Over the summer, The Washington Post reported that the Washington Football Team had a history of male executives mistreating and harassing women. Now, the Washington Post reports that the same culture of abuse and harassment was prevalent at the “Original Americans Foundation,” a foundation created by Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder with the goal of “making a real, lasting, positive impact” in Native communities.
The Washington Football Team also announced yesterday that they were ending their relationship with the Original Americans Foundation, effectively shutting the foundation down. According to the most recent available financial statements, the foundation reported $528,000 in revenue during the fiscal year ending on February 28, 2019 – $520,000 of which came directly from the Football Team – and distributed $0 in grants to Native causes during that same fiscal year.
The Cherokee Nation plans to send the first delegate of a tribal nation to Congress, Kimberly Teehee, citing the Treaty of Hopewell from 1785 and the Treaty of New Echota from 1835, which both reference a Cherokee Nation delegate to Congress. The House still needs to vote to seat Teehee, who would serve as a non-voting delegate similar to those representing Washington, D.C, and the U.S. territories.
Despite losing his bid for Montana state auditor earlier this month, Shane Morigeau’s (Salish and Kootenai) will serve the remainder of state senator Nate McConnell’s term, who resigned shortly after the election to take care of his children. The Missoula County Commission voted unanimously to appoint Morigeau to the open seat, and he will serve through December 31, 2022.
Yesterday morning two people locked themselves to equipment that is being used for Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline in northern Minnesota. The action was organized by the Giniw Collective and comes days after various permits were granted in the state of Minnesota, pushing the highly controversial pipeline closer to construction.
Keep reading for a full news update.
COVID-19:
Navajo Nation Reports 135 New COVID-19 Cases On Wednesday
Native News Online, November 18
The Navajo Department of Health reported 135 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and eight more deaths. The total number of deaths is now 613 as of Wednesday. Reports indicate that 8,011 individuals have recovered from COVID-19, and 141,751 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 13,880.
New Oglala President Talks Covid, Long Winter
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, November 18
Longtime South Dakota state legislator Kevin Killer and other newly elected leaders face challenging times ahead. He begins his term as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe during challenging times as the tribe struggles to protect its citizens from spiking COVID-19 infections. Tribal leadership has clashed with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and other state politicians who, so far, have not mandated any restrictions, lockdowns or mask requirements.
Law:
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Advances 4 Bills
Native News Online, November 18
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday passed four bills at its business meeting. S. 790 clarifies certain provisions of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993; Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act of 2020; S. 4079 authorizes the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer certain land; and S. 4556 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to acquire private land to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California.
Tribes Await Action On Priorities As Congress Returns To Work
Indianz.com, Acee Agoyo, November 18
Lawmakers are getting back to work after a long recess and a divisive election as time runs out to advance Indian Country’s legislative agenda. Following an absence of nearly two months, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives reconvened on Monday and quickly passed H.R.1964, the Lumbee Recognition Act. The bipartisan bill extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe, the largest Indian nation east of the Mississippi.
2020 Elections:
Shane Morigeau Appointed To State Senate Seat
Indian Country Today, Kolby Kickingwoman, November 18
Despite losing his bid for Montana state auditor earlier this month, Shane Morigeau’s political career in the Treasure State continues on. Earlier this week, the Missoula County Commission unanimously voted to appoint the Salish and Kootenai man to serve the remainder of state senator Nate McConnell’s term, who resigned shortly after the election to take care of his children, according to the Missoulian.
‘Challenging Our Erasure In Voting Data
Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember, November 18
Native Americans are not a monolithic population. That makes them a challenging group to appraise especially for non-Native pollsters and researchers. Media estimates regarding Native American voters were all over the map.
Politics:
First Tribal Nation Congressional Delegate Outlines Goals
Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, November 18
The Cherokee Nation plans to send the first delegate of a tribal nation to Congress. The Harvard Institute of Politics on Wednesday hosted a conversation between the tribe’s nominee, Kimberly Teehee, and Andrew Lee, Seneca, who serves on the board of governors with Harvard’s Honoring Nations Awards, an American Indian economic development program.
The Case For A Native American Secretary Of The Interior
Vox, Rachel Ramirez, November 18
President-elect Joe Biden already made history by selecting Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian American woman to be elected vice president of the United States. He is also building a transition team that’s shaping up to be majority women and people of color. Now, tribal leaders and environmental activists are urging Biden to break barriers further by appointing the first Indigenous person to serve in a presidential Cabinet position.
Other:
Enbridge Line 3 Construction Blocked By Protesters In Northern Minnesota
Native News Online, Darren Thompson, November 18
Early this morning, two people locked themselves to equipment used for Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline in northern Minnesota. The action was organized by the Giniw Collective and comes days after various permits were granted in the state of Minnesota, pushing the highly controversial pipeline closer to construction.
Harassment Claims And Dwindling Donations: The Fall Of Daniel Snyder’s Nonprofit For Native Americans
The Washington Post, Will Hobsen, November 18
Washington Football Team has for years been a place where some male executives have condoned and participated in routine unwanted overtures and inappropriate remarks about clothing and appearance. This alleged culture, currently the subject of an independent investigation overseen by the NFL, also pervaded Dan Snyder’s Nonprofit for Native Americans.
Washington Football Team Ends Relationship With Daniel Snyder’s Charitable Foundation For Native Americans
USA Today, Tom Schad, November 18
The Washington Football Team is effectively shuttering the charitable foundation that owner Daniel Snyder founded in 2014 to assist Native American communities.
Washington confirmed in a statement Wednesday that it is ending its relationship with the Original Americans Foundation, which shares a legal address with the team and has long relied on it for funding. The foundation had also completely stopped giving. According to the financial statement, it distributed $0 in grants to Native American causes during the last fiscal year.
School Works On Replacing Native American-Themed Nickname
AP News, November 18
A Massachusetts high school that dropped its Native American-themed sports mascot this summer has reduced its list of possible replacements to six. The school dropped its Indians nickname in August, and was among several Massachusetts high schools that voted to change Native American-themed mascots this year amid a national reckoning over racial injustice.