Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, addresses the Democratic National Convention on August 22, 2024.

Haaland is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having been one of the first two Native women elected to the U.S. Congress.

Haaland is the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet. She leads the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities.

The Democratic National Convention took place in Chicago, Illinois, from August 19-22, 2024.

Deb Haaland at Democratic National Convention

Joint Oversight Hearing: “Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities”
Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations
Date: Wed, 09/11/2024 – 10:00 AM
Location: Capitol Complex, 1300 LHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA

Witnesses
Panel I
The Honorable Darrell G. Seki Sr. 
Chairman
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
Red Lake, Minnesota

Ms. Marty Wafford 
Under Secretary of Support and Programs
Chickasaw Nation Department of Health
Ada, Oklahoma

Ms. Mary Greene-Trottier 
President
National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations
Spirit Lake Tribe
Fort Totten, North Dakota

Panel II
The Honorable Thomas Vilsack 
Secretary
Department of Agriculture

Accompanied by:
Ms. Cindy Long
Deputy Under Secretary
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Mr. Bruce Summers
Administrator
Agricultural Marketing Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Committee Notices:
https://agriculture.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=7808
https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/joint-oversight-hearing-severe-food-distribution-shortages-tribal-and-elderly

Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities

Darrel G. Seki Sr. / Red Lake Nation

Opening Remarks

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs meets to consider the nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Kunesh, who currently serves as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, was the sole witness.

Written Statement: 
https://indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/18/patricekunesh091824.pdf

More on Indianz.Com:
https://indianz.com/News/2024/09/17/national-indian-gaming-commission-enters-new-era-under-president-biden/

Committee Notice:
https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-hearing-to-consider-patrice-h-kunesh-of-minnesota-to-be-chairman-of-the-national-indian-gaming-commission/

Nomination Hearing to consider Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission

Q&A with Patrice Kunesh

Patrice Kunesh Statement

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Billy Smith, No. 21-11643, on September 25, 2024.

Indianz.Com

Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Smith

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs takes testimony on tribal water rights and natural resource legislation on September 25, 2024.

Five bills are on the agenda for the legislative hearing. They follow:

• S.4444, the Crow Revenue Act. The bill would transfer about 4,660 acres of subsurface rights to the Crow Tribe in exchange for other lands and subsurface rights in Montana.

• S.4633, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe on the main stem of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River and relevant groundwater sources in northeastern Arizona.

• S.4643, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico and authorizes $685 million in federal funding to support the tribe’s water resources, including Zuni Salt Lake, a sacred place.

• S.4705, the Yavapai Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill settles the water rights of the Yavapai-Apache Nation in the Verde River Watershed of Arizona.

• S.4998, the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The bill settles the water rights of the Navajo Nation to the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.

More on Indianz.Com:
https://indianz.com/News/2024/09/24/senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-takes-up-water-rights-at-legislative-hearing/

Committee Notice:
https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-4444-s-4633-s-4643-s-4705-s-4998/

Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 4444, S.4633, S.4643, S.4705 & S.4998

Arden Kucate / Pueblo of Zuni

Buu Nygren / Navajo Nation

Frank White Clay / Crow Tribe

Bryan Newland / Department of the Interior

WASHINGTON , D.C. — The Department of the Interior and the Justice Department on Thursday, September 26, 2024, convened a roundtable discussion with Tribal representatives, advocates, members of the media, and survivors to discuss how media coverage can be improved when reporting on the crisis of missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking (HT).  

The virtual roundtable was organized as part of the federal response to the recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission– a federal advisory committee established in November 2023 per the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to recommend strategies for combatting violent crime on Indian lands and against American Indian and Alaska Native people. During seven public hearings across the country as well as a two-day virtual national hearing that informed the Commission’s recommendations, survivors and families impacted by the crisis of MMIP and HT shared concerns about lack of media coverage and whether that may contribute to cases being ignored or going unsolved. The Commission in turn recommended the Interior and Justice Departments hold a roundtable discussion as a step toward developing a set of best practices. 

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered video remarks. 

“Public communication, news stories, and social media can be crucial in finding and investigating cases of missing or murdered Indigenous persons,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why, on the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendation, we convened this roundtable to develop best practices and guidelines to aid law enforcement, families, advocates, and journalists when a member of a Native community is reported missing. It is our hope that this convening will strengthen those partnerships, which are essential to advancing our shared goal of ending this crisis.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland #MMIP Roundtable

The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris announces the launch of Native Americans for Harris-Walz on October 2, 2024.

Speakers include:

Peggy Flanagan (White Earth), Lieutenant Governor  of Minnesota 
Clara Pratte (Navajo), Chair of Native American Caucus for the Democratic National Committee
Mattea Twinn, Coalitions Manager for Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Sylvia Rondeaux, Northern Nevada Political Director for Tribal and Rural Outreach for the Nevada Democratic Party
Jade Begay (Tesuque Pueblo / Navajo), National Native American Engagement Director for the Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz Campaign

Kamala Harris Campaign Launches Native Americans for Harris-Walz

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Poarch Band of Creek Indians, No. 21-11643, on September 25, 2024.

The hearing took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The court heard from attorneys representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the United States government and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

At issue is the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's efforts to protect Hickory Ground, a sacred site in Alabama. The tribe is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians over development that has occurred on the land.

The oral arguments lasted about 43 minutes.

Muscogee Nation v. Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Mary Kathyrn Nagle for Muscogee Nation

President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden host a National Arts and Humanities reception at the White House on October 21, 2024.

Speakers include Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, and Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The reception included winners of the National Humanities Medal: Joy Harjo (Muscogee), Robert Martin (Cherokee) and Rosita Worl (Tlingit). The winners were presented their medals in private ceremony with President Biden.

National Arts and Humanities Reception

Shelly C. Lowe / National Endowment for the Humanities

Dr. Jill Biden

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in JoAnn Chase v. Andeavor Logistics, L.P., No. 23-3019, on October 22, 2024.

JoAnn Chase  vs.  Andeavor Logistics, L.P.

Chase v. Andeavor Logistics

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indians v. North Dakota Legislative Assembly, No. 23-3697, on October 22, 2024.

The case is consolidated with Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indians v. North Dakota Legislative Assembly, No. 24-1171.

Turtle Mountain Chippewa v. North Dakota Legislative Assembly

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. North Dakota Legislative Assembly

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland speaks at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona on October 25, 2024.

Haaland is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, an Indian nation headquartered in New Mexico. She is the first Native person to lead the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities to tribes and their citizens.

Haaland was introduced by Miss Gila River Susanna Osife.

Secretary Deb Haaland at Gila River Indian Community

Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community delivers remarks on October 25, 2024.

Lewis welcomed visitors to his tribe's reservation near Phoenix, Arizona.

Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of Gila River Indian Community

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona on October 25, 2024.

Biden was accompanied by Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, the leader of the tribe.

President Joe Biden at Gila River Indian Community

In the swing state of Arizona, President Biden formally apologized for U.S. government-run Native American boarding schools, which sought to exterminate Indigenous culture by forcibly removing children from their families and placing them in institutions where their languages and customs were suppressed. 

“If the Democrats want the vote of Indian people, we want them to stand with us, not only on issues like the apology around boarding schools, but we also want them to stand with us in the solidarity that we have calling for a ceasefire in Palestine,” says Nick Tilsen, founder and CEO of the Indigenous-led NDN Collective.

Biden Apologizes for Native Boarding Schools That Aimed to Exterminate Native Culture-Democracy Now!

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivers a victory speech on November 6, 2024.

Trump spoke early in the morning from his campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Donald Trump delivers election victory speech

Tim Sheehy, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana, delivers an election victory speech on November 5, 2024.

Speaking from Bozeman,  Sheehy acknowledged “our Native brothers and sisters” in Montana. “It’s about time we turn the page on relations here,” he said.

“We make sure we get our tribal communities back on their feet economically,” Sheehy said toward the end of his remarks. "We give them sovereignty and agency so that they can succeed economically, grow businesses on the reservation, and have the economic freedom to grow their communities, have prosperity, and have a successful, organic economy on every tribal community in the state.”

Sheehy was controversial on the campaign trail for making derogatory comments about Native people. He repeatedly linked them to alcohol and violent activity but refused to apologize when asked by tribes, tribal organizations, Native lawmakers and other advocates in Montana.

Sheehy defeated Jon Tester, the Democratic incumbent who was known as a champion for tribal issues during his three terms in the U.S. Senate. His victory helped deliver control of the chamber to the Republican Party.

'Our Native brothers and sisters': Tim Sheehy in Montana #NativeVote

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998

Date: November 20, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Dirksen
Room: 628

Agenda:
The Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission
S.4643, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024; and
S.4998, Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024

Committee Notice:
https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-to-consider-the-nomination-of-patrice-h-kunesh-of-minnesota-to-be-chair-of-the-national-indian-gaming-commission-s-4643-s-4998/

Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, S. 4643 & S. 4998

Business Meeting-Patrice H. Kunesh to be Chair of National Indian Gaming Commission, S.4643 & S.4998

The U.S. Senate considers Indian Country legislation on November 21, 2024, during which Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) blocked passage of a bill to protect the Wounded Knee massacre site in South Dakota.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, brought up three Indian Country bills for consideration en bloc. They are: S.385, S.1322 and S.2868.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) attempted to have S.2088, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, considered for passage as well. That's when Tillis objected.

Tillis said he would not allow for passage of the Wounded Knee sacred site bill because he has not been able to secure federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized group in North Carolina.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina): Objects to S.2088 Again

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota): Discusses Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina): Objects to S.2088

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota): S.2088,Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii): S.385, S.1322 and S.2868

House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Hearing: Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 (10:00 AM)
2008 RHOB
Washington, D.C.

Note: This playlist does not contain the testimony of Bryan Newland or Richard "Glen" Melville. Most of the testimony from Patrice Kunesh is not included either.

WITNESSES
Panel one
Eugenia Charles-Newton
Law and Order Committee Chair and member of the Navajo Nation

Abigail Echo-Hawk
Executive Vice President at Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute and member of the Pawnee Nation

Cheryl Horn
Member of the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task and Member of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap

Mary Jane Miles
Member of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC) and Member of the Nez Perce Tribe

Maulian Bryant
Wabanaki Alliance Incoming Executive Director and Member of the Penobscot Nation

Panel two
Bryan Newland
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe)

Richard "Glen" Melville
Deputy Bureau Director, Office of Justice Services and member of Makah Tribe of Washington

Patrice Kunesh
Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Daron Carreiro
Acting Director of the Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ) at the Department of Justice

Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Patrice Kunesh / Administration for Native Americans

Q&A with Panel 1

Maulian Bryant / Wabanaki Alliance

Mary Jane Miles / Nez Perce Tribe

Cheryl Horn / Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task

Abigail Echo-Hawk / Urban Indian Health Institute

Eugenia Charles-Newton / Navajo Nation Council

House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Hearing: Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 (10:00 AM)
2008 RHOB
Washington, D.C.

WITNESSES
Panel one
Eugenia Charles-Newton
Law and Order Committee Chair and member of the Navajo Nation

Abigail Echo-Hawk
Executive Vice President at Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute and member of the Pawnee Nation

Cheryl Horn
Member of the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task and Member of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap

Mary Jane Miles
Member of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC) and Member of the Nez Perce Tribe

Maulian Bryant
Wabanaki Alliance Incoming Executive Director and Member of the Penobscot Nation

Panel two
Bryan Newland
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe)

Richard "Glen" Melville
Deputy Bureau Director, Office of Justice Services and member of Makah Tribe of Washington

Patrice Kunesh
Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Daron Carreiro
Acting Director of the Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ) at the Department of Justice

Introduction of Panel Two

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