Vegas for the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), President Biden on Saturday said Reid championed Native Americans and tribal communities when it was not particularly popular for him to do so. The former Senate majority leader passed away on Dec. 28, 2021, after a four-year fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 82. Reid’s work in Indian Country was recalled last week after Reid passed away. Navajo Nation Speaker Seth Damon remembered Reid for being a champion of the Navajo Nation and other tribal nations. Damon also said Reid played a key role writing major portions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and pushed forward the passage of the Affordable Care Act that would provide critical healthcare to millions of Americans.
Flooding Persists After Pacific Northwest Storms
AP News, January 8
Flooding coursed over roads, inundated farmland and curtailed access to a Native American reservation in Washington state on Sunday as the Pacific Northwest slowly recovered from a series of storms that have engulfed the region with rain and snow. The swollen Chehalis River was expected to crest Sunday as the region enjoyed a dry weekend after a series of winter storms since Dec. 17. Crews, meanwhile, worked to open several major highways connecting Seattle to the east that have been closed for days by heavy snow, avalanches and debris. Southwest Washington has experienced its worst flooding in a decade and some rivers crested at more than 18 feet (5.5 meters) last week, the National Weather Service said. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation on Friday.
No Golden Globe, ‘Reservation Dogs’ Still A Winner
Indian Country Today, January 7
Even though “Reservation Dogs” didn’t walk away with a Golden Globe Sunday night, the show still makes history and Indian Country is proud. The creators, cast, and all who were part of the show did something Indigenous people all knew was possible: creating a show that captured the world, using Indian humor, Indigenous stories, and Indigenous talent. This nomination (plus other wins like the Gotham Awards and American Film Institute honoring) prove to Hollywood and the entertainment industry that Indigenous stories can be told in a beautiful, modern context. “Reservation Dogs” was one of five nominees for “Best Musical/Comedy Series” for the 79th Golden Globe Awards hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Breaking Barriers: NHL’s 1st First Nations Scout
AP News, January 7
When Brigette Lacquette first heard from the Chicago Blackhawks, she didn’t think the message was real. It was, and it arrived at a perfect time. Lacquette became the first Indigenous woman to scout for an NHL team when she was hired by the Blackhawks this year. Making history is familiar for Lacquette, who became the first First Nations woman to play hockey for Canada in a Winter Olympics in 2018. The defender earned a silver medal, but was left off Canada’s Olympic roster for 2022. The 29-year-old Ojibwa from Mallard, Manitoba, also played in three world championships over six years on the national women’s team, winning two silver medals and a bronze. Lacquette saw a seemingly random message on her Facebook page in May from Blackhawks assistant general manager Ryan Stewart, who oversees pro evaluation. The Blackhawks were looking to replenish their scouting staff after a COVID-19 contraction, Stewart said.