Good morning/afternoon, NUNAverse:
Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on Floyd’s neck. The jury of six white and six Black or multiracial people came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Sentencing will be in two months and the most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.
During a House Budget Committee hearing on the Biden administration’s budget request for fiscal 2022, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said that the new unit within the department focusing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People would have an initial budget of $6 million – a significant increase from the $1 million that was budgeted for Operation Lady Justice, the DOJ Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
In Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law yesterday intended to coordinate state and federal law enforcement efforts when investigating missing or murdered Indigenous people. The law requires the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain federal funding and coordinate their efforts to gather information and data about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, the Montana Democratic Party has asked a judge to overturn a law that ends Election Day voter registration and another that requires college students to provide other proof of residency besides a student ID to register and vote. In the lawsuit filed Monday against Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, the party said the laws place an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote for students, Native people, the elderly, those with disabilities, and others without a valid reason.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Chauvin Guilty Of Murder And Manslaughter In Floyd’s Death
AP News, Amy Forliti, April 20
Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. Chauvin, 45, was immediately led away with his hands cuffed behind his back and could be sent to prison for decades. The verdict — guilty as charged on all counts, in a relatively swift, across-the-board victory for Floyd’s supporters — set off jubilation mixed with sorrow across the city and around the nation.
Minnesota Native Community Responds To Guilty Verdict In Chauvin Conviction
Native News Online, April 20
In a trial that had the world’s attention, a jury convicted Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, for the killing of George Floyd, a black man last Memorial Day on all counts: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The death of Floyd sparked protests throughout the nation, resulting in riots that led to the destructions of more than $500 million in the Twin Cities Metro area. Tribal members from the surrounding area took to social media to share their enthusiasm for the verdict, including Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a White Earth Band of Ojibwe tribal citizen, saying “Justice for George Floyd means building a community and a state where everyone is safe. While nothing will bring George back, this verdict is a step toward the vision of justice that sent thousands of people into the streets, demanding change.”
Montana Democratic Party Challenges Changes To Voter ID Laws
AP News, April 20
The Montana Democratic Party has asked a judge to overturn a law that ends Election Day voter registration and another that requires college students to provide other proof of residency besides a student ID to register and vote. The party said the laws place an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote for students, Native Americans, the elderly, those with disabilities and others — without a valid reason. The complaint was filed in state District Court in Billings shortly after Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bills into law and said they would “help ensure the continued integrity of Montana’s elections for years to come.” The bills did not come from any legitimate concerns about the integrity of the state’s elections, the Democratic Party argued in its lawsuit.
Oklahoma Seeks Coordination On Indigenous Peoples Cold Cases
AP News, April 20
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday signed into law a bill intended to coordinate state and federal law enforcement efforts when investigating missing or murdered Indigenous people. The law requires the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain federal funding and coordinate their efforts to gather information and data about missing and murdered indigenous people in Oklahoma. The OSBI would create an Office of Liaison to develop protocols for law enforcement response to reports of missing or slain Native Americans and to assist victims’ families in understanding the legal processes.
COVID-19:
Monday Covid-19 Navajo Nation Update: Ninth Straight Day Of No Reported Deaths
Native News Online, April 20
Monday marked the ninth consecutive day there were no Covid-19 deaths on the Navajo Nation. The total number of deaths remains 1,262 as previously reported. The Navajo Department of Health reported four new Covid-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and no recent deaths. Reports indicate that 16,477 individuals have recovered from Covid-19, and 261,119 Covid-19 tests have been administered.
Politics:
Haaland Asks For Funding To Fight Climate Change, Aid Native Americans
Missoula Current, Jacob Fischler, April 20
In her first congressional hearing as the leader of the Interior Department, Secretary Deb Haaland fielded questions from members of a U.S. House spending panel Tuesday on the major conservation and energy initiatives that President Joe Biden has outlined. She was noncommittal about some contentious and high-profile items of deep interest to Western states, like the pause on new oil and gas leases and the permanent location of the Bureau of Land Management headquarters. But Haaland did urge the subcommittee to send her department robust spending for next fiscal year and longer-term jobs programs.
Haaland: Missing And Murdered Natives Unite Will Have Six Times Initial Budget Of DOJ Task Force
The Hill, Zack Budryk, April 20
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said a new unit within the department focusing on missing and murdered Native Americans will have a budget of $6 million, six times that of a similar task force the Justice Department (DOJ) established in 2019.
Other:
Tribal Fishing Rights Activist Billy Frank Jr. Statue To Be Placed In U.S. Capitol
Native News Online, April 20
When longtime tribal treaty rights warrior Billy Frank, Jr. died unexpectedly on May 6, 2014 at the age of 83, S’Klallman Tribal Chairman W. Ron Allen said, “He was bigger than life. It’s a very sad day for all of us.” Back then, Allen had no way of foreseeing that one day a statue of Billy Frank Jr. would loom larger than life in the U.S. Capitol. But a bill signed last week by Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee will make a statue of Frank possible, and will replace one of Oregon Trail pioneer Marcus Whitman in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. Each state of the union is able to have two statues of individuals in bronze or marble to represent their respective state.
United Nations Forum On Indigenous Issues Begins
Indian Country Today, Kalle Benallie, April 20
After the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues had to postpone its 19th session due to the pandemic, the 20th session’s opening ceremony focused on the previous theme, “Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role Indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16.” For two weeks, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will be held in a hybrid format due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’ mandate is to address Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
Pipeline Owner: Shutdown Would Cause Dire Financial Effects
AP News, Dave Kolpack, April 20
The owner of the Dakota Access pipeline that moves oil from North Dakota to Illinois says shutting down the line would have dire financial consequences based on recent economic conditions. Texas-based Energy Transfer said in its filing late Monday that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg should deny a motion by the Standing Rock Tribe and other pipeline opponents to halt the business while the U.S. Corps of Engineers conducts an extensive environmental review. The Biden administration has not asked for a shutdown, but the Corps has left open the possibility. Dakota Access attorney William Scherman said in a 10-page motion that shuttering the pipeline would collectively result in billions of dollars in losses to various entities, including the state of North Dakota and Three Affiliated Tribes in the northwestern part of the state.
Deb Haaland Commemorates Deepwater Horizon Explosion: ‘There is More Work to Be Done’
Native News Online, April 20
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued a statement Tuesday commemorating the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in April 2011, which killed 11 people and is considered to be the largest marine oil spill in history. Oil spewed from a damaged pipe for 87 days until it was finally capped, discharging an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil, according to the federal government. The environmental damage and impact on marine life from the spill persists today.
PBS KIDS’ “Molly Of Denali” Improves Kids’ Ability To Deal With Real World
Native News Online, April 20
PBS KIDS’ Molly of Denali, the first U.S. nationally distributed children’s series with an Alaska Native lead, continues its groundbreaking work in childhood development with the release of the first-ever study that connects children’s understanding of informational text to digital media. Informational text, or text meant to inform, can be challenging for young readers to understand as they are more familiar with narrative stories. However, when digital media is intentionally designed to have characters solve real-world problems using informational text, early learners’ engagement and comprehension skills are more likely to increase.
Navajo Nation’s First 2021 Hantavirus Case
AP News, April 20
Health officials on Tuesday reported the Navajo Nation’s first case this year of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings. The case was confirmed in McKinley County in northwestern New Mexico but it wasn’t known how the person contracted Hantavirus, the tribal Department of Health said. Hantavirus typically is reported in spring and summer, often due to exposures that occur when people are near mouse droppings in homes, sheds or poorly ventilated areas.