Government Shutdown Crippled Parts of Indian Country Native Americans Disproportionally Suffer More During Historic Federal Impasse
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VOLUME XV ISSUE 1 JANUARY—2019 Government Shutdown Crippled Parts of Indian Country Native Americans disproportionally suffer more during historic federal impasse The federal government shut- especially those in rural areas. The Native people in Schurz down which stretched to 35 “We don’t have funds are representative of the pain days has shaken the lives for burial costs,” Amber Torres, felt in the majority of Indian of everyday people across the the Chair of the Walker River County as at least one-fourth country, from federal prisoners Paiute Nation told Nevada of Native Americans live to low-wage government work- Governor Steve Sisolak. “This in poverty, the highest poverty ers, but there is one especially shutdown is a major hardship rate of any racial group in the vulnerable population in times because we can’t bury our U.S. like these: Native Americans. loved ones.” On many reservations, Most Indian Tribes have only On Jan. 23, Governor Sisolak including some in the Great recently begun to prosper arranged a meeting with Tribal Basin, unemployment exceeds economically after nearly three leaders to discuss the effects 40 percent. centuries of oppression and of the government shutdown Tens of thousands of Native efforts by the federal govern- on Nevada Tribes. Continued On Page 4 ment to annihilate them. They face two challenges that particularly apply while United States President Donald Trump continued to demand his border wall: Many Tribal members are poor, and many Tribes are dependent on federal programs to provide basic services to their members. At the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, federal contracts and grants make up just a small percent of the Tribe’s general fund. Even though the shutdown has been disruptive and difficult for those departments and divisions which are funded Anyone, Anyone? — About 800,000 federal employees either were forbidden to work or by the federal government, the worked without pay during the recent 35-day partial government shutdown. At the Reno- RSIC is much more financially Sparks Tribal Health Center, two providers worked without pay. Last week, President Donald resilient than other Tribes, Trump signed a continuing resolution to re-open the government through Feb. 15. File Photo Monday, Feb. 4 , 2019 - 34 Reservation Road - Multipurpose Room Enjoy FREE admission and great theatre snacks and drinks DOORS OPEN at 5:30 pm - MOVIE at 6 pm SHARP Be comfortable. Feel free to bring your Some language may be inappropriate for own lawn chair. small children. Sponsored by the RSIC Planning Department and Cultural Resource Program/THPO For more information contact Michon or Allen at 785 - 1 3 2 6 . Important FEBRUARY dates Deadlines, Mailing List The Camp News Profile 2 Red Ribbon Skirt Making, Senior Center 11 a.m. Started in the early 1980s, 4 Deadline for Election Board Member Recruitment (see page 33) The Camp News is the Education Advisory Committee, Ed Conference Rm, Noon monthly publication for the Colony Mobile Harvest, RSTHC Employee Parking Lot, 1p.m. Reno-Sparks Indian Colony community. The newsletter Senior Advisory Committee, Senior Center, 1 p.m. is produced monthly out Red Ribbon Skirt Making, TLC Hungry Valley, 5 p.m. of the RSIC Public RSIC Premiere: RUMBLE, 34 Reservation Rd., 5:30 p.m. Relations Department and duplicated and distributed Enrollment Advisory Board, Enrollment Office, 5:30 p.m. by RSIC Administration 5 RSIC Pow Wow Club Practice, Hungry Valley Rec, 6 p.m. Front Office. Bread Making Class, HV TLC, 6 p.m. SEND US YOUR NEWS 6 Law & Order Committee, Tribal Court, 6 p.m. The deadline for all print 7 Shoshone Language Class, RSIC Library, 6 p.m. submissions to be consid- 8 Back in the Day Story Telling, Lazy 5 Regional Park, 5:30 p.m. ered for publication in The Camp News is 5 p.m., the 11 Hungry Valley Mobile Harvest, Gym Parking Area, 1 p.m. second Thursday of every 12 NV Tribes Legislative Day, Legislative Bld.,Carson City, 10 a.m. month. Stewart Indian School Tour, Carson City, 3 p.m. CONTACT OUR STAFF Grad Cap Beading Class, RSIC Reno Library, 5 p.m. E-mail your submissions 13 Senior Advisory Committee Bake Sale, Senior Center, 10 a.m. to [email protected] or No More Stolen Sisters, Panel Discussion UNR, 6:30 p.m. drop off your photos and suggested articles at 34 14 Valentine’s Day Reservation Road, Reno, Senior Advisory Committee Bake Sale, Senior Center, 10 a.m. NV 89502. Shoshone Language Class, RSIC Library, 6 p.m. CIRCULATION 16 Go Red For Health Social Pow Wow, Reno Gym, 7 p.m. If you live outside Washoe Camp News Submission Deadline County and would like to receive The Camp News 18 President’s Day, RSIC Administration Offices Closed via U.S. Post, please 19 Commodity Distribution, Senior Center, 8 a.m. contact us with your mailing Language & Culture Advisory Board, RSIC Library, 5:30 p.m. address. If you have a problem with Executive Health Board Meeting, RSTHC, 5:30 p.m. delivery, please call us 20 Senior Paiute Classes, Senior Center, 1 p.m. at (775) 329-2936. Tribal Council Meeting, HV Rec Center, 6 p.m. ELECTRONIC EDITION 21 Tobacco Awareness Painting, RSTHC, Noon For those of you who Tobacco Awareness Film Viewing, RSTHC, 5:30 p.m. would prefer to get an Shoshone Language Class, RSIC Library, 6 p.m. electronic version of The Camp News or just read it 22 Native Art Classes, RSTHC, 10 a.m. on-line, please see: 25 Housing Advisory Board, Housing Office, 7 p.m. www.rsic.org and PDFs 26 Grad Cap Beading Class, RSIC Reno Library, 5 p.m. of our publication are available. 27 Economic Development Meeting, HV Rec Center, 6 p.m. If you have questions, call 28 Loving Every Beat Photo Booth, RSTHC Lobby, 10 a.m. us at 329-2936, ext. 3268. Shoshone Language Class, RSIC Library, 6 p.m. www.rsic.org 3 Continued From Front Page were hit hard much harder than “We must continue to help Americans, both on and off the the RSIC during the shutdown. one another during times like reservation, had difficulty An Eastern Shoshone, Jean this,” the letter stated. obtaining adequate food, Harris, a mother of three who In early January, an Associat- shelter, clothing, and medical works part-time as an account- ed Press report found that care before the shutdown. ant at a health clinic, recently federal funds to provide These problems only told National Public Radio how essential services on Indian worsened as the shutdown the shutdown affected her reservations were “dwindling,” prevents federal funding, a family. causing deep pain in tribal major source of resources, Harris typically receives communities “where one person from reaching the reservation. several hundred dollars in royal- often supports an extended As the National Congress ty income on profits earned family.” of American Indians (NCAI), from the sale of Tribal oil and The federal programs de- the oldest, largest, and most gas on the Wind River Reserva- signed to assist Tribes and their representative tribal organiza- tion, which helps her pay the members are not gratuities. tion in the country, stated in a rent and purchase food for her They are programs owed as a Jan. 10 letter to President family. result of promises and guaran- Trump and congressional lead- However, for over a month, tees made to Indian Tribes ers, “Our communities rely the federal office which issues in treaties, in which Tribes on federal funding to administer these payments was closed due agreed to accept federal sup- key tribal government services, to the shutdown. port, assistance, and protection health care facilities, public in exchange for relinquishing safety, housing access, nutri- vast landholdings and a peace- tion and food distribution pro- ful end to warfare. grams, and social services,” “The shutdown “The shutdown broke the and the shutdown “is destabiliz- broke the treaty and treaty and trust obligations ing these programs,” causing to tribal governments. .We “fear and anxiety” and personal trust obligations urge the President and hardship. Off-reservation tribal to Tribes …” Congress to fulfill their trust and members are impacted as well. treaty promises to tribal nations, As the Colony operates the —NCAI and invest in the future for all Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Americans,” NCAI reminded. Center with a Title V compact, On Friday, Jan. 25, the presi- the Tribe administers individual On the Blackfeet Reservation dent agreed to a three-week programs and services that IHS in Montana, the Tribal business spending package, enough would otherwise provide. council issued a memorandum to resume government However, the historically long stating that each day of the operations through Feb. 15. shutdown prompted RSIC shutdown additional difficulties “The question now is, how leadership to prioritize its and risks were created. fast can people get paid and process for Purchased Referred For instance, the Bureau how fast can money come into Care (PRC). of Indian Affairs (BIA) the Tribes,” said RSIC In a letter to all RSTHC furloughed so many workers Chairman Arlan D. Melendez. patients, Jennifer C. Katenay, on the Blackfeet Reservation the PRC Manager, explained that only one operator and one that levels were temporarily snow plow remain for all the Editor’s Note: changed to limit medical care BIA roads on the reservation, Information for this story was to priority level 1, 2 and 3 and the Tribe’s food distribution reprinted with permission from a to conserve funding. program made food donations column written by Stephen Again, the majority of the 573 to furloughed federal workers Pevar, Senior Staff Attorney federally recognized Tribes who have not been paid.