Good morning, NUNAverse,
Today, Hawai‘i Senator Brian Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led committee passage of S.989, the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2021, and S. 1402, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021, named after Cherokee linguist and Vietnam veteran Durbin Feeling, who passed away in 2020. “These bipartisan Native languages bills will improve federal support for culturally-based Native language instruction and ensure Native American language use continues to grow,” said Chairman Schatz. “S.989, which I introduced along with Senator Smith, will … establish a national Native American language resource center [to] share promising practices and resources that support Native language use, revitalization, and instruction. S.1402, which I introduced along with Vice Chairman Murkowski, makes the federal government more accountable by setting clear goals and asking for direct input from Native communities about how federal resources can be more effectively used to support and revitalize Native languages.”
Lebron James’ Springhill Company will produce a film for Netflix about a Native basketball style know commonly as “Rez Ball”. The streaming service has set Sydney Freeland to co-write and direct the feature. Freeland (Navajo) is a known for “Drunktown’s Finest” and the upcoming FX show “Reservation Dogs.” The term “Rez Ball” is short for “reservation ball” and is a style of basketball specific to reservations that involves transition play, aggressive defense, quick scoring, and strategic pressure meant to force half-court traps.
Just 15 years ago, most Anchorage, Alaska residents wouldn’t have been able to answer the question: who lived here before settlers arrived? Aaron Leggett, (Dena’Ina), has been working to change that. He’s president of the Village of Eklutna and senior curator of Alaska History and Indigenous Culture at the Anchorage Museum. He said the Dena’ina Athabascan people were virtually invisible until a civic and convention center was named after them. Having their name on a building used by thousands of people year-around was a “game changer,” Leggett said. That plus land acknowledgements have brought the Dena’ina people into focus. Leggett said the growing awareness prompted Eklutna to do more to build Anchorage’s identity as an Indigenous place.
Yellowstone National Park said on Wednesday that it will work to expand tribal presence and representation of 27 tribe’s historical and important cultural heritage in the park as Yellowstone’s 150th anniversary approaches in 2022. Yellowstone says that it works with tribes on a variety of initiatives, including a bison management initiative that involved the recent transfer of Yellowstone bison to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck, Montana. “The park also initiated a multi-year partnership with Native American Studies faculty at Salish Kootenai College as they bring an unique understanding of the cultural importance of archaeological resources within the park,” Yellowstone said.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Schatz Leads Indian Affairs Committee Passage Of Bipartisan Bills To Support Native Languages
United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, August 5
Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led committee passage of S.989, the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2021, and S.1402, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021, named after Cherokee linguist and Vietnam veteran Durbin Feeling, who passed away in 2020. “These bipartisan Native languages bills will improve federal support for culturally-based Native language instruction and ensure Native American language use continues to grow,” said Chairman Schatz. “S.989, which I introduced along with Senator Smith, will … establish a national Native American language resource center [to] share promising practices and resources that support Native language use, revitalization, and instruction. S.1402, which I introduced along with Vice Chairman Murkowski, makes the federal government more accountable by setting clear goals and asking for direct input from Native communities about how federal resources can be more effectively used to support and revitalize Native languages.”
Politics:
Echohawk, Sixkiller Trail In Bid To Be Seattle’s Next Mayor
Indian Country Today, Richard Allan Walker, August 4
Two Indigenous candidates making historic bids to be the next mayor of Seattle were trailing late Tuesday in the city’s primary election. With returns still being counted, Colleen Echohawk, Pawnee, and Casey Sixkiller, Cherokee, had not broken into the top two spots needed to advance to the Nov. 2 general election. Former City Council member Bruce Harrell, who once served as acting mayor, was leading the field of 15 candidates with 38.2 percent of the vote. Current council president Lorena Gonzalez was second with 28.6 percent, as of 8 p.m. Tuesday. Echohawk, executive director of the Chief Seattle Club, which serves Seattle’s Native homeless population, was third with 8.3 percent and Sixkiller, the city’s deputy mayor, was sixth with 3.6 percent of the vote.
Other:
Lebron James’ Springhill To Produce Native American Basketball Film ‘Rez Ball’ at Netflix
Yahoo Brian Welk, August 5
A Native basketball style commonly known as “Rez Ball” will create a film for Netflix in partnership with Lebron James’ Springhill Company. The streamer has set Sydney Freeland to co-write and direct the feature. Freeland (Navajo) is a known for “Drunktown’s Finest” and the upcoming FX show “Reservation Dogs.” She will direct “Rez Ball.” The term “Rez Ball” is short for “reservation ball” and is a style of basketball specific to Native reservations that involves transition play, aggressive defense, quick scoring, and strategic pressure meant to force half-court traps.
Uranium Cleanup Could Benefit New Mexico, Tribes
US News Scott Wyland, August 6
In 1979 the Church Rock spill is just part of the vast uranium waste that the mining industry left behind in Indian Country, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Now some tribal advocates, state officials and lawmakers believe cleaning up the waste would not only remove an environmental and health hazard but create good-paying jobs in the affected communities.
Bringing Dena’ina Into Public Consciousness Through Place Names
Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, August 05
Just 15 years ago, most Anchorage, Alaska residents wouldn’t have been able to answer the question: who lived here before settlers arrived? Aaron Leggett, Dena’Ina, has been working to change that. He’s president of the Native Village of Eklutna and senior curator of Alaska History and Indigenous Culture at the Anchorage Museum. He said the Dena’ina Athabascan people were virtually invisible until a civic and convention center was named after them. Having their name on a building used by thousands of people year-around was a “game changer,” Leggett said. That plus land acknowledgements have brought the Dena’ina people into focus. Leggett said the growing awareness prompted the Eklutna tribe to do more to build Anchorage’s identity as an Indigenous place.
Native News Online Wins Two Awards From Native American Journalists Association
Native News Online, August 5
The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) announced on Wednesday Native News Online will receive two awards during the 2021 National Native Media Awards virtual ceremony on Oct. 28, 2021. The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists from across the U.S. and Canada. NAJA received more than 730 entries from numerous publications serving Indian Country. Native News Online was recognized for its work in two categories: Print / Online – Best Column and Print / Online – Best Digital Publication.
Police Officer’s Description Of A Driver Is Latest Case To Expose South Dakota City’s Divide On Racial Tensions
CNN, Nicole Chavez, August 5
The fallout from a police officer who followed a car thinking the man behind the wheel was Native is testing the fragility of race relations in a South Dakota city. The police officer in Rapid City resigned after he allegedly reported that “a young Native American male (was) driving a really new Mercedes car.” While city officials see the officer’s resignation in lieu of termination over alleged racial profiling as swift action and a sign of progress in a town with a long history of racial tensions, Indigenous organizers say the incident was not isolated. The officer’s alleged comments represent a culture of discrimination toward Native people in the city’s police department, they said.
Yellowstone Working To Expand Tribal Presence; American Indians Have Connected With Landscape For 11,000 Years
Oil City News, Brendan LaChance, August 4
Yellowstone National Park said on Wednesday that it will work to “expand tribal presence and representation of their important cultural heritage in the park” as Yellowstone’s 150th anniversary approaches in 2022. ellowstone says that it works with tribes on a variety of initiatives, including a bison management initiative that involved “the recent transfer of Yellowstone bison to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck, Montana.” “The park also initiated a multi-year partnership with Native American Studies faculty at Salish Kootenai College as they bring an unique understanding of the cultural importance of archaeological resources within the park,” Yellowstone said. The park said that Yellowstone and tribes have been engaged in improving partnerships to tell tribal stories.
Yurok Tribe In Northern California Grows Solutions In Soil Of Crises
Cronkite News, Mackenzie Wilke, August 4
The CDC granted California tribes more than $19 million in CARES Act funds to address health needs and related issues; only Alaska received more. The Yurok Tribe, the largest in the state, with more than 5,000 enrolled members, received about $1 million – the largest sum from the CDC to any California tribe. The Yurok Tribe received more than $32.7 million in CARES Act money from the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The tribe used $490,000, according to property tax records, to buy 40 acres of land, which was originally a part of their ancestral home. The tribe’s Food Sovereignty Division plans to create “food villages” on the 40 acres, manager Taylor Thompson said. The daisy-covered hills, grassy meadows and redwoods would become a communal garden and commercial kitchen, with small homes for workers to create a self-sustaining food system that can withstand a crisis.
First Wyoming Veterans Memorial Honoring Native American-indigenous Veterans Of The Wind River Reservation
PR Newswire, August 4
The Veterans of the American Legion Richard Pogue Post #81 will host the dedication of the first memorial in Wyoming honoring Native American-Indigenous Veterans and their military service. Several state and local leaders will be in attendance to commemorate this momentous occasion. Governor Mark Gordon, Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Leaders, and Wind River Veterans will provide remarks. Located in Fort Washakie on the Wind River Reservation, The Path of Honor is a tribute to all military service members who live within the boundaries of the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. The memorial is a collection of stones representing four-eras of service; Pre World War Era Service and World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and finally the Post- Vietnam & Gulf War Era.