Good Morning NUNAverse,
Indian gaming revenues soared to a historic high in 2022, reaching nearly $41 billion, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) reported last week. The NIGC said gross gaming revenue (GGR) for fiscal year 2022 grew 5% to $40.9 billion, an increase of nearly $2 billion over fiscal 2021. Seven of NIGC’s eight regions showed an increase over FY 2021.
The new standards approved by the Florida Board of Education on race to be taught in the state’s public schools has received criticism from educators and civil rights groups, including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). On Friday, the NCAI released a statement, authored by the organization’s treasurer Shannon Hosley (president of the Stockbridge- Munsee Band of Mohican Indians), that rebuked the new standards.
Chemawa Indian School, Oregon’s only federally-run boarding school for Native students, failed to properly spend or account for millions of taxpayer dollars as well as hundreds of thousands contributed to student accounts by Indigenous families, according to an audit published by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General.
Two decades ago, an anthropology professor at the University of Utah asked the National Science Foundation to fund research on Native ancestors to determine when the cultivations of crops like corn first became prevalent in their cultures. The work destroyed Native remains, and inspired even more destructive research on ancestral remains by other scientists supported by federal funding and done without the consent of tribes.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Government:
Native Americans Vote Along Party Lines On The National Defense Authorization Act
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, July 17
Casinos:
Indian Gaming 2022 Revenue Hits Historic $41 Billion
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, July 19
Boarding Schools:
No Children’s Remains Found In Nebraska Dig Near Former Native American Boarding School
AP News Online, Trisha Ahmed, July 21
Other:
Florida’s Board Of Education Standards Receive Rebuke From NCAI
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, July 22
Muscogee Nation Renews Lawsuit Over Alabama Casino They Say Desecrated A Sacred Site
AP News, July 22
Oklahoma Governor’s Feud With Native American Tribes Continues Over Revenue Agreements
AP News, Sean Murphy, July 21
Pala Band Of Mission Indians Enters First-Of-Its-Kind Mutual Aid Agreement With State Of California
Native News Online, July 21
Muwekma Ohlone Chair Member Calls Upon Haaland To Help Tribe Attain Federal Recognition
Native News Online, July 21
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $21 Million in Grants to Improve Road Safety on Tribal Lands
DOT, July 20
Actions Needed To Improve Use Of Data On Adverse Events By Indian Health Service
Native News Online, Kaili Berg, July 20
Proposed National Monument Adjacent To Grand Canyon Pits Tribal Leaders Against Mining, Agriculture Interests
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, July 20
A Scientist Said Her Research Could Help With Repatriation. Instead, It Destroyed Native Remains.
ProPublica, Mary Hudetz, July 20
Unanimous Vote Leads To The Creation Of An Alaska Native Specific Seat On The Board For Alaska’s Biggest Tourism Marketer.
Native News Online, Neely Bardwell, July 20
“Oppenheimer” Brings Painful Memories For New Mexico Hispanics
Axios, Russell Contreras, July 20
Congress Passes Legislation To Place 720 Acres Of Sacred Pala Band Land Into Trust
Native News Online, July 19
Federal Audit Finds Financial Mismanagement At Oregon Boarding School For Native Americans
OPB, Rob Manning, July 18
9th Circuit Denies Bid By Environmentalists And Tribes To Block Nevada Lithium Mine
AP News, Scott Sonner, July 17