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A coalition of tribes and Western conservationists are working to protect more public lands before the November presidential election.
The Mountain West News Bureau’s Kaleb Roedel has more.
On Tuesday, the coalition was joined by members of Congress in front of the U.S. Capitol.
They called on the Biden-Harris Administration to expand and designate more national monuments – which are permanently protected lands.
That includes creating the Bahsahwahbee Swamp Cedars National Monument in Nevada, the Dolores Canyons National Monument in Colorado, and several in California – such as the Kw’tsán National Monument.
Here’s Councilman Donald Medart of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe.
“This is our history book. To be able to go out into the desert, to show my children and to show other tribal members and community members this is who the Kw’tsán people are, this is where we came from, these are lands that we traverse, these are what our songs talk about, it gives it that much more meaning to our people.”
In all, the coalition is pushing for 11 new or expanded protected lands. The group presented a petition of more than 800,000 signatures in support of their efforts.
(Courtesy @LtGovFlanagan / Twitter)
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Band of Ojibwe/DFL-MN) is traveling to several states to try to help President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.
Chuck Quirmbach of station WUWM in Milwaukee reports on the efforts of Flanagan.
Flanagan has served as Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor since 2019.
This year, with Minnesota considered safe political territory for President Biden, Flanagan has been traveling to swing states to campaign for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Last weekend, Flanagan spoke in Wisconsin.
She says for one thing she believes in the Biden-Harris ticket.
“But two, is because, as a Native woman, it is my responsibility to make sure I am caring for my community. But also, ensuring that we are strong into the future. I’m a mom of an 11 year-old girl, and I want her to know that voting is a tradition in our family. It’s how we show up for each other. It’s how we actively care for each other.”
Flanagan says President Biden has brought billions of dollars in federal money to Indian Country, and has a record of standing up for tribal families.
“The compassion with which he has approached issues around boarding schools—the boarding school system-shining a light on that has been incredibly powerful. You know, he fought to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act before the Supreme Court, and won. Which I think many of us were holding our breath, and were so relieved that was protected.”
And Flanagan says President Biden chose Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna) as Interior Secretary.
But as NPR has reported, Republicans hope former president Donald Trump can win votes among tribes, with promises of improving schools, job creation, and safe communities.
Judge Sara Hill, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma, with Choctaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby following her investiture ceremony. (Courtesy @GovAnoatubby / Twitter)
Judge Sara Hill, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was ceremonially sworn in to the federal bench in Tulsa, Okla. last week.
The Cherokee Phoenix reports, among a crowd of nearly 200 people, Judge Hill was welcomed as a new judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Judge Hill is the former attorney general of the Cherokee Nation and made history with her confirmation in December.
She’s the first female Native American federal judge in Oklahoma.
Tribes and national Native organizations say Judge Hill brings a critical perspective and deep knowledge of federal Indian law.
There are 39 federally recognized tribes in the state.
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