May 19, 2020
We were very honored at our recent online Gathering on Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery to be joined by Steven Newcomb, author of Pagans in the Promised Land, and his daughter Shawna Bluestar Newcomb. We are working on final edits of the video of post-screening discussion, which will be available soon at our website on the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery project page, along with a number of videos related to this topic: https://learningrightrelations.org/ddod
Thank you to all who were a part of the conversation!
We invite you to deepen the conversation around Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery and why this is now so crucial. We will be hosting another screening of The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code soon, with an emphasis in conversation about local efforts towards Truth and Conciliation / Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. Watch this newsletter, our website and facebook page for updates!
We will be screening The Indian System, followed by discussion with producer Sheldon Wolfchild (Dakota). Tentative date is Sunday June 14th, 1:00-3:30pm Pacific. Click here to watch trailer for The Indian System.
Continue reading for related news & events:
IN THE NEWS:
Indian Country & Covid-19
Native Americans are being left out of demographic data on the impact of the coronavirus across the US. Click here to read article published in the Guardian on April 24th: Native Americans being left out of the US coronavirus data and labelled as 'other'
This week, Doctors without Borders announced its first-ever mission to the United States, helping the hard-hit Navajo Nation fight Covid-19. We need to listen to Native American and Indigenous leaders on how we can fight Covid-19 together.
Click here to join the conversation: COVID-19 and Native American Communities on Wednesday, May 20th at 4:00pm Pacific with Rep. Deb Haaland (NM-01, Laguna Pueblo), Faith Spotted Eagle (Native Organizers Alliance, Brave Heart Society, Yankton Sioux), State Rep. Ruth Buffalo (ND-HD27, Mandan Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation), Tara Houska (Giniw Collective), and Kevin Allis (National Congress of American Indians, FOrest County Potawatomi)
The Navajo Nation has the third-highest COVID-19 infection rate in the U.S., after New York and New Jersey. The pandemic is exposing a longtime lack of federal funding for Indian Country health care. Tribal leaders are using contact tracing to track where the virus has spread. Conditions make the work difficult, and Navajo Nation leaders are now suing the federal government for their fair share of federal COVID relief money.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem failed to mandate basic Covid-19 protections, and now she's threatened legal action over tribal checkpoints meant to keep the pandemic out of Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River. Click here to watch video of Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner discussing the need for Covid-19 checkpoints entering the Pine Ridge Reservation with Don Lemon on CNN Tonight.
Click here to send a message to Governor Kristi Noem to respect tribal checkpoints and protect public health and safety!
Wet'suwet'en Sovereignty
Hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding with B.C. and Canada that sets the path for negotiations on legal recognition of their title to 22,000 square kilometers of traditional territory. Click here to read article: Wet'suwet'en, B.C. and Canada sign MOU on negotiations for legal recognition of title
Mashpee Wampanoag
The hearing that was originally scheduled for May 7, 2020 for the preliminary injunction against the Department of the Interior (DOI) to halt its efforts to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's reservation, has been pushed to Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
CALL TO ACTION: If you haven't already, sign the petition Land is Sacred: Stand With the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Additionally, leading up to Wednesday's hearing, you can add your voice to supporters of the Mashpee Wampanoag by contacting Senator Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, asking him to support the Tribe's pending legislation (HR312, the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation Reaffirmation Act).
Here is a script you can use, provided by the Wopanaak Language Reclamation Project:
My name is _______ and I reside at _________ in [City], [State]. I am a proud supporter of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and am calling to voice my strong opposition to Secretary Bernhardt's recent directive to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and to ask Congress to act quickly to enact HR 312 -- the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation Reaffirmation Act.
They are the first peoples of this land and extended their hands to the European settlers in peace and friendship. I am calling to urge Senator Hoeven to lead the effort to protect their Reservation from being disestablished on his watch.
I urge Chairman Hoeven to take the steps needed to pass the bi-partisan legislation, HR 312, that already has been passed by the House and now awaits Senate action.
I want to ensure that my message reaches the ears of Senator Hoeven and is shared with the rest of the Senate Committee for Indian Affairs. Thank you.
To call: (202-224-2551)
To email: send to both
1. Mike_Andrews@indian.senate.gov
2. https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/contact/email-the-senator