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Navajo Nation council speaker Crystalyne Curley and Billy Kirkland shake hands with guests at the Navajo Nation Washington Office. Kirkland was honored at the office during a reception in January. (Photo: Antonia Gonzales)
A Navajo Nation citizen has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
The nomination of William “Billy” Kirkland was sent to the U.S. Senate on Monday, according to the Congressional database.
The Navajo Times reports Kirkland is a political strategist from Georgia who’s worked in the state’s political landscape. He also served in various positions during the first Trump administration.
Kirkland is said to have played a role working with tribes on the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women helping with the Trump administration’s response through Operation Lady Justice.
He was honored during a reception at the Navajo Nation Washington Office in January on the night before President Trump took office.
Navajo Nation council speaker Crystalyne Curley and Billy Kirkland shake hands with a guest at the Navajo Nation Washington Office. Kirkland was honored at the office during a reception in January. (Photo: Antonia Gonzales)
Kirkland gave brief remarks at the reception, in an audio recording provided by Indianz.com.
“Anytime we can get Indian Country more involved in anything we’re doing, whether it’s here in Washington or in the states or policy wise or the inaugural ceremonies taking place tomorrow, the inauguration ball, we definitely want to do so. The White House will continue to have an open-door policy with all the tribal nations.”
If confirmed, Kirkland will replace Bryan Newland (citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community), who resigned at the end of the Biden administration.
Eklutna Casino. (Photo: Rhonda McBride)
Just a day after the Eklutna Tribe’s casino opened to the public near Anchorage, the state of Alaska filed a lawsuit against the federal government that, if successful, could shut it down, as Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports.
The lawsuit claims federal agencies misused their legal authority to allow the gaming operation to go forward.
The Native Village of Eklutna opened a small gaming hall to the public on Monday with 85 electronic bingo machines, following years of legal debate over whether it could do so on a Native allotment.
(Photo: Rhonda McBride)
The state has argued that tribes do not have jurisdiction over its lands in Alaska, but last year the U.S. Interior Department gave the tribe the green light to pursue the gaming hall.
A few days before President Trump was sworn into office, Newland, then the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, gave the tribe final approval for its project.
The Chin’an Gaming Hall opened in just four-and-a-half-days, made up of trailers that were quickly moved onto the lot and bolted together.
The lawsuit has not affected the gaming hall’s operations yet.
The tribe’s president, Aaron Leggett, said in a statement that Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) and his Attorney General, Treg Taylor, have asked for a court order that could cause enormous damage to the tribe and the community.
“I am disappointed for my people and my ancestors, who have worked diligently for generations to get to this moment.”
He says the tribe will stand up to the legal challenge, because it knows its case is strong.
Fort Peck Buffalo Manager Robbie Magnan receives a gift and shakes hands with Mosquito First Nation Chief Tanya Stone. (Photo: Chamois Anderson)
Last week marked a historic transfer of Yellowstone bison from the United States to Canada.
Wyoming Public Radio’s Olivia Weitz has the details.
In recent years, Yellowstone bison have been re-homed to tribes across the U.S.
Last week – for the first time – the bison conservation transfer program sent them to Canada.
Chamois Anderson with the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife helped with the transportation logistics.
She says 11 bison traveled on a 700-mile route from the Fort Peck Tribes in northeastern Montana to a tribal nation in Saskatchewan.
“Lots of singing, the whole community was yelling and happy and just, just absolute jubilation. It was really, really remarkable.”
Chief Tanya Stone of Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nations released a statement in a press release.
“These buffalo are coming to us as a family group led by a matriarch. This beautiful gift is deeply meaningful as we collectively rebuild our relationship to them as they teach us perseverance, strength, and determination.”
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