Recently in Native News

Native Americans are continuing to receive recognition across the nation for their activism, artistry and more, and we’re sharing some of our favorite headlines from the month of June. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and stay up to date with the latest headlines all year long.

Arizona’s first Native American Day is recognized June 2 via AZ Central

• “Arizona’s first state-recognized Native American Day occurred Sunday, commemorating the date — June 2 — when then President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. That act granted United States citizenship to any Native American born within the country. The day’s recognition came via the passage last year of Senate Bill 1235, introduced by Navajo state Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai, D-Window Rock. It was was signed into law last April by Gov. Doug Ducey. Ducey posted about the day on Twitter Sunday. ‘Today, Arizona recognizes and celebrates the rich contributions and history of the Native American people in our state,’ Ducey wrote.”

Native American activist Frank LaMere dies at age 69 via AP News

• “Frank LaMere, a Native American activist who fought for a variety of causes and crusaded to close beer stores near a dry South Dakota Indian reservation, has died. He was 69. LaMere’s daughter, Jennifer LaMere, said her father died Sunday at an Omaha hospital. LaMere, who was a Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska member, worked for decades to shutter the four stores in Whiteclay, Nebraska, that sold millions of cans of beer near the dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Regulators closed the stores in 2017. LaMere also spoke out against the proposed Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.”

This Google Doodle celebrates a dance performed by Native American women via CNN

• “If you’re in the United States or Canada, you may have seen the intricately designed Google Doodle above. It celebrates the Jingle Dress Dance performed by Native American women. The dance, which originated with the Ojibwe tribe, serves to ‘affirm the power of Native American women,’ Google notes in an explanation of the doodle. The doodle was designed by Ojibwe artist Joshua Mangeship Pawis-Steckley.’When I heard the Doodle was about the Jingle Dress Dance, I was eager to get started,’ he told Google. ‘Watching the dancers at pow wow is one of my favorite things to do.’”

New Mexico mural focuses on missing Native American women via The Salt Lake Tribune

• “A new mural in southern New Mexico seeks to honor missing and slain Native Americans amid a nationwide push to bring more attention to the issue. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports artist Sebastian ‘Vela’ Velazquez recently erected the mural in Las Cruces in conjunction with the city’s eighth annual ‘Illegal’ graffiti art show. The work is part of a large-scale mural wrapping around the entirety of the Cruces Creatives building. In the mural, a Native American woman stands in front with her fist raised. She’s screaming and the words below say: ‘NO MORE STOLEN SISTERS!’”

‘It’s long overdue’: the first exhibition for Native American female artists via The Guardian

• “Walk into most museums and there might be something missing on the wall labels beside Native American artworks – an Apache dress from the 19th century might just read: ‘Title, year, materials.’ What’s missing? The artist’s name. Though many of the artists’ names were not recorded, and will forever be anonymous, many that have been recorded are now being recognized as never before. Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists is the first ever museum retrospective of Native American and Canadian female artists. It opened at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and until 18 August, over 115 artists from 50 Native communities are being given the credit they deserve.”