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Anchor: Antonia Gonzales
Last year, we reported on how the Coquille Tribe was using a special electrified boat from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to remove invasive bass.
KLCC’s Brian Bull has an update on how that effort is being doubled.
Last summer, the ODFW’s Gary Vanderohe explained how his agency’s boat worked, as he took us up the Coquille River.
“We have a generator that’s underneath the seat, and then there’s a box in the steering console that converts the electricity, which is an AC electricity into a DC electricity, which is a little bit easier on the fish, it just kinda stuns them.”
This year, through a 100-thousand dollar grant from the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, the Coquille will soon have their own craft.
Helena Linnell, biological planning and operations manager for the Coquille Tribe, explains why it’s vital to remove bass.
“They’ve been here for over a decade, and they are having decimating effects on salmonids. So fall Chinook and other salmon species.”
The tribe expects to have the boat delivered next year, so they and the ODFW can double-team the invasive bass.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, who’s seeking another term in office, announced his running mate this week during a campaign event in Window Rock, AZ.
His pick is Chad Abeyta for vice president. Abeyta is an Airforce Veteran and an attorney.
During an announcement event streamed live on social media, Abeyta talked about his qualifications and vision for the administration if they win.
“I bring to the table leadership skills, critical thinking and I plan to use creative solutions to addressing a lot of these things. And I’ll be in support of President Nez and his platform and I’d like to continue the work that he’s doing so far.”
Nez received the most votes for president in the primary election.
The second top vote getter was Buu Nygren who also announced his running mate this week.
Nygren chose Richelle Montoya, a local community leader and school board member, for vice president.
If they’re elected, Montoya would be the first woman vice president of the Navajo Nation.
During a campaign event also held in Window Rock, AZ and streamed live on social media,
Montoya says she has strong matriarchs – past and present.
“Nine sisters that brought my teaching, my prayers, my songs to who I am today. I have no doubt in what they taught me. I have no doubt in that I can stand here and be a running mate for Dr. Buu Nygren. I have the strength of my ancestors.”
Nygren says his campaign is about the voices of the people and a lot of people across Navajo land expressed the need for women leadership in the president’s office.
There were 15 candidates running for president in the August 2 primary.
Voters will head to the polls to pick their next president during the general election in November.
The Navajo Nation is one of the largest tribes in the United States with the largest reservation spanning the Four Corners region.
Pueblo leaders are condemning the defacement and desecration of cultural property in Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.
The All Pueblo Council of Governors, which represents 20 Pueblo Nations in New Mexico and Texas, recently received notice from the National Park Service of vandalism and damage to a Kiva.
Pueblo leaders are calling for improved management of the area for preservation of sacred landscapes and for the public to stop desecrating traditional cultural properties.
The latest incident at the monument marks the fifth known such vandalism to Indigenous cultural properties in the area.
Pueblo leaders are seeking a complete investigation and the strengthening of co-management procedures to help prevent more incidents like the latest one.
Photo: Corey Coyle
The National Indian Gaming Commission on Wednesday released 2021 Indian gaming revenue numbers totaling $39 billion, an increase of 40% from 2020.
According to the commission, it’s the highest in Indian gaming history.
The latest numbers show many tribal gaming operations have found ways to rebound from the pandemic.
The calculations are from financial statements from 510 gaming operations owned by 243 federally recognized tribes in 29 states.
More details on www.nigc.gov.
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