Good Morning NUNAverse,
Earlier this month, 17 members of Congress wrote a letter to President Joe Biden pressuring him to revoke the Medals of Honor given to soldiers who participated in the Wounded Knee Massacre. The letter was authored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley, and Representative Kaiali’i Kahele, along with 14 other lawmakers. As the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor is awarded in the name of Congress for gallantry beyond the call of duty. Native peoples have wanted for decades the Medals of Honor to be revoked, because the sentiment is that the acts against innocent Lakota men, women, and children were not “gallant.” Prior to being elected president, on January 15, 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden committed in a written statement to the Four Directions and Nevada Tribes Native American Presidential Forum that he supported the revocation of the Medals of Honor for the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre.
Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan hosted a bill signing ceremony with Minnesota Tribal leaders from most of the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. The ceremony was held on the Minnesota State Capitol Grounds at the State Department of Revenue. The bill, “Government to Government Relationship with Tribal Governments,” passed both houses of the Minnesota state legislature earlier this year on June 30, and was signed into law the next day by Governor Walz. The bill signing ceremony was postponed until November due to COVID-19. The bill—Executive Order 19-24—provides for Tribal-state relations and requires state agencies to implement Tribal consultation policies in consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments. It requires state agencies to develop and maintain ongoing consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments related to matters that have tribal implications, and for state agencies to designate a Tribal liaison to ensure nation-to-nation consultation is maintained and to serve as a point of contact for the tribes.
Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Tuesday to allow boosters of its COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older, a step that comes amid concern about increased spread of COVID-19 with holiday travel and gatherings. Older Americans and other groups particularly vulnerable to the virus have had access to a third dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine since September. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it would move quickly to expand boosters to younger ages if warranted. Pfizer is submitting early results of a booster study in 10,000 people to make its case that it’s time to further expand the booster campaign. While all three vaccines used in the U.S. continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death, the shots’ effectiveness against milder infection can wane over time.
The Biden administration is weighing the market consequences of closing down Enbridge Line 5, an aging pipeline that carries Canadian oil and gas for 645 miles through Wisconsin, Michigan, and then into Canada. The discussions arise as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing an environmental impact statement on Enbridge’s proposal to run a replacement segment through a tunnel that would be drilled beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The announcement follows a letter from Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes to Biden urging him to “lend unequivocal support to our efforts … to decommission the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline.” The tribes have joined with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Biden ally, and Attorney General Dana Nessel, in fighting the pipeline.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Politics:
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Has New Chief Of Staff
Native News Online, Jenna Kunze, November 9
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland on Monday replaced exiting Chief of Staff Larry Roberts with longtime government employee Rachael S. Taylor, effective November 15. Taylor previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Interior for Policy, Management, and Budget. Her predecessor, Roberts (Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin), is leaving the department for a tribal attorney general position, according to a statement from the Interior. The Office of Policy, Management and Budget (PMB) is responsible for management and operational issues within the Department.
COVID-19:
Pfizer Aks FDA To OK COVID-19 Booster Shots For All Adults
AP News, Lauran Neergaard, November 9
Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Tuesday to allow boosters of its COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older, a step that comes amid concern about increased spread of the coronavirus with holiday travel and gatherings. Older Americans and other groups particularly vulnerable to the virus have had access to a third dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine since September. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it would move quickly to expand boosters to younger ages if warranted. Pfizer is submitting early results of a booster study in 10,000 people to make its case that it’s time to further expand the booster campaign. While all three vaccines used in the U.S. continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death, the shots’ effectiveness against milder infection can wane over time.
Other:
Pressure Mounts On President Biden To Revoke The Medals Of Honor For The Wounded Knee Massacre
Native News Online, November 9
Earlier this month, 17 members of Congress wrote a letter to President Joe Biden to pressure him to use his authority to revoke the Medals of Honor given to soldiers who participated in the Wounded Knee Massacre. The letter was authored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele (D-HI), along with other 14 lawmakers. As the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor is awarded in the name of Congress for gallantry beyond the call of duty. Native Americans have wanted for decades the Medals of Honor to be revoked, because the sentiment is that the acts against innocent Lakota men, women, and children were not “gallant.” Prior to being elected president, on January 15, 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden committed in a written statement to the Four Directions and Nevada Tribes Native American Presidential Forum that he supported the revocation of the Medals of Honor for the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre.
Minnesota Governor, Lieutenant Governor Celebrate Ceremonial Signing Of Executive Order 19-24 With Tribes In Minnesota
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, November 9
Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan hosted a bill signing ceremony with elected Minnesota Tribal leaders from most of the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state. The ceremony was held on the Minnesota State Capitol Grounds at the State Department of Revenue. The bill, “Government to Government Relationship with Tribal Governments,” passed both houses of the Minnesota state legislature earlier this year on June 30, and was signed into law the next day by Minn. Governor Tim Walz. The bill signing ceremony was postponed until November due to COVID-19. The bill—Executive Order 19-24—provides for Tribal-state relations and requires state agencies to implement Tribal consultation policies in consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments. It requires state agencies to develop and maintain ongoing consultation with Minnesota Tribal governments related to matters that have tribal implications, and for state agencies to designate a Tribal liaison to ensure nation-to-nation consultation is maintained and to serve as a point of contact for the tribes.
UW-Madison Professors Report Native American Discrimination Still Present Today
TMJ4, Julia Fellow, November 9
It is Native American Heritage Month. According to the U.S. Census, there are more than 51,000 people who identify as Native American in Wisconsin. Two UW-Madison professors are spotlighting what they call ‘Indigenous Activism.’ The professors spoke about issues the Native American community have been addressing, both past and present. The fight for the rights of Indigenous Nations and their people was spotlighted at the 2021 UW-Madison Diversity Forum. Professor Sasha Suarez described shocking stereotypes heard by Native Americans who applied for jobs in recent past — right here in the Midwest. She uncovered those reports during research for her doctorate degree, “Multiple bosses didn’t want to hire and fire [Native Americans] because they were ‘flighty’ and ‘drunk.’” We asked her how she felt when she discovered that. She replied, “It wasn’t unexpected, but it was hard to read.”
Biden Administration Considers Closing Down Enbridge Line 5
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, November 9
The Biden administration is weighing the market consequences of closing down Enbridge Line 5, an aging pipeline that carries Canadian oil and gas for 645 miles through Wisconsin, Michigan and then into Canada. The discussions arise as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing an environmental impact statement on Enbridge’s proposal to run a replacement segment through a tunnel that would be drilled beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The announcement follows a Nov. 4 letter from Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes to Biden urging him to “lend unequivocal support to our efforts … to decommission the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline.” The tribes have joined with Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Biden ally, and Attorney General Dana Nessel, in fighting the pipeline.