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U.S. states are profiting off more than two million acres of land sprinkled throughout reservations.
That’s according to a new investigation, which found that revenue from these lands largely goes towards state institutions – but tribes are often the ones paying.
The Mountain West News Bureau’s Hanna Merzbach has more.
The report from news outlets High Country News and Grist shows a checkerboarded map inside reservations.
Cris Stainbrook with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation says this makes it hard for these sovereign nations to care for their lands.
“How do you manage on a landscape basis your lands when you can’t have jurisdiction over those other pieces that are there.”
He says tribes such as the Ute are often paying thousands of dollars a year to lease that land back. And that money pays for public education, hospitals, and jails.
Some states are transferring land to tribes, but Stainbrook says only when it’s not worth much.
He says more awareness is needed.
(Photo: Brian Bull)
Native American students in Eugene, Oreg. rang in the school year with a powwow over the weekend headlined by acclaimed rapper Supaman.
Brian Bull reports.
Christian Parrish Takes the Gun is a member of the Apsaalooke Nation of Montana and has performed under the moniker “Supaman” for over two decades.
He’s won several major awards including an MTV VMA Award in 2017 for “Best Fight Against the System”, as well as The Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award for best video.
During his presentation with DJ Elemental, Supaman encouraged Native youth to demonstrate respect, kindness, and openness to change, while still preserving their culture.
He played traditional flute music with hip-hop elements.
“I hope they just go from here with a better understanding how to navigate life you know, with some simple tools that we try to share during our presentation, as well as leaving with a good heart.”
The powwow was to welcome students to a new school year at Eugene’s 4-J District.
Becky White coordinated the event and is with the district’s NATIVES Program.
“We partnered with Native Youth Wellness here in Eugene to bring him to our community, so here’s for a couple days, doing events around town, and we’re so grateful to have him here at our powwow.”
As a person of Cherokee, Cheyenne, and Arapaho heritage, White appreciates the diversity within the Native community.
She says today’s young people are also pushing for change, to tackle persistent problems including racism and climate change.
(Photo: Brian Bull)
“I believe that this generation we have now that is in the K-12 system, and the students that are in college right now, are the most activist group of students we’ve had yet. And I appreciate them so much because they have the ideas, and they have the energy, and they have the drive.”
Supaman is headed next to New York, where he’ll be part of a week-long climate awareness event.
He says the “Supaman” moniker is based on a superhero archetype that everyone can embody.
“I definitely try to use it as, trying to elevate in life, being beyond just the human. Try to believe for better things. You’re able to accomplish great things.”
(Courtesy Donald J. Trump / YouTube)
During a rally in North Carolina over the weekend, former President Donald Trump made a campaign promise to the Lumbee Tribe.
He said if he’s elected president in November, he’ll sign legislation granting the Lumbee Tribe federal recognition, the News & Observer reports.
The tribe has long sought full federal status.
It was recognized by North Carolina in 1885.
Congress passed legislation in the 1950s to recognize the tribe, but denied benefits that other federally recognized tribes receive.
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