Good morning, NUNAverse:
The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women will be examined in a special one-hour Dateline NBC program called The Secrets of Spirit Lake. NBC News’ Andrea Canning will report on how jurisdictional rules between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement can leave families alone in their search for answers, and on the growing movement demanding change. Canning interviewed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) to provide insight into the epidemic that Indigenous women have encountered for centuries. The special, which airs at 10 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, is part of NBC News’ week-long The Vanished series, featuring in-depth and exclusive coverage on missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals denied a request by tribes and others on Aug. 24 to hear an appeal opposing the construction of Enbridge Line 3. There are two remaining lawsuits opposing Line 3, one in federal district court seeking suspension of the Army Corps of Engineer’s 401 water quality permit for the pipeline and a call for the Corps to conduct a full environmental impact statement. The Biden administration signaled in a court filing in June that it has no plans to cancel federal permits for the pipeline. It’s unclear when the case will be heard. Meanwhile on Wednesday, rally participants stood up more than a dozen tipis stood on the Minnesota State Capitol mall as attendees carrying flags and signs that read “Defend the Sacred” and “Honor our Treaties” gathered before the building. The rally, part of a series of events called Treaties over Tar Sands organized by Indigenous and environmental activists, called on Gov. Tim Walz and President Joe Biden to pull permits and shut down the Line 3 replacement pipeline project.
For Don Gentry, Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, this year’s wildfire season has proved devastating. “[The land burned is] where we hunt, fish, gather, exercise our traditional and spiritual practices, me and others are going through a kind of a grieving process. It’s just devastating to look at.” This year, wildfires have consumed land that is home to members of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin tribes, devouring both forests and structures. To be sure, extreme drought and oppressive heat waves born of climate change bear much of the blame for this season’s conflagrations. But experts also note another reason: the abandonment of Native American practices designed to help manage and protect the forest.
A former manager of Warm Springs Construction Enterprise (WSCE), a company wholly owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court for his role to defraud the tribe of more than $50,000. Thomas Valentino Adams, who is not a tribal citizen, pleaded guilty to theft of funds from a tribal organization. Valentino and an accomplice, Roderick Ariwite, were indicted last September for conspiring to misappropriate $93,700 of tribal funds and with five counts of substantive misappropriation of tribal funds. According to court documents, the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation, also known as Warm Springs Ventures, operates as the management organization for several tribal business entities, including WSCE.
Keep reading for a full news update.
MMIW:
Secratary of the Interior Haaland To Discuss MMIW Epidemic On Dateline NBC On Friday
Native News Online, August 25
The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women will be examined in a special one-hour Dateline NBC program called The Secrets of Spirit Lake. NBC News’ Andrea Canning will report on how jurisdictional rules between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement can leave families alone in their search for answers, and on the growing movement demanding change. Canning interviewed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) to provide insight into the epidemic that Indigenous women have encountered for centuries. The special, which airs at 10 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, is part of NBC News’ week-long The Vanished series, featuring in-depth and exclusive coverage on missing and murdered Indigenous women.
[Video] ‘We’re Forgotten’: Native Americans Make Up Disproportionate Number Of Missing Persons Cases
NBC News, August 25
Native American people make up 10 percent of all missing persons cases despite only being roughly 1 percent of the population. NBC News’ Morgan Radford takes an in-depth look into the systemic reasons this may be happening and what is being done to change that.
Law:
Court Denied Line 3 Appeal, Still A Go
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, August 25
The Minnesota Court of Appeals denied a request by tribes and others on Aug. 24 to hear an appeal opposing the construction of Enbridge Line 3. The appeal, filed by the Red Lake, White Earth Band and Milles Lac Bands of Ojibwe and others, opposed the state’s Public Utilities Commission granting a certificate of need for the pipeline as well as a routing permit. According to a report in Energy Wire, Enbridge Inc. stated in a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this month that oil could begin to flow through Line 3 by mid-September. There are two remaining lawsuits opposing Line 3, one in federal district court seeking suspension of the Army Corps of Engineer’s 401 water quality permit for the pipeline and a call for the Corps to conduct a full environmental impact statement. The Biden administration signaled in a court filing in June that it has no plans to cancel federal permits for the pipeline. It’s unclear when the case will be heard.
Former Manager of Tribal Construction Company Pleads Guilty of Stealing More than $50,000
Native News Online, August 24
A former manager of Warm Springs Construction Enterprise (WSCE), a company wholly owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court for his role to defraud the tribe of more than $50,000. Thomas Valentino Adams, who is not a tribal citizen, pleaded guilty to theft of funds from a tribal organization. Valentino and an accomplice, Roderick Ariwite, were indicted last September for conspiring to misappropriate $93,700 of tribal funds and with five counts of substantive misappropriation of tribal funds. According to court documents, the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation, also known as Warm Springs Ventures, operates as the management organization for several tribal business entities, including WSCE.
Other:
Fighting Fire With Fire: Native American Burning Practices Spark Interest In A Year Of Historic Wildfires
Yahoo, Chloe Xiang, August 26
For Don Gentry, chairman of the Klamath Tribes, the federally recognized tribe located in Oregon and California, this year’s wildfire season has proved devastating. “[The land burned is] where we hunt, fish, gather, exercise our traditional and spiritual practices,” Gentry told Yahoo News. “Me and others are going through a kind of a grieving process. It’s just devastating to look at.” This year, wildfires have consumed land that is home to members of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin tribes, devouring both forests and structures. To be sure, extreme drought and oppressive heat waves born of climate change bear much of the blame for this season’s conflagrations. But experts also note another reason: the abandonment of Native American practices designed to help manage and protect the forest.
Line 3 Opponents Descend On Minnesota Capitol To Seek A Stop
AP News, Mohammad Ibrahim, August 25
Protesters descended upon the Minnesota State Capitol on Wednesday to rally against Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 oil pipeline as the project nears completion. The rally, part of a series of events called Treaties over Tar Sands organized by Indigenous and environmental activists, called on Gov. Tim Walz and President Joe Biden to pull permits and shut down the Line 3 replacement pipeline project. Construction began in December and oil is expected to start flowing before the end of the year. More than a dozen tipis stood on the state Capitol mall as rally goers carrying flags and signs that read “Defend the Sacred” and “Honor our Treaties” gathered before the building. Opponents of the pipeline, which would carry Canadian tar sands oil and lighter crude, argue the project violates Native treaty rights and will aggravate climate change and risk spills that would contaminate areas where Indigenous people hunt, fish and gather wild rice.
Monument Honoring Tribes To Be Placed Where Junipero Serra Statue Was Toppled Last Summer
Native News Online, August 25
The California State Senate voted to approve the placement of a monument honoring tribes in Capitol Park near the state capitol of California. The monument will replace the statue of Junipero Serra, who founded the state’s Catholic mission system, that was toppled last summer in the aftermath of the killing of George Flyod. The Serra statue was erected in 1967. The bill originated in the California State Assembly. It was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first and only Native in the California state legislature. The vote passed by a vote of 28 to 2 with widespread bipartisan support. It now moves to the desk of California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
Forge Fellowship Awards $25,000 To Four Native Notables
Indian Country Today, Vincent Schilling, August 25
Four Native movers and shakers are the recipients of a $25,000 cash award and fellowship opportunity provided by the Forge Project, an initiative in New York created to “to support established and emerging Indigenous leaders in the land justice, education, and cultural fields with financial support and a residency.” In addition to the cash award, each of the four will also be able to secure use of the Forge Project property located in the Hudson Valley. The Forge House property, designed by the world-renowned Chinese artisan Ai Weiwei in collaboration with HHF Architects, consists of two large wood and corrugated metal buildings that contain a living space, studio space and an illuminated art gallery.
Alaska Native Convention Delayed Over COVID Surge
AP News, August 25
The Alaska Federation of Natives has postponed its annual convention because of a rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, officials said in a statement. The convention has traditionally been the largest gathering of Alaska Natives in the state. It had been scheduled for Oct. 21-23 but is now delayed until mid-December in Anchorage, the organization said in a statement Tuesday. The federation’s board of directors cited a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide and the increasing pressure placed on Alaska’s limited healthcare system. Organizers said they will continue planning for an in-person convention at the Dena’ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage with a virtual option. However, the statement said the board will make a decision by mid-October on whether to maintain the in-person part.
Power Up: Solar Education Kits Help Native Students Learn From Home
Native News Online, Andrew Kennard, August 25
Thanks to a new solar-powered light, Audrina Romero can keep reading and painting long after the sun goes down. Audrina is one of 75 students at Tse’Bii’Nidzisgai Elementary School who has new access to light and electrical power through a solar power station kit installed by the Heart of America and Young Living Foundations and donated by the renewable power solutions company Goal Zero. Mylo Fowler (Navajo), HOA’s Native American community liaison, said 25 more Navajo homes will receive kits before the project’s end. Kits like the one the Romero family received includes a light, a solar panel and a 500-watt battery that charges Audrina’s school computer and other devices.
NBA Champ Visits Pine Ridge
Indian Country Today, August 25
NBA superstar Kyrie Irving was spotted Wednesday on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. The Pine Ridge High School and Red Cloud Indian School posted photos of Irving interacting with Native youth. Details of the visit aren’t public, but a Facebook post by Red Cloud thanked Irving for stopping by. Irving (Standing Rock Sioux) plays for the Brooklyn Nets. In 2018 during a visit to Standing Rock, Irving received the name Little Mountain. Since the start of the pandemic, Little Mountain has donated supplies to the tribe, including food and face masks.