American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian leaders have been named to the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, a national panel that will address derogatory place names. The group reports to the trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country. “Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage – not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who is the first Native person to lead the agency.
Conservative lawmakers in Colorado have rejected the idea of introducing city events with an acknowledge that Aurora, Colorado was established on former Native American lands, invoking God and gripes with the language of the statement. Council member Danielle Jurinsky said she wouldn’t support a land acknowledgement unless the group would “also acknowledge that this is actually God’s country.” “That’s the only way I’m going to in any way, shape or form be for this, “Jurinsky said. She also questioned staffers about the size of the city’s three-person Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
On August 1st the BIA Cheyenne River Agency Office began accepting sealed bids for 48 Farm Pastures encompassing over 11,000 acres, nearly 20 square miles of the most agriculturally valuable land on the reservation. Bidding closes at 10:00 AM next Monday, August 22nd, with the bid opening immediately following the close of bidding at the BIA Agency Office in Eagle Butte.