Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Anchor: Antonia Gonzales
In the James Smith Cree Nation in north central Saskatchewan the healing begins after Sunday’s stabbing rampage that killed 10 people and wounded 18 others.
As Dan Karpenchuk reports, people gathered at the reserve for a news conference, the day after the arrest and death of the prime suspect, Myles Sanderson.
There was a ceremonial fire, a sweat lodge, and an honor song.
It was an emotional event, one man who’s sister was killed in the attacks wrapped his arm around the widow of one of the suspects and talked about forgiveness.
Wally Burns is the chief of the James Smith Cree Nation.
“I’m trying to hold myself together with the words that need to come out. We ask three things. Three things from the governments. We ask that we have our own tribal policing, we ask for awareness of addictions, we ask for treatment centers, so things won’t happen like this to any nations.”
Burns also issued a plea for an end to the violence. He thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe for their support in the wake of the tragedy.
And with news of the death of Queen Elizabeth, he also offered his gratitude for a message she issued just a day before, offering her condolences to the community.
The Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police attended the event adding that the police force is open to working towards a self-government police force in the community.
A trust fund is being set up to accept financial donations and provide help in the wake of the attacks.
Members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona have filed a request with the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to rehear a case involving a sacred site.
They’re hoping to block a massive copper mine slated for Oak Flat on national forest land.
As Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports, their request to the court is rarely granted.
Members of the group Apache Stronghold this week traveled from the San Carlos Apache Reservation east of Phoenix to San Francisco to make the petition and hold a day of prayer.
In June, a three-judge panel upheld a lower court decision denying the group’s attempt to halt the Resolution Copper mine.
It’s planned for Oak Flat, which tribal members describe as their most sacred site and key to many religious ceremonies.
Apache Stronghold hopes the court will grant a new hearing in front of 11 judges.
Such a move by the circuit court would be very rare, and only a handful are allowed each year out of hundreds of requests.
Circuit court officials say justices could take several weeks or longer to decide whether to rehear the case.
Becket Law, which represents Apache Stronghold, says they’re hoping for a decision by early October, and they also plan to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2014 Congress approved a federal land exchange that paved the way for the copper mine.
Tribal groups, environmentalists and religious advocates say it would destroy Oak Flat along with the area’s desert ecosystem.
The University of Arizona celebrated the grand opening of a new tribal micro-campus this week.
The campus will serve the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson.
It’s intended to help tribal members obtain college degrees, certificates, and access the university’s technology, research, and tutoring services.
The 5,000 sq ft space is located east of the reservation, in a building of a former middle school.
University officials say the new campus is part of their commitment to Native communities and they hope to establish future campuses for other tribes in the state.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s education department worked with the university to develop initial curriculum.
Classes offered are areas in Indigenous governance, leadership, management, and policy.
The fall term begins in October.
Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our newsletter today.
