Good Morning NUNAverse,
Only 29% of Americans believe Major League Baseball should ban the “‘tomahawk chop” performed by Atlanta’s fans — a cheer the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) says “dehumanizes” Native peoples and has received renewed public scrutiny after former President Donald Trump performed the cheer while in attendance at Game 4 of the World Series Saturday night — according to a Morning Consult survey released Monday. Additionally, the poll found 27% of Americans believe the use of Native imagery and team names in American sports is disrespectful to Native people.
Five Montana tribes and two Montana state agencies have been awarded Department of Justice grants totaling $6,631,190 to provide support services to victims. The funding is from the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC). “These funds are focused on providing culturally-appropriate victim services in Indian Country communities, which experience far too much domestic and violent crime. The funds also will enhance State Victim Compensation payments to eligible crime victims. As we recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month, we need to support and highlight the work being done to help victims of violence, sexual assault and child abuse,” Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
When Nicolle Gonzales gave birth to her three children in a hospital setting, the care felt routine and mechanical. Having worked as a nurse with the Indian Health Service, Gonzales also noticed the gaps in support and accessibility that left many Native women with insufficient care during pregnancy and birthing. Her concerns drove her to become certified as a midwife and, in 2015, to launch the nonprofit Changing Woman Initiative to address maternal health disparities in Indigenous women. The U.S. faces higher rates of pregnancy related deaths than other developed nations, and Indigenous mothers are 2 to 3 times as likely to die than white mothers. The causes are multifaceted, but racism and lack of access are among the factors, experts say.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Native American Heritage Month:
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month: 15 Local Indigenous Instagrammers To Follow
AZ Central, KiMi Robinson, November 1
Across Arizona — where there are 22 federally recognized tribes — Native American business owners, artists, organizations and social media influencers have garnered dedicated followings on Instagram by sharing their talent, cultures, educational resources and advocacy for Indigenous issues on the platform. In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting Arizona Instagrammers such as content creator Caitlin O’Reilly (@nizhonifulme) and the Indigenous Community Collaborative (@indigenous.cc). O’Reilly’s followers look to her for thrift shopping and styling tips, and the collaborative is “revitalizing the Indigenous perspective” in Phoenix by partnering with organizations to provide support with programming, grants and multimedia creation.
Native Mascots:
Most Americans Find No Issue With Trump-Approved Braves ‘Chop,’ Poll Says
Forbes, Derek Saul, November 1
Only 29% of Americans believe Major League Baseball should ban the “‘tomahawk chop” performed by Atlanta Braves fans—a cheer the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) says “dehumanizes” Native Americans and has received renewed public scrutiny after former President Donald Trump performed the chop while in attendance at Game 4 of the World Series Saturday night—according to a Morning Consult survey released Monday. Additionally, the poll found 27% of Americans believe the use of native imagery and team names in American sports is disrespectful to Native Americans. The survey was conducted among 2,198 American adults between October 26-28
Other:
CSKT Awarded More Than $420,000 For Victim Services
Department of Justice, November 1
Five Montana Indian tribes and two Montana state agencies have been awarded Department of Justice grants totaling $6,631,190 to support services to victims. The funding is from the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC). “These funds are focused on providing culturally-appropriate victim services in Indian Country communities, which experience far too much domestic and violent crime. The funds also will enhance State Victim Compensation payments to eligible crime victims. As we recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month, we need to support and highlight the work being done to help victims of violence, sexual assault and child abuse,” Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Ghosts Suppers – Part of Odawa Tradition and Culture Still Alive
Native News Online, November 1
Ghost suppers are held each year during the first week of November by the Ottawas in the northern regions of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. To mention a few places, there is Cross Village, Middle Village (the oldest Indian settlement in the region), Five Mile Creek, Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Burt Lake. At this time one or two families in the community will cook a large supper, to which is generally understood all the Indians are invited. The word just gets around that some family is getting up a supper commemorating the spirits of their departed, hence, the name Ghost Suppers. To especially honor the memory of those who have gone to the “Happy Hunting Ground,” the family will invite a few people approximately of the same age of the deceased. Tobacco will be given to them if the person they are supposed to represent was a tobacco user; if not, some gift will be presented. Children are given candies or some little gift. Custom requires that these few especially invited guests come early enough, if possible, so that they will be among the first served.
New Project Seeks To Educate Hawaii Students About Native American Culture, History
Star Advertiser, Jayna Omaye, November 1
Growing up on the mainland, Mae Prieto said she wished she’d learned more about the history and stories of Indigenous people during school. So when Prieto, who is Native American and Native Hawaiian, took the reigns of the Oahu Intertribal Council in 2011, she made education one of her priorities.
Navajo Woman Starts Nonprofit To Improve Maternal Health
Cronkite News, Laura Bargfeld, November 1
When Nicolle Gonzales gave birth to her three children in a hospital setting, the care felt routine and mechanical. Having worked as a nurse with the Indian Health Service, Gonzales also noticed the gaps in support and accessibility that left many Native American women with insufficient care during pregnancy and birthing. Her concerns drove her to become certified as a midwife and, in 2015, to launch the nonprofit Changing Woman Initiative to address maternal health disparities in Indigenous women. The U.S. faces higher rates of pregnancy related deaths than other developed nations, and Indigenous mothers are 2 to 3 times as likely to die as white mothers. The causes are multifaceted, but racism and lack of access are among the factors, experts say.
Public Can Approach Tomb, See Native American Honor Guard
Vantage Point, November 1
For the first time in nearly 100 years, and as part of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration, the public will be able to walk on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza and lay flowers in front of the Tomb on Nov. 9 and 10, 2021. The flower ceremony will start at 8 a.m. Nov. 9 with representatives from the Crow Nation placing flowers at the Tomb. They will recite a prayer in honor of Chief Plenty Coups, who served as a scout for the U.S. Army. Invited by President Warren Harding, Chief Plenty Coups was the sole representative of Native Americans for the dedication of the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier in 1921. He gave a short speech in his native tongue in honor of the soldier and the occasion. He placed his war-bonnet and coup stick upon the tomb, which are preserved in a display case in Arlington.
Descendants Of Freedmen Enslaved By Native Americans In 1800s Seek Tribal Citizenship
MSNBC, October 31
Descendants of Black people enslaved by Native Americans continue to seek citizenship within their tribes. Many of the Freedmen marched with Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. Congresswoman Maxine Waters is leading the charge in pushing for federal legislation that would penalize tribes for not complying with an1866 treaty which gave full tribal rights to Black Native Americans.