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The chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe says racism and discrimination against Native people by businesses in Rapid City, South Dakota will not be tolerated. Chairman Harold Frazier’s comments follow social media posts made over the weekend by an owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel saying they’ll ban Native American guests after a shooting at the property, which injured a teenager. The Rapid City Journal reports, the social media comments said “we will no long(er) allow any Native American on property” and “ranchers and travelers will receive a very special rate.” In a statement, Frazier condemned the comments. He is demanding an apology to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people. The city’s mayor Steve Allender is also speaking out, saying the hotel does not reflect the community’s values. The hotel did not respond to the Journal for comment.
Kelp forests in Puget Sound play a role environmentally and culturally, but they’re in decline, as Eric Tegethoff reports.
There are more than 20 species of kelp in the region that are a vital source of food and habitat for marine animals. They also are important to Indigenous people of the region. Todd Woodard, natural resources director for the Samish Indian Nation, says tribal members have used kelp fronds as wraps to cook salmon, and kelp bulbs to carry oil for heat and light and as rattles for young children.
“It’s a critical part of cultural identity to the Cosalish people here. It’s a critical part of the sense of place that Indigenous populations have, and Indigenous people both on the First Nations and the tribe side are working very hard to try and figure out what’s happening and what can be done to mitigate for it.”
Last summer, Puget Sound Restoration Fund brought together 200 people for an eight-day scientific exploration of kelp. It’s part of an effort to implement the 2020 Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan. The team is releasing videos of its expedition to raise awareness about kelp’s decline. Betsy Peabody is executive director of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. She says kelp is vital to the food web, which means they support iconic Northwest species such as salmon and orca. Peabody notes humans rely on Puget Sound’s food web as well, and so the decline of kelp forests has a direct impact on people.
“We’re just wanting to work with others to really connect those dots in the way that we need to in order to support the conservation and restoration at a scale that can help protect these essential, iconic marine systems.”
Joy Harjo says she’s leaving the door open for other Indigenous artists reflecting on her time as U.S. Poet Laureate. Harjo, Muscogee Creek, is the first Native American poet to serve in the position. She talked about breaking stereotypes during a virtual Mellon Foundation event on Monday.
“When I get to the end of my life, I want Native people to be seen as human beings and I think that’s been one of the best things about the poet laureate position because it’s gone a long way for people to see that oh, there are (Native American) poets.”
Harjo says poetry is crucial especially during times like the pandemic.
“We lost our major culture bearers in our tribal nation and that was true all over, but people in these kinds of times we go to poetry…it’s true for all human beings all over the world. Poetry, it says, I’ve been here all along.”
Harjo was appointed Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress in 2019 and was reappointed in 2020. This is Harjo’s third term in the role, which she will soon conclude.
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