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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council has announced a decision in a dispute over reservation boundaries. On Monday, the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York ruled New York State’s purchase of reservation land in the 1800s violated federal law. The court found the state did not have federal approval when it sought about 2,000 acres from the tribe, which violated the Non-Intercourse Act. The ruling affirms the tribe’s claim to the land located in the center of the reservation, known as the Hogansburg Triangle. Tribal leaders say it’s a tremendous win and are seeking to regain title.
In a historic first, Congress has earmarked millions of dollars for cancer treatment on the Navajo Nation. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Robyn Vincent reports, advocates hope this paves the way for more treatment options across Indian Country.
The Navajo Nation’s cancer treatment facility is one of the first to be located on tribal land. Advocates celebrated its opening in 2019, especially given the deadly repercussions of uranium mining. Navajo people face high cancer rates that some experts link to uranium contamination. Now the facility will receive federal dollars to offer services like radiation oncology. Attorney Brandy Tomhave, a member of the Choctaw Nation, works on this issue.
“This represents a historic moment because it’s the very first time the federal government has invested a single dollar into the creation of cancer treatment on an Indian reservation.”
Tomhave says Natives battling cancer have died simply because they couldn’t access treatment with some facilities located hundreds of miles from reservations.
Organizers of a recent annual environmental fashion show in Juneau, Alaska, disqualified one entry that was entirely in Lingít. Some community members including the Alaska Native artist question whether the decision was racially motivated. KTOO’s Yvonne Krumery reports.
K̲aachgóon Rochelle Smallwood’s piece stood out, as Wearable Arts Emcee Richard Carter introduced the piece. Titled YA HÉEN ÁWÉ YA K̲USTEEYI. It towered over the audience, standing more than 10-feet-tall on the model Magdalena Kahlo. The title of K̲aachgóon’s piece, its description, and the music behind it are all in Lingít. Her piece made an impression on the audience. Every year during Wearable Art, professional judges come in and weigh each piece and its presentation. Then they pick their favorites and K̲aachgóon’s piece got left out of that process. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council management, which puts on the show, says this was because of a miscommunication and a time crunch. They made assumptions about whether K̲aachgóon wanted her piece to be judged. The model who wore the piece, Kahlo, as well as other artists and models at the event, complained of racism and exclusion backstage. These complaints worked their way up the chain to Nancy DeCherney, the JAHC’s executive director. The council apologized for the miscommunication and its board members say they held two meetings to discuss those complaints. During those discussions, Juneau arts council staff determined that there wasn’t racism involved in the decision to exclude K̲aachgóon’s piece from the judging process. But the model Kahlo disagrees.
“And then for them to just be like, no, it wasn’t racist. It was like, it’s just kind of like, okay, well, you don’t get to decide that.”
To K̲aachgóon, it was essential that none of the Lingít she used for the piece be translated into English.
“Native artists don’t have to explain their art or their Indigeneity for people, we don’t have to digest it for them.”
Going forward, the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council management say they’re considering removing the judging process from Wearable Arts.
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So how do I listen ,as opposed to read?
It would be good if you kept your format the same.