Last night, a bill was reintroduced in the 119th Congress to appoint a commission to investigate the Indian Boarding School era and the role of the federal government. Learn more.
Senators Ask ICE about Detentions of Tribal Citizens
Last month, we mentioned unconfirmed reports that Native Americans are being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both on and off reservations. Since then, it has become clear that tribal citizens have in fact been targeted, harassed, and detained by ICE. Thirteen senators sent a letter on Feb 18 to Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, asking what steps her department is taking to ensure that ICE agents recognize tribal identification as proof of U.S. citizenship.
FCNL Attends National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
Bridget Moix, FCNL general secretary and I (Rachel) attended the winter meeting of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)’ executive council in Washington, DC, Feb. 10-13. This is an annual opportunity for Native leaders to meet, develop inter-tribal connections, and lobby their members of Congress.
We attended the conference to listen to their concerns and goals for the next year. We heard these three areas as top priorities:
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Preserving Native nations’ access to grants, programs, and funding. Tribal leaders reported that many grants which offer services to their members have been interrupted, held up, or cancelled due to the federal funding freeze. Unilaterally pausing, cancelling, or holding these grants is a brazen violation of the U.S.’s treaty and trust responsibility to tribal nations.
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Upholding tribal sovereignty. In his State of Indian Nations address, NCAI President Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) emphasized the importance of the government-to-government relationship that Native nations hold with the U.S. He stressed the importance educating the new administration and new members of Congress about the unique relationships between the U.S. government and tribal nations.
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Listening to youth voices. NCAI’s Youth Commission co-presidents, Madison Brown (Seneca Nation) and Angelina Serna (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Oneida Nation of Wisconsin) called for more opportunities for young people in Indian Country. They emphasized the role of youth in education, climate advocacy, and social justice. Their address was a highlight of the conference! You can hear their full remarks here.
Senate Committee Hears Priorities for 119th Congress
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on Native communities’ priorities for the next two years. Chair Lisa Murkowski (AK) emphasized the bipartisan nature of the committee’s work. She expressed the committee’s concerns over the administration’s executive actions to freeze federal grants and interrupt services in tribal communities. During the hearing, tribal leaders stressed the need for investments in Indian Country, especially for criminal justice concerns and healthcare.
McMahon Condemns Boarding School Era
In a document obtained by the Huffington Post, Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, condemned the actions of the federal government during the Indian Boarding School Era, calling it “a key example of why local communities should direct education systems, not Washington bureaucrats.”
McMahon testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on February 13.
While the Bureau of Indian Education of the Department of the Interior oversees some education for Native students, the vast majority of Native children attend traditional public schools which rely on Department of Education funding and are locally run. As Secretary, McMahon will oversee millions of dollars of grants that serve Native children.
Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act Reintroduced
On February 4, the BADGES Act was reintroduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), John Hoeven (ND), Ruben Gallego (AZ), and Mike Rounds (SD). This bipartisan bill would give tribes access to needed resources to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis and the authority to make decisions to keep their communities safe.
The bill was first introduced in the 118th Congress and passed the Senate unanimously but did not pass the House.
Bureau of Indian Education Staff, Teachers Laid Off
An executive order requiring agencies to fire all newly hired, transferred, or promoted employees has led to layoffs at Haskell Indian Nations University and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). Both colleges, operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), have had at least 40 employees laid off. At SIPI, layoffs have jeopardized current class offerings at the school. The broader BIE has also lost close to a third of its administrative staff at a time when outcomes for BIE students have been under continued scrutiny.
