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