December 12, 2024
On December 10, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) joined Comey Central's The Daily Show for an impactful conversation with Michael Kosta.
Currents
Family affected by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Crisis feel lackluster media coverage influences how cases are perceived by the public and pursued by law enforcement. That’s according to new guidelines released by the federal government this week on best practices for media coverage of MMIP.
From Our Partners
The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB), an agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior, was created by Congress to promote the economic development of American Indian and Alaska Natives (Indian) through the expansion of the Indian arts and crafts market. As part of its promotional services, the IACB maintains the Source Directory of American Indian and Alaska Native Owned and Operated Arts and Crafts Businesses , a great resource for people looking to buy authentic Indian art or Indian artists interested in a free business listing.
Opinion
Guest Opinion. For nearly 140 years, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has been petitioning the United States government for full and unconditional recognition as a Federally recognized Indian tribe. An injustice the Lumbee people do not want to see carried on any longer. The time is now to bring the Lumbee into the full guarantees of government-to-government relations promised by the United States Constitution. The Lumbee Fairness Act will modify the Lumbee Act, passed in 1956 during the era of “Indian Termination”, and place our Tribe on equal footing with other federally recognized tribes and end our status as second-class Native people.
Opinion. During the opening general session of the annual National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in late October, NCAI President Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians, shared the story of being among several prominent Native Americans invited to fly on Air Force One with President Joe Biden as he traveled to Phoenix to issue an apology for the U.S. government’s role in federal Indian boarding schools in late October.
Sovereignty
WASHINGTON — Since the 1970s, the Native American Rights Fund has helped Tribal Nations achieve their water goals to secure access to safe and reliable water supplies through multi-party, negotiated water rights settlements. Currently, a record 12 such settlements are pending in Congress.
PAWNEE RESERVE, Okla. — On December 3, 2024, the Pawnee Business Council (PBC) met for a Special Meeting and approved an additional allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Pawnee Nation (PN) Elders 65 and over.
Education
The Tribal College and University (TCU) Building Bridges Grant Program has awarded more than $400,000 in its second funding cycle. Established through a partnership between the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) for American Indian Alaska Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE), the program aims to expand TCU student involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The grants support initiatives that enhance course and curriculum development, foster research activities, and increase student engagement in STEM education.
The Institute for American Indian Education (IAIE) is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary on Dec. 6. The celebration takes place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center from 3 to 6 p.m. in Chaco I and Chaco II rooms. Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
Arts & Entertainment
On December 10, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) joined Comey Central's The Daily Show for an impactful conversation with Michael Kosta.
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, based in Minneapolis, is one of nine organizations selected to receive a non-matching grant of $150,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This funding will support projects that explore local arts and cultural approaches to promoting social connection, a sense of belonging, and mental health through the arts.
Health
Environment
As mining activities escalate in western states and jeopardize indigenous lands and resources, the National Congress of American Indians called on Congress to enact legislation to protect Indigenous sacred sites from mining. The group’s General Assembly passed the resolution at its 2024 annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. NCAI is the oldest, largest and most representative Native American and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis was named on Tuesday to the 2024 Time100 Climate 2024. The list features the 100 most influential leaders driving business to real climate action from around the globe.