ICT - Opinion - Letters

Similar story rings through

Watching the Webcast for the hearing that occurred on Nov. 4 entitled “Fixing the Federal Acknowledgment Process,” hosted by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I was struck by the same story that my own people face.

Climate change internationally

I was very impressed by the two articles you had on climate change and indigenous peoples here in the United States in Indian Country Today on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Take back Native communities

I was riding around in a truck with a prominent former tribal council member in Fort Yukon, Alaska when he said, “The number one problem with Native people is they’re too forgiving.”

Seeking justice

My name is Avery Black Bear and I am seeking justice concerning my employment issue. I was terminated from Rosebud Law Enforcement Services Aug. 6, 2008.

Memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies

The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribal governments, established through and confirmed by the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions. In recognition of that special relationship, pursuant to Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000, executive departments and agencies (agencies) are charged with engaging in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications, and are responsible for strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes.

Fixing the process

There is a hearing scheduled for Nov. 4, titled “Fixing the Acknowledgment Process.” There are those who feel the process is to complex and takes too long. There are those who believe the process is unfair and does not take the history of the people involved into account. There are issues of land and local government.

Thunderbirds

The ghosts of hollow bones lift to the blue sky Red streaks of paint follows them like a heat wave Each flap of the wings threatens to send more lightning The pungent black eyes stab into your soul through your careless dreams

Total government reform

Amidst this political climate in Window Rock, Ariz., I find it rather odd that the Navajo people are not given any options in regards to government reform.

Urgent fix needed

The Supreme Court’s decision in the recent Carcieri v. Salazar case urgently needs to be corrected. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which I chair, heard ample evidence of that in a formal congressional hearing in May and at numerous meetings the committee conducted in the wake of the decision.

Columbus Day just another Monday

How could Columbus discover America when Native peoples were already living here? The historians used the word discover and put it in the history books to hide all the cruelty that was done. Congress must condone the viciousness by Columbus and his men by giving him a holiday. (Let’s tell school children how wonderful Columbus was).