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A bill that would replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day failed to move forward in the Montana Senate.

Montana Public Radio’s Ellis Juhlin reports.

After the bill brought by State Sen. Shane Morigeau (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation/D-MT) was tabled in committee its supporters attempted a legislative maneuver to bring it to the Senate floor for debate, but that was also opposed.

State Sen. Dan Salomon (R-MT) said the bill’s sponsor killed the bill himself with his description of Christopher Columbus during committee testimony.

“He starts off with and I think I can quote with accusing Columbus of rape beheading amputations, slicing torsos into sex trafficking, you can imagine where this hearing went in a hurry. I have never, in my experience, been so mad.”

Sen. Morigeau, who is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, responded to Salomon’s criticism on the Senate floor saying he couldn’t talk about Columbus, without including that information.

“The committee killed the bill, not me. And I don’t know how you have a discussion about someone who was identified historically, during this time, to have done things that were not part of the norm, without actually talking about those things.”

Historical accounts, including Encyclopedia Britannica, “Columbus’ men pillaged villages to support themselves and enslaved large numbers of indigenous people for labor, sex, and sale in Europe.”

Some Senators opposed to the bill said Columbus’ contribution to western and nautical history shouldn’t be overlooked.

The bill to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s day had dozens of supporters and no opponents during its committee hearing.

Similar policies introduced in the Montana Legislature have failed in every session over the last eight years.

Celebrations are taking place in Alaska in honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich, the Lingít woman whose speech before the legislature is credited with helping to pass the nation’s first anti-discrimination law.

That was in 1945, nearly 80 years ago, as Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports.

The turning point came, when she spoke out against a lawmaker who asked why people barely out of savagery should be considered equal.

“I would not have expected, that I who am who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them, of our Bill of Rights.”

Those are the words written and performed by actress and playwright Diane Benson, who used newspaper and witness accounts, to reconstruct Peratrovich’s speech before the Alaska Territorial Legislature, just before the law was passed.

“Just reading it just kind of send shivers you know, through your body just at how well-spoken she was and how she basically called out people that didn’t want to vote in favor for the law and did so, so elegantly.”

Betsy Peratrovich said she never knew her grandmother Elizabeth, who died of breast cancer just before she was born, not long after her famous speech.

“Our people need heroes, and we were not permitted to have them for many years.”

But today, Peratrovich says, the story of her grandmother and her husband Roy – and their fight for civil rights – is embraced by a new generation of Alaska Natives, because it opened the door to learning more about a time in history, when there were signs in front of restaurants that said, “No dogs. No Natives,” discrimination that became illegal on this day in 1945.

First Nations Development Institute announced Wednesday a cohort of 30 beginning Native farmers and ranchers chosen to take part in a more than two-year program to help build their businesses and strengthen land management.

The program’s goal is to boost the local and regional food supply chain in Indian Country.

The individuals represent tribes from six states.

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Indigenous people and their allies held events Tuesday in Canada to honor the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Dan Karpenchuk reports on the annual Strawberry Ceremony.

A couple of hundred people gathered in downtown Toronto in front of police headquarters.

Many of them told stories about families that have lost loved ones.

During the ceremony, people are given a cup of water and a strawberry to hold.

When cut in half the strawberries look like a heart.

Organizers say the strawberries are part of the memorial because it’s a woman’s fruit and a symbol of hope and rebirth.

The gathering in Toronto has been taking place for the past 13 years, according to organizers, who add that it’s an opportunity to gather as a community to pray for loved ones lost to violence.

Joey Twin is an Indigenous activist.

“My mom was murdered when I was 6-years-old in Calgary, Alberta, 59 years ago and no justice was served for her murder. So, it’s been going on for many years our Indigenous folks getting missing and murdered. Our Indigenous nations are in grieving we’re just asking for equality for the justice for us. In this day and age, there are two laws, one for the white man, and and one for us Indians.”

The ceremony has been taking place outside police headquarters because of what organizers call state complicity in the murders of Indigenous women because of police inaction and even as perpetrators of the violence.

The ceremony comes as violence against Indigenous women continues.

Last year, four women in Winnipeg were murdered.

In its final report, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls labelled the violence as genocide.

The annual ceremony is hosted by No More Silence.

A group dedicated to gathering the names of those missing and murdered since 2004.

An event to honor missing and murdered Indigenous people was held Tuesday in Minneapolis, MN.

It included a march and rally where advocates talked about raising awareness of MMIP and work being done to address the issue, including at the state level.

State Sen. Mary Kunesh (D-MN) has been a strong advocate.

She helped establish a missing and murdered Indigenous women task force and a missing and murdered Indigenous relatives office.

In remarks, Sen. Kunesh vowed to continue efforts as a lawmaker.

“At the legislature we are working so hard to ensure that we have the resources we need to continue this work.”

The event was streamed live by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, which sponsored the event along with a handful of other Native groups.

This was the first in-person event in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of the Apache Stronghold, a grassroots group fighting to save a sacred site, are planning a march and other events this week.

They’re opposed to what they’re calling a destructive mining project slated for Oak Flat in Arizona.

Alex Gonzalez has more.

Resolution Copper is a joint venture by Rio Tinto and BHP.

Both organizations say the mine will bring thousands of jobs to the area.

But Vanessa Nosie with the Apache Stronghold says Oak Flat is ancestral and sacred land.

She believes the project would destroy the land and their way of life.

Nosie says as a mother of four girls, she feels it’s her job to protect them and their culture.

“If Oak Flat is gone, I can’t pass that on – and who we are spiritually, we’d be gone forever. It is the same tactic that the United States government has always used on Indian people.”

Events begin on Thursday.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears an appeal next month that seeks to prohibit the transfer of lands, with Oak Flat at the center of the controversy.

The land transfer to Resolution Copper was part of the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.

Apache Stronghold has argued that it violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

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Indigenous leaders are demanding an apology from the new premier of Alberta for a video published on Twitter.

As Dan Karpenchuk reports, they’re calling the tweet disappointing and harmful to truth and reconciliation.

The video was made while Danielle Smith was in Ottawa for a major premiers conference on health care.

The video taken on Parliament Hill had Smith reflecting on the origins of Canada and her interpretation of history.

“Many years ago the Indigenous people of this land and those that came from across the world united to tame an unforgiving frontier.”

Native leaders called the video dehumanizing, demoralizing, and hurtful. And they want an apology.

Jessica Salkeld is with the Reconciliation Action Group.

“If she can’t even have truth, we certainly can’t have reconciliation. If she knows anything about that history than she ought to know that what she’s saying is a bold faced lie.”

Duane Bratt is a political science professor at Mount Royal University.

“This was a scripted video with the message she wanted to deliver. And is just so historically inaccurate.”

The video has since been criticized by many, who say Smith is revising parts of history and ignoring a dark chapter of Canadian history. 

Others say they’re concerned about Smith’s lack of understanding

Smith said the partnership with First Nations is one she values, but she did not apologize.

Toksook Bay, a remote town off the coast of Western Alaska, is home to Yup’ik language, hunting, boating, and the social media sensation Noah Loves Kristy.

This Valentine’s Day, Jill Fratis from our flagship station KNBA brings us the love story about the couple married for nearly 20 years.

Noah and Kristy Lincoln have six kids and a new granddaughter.

This viral duo reenacts famous movies and TV shows with a twist of Native humor.

So far, they have over 40,000 followers on Facebook and 20,000 on TikTok, and it all began while out hunting for geese with their son.

“We had our son take the camera and start recording,” Lincoln said. “It was all natural.”

For their video, Noah had Kristy do different bird calls from Raven calls, goose calls, and even a sexy swan?

“Be a sexy swan,” said Noah to Kristy in the video.

She then erupts in laughter and makes silly sounds, trying to mimic different birds.

They posted the video to their Facebook page, where it was shared and re-shared hundreds of times. It was at that moment, Noah and Kristy knew they were on to something big.

“I thought, man, we can get so many people to laugh,” Lincoln said. “Just me and my wife make the videos.”

Since the release of the popular show “Reservation Dogs” on Hulu, Native humor has been trending on social media. But Alaska Native humor is a little different and often draws upon subsistence hunting,

“Sixteen years I’ve been married. And my wife said she don’t love me anymore,” Noah pouts in the video.

The door opens and Kristy shouts back, “All I said is you’re not getting a new gun,” her way of complaining about what it’s like to be an avid hunter’s wife.

One of Kristy’s videos has even popularized the catch phrase, “Gee, whiz!”

Their social media followers have begun to mimic her sarcastic “Gee, whiz” response to things Noah says in their videos.

Kristy enjoys acting in the videos with her husband, but says it’s Noah who comes up with the ideas.

“It just comes out of the blue,” Kristy says giggling.

But life wasn’t always full of laughter for Noah. He says he once struggled with alcohol addiction.

“I was heavily into alcohol and I couldn’t keep a job,” Noah said.

After realizing what his addiction was doing to his family, Noah swore off alcohol for good.

When asked if he is sober now, he is always happy to respond, “I am so happy to say yes.”

And it makes Noah happy that the Noah Loves Kristy videos bring joy to people, especially those who have their own struggles.

“There’s this lady who lost her daughter. She was grieving for so long, she couldn’t be happy because she lost her daughter, and she came across our videos,” he said. “She started looking through the videos and she found herself laughing and laughing, like she forgot that she was grieving.”

Noah says he’s glad the videos gave her hope and healing.

“And that really has opened my eyes and my heart,” he said, getting a little choked-up. “Social media is really strong. And I believe laughter is medicine.”

One of Noah and Kristy’s followers is Anthony Lekanof from St. George Island.

He says the couple has paved the way for other Indigenous storytellers.

“If you look among the indigenous creators and comedians, we don’t have a whole lot,” says Lekanof, who believes Noah and Kristy are an inspiration to up and coming artists, whether they pursue comedy or acting. “It really enriches the Indigenous spirit that we have within in Alaska, based on how relatable Noah and Kristy are.”

“Some of their videos that I’ve been able to see, I have found to be relatable to my own upbringing in the Pribilof Islands,” Lekanof said.

For those who aren’t Native but enjoy the videos, it’s a reminder that no matter your culture, we all have one thing in common – the need to laugh, the one thing Noah and Kristy supply plenty of.

They also make it a point to sprinkle in messages of inspiration and hope – that go on to say that at the end of the day, family and faith are everything.

Noah Lincoln: “Praise God. Quyana Lord. I thank God for everything. Everything happens for a reason for his purpose, thank you Lord.”

With all of the fame and notoriety that comes with their popular skits, Noah and Kristy Lincoln are proud to say they remain humble and happy in Toksook Bay, surrounded by family and the wilderness.

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It began with a Chinese surveillance balloon, taken out by a U.S. fighter jet on February 4.

Since then, there have been three smaller flying objects shot down – one over Alaska’s North Slope on Friday, another in Canada on Saturday, and then one in Michigan yesterday.

As Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports, all of that has Alaska lawmakers like State Sen. Donny Olson (D-AK) on edge.

Sen. Olson was in the midst of a floor session on Friday, when he got word that an unidentified object had been shot down near the Canadian Border, a region that’s home to the Inupiat people and part of his district.

Sen. Olson, who is also a commercial pilot, says the dangers are very real.

He says he’s flown over the region many times at the 40,000-foot level, the same altitude where the invading object was shot down.

“It’s very concerning that you have something up there flying along, or suspended in the air, without an air traffic control clearance. If you couldn’t see it because of clouds, or it was nighttime, it could very easily be a collision.”

Sen. Olson says the Chinese spy balloons incursion into Alaska, coupled with Friday’s flying object, points to the North Slope’s increasing vulnerability to foreign aggression.

He worries that the region’s remoteness and sparse population will make it more difficult to protect itself.

Over the years, the Inuit Circumpolar Council has watched increased military activity in the Arctic with a nervous eye.

Jimmy Stotts, who recently retired from his job as president of Alaska’s ICC office, worries that the spy balloon and flying objects could be a distraction from the larger threat to the Arctic.

“Some of these conflicts elsewhere spilling over into the Arctic, I’m worried about that. Relationships, particularly over there in Northern Europe, the Scandinavian countries and Russian – how things there could pretty easily go sideways.”

Stotts says climate change, which has opened waters to navigation, has increased tensions in the Arctic and the potential for conflict.

The Central American country of Guatemala is entering an election this year, just as human rights groups say the country’s fragile democracy is deteriorating.

Recently, protests were held as Maya candidate Thelma Cabrera and her running mate, a well-known human rights activist, were disqualified after being accused of campaigning on social media before the official start date.

Maria Martin reports.

Hundreds of supporters of the Maya Mam candidate Thelma Cabrera of the People’s Liberation Movement took to the streets in downtown Guatemala City.

Their slogans asked the country’s highest election authority, the Supreme Election Tribunal, to reinstate Cabrera and her running mate, former human rights ombudsman Jordan Rodas, on the ballot for the June 25 election.

During the last election in 2019, Cabrera came in a strong fourth place, winning 10% of the vote – surprising in this country where the last Indigenous presidential candidate, Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchu, only garnered the support of 3% of the Guatemalan voters in 2007.

This time around, Thelma Cabrera and her running mate were expected to gain the reform vote for change in Guatemala – where most of the 30 odd parties represent the old guard, the military, and what’s known as the “pact of the corrupt.”

Cabrera says if the election tribunal doesn’t reverse its decision, it’s definite proof of electoral fraud.

She and Rodas plan to challenge their party’s disqualification in court.

On Sunday, demonstrators gathered in Glendale, AZ as the Kansas City football team played in the Super Bowl.

They marched to the stadium where the game was held with signs calling on the team to change its name.

People traveled from the greater Kansas City area for the protest while others were from the Phoenix metropolitan area like Cher Thomas from the Gila River Indian Community, a tribe that was one of the Official Partners of the Super Bowl.

Thomas says she wanted to use her voice to take a stand.

“If there’s something that can be said, I’m going to say it. If there’s something that can be done, I’m going to do it. If there’s something that can be maneuvered or worked out…I believe in doing what I can with what I have.”

The Native advocacy groups Not In Our Honor and Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots hosted the protest, and other events including a film screening and discussion about the fight against Indian mascots.

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A collection of bills relating to Native American affairs were heard in the South Dakota Senate Education Committee this week.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene has more.

State Sen. Shawn Bordeaux (D-SD/Rosebud Sioux) is from Mission, SD on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation.

He brought four education bills to the committee this week.

One – SB163 – would allow the playing of Indigenous honor songs at graduation ceremonies upon student request.

Sen. Bordeaux says it represents an opportunity for meaningful reconciliation.

“I’m trying to build upon something that I think is an expression and an opportunity for the state to stick out that olive branch and become a friend of our Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people. We saw the students here during the State of the Tribes Address come in and sing this honor song – the ‘Lakota Flag Song’, its often called. Which was created after veterans came back from the war.”

Another bill, SB187, would require schools to provide lessons on tribal history.

Sen. Bordeaux says it would include long sought-after educational materials.

“One of the things that we discussed was some curriculum that was developed largely from people from my community. It’s called the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. It’s a curriculum that was developed for schools, elementary through high school, to basically give people an understanding about our culture. I think some basic knowledge is ground-level, what we should know as South Dakotans here.”

Rob Monson, executive director of the School Administrators of South Dakota, spoke against 187, arguing in favor of the current education review process.

“We currently have what I believe is a good process in South Dakota, although our social studies standards review right now seems to be a little bit in question and not truly where we believe it should be in a true standard review. However, I feel what is being discussed in this piece of legislation absolutely can take place in the standards review and should take place there.”

Sen. Bordeaux, in response, questioned the quality of the system currently in place.

Each proposal was ultimately moved to the 41st legislative day, effectively killing the bills.

Another attempt at replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day has been introduced in the Montana state house.

Montana Public Radio’s Ellis Juhlin reports similar bills have failed.

Over fifteen states have holidays for Indigenous peoples and several local governments, including Bozeman and Missoula, have already passed their own city-wide versions of the holiday on the second weekend of October.

State Sen. Shane Morigeau (D-MT/Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) is the bill’s sponsor and said it’s necessary to include the full breadth of history.

“To talk about the wrongs in our history, to write our next chapter together, to reject selective history and recognize the good, bad, and ugly so we can learn and do better as a society.”

Members of the Montana American Indian Caucus have carried similar versions of this bill in the last five legislative sessions, but they have never successfully made it through both houses.

There were no opponents of the bill in the hearing and over thirty people and organizations spoke in support.

The committee did not take immediate action on the bill.

The greater Kansas City group Not In Our Honor and the coalition Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots are protesting the Kansas City football team’s name.

The groups are holding a demonstration Sunday outside the stadium in Glendale, AZ, where the Kansas City NFL team will play in the Super Bowl.

Gaylene Crouser, executive director of the Kansas City Indian Center, is a member of Not In Our Honor.

She’s traveling to Arizona for the protest and hopes having a larger audience at the Super Bowl will draw attention to the fight against Indian mascots.

“Having this larger audience, this worldwide stage that folks are going to be tuning in to this particular game, we’re really hoping to shine that light on the fact that a tremendous number of Native people are opposed to this mascoting. We’re consistently opposed to it.”

The groups also want to see an end of the use of the tomahawk chop and chant at sports venues.

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The Oglala Sioux Tribe is suing the U.S. Department of Interior and its agencies for violating the nation’s treaty obligation to fund law enforcement on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Parties spent the day Wednesday in federal court in Rapid City, SD, the first day of a two-day evidentiary hearing in front of Federal Judge Roberto Lange.

Victoria Wicks has this report.

Algin Young is the current chief of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police.

He spent the afternoon on the stand, telling of an overwhelming number of calls for assistance handled by 33 federally-funded police officers and eight investigators.

Chief Young told of the situation also outlined in the complaint filed with the court: these few officers patrol 5,400 square miles holding 40,000 people living or conducting business on the reservation.

A former chief of police, Ron Dubray, testified that at one time, the Oglala tribal police had 113 officers, funded through government grants and programs.

But as those programs died out, so did the level of law enforcement. And then crime rates went up, involving drugs, guns, violence, and murder, even before the advent of heroin and fentanyl.

After the first day’s testimony, Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out spoke about the lawsuit.

“For decades and decades and decades we’ve been ignored, put on the back burner. Today we’re taking that stand, not only as a tribe but as a nation, and speaking for Indian Country that we need to be heard.”

The lawsuit alleges that the United States has an obligation to provide protection and law enforcement under treaties including the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.

The tribe says in briefs that the treaties are still alive, having been reaffirmed by Congress, federal statutes, and legal precedent.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s fight against opioid addiction has expanded to Portland.

KLCC’s Brian Bull reports on the grand opening of the Great Circle Recovery clinic this week.

A crowd gathered for drumming, remarks, and a ribbon cutting by tribal and Multnomah County officials.

Tribal chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy says Native American overdose deaths have increased by over 500% since 2000.

“We have to act now. It’s affecting our younger people at a greater rate, but it has no boundaries. They can be elders as well.  So yes…it’s devastating.”

Kelly Rowe, Health and Wellness Director for the tribe, says the clinic staff is trained for fentanyl which is 100 times more potent than morphine.

“It is stronger than any other illicit drug out there. And it is a quick addiction process for people.”

The Grand Ronde opened their first opioid clinic in Salem, almost two years ago.

They say they’ve treated 500 people since.

Federal charges were filed Wednesday against former “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse for sexual exploitation and child pornography, 8 News Now reports.

Chasing Horse is accused of sexual assault against women and children spanning decades in multiple states and Canada.

Prosecutors allege he claimed to be a medicine person to gain the trust of Indigenous people, and he’s accused of leading a cult.

Chasing Horse was arrested last week in Las Vegas.

Bail was also set on Wednesday for $300,000 by a state judge. He faces several charges in Nevada.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS) introduced a resolution Wednesday designating this week as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week.”

It recognizes their contributions to the economic, educational, and social wellbeing of Indian Country.

There are 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities in the U.S.

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President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Tuesday night touched on several issues which are priorities for tribes across the country including economic development, COVID-19 recovery, broadband, and health care.

President Biden mentioned tribal communities in his remarks when talking about the infrastructure law to fund projects and create jobs.

The law set aside billions of dollars for Indian Country for high-speed internet, water and electricity projects, climate issues, and a number of other investments.

President Biden’s speech touted work being done by his administration and he called the State of the Union strong.

In statements, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK) and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw/R-OK) were critical of President Biden’s State of the Union.

Both expressing frustration with the president and saying they did not hear solutions or plans to move the nation forward.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS) expressed a need for bipartisanship in Congress.

A similar sentiment was made on Twitter by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (Yup’ik/D-AK) who called bipartisanship hard and messy, but worth it.

Meanwhile, guests at the State of the Union included Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, as the tribe’s new president he took his first official trip to Washington this week.

President Nygren was a guest of U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

And Lynette Bonar (Navajo) was a guest in First Lady Jill Biden’s viewing box.

She was recognized for helping establish a cancer center on the Navajo Nation.

A new clinic in Rapid City, SD combines modern design and treatments with pieces of traditional Native culture.

Now, patients are being accepted – ahead of the planned construction schedule.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene checks in on the center.

The Oyate Health Center sits on a plot in west Rapid City on the campus of the old Sioux San Hospital.

Jerilyn Church is president and CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Health Board. She says while bittersweet, leaving Sioux San represents a reclamation of tribal sovereignty.

“There’s so much history in that old building – it started as a boarding school, then it transitioned into a tuberculosis center, and then it turned into a hospital, but all of those entities were federally run facilities. What Oyate Health Center symbolizes is a new era of tribally managed healthcare.”

Church says embracing sovereignty will have tangible benefits for patients.

“What we are embracing here is wellness, not only from the physical standpoint, but we support and recognize that our emotional wellbeing is such an important part of our overall wellness. So, when our relatives come into this building, they’ll recognize that which is familiar to them as a reminder that this is a safe place.”

The new space will also increase capacity.

“We’ll be able to expand our primary care to a lot more than we are doing now in the current facility, but what we’ll also be able to do is provide specialty care. We have partners in the community that we hope will be joining us for those services that we routinely refer out.”

The fate of Sioux San Hospital is unclear, and the final decision is in the hands of the Indian Health Service.

NASA astronaut Nicole Mann (Wailacki) told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday, she’s proud to represent Native Americans in space, and hopes to inspire younger generations.

“We need to inspire the youth. We need to inspire them to dream to help them achieve their goals, and that’s the advice I would give to the young generations. It starts with an idea, it starts with a thought and dream, but it doesn’t stop there.”

Commander Mann spoke to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on a live video call from the International Space Station.

She is the first Native American woman to go to space.

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A pair of South Dakota House bills designed to codify aspects of the federal Indian Child Welfare protections in state law failed to pass on Monday.

One of them would have bumped up requirements for the Department of Social Services to keep Native children with their families and tribes.

The other outlined placement preferences for all children, regardless of race, to keep them in their communities when they’re removed from their homes.

Victoria Wicks reports.

The bill to give first preference for foster or adoptive placements in communities did not make it through the House Judiciary Committee Monday morning and the bill to improve DSS efforts died on the House floor later in the day.

Opposition in both forums centered on an appeal currently before the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges the constitutionality of the federal ICWA law.

On the House floor, State Rep. Tony Venhuizen (R-SD) said if the Supreme Court finds that ICWA is unconstitutional, the state will have passed potentially unconstitutional laws.

“So as important as this issue is, at a time when the law is in flux before the Supreme Court, I would submit that this is not the time to make this change. We should wait and see what happens and consider a law like this next year.”

The case, Haaland v. Brackeen, questions if preferred placement of Native children with Native families or tribes is race based, rather than political, and if the federal government, by directing state courts to take certain actions, violates anti-commandeering principles.

State Rep. Peri Pourier (D-SD/Oglala Sioux) is the prime sponsor of both bills. She argued against Rep. Venhuizen’s contention.

“We have nine tribal nations. We have citizens of those tribal nations that are South Dakotans. This is not a race-based law.”

As for the other aspect, Rep. Pourier said the issue there involves federal commandeering of state procedures. She said the state is allowed to commandeer itself by passing these bills.

The Yurok Tribe is sponsoring a day at the Capitol on Tuesday in Sacramento to address missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Frankie Myers is vice chair of the Yurok Tribe.

“We’re really looking to highlight the need for better tribal engagement with the state process and more engagement from the state, and really raise the awareness of MMIP issues here in California.”

Myers says speakers will include assemblymembers, tribal leaders, and families who are continuing to advocate for their missing or murdered loved ones.

He says tribes are taking a holistic approach to address MMIP in the state.

“The health of our people is connected to the world around us and the world around us is connected to the health of our people. If we’re going to start to restore who we are we need to make sure our people are protected. How we make sure this stays in the focal point of our state partners is continuing to make sure we’re progressing forward with legislation and budget amendments that will actually make change to this epidemic.”

Myers says three pieces of legislation they’re advocating for will do just that.

One involves seeking $200 million added to the governor’s budget to address MMIP, the other two bills involve public safety, and protections for young people in the foster care system.

Tuesday’s event is the first ever Missing and Murdered Indigenous Day at the state Capitol.

The U.S. Interior Department last week allocated nearly $580 million to fund water compacts with tribal nations.

Aaron Bolton reports the funding comes from an infrastructure bill passed by congress last year.

The Interior Department is allocating $460 million in order to meet the federal government’s financial obligation to tribes across the country with water compacts. Another $120 million will go toward the Reclamation Water Settlement Fund.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in northwest Montana will receive the largest disbursement at nearly $157 million.

The tribes have the largest water compact in U.S. history at $1.9 billion. Funding will also flow to other Montana tribes, including the Blackfeet Nation and the Crow Tribe.

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A bill that would codify provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act has been approved by the South Dakota House Judiciary Committee on a vote of 9 to 3.

The bill requires the Department of Social Services to make active efforts to prevent removal of children from families.

ICWA currently requires that measure, but the federal law has been challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court, with an opinion pending.

According to online reports, 10 states have already enacted their own Indian Child Welfare statutes, and five states, including South Dakota, are considering bills this year.

Victoria Wicks has this report.

State Rep. Peri Pourier (D-SD/Oglala Sioux) introduced House Bill 1168.

She told the House committee that poverty underlies many of tribes’ challenges, and the vast majority of Native children removed from their homes are removed for neglect.

“Neglect can often look like poverty to some people.”

She said ICWA requires “active efforts” from states to keep indigenous families together, but South Dakota law is largely silent.

“There’s nothing in code that outlines ‘active efforts.’ All it says is that the state must have due regard to ICWA.”

The Department of Social Services was represented at the hearing by General Counsel Jeremy Lippert.

He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating the constitutionality of ICWA and when its opinion comes out, the state might have to recalibrate.

“We may very well have a complex array of specific portions of the federal statute that stand or fall, to which the state’s courts, legislature, and agencies will have to respond.”

After witnesses testified, State Rep. Tim Reisch (R-SD) spoke in favor of the bill.

The former and longtime Secretary of Corrections said South Dakota’s prison population, both male and female, is disproportionately Native.

“I’m not convinced that passage of this bill is going to change anything in a huge way, but I think we’ve got to try everything we can.”

The committee approved the bill and it now goes to the full House.

Listen to live testimony on State House Bill 1229 until 12pm CT

It was a fast and furious finale for Team Alaska at the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta.

As Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports, over the course of seven days, Alaska athletes amassed 145 medals – 58 gold, 44 silver, and 43 bronze – in the shape of the iconic curved knife of the North, the ulu.

Alaska was second in the overall standings, behind the Yukon Territories, which finished with 169 medals.

Two 18-year-old Alaska Natives were in a tie for racking up the most gold medals on Team Alaska.

Colton James Paul from Kipnuk and Parker Benjamin Kenick of Nome each won five medals.

Both competed in Arctic Sports, a competition that features Native games, traditionally used to sharpen survival skills.

Kenick says this was his first Arctic Winter Games, so he didn’t expect to do very well. But he says, the high level of international competition, plus encouragement from his competitors, inspired him to do his best.

“With old friends, new friends, an audience, it’ll lift you up — and you’ll typically break your own records, surprise yourself, put on a show for everybody and have fun all around. It’s nice to see everybody do their best and break their own records.”

Closing ceremonies were on Saturday.

The games will take place in Alaska next year.

The Yurok Tribe is sponsoring a day at the state Capitol on Tuesday to help reduce violence against Native Americans in California.

Tribal leaders, advocates, families, and state law makers are gathering in Sacramento for the first Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Day of Action.

They’ll address MMIP, including advocating for bills involving public safety and protections for foster youth.

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A bill to establish a state-level Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in Montana was introduced this week.

As Montana Public Radio’s Ellis Juhlin reports, this bill would build on a federal version of the law.

The federal ICWA guides the removal and placement of Native American children in cases of abuse and neglect, prioritizing their placement into the homes of family members or other members of their tribe.

Kelly Driscoll is a public defender who practices family defense in Missoula County’s ICWA court.

“If you look at the handout you will see the marked decrease in the rates of Native children in state custody after the implementation of a statewide ICWA.”

If passed, Montana would join ten other states with local-level ICWA policies, which expand guidelines for child placement.

According to data from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the number of Native American children in foster care is nearly three times higher than their proportion in the overall population.

Lance Four Star, a staffer with the Montana American Indian Caucus, spoke in support of the bill.

“Regardless of ICWA, House Bill 317 ensures Montana steps up to what’s in the best interest of Indian children.”

Lawmakers are considering a local policy to define the process for placing Native children in foster care as the federal ICWA is being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Proponents of the bill said establishing a Montana version of the policy would maintain these protections for tribes in Montana and preserve tribal sovereignty, if the national policy is struck down.

Over 30 people spoke in support of the bill during its hearing and it has support from the eight tribes in Montana.

The committee did not take immediate action on the bill.

The Interior Department announced Thursday a $580 million allocation to fulfill Indian water right settlement claims.

The funds are from the Infrastructure Law and the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund.

Nearly $460 million will be allocated from the Infrastructure Law’s Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund for settlements dating prior to November 2021 – and $120 million from the Reclamation Water Settlement Fund, which was created by Congress in 2009 and receives mandatory funding annually from 2020 to 2029.

In a statement, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) said through the funding the Interior Department will uphold its trust responsibilities. She expressed her gratitude that tribes waiting for decades will finally get resources they’re owed.

There were 34 congressionally enacted Indian Water Rights settlements as of November 2021, when the Infrastructure Law was signed.

More than a dozen tribal projects are receiving settlement funds this year in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Montana.

The first ever tribal 988 summit in California is taking place Friday at the Morongo Casino.

State Rep. James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA) is hosting the tribal summit to raise awareness of mental health services and suicide prevention efforts.

The federal 988 number was created last summer to help individuals who are in crisis.

People can use the number 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling, texting or chatting.

The number can also be used by those who are worried about someone they believe needs crisis support.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects people with counseling, referrals, resources and other aid.

Tribal leaders and mental health professionals are among speakers at the summit who will share perspectives on providing culturally grounded suicide prevention approaches and build collaboration among 988 for tribal communities.

The Oklahoma City Indian Clinic is offering women’s self-defense education during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

A series of classes for women ages 16 and older will be held this month.

The national observation is to raise awareness around violence and abusive behaviors among teens.

Health professionals say sometimes victims have no other choice than to resort to self-defense.

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