Good Morning, NUNAverse,
Dr. Dorene Wiese has been working in the Native community in Chicago for more than 50 years. This week, two foundations announced that they will award her $50,000 to further her efforts. Wiese, who holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, received the grant from The Field Foundation of Illinois and the MacArthur Foundation. The foundations announced the awards to “ten diverse leaders across the city” for “exemplary work combatting structural racism, discrimination and disinvestment.” The other half of the $50,000 in funding is a general operating grant for the American Indian Association of Illinois (AIAI), which Wiese has run as the president and CEO for the past 15 years. AIAI and its affiliate Native American Educational Services Inc. are operated by about 20 volunteers, she said. Wiese herself hasn’t received a paycheck in her last 15 years of work for these organizations.
In a move to display the prominence of tribal sovereignty, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. issued an executive order on Wednesday limiting the use of state of Oklahoma flags on the Cherokee Nation reservation. The executive order notes that the Oklahoma flag “should not ordinarily be displayed” on Cherokee Nation property or at Cherokee Nation public events, but also outlines when the state flag can or should be displayed. As leader of one of Indian Country’s largest tribes, Hoskin said it is time for the Cherokee Nation to show its strength and determination when it comes to tribal sovereignty. Hoskin is quick to clarify that Wednesday’s order is not the result of frayed feelings between the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma.
An Alaska Native tribe has nominated for consideration as a national marine sanctuary an area around the Pribilof Islands that supports Stellar sea lions, northern fur seals, and other marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Wednesday that it had agreed to add the nomination of Alaĝum Kanuux, or Heart of the Ocean, by the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island to a list of areas it could consider for designation as a marine sanctuary. The agency notes that the addition of a place to the list is no guarantee it will become a sanctuary. Sanctuary designation is a separate process that is “highly public and participatory, and often takes several years to complete.” The tribe nevertheless lauded the step as significant.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Health:
US Life Expectancy Still Falling, Native Americans Hardest Hit
University of Colorado Bolder, Lisa Marshall, June 9
Life expectancy of Native Americans in the United States dropped by a shocking 4.7 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, about three times that of whites and by far the most of any ethnic group, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.
Education:
The Mellon Foundation Awards $2,585,000 To American Indian College Fund
American Indian College Fund, June 9
The Mellon Foundation has awarded the American Indian College Fund $2,585,000 to support its Native Pathways to College Program. The College Fund created this culturally based program to increase the first-time college enrollment post-high school, retention, and graduation of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students. Most recent data shows AIAN students make up less than 1% of students enrolled in college nationwide, with only 19% of 18 to 24-year-old AIAN students enrolled in college, as compared to 41% of the overall U.S. population (National Center of Education Statistics, 2018). The College Fund’s Native Pathways program gives AIAN students the support and programming they need to go to college and graduate, using a three-pronged approach.
Other:
Kerri Helme Is Reviving Native Tattooing Traditions In Her Community
Allure, Thalia Henao, June 10
Kerri Helme’s tattoos go far deeper than the layers of flesh a pigment-spiked needle made from turkey bone can pierce. Rows of triangles adorn her neckline. Tiny dots stretch from either corner of her eyes, sprinkling over her nose bridge. Sure, they’re aesthetic. But they’re also part of a tradition cultivated over generations by the people whose blood runs through her veins.
Ojibwe Educator, Illinois Native Organization Granted $50,000 To Further Social Justice Work
Native News Online, Andrew Kennard, June 9
Dr. Dorene Wiese has been working in the Native community in Chicago for more than 50 years. This week, two foundations announced that they will award her $50,000 to further her efforts. Wiese, who holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, received the grant from The Field Foundation of Illinois and the MacArthur Foundation. The foundations announced the awards to “ten diverse leaders across the city” for “exemplary work combatting structural racism, discrimination and disinvestment.” The other half of the $50,000 in funding is a general operating grant for the American Indian Association of Illinois (AIAI), which Wiese has run as the president and CEO for the past 15 years. AIAI and its affiliate Native American Educational Services Inc. are operated by about 20 volunteers, she said. Wiese herself hasn’t received a paycheck in her last 15 years of work for these organizations.
Out With Oklahoma Flag; Cherokee Nation Flag Takes Prominence On Its Reservation
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, June 9
In a move to display the prominence of tribal sovereignty, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. issued an executive order on Wednesday limiting the use of state of Oklahoma flags on the Cherokee Nation reservation. The executive order notes that the Oklahoma flag “should not ordinarily be displayed” on Cherokee Nation property or at Cherokee Nation public events, but also outlines when the state flag can or should be displayed. As leader of Indian Country’s largest tribe, Hoskin said it is time for the Cherokee Nation to show its strength and determination when it comes to tribal sovereignty. Hoskin is quick to clarify that Wednesday’s order is not the result of frayed feelings between the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma.
Alaska Tribe Nominates Pribilof Islands Area For Sanctuary
AP News, June 9
An Alaska Native tribe has nominated for consideration as a national marine sanctuary an area around the Pribilof Islands that supports Stellar sea lions, northern fur seals and other marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Wednesday that it had agreed to add the nomination of Alaĝum Kanuux, or Heart of the Ocean, by the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island to a list of areas it could consider for designation as a marine sanctuary. The agency notes that the addition of a place to the list is no guarantee it will become a sanctuary. Sanctuary designation is a separate process that is “highly public and participatory, and often takes several years to complete.” The tribe nevertheless lauded the step as significant.
Celebrate Native American Culture At indigenous People Festival, And More Fun Around Seattle
Seattle Times, Vonnai Phair, June 9
Celebrate Native American culture through art, song, dance, performances, food and more at Indigenous People Festival, presented in partnership by Seattle Center Festál and the Seattle Indian Health Board. The festival is designed to provide visibility for Native groups in Seattle, as well as ensure that Native communities stay in the present, said Esther Lucero, president and CEO of the Seattle Indian Health Board.