Monday, April 29, 2024

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Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians tribal members in Michigan are considering a resolution to formally grant legal rights to the natural world.

IPR environment reporter Ellie Katz has more.

The rights of nature resolution, if passed, would give legal standing to non-human life, including water, land, animals, and plants.

It’s part of a broader movement that seeks to offer the same legal protections to nature that individuals and corporations have.

Thomas Peters Binesiwegiizhig is part of a group of tribal elders that helped draft and introduce the resolution.

“We as Anishinaabe people want to be able to protect ourselves. Plus, we want to protect the environment that’s around us that gives us life. And we have a connection to what we call shkikimi-kwe, which means Mother Earth.”

Peters Binesiwegiizhig says the resolution would expand on Anishinaabe teachings and treaty rights by ensuring that ecosystems and species have legal rights to exist and thrive.

Grand Traverse Band tribal members can comment on the resolution now, ahead of a possible council vote in May.

A Nevada grassroots organization has launched an initiative to champion Indigenous voices in the 2024 elections.

Alex Gonzalez reports.

Taylor Patterson, executive director of the Native Voters Alliance Nevada, said the state is getting better about tribal and Indigenous representation but contended there is still a long way to go.

Nevada is home to 21 federally recognized tribes and 28 reservations, but only one Native legislator.

Patterson explained they saw the need to be more engaged with issues from the top to the bottom of the ticket.

“I think very easily we can forget that Native people are everyday people. I think it has been painted in a very specific way of ‘still is very much a person of the past’, but there are people who are in all different spaces that are engaging with the government in a multitude of ways that need to be represented.”

Patterson acknowledged the state does have elected officials who understand the needs of the Native community but hopes the new initiative will give those who are not familiar with the Native space an opportunity to learn more.

Last summer, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R-NV) expanded Nevada’s Effective Absentee System for Elections program program, which requires election clerks to meet with all tribes located in their respective jurisdictions to coordinate voting locations prior to elections.

After three days of competition at the statewide Native Youth Olympic (NYO) Games in Anchorage, students have returned home to show off their medals for traditional games like the Two-Foot High Kick, the Kneel Jump, and the Seal Hop.

Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA has more.

This year more than 400 students took part in the games that are not so much about competition, but an opportunity for each athlete to do their best.

In Native Youth Olympic Games, competitors often try to encourage each other. Students say it’s the spirit of the games which sets them apart.

“My name is Camille. I’m from Kodiak. I love the togetherness that NYO brings us together.”

“My name is Grayson Damien. I’m from Alakanuk. And I love Indian Stick Pull.”

“My name is Maya Bogar and I’m from Chickaloon Native Village and my favorite thing about NYO is probably sportsmanship.”

“My name is Merlin Machien. My favorite thing about NYO is how people connect.”

The games drew about 2,000 spectators a day, including elders like Peter Black, originally from Hooper Bay.

He says although Anchorage is a big village, the games bring back old memories.

“I love NYO, because I used to do the same thing when I was growing up, but only in a village.”

57 teams competed in this year’s games, hosted by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

The National Partners Work Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the MMIW Family Advisors are raising awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP) through a week of advocacy – now through May 5.

They’re highlighting a list of their resources and putting the spotlight on efforts from tribal communities across the country, ahead of May 5, the National Day of Awareness for MMIP.

The groups are encouraging people to use social media to raise awareness during the week and are providing graphics and suggested hashtags.

 

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