Recently in Native News

If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you know we like to stay apprised of Native news and relevant articles. We’re excited to further share what we discover by providing links to this news on a regular basis on our blog. Take a look at information that piqued our interest this month:

Phoenix considers celebrating Native American culture on Columbus Day via AZCentral

• “Phoenix could soon join a collection of cities that hold alternative celebrations on Columbus Day to commemorate the history and contributions of Native American cultures. City leaders are considering whether to establish Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October. Supporters say the event would promote a more accurate understanding of history and celebrate the city’s large, vibrant Native American population.”

Asked and Answered: A President for Indian Country via WhiteHouse.gov

• “As a candidate visiting the Crow Nation in Montana in May 2008, President Obama pledged to host an annual summit with tribal leaders to ensure that tribal nations have a seat at the table when facing important decisions about their communities. Today, the President hosts the eighth and final Tribal Nations Conference of his Presidency.”

U.S. to pay 17 Indian tribes $492 million to settle long-standing disputes via Washington Post

• “The Obama administration has settled lawsuits with 17 Native American tribes who accused the federal government of long mismanaging their funds and natural resources. With these settlements, the administration will have resolved the majority of outstanding claims, some that date back a century, with more than 100 tribes and totaling more than $3.3 billion, according to the Justice and Interior departments. “This is an important achievement that will end, honorably and fairly, decades of contention that not only sapped valuable resources, but also strained relationships,” said Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates.”

As School Starts, More States Focus on Native American Students via KTOO Public Media

• “On the Spokane Indian Reservation, in eastern Washington, a group of about 40 public school teachers gathered last month, in a field of reeds that stretched as high as their heads. Before harvesting the reeds, or tules, to make mats, they prayed. Later, they left tobacco as a gift. By learning the rituals of the Spokane tribe, the teachers of the Wellpinit School District hope to connect the culture to their lessons to get their students – almost all of whom are indigenous – to be more engaged. In Washington and across the U.S., Native American students struggle more than any other student group to attend school consistently and graduate on time. But this year more states — especially those with large Native American populations such as South Dakota and Washington — are trying to help by training teachers, working with tribes to create policies and programs, embedding culture in lessons, and giving more money to schools with many Native American students.”