Happy Tuesday!
We hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend.
Here are some of the articles you may have missed this past weekend:
On Memorial Day, Remember Native Warriors and Honor a Greater Truth
For Native Americans, Memorial Day carries a weight beyond patriotic tradition. It is a moment to reflect not only on the sacrifice of our warriors, but on the complicated legacy of service in a country that has not always honored us in return.
Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at higher rates per capita than any other ethnic group. This is not a new development. From the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts abroad, Native people have stood on the front lines of American wars, often fighting for a country that has repeatedly broken its promises to our people.
The irony is not lost on us. We are the original stewards of this land — yet we have had to fight to be seen, to be counted, and to be heard. And still, we have always answered the call.
Supreme Court Ruling Robs Native Americans of ‘Silent Partner’ in Legislative Redistricting
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted a key provision of a voting rights law won’t affect South Dakota’s legislative districts until 2031 — but Native American voting rights advocates aren’t waiting to worry.
The decision in Louisiana v. Callais dismantled guardrails protecting the electoral power of Black, Hispanic and other racial minority voters enshrined in the Voting Rights Act, a 1965 law barring racial discrimination in voting.
The 6-3 decision effectively nullified a provision called Section 2, which had required states to draw electoral maps giving racial minorities a fair chance to elect their preferred candidates.
Grand Traverse Band to Honor Native Civil War Soldiers of Company K with Memorial Highway Dedication
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will honor the Native American soldiers of Company K this Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 1 p.m. – EDT. during a public dedication ceremony naming a section of M-22 as the Company K Indian Veterans Memorial Highway.
The ceremony will take place at the tribe’s Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom, 2521 N West Bay Shore Dr., 49682.
The stretch of highway runs through the ancestral lands of the Tribe and along Peshawbestown, recognizing the Anishinaabe soldiers of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters for their service and sacrifice during the Civil War.