Good Morning, NUNAverse,
Mohegan Chief Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba, the nation’s first Native U.S. treasurer, comes from a line of chiefs who instilled in her the need to keep her tribe healthy and to survive. Now Malerba, 68, will bring that mindset to two new jobs in Washington: Last week President Joe Biden appointed her U.S. treasurer and overseer of a new Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at the Treasury Department. As part of the first role, her name will appear on all new U.S. currency. “I hope to sign the currency either Chief Lynn Malerba or Chief Many Hearts Lynn Malerba,” she said, referencing the meaning of her name within her tribe, “Mutáwi Mutáhash.” In the latter role, she will be thinking of new ways to help tribes develop their economies to overcome challenges that are unique to tribal lands. As treasurer, Malerba’s duties will include oversight of the U.S. Mint, serving as a liaison with the Federal Reserve and overseeing Treasury’s Office of Consumer Policy.
One of only a few boarding schools for Native students still run directly by the federal government in Oregon is undergoing a close look at the school’s finances by the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General. The office confirmed last month in an email to Oregon Public Broadcasting that it had “initiated an audit of the financial management and financial oversight of the Chemawa Indian School.” The audit came in response to Democratic U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who requested the inquiry after they felt hindered in efforts to look into alleged problems at the school. Chemawa is the federal government’s oldest, continuously operating boarding school for Native children in the country. It initially opened in Forest Grove in 1880, before moving a few years later to a hillside at the north end of Salem. A scathing federal report released last month by the U.S. Department of the Interior — the agency that opened and operated those schools — found practices at those campuses and at similar schools across the country were horrific and traumatic. Problems remain at schools like Chemawa, as investigations by OPB and government agencies have shown in recent years.
As part of its broader mission to expand digital access and resources to promote digital equity and inclusion, Verizon announced that it is providing advanced connectivity solutions to approximately 80 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools operated by tribes on 64 reservations in 13 states. By doing so, the carrier is supporting the BIE’s efforts to provide quality education opportunities from early childhood on. Thousands of students are expected to gain access to reliable, high-speed internet service and connected devices as a result of Verizon’s investment, with some receiving this access as early as this fall. The overall infrastructure work across the 13 states will take place through next year, said the carrier.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Politics:
1st Native Treasurer To Push Economic Development
AP News, Fatima Hussein, June 29
Mohegan Chief Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba, the nation’s first Native U.S. treasurer, comes from a line of chiefs who instilled in her the need to keep her tribe healthy and to survive. Now Malerba, 68, will bring that mindset to two new jobs in Washington: Last week President Joe Biden appointed her U.S. treasurer and overseer of a new Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at the Treasury Department. As part of the first role, her name will appear on all new U.S. currency. “I hope to sign the currency either Chief Lynn Malerba or Chief Many Hearts Lynn Malerba,” she said, referencing the meaning of her name within her tribe, “Mutáwi Mutáhash.” In the latter role, she will be thinking of new ways to help tribes develop their economies to overcome challenges that are unique to tribal lands. Helping tribes develop plans to economically prosper will have benefits for the rest of the country, she said, adding: “When tribes succeed, everyone succeeds.” As treasurer, Malerba’s duties will include oversight of the U.S. Mint, serving as a liaison with the Federal Reserve and overseeing Treasury’s Office of Consumer Policy.
Supreme Court Limits Historic Mcgirt Ruling
Indian Country Today, Kolby Kickingwoman, June 29
The United States Supreme Court has limited the scope of its historic McGirt decision. In a 5-4 vote, the high court ruled in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta that the state of Oklahoma has concurrent jurisdiction and the ability to prosecute non-Natives when the victim is Native and the crime is committed on tribal land. “From start to finish, the dissent employs extraordinary rhetoric in articulating its deeply held policy views about what Indian law should be,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s opinion reads. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett in the majority. Justice Kavanaugh wrote that the views of the justices in the dissent were contrary to previous Supreme Court precedents and other laws. “The dissent goes so far as to draft a proposed statute for Congress. But this Court’s proper role under Article III of the Constitution is to declare what the law is, not what we think the law should be,” Justice Kavanaugh wrote.
Oklahoma Native Candidates Seeking State Office
Indian Country Today, Kolby KickingWoman, June 28
As the summer heats up across the country, so do primary races. On Tuesday, five states held primary elections ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. In Oklahoma, there are 10 Native incumbents in the state legislators seeking reelection. Of the 10, eight are running unopposed in their respective primaries and two facing one opponent each. Republican state House Representative Ken Luttrell (Cherokee) is looking to retain his seat against Joe Vaden Jr. and fellow Republican state House Representative Mark McBride (Citizen Potawatomi) is running against Kathren Stehno. The Republican candidates running unopposed and looking ahead to the general election in November include: Brad Boles, Cherokee; Hurchel (Trey) Caldwell (Choctaw); Scott Fetgatter (Choctaw); Mike Osburn (Cherokee); John Pfeiffer (Cherokee); Mark Vancuren (Cherokee); and David Hardin (Cherokee). The lone incumbent Native Democrat running unopposed is Ajay Pittman (Seminole)
Boarding Schools:
Feds Looking At Finances Of Native Boarding School
AP News, June 29
One of only a few boarding schools for Native students still run directly by the federal government in Oregon is undergoing a close look at the school’s finances by the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General. The office confirmed last month in an email to Oregon Public Broadcasting that it had “initiated an audit of the financial management and financial oversight of the Chemawa Indian School.” The audit came in response to Democratic U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who requested the inquiry after they felt hindered in efforts to look into alleged problems at the school. Chemawa is the federal government’s oldest, continuously operating boarding school for Native children in the country. It initially opened in Forest Grove in 1880, before moving a few years later to a hillside at the north end of Salem. A scathing federal report released last month by the U.S. Department of the Interior — the agency that opened and operated those schools — found practices at those campuses and at similar schools across the country were horrific and traumatic. Problems remain at schools like Chemawa, as investigations by OPB and government agencies have shown in recent years.
Law:
Eugene Woman Attacked With Acid For Third Time Since March
AP News, June 29
A Eugene, Oregon, woman who had acid thrown on her while walking her dog in March has been the target of two additional acid attacks at her home, believed to be committed by the same person, according to the Eugene Police Department. The Eugene Police Department is also investigating at least two of the incidents as bias crimes after the suspect made comments about the woman being Native. The attacker has been described as a young white man wearing dark clothing and a face mask. The latest incident happened around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday when she opened her door and someone threw acid on her, police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin said. The woman was taken to a hospital for chemical burns. On March 28, a cup of acid was thrown on the woman, which required hospital treatment for chemical burns. On June 19, the woman reported a man had broken into her residence, poured a chemical on her and lit her on fire. She put out the flames using a sandal and was treated for burns at the hospital, McLaughlin said.
Other:
Verizon Delivers Enhanced Connectivity To 64 Reservations
RCR Wireless News, Catherine Sbeglia Nin, June 29
As part of its broader mission to expand digital access and resources to promote digital equity and inclusion, Verizon announced that it is providing advanced connectivity solutions to approximately 80 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools operated by tribes on 64 reservations in 13 states. By doing so, the carrier is supporting the BIE’s efforts to provide quality education opportunities from early childhood on. Thousands of students are expected to gain access to reliable, high-speed internet service and connected devices as a result of Verizon’s investment, with some receiving this access as early as this fall. The overall infrastructure work across the 13 states will take place through next year, said the carrier.