A plan to search for unmarked graves at a former Native American boarding school in Kansas is on hold. Kansas officials announced in October of last year that they planned to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey at the Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway to determine if any Indigenous children were buried there. However, Fairway officials announced last week the plans were on hold indefinitely because of objections from leaders of the Shawnee Tribe. Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe says the Kansas Historical Society and Fairview officials are not being honest about efforts to consult with the tribe and their future plans for the site.
A Push for greater Native American voting access could impact the South Dakota race for governor
A recent court ruling that found South Dakota violated federal voting registration laws has reignited the long-standing concern over Native American ballot access as the state braces for a 2022 gubernatorial election that could hinge on Indian Country precincts. In a state with nearly 78,000 Indigenous residents, comprising 8.8% of the population, advocates of greater Native inclusion have worked to enlist new voters in areas such as the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations that lean left-of-center politically.
