Archives for February 2017
NAC: February 27 – March 3
Monday, February 27, 2017 — Protecting Native children from domestic violence
Researchers find children who witness domestic violence experience fear, anger, anxiety, and sadness. And those feelings can last a long time. In the long run, domestic violence negatively affects the lives of children into their adulthood. Domestic violence rates are at the high end of the graph for Native Americans. this program we’re talking with a Native social worker and psychologist about how Native children and communities are affected by domestic violence.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 — Trump’s wall
Since the beginning of his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised Americans a wall along the U.S.- Mexican border. But the likelihood of that wall the way it’s envisioned is called into question by the Tohono O’odham Nation. They share 75 miles with the Mexico border. Tribal members say it will further separate tribal people on both sides of the border and cut cultural ties.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 – What is consultation?
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe argues the federal government failed to conduct meaningful consultation over the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Much of Standing Rock’s legal opposition relied on consultation. The concept comes up regularly for many tribes. When and how does consultation happen? It’s not always easy to get an answer.
Thursday, March 2, 2017 – Where environmentalism and Indigenous goals part
The priorities of environmental groups and tribes often align. The prevailing perception is Native Americans are good stewards of their land. But the two groups are sometimes at odds. The issues of protected species, hunting, land conservation and others can occasionally lead to friction.
Friday, March 3, 2017 – Is the battle at Standing Rock over?
Energy Transfer Partners is nearing completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Protesters are clearing some of the camps in North Dakota, but others are resolved to continue the fight. What happens next for the struggle against the pipeline?
Responding to the Opioid Drug Crisis in MN American Indian Communities
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Addiction to opioid pain killers and heroin is a daunting challenge to many Natives. In 2015, Minnesota had more American Indians dying from overdoses than any other state. That same year, nearly 70% of pregnant Native women gave birth to babies with opioids in their systems.
There’s a call for a culturally specific response base on traditional teachings and ceremonies, and a different urgent call for medically assisted treatment. In the end, healing from historical trauma is the path forward. Join us as we explore these issues in Minnesota’s Indian country in this special report from Minnesota Native News brought to you by Native Voice One.
Responding to the Opioid Drug Crisis in MN American Indian Communities
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Addiction to opioid pain killers and heroin is a daunting challenge to many Natives. In 2015, Minnesota had more American Indians dying from overdoses than any other state. That same year, nearly 70% of pregnant Native women gave birth to babies with opioids in their systems.
There’s a call for a culturally specific response base on traditional teachings and ceremonies, and a different urgent call for medically assisted treatment. In the end, healing from historical trauma is the path forward. Join us as we explore these issues in Minnesota’s Indian country in this special report from Minnesota Native News brought to you by Native Voice One.
Rocking the Boat: the Story of Changing Race Relations in Bemidji, Minnesota
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Predominantly white towns that border large American Indian reservations can be racially charged places. It is difficult for residents to face the historical atrocities and heal as a community. In a small city in Minnesota’s north woods, Natives and their non-Native allies have been working for 50 years to do just that. Join us as we hear their stories in the documentary Rocking the Boat: the Story of Changing Race Relations in Bemidji, Minnesota. It’s a special report from Minnesota Native News brought to you by Native Voice One.
Rocking the Boat: the Story of Changing Race Relations in Bemidji, Minnesota
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Predominantly white towns that border large American Indian reservations can be racially charged places. It is difficult for residents to face the historical atrocities and heal as a community. In a small city in Minnesota’s north woods, Natives and their non-Native allies have been working for 50 years to do just that. Join us as we hear their stories in the documentary Rocking the Boat: the Story of Changing Race Relations in Bemidji, Minnesota. It’s a special report from Minnesota Native News brought to you by Native Voice One.
Non-Native Allies
Trahant Reports – Federal Indian programs labeled as ‘high risk,’ but real solutions need Congress
Federal Indian programs have been added to the “high-risk” category by the Government Accountability Office. That designation could not come at a worse time because there are already so many pressures to cut the budget. And that’s exactly the wrong way to serve Indian Country.
This is Trahant Reports.
The GAO zeroes in on federal programs that it says are vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and, the need for transformation to address economy, efficiency, or effectiveness challenges. The Bureau of Indian Education, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service made that list for the first time.
GAO says the BIA is slow to approve energy projects. Congress can’t wait to make the approval process faster than filling your car with a tank of gas. But that will have unintended consequences for the very notion of trust land, tribal control of energy projects, and the challenges of global warming.
Next the GAO says the Bureau of Indian Education needs to better manage. Only problem: Hiring for BIE schools is easier said than done. There is another problem at play: Conservative think-tanks have these as “failing schools” and would replace them with a whacky scheme to create Education Savings Accounts.
The third high-risk agency identified by the GAO is the Indian Health Service. It says to help ensure that Indian people receive quality health care the IHS should improve quality and make better hires. Absolutely. Of course the IHS is trying to improve quality and make better hires. The problem is mostly funding.
Another GAO recommendation about IHS might be the most tone deaf. It says, “we recommend that IHS realign current resources and personnel to increase capacity to deal with enrollment in Medicaid and the exchanges and prepare for increased billing to these payers.”
Congress is going in exactly the opposite direction. The serious questions, the one that Congress ought to be answering, are how much will it cost IHS when Medicaid is turned into a block grant? And, if there are to be block grants, will states even fund a federal health care delivery system?
The GAO report makes a big deal about IHS developing a fair method for how it spends money on purchased and referral care.
What the report should have said is that Congress is to blame. The problem is not the architecture; it’s the funding. No federal agency. No state agency. No private medical system spends less than the Indian health system on a patient. The real problem is that it’s impossible to defy gravity.
I am Mark Trahant.
NAC: February 20 – 24
Monday, February 20, 2017 – Native Americans and civil rights
Alaska Natives take time out in February to recognize activist Elizabeth Peratrovich. She was instrumental in boosting the state’s civil rights through the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. We’ll note Peratrovich’s contributions by getting a primer on what civil rights means for Native Americans and explore a workplace civil rights complaint.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 — Non-Native allies
Those offering their support for the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline represent dozens of tribes around the country. But there are also many non-Native people adding their voices to the cause. Their efforts can help amplify the message. But their methods can sometimes go against Native interests and cause friction. How can non-Native allies be most effective?
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 –Books of the Month: “Celebrate My Hopi Corn” and “Celebrate My Hopi Toys”
Native American and Alaska Native cultural advocates are consistently on the hunt for materials that help inspire Native youth. They know the value of resources that highlight a community’s culture and language. In this month’s literary spotlight there’s a lot to celebrate. Hopi author Anita Poleahla and Hopi illustrator Emmett Navakuku have filled the pages of two books with Hopi culture and language. “Celebrate My Hopi Corn” and “Celebrate My Hopi Toys” are aimed at the earliest readers.
Thursday, February 23, 2017 — Yawn … Sleep disorders take a toll
Sleeping problems contribute to more than yawning in the morning. The Centers for Disease Control links lack of sleep to depression, diabetes, and an increased likelihood of accidental injury. The CDC also finds more than a quarter of Americans don’t get enough sleep. One study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests the lack of access to proper health care makes Indigenous people even more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of sleep disorders.
Friday, February 24, 2017 – February in the News
As the snow melts, things at Standing Rock continue to heat up. The remaining easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline is approved and the project’s backers expect construction to be completed shortly. Elsewhere, the FBI raided the Eastern Band of Cherokee Housing Authority, investigating possible fraud. And what does the nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the U.S. Supreme Court mean for Native America? Join us for our news round-up
Trahant Reports – Standing Rock pipeline actions & reactions
The Trump administration has been in office for less than a month — and already the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline is once again proceeding. Company officials say oil will be flowing by June.
This is Trahant Reports.
There is a flurry of activity around the Dakota Access Pipeline. The project has cost more than $3.8 billion to transfer oil from North Dakota to markets in Illinois and beyond.
Yet every action to build the pipeline is met with many more reactions to stop it.
The fight about this pipeline — and the broader issues it represents — is far from over.
Of course some days it does not seem that way. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the final easement for the pipeline to cross under the Missouri River and complete the project.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said if the construction is successful “the tribe will seek to shut the pipeline operations down.” IT has also called for a march in Washington, DC, on March 10th.
Then President Trump lives in a world where none of this is a big deal. “I don’t even think it was controversial,” he said. “I haven’t had one call.”
Of course the White House wasn’t taking calls.
So the Center for Investigative Reporting and its Reveal News has created a phone number to solicit voice mails from the public about what they would tell the president. (It’s 510-545-2640). This is your opportunity to sound off.
Another challenge is a financial one. Many individuals, tribes, cities, and companies are pulling their money out of the banks that finance the Dakota Access Pipeline.
But that’s really just the beginning. Rebecca Adamson, founder of First Peoples Worldwide, points out to investors how much capital they are losing by investing in companies that operate without the consent from the community involved. She pegs this as a real cost, somewhere between $20 million to $30 million a week.
Just look at how much money has been wasted on law enforcement at Standing Rock and you get a sense about how big a number that could be. Clearly it’s better to partner with tribal communities.
I also have a big idea.
So we know the project will take some 60 days to complete. And about three weeks to actually transfer oil from North Dakota to the end of the pipeline.
What if on that day, the day the oil reaches markets, there is a Day Without Oil? One day. It will take a massive organizational effort. But why not? What if every ally of Standing Rock, every community that has its own Standing Rock, everyone who is concerned about water, just takes a day off from oil? Either walk every where that day — or just stay home. Do what it takes to remind the companies, and the government itself, who’s really in charge of the economy.
I am Mark Trahant.
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