Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Oversight Hearing titled “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Successes and Opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service”
Date: September 17, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Dirksen
Room: 628

Witnesses
Mr. Kennis Bellmard  
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, DC

Mr. Benjamin Smith 
Acting Director, Indian Health Service
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC

The Honorable Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.  
Principal Chief
Cherokee Nation
Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Mr. Victor Joseph 
Executive Director
Tanana Tribal Council
Tanana, Alaska

Mr. Jay Spaan 
Executive Director
Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Committee Notice:
https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/oversight-hearing-entitled-indian-self-determination-and-education-assistance-act-successes-and-opportunities-at-the-department-of-the-interior-and-the-indian-health-service/


Opening Remarks

Q&A Part 1 [24:21]

Benjamin Smith / Indian Health Service

Kennis Bellmard / Department of the Interior

Victor Joseph / Tanana Tribal Council

Q&A Part 2 [23:07]

Chuck Hoskin Jr. / Cherokee Nation

Jay Spaan / Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium

Freedom Is Yours ⚡️🔥
A dark and powerful anthem blending K-pop, electro-pop, trap, and rock.
It’s about autonomy in your personal life and self-determination in democracy — your voice matters, and no one can take that away.

Glitchy hooks, rap-sung verses, and an explosive chorus 🎶
For everyone who refuses to be silenced. ✊✨

Lyrics, concept & creativity by me – music produced with AI (Suno).

TaniSa - Freedom Is Yours

The UNRWA Opinion: The ICJ, the future of the UN system and ... K-Pop Demon Hunters?

In this episode of Called to the Bar: International Law Over Drinks, host Dr Juliette McIntyre (University of South Australia) is joined by Dr Tamer Morris (University of Sydney) for a dive into the International Court of Justice’s recent advisory opinion on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory — better known as the UNRWA Opinion.

The conversation explores what the Court actually said about the legal consequences of Israel’s ongoing occupation and the corresponding duties of third states and international organizations. Juliette and Tamer unpack how the ICJ approached questions of sovereignty, occupation, and self-determination, and how this opinion builds upon—or departs from—the Court’s earlier 2004 Wall Advisory Opinion.

Along the way, they discuss:

- The Court’s reaffirmation of the illegality of prolonged occupation and annexation;

- The obligations of non-recognition and non-assistance for third states;

- The implications for UN agencies such as UNRWA;

- The future of international law, regionalism and the UN system; and

- K-Pop Demon Hunters.

As always, these are informal conversations over drinks, reflecting the personal views of the participants and not those of their institutions.

Recommendations:

Marco Longobardo, The Use of Armed Force in Occupied Territory, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/use-of-armed-force-in-occupied-territory/E3BFD67926CE0BF856E08277D6218C7C

Strong Girl Bong-soon (K-drama) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6263222/
Goblin (or Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5994364/
When Life Gives You Tangerines (extreme sad feelings warning) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26471411/

Music: Sam Barsh, Oils of Au Lait


57. The UNRWA Opinion: The ICJ, the future of the UN system and ... K-Pop Demon Hunters?

A podcast of informal conversation about topical issues in international law, life in academia and whatever else is on our mind. Hosted by Douglas Guilfoyle, Juliette McIntyre, Tamsin Paige, Imogen Saunders, and Nitna Tzouvala. 

Music: Sam Barsh, Oils of Au Lait

My songs are born from my own thoughts, feelings, and visions. 
Every lyric, every idea, every concept starts with me. 
AI – in this case Suno – is simply the studio I use to give these inner worlds a voice and sound.

News, information and entertainment for Indian Country. Brought to you by Indianz.Com, a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Phone: 202 630 8439

New tracks tagged #self-determination