Good Morning NUNAverse,
Last week, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) held a hearing on Native priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization. SCIA heard testimony from Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska President Richard Peterson; Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium Executive Director Jay Spaan; NDN Collective Hawai‘i Regional Director Davis Price; Intertribal Agriculture Council Policy and Government Relations Director Abi Fain; Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Director Trent Kissee; and Intertribal Timber Council President Cody Desautel.
The Department of the Interior is investing $120 million in tribal communities to mitigate the effects of climate change. Tribes can apply for the funding to either plan for or adapt to climate change related threats such as drought, wildfire, and coastal erosion. The $120 million includes $23 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, and $25 million from fiscal year 2023 annual appropriations.
Voters in Maine will be the ones to decide whether to restore long removed language about the state’s obligations to tribes to printed versions of its constitution. The Maine Legislature gave its final approval to a proposal to restore the language that requires Maine to honor treaties the state inherited from Massachusetts when it became its own state more than two centuries ago. The language has always applied but was removed from printed versions of the constitution in 1876.
The Indian Health Service (IRS) announced the award of $425,000 each to the Research Triangle Institute and the Northwest Portland Indian Health Board to support the Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center. The seven elements of the Zero Suicide model represent evidence-based care for individuals with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and include Lead, Train, Identify, Engage, Treat, Transition, and Improve.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Government:
Senate Committee Holds Hearing On Native Priorities For 2023 Farm Bill
Indian Gaming, July 28
Maine Calls To Restore 19th Century Tribal Obligations To The Constitution. Voters Must Now Decide
AP News, Patrick Whittle, July 25
Oklahoma Senate Overrides Gop Governor’s Vetoes On Native American Compacts
AP News, July 24
MMIP:
How Native American Police Are Fighting The Crisis Of Missing People
Reuters, Andrew Hay, July 29
Native Mascots:
Retired Illinois Mascot Still Causing Harm
NARF, July 27
Health:
IHS Awards $825,000 Cooperative Agreement For Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center
Native News Online, July 29
Other:
Tug Of War In The House Should Not Impact Legislation Aimed To Help Indian Country
Native News Online, Levi Rickert, July 30
Inside The “Sober Home” Scam Preying On Thousands Of Native Americans
The New Republic, Erin Riley, June 29
‘Reservation Dogs’ Launches Third — And Final — Season
Indian Country Today, Sandra Hale Schulman, July 25
Biden Administration Announces $120 Million For Tribes Dealing With The Impacts Of Climate Change
Native News Online, July 24