Good Morning NUNAverse,
On November 30, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt rejected a request by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to extend a hunting and fishing compact between the state and the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations that went into effect on January 1, 2017. The Governor’s rejection comes with disapproval from five tribes in Oklahoma, citing that Governor Stitt previously supported the compact. The Governor’s rejection of the compact means tribal members will need to pay the state rates for hunting and fishing licenses and tags. Since the compacts have been established, the Cherokee compact generated more than $32 million and the Choctaw compact generated $6 million, according to the Cherokee Nation. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) uses the funding for wildlife management planning and operations, law enforcement, and conservation efforts, benefiting Natives and non-Natives alike.
A New Mexico redistricting plan is in limbo amid a standoff over Native priorities for achieving fair representation and efforts by lawmakers to avoid competitive pairing of incumbents in the next election. The state Senate canceled a floor session Monday amid discussions between legislators and tribal leaders. States must redraw their congressional and legislative districts every 10 years to reflect new population numbers, and New Mexico lawmakers are in the midst of a special legislative session on redistricting. A broad coalition of Native communities is backing a plan to shore up Native majorities in three state Senate districts in northwestern New Mexico and reinforce robust minority-Indigenous voting blocs in two additional districts. Left intact, the proposal from Indigenous groups would leave Republican state Senator Joseph Sanchez of Bosque outside the boundaries of his current district, potentially to compete in a neighboring district against GOP Senate minority leader Greg Baca of Belen.
It will be up New Mexico regulators to clear the way for the state’s largest electric provider to transfer its shares in one of the Southwest’s remaining coal-fired power plants to a Navajo energy company. A hearing examiner with the Public Regulation Commission presented his recommendations to commissioners during a meeting last week, saying it would result in savings for Public Service Co. of New Mexico customers, reduce emissions from the utility’s portfolio, and strengthen the Navajo Nation’s position when it comes to determining the future of the plant. Environmentalists have been pushing for Four Corners to be shuttered and have criticized the proposed transfer, suggesting it would prevent an early closure. Under the proposal, Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC) would take over PNM’s interest in Four Corners, becoming the second largest owner of shares in the plant. PNM shareholders would pay NTEC $75 million to assume its obligations under a coal supply agreement. Located on tribal land, the Four Corners Power Plant has been a huge economic driver for the Navajo Nation for decades. The plant and the neighboring mine that feeds it provide hundreds of jobs for tribal members and the operations account for nearly a quarter of the Navajo Nation’s annual general fund revenues.
“Reservation Dogs” the FX and HULU series, co-executive produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, has received a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.” The Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which has been under fire since last year’s controversial Golden Globes due to a lack of diversity and the complete absence of any Black members as noted by the #TimesUpGlobes hashtag — announced their nominations Monday morning. In addition to the nomination for Reservation Dogs, another Indigenous-themed animated film “Encanto” received nominations for “Best Motion Picture – Animated,” and “Best Original Score – Motion Picture.“
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Cancels Hunting And Fishing Compacts, Tribes Respond
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, December 13
On November 30, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt rejected a request by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to extend a hunting and fishing compact between the state and the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations that went into effect on January 1, 2017. The Governor’s rejection comes with disapproval from five tribes in Oklahoma, citing that Governor Stitt previously supported the compact. The Governor’s rejection of the compact means tribal members will need to pay the state rates for hunting and fishing licenses and tags. Since the compacts have been established, the Cherokee compact generated more than $32 million and the Choctaw compact generated $6 million, according to the Cherokee Nation. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) uses the funding for wildlife management planning and operations, law enforcement and conservation efforts, benefiting Natives and non-natives alike.
Other:
New Mexico Redistricting Stalls Amid Discord On Tribal Plan
AP News, Morgan Lee, December 13
A state Senate redistricting plan is in limbo amid a standoff over Native American priorities for achieving fair representation and efforts by lawmakers to avoid competitive pairing of incumbents in the next election. The Senate canceled a floor session Monday amid discussions between legislators and Indigenous tribal leaders. States must redraw their congressional and legislative districts every 10 years to reflect new population numbers, and New Mexico lawmakers are in the midst of a special legislative session on redistricting. A broad coalition of Native American communities is backing a plan to shore up voting-age, Native American majorities in three state Senate districts in northwestern New Mexico and reinforce robust minority-Indigenous voting blocs in two additional districts. Left intact, the proposal from Indigenous groups would leave Republican state Sen. Joseph Sanchez of Bosque outside the boundaries of his current district, potentially to compete in a neighboring district against GOP Senate minority leader Greg Baca of Belen.
Uarizona Postdoc’s 50-Mile Run For Indigenous Scientists Featured In Patagonia Film
Native News Online, Kyle Mittan, December 13
When Lydia Jennings finally finished her doctoral program in soil microbiology, a lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic made celebrating difficult. But a national conversation on diversity and representation in many disciplines, including the sciences, presented an opportunity for Jennings, who had just earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Environmental Science in the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Jennings, a member of the Huichol and Pascua Yaqui Indigenous communities, turned to one of her earliest passions – running – to highlight Indigenous scholars’ countless contributions. A 50-mile honor run, which she completed on March 20, 2021, was dedicated to Indigenous scientists past, present and future. Jennings’ run and her research on soil health and Indigenous policy are the focus of a new documentary, “Run to be Visible,” produced and released by the outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia. Since the film premiered on YouTube on Oct. 20, it has been viewed online more than 530,000 times. It’s also helped raise more than $9,000 for a scholarship fund at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, a nonprofit organization aimed at increasing representation of Indigenous people in science, technology, engineering and math.
New Mexico Regulators Weigh Transfer Of Power Plant Shares
Indian Country Today, Susan Montoya Bryan, December 13
It will be up New Mexico regulators to clear the way for the state’s largest electric provider to transfer its shares in one of the Southwest’s remaining coal-fired power plants to a Navajo energy company. A hearing examiner with the Public Regulation Commission presented his recommendations to commissioners during a meeting Thursday, saying it would result in savings for Public Service Co. of New Mexico customers, reduce emissions from the utility’s portfolio and strengthen the Navajo Nation’s position when it comes to determining the future of the plant. Environmentalists have been pushing for Four Corners to be shuttered and have criticized the proposed transfer, suggesting it would prevent an early closure. Under the proposal, Navajo Transitional Energy Co. would take over PNM’s interest in Four Corners, becoming the second largest owner of shares in the plant. PNM shareholders would pay NTEC $75 million to assume its obligations under a coal supply agreement. Located on tribal land, the Four Corners Power Plant has been a huge economic driver for the Navajo Nation for decades. The plant and the neighboring mine that feeds it provide hundreds of jobs for tribal members and the operations account for nearly a quarter of the Navajo Nation’s annual general fund revenues.
‘Reservation Dogs’ Nominated For A Golden Globe
Indian Country Today, Vincent Schilling, December 13
It’s a simple post on Sterlin Harjo’s Instagram account, “Congrats Rez Dogs team!” that indicates a historic achievement by a Native director that has created an Indigenous comedy series, with an all-Native writer’s room and topics of reservation life. “Reservation Dogs” the FX and HULU series, co-executive produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, has just received a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.” The Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which has been under fire since last year’s controversial Golden Globes due to a lack of diversity and the complete absence of any Black members as noted by the #TimesUpGlobes hashtag — announced their nominations Monday morning. In addition to the nomination for Reservation Dogs, another Indigenous-themed animated film “Encanto” received nominations for “Best Motion Picture – Animated,” “Best Original Score – Motion Picture,” and “Dune” also received three nominations.
Boozhoo! Ojibwe-Speaking Puppets Hit The Airwaves
Indian Country Today, Dan Ninham, December 13
Heidi Holton remembers the day Ojibwe puppeteer Michael Lyons called in to the radio station where she worked. She’d been following his puppets, Nanaboozhoo and Natasha, on YouTube, and commenting about their use of the Ojibwe language and culture. “He said, ‘How about ‘Boozhoo Nanaboozhoo’ on the radio?’” she recalls. She stopped a moment to think. “Hmm. Puppets on the radio? That might just work!” And it has. A five-minute radio show, “The Boozhoo Nanaboozhoo Podcast,” is now featured regularly on the morning show at KAXE/KBXE community radio in Bemidji, Minnesota, where Holton is news and public affairs director. It’s one of a growing number of platforms for Lyons and his puppets to reach new audiences.