Good Morning, NUNAverse,
California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla recently introduced legislation to formally recognize the Tule River Tribe’s reserved water rights. Senate Bill 4870, which also quantifies the amount of water from the south fork of the Tule River that Tribe has rights to and provides up to $568 million in funding, was referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The legislation would finalize a multi-decade effort by the Tule River Tribe to provide clean drinking water.
Last week, the FBI released the second update of its list of Native people verified as missing in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. There are a total of 183 missing Indigenous persons on the latest list: 21 individuals have been added and 24 removed since last month’s list of 186 names was released. When the list was first released in July, there were 177 names on it.
The commission appointed to come up with a new state seal and motto for Massachusetts to replace the current ones that critics call racially insensitive to the state’s Indigenous communities discussed some early ideas, but made no firm decisions, at a meeting last week. The commission also disclosed plans to solicit feedback with a survey and several virtual and in-person public forums. The current seal that appears on state flags, which dates to the late 19th century, features a depiction of a Native man beneath a colonist’s arm brandishing a sword, which critics say is a reference to English colonists’ cruelty to local tribes centuries ago.
The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians, Dante Desiderio, alleges he was dismissed in retaliation after disagreeing with its governing body about a sexual harassment investigation and the firing of non-Native employees, according to a lawsuit set to be heard in a Washington D.C. court. NCAI has denied any wrongdoing and had sought to have the case moved to the federal United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On Monday, a federal judge denied that request and said the state-level D.C. Superior Court, where Desiderio’s allegations about NCAI violating the D.C. Human Rights Act, can be heard.
Keep reading for a full news update.
Native American Day:
Governor Newsom Proclaims Native American Day 2022
Gov. CA, September 23
What Is California Native American Day?
ABC10, Gilbert Cordova, September 23
Native American Day In California To Be A Paid Holiday For First Time
ABC7, Ashley Mackey, September 23
Politics:
Cherokee Nation’s Case For Congressional Delegate To Get A House Committee Hearing
HuffPost, Jonathan Nicholson, September 23
For First Time In 233 Years, Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian All In U.S. House
USA Today, Natalie Alund, September 20
Native Mascots:
Newsom OKs Name Change For Law School Founded By Racist
AP News, September 24
Massachusetts Panel Explores Changes To State Seal, Motto
AP News, Mark Pratt, September 20
2 Illinois Sites Get New Names, Eliminating Derogatory Term
AP News, September 18
Casinos:
Record Spending Over California’s Legal Gambling Initiative
AP News, Michael R. Blood, September 21
MMIW:
FBI Provides Statistics In Latest List Of Native Americans Verified As Missing Throughout New Mexico And The Navajo Nation
FBI, September 20
Law:
Former NCAI CEO’s Lawsuit To Move Forward In Court
Indian Country Today, Chris Aadland, September 23
Cortez Masto, Gallego Introduce Badges Act To Strengthen Tribal Law Enforcement
Native News Online, September 22
California Senators Introduce Legislation To Recognize Tule River Tribe’s Water Rights
Native News Online, September 20
Health:
Tribes, City Officials Address The Opioid Crisis In Northern Minnesota
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, September 22
Other:
Cherokee Artist Recovery Act: A “New Deal” For Cherokee Creativity
Native News Online, Chuck Hoskin Jr., September 25
Tiny Home Donated To American Indian Community Organization To Serve As Model For Village
Native News Online, September 23
Social Studies Hearings Pit Teachers Against Governor
AP News, Stephen Groves, September 23
University Of Kansas Says It Has Native American Remains In Museum Collection
Native News Online, Jenna Kunze, September 21
Tribes Seek More Details On Water Use At Arizona Copper Mine
AP News, Felicia Fonseca, September 21