Arizonans among those celebrating national memorial to Native veterans
WASHINGTON - A group of 51 Native American veterans from Arizona were in Washington for Veterans Day, part of a contingent of 1,500 Indigenous vets from across the country who were on hand for the formal dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
Justices grapple with legality of Indian Child Welfare Act in marathon hearing
WASHINGTON - Over the course of three hours Wednesday, the Supreme Court grappled with whether a law meant to keep Indigenous children with Native American families should be overturned as racist and unconstitutional, as critics charge.
Supreme Court asked to rule ‘gold standard’ of tribal adoption laws racist
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court will consider Wednesday whether the Indian Child Welfare Act is the "gold standard" of child welfare policy or a "outrageous and unconstitutional" law that has outlived its time.
Ride to the polls: Grassroots effort gets people out to vote on the Navajo Nation
KAYENTA – Protect the Sacred is a grassroots effort to find new and creative ways to engage with young Indigenous voters. Earlier this year, the group skateboarded to the polls for the primary election, and recently they gathered in Kayenta to ride horses to the polls ahead of Nov. 8.
Healing through culture: Increasing access to Native American practices to treat mental health
HOUCK – Traditional healing has always been a part of Indigenous culture, and it’s especially useful for treating mental health. But access often is limited. Arizona and other states are seeking authorization from the federal government to cover these services under Medicaid.
Fact-check: No, assistance to U.S. tribal nations isn’t foreign aid
Republican Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Nick Myers said financial assistance given to tribal nations would be foreign aid. Federally recognized tribal nations are sovereign “domestic dependent nations” within the United States and are not considered foreign governments. Federal support in tribal areas mainly comes from the Interior Department. None comes from the State Department.
Casino divide: Tribes split as California voters consider online sports betting
LOS ANGELES – A year after Arizona legalized sports betting, California may follow suit. Propositions 26 and 27 would legalize in-person and online sports betting, and expand in-person games, like roulette and craps. Tribes, however, are in a bind.
Tribal officials: Court ruling poses ‘real threat’ to sovereignty, safety
WASHINGTON - Indigenous leaders called on Congress Tuesday to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that expands states' ability to prosecute crimes on tribal land, a ruling they said threatens their sovereignty and their ability to protect their citizens.
Tribal leaders urge support for bills to protect cultural, sacred sites
WASHINGTON - Tribal leaders urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass a package of bills that would protect cultural and sacred sites by creating a new tribal cultural areas designation and require Native input on any decisions on those lands.
Tribal boarding schools much improved, but legacy of old schools remains
WASHINGTON - The abuses of tribal boarding schools are in the past, but the schools are not, entirely. Arizona, once home to 47 federal Indian boarding schools, has eight tribal boarding schools today. They aren't perfect, advocates say, but a far cry from past horrors.
Fight over Resolution Copper Mine drags on – and both sides expect more
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers, federal regulators and courts have been grappling with challenges to the proposed Resolution Copper Mine in Oak Flat for years, and while the two sides agree on little, most agree that the debate is likely to continue for years to come.
From heat deaths to worsening allergies, climate change harms health
PHOENIX – Concerns about the impact of the climate crisis on health are driving doctors, nurses, medical students and others to advocate for change. The American Medical Association recently declared climate change a public health crisis and said it would push for more policies meant to limit global warming.
