Good Morning NUNAverse,
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and other Interior Department officials spent their last day of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) highlighting Indigenous-led and nature-based solutions to address the dual crises of climate change and impacts to biodiversity. On Saturday, Secretary Haaland and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power hosted the “Saving Nature to Save Ourselves” panel to underscore the urgency of U.S. domestic and international nature-based efforts to address climate change and conserve biodiversity, as well as the importance of using Indigenous knowledge for conservation efforts. The panel discussion highlighted how the climate crisis is hastening an extinction crisis that threatens the biodiversity of our planet and the health of the natural systems that supply our food, water, and other resources.
Montana’s redistricting commission chair selected on Thursday a congressional district map proposed by Republicans, dealing a blow to Democrats who hoped to craft a western district that would give them a better chance of winning. Chair Maylinn Smith, who was appointed to the commission by the state’s Supreme Court, chose a map dividing the state into eastern and western districts, with the liberal college towns Bozeman and Missoula in the west but blue-leaning state capital Helena and Yellowstone National Park gateway community Livingston in the east. The selected map splits only one county in the state — rural Pondera County, which has a population of just over 6,000. Two of the state’s seven reservations are in the western district. Smith, an expert in Native law, said it was important to her to have two reservations in the western district.
Oklahomans Joy Harjo and W. Richard West were inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. The third induction ceremony for the Native American Hall of Fame was held for the first time at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Joy Harjo is an internationally renowned poet, known for telling the Native experience through written and spoken word. She also spent a lot of her career trying to lift the voices of her fellow Native writers. W. Richard West spent the first part of his life as a lawyer for Native communities and organizations. By his mid-40s, he realized he could do even more through museum work. Both West and Harjo will be given a permanent presence at the Hall of Fame in Montana, but the actual location of the hall will not be permanent.
There are fewer than 500 fluent Lakota language speakers among the Sicangu Lakota Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), so a tribal entity is trying to attract adults to language preservation by paying them to study and become conversational or fluent in the Indigenous language. That’s where Lakolya Waoniya, which translates roughly to “Breathing Life into the Lakota Language,” comes in. Wizipan Little Elk, CEO of Rosebud Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) said that the idea is essentially to pay people a full-time salary for a full-time job, which is learning the language. The program is designed to last for about three years. Participants will receive a full salary – above minimum wage – along with benefits to study the language at an intensive scale on the reservation, based in South Dakota.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Politics:
Montana Commission Finalizes Congressional District Lines
AP News, Iris Samuels, November 7
Montana’s redistricting commission chair selected on Thursday a congressional district map proposed by Republicans, dealing a blow to Democrats who hoped to craft a western district that would give them a better chance of winning. Chair Maylinn Smith, who was appointed to the commission by the state’s Supreme Court, chose a map dividing the state into eastern and western districts, with the liberal college towns Bozeman and Missoula in the west but blue-leaning state capital Helena and Yellowstone National Park gateway community Livingston in the east. The selected map splits only one county in the state — rural Pondera County, which has a population of just over 6,000. Two of the state’s seven Native American reservations are in the western district. Smith, an expert in Native American law, said it was important to her to have two reservations in the western district.
Law:
No Ballot Boxes For 100 Miles: How A Bill Aims To Make Voting Easier For Native Americans
ABC7, Vanessa Misciagna, November 7
Located in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, Navajo Nation is more than 27,000 square miles and is the largest Native American reservation in the country. Getting around, in general, can be difficult but navigating to a ballot box for many is nearly impossible. The truth is, Native Americans have to travel sometimes over 100 miles to get to a ballot box. Also, some Native people only speak their native languages. An act up for debate on the federal level would help bring down those unique barriers preventing indigenous peoples from voting. The Native American Voting Rights Act, which is right now being included in the larger John Lewis Voting Rights Act, would also make tribal ID cards viable for voting purposes and create a task force to keep tabs on inequities in the voting process.
Navajo Nation President Nez Signs Ban On Indoor Smoking
AP News, November 7
The leader of the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. signed legislation Saturday to ban indoor smoking in many locations, including the tribe’s casinos. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez called the ban a “monumental achievement and bold step in the right direction to promote healthy living among our Navajo people. Tribal lawmakers approved the bill in October that prohibits the use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, electronic cigarettes and other commercial products in public buildings and workspaces, including a 25-foot (7.6-meter) buffer outdoors. The ban will not apply to the ceremonial use of tobacco or in people’s homes unless they are being used as day care centers, adult care centers or as business offices.
Other:
Cherokee Elder Pedals Way Into National Cycling Competition
Cherokee Phoenix, Chad Hunter, November 7
A long-distance competitive cyclist from Tahlequah earned a spot on the national stage in 2022 by placing in this year’s Oklahoma Senior Games held in October. Cherokee Nation citizen Simeon Gipson, 75, took part in his eighth consecutive state Senior Games in the 22K road race with a time of 47 minutes, 28 seconds, which was 1:15 behind first place, according to the race results. He competed in the 75-79 bracket at Lake Stanley Draper in Oklahoma City. Gipson has qualified for many national games, but has so far attended only two. He can often be seen cycling throughout Cherokee County.
Program Seeks To Remove Barriers To Learning Lakota
The Daily Yonder, Kristi Eaton, November 7
There are fewer than 500 fluent Lakota language speakers among the Sicangu Lakota Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), so a tribal entity is trying to attract adults to language preservation by paying them to study and become conversational or fluent in the Indigenous language. That’s where Lakolya Waoniya, which translates roughly to “Breathing Life into the Lakota Language,” comes in. Wizipan Little Elk, CEO of Rosebud Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) said that the idea is essentially to pay people a full-time salary for a full-time job, which is learning the language. The program is designed to last for about three years. Participants will receive a full salary – above minimum wage – along with benefits to study the language at an intensive scale on the reservation, based in South Dakota.
Two Oklahomans Honored For Their Work In The Advancement Of Native Americans
KUCO5, Andey Weber, November 7
Oklahomans Joy Harjo and W. Richard West were inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. The third induction ceremony for the Native American Hall of Fame was held for the first time at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. Joy Harjo is an internationally renowned poet, known for telling the Native American experience through written and spoken word. She also spent a lot of her career trying to lift the voices of her fellow native writers. W. Richard West spent the first part of his life as a lawyer for Native American communities and organizations. By his mid-40s, he realized he could do even more through museum work. Both West and Harjo will be given a permanent presence at the Hall of Fame in Montana, but the actual location of the hall will not be permanent.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Promotes Indigenous Knowledge At COP26
Native News Online, November 6
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and other Interior Dept. officials spent their last day of the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Department leaders spent their last day of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) highlighting Indigenous-led and nature-based solutions to address the dual crises of climate change and impacts to biodiversity. On Saturday, Haaland and of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power hosted the “Saving Nature to Save Ourselves” panel to underscore the urgency of U.S. domestic and international nature-based efforts to address climate change and conserve biodiversity, as well as the importance of using Indigenous knowledge for conservation efforts. The panel discussion highlighted how the climate crisis is hastening an extinction crisis that threatens the biodiversity of our planet and the health of the natural systems that supply our food, water, and other resources.
UW-Madison Flies Ho-Chunk Nation flag Atop Bascom Hall
AP News, November 6
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has raised the Ho-Chunk Nation flag over its main administration building, marking the first time that the university has flown another nation’s flag with the U.S. flag and the Wisconsin flag. Friday’s ceremony at Bascom Hall felt historic to senior Paige Skenandore who grew up on a reservation in northern Wisconsin and is one of roughly 100 Native American students on campus. It also felt long overdue. Ho-Chunk Nation Chief Clayton Winneshiek told attendees the flag-raising was “a start.” UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the flag-raising was more than a symbolic gesture but part of an ongoing commitment to educate and acknowledge the state’s tribes and their sovereignty.
Sage Memorial Hospital Breaks Ground On New Hospital Campus On The Navajo Nation
Native News Online, November 5
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer joined the Navajo Health Foundation – Sage Memorial Hospital board of directors at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday in Ganado, Ariz. to mark to mark the start of construction of a new 90,000 square feet, two-story hospital, medical office building, and on-site staff housing on the 18-acre site located west of the current hospital facility. Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony were members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council. The new hospital development will create significant economic impacts for the Ganado area, creating new employment opportunities throughout construction. Once completed, the hospital will also create approximately 100 new jobs for Navajo people. The new facility will be approximately 40-percent larger than the current hospital and provide at least 40 hospital beds and expanded services.