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Navajo leaders say they’re deploying all necessary resources to assist residents being impacted by flooding in Chinle, AZ.
Flooding began Friday when a berm from a wash running through the community failed to hold back rising waters, according to the tribe.
Resources have been deployed from across the Navajo Nation to help.
The office of the president is providing flooding updates on social media.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren says the full force of the Navajo Nation has been made available to assist the community of Chinle.
The vice president of the tribe, Richelle Montoya, has been on site and has met with families being impacted.
Assistance has also come from the county, the American Red Cross, and local residents.
Reconstruction of the berm is underway.
The Navajo Nation declared a state of emergency in January for the on-going need of resources, which is helping address the Chinle flooding.
The American Red Cross has opened a shelter to help people in the area.
Tribal colleges in Minnesota hope state lawmakers will help with funding needs.
Tribal college leaders say the schools teach students and help maintain Native language and culture.
Mike Moen has more.
Tribal colleges not only teach students, they’re also institutions that maintain Native American languages and cultural history.
In Minnesota, these schools hope the Legislature gives them a funding boost.
A bill this session would set aside $3 million in each year of the next biennium.
The state’s three tribal colleges could apply for grants, for general operation and maintenance expenses.
Leech Lake Tribal College President Helen Montgomery said it would be transformative for her school.
She said it could use funds to add more learning space and get up-to-date resources for STEM courses.
“Certainly, a lot of the learning that we do is outside, and we do have programs that teach an Indigenous perspective on not just science, but the environment. It would be really great to have some modern equipment.”
She said the funds could also help remove student-aid barriers, and provide staff a cost-of-living wage increase she described as long overdue.
Tribal colleges get most of their funding from the federal government, and leaders say it covers only the bare minimum.
President Montgomery said helping schools such as hers allows them to keep offering a culturally inclusive environment where Native students can ease into the college setting.
She said these individuals don’t have to feel isolated as they navigate their higher-education path.
“We would be able to hire personnel or create experiences that help our students bridge the tribal-college setting to the four-year setting,” she said.
According to the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, 41% of first-time, full-time Native American students attending four-year colleges graduate within six years, compared with 63% for all students.
A new round of grant funding for projects in Michigan that highlight tribes and Native Americans in the state is now open by the Native American Heritage Fund.
K to 12 schools, higher education institutions, and local governments may be eligible for funding.
Board chair Jamie Stuck says while other states like New York are banning the use of Native American mascots, the heritage fund is proud to provide the opportunity and funding to make culturally appropriate changes in Michigan.
The grants are intended to promote positive relationships and accurate information about the history and role of Michigan’s tribes and Native Americans.
Projects could include things like events and art, or help remove mascots and imagery.
The heritage fund was created in 2016 through the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, which allocates the funds.
Since then, funding has helped with the removal of imagery from 12 schools and two municipalities with more than $2 million in distributions.
Applications will be accepted through mid-June.
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