KIPI News, August 23, 2022 – Part 1

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom said he would return land to tribes but, has he? In 2020 Newsom made some inroads encouraging agencies to improve tribal access to traditional lands but successful land return cases are rare across the state, as opportunities remain out of reach for many tribes, particularly for those without federal recognition. Over 12,000 acres have been returned since Newsom announced the policy the pace has slowed to some 1500 acres.

As with so many events since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the Arizona Conference Native American Camp meeting in the U.S. has been on hiatus, but recently the Native population took the opportunity to come together and fellowship on the campus of Holbrook Indian School. One of the spiritual challenges of the work in the Native community is bridging the gap between Christianity, and Native Culture. Hermus Poor Thunder, who taught the Saba school lesson at Camp meeting shared his insight on the issue. “There is a point of disconnect between our culture and Christianity” he said, “I thought there has to be something in between” Poor thunder who is Lakota attended Holbrook Indian School and now works on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Protect the Sacred and NDN Collective partnered to host the ‘Skate to the polls voter registration’ event in Kayenta, AZ. Advocates say the widespread voter suppression is important to host community engagement events that empower Indigenous voters in disenfranchised communities, especially young people on tribal lands. Protect the Sacred founder, Ally Young (Dine) wanted to raise awareness around voter issues in her community. Young said, “When we’re represented, we’re able to advocate for policies that effect our community, that impact our own communities.”

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