Modern-day Colonialism

"All records stemming from the redress process of the Indian residential school legacy should be public record and not subject to more legal wrangling," said Garnet Angeconeb, who attended Pelican Lake Indian Residential School, near Sioux Lookout and received the Order of Canada, in an email. "We often hear that the Indian residential schools legacy is our 'collective' or 'shared' history as a country. Why then is that one side is driving this contemporary history through the use of law? It looks like, smells like, feels like modern-day colonialism at its best."

READ: Ottawa's move to block statistical reports on residential schools 'modern-day colonialism,' says survivor | CBC News

How Being Separated From My Family and Tribe Affected Me

APRIL/16/2013 | Indian Child Welfare Act

By Jacqueline Davis, Activist          

Today the Supreme Court will hear Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, a case about a South Carolina Indian girl who the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the child must be returned to her Indian father. The child's mother ignored the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978, a federal law designed to protect Indian families from "abusive child welfare practices that resulted in the separation of large numbers of Indian children from their families and tribes through adoption or foster case placement" and, as a result, both the tribe and the father were denied their rights under ICWA.
As the Supreme Court hears this case, the coverage has been largely one-sided. I thought it was important for people to hear my story, and how being separated from my family and tribe has affected me.

My name is Jacqueline Davis. I am one of six siblings affected by a decision made by the state of South Carolina. I am a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota and my grandfather is Chief Dave Bald Eagle. My father, who is African-American, met my mom and married her while he was stationed in the Air Force. They eventually moved off the reservation to South Carolina. Their lives changed one day when my mother applied for WIC and the nurse realized that she spanked her children as a form of discipline. Their children were taken and placed in foster care. We were split in pairs. The charges were piled on, and our parents lost custody. The Bald Eagle family offered to take us on the reservation and for reasons I still don't know they were told our case had nothing to do with ICWA. I can remember my parents coming to visit us for years.

Read the rest here:
http://www.aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/how-being-separated-my-family-and-tribe-affected-me

The Risk of Extinction due to #Covid-19

Native communities in the U.S. have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19, with higher rates of infection and death. The Navajo Nation has implemented a series of strict lockdown measures in an effort to protect its population, but health care facilities have still been overwhelmed. In fact, tribes across the country see the pandemic as representing an existential threat. Stephanie Sy reports.

Back in New Mexico, there are significant clusters of cases in the state's Pueblos. By one estimate, 11 percent of the Zia Reservation of only 646 members were infected. At that rate, leaders are concerned about the risk of extinction.

WATCH: Native communities have been hit hard by COVID-19 -- and fear for their survival

For more information on reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.
To contact the Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.
For the latest news from the Office of the President and Vice President, please visit http://www.opvp.navajo-nsn.gov/ or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Midnight Shine - Sister Love (Celebration of Sisters!) @midnightshineon

FUN FACTS: 

Ø  Adrian
Sutherland, Midnight Shine founder and frontman, wrote Sister Love from a poem written by his sister Iris Sutherland – she shares co-writing credit on the song. 

Ø  Adrian’s
Mom played acoustic guitar, keyboard, and sang, instilling in him his love of music, and inspiring him to play. 

Ø  Sister
Love is Midnight Shine’s 2^nd most streamed song on Spotify – second only to Heart of Gold (which now has more than 227,000 YouTube views).

Ø  Sister
Love reached #1 on Canada's Indigenous Music Countdown when it was released.

Changing the way we see Native Americans | Matika Wilbur | TEDxTeachersC...

Introduction to the Maine-Wabanaki: gkisedtanamoogk at TEDxDirigo

Coming Up: Native America Calling

Native America Calling is a national call-in program that invites guests and listeners to join a dialogue about current events, music, arts, entertainment and culture.

The program is hosted by Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo) and airs live each weekday from 1-2 pm Eastern.

Join the conversation by calling 1-800-996-2848.

May 4th, 2020 - Different places, different COVID-19 concerns

There is no one way to address the coronavirus threat. The state of Alaska has relatively few COVID-19 cases. But some vital modes of transportation are already shut down and Native villages are working on keeping potential virus exposures at bay. It's a different story in urban centers that the U.S. Census says is home to nearly seven out of every 10 Native Americans. In Los Angeles, the Native population is large and diverse. Organizations like United American Indian Involvement is helping elders and others coping with a significant and growing health threat. We'll hear the various ways leaders are tackling the coronavirus emergency to suit the needs of their people.

                                                                              

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - Uniting (in isolation) for MMIW awareness

Isolation because of the coronavirus doesn't stop the need to raise awareness of a tragic statistic for Native people. May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Organizers are encouraging virtual walks, candles in windows, and twitter campaigns to keep the light on the disproportionate number of victimized Indigenous women and girls.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - The Indigenous zombie movie "Blood Quantum" 

The COVID-19 pandemic axed the much-anticipated U.S. theater release of the film, "Blood Quantum." The good news is audiences can now see it online. The film is about a zombie outbreak near a Mi'gmaq reserve in Canada. It's directed by First Nations filmmaker, Jeff Barnaby and has a host of Native stars, including Michael Greyeyes (Cree), Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot and Sami), Forrest Goodluck (Diné/Mandan/Hidatsa /Tsimshian) and Gary Farmer (Cayuga/Tuscarora/Mohawk).

                                                                                  

Thursday, May 7, 2020 - New and expecting mothers confront COVID-19 fears

Expecting mothers face added anxiety because of the coronavirus pandemic. They may be separated from their newborn if they test positive for the virus or are showing symptoms. At the same time, just going to a hospital to give birth increases the chances of getting exposed to coronavirus. We'll get medical advice on what precautions pregnant women can take and hear from those who facing difficult decisions during their pregnancies. Have a question? Send us an email at comments@nativeamericacalling.com.

                 

Friday, May 8, 2020 - COVID 19 frauds and scams

The global COVID-19 pandemic generates fear and confusion for a lot of people. As always, scam artists are ready with new and creative ways to exploit people's fears and steal their money. The Federal Trade Commission is coming down on marketers who falsely claim to have COVID-19 cures. The agency is also warning about phone calls from criminals pretending to be sick family members needing money. We'll get reminders on how to protect yourself from the latest frauds and scams.