Good Morning, NUNAverse,
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor knows how concerns over who has jurisdiction of Native lands can swing an election. O’Connor lost his bid for a full term as Oklahoma’s top law enforcement officer on June 28 to Republican challenger Gentner Drummond. The attorney general GOP primary was one of the starkest tests yet about the political potency of an issue that the Supreme Court has wrestled with repeatedly in recent years. The rulings have roiled Oklahoma politics, and O’Connor lost his bid to keep the attorney general’s office against a GOP primary rival touting himself as more pro-tribe. Drummond, who avoided a runoff by capturing just over 50% of the Republican primary vote, argued that he would fortify the state’s relationship with tribes in the wake of the McGirt decision. Oklahoma’s population has about 523,360 Natives, about 13.36% of the statewide population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Drummond, in his attorney general bid, argued that Oklahomans deserve an attorney general “who will sit down with our Native brothers and sisters and work toward a solution on McGirt.”
Hawaiʻi legalized abortion in 1970 when it became the first state in the nation to allow the procedure at a woman’s request. But abortion care has a long history among Hawaiʻi’s Indigenous people. Native Hawaiian health scholar Kealoha Fox says much of what she’s uncovered on traditional Hawaiian beliefs and customs surrounding abortion stemmed from archival research, Hawaiian language newspapers, journals, and conversations with traditional Hawaiian healers. “I literally found pieces of evidence to support abortion care being a fundamental part of our maoli ola, our healthcare, in our history,” Fox said. “We have words for abortion such as ʻōmilo or milo or milomilo. We had medical abortions where certain types of lāʻau were known to be used.” Lāʻau or medicinal herbs, some of which included hau, noni, ‘awa, mountain apple, and young ti leaves, were prepared into an elixir. Native Hawaiian Dr. Reni Soon is an OB-GYN at The Queen’s Women’s Options Center in Honolulu, one of the state’s largest providers of reproductive health services, including abortions. She’s been in the field for more than 20 years and says she’s tired of the negative stigma around abortion.
California voters will weigh in on seven ballot measures this fall, the fewest to appear on a statewide general election ballot since 2014. Two ballot initiatives would amend California’s constitution to make it legal to bet on sports in California. But they would do it in different ways. Both would require the participation of federally recognized tribes. The key question is how people would be allowed to place bets. One initiative, Proposition 26, would let people bet on sports at casinos operated by tribes. It would also allow people to bet on sports at the state’s four licensed horse racing tracks in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. A portion of a 10% tax would help pay for enforcement of gambling laws and programs to help people who are addicted. This measure is supported by some tribes. Another measure, Proposition 27, would let people use their phones to place bets on sports. A tax would first pay for regulatory costs, while 85% of what’s left over would go to homelessness programs while the remaining 15% would go to nonparticipating tribes. This measure is supported by some sports betting companies.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Politics:
Oklahoma Official’s GOP Primary Loss Shows Political Potency Of Native Land Issue
Washington Examiner, Kaelan Deese, June 5
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor knows how concerns over who has jurisdiction of native lands can swing an election. O’Connor lost his bid for a full term as Oklahoma’s top law enforcement officer on June 28 to Republican challenger Gentner Drummond. The attorney general GOP primary was one of the starkest tests yet about the political potency of an issue that the Supreme Court has wrestled with repeatedly in recent years. But it won’t be the last. The issue is likely to come up repeatedly ahead of Aug. 28 GOP runoffs for an open Senate seat and an eastern Oklahoma House seat most directly affected by the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence concerning tribal lands. The Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma reinforced that much of Oklahoma was, legally, Indian country. Then, last week, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, reinstated a piece of Oklahoma’s pre-McGirt power over this territory by upending the law on reservations throughout the country.The rulings have roiled Oklahoma politics. And O’Connor lost his bid to keep the attorney general’s office against a GOP primary rival touting himself as more pro-tribe. Drummond, who avoided a runoff by capturing just over 50% of the Republican primary vote, argued that he would fortify the state’s relationship with tribes in the wake of the McGirt decision. Oklahoma’s population has about 523,360 Natives, about 13.36% of the statewide population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Drummond, in his attorney general bid, argued that Oklahomans deserve an attorney general “who will sit down with our Native brothers and sisters and work toward a solution on McGirt.”
Health:
Abortion Care Has A Long History Among Hawaiʻi’s Indigenous People
Hawai’i Public Radio, Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi, June 5
Hawaiʻi legalized abortion in 1970 when it became the first state in the nation to allow the procedure at a woman’s request. But abortion care has a long history among Hawaiʻi’s Indigenous people. Native Hawaiian health scholar Kealoha Fox says much of what she’s uncovered on traditional Hawaiian beliefs and customs surrounding abortion stemmed from archival research, Hawaiian language newspapers, journals, and conversations with traditional Hawaiian healers. “I literally found pieces of evidence to support abortion care being a fundamental part of our maoli ola, our healthcare, in our history,” Fox said. “We have words for abortion such as ʻōmilo or milo or milomilo. We had medical abortions where certain types of lāʻau were known to be used.” Lāʻau or medicinal herbs, some of which included hau, noni, ‘awa, mountain apple, and young ti leaves, were prepared into an elixir. Native Hawaiian Dr. Reni Soon is an OB-GYN at The Queen’s Women’s Options Center in Honolulu, one of the state’s largest providers of reproductive health services, including abortions. She’s been in the field for more than 20 years and says she’s tired of the negative stigma around abortion.
Law:
Canada Sets $15B Deal Over Indigenous Child Welfare Flaws
AP News, July 4
The Canadian government said Monday it has signed a $20 billion (US$15.55 billion) agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare. The Assembly of First Nations and plaintiffs in two class action lawsuits agreed to the deal. Indigenous Services Canada, a government agency, said the settlement is the largest in Canadian history. “The parties have agreed on a plan for settling compensation claims to recognize the families and people who have suffered tremendously through discriminatory and systemically racist child-welfare practices,” said Patty Hajdu, the Indigenous services minister. The settlement accounts for half of an overall $40 billion (US$31.1 billion) deal that aims to reform Canada’s child welfare system, including five-year funding for the First Nations Child and Family Services program.
Californians To Vote On 7 Ballot Measures This November
AP News, Adam Bean, July 5
California voters will weigh in on seven ballot measures this fall, the fewest to appear on a statewide general election ballot since 2014. Two ballot initiatives would amend California’s constitution to make it legal to bet on sports in California. But they would do it in different ways. Both would require the participation of federally recognized tribes. The key question is how people would be allowed to place bets. One initiative, Proposition 26, would let people bet on sports at casinos operated by tribes. It would also allow people to bet on sports at the state’s four licensed horse racing tracks in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. A portion of a 10% tax would help pay for enforcement of gambling laws and programs to help people who are addicted. This measure is supported by some tribes. Another measure, Proposition 27, would let people use their phones to place bets on sports. A tax would first pay for regulatory costs, while 85% of what’s left over would go to homelessness programs while the remaining 15% would go to nonparticipating tribes. This measure is supported by some sports betting companies.
Other:
Is A Uranium Mill In Utah Making Tribal Members Sick? They’ll Find Out In 2025
NPR, Lucas Brady Woods, July 6
A Native community neighboring the only operating uranium mill in the U.S. is hoping a new study will answer longstanding questions about whether it is affecting their health. Members of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe living in White Mesa, Utah, say they have seen an alarming increase in health problems in recent years. “I am aware that there have been increased levels of cancer,” says Scott Clow, the tribe’s environmental director. “We don’t have any evidence tying that to the mill at this point, but we have our concerns.” The Environmental Protection Agency in June gave the approximately 2,000 member tribe a $75,000 grant to design a study that will be conducted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clow says. It will analyze tribal members’ health data and environmental conditions to see if any links can be made to the Energy Fuels uranium mill. Results are expected in 2025.
Cherokee Veteran Receives Medal Of Honor For Vietnam War Service
Native News Online, Andrew Kennard, June 5
Cherokee veteran and Specialist Five Dwight Birdwell was awarded the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden in a ceremony on Tuesday. The Cherokee Nation tweeted that he was the first Native from the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor. According to the U.S. Army, Birdwell’s unit “bore the brunt of the initial attack” on an airbase near Saigon on January 31, 1968. Birdwell moved his incapacitated tank commander to safety, and he took the exposed position of the tank commander’s hatch to fire on the enemy. “Afterwards, he dismounted and continued fighting until receiving enemy fire to his face and torso,” the White House said in its statement. “He refused evacuation and led a small group of defenders to disrupt the enemy assault until reinforcements arrived. He then aided in evacuating the wounded until he was ordered to seek attention for his own wounds.” Birdwell was previously awarded two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for meritorious service and two Purple Hearts, the Army said. After returning home in December 1968, Birdwell attended Northeastern State University and the University of Oklahoma School of Law, and he served as a member of the Cherokee Nation’s Supreme Court from 1987 to 1999.
‘This Is Not Your Place’: Neighbor’s Wildly Racist Letter Sparks Outrage
Newsweek, Shira Li Bartov, June 5
A neighbor’s letter to a Native family went viral this week, setting off a wave of fury online. A photo of the note was shared anonymously by a 19-year-old woman under the Reddit username Iniminki on Monday. Her post in the forum “F**k You Karen” has racked up over 37,000 votes and reappeared in the forum “Mildly Infuriating,” where it amassed a further 50,000 votes. Outraged comments poured in from thousands of readers across Reddit communities. Many urged Iniminki’s family to protect themselves in case their neighbor’s actions escalated beyond a racist letter. Unfortunately, some Natives may be disinclined to turn to police departments for help, as they are more likely to be killed by police than any other demographic in the United States. Fatal injury data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that Native people were 2.2 times more likely to be killed by police than white people and 1.2 times more likely than Black people.
Today’s #GoogleDoodle Celebrates the Native Stand-up Comedy Legend, Charlie Hill, …
Latest Tweet by Google Doodles, July 5
Yesterday’s Doodle celebrated the 71st birthday of Charlie Hill, the first Native stand-up comedian to appear on national television. Hill—who had Oneida (Onʌyoteˀa·ká·), Mohawk (Kanien’kehá:ka) and Cree (Néhinaw) heritage—worked his way to comedic fame and was one of the first performers to take a public stand challenging Native stereotypes on major talk show programs. Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Alanah Astehtsi Otsistohkwa (Morningstar) Jewell (French-First Nations, Oneida Nation of the Thames).