Good morning, NUNAverse:
The most recent installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index found that most Americans who still aren’t vaccinated say nothing — not their own doctor administering it, a favorite celebrity’s endorsement, or even paid time off — is likely to make them get the shot. 30% of U.S. adults in the national survey said they haven’t yet gotten the COVID-19 vaccine and half of them are a hard no, saying they’re “not at all likely” to take it. Read more about how likely the unvaccinated would be to be vaccinated it in different scenarios here.
A federal appeals court panel has upheld a ruling that orders North Dakota to pay more than $450,000 in plaintiff’s attorneys fees and costs stemming from tribal lawsuits over state voter identification requirements. Last year, the state agreed to settle longstanding legal disputes with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes. The tribes sued over North Dakota’s requirement that voters have identification with a street address which the tribes said creates a disadvantage for Native people who live on reservations without street addresses. An 8th U.S. Circuit of Appeals panel on Friday upheld a federal judge’s May 2020 order that the state pay $452,983, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
After winning a landmark case before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Sinixt, or Arrow Lakes Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington, are looking forward exercising rights and receiving benefits that come with First Nations or registered Indian status in Canada. However, last year in March, the United States and Canada closed their borders to nonessential travel and Sinixt discussions with Canadian officials are on hold until restrictions are eased. About 80 percent of the Sinixt’s traditional homelands are in British Columbia and extend into Washington state. The Sinixt did not give up their traditional territory in Canada, however the Canadian government declared them “extinct” in 1956.
In the wake of the discovery of several mass graves holding the remains of Indigenous youth who died at residential schools in Canada, Secretary Deb Haaland is driving America’s investigation into its own history. Haaland told Native News Online that the particulars of the initiative that will investigate residential schools that operated in the United States are still being worked out, but that the initiative will include tribal consultation, speaking with descendants, and working with organizations “who have been dedicated to this issue for a long time.” Haaland said that healing, for her, will be naming each child that never returned home, including the 14 “unknown” graves holding Native youth at the Carlisle cemetery.
A coalition that includes the Alaska Federation of Natives and electric cooperatives sued Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy on Monday to force his administration to release money intended to help lower rural utility costs. The Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund is among the pots of money that the Dunleavy administration says can be swept into a budget reserve. The state Constitution says money taken from the reserve, which lawmakers have relied on for years to help pay for government, is to be repaid. Action to reverse it and return funds to their original accounts requires three-fourths support in each the House and Senate. Lawmakers failed to garner the required support last month amid a budget dispute. Scott Kendall, an attorney for plaintiffs, said the issue isn’t with the failed vote but with the administration’s view that money from the endowment fund can be added to the budget reserve.
Keep reading for a full news update.
COVID-19:
Axios-Ipsos Poll: Convincing The Unnvaccinated
Axios, Margaret Talev, July 20
Most Americans who still aren’t vaccinated say nothing — not their own doctor administering it, a favorite celebrity’s endorsement or even paid time off — is likely to make them get the shot, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
Boarding Schools:
In The Wake Of Carlisle Exhumation, Deb Haaland Says ‘Clearly, The Cultural Genocide Part Didn’t Work’
Native News Online, Jenna Kunze, July 20
In the wake of the discovery of several mass graves holding the remains of Indigenous youth who died at residential schools in Canada, the United States’ first Native American cabinet secretary, Deb Haaland, is driving America’s investigation into its own dark history. Haaland told Native News Online that the particulars of the initiative are still being worked out, but that the initiative will include tribal consultation, speaking with descendants, and working with organizations “who have been dedicated to this issue for a long time.” Haaland said that healing, for her, will be naming each child that never returned home, including the 14 “unknown” graves holding Native youth at the Carlisle cemetery.
Rosebud Ancestors Buried In Emotional Ceremony
Indian Country Today, Vi Waln, July 20
Dora Her Pipe (Brave Bull) just wanted to go home. After being ripped from her family in South Dakota at 16 and shipped 1,500 miles to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1879, she asked to be sent home in January 1881 because of illness. Just three months later, she was dead. It would take another 140 years before she returned to her family and her homelands, wrapped in a buffalo robe in a cedar box. Dora, the daughter of Brave Bull, was among nine Sicangu ancestors to make it home last week, more than a century after they died at the notorious boarding school. They were escorted home to Rosebud Friday, stopping first at Whetstone Bay, where they had taken a steamboat to Pennsylvania in 1879. On Saturday, they finally were laid to rest at the Rosebud Indian Reservation with public and private ceremonies, prayers and honor songs.
Surviving Kuper Island Residential School: ‘I Hear Little Children Screaming In My Head’
Native News Online, Andrew Kennard, July 20
Like at least 150,000 other Indigenous children in Canada, Eddy Charlie’s world was torn away with a knock on the door and the news that he and two of his siblings would be taken away to residential school. In the wake of the discovery of 160 unmarked graves at the Kuper Island Residential School near Chemainus, British Columbia, survivor and Cowichan Tribes member Eddy Charlie, 57, shared the impact that attending the school had on his life in an interview with Native News Online. Today, Charlie does advocacy work to raise awareness about the effects of residential schools, and he and his friend Kristin Spray have been working full-time since the recent discoveries of more than 1,400 unmarked graves at four former schools across Canada.
Law:
Ruling: State To Pay Tribes’ Legal Fees In Voter ID Dispute
AP News, July 20
A federal appeals court panel has upheld a ruling that orders North Dakota to pay more than $450,000 in plaintiff’s attorneys fees and costs stemming from tribal lawsuits over state voter identification requirements. Last year, the state agreed to settle longstanding legal disputes with Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes. The tribes sued over North Dakota’s requirement that voters have identification with a street address. The tribes said it creates a disadvantage for Native Americans who live on reservations where street addresses are hard to come by. The dispute at one point reached the U.S. Supreme Court. An 8th U.S. Circuit of Appeals panel on Friday upheld a federal judge’s May 2020 order that the state pay $452,983, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
Sinixt Eager To Celebrate First Nation Recognition
Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, July 20
After winning a landmark case before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Sinixt, or Arrow Lakes Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington, are looking forward exercising rights and receiving benefits that come with First Nations or registered Indian status in Canada. However, last year in March, the United States and Canada closed their borders to nonessential travel. Sinixt discussions with Canadian officials are on hold until restrictions are eased. About 80 percent of the Sinixt’s traditional homelands are in British Columbia and extend into Washington state. The Sinixt did not give up their traditional territory in Canada, and some remained there. However, the Canadian government declared them “extinct” in 1956.
Lawsuit Wants Money Back For Energy Program In Rural Alaska
AP News, Becky Bohrer, July 19
A coalition that includes the Alaska Federation of Natives and electric cooperatives sued Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Monday to force his administration to release money intended to help lower rural utility costs. The Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund is among the pots of money that the Dunleavy administration says can be swept into a budget reserve. The state Constitution says money taken from the reserve, which lawmakers have relied on for years to help pay for government, is to be repaid. A legislative attorney in 2019 said the sweep happens automatically. Action to reverse it and return funds to their original accounts requires three-fourths support in each the House and Senate. Lawmakers failed to garner the required support last month amid a budget dispute. Scott Kendall, an attorney for plaintiffs including Native organizations and local and tribal governments, said the issue isn’t with the failed vote but with the administration’s view that money from the endowment fund can be added to the budget reserve.
Other:
From The Rez To National News Anchor
Indian Country Today, July 20
Aliyah Chavez has dreamt of being on a television news program since her childhood. Now her dream is coming true. She is now the anchor for ICT’s newscast, the news organization announced Tuesday at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The daily half-hour newscast started in March 2020, the start of the pandemic, and has evolved exponentially since with ICT Editor Mark Trahant and Executive Producer Patty Talahongva, Hopi, co-anchoring. Naming Chavez, Kewa Pueblo, as anchor of “ICT Newscast with Aliyah Chavez” pushes the platform in the direction of reaching a younger audience and more Indigenous communities.
Osage Reign Of Terror-Themed Exhibit Taken Down
Indian Country Today, Shannon Shaw Duty, July 20
Tulsa natives Dr. Ricco Wright and Charica Daugherty apologized to the Osage Nation on Saturday after the Osage community condemned their Reign of Terror-themed art exhibit that opened in Tribeca, New York on July 15. The exhibit, titled “Wolfsbane and the Flower Moon,” showcased six oil paintings by Daugherty that depicted nude poses of Reign of Terror victims Mollie Burkhart and Anna Brown. The exhibit was the featured show at Wright’s Black Wall Street Galleryand was supposed to be on display until July 21. However, after the Osage community lambasted the gallery and Daugherty online, Wright said the show was coming down and that all six oil paintings would be destroyed.
We Have A Moral Obligation To Learn Native American History
The Hill, Ted Gover, July 20
Recent announcements by Canadian First Nation Tribes of unmarked graves on the grounds of former Indian boarding schools where Indigenous children were mistreated understandably grabbed headlines and shocked many. Sadly, most Americans are unaware that similar abuses took place across 30 states. These blind spots can hinder the ability of our country’s future voters and their elected representatives to understand the plight of Native Nations, likely prolonging ineffective and harmful federal Indian policy coming out of Washington. Unless we are grounded with an awareness of how the mistreatment of Native Americans over the centuries is linked to their current poor outcomes in health, economic opportunity and education, how can we expect our fellow citizens to elect members of Congress who will take seriously the federal government’s trust responsibility towards Indian Country?
Monster Wildfire Tests Years Of Forest Management Efforts
AP News, Gillian Flaccus, July 20
Ecologists in a vast region of wetlands and forest in remote Oregon have spent the past decade thinning young trees and using planned fires to try to restore the thick stands of ponderosa to a less fire-prone state. This week, the nation’s biggest burning wildfire provided them with an unexpected, real-world experiment. As the massive inferno half the size of Rhode Island roared into the Sycan Marsh Preserve, firefighters said the flames jumped less from treetop to treetop and instead returned to the ground, where they were easier to fight, moved more slowly and did less damage to the overall forest. The area on the northeastern flank of the Bootleg Fire is in the ancestral homeland of the Klamath Tribes, which have used intentional, managed fire to keep the fuel load low and prevent such explosive blazes. Scientists at the Sycan Marsh research station now work with the tribe and draw on that knowledge.