UNITED STATES

Last region to win consecutive Little League World Series championships was Japan in 2012 and 2013

Molly of Denali can break trail for other educational programs that intentionally build in more authenticity and local Indigenous forms of knowledge says Dewey Kk’Oleyo Hoffman

Santa Fe Indian Market weekend draws thousands of art-loving tourists every year

A Florida woman has filed a complaint removed Thursday to federal court claiming that the California-based Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel and its online lending company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by obtaining a consumer report from TransUnion under false pretenses to target her for high-interest loans.

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A panel questions Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro in Sioux City, Iowa. (Photo-Antonia Gonzales)

Nebraska’s high court approves Keystone XL Julián Castro questioned on support of ICWA https://www.nativenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nnn082319.mp3

The post Friday, August 23, 2019 appeared first on National Native News, by Antonia Gonzales.

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg didn't attend a historic Native forum like several others but he's still reaching out to Native voters.

Senator Harris has shown she will take the concerns of Indian country and prioritize them in her administration says Lorraine Basch

A Native American tribe, former government officials, law professors and scores of religious groups threw their weight behind the states and advocates challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to use defense funds to build a southern border wall, filing amicus briefs Thursday at the Ninth Circuit.

Published August 23, 2019

Tribe Reflects on a History of Struggle and Perseverance 

BRADLEY, Mich.  – Today, the Gun Lake Tribe (Tribe), formally the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians,  celebrates 20 years of federal re-affirmation by the United States of America.  The Tribe has a unique history which is well documented under several treaties signed by the United States government, a historic reservation in present-day downtown Kalamazoo, and an affiliation with the Methodist Church that created an Indian community that has endured since 1838.

Bob Peters, chairman of Gun Lake Tribe

“Today we celebrate a remarkable history of perseverance, community, and culture,” said Bob Peters, Chairman of the Gun Lake Tribe.  “We also recognize the tremendous hardships our ancestors endured, which our present-day elders did as well, to keep the Bradley and Salem Indian communities, and families, intact.  We are a proud people with a bright future, but we honor our past on this day.”

In the early 19th century the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band inhabited the Kalamazoo River valley.  Chief Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish signed the 1821 Treaty of Chicago that created a three-mile square reservation for the Band at present-day downtown Kalamazoo.  The City of Kalamazoo recently installed new street signs that feature 1821 reservation boundary markers.

The Chief would also sign the 1827 Treaty of St. Joseph which required the Band to relinquish the newly created reservation to the federal government in exchange for a promised payment and a new home.  The Band received neither, and instead a difficult era of relocation ensued.

D.K. Sprague, Vietnam veteran and former longtime Gun Lake Chairman D.K. Sprague

The Band avoided forced removal west of the Mississippi River, known as the Trail of Tears, by moving north to several temporary locations.  The Band found protection under the Church through the creation of the Bradley Indian Mission settlement in 1838.  The Salem Indian Mission would be established nearby.

After years of petitioning for federal recognition the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, known as the Gun Lake Tribe, achieved formal re-affirmation on August 23, 1999.  The Tribe’s citizens would later vote to adopt a Tribal Constitution which established a democratically elected governing body of seven Tribal Council members.

Today the Tribe strives to provide services to its citizens such as health care, education and language and cultural preservation.  The Gun Lake Casino opened in 2011 and now provides government gaming revenue that allows the Tribe to fund these important programs to maintain its self-sufficiency.

Gun Lake Casino has been good for Michigan’s economy. Native News Online photograph by Levi Rickert

To read more about the Tribe’s history and watch a narrated video visit the Heritage page online at https://gunlaketribe-nsn.gov/about/our-heritage/.

To learn more about the 1821 Treaty reservation boundaries located throughout Kalamazoo visit the City’s news section, online athttps://www.kalamazoocity.org/news/428-first-match-e-be-nash-she-wish-pottawatomi-reservation-boundary-sign-to-be-unveiled-april-22.

The post Gun Lake Tribe Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Federal Re-Affirmation   appeared first on Native News Online.

Scientists say the fires in the Amazon are human-made, and many claim fires were ultimately spawned by Brazilian President Bolsonaro’s anti-Indigenous agenda

The D.C. Circuit on Friday upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2015 rule tightening ozone standards to protect public health, rejecting arguments from industry and states that it's too protective and from environmental groups that the rule doesn’t go far enough.

The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday affirmed a state agency's approval of a route for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, an important win for pipeline developer TC Energy's plan to transport oil sands from Canada into the U.S.

TAHLEQUAH – Cherokee Nation citizen Desiree Matthews, 16, of Watts, was crowned 2019-20 Junior Miss Cherokee on Aug. 17 after competing at the 28th annual Junior Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition.

While representing the tribe as Junior Miss Cherokee, Matthews, a junior at Colcord High School, will serve as a goodwill ambassador to promote the CN and share the tribe’s culture and history.

She said the true meaning of serving as the next Junior Miss Cherokee would not fully resonate until her tenure ends next August. “I really couldn’t fully answer what it means to be named Junior Miss Cherokee until the end of my reign, but I am very honored to represent the Cherokee Nation and my hope that I can be the best that I can be.”

Matthews is the daughter of Mark and Miranda Matthews and is a member of the 2018-19 CN Tribal Youth Council.

“I am always in awe of and inspired by our youth who enter our annual leadership competitions. It shows great courage, but also a passion for their tribe and its culture, history, and heritage,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “We are very proud of each young lady who competed in this year’s Junior Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition and congratulates Miss Matthews on being named the next Junior Miss Cherokee. I know she will be a great ambassador of our great tribe.”

During the competition, contestants are judged on their use of Cherokee language, a cultural presentation and a speech on their platform, as well as their responses to an impromptu question.

Matthews told the traditional Cherokee creation story as her cultural presentation. Her platform speech focused on opioid abuse prevention. Matthews also answered an impromptu question on what advice she would give to Native youth growing up in this age of social media.

Jasmine Carpitcher, 17, of Tahlequah, was named first runner-up and Raynee Nofire, 16, of Salina, was named second runner-up.
Judges for Junior Miss Cherokee this year were Morgan Rodman, Marie Eubanks, Derrick Vann, and Cora Flute.

A logo is a small symbol used in marketing a business. Folks usually design the logo during the first planning stages of the business. The logo is created based on the brand objectives of the company. Sadly, some business owners only identify with the importance of having a business logo once the business is big and lacking a powerful brand image. It is, however, essential to create the logo when the business is small so that your customers can identify with your company when they see it. There are numerous reasons why your business needs a logo design; here are a few.

To Attract Customers

According to consumer surveys that experts conducted in recent years, most customers relate the value of the items they are buying to how good the packaging is. For your product to be appealing, you need a professional logo designer. Because they have a lot of experience and have studied all demographics of people, they know what your product packaging needs to look like to be truly professional. They will help you come up with a business logo design that customers can relate with and love. Their expertise gives you access to the techniques that will make your logo genuinely eye-catching.

For Consistency

Your business logo design will be the visual representation of your business. This vital perception is why you must ensure that your business logo is at the center of the trade show booth you hire. By putting it in your emails and letters, you provide your audience with consistent exposure to your brand. You can also consider having promotional products like photo booths at exhibitions, or t-shirts to woo your customers. You thus expose more people to your brand image, the more people associate with your products. Over time, you will not even have to put your name on promotional materials because your logo can act as a standalone – think of Nike and Adidas products. Especially where your name cannot fit, your logo will suffice.

Provides an Image of Sustainability and Credibility

There is something about a logo that speaks consistency to the customers. It tells them you are reliable. It is like a certification that customers look for before buying items or getting the services of a company. Your customers need to know that you are dependable and that they can rely on you for the best. If your business logo design does not accurately represent the purpose of your business, it is unlikely that customers will want to be associated with you. You will not make the right impression and may miss out on getting the attention of customers and thus not get the profit you expected.

Conclusion

Every business has a personality that people associate with it. People detect this personality from the name and the logo a company decides to use. Many businesses wouldn’t be as far ahead as they are today if they did not have a powerful image that people associated their business with. The tick on Nike products tells you that you are getting the best quality possible. A message that customers should get when they see your products.

Writing is one of the 4 learning skills that kids need to master, in addition to reading, listening and speaking. It’s the way they explain themselves and share their ideas with the world. Some parents are worried that their kids aren’t good writers. While there are naturally talented writers, this skill can also be taught and learned. Taking a look at several free essays examples can show you how different people write. While there isn’t a single way for composing an excellent essay, checking out these free examples of several essays shows you that there are several different ways it can be done.

How to Improve Writing Skills for Kids?

When given enough time and attention, your kids can become good writers with a little practice. Here are some activities and tips that can help kids with writing.

    Read More

While thinking about how to help kids with writing, you shouldn’t ignore engaging them into some extra reading. Reading teaches children more vocabulary, figures of speech and ways used to explain certain ideas. Later on, they won’t face problems trying to write a difficult essay regardless of its topic, because they know how to pick the right words.

    Help Them

If kids are intimated by composing sentences on their own, you can make it part of some fun or family activity. If you’re a teacher, you can show them how you write about a certain topic and let them come up with their own sentences. Show them examples of essays you’ve written and ask for their opinion. Writing compositions can also become a family activity at home where several members of the family or friends can write a single sentence in the same story and finally share it together. The idea is to make this activity as fun as possible to help kids get rid of any pressure they naturally associate with compositions.

    Encourage Brainstorming

The biggest problem anyone can face while working on a task is finding the right ideas. When kids are older, they will be asked to submit a certain word count for a paper or essay. If they don’t know what to write, they might submit an incomplete essay. Teach them how to overcome this problem by writing down every idea that can be related to the main topic. Having the ideas written in front of their eyes will help them come with related words and pieces of evidence to support what they’re doing. Working in drafts shows kids that making mistakes is OK. It also teaches them the importance of editing. Later on, kids can use online and offline tools that help them improve the readability of their text by eliminating any mistakes and shortening unnecessarily long sentences.

Try Different Types of Writing

Using various activities to improve writing skills for kids will encourage all kids to take part. Some kids prefer story writing over essays. Others would love to try scripts. All these types of composition have several things in common and will come in handy later on. While older students mainly focus on finishing essays and research papers, they can still benefit from some input that makes their academic tasks more personalized.

    Ask Kids to Keep a Journal

Journaling is one of the most important activities to improve writing skills. Even adults are advised to keep a journal. First, it’s an amazing way to practice writing every day. Every time you write, you’ll be talking about a certain topic and trying to deliver a specific idea. It’s also a great way for kids to express themselves in a stress-free environment. Some kids would prefer to share their journal entries with others. Encourage them to do this at home or in the class. However, others would still prefer to keep their entries private. This is also OK until they’re confident enough about sharing their work with others. Kids will open up and talk about their feelings when they know that they won’t be judged.

    Encourage Free Writing

Writing for kids isn’t about sticking to a single type or genre. Kids might come up with their own topics and stories, ignoring the ones you’ve suggested in the class or at home. It’s important that you encourage this type of creativity as they’ll feel appreciated and will eventually try to do the things you’ve asked for. Kids will always prefer to write about themselves and their thoughts before they can follow a certain guideline.

These activities should be followed simultaneously by parents, guardians, and teachers. Improving writing is an ongoing process that takes time and patience. When these activities are followed, the results will be impressive.

North Dakota Public Service Commission Agrees to Hear Feedback from Tribal Leaders in November on New Pumping Stations and Potential Doubling of Oil Flow

 

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Public Service Commission announced today that it will hold a public hearing around a proposed expansion of the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). The hearing has been set for 9 a.m. on Nov. 13 at the Emmons County Courthouse in Bismarck, North Dakota.

There had been some question as to whether the public—including leadership from the Lakota nations in proximity or downstream from the pipeline—would have a chance to weigh in. Today’s decision by the Commission should provide that opportunity.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe recently took action to intervene in the process, calling for the public hearing. More than 19,000 letters to the Commission from concerned citizens backed the tribe’s call.

The proposed changes to DAPL, including the addition of new pumping stations, could nearly double the pipeline’s flow, from 500,000 barrels daily to 1.1 million.

The Lakota People’s Law Project said, “The hearing is a good step in the right direction. The process must be fully transparent, the public must be heard, and tribal concerns about the safety of sacred lands and water must be properly addressed. We look forward to making sure those concerns are voiced in detail at the hearing, and it is our hope that the commission will use its authority to say no to the proposed expansion and prevent further danger to the environment we share.”

Further comment from tribal leaders should be available in the coming hours and days.

WASHINGTON —  In June and July 2019, the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations mailed more than $140 million in purchase offers to more than 18,000 owners of fractional land interests at the Navajo Nation.  The deadline for landowners to return their voluntary purchase offers are either August 30, 2019, or September 30, 2019, depending on the offer cover letter date.

Due to a large number of fractional land interests at the Navajo Nation, the Buy-Back Program sent purchase offers to landowners in two different mailing waves.  The two mailing waves are based on various land areas across the Navajo Reservation.  Individuals may own, and receive offers for, interests in land in multiple land areas.

Wave 1.  The first wave of offers is for interests in certain lands in New Mexico with a corresponding land area code (LAC) of 791.  These offers have a cover letter date of July 1, 2019.  Landowners with fractional interests in LAC 791 have until August 30, 2019, to consider and return accepted offers in the pre-paid postage envelopes provided.

Wave 2.  The second wave of offers has a cover letter date of August 1, 2019, and was sent to Navajo Nation landowners for interests at the following LACs:  722 (Ramah), 723 (Alamo), 724 (To’hajiilee), 790 (Arizona), and 792 (Utah).  Landowners who received offers for interests owned in one or more of these five LACs have until September 30, 2019, to consider and return accepted offers in the pre-paid postage envelopes provided.

“We are proud of the initial Buy-Back Program implementation at the Navajo Nation. The Program achieved significant results and transferred more than 155,000 equivalent acres of land to the Navajo Nation,” said Principal Deputy Special Trustee Jerry Gidner.  “We must continue our government-to-government collaboration to make the current round of implementation success, while also ensuring that landowners understand their options, and have access to the information they need for an informed decision.”

Various informational tools are available to landowners, who are encouraged to think strategically about their options and carefully consider how to use the funds they receive from selling their land.  The Program’s website includes detailed frequently asked questions, a schedule of upcoming outreach events, and additional information to help individuals make informed decisions about their land.

Landowners are encouraged to call the Trust Beneficiary Call Center (Call Center) at 888-678-6836 or visit their local Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) office to ensure that their address on file is current, ask questions about their land or purchase offers, and request a copy of the appraisal completed for their land.

Addresses Needed for Some Landowners.  Nearly 1,700 Navajo Nation landowners do not currently have an up-to-date address on file with OST and, thus, the Program cannot mail them an offer package.  To receive an offer package in the mail, landowners must contact the Call Center or OST by the following dates:

• August 23, 2019: landowners with interests in LAC 791; and


• September 23, 2019: landowners with interests in LACs 722, 723, 724, 790, and 792.

Overall Program Progress.  The Buy-Back Program implements the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, which provided $1.9 billion to consolidate fractional interests in trust or restricted land within a 10-year period set to expire on November 2022.  As of 8/20, approximately $285 million remains, comprised of $156 million in the land purchase portion of the fund and $129 million in the implementation portion of the fund.

Since the Program began making offers in December 2013, more than 874,400 fractional interests have been transferred to tribal governments, which represents 35 percent of the total fractional interests in 2013 at the 52 locations where Program implementation has occurred and the equivalent of 2.5 million acres of land.  As a result of the Buy-Back Program, tribal ownership now exceeds 50 percent in 17,300 more tracts of land (representing an increase of more than 142 percent for the locations where implementation has occurred), facilitating the exercise of tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

Interests consolidated through the Buy-Back Program are restored to tribal trust ownership.  Returning fractionated lands to tribes in trust has the potential to improve tribal community resources by increasing home site locations, improving transportation routes, spurring economic development, easing approval for infrastructure and community projects, and preserving traditional cultural or ceremonial sites.

The 2019 appropriations process realigned the Land Buy-Back Program from the Office of the Secretary to OST.  The realignment of the Buy-Back Program institutionalizes best practices to fulfill the Department’s fiduciary duties.  Further, it strengthens coordination efforts and opportunities to streamline processes.

Published August 23, 2019

NEW YORK — Responding to the news of the wildfires that have been raging in the Amazon rainforest for several weeks, Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of Amnesty International said:

“The responsibility to stop the wildfires that have been raging in the Amazon rainforest for several weeks now lies squarely with President Bolsonaro and his government. They must change their disastrous policy of opening up the rainforest for destruction, which is what has paved the way for this current crisis.

“Earlier this year Amnesty International documented illegal land invasions and arson attacks near Indigenous territories in the Amazon, including Rondônia state where many of the fires are raging.

“Deforestation in the territories Amnesty visited has doubled this year compared to the same time period in 2018 because of illegal invaders who are felling trees, starting forest fires and attacking Indigenous communities living there.

“Despite this, President Bolsonaro has deliberately sought to weaken protections of the rainforest and undermine the rights of the one million Indigenous Peoples who live there.

“Now that the city of São Paulo, thousands of kilometers away from the Amazon, has been shrouded in darkness from the resulting smoke plume, the President has tried to smear NGOs with the slander that they started the fires.

“Instead of spreading outrageous lies or denying the scale of deforestation taking place, we urge the President to take immediate action to halt the progress of these fires. This is essential to protect people’s right to a healthy environment, as well as their right to health given the impact on air quality over wide swathes of Brazil and neighboring countries.

“And for the rest of the world wondering what they can do to protect the Amazon, campaigning for the protection of the human rights of Indigenous Peoples is key to preventing further deforestation.

“We must stand together behind the Indigenous communities and leaders across the Amazon region – from Brazil to Ecuador and beyond. For them the Amazon is more than the lungs of the world, it is their home.”

The post Amnesty International: Brazilian Government’s Failures are Fueling Wildfires Across the Amazon appeared first on Native News Online.

Wells argo Bank in Window Rock, Arizona on Navajo Nation. Photo by Navajo Times.

Published August 23, 2019

WINDOW ROCK — On Thursday, the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President announced a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank, settling the Navajo Nation’s lawsuit detailing the Bank’s long campaign of predatory and unlawful practices that targeted and harmed the Navajo people. Under the terms of the settlement, Wells Fargo will pay the Navajo Nation $6.5 million dollars.

“Wells Fargo’s predatory actions defrauded and harmed the Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “We held Wells Fargo accountable for their actions and we will continue to hold other companies accountable if their business practices do not respect our people — this puts other companies on notice that harmful business practices against the Navajo people will not be tolerated.”

The Nation originally filed suit in United States District Court in December 2017. The complaint detailed a long pattern of misconduct by Wells Fargo, and brought claims under the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), claims under other federal consumer protection laws, and claims under state, tribal and common law.  The Nation also filed a separate lawsuit in Navajo Nation District Court reasserting its tribal and common law claims.

“The Wells Fargo settlement compensates the Nation, as well as avoids the uncertainty and expense of continued litigation,” said Navajo Nation Attorney General Doreen N. McPaul.  “Our litigation team at the Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Paul Spruhan, handled the tribal court litigation and he and Assistant Attorney General Jana Werner from our Tax and Finance Unit coordinated with our outside counsel on the federal case.”

“We are proud of our work for the Navajo Nation and for securing this important settlement,” said Hueston Hennigan partner John C. Hueston, who handled the federal litigation along with Hueston Hennigan partner Moez M. Kaba.

Wells Fargo also reached a multi-state settlement with the attorney generals of all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2018.

“The Nation is pleased with the settlement, and proud that our attorneys were able to secure more for the Navajo Nation in settlement than any other state with comparable populations,” said Navajo Nation Vice President Lizer.

The Navajo Nation is represented by Attorney General Doreen N. McPaul, Assistant Attorneys General Paul Spruhan and Jana Werner of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, and John C. Hueston and Moez M. Kaba of Hueston Hennigan LLP.

The post Navajo Nation Settles Lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank appeared first on Native News Online.