Good Morning NUNAverse,
Native communities across New Mexico are putting the finishing touches on proposed redistricting maps aimed at greater self-determination in future public elections, as competing plans wind their way toward the Legislature for consideration. Participants in a redistricting commission for New Mexico’s Indigenous communities said Friday that map proposals may be finalized as soon as next week. The maps will be submitted to a seven-member Citizen Redistricting Commission that is reviewing and vetting redistricting maps for the Legislature, which can adopt recommendations or start from scratch. The seven-seat commission has no Native representation.
About a third of the female service members in the Air Force and Space Force say they’ve experienced sexual harassment and many can describe accounts of sexism and a stigma associated with pregnancy and maternity leave, a study released Thursday has found. The review, done by the Air Force inspector general, also concluded that minorities and women are underrepresented in leadership and officer positions, particularly at the senior levels, and get promoted less frequently. The report found that Native people were 113 percent more likely to face a court-martial than their White peers. American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the military at a higher rate than any other ethnic or racial group, according to The Military Times. Because they aren’t brought in to key operational jobs at decent rates, they are at a disadvantage when competing with others for promotions and better jobs.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday it will seek to vacate a Trump-era decision that allowed for mining of gold and copper at the Pebble Mine, which sits at the headwaters of Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay supports commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars each year and create thousands of jobs. The EPA announcement comes on the heels of a victory in a federal lawsuit filed by Alaska Native organizations, environmental groups, and fishermen that sued to prevent the EPA from withdrawing a process that started during the Obama administration in 2014 to veto the mine’s permit under the Clean Water Act.
The email chains and phone calls among Oklahoma tribal leaders and lawyers started soon after President Joe Biden announced a sweeping plan Thursday to vaccinate millions of people against COVID-19. But how will those requirements affect tribal governments and the businesses they operate? As sovereign governments, tribes often employ dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of both Native and non-Native workers. Some employees carry out basic public services such as road improvements. Others work at tribal business ventures, which range from ranches to casinos. In rural communities, tribal payrolls can be among the biggest. In Oklahoma, the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations are two of the largest employers in the state.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Law:
Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty To Robbery With AR-15-Style Rifle In Indian Country
Native News Online, September 10
A Tulsa man pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Oklahoma to robbery in Indian Country. Hunter Ray Kelley, 20, entered a guilty plea that is punishable by no more than 15 years and/or a fine up to $250,000, a term of supervised release to be determined by the court and a special assessment fee of $100. An indictment issued by the U.S Attorney’s Office alleged that on or about May 13, 2021, Kelley entered a convenience store brandishing what appeared to be a tan AR-15-style rifle. He then pointed the rifle at the clerk and demanded money.
Alaska Tribes Praise EPA’s Decision To Protect Bristol Bay
Native News Online, September 10
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday it will seek to vacate a Trump-era decision that allowed for mining of gold and copper at the Pebble Mine, which sits at the headwaters of Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay supports commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars each year and create thousands of jobs. Bristol Bay’s fishery resources have supported a subsistence-based way of life for Alaska Natives for more than 4,000 years. The EPA announcement comes on the heels of a victory in a federal lawsuit filed by Alaska Native organizations, environmental groups and fishermen that sued to prevent the EPA from withdrawing a process that started during the Obama administration in 2014 to veto the mine’s permit under the Clean Water Act.
Politics:
Native Americans Draft Redistricting Proposals In New Mexico
AP News, Morgan Lee, September 10
Native communities across New Mexico are putting the finishing touches on proposed redistricting maps aimed at greater self-determination in future public elections, as competing plans wind their way toward the Legislature for consideration. Participants in a redistricting commission for New Mexico’s Indigenous pueblo communities said Friday that map proposals may be finalized as soon as next week. The maps will be submitted to a seven-member Citizen Redistricting Commission that is reviewing and vetting redistricting maps for the Legislature, which can adopt recommendations or start from scratch. The seven-seat commission has no Native representation.
Platforms Of Major Parties For Indigenous In Canada Election
APTN National News, Brett Forester, September 10
Indigenous issues have fallen by the wayside on the campaign trail, but debate offers chance to shift focus. With less than two weeks to go until the September 20 federal election, observers have called it surprising and disappointing that Indigenous issues have fallen by the wayside on the campaign trail. Only two months ago thousands of orange-clad marchers cancelled Canada Day, toppled colonial statues and demanded justice in cities across the country following the discoveries of unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools. But the upcoming official French and English debates offer those vying to be prime minister a chance to shift the focus and lay their positions out clearly. APTN News has examined the major parties’ platforms on reconciliation, and here’s what some of them contained.
2020 Census:
More Natives Doesn’t Mean More Voting Power
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, September 12
Native people’s dramatic population increase is unlikely to bring them more political power.
The 2020 census showed a whopping 86.5 percent jump in the Native population from the numbers recorded in the 2010 census. Overall, 2020 U.S. Census data shows that the U.S. has grown more racially diverse. The non-Hispanic White population dropped for the first time on record, according to the Census Bureau. Since Census data is used to redraw the country’s political maps, one might assume that Native people and other voters of color will gain more power in electing congressional representatives who reflect America’s population. There is a 0.747 percent Native representation in Congress. Currently, 77 percent of both chambers’ voting members are non-Hispanic White. But that’s not necessarily so, according to Native voting rights advocates.
Other:
Chief Hoskin: Interstate Partnership Will Drive Innovation, Economy
Native News Online, Chuck Hoskin Jr., September 12
To grow the economy across the Cherokee Nation Reservation, we must be forward thinking, collaborative and willing to work across borders. As the largest tribe in the United States, we have unique opportunities to grow prosperity for our citizens. We also need the support of our neighbors, because we will all rise or fall together with the regional economy. I am optimistic that we are on the rise, thanks in large part to the innovative collaborations between our tribe and our neighbors. Cherokee Nation is a founding partner in the Heartland Advanced Medical Manufacturing Regional Cluster (HAMMRC), a campaign to attract and keep high-quality health care manufacturing jobs in northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. The goal of HAMMRC is to grow a medical manufacturing cluster, spearheaded by the communities along the Highway 62 corridor.
Air Force Minorities, Natives Face Harassment And Bias
AP News, Lolita Baldor, September 10
About a third of the female service members in the Air Force and Space Force say they’ve experienced sexual harassment and many can describe accounts of sexism and a stigma associated with pregnancy and maternity leave, a study released Thursday has found. The review, done by the Air Force inspector general, also concluded that minorities and women are underrepresented in leadership and officer positions, particularly at the senior levels, and get promoted less frequently. The report found that Native people were 113 percent more likely to face a court-martial than their White peers. American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the military at a higher rate than any other ethnic or racial group, according to The Military Times. Because they aren’t brought in to key operational jobs at decent rates, they are at a disadvantage when competing with others for promotions and better jobs.
How will Biden’s vaccine mandate affect Oklahoma tribes? It’s complicated.
The Oklahoman, September 11
The email chains and phone calls among Oklahoma tribal leaders and lawyers started soon after President Joe Biden announced a sweeping plan Thursday to vaccinate millions of people against COVID-19. But how will those requirements affect tribal governments and the businesses they operate? As sovereign governments, tribes often employ dozens, hundreds or even thousands of both Native and non-Native workers. Some employees carry out basic public services such as road improvements. Others work at tribal business ventures, which range from ranches to casinos. In rural communities, tribal payrolls can be among the biggest. In Oklahoma, the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations are two of the largest employers in the state.