Sorted by date Results 401 - 425 of 1025
PHOENIX, Ariz.-Time, distance and technology limitations are among the reasons Native Americans may be the most difficult demographic to count in the 2020 census, the Census Bureau says. But lack of trust is the biggest reason, said Patty Hibbeler, chief executive of the Phoenix Indian Center, which provides workforce and youth development, drug and alcohol prevention and language and culture revitalization. "It comes from a very long and very negative history with the...
PHOENIX – Alex Alejandre lost 75 pounds in a year. His wife, Mary, lost 40. They want to set a good example for their 17-year-old son, Nathan, and take a personal stand against obesity, which can lead to diabetes and other serious health problems, especially in Native Americans. "The health of my child is everything to me. I want him to grow up to be healthy," said Alex, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. With the help of a community program, his f...
KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz.-Vanissa Barnes-Saucedo was 21 when military recruiters stopped her in a shopping mall, waving enlistment papers in front of her. Although she says she wasn't entirely sure what she was getting herself into, she signed the papers anyway. For the next six years, Barnes-Saucedo was stationed around the world: Virginia, Colorado, South Korea, Kuwait and Iraq. However, by the time she was honorably discharged in 2014, she suffered from post traumatic stress...
Vancouver, B.C.-As the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL2019) closed last month, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) of British Columbia praised the efforts made to revitalize and maintain First Nations languages in British Columbia. Ambitious goals and work have been accomplished and sustained through global and regional efforts with the implementation of the IYIL2019 to preserve and promote First Nations languages, but these efforts must go...
COMOX, B.C.-The Comox Valley Airport has recently installed above its departures lounge a replica of a First World War Nieuport biplane donated by the late Captain David Freeman, a long time pilot and aviation enthusiast as part of the Plane of Reconciliation project. Freeman's wish was for the 400,000 people who pass through the airport annually to see the plane as a reminder of the contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous Peoples, and all Canadian Veterans, honored...
Great Falls, Mont.-After 80-plus years of seeking federal recognition the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa has become the 574th federally recognized tribe in the United States. Federal recognition will give tribe members access to health care and social services. Located in Montana, the tribe celebrated their victory by remembering those who have, over the years, pursued the recognition-including 93-year-old Theresa Juraskovich, the oldest tribal member, who told High Country...
Edmonton, AB.-In early February 2000, aniskwaciy Academy opened its doors. It was the first Indigenous-based public high school in Canada, steeped in Indigenous language, culture and traditions. "We have strong academy programming, but we also want to make sure our kids are getting strong cultural teaching," principal Fred Hines told CBC news. Hines also says the goal is to learn about the Cree culture and create a community of forward thinkers. In 2000, when the school...
Parksville, B.C.-Recently, the Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulated 24 Indigenous innovators on moving forward in developing their ideas under the Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative. The 24 innovators come from all regions of Canada and their ideas cover a range of new ways to respond to Indigenous social and housing needs. The selected innovators are now taking part in the Accelerator period. The Accelerator will provide the innovators...
WASHINGTON-Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney announced that the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) has awarded business development grants totaling $727,229 to 21 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Over half of the awards are for proposed or existing projects located in Opportunity Zones. The awards from IEED's Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Feasibility Study Program will enable tribal le...
OTTAWA, Ont.-A January 2020 report released by the Correctional Investigator of Canada shows that Canada's prisons are being "Indigenized," or filling up with Indigenous men and women at a rate surpassing 30 percent, which could rise to 33 percent, even though Indigenous people make up less than 5 per cent of the total Canadian population. Indigenous women account for a staggering 42 per cent of the women inmate population in Canada. The Correctional Investigator of Canada,...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-The Cherokee Nation is the first tribe in the United States to receive an invitation to deposit its traditional heirloom seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a long-term seed storage facility housed deep inside a mountain on a remote island in Norway. The Cherokee Nation Secretary of Natural Resources office collected nine samples of Cherokee heirloom crops to send to Svalbard, including Cherokee White Eagle Corn, the tribe's most sacred corn, which is...
On Friday, October 4, Indian Life hosted a banquet at Calvary Temple in Winnipeg to celebrate 40 years of ministry. We thank all those who contributed to organizing the banquet and those who joined us in this milestone celebration to praise our Lord for all He has done for and through this ministry. We enjoyed a fabulous meal catered by the Calvary Temple catering team and were blessed in song by Christopher Creasy and members of the band, Northern Fire. Our guest speaker, Dr....
OTTAWA, Ont.-The federal government will adopt changes to its criminal justice legislation, Bill C-75, which will require judges to consider harsher sentences in cases of violence against Indigenous women, according to a motion from Justice Minister David Lametti. Lametti said the changes to the bill are "in the spirit of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls," and will recommend harsher penalties for those who commit crimes against Indigenous...
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C.-In October, the Tŝilhqot'in Nation celebrated the Grand Opening of its solar farm, located 80 km west of Williams Lake. The 1.25-MW solar farm is the largest of its kind in British Columbia and is a hundred percent developed, built, owned and operated by the Tŝilhqot'in Nation. The Tŝilhqot'in Solar Farm consists of 3,456 solar modules that will convert the sun's rays into electricity which will then be sent into the BC Hydro grid and generate ec...
OLYMPIA, Wash-Raquel Montoya-Lewis was recently named as the first Native American to serve on the Washington Supreme Court, and only the second Native American to serve on any state supreme court in the nation. Montoya-Lewis's experience includes serving as the chief judge for the Nooksack and Skagit tribes and the Northwest intertribal courts. She has been an associate professor at Western Washington University, and is in her fifth year on the Whatcom County Superior Court,...
TORONTO, Ont.-In late October, the Ontario government announced that Wataynianeyap Power would receive a $1.34 billion loan to bring electricity to 17 First Nations in northwestern Ontario. "I think it's an amazing milestone we've accomplished and we look forward to building the line," said Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power LP. Wataynikaneyap means 'lines that brings light." Wataynikaneyap Power, also known as Watay. is a partnership with 51 per cent ownership...
WASHINGTON, D.C.-President Donald Trump authorized creation of an eight-member panel of federal officials Tuesday to coordinate the federal response to the problem of murdered and missing indigenous women. Trump told tribal leaders gathered at the White House for the signing that the "Operation Lady Justice" task force is long overdue, calling statistics related to missing and murdered indigenous women "sobering and heartbreaking." The executive order signed Tuesday creates a...
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced nearly $200 million in grant awards to 52 Native American Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) across the Nation for new housing construction, housing rehabilitation, and critical infrastructure projects. HUD announced the grants during the 2019 National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) Legal Symposium in Las Vegas. "HUD is excited for this new opportunity to...
AKWESASNE, Mohawk Nation-The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council signed Tribal Council Resolution 2019-58 in early December in response to public health concerns associated with vaping and e-cigarette products and their appeal to youth and young adults. Customers must now be 21 years old to purchase all products associated with vape, e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or similar devices. The resolution also prohibits the retail sale and distribution of...
ITHACA, N.Y.-For the first time in Cornell University's 154-year history, students have been able to take a class to learn the language of the Cayuga Nation, whose traditional territory is now home to Cornell's Ithaca campus. The launch of the class in Fall 2019 coincided with the United Nations' declaration that 2019 was the Year of Indigenous Languages. Stephen Henhawk, a Cayuga speaker and historian, teaches the hands-on class, which focuses on the relationship of language...
ADA, Okla.-Chickasaw and Choctaw artist Sue Fish has honed her craft of basketmaking for nearly three decades and has displayed her art in galleries across the Chickasaw Nation. An avid member of the First American art scene, Fish is enthusiastic about sharing her passion for preserving Southeastern basketry and reviving river cane basketry. She eagerly demonstrates her techniques while teaching at various community schools and universities, libraries, museums and events. The...
LANGLEY, B.C.-Aboriginal Award-winning Artist Treneta Bowden has received nominations for two categories with the 2020 Canadian Gospel Music Awards. Bowden's new song and album, Hold On, has been nominated for Indigenous Album of the Year. "Hold On" was written as a song of hope and healing to inspire First Nations and othr people to rise up in their purpose and to never quit. "I pray that this song and the others will be songs of rescue and healing to those who feel...
LONGMONT, Colorado-First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has received a $220,000 grant from the Broad Reach Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. The funds will be used to support Native American-led efforts to combat abusive extractive industries that are impacting Native communities, resources and land. "Native communities have long-held, traditional knowledge that should be part of every conversation involving our land and environment," said Michael...
WHITEHORSE, Yukon Territory-In early March, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) hosted a successful National Climate Gathering in Whitehorse, YT, that brought together over 380 First Nations leaders, elders, women and youth to discuss First Nations-led solutions to address the Climate Crisis. "First Nations from across the country are showing their commitment to action on the greatest challenge of our time-climate destruction. The scope of this meeting in the range of...
ADA, Okla.-The Chikasha Pehlichi Ikbi "Creating Chickasaw Leaders" Youth Leadership Program (CPI) recently attended the Close Up Foundation's annual American Indian Youth Summit in Washington, D.C. During the summit, CPI youth leaders had the opportunity to engage in workshops with others from different tribal communities. They discussed the most pressing issues facing their areas, discovered the historic relationship between tribes and the U.S. government, and explored...
