Vol. 2, Issue 35 April 1, 2015 1

A Letter from the Publisher

Shekóli. By and large, Native societies are matrilineal, and heart for Zitkala-Ša, aka Red Bird. This Dakota woman great importance is placed on the role of women in our achieved too many accomplishments to list here, at a cultures. The female life-giving force sustains and nur- time after the turn of the century when mere survival tures us, just as Mother Earth provides us with all the was to be applauded. She translated her Native tongue resources we need to thrive. In this, our first newsletter into Latin and English; she played the violin; she wrote of April, we take one last look at March, which is cel- for premier magazines of her time; and she held progres- ebrated throughout Turtle Island as Women’s History sive political views. Month. These days, much of the general conversation in the mainstream focused on the potential appearance of The fact is, there is no end to the amazing women who a woman on currency, perhaps to replace made our lives what they are today; they are as numerous Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill (a thought that would as the eons seen by our many cultures. Today, women please many Indians). While there is no dispute of the such as Suzanne Shown Harjo, , Winona worthiness and importance of such figures as Eleanor LaDuke, Charlene Teters and Debra White Plume grace Roosevelt or Amelia Earhart to the U.S., Indian Country our world—just to name a few. As we celebrate the gi- Today Media Network used the opportunity of Women’s ants of the past, so too shall we praise the many female History Month to raise awareness of often-overlooked, leaders building our future. but no less important, Native women. NΛ Ki wa, In her praise of Native women this week, columnist Ruth Hopkins relates just a few of the many proud and caring women that have inspired her. She makes note of such popular heroines as Lozen, a Chiricahua warrior and holy woman who fought beside Geronimo. (Her stature is rising thanks to books, movies and posters that feature her.) Hopkins also keeps a special place in her Ray Halbritter

Table of Contents 2 COMMENTARY 10 CLASSIFIEDS

3 NEWS 11 WEEK IN PHOTOS 5 PUSHING PAST THE PAIN 12 WEB, EVENTS, LETTER 7 IN CENTRAL AMERICA CONTROVERSY OVER A 13 CARTOON, ALERTS CANAL 14 HOW DID I MISS THAT 8 THINKING ON THEIR FEET 15 POW WOWS 5 9 COMBATING THE METH PLAGUE 16 BIG PICTURE VIDEO STILL/MARY ANNETTE PEMBER VIDEO STILL/MARY

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 2 COMMENTARY

You Can’t Keep a Good Act of 1924. She founded the National the Nation. Because of Elouise Sister Down Council of American Indians. Red Bird Cobell (Blackfoot), thousands of Natives Ruth Hopkins (Sisseton Wahpeton even composed the first American Indian received part of a $3.4 billion settlement & Mdewakanton Dakota, Hunkpapa opera, The Sun Dance. as compensation for decades of trust land Lakota) celebrates the indomitability of Toypurina (Tongva) was a medicine mismanagement by the government. Native women: woman who headed a rebellion against Scores of Native women are doing the Spanish in California in 1785. Mary amazing work today. Winona LaDuke, It’s crucial that we lift up Native wom- Crawler (Lakota), Minnie Hollow Wood Debra White Plume, Suzan Harjo, Char- en. Girls need to see their grown coun- (Lakota) and Buffalo Calf Road Woman lene Teters, and Deborah Parker are terparts shine. They need positive role (Cheyenne) all fought at the Battle of showing us how to save Mother Earth, models. Little Big Horn. My Dakota namesake and ourselves. Right now there are le- Zitkala-Ša a.k.a. Red Bird (Dakota), Cankudutawin (Red Road Woman) was gions of Native women working qui- has had a profound influence on me. there and bore witness. Mary Brave Bird etly as doctors, lawyers, judges, writers, Red Bird promoted pan-Indianism and (Lakota) was one of a handful of women teachers, engineers, college presidents, her lobbying led to the passage of Indi- at Wounded Knee II. Sisters Carrie and managers, students, activists, and in an citizenship. A piece she wrote about Mary Dann (Shoshone) fought for Native scores of other professions. We hold the the swindling of Natives in Oklahoma land rights. (Cherokee) world together, sometimes with a baby spurred on the Indian Reorganization was the first female Principal Chief of on one hip. http://bit.ly/1xcgjgI 0

Why Disinter the Dead? test could be performed. Even when the or otherwise inconvenient citizens, have David Wilkins (Lumbee), of the Uni- test confirmed her as a genetically bone now stooped to a level of institutional versity of Minnesota, inveighs against fide member, the tribal government behavior unparalleled in our narrative the trend of exhuming Native bodies to still disenrolled this long-deceased of indigenous history—a narrative that establish their tribal affiliation, with a woman and all her descendants from considered the ashes of the dead as sa- view toward disenrollment: the ’s rolls. cred ingredients for the ongoing life of Exhumation and DNA testing are their nations. In God is Red, Vine Deloria Actions taken by tribal leaders to actions that our nations often fight said that indigenous peoples historically purge their tribal rolls—not just of against when outsiders want to invade understood that death in a very real sense their living relatives, but even of the the gravesites of our ancestors. Think fulfilled their destiny—for as their bodies bones of their relatives on the other about the incredibly spirited effort put became dust, they once again contributed side—inspires instinctive disgust. The forth to defend the dignity and human- to the ongoing life cycle of creation. very fabric of the cosmos as we have ity of the ancestor, Techaminsh Oyt- It is difficult to fathom why any tribe always understood it is being assaulted. pamanatityt, The Ancient One, also would want to take up the colonizers’ The actions are inhumane. In one known as Kennewick Man. work of casting out living tribal members California case, a revered grandmoth- Some tribal officials, in their zeal to in either this world or the next. http://bit. er’s body was exhumed so that a DNA purge their rolls of political enemies ly/18SGvSt 0

How Disease Sickens In next month.” The book is Darkness in El not provide medical help.’” Other Ways Dorado, by Patrick Tierny. To dehumanize people in such a man- Steven Newcomb (Shawnee, ), co- “The book accuses James Neel, the ge- ner is not deserving of human compas- founder and co-director of the Indigenous neticist who headed a long-term project sion. Law Institute, considers the implications to study the Yanomami people,” the story Dehumanizers may say that paying at- of a gruesome medical experiment con- continues. Neel and his team used “a viru- tention to the suffering of the test subjects is ducted on indigenous South Americans lent measles vaccine to spark off an epi- not “scientific.” The underlying rationale for some 50 years ago: demic which killed hundreds and probably this treatment is classifying people as sub- thousands.” The story continues, “Once humans who are deemed to be “waste”— A recent article in the British newspaper the epidemic was under way, the research and, if need be, disposed of in the search for the Guardian reports that in the mid-1960s, team ‘refused to provide any medical assis- forms of knowledge that will benefit those thousands “of South American Indians tance to the sick and dying Yanomami, on who are being classified as fully human. were infected with measles, killing hun- explicit order from Neel. He insisted to his Where is the standard that condemns dreds.” Why? So that “U.S. scientists could colleagues that they were there to observe all forms of domination and dehumaniza- study the effects on primitive societies of and record the epidemic, and that they tion as completely unacceptable? http://bit. natural selection, according to a book out must stick strictly to their role as scientists, ly/1OJpnzi 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 3 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

Navajo Nation Mourns Police Officer Tribes Get $6 Million in Federal Funds for Killed in the Line of Duty Energy Efficiency Projects Flags across Arizona and the Nation flew at half-mast last Eleven tribal communities are receiving $6 million toward renewable en- week to honor Navajo police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran ergy projects and technologies, the Department of Energy announced on Alex Yazzie, 42, who was shot dead in the line of duty on March 19. March 18. The effort is part of an ongoing federal initiative to help tribal Yazzie was killed during the pursuit of Justin Fowler of Shiprock, nations and Alaska Native villages reduce fossil fuel use, save money and who was reported to be pistol-whipping his wife and beating his mitigate the environmental impact of energy use. The funding is combined mother. In the ensuing chaos, Fowler fired on officers and gave chase; with tribal contributions of $7.5 million. in all, more than 30 Navajo police responded to pursue him, accord- The grants will mainly fund solar projects. The Agua Caliente Band of ing to the . After speeding toward New Mexico, Fowl- Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs, California, for instance, will install a er crashed his car and opened up on his pursuers, wounding police 76.9-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to offset the energy usage costs of officers Herbert Frazier and James Hale and killing Yazzie. Police shot their Tribal Education and Family Services offices. The Bishop Paiute Tribe and killed Fowler. of Bishop, California will install solar panels on low-income homes. The The incident left Yazzie’s relatives and the reeling. Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Juneau, Alaska will retrofit “He’s always been our hero,” Yazzie’s niece, Jade Maestas, told the Na- its headquarters to reduce energy use by 30 percent, while the Oneida Na- vajo Times. “The hero of our family.” tion in Oneida, New York will make its utility plant more energy efficient. “I join my Council colleagues in grieving for the family of Officer In addition, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin in Oneida, Wis- Yazzie,” said Navajo Nation Council Speaker LoRenzo Bates. “We offer consin, the Pala Band of Mission Indians of Pala, California, the Santo Do- our thoughts and prayers for the fallen officer’s family and also for the mingo Tribe of Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico (Kewa Pueblo) and recovery of the wounded officers.” the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in San Jacinto, California will install This was the third shooting of a police officer on the Navajo Na- one-megawatt ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems. tion in recent years. In October, Raymond Herder shot Officer Joseph The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of Fort Yates, , will use its Gregg following a domestic dispute; Gregg survived and Herder will funding to install solar power at five Sitting Bull College buildings, while the be tried in June. In 2011, Navajo Officer Sgt. Darrell Curley was shot Tonto Apache Tribe of Payson, Arizona will install solar power and water and killed while intervening in a domestic dispute. heating systems in its gymnasium, market and wastewater treatment and Yazzie, a 14-year veteran of the Navajo police force, had holding facilities. Finally, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, in served in Shiprock since 2012. He was married and had two Gardnerville, Nevada, will install solar energy to achieve net-zero energy young children. http://bit.ly/1ELr21R 0 use in seven tribally owned buildings. http://bit.ly/1DSxkip 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 4 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

Cobell Scholarships Are in the Works by tanya h. lee The Interior Department has transferred $5 million to a college scholarship fund for American In- dian/Alaska Native students, as au- thorized by the $3.4 billion Cobell settlement. The American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) is the official “re- cipient organization” for the Co- bell Education Scholarship Fund. Its duties include establishing the eligibility criteria for the scholar- ships, managing and administering the fund. A five-member board of trustees, including Elouise Cobell’s son Turk Cobell (Blackfeet), will oversee the fund and report on the AIGC’s work. The AIGC and the trustees are currently working on eligibility criteria for the scholarships. “Since we’re just sort of getting the wheels going on working with the Ameri- can Indian Graduate Center [eligi- bility criteria are] something that we’re working with them on, just trying to figure out what makes sense, what’s feasible, what we need to do,” said Alex Pearl, a trustee of the scholarship fund. Some of the money will go di- rectly to scholarships and some will be held back. “This is meant to be a perpetual fund so that Indian students can be going to college and receiving Cobell Scholarship Funds well after we’re long gone,” said Pearl. “It operates like any other scholarship funds where you restrict a portion of it so that the fund can continue for years and years and years.” How much money will eventually be allotted to the scholarship fund is still under discussion. But ac- cording to P. “Sam” Deloria (Stand- SUBSCRIBE NOW ing Rock Sioux Tribe), a director of the AIGC, “It is safe to say that we expect to be funding Cobell Scholarships for this fall.” http://bit. ly/1FBNBZO 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 5 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY Pushing Past The Pain

Relief came from opening up and helping others

by mary annette pember

‘Our ancestors gave us tools to navigate through the tough times of life,’ says Rose Domnick.

Bottom line: For one Yup’ik woman, query. She blurted out that a relative five Hail Marys. I decided then that it confronting her abuse was the first step had repeatedly molested her as a child. was my fault and it would be a secret I on the road to healing. Now in her 50s, she had told no one ex- would take to my grave.” cept a visiting Catholic priest who had When she disclosed her secret to the “What are you hiding?” the elder come to her Yup’ik village church many elder, she unexpectedly found herself asked Rose Domnick. years ago. transported back in time, reliving the It was a simple question, offered in “When I was 11 years old, I told this abuse. “I was right there with all the response to Domnick’s request for help priest about the abuse,” she recalls. “In- smells and feelings. Suddenly I started in overcoming her mysteriously grow- stead of helping me find a way to stop crying and puking. The elder reassured ing, incapacitating fear. the abuse, he absolved me of my sins me that it was okay. She said to me,

But Domnick was stunned by the and told me to say five Our Fathers and ‘Rose, this is how sick this trauma has ANNETTE PEMBER VIDEO STILL/MARY

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 6 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY made you. Now, the sickness is going.’” several years. “I saw that I was allowing “Our ancestors gave us tools to navi- Gradually, Domnick found she was this man who hurt me, even from his gate through the tough times of life,” able to allow her body, mind and spirit grave, to kill not only my but also my she says. “They taught us to take bad to process what she had endured. The husband’s spirit.” experiences and turn them inside out, progression of her healing, although Domnick dealt with her experience examine them, talk about them and gratifying now, has been difficult and by trying to control everything in her understand how they have affected us. painful. The first two years after she life and finding herself frustrated into Our elders tell us if we don’t attend to began acknowledging the abuse were a frenzy when she could not. “I blew up our pain and troubles we will take on the most challenging. Seemingly un- at everything,” she says. “I would go all a way of being that is like a bottomless related events or experiences, sounds crazy if the toilet paper was not hung in pit and we will always be hungry.” or smells, would trigger terror and/or the right direction. In the end, I was so In her work with Calricaraq, Dom- anxiety that she later learned were re- fearful I didn’t want my husband to go nick and her team help guide others lated to her experience. hunting or travel.” through this process and gain more Today, Domnick is the director of insight into their own lives. “We are the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corpo- also finding that our elders are recall- ration Behavioral Health Prevention ing old unused Yup’ik terminology Department. She is also the leader of ‘The elders have that describes these tools for living Calricaraq (Healthy Living), a trauma and healing,” she says. intervention effort modeled on tradi- told us that the Since so many of these old terms tional Yup’ik ways. Based in Bethel, are associated with traditional Yup’ik Alaska, the organization serves 58 best way to guide spirituality, the church suppressed Yup’ik villages on the delta leading them, Domnick explains. People for- out to the Bering Sea. got these important guiding tools that Sharing her story with Calricaraq others through although not written on paper or sup- clients is not only part of her work; ported by western clinicians, are an it is part of her ongoing healing. The their trauma is to effective means for self-healing ac- Calricaraq team responds to village cording to her. requests for help in addressing trau- “The beauty is that all the answers ma in their communities. The team, talk about what are within us. We are our own experts. including Domnick, sits down with When we talk about our experiences clients and shares its own stories of we know.’ we lay them all out on the table and overcoming trauma. can see how they’ve shaped our lives. “The elders have told us that the We can see what we’ve become and best way to guide others through their Shortly after telling her secret to the learn what direction we need to take to trauma is to talk about what we know. elder, she told her husband. Caught off begin healing. We must each tell our own healing guard, he asked in disbelief, “Who are “I tell people that once they take the stories,” Domnick says. “If I’m able you? I don’t know you. What other se- first step in sharing their secrets and to openly share my story, it can help crets have you been hiding?” their stories there is no turning back. others to talk about their experiences “I completely broke down crying,” The healing gets wider and deeper and that also carry a lot of shame. Hope- Domnick says. Her husband embraced you feel better. You want more and fully they can then feel safe enough to her and asked her, “What can I do to more,” Domnick says. open up and gain some understanding help you, how can I help you get bet- For a long time she was ashamed to about what has led to the dysfunction ter?” talk about her family. Her parents, now in themselves and their families.” “I taught him how to help me,” she both deceased, were often intoxicated; Domnick does not shrink from shar- recalls. “I was filled with so much they neglected and sometimes abused ing uncomfortable details of either shame that I took every response as a Domnick and her siblings. But since the trauma or of her recovery. She has judgment.” But her husband learned to she has begun to work on her own heal- come to realize that her abuse affected listen to her without reaction. ing and that of her clients, she finds not only her but also those closest to The process has not been easy and that she can now remember the good her. “It was excruciatingly painful to has taken several years. Even today, things her parents taught her. look at how I let the actions of that man something will trigger an unpleas- “I talk to my mother when I’m out who had molested me so many years ant memory for Domnick but she has berry picking. I had so much resent- ago hurt my family,” she says. learned to talk about what is bothering ment and anger at her. But now I Before her breakthrough with the el- her. She owes her progress to learning can talk with her about the wonder- der, the trauma had prevented her from traditional Yup’ik ways of healing and ful things she taught me.” http://bit. being intimate with her husband for dealing with life. ly/19glm4z 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 7 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY In Central America, Controversy Over A Canal Charges of environmental upheaval and lack of consultation by rick kearns

Bottom Line: What with major lawsuits man Rights (IACHR). they said. “Either way, the sludge will prob- and potential ecological devastation, “The Territorial Rama and Kriol Govern- ably end up as damaging sedimentation.” Nicaragua’s Grand Canal is shaping up to ment has presented a petition for protective Further, the project entails construct- be a civil engineering flashpoint. measures to the IACHR,” the Territorial ing dams “in an area of frequent seismic Rama and Kriol Government said in Janu- activity, which would increase the risk of Earthmovers and other heavy equipment ary. “But it also petitions the Nicaraguan local water shortages and flooding,” Perez have started digging the largest canal in the State to not initiate construction until the and Meyer wrote. “The lake would prob- Americas, in Nicaragua. Government offi- State complies with its international obliga- ably suffer from salt infiltration in the lock cials say the civil engineering project will tion to engage in a free, previous and in- zones, as in locks of the Panama Canal. This help ease the dire poverty of the second formed consent with the Indigenous Rama would transform a free-flowing freshwater poorest country in the Western Hemi- and Kriol communities.” ecosystem into an artificial slack-water res- sphere. In November, the IACHR agreed to con- ervoir combined with salt water. Declin- But various indigenous communities ing populations of native aquatic fauna . . are suing the government over the mas- . could also suffer.” sive project, alleging that they were not The likely result, they said, is that the ca- consulted about its construction. And they nal “could create an environmental disaster are backed by scientists who warn the canal in Nicaragua and beyond.” They predicted could cause severe environmental damage. the destruction of a million acres of rain- Construction on the Grand Canal, which forests and wetlands. Among other ex- would connect the Caribbean Sea and the amples, they cited potential danger to the Pacific Ocean, began in December. The $50 7,722-square-mile Bosawas Biosphere Re- billion undertaking entails digging a pas- serve, a “tropical forest that is the last refuge sage 170 miles long and 1,170 feet wide that Economic boon or impending disaster? of many disappearing species,” which lies will skirt rainforests and cut through Lake 150 miles north of the most likely route of Nicaragua, the largest drinking water reser- sider the affected communities’ petition for the canal. voir in the region. protective measures. “The biggest environmental challenge But canal-related lawsuits have been filed Numerous scientists have joined the is to build and operate the canal without against the government by the indigenous indigenous peoples in expressing concern catastrophic impacts to this sensitive eco- communities of Mískitu, Rama, Kriol, over possible environmental and cultural system,” said environmental engineer Pe- Monkey Point, and of the Black Creole impacts stemming from the construction dro Alvarez of Rice University in Texas. But Communities of Bluefields of the Autono- of the canal. Many scientists wonder what he said that despite any number of precau- mous Region of the Southern Caribbean. will become of Lake Nicaragua, whose tions, it would be hard to avoid wide-scale The indigenous and Afro Nicaraguan 50-foot-deep bed will be dredged to ac- environmental destruction. peoples who live in the region first filed commodate the 90-foot depth needed for “Significant impacts to the lake,” said suit in 2013 in Nicaragua’s Supreme Court the canal—which would basically bisect the Alvarez, “could result from incidental or to contest Law 840. That law allowed the 56-mile-wide body of water. accidental spills from 5,100 ships pass- government to award the canal contract to In December, scientists Jorge Huete- ing through every year; invasive species the HKND Group of Hong Kong without Perez, president of Nicaragua’s Academy of brought by transoceanic ships, which could consulting the affected communities. It also Science, and Axel Meyer, a professor of zo- threaten the extinction of aquatic plants allowed the government not to issue envi- ology and evolutionary biology at the Uni- and fish, such as the cichlids that have been ronmental impact studies that normally versity of Konstanz in Germany, published evolving since the lake’s formation; and are required for any construction project an article in the prestigious science journal frequent dredging, impacting aquatic life in Nicaragua. Nature about potential effects on the lake through alterations in turbidity and hypox- In December 2013 the Supreme Court from the canal project. ia, triggered by re-suspension of nutrients ruled the law to be constitutional. The in- “The extensive dredging required would and organic matter that exert a relatively digenous communities then took their fight dump millions of tons of sludge either into high biochemical oxygen demand.” http:// to the Inter American Commission of Hu- other parts of the lake or onto nearby land,” bit.ly/19QUGZk 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 8 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY Thinking On Their Feet An exercise in Native legal training offers a courtroom workout

by alysa landry

Bottom Line: If the most recent Na- lege of Law. The duo beat more than most complex areas of American law. tional Native American Law Students 70 teams from law schools across the And the stakes are high. Association moot court competition is country and argued the case in front of “There’s a remarkable likeness to the any indication, the next generation of a board of leading tribal judges, attor- real thing in terms of the complexity of Native lawyers will be in good shape. neys and academic experts. issues, the setting, the time allotted and “It’s kind of intimidating,” said Peter- the style of questioning,” said James Imagine the following case is playing son, who was also on the winning team Anaya, the James J. Lenoir Professor of out in front of the U.S. Supreme Court: last year. “The fact that you have the Human Rights at the Rogers College of The owner of an art gallery located chief justice of the Navajo Nation ask- Law, who was one of five professionals on tribal land sues a woman who un- chosen to act as Suprem Court justices lawfully sold him sacred items pro- during the competition. “It’s a really tected by tribal law. The gallery owner good tool for preparation.” is a non-Indian. The woman, a mem- He added, “I like to think this offers ber of a different tribe, contests that ‘What we like the opportunity to explore new argu- the court has no jurisdiction over two ments and new approaches. There’s non-members. to see is a new also a sense of wanting to advance jus- When the woman resells the items tice for Native peoples. It’s a positive to an art dealer out of state, the tribe generation of way to see Indian law not in terms of sues her, seeking damages for the vio- what it already says, but as an evolv- lation of tribal law. Still arguing that ing tool.” the tribe has no jurisdiction over her, attorneys with The competition is also a way to pre- the woman files suit in federal district pare the next generation of attorneys, court. the passion to be said Sarah Deer, a professor of law at Both the federal district court and William Mitchell. Deer, an enrolled the appeals court rule that the tribe advocates.’ member of the Muscogee Creek Na- lacks jurisdiction. When the gallery tion of Oklahoma, competed in the owner and the tribe petition the Su- moot court 20 years ago and she sent preme Court, it agrees to hear the five William Mitchell teams this year. case. “So much of Indian law is difficult,” This was the scenario faced by law ing you questions, and you know what she said. “We lose in courts a lot. What students across the U.S. who partici- he wants to hear.” we like to see is a new generation of pated last month in the 23rd annual The competition begins in the fall attorneys with the passion to be advo- moot court competition sponsored by when participants are given the legal cates, to have that level of sophistica- the National Native American Law Stu- problem. Working in teams of two, they tion and persuasion where they are as dents Association (NALSA). Though must draft a brief without help from polished as any other attorneys.” fictional, the problem mirrors real professors, attorneys or other profes- Even students who don’t ultimately cases about tribal jurisdiction that are sionals. Once the briefs are submit- practice Indian law benefit from study- appearing in courts at all levels. ted, contestants have about six weeks ing it and participating in events like “Jurisdiction is kind of a hot topic to prepare their oral arguments, which the moot court, Deer said: right now,” said Josh Peterson, a third- must cover both sides of the case. “The question of jurisdiction, or year law student at William Mitchell Judges’ scores are based on both the where a subject matter should be heard, College of Law. “It’s complicated, but written brief and students’ performance that is one of the most complicated there are a lot of these cases making during oral arguments, which last two areas of all American law. If students their way through the courts.” days and include five rounds before a can master that level of complication Peterson, 25, and partner Scott Jur- winning team is selected. and ambiguity in the Indian law con- chisin, 24, won first place at the com- The moot court pits the best Indian text, then they will be well prepared to petition, which took place March 6-7 at law students against each other. It is a handle other kinds of American law.” the University of Arizona Rogers Col- venue to showcase skill in one of the http://bit.ly/1bxmNgJ 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 9 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY Combating the Meth Plague Taking on a deadly chemical enemy

by kristi eaton

Bottom Line: Methamphetamine is of crime in Native land attributed to its know where to turn for help and hope,” devastating many tribal communities. use. he said. “This campaign will provide But as this success story shows, tribes can But tribes are beginning to fight awareness to programs for assistance, overcome the scourge. back. Among them are the Concho, as well as education to help our youth Oklahoma-based Cheyenne and Arap- understand the dangers and help them Joe Sayerwinnie can still recall the aho Tribes. They have created a public make decisions to stay away from meth first time he tried methamphetamine. awareness campaign called “Not On or other forms of substance abuse.” Just 14, he was already a regular con- Our Land.” The basic purpose is to For Sayerwinnie, 31, several stints sumer of alcohol, cocaine and a vari- in prison for various offenses were ety of pills. Riding around Oklahoma not enough to scare him straight and City with two friends in search of the convince him to get help. What did next chance to party, Sayerwinnine, convince him was his then-13-year- a member of the Comanche Nation, ‘I remember when old daughter. One day, Sayerwinnie was handed a pipe of meth to smoke. said, she had had enough of the drug “My buddy was like, ‘Smoke some I smoked it, man, abuse and its lifestyle. She started of this and you’ll be alright. You’ll be screaming at him, pleading for him able to keep going and keep partying.’ to stop using drugs. I remember when I smoked it, man, I liked it a lot. “Just the reaction of my daugh- I liked it a lot. The high was just, it ter talking to me and yelling at me was great. I started smoking it and I The high was just, and telling me that, because she had started using it more often.” never said anything to me before,” Over time, Sayerwinnie started he said. “It took her to do what she stealing to fund his habit. “I was so it was great.’ I did for me to really want to change. bad. I didn’t care about nothing and I could see the pain and the hurt. I nobody but myself and where I was started using it could see it all in her.” going to get my next high,” he said. That was the moment Sayerwinnie Across the country, methamphet- decided to turn his life around. He amine use has been ravaging tribal more often.’ headed to Lawton, the headquarters communities. A 2006 report from of the Comanche Nation, to seek the National Congress of American help. The tribe sent him to a rehab Indians (NCAI) found that 1.7 percent draw attention to the abuse and offer facility. He called it “best thing that of American Indians or Alaska Native resources. ever happened to me.” respondents reported using meth in “The crippling drug has affected so Remaining sober is a challenge, but the past year. Among Native Hawai- many of our people that we must no Sayerwinnie said he uses the knowl- ians surveyed, 2.2 percent said they longer stand idly by and allow this edge and skills he learned during re- had used the drug in the past year. This travesty,” said Cheyenne and Arapahoe hab to cope. He has also focused on compares with 0.7 percent for Cau- Gov. Eddie Hamilton. “Meth abuse is helping other American Indians who casians, 0.5 percent of Hispanics, 0.2 becoming more prevalent each day as may feel like they have no one who percent for Asians and 0.1 percent for it destroys the lives of our families and understands what they are going African-Americans. loved ones.” through. The NCAI report says that meth use “Crime increases as users seek quick “Our Native American children, our on reservations and in rural Native cash to feed their addiction,” said Mark Native children, are our future,” he communities can be as high as 30 per- Woodward, spokesman for the Oklaho- said. “If I walk into a room and we give cent. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has ma Bureau of Narcotics. “Families suf- it our all and tell our speech and put it found that 74 percent of tribal police fer as meth takes over a person’s life.” out there, hopefully with the campaign rank meth as the greatest drug threat to Woodward praised the Cheyenne and what I’m trying to do for them their communities. The drug is often a and Arapaho Tribe’s initiative. “Many ... then I feel like I’ve accomplished precursor to violence, with 40 percent meth addicts or family members don’t something.” http://bit.ly/1HGAXG7 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 10 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED APARTMENTS FOR RENT Atlantic Commons Phase II is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 34 affordable housing rental apartments under construction at 1969 Bergen Street, 404 Howard Avenue, 414 Howard Avenue, 1459 St. Marks Avenue in the The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is Brownsville/Oceanhill section of Brooklyn. These buildings are being constructed through the Low-Income Rental Program (LIRP) of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The looking for an IT Director for the Rancheria. size, rent and targeted income distribution for the 34 apartments are as follows:

Total Annual Income Range** Apartments Available Apartment Size Monthly Rent* Household Size Minimum – Maximum The IT Director is responsible for installing, modifying

1 Studio $640 1 $25,500 – $30,250 and making repairs to computer hardware and software systems, providing technical advice and support to 1 $27,375 – $30,250 4 1 Bedroom $689 2 $27,375 – $34,550 system users, managing the phone system and 1 $33,188 – $36,300 9 1 Bedroom $844 assisting surveillance. 2 $33,188 – $41,460

2 $33,888 – $34,550 4 2 Bedroom $835 3 $33,888 – $38,850 Needs: 5 years’ experience in Information Technology. 4 $33,888 – $43,150 Management experience also preferred. High School 2 $39,900 – $41,460 16 2 Bedroom $1,022 3 $39,900 – $46,620 Diploma or equivalent. California Driver’s License. Also 4 $39,900 – $51,780

* Subject to occupancy criteria knowledge of TAS and GP is preferred, along with ** Includes gas for cooking *** Income guidelines subject to change experience in dealing with issues sensitive to Native Qualified applicants will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria. Households may elect to submit an Americans. application by one of two methods: EITHER online OR by mail. To submit your application online now, please visit NYC Housing Connect at www.nyc.gov/housingconnect and select “Apply for Housing.” All online applications must be submitted by May 27, 2015. To request an application by mail, please mail a self-addressed and stamped envelope to: Atlantic Commons Phase II c/o Shinda Management Corporation, 221-10 Jamaica Avenue, 3rd Floor, Queens Village, NY 11428. All To apply please go to mailed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express, overnight or oversized mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed on the application, and must be postmarked by May 27, 2015. www.shinglespringrancheria.com Applications will be selected by lottery; applicants who submit more than one application to this development will be disqualified. Disqualified applications will not be accepted. A general preference will be given to New York City residents. Eligible households to download print and fill out an application, and return that include persons with mobility impairments will receive preference for 5% of the units; eligible households that include persons with visual and/or hearing impairments will receive preference for 2% of the units. Current and eligible residents of it to the HR Assistant, Kat Montgomery at Brooklyn Community Board 16 will receive preference for 50% of the units. No Broker’s Fee. No Application Fee. 530-387-4973 Fax 530-676-3582 or at 5168 Honpie BILL DE BLASIO, Mayor VICKI BEEN, Commissioner - NYCHPD Rd Placerville Ca. 95667 www.nyc.gov/housingconnect

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IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 11 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

The work of Joan Naviyuk Kane (Inuit/Inupiaq) has been selected for Nike’s new N7 Dragonfly collection features New York Yankees center inclusion in The Best American Poetry 2015. fielder of the Navajo Nation.

Prolific author Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur d’Alene will appear at The 1790 Treaty of New York, between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation

New Mexico State University as part of its University Speaker Series. and the U.S., is now at the National Museum of the American Indian. MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL FOR IMAGES MCNEEL; KEVIN WOLF/AP NIKE; JACK RASMUSON.ORG;

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 12 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY Headlines from the Web

BILL WOULD LET TRIBES WORK PRO-COAL TRIBE WEIGHS IN ON HOPES OF PRESERVING CHEROKEE WITH STATE ON POT CHERRY POINT TERMINAL LANGUAGE REST WITH CHILDREN http://bit.ly/1xha4IP http://bit.ly/1CLlxB3 http://wapo.st/18Y0gIg

TWO DEATHS ON BLOOD TRIBE LINKED STANDING ROCK TRIBE HOPING QUAPAW TRIBE REFUTES RUMORS TO POWERFUL FENTANYL DRUG TO BUY RESERVATION LANDS ABOUT PLANS TO BUILD CASINO http://bit.ly/1FSjNqn http://bit.ly/1IrZobu http://bit.ly/1EGpVhl

UPCOMING The summit is held in furtherance of the pean and Amerindian cultures after 1492 aims of United South and Eastern Tribes, contributed to the first age of globalization. EVENTS Inc., which is dedicated to enhancing the A central goal of the conference will be development of federally recognized tribes, to highlight how Native American history is DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR to improving the capabilities of tribal gov- global history. The conference is organized ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION ernments, and assisting its members and by the Early Americas Working Group and APRIL 1 their governments in dealing effectively co-sponsored by the Kislak Family Foun- The Interior Department will hold a with public policy issues and in serving the dation, George University, the consultation meeting regarding imple- broad needs of Indian people. University of Maryland, the National His- mentation of the updated Principles, Re- Location: Catawba Indian Nation Hosting, tory Center of the American Historical As- quirements and Guidelines for Water and Rock Hill, South Carolina sociation and the Mexican Cultural Institute. Land Related Resources Implementation Location: George Washington University, Studies (PR&Gs). The PR&Gs provide a OVERSIGHT FIELD HEARING Washington, D.C. common framework for evaluating feder- APRIL 8 al water resource investments. Represen- The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs TODAY’S NATIVE LEADERS tatives from the Bureau of lndian Affairs, will conduct an oversight field hearing on LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau “Empowering Indian Country: Coal, Jobs, APRIL 10-12 of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and and Self-Determination.” Geared for Native youth between the ages Wildlife Service, and the National Park Location: Health & Wellness Center, Little of 14 and 24, the initiative will focus on Service will be available. Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Montana training for designing community projects. Location: Bureau of Land Management Included will be team building activities National Training Center, Phoenix, Ari- ENTANGLED TRAJECTORIES: and action planning and event promotions. zona INTEGRATING NATIVE AMERICAN The gathering is a cooperative agreement AND EUROPEAN HISTORIES between the Justice Department’s Office of UNITED SOUTH AND EASTERN APRIL 9-10 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preven- TRIBES UTILITY SUMMIT This interdisciplinary symposium will ex- tion and UNITY. APRIL 6-10 plore how the encounters between Euro- Location: Rapid City, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR his troops. Harney’s most famous torian George R. Adams notes that I stand with Lakota Elder Veteran Basil “battle” in that campaign was at Blue he was twice court-martialed and, by Brave Heart, who favors changing the Water Creek. It was a massacre that disobeying orders from Washington name of Harney Peak, the highest peak rivals Wounded Knee in its senseless DC, he nearly provoked a war with in the He Sapa (Black Hills). brutality. Great Britain over a boundary dis- The peak’s namesake, Gen. William General William S. Harney was pute in the San Juan Islands. This led S. Harney, massacred Sioux women an arrogant, abusive, bare-knuckled to his removal from command. and children by leading the puni- murderer and imperialist. In his I think it is a healthy exercise to tive campaign of 1855 against the scholarly biography General William undo historical racism. Sioux, in retribution for the Sioux S. Harney, Prince of Dragoons (Uni- —Richard Iron Cloud annihilation of Lt. John Grattan and versity of Nebraska Press, 2001), his- Porcupine, South Dakota

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 13 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

TOP NEWS ALERTS From IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com

TRIAL BEGINS IN ‘KKK’ CASE Court affirmed previous county traditionally plagued Indian and the Upper Skagit Tribe A federal civil rights case and federal determinations housing projects has drastically will receive $55,890, respec- brought by Vernon Traversie that more than 50 years after been cut back, facilitating the tively, for the same purpose. (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), the tribe was derecognized, improvement of American In- who claims that scars resem- they had waited too long—four dian and Alaska Native housing HO-CHUNK NATION bling the letters “KKK” were decades—to bring suit against conditions through funds from BOOSTS MINIMUM WAGE inflicted on him during surgery the Secretary of the Interior. the Indian Housing Block Grant. The Ho-Chunk Nation of because of his race, went to But tribal chairman Scott Ga- Wisconsin has established a trial last week. Traversie un- baldon said, “It’s just another EPA FUNDS FOR TRIBAL base minimum wage of $10 derwent open-heart surgery at bump on the road.” The tribe FISHING BOATS an hour—$2.75 above the South Dakota’s Rapid City Re- may now appeal to the 9th Three North Puget Sound tribal federal level—for its work- gional Hospital in August 2011. Circuit Court of Appeals. communities will receive nearly force. Such an increase has A lawyer for the hospital has $1 million from the Environ- long been debated. But the denied Traversie’s allegations HOUSING ACT RENEWAL mental Protection Agency to Nation determined that it and says that the marks were PASSES HOUSE swap out old diesel engines owes its frontline and entry- caused by post-surgical tape. A reauthorization of the Na- on their fishing vessels for level workers the boost. “The tive American Housing Assis- more energy-efficient versions, cost is high, but the return MISHEWAL WAPPO VOW tance and Self Determination thereby reducing pollution. is much greater,” said Ho- RECOGNITION FIGHT Act (NAHASDA) passed the $792,000 of the grant will go Chunk Nation President Jon The Mishewal Wappo Tribe of House last week by a vote of to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Greendeer. “We can wait California will press its fight 297 to 98 and now awaits a Community, who will replace until the perpetual debate is to achieve federal recogni- vote on its Senate equivalent. 12 old diesel engines with new, resolved, or we can just take tion despite a ruling last week Since NAHASDA was adopted low-emission models. The Lum- action ourselves.” The new against them. A U.S. District in 1996, the red tape that had mi Nation will receive $77,250 wage rate takes effect in July.

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 14 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY How Did I Miss That? St. Bernards with cell phone chargers, the sins of Aaron Schock and how certain things go better with Coke by steve russell

The website Consequence of Sound re- performance in 2014 because he did not Africa, have performed the world’s first ported that at the music and arts festival meet his performance goals. But he did successful penis transplant. The 21-year- South by Southwest, persons who were fire some 2,000 employees. His compensa- old patient lost his equipment as a result about to lose cell phone power could tion still rose 20 percent to $25.2 million, of traditional male genital mutilation tweet a photo of their battery charge level down from $30.4 million in 2012. AKA circumcision. An estimated 250 and current location to Mophie, which “A clear case of things go better with penis amputations take place every year makes portable chargers. Mophie would Coke,” Cousin Ray chuckled, “if you have in South Africa as a result of traditional then dispatch a living representative of the money.” circumcision. St. Bernard Rescue Foundation. Cousin Ray was wondering where they St. Bernards are rescue dogs, slogging * * * got the organ they transplanted. though snowstorms with a keg of brandy around their big, furry necks. Given the Time reported that sheriff ’s deputies in * * * Austin location of South by Southwest, Franklin County, Kentucky have recov- you might expect the dog to be toting te- ered five barrels of stolen Wild Turkey KEYE reported that an ex-Marine in Ar- quila. In fact, the big woofer would bring a bourbon. NBC reported that Gilbert lington, Texas is suing Vixen Vapors over Mophie charger for your cell phone. Curtsinger, 45, in whose back yard the burns sustained when an E-cigarette bat- My cousin Ray Sixkiller noted that St. stolen Wild Turkey was found, was an tery exploded in his pocket. The man’s Bernards are big dogs. “There ought to be employee of the distillery. The raid that attorney said suing the maker of the bat- room on board for just a snort of tequila,” recovered the Wild Turkey also turned up tery was not possible, because it was made he said. a cache of firearms and steroids. The bar- in China by a business that could not be rels were reported to be worth between identified. * * * $3,700 and $6,000 each. The sheriff de- “Ain’t globalization wonderful?” Cous- clined to speculate whether this theft in Ray asked. Stock-picking guru Jim Cramer was cel- was related to a still unsolved 2013 theft ebrating the 10th anniversary of his TV of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon valued at * * * show, Mad Money, when he moved on to $25,000. the next customary segment. “Let’s take “At those prices,” Cousin Ray noticed, Thanks to a Politico open records request, some calls,” he said. “The first one is Tim “only Muhtar Kent could afford a bour- Illinois voters won’t have Rep. Aaron in California. Tim?” bon and Coke.” Schock (R-Illinoinis) representing their “This is Tim Cook calling from Cuper- best interests any more. Schock resigned tino.” * * * after it was revealed that he billed taxpay- Cramer’s staff had set up a call-in in- ers for 170,000 miles driven on official terview with the CEO of Apple, a major A sign posted in an Oklahoma City mall business in his Chevrolet Tahoe. When he “get” for a show about investments. Cra- kicked off a raging Facebook debate. The sold the Tahoe, the odometer read about mer did regain his composure quickly sign admonishes parents that little boys 80,000 miles. enough to take advantage of the opportu- over six should be sent into the men’s Schock was elected at age 27, the first nity, but it was touch and go for a while. room rather than going in the ladies’ room congressman to be born in the 1980s— “Cramer didn’t ask what I wanted to with mom. one of the “Young Guns.” The Young know,” Cousin Ray complained. “Why Cousin Ray speculated that authori- Guns were founded by Eric Cantor, Kev- does my iPhone keep asking me if I want ties caught some kid sitting on the john in McCarthy, and Paul Ryan. Cantor, the to buy an Apple watch?” reading Playboy. “But only for the Dick House Majority Leader, was beaten in his Cheney interview.” 2014 primary. * * * “Sounds like the Young Guns were * * * shooting blanks,” said Cousin Ray. The Wall Street Journal reported that Cousin Ray went on to wonder if Rep. Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent turned Sky News reported that doctors at Tyger- Schock billed the taxpayers for the ammo. down a bonus of $2.5 million for his berg Hospital in Cape Town, South http://bit.ly/1xJ1jCe 0

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 15 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

UPCOMING POW WOWS

CHEROKEE OF GEORGIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND 43RD ANNUAL DANCE FOR SPRING POW WOW ARTS OKLAHOMA INTERTRIBAL MOTHER EARTH POW WOW 4/2/15—4/4/15 HERITAGE CLUB SPRING POW WOW 4/4/15—4/5/15 Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Grounds 4/4/15—4/5/15 Skyline High School 110 Cherokee Way University of Science and Arts Oklahoma 2552 North Maple Road Saint George, GA 1727 West Alabama Avenue Ypsilanti, MI 912-552-0305 Chickasha, OK powwow.UMich.edu [email protected] CherokeeofGeorgia.org 16TH ANNUAL TUTXINMEPU 25TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON POW WOW UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS POW WOW ANNUAL IDA’INA GATHERING 4/4/15—4/5/15 4/4/15 4/3/15—4/4/15 University of Idaho Fontbonne University Dunham Student Activ- The Alaska Dome Moscow, ID ity Center 6501 ChangePoint Drive 208-885-4237 6800 Wydown Boulevard Anchorage, AK UIdaho.edu/nativeamericancenter/tutxinmepu- St. Louis, MO 907-646-3115 powwow 314-935-4510 [email protected] [email protected] TebughnaFoundation.com HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY buder.WUStL.edu BIG TIME POW WOW 40TH ANNUAL MONTANA 4/4/15 22ND ANNUAL SEVEN ARROWS STATE UNIVERSITY AMERICAN Humboldt University CONTEST POW WOW INDIAN COUNCIL POW WOW Arcata, CA 4/4/15—4/5/15 4/3/15—4/4/15 707-834-2727 Boise State University Jordan Ballroom Brick Breeden Fieldhouse [email protected] 1600 University Drive 11th Avenue and GrantBozeman, MT Boise, ID Montana.edu/nativeamerican/club/powwow. CHATTANOOGA NATIVE AMERICAN 208-426-5950 html HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND mss.BoiseState.edu/pow-wow POW WOW ON THE RIVER 3RD ANNUAL POMONA 4/4/15—4/5/15 BEMIJIGAMAAG POW WOW COLLEGE POW WOW First Tennessee Pavilion 4/4/15 4/4/15 1826 Reggie White Boulevard Sanford Center Arena Pomona College Chattanooga, TN 1111 Event Center Drive Northeast 295 East First Street 423-240-7270 Bemidji, MN Claremont, CA [email protected] 218-556-0517 909-706-5948 NAServices.org [email protected] [email protected] AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH 43RD ANNUAL DANCE FOR LEADERSHIP SPRING POW WOW MOTHER EARTH POWWOW 4/4/15 4/4/15—4/5/15 McCurtain County Sports Complex 2552 North Maple Road 108 West 5th Street Ann Arbor, MI Broken Bow, OK Powwow.umich.edu 580-584-3365

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com April 1, 2015 1 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY

Jeri Ah-be-hill (Kiowa-Comanche), an icon and advocate of Native fashion, walked on March 11. SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN SANTA

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.comTHE July 10,BIG 20142013 PICTURE