Tulalip News

Five to be inducted into Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame

“Established in 1987, the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame honors Chickasaws who have made significant contributions to Chickasaw people or the Native American community.”

Date: April 12, 2013

Dana Lance dana.lance@chickasaw.net

From the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame

NORMAN, Okla. – A protector of tribal archives, a generous philanthropist, a decorated military hero, an early tribal official and a progressive Chickasaw rancher and politician comprise the 2013 class of the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame ceremonies will take place at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 7 at Riverwind Showplace Theater in Norman.

Established in 1987, the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame honors Chickasaws who have made significant contributions to Chickasaw people or the Native American community.

The 2013 Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductees are Betty Ruth Kemp, of Norman; Colbert Latimer “Bud” Baker, of Marco Island, Fla.; Gene “Nashoba” Thompson, of Austin, Texas; Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr.; and Benson Pikey.

Mr. Thompson and Mr. Pikey will be inducted posthumously.

Governor Bill Anoatubby will participate in the 2013 induction ceremonies.

“It is our privilege to honor these individuals who have made significant contributions to the Chickasaw Nation and the larger community,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “Their commitment to protecting tribal history, promoting education, and serving others epitomizes the spirit and dedication of the Chickasaw people.”

Betty Ruth Kemp

Betty Ruth Kemp has dedicated her life and career to protecting and preserving ancient archives and serving as a modern day Chickasaw conduit between the Southeastern homelands and Oklahoma.

Miss Kemp was born May 5, 1930 near Tishomingo, Okla., to Raymond Herrell Kemp and Mamie Melvina Hughes. Her paternal grandparents were Joel Carr Kemp and Elizabeth Minerva Perry, and her maternal grandparents were Austin Brittie Hughes and Mamie Cravatt. Her great-grandmother was Mariah Colbert.

Miss Kemp began her career in 1952 as an extra loan librarian with the University of Texas Library. She later worked as the librarian at Dallas Public Library and lead manager for two new branches from 1956 to 1964. After receiving her master’s degree, she was appointed Director of Cherokee Regional Library, a three-county regional library with headquarters in Lafayette, Walker County, Georgia.

She led a successful campaign for passage of a bond issue to construct a new 18,000 square- foot headquarters library.

Motivated by a drive to appreciate her Chickasaw heritage and encouraged by library users and local history buffs, Miss Kemp organized the Walker County Historical and Genealogical Society during this time.

In 1974, she was appointed director of the Lee-Itawamba Library System, in Tupelo, Mississippi. During her 18-year tenure as director, the library budget increased from $50,000 to $800,000 and the staff of eight increased to 25.

The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society and the Friends of Lee County were both organized under her direction. She helped raise funds for the renovation of the Lee Country Library when a Chickasaw collection was established for the Helen Foster Local History Room. She retired from the directorship in March 1992.

During the 1970s Miss Kemp spoke often on Chickasaw history and Native American genealogical research to organizations in the Tupelo area. Her research and her efforts to promote the Chickasaw origins in northeast Mississippi culminated in an official invitation from Pontotoc County, Mississippi to then-Chickasaw Nation Governor Overton James to celebrate with anniversary of the singing of The Treaty of Pontotoc. She also co-wrote a grant to fund archaeology research into Chickasaw habitation in the region.

Miss Kemp has served on various boards and has been involved with many organizations including: Purcell Community Council, Secretary of Oklahoma City Senior Group, President of the American Indian Cultural Society – 2001, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women – John J. Hart Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy – Hugh Quinn Chapter, Daughters of the American Colonists, and Dames of the Court of Honor.

She has held many positions in the American Library Association and remains a member today. She is a member of United Methodist Church.

Miss Kemp graduated from Norman (OK) High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Library Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1952, and a master’s degree from Florida State University in 1965.

Miss Kemp has lived in Norman, Okla., since 1993 and participates in many Chickasaw activities and has taught many cultural craft classes.

Gene “Nashoba” Thompson

Retired U.S. Army Col. Gene “Nashoba” Thompson has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the United States and the Chickasaw Nation.

Col. Thompson was born in 1937 in Oklahoma City to Thomas and Thelma Thompson. He is the grandson of the late Thomas Benjamin Thomson, Sr., also a 2013 Hall of Fame inductee. His aunt is the late Te Ata Thompson Fisher, a 1990 Hall of Fame inductee.

Col. Thompson joined the Oklahoma National Guard at the age of 16 and retired in 1983. He was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, presented to senior officers who perform “superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility.”

While in service, Col. Thompson obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University.

He was one of 13 students to be chosen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to attend its entomology program. With help from the USDA, he later became a faculty member through the University of Nebraska Entomology Program.

A world leader in the field of entomology, Col. Thompson served as executive director of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board. This board recommends policy, procedure and offers guidance on all matters related to pest management. He developed the first program used by the Department of Defense to protect its worldwide food and clothing stockpiles.

Following his Army retirement, Mr. Thompson conducted field studies for the Texas Department of Health.

Col. Thompson is active in the Austin, Texas area as a Chickasaw Nation ambassador and an advocate for Native American culture and history. He speaks at civic organizations, seminaries and schools throughout Texas and Oklahoma about Chickasaw beliefs and practices.

He was selected to participate in the “I Am Very Proud To Be Chickasaw” commissioned painting project completed by Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen.

The subsequent artwork and biographical sketch of his life were featured in the book “Proud to Be Chickasaw,” published in 2010.

Col. Thompson is an active member of the Chickasaw Community Council of Central Texas and resides in Austin with his wife, Vivian.

Colbert Latimer “Bud” Baker, Jr.

Born in 1924 to Colbert Latimer Baker and Martha Lois Brunt, Colbert Latimer “Bud” Baker, Jr. has distinguished himself in his profession, in military service and through outstanding contributions to the Chickasaw Nation.

A University of Oklahoma graduate, Mr. Baker exemplifies the Chickasaw entrepreneurship spirit. Among other businesses, Mr. Baker founded Chickasaw Distributors, Inc., in 1979. Officially recognized as an American Indian company, the entity specializes in tubular goods and drill pipe distributed exclusively to Shell Oil’s Gulf region. Today, the company generates more than $200 million in annual sales and continues to be family operated.

Bringing honor to the Chickasaw people, Mr. Baker served as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II and the Korean War. He served aboard the USS Los Angeles and USS Toledo. He rose to the rank of ensign and was decorated for his wartime service.

Through generous donations to the Chickasaw Foundation, Mr. Baker has helped many Chickasaw students fulfill their educational dreams and better their lives. In 2000, the Colbert “Bud” Baker Scholarship was established through the Chickasaw Foundation. Mr. Baker was honored for his philanthropy in 2003 and 2004 when he received the “Outstanding Philanthropist” award presented by the Chickasaw Nation. He is a true Chickasaw in spirit and soul.

Mr. Baker is also involved in the community. He has and continues to offer leadership and guidance to civic and business organizations. He has served as president of a number of organizations including: Dallas North Texas Rotary Club, University of Oklahoma Alumni Club, and the Car and Truck Leasing Association of Texas. He has served as executive secretary of the National Truck Leasing System Dallas Executive Association, the Sales and Marketing Executives of Dallas and Executive International. He currently is a member of numerous clubs, boards and associations in the fields of petroleum, real estate and civic duty.

Mr. Baker lives in Marco Island, Florida where he enjoys tennis, swimming, calisthenics, music and reading.

Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr.

1865-1939

The last elected treasurer of the Chickasaw Nation, Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr., is best known for working with former Chickasaw Nation Governor Douglas H. Johnston to protect the Chickasaw people during the years immediately before and after the Chickasaw Nation was “terminated.”

An original enrollee, Mr. Thompson spent endless hours helping fellow tribal citizens register with the Dawes Commission.

Born May 20, 1865 in Emet, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, Mr. Thompson was born to Thomas Jefferson Thompson and Millenium “Lena” Bynum.

As a child he was known as Loksi Iskunosi, or “Little Terrapin.” After a brief stay with his maternal grandmother at the age of 10, he attended Burney Institute in present day Lebanon, Okla. As a teenager, he left Burney Institute to live with his aunt Nellie Bynum Johnston and her husband and future Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Douglas H. Johnston.

Mr. Thompson began his service with the Chickasaw Nation in 1888. As a clerk of the Chickasaw Supreme Court, he worked closely with his uncle, Judge Overton “Sobe” Love, a fellow Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductee.

His personal and professional career put him in contact with many fellow inductees.

During the years following his official service to the Chickasaw Nation, Mr. Thompson continued a close relationship with Governor Johnston. They engaged in several business partnerships, including successful general stores.

Mr. Thompson’s greatest legacy to the Chickasaw people has been his descendants. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to be proud of their Chickasaw heritage and to never forget the traditions of the tribe. He emphasized to them the importance of giving back to the tribe and always working for the betterment of the Chickasaw people. His heirs include Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductees Te Ata Fisher, daughter; Helen Cole, granddaughter; Eugene Thompson, grandson; and U.S. Congressmen Tom Cole, great-grandson.

Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr. died April 23, 1939 in Oklahoma City, at age 74.

Benson Pikey

1837-1895

Benson Pikey was known as a man of integrity and embodied what it means to be Chickasaw.

Born in Mississippi about 1837, Mr. Pikey came to Indian Territory during the time of Chickasaw Removal.

Active in the Chickasaw House of Representatives, Mr. Pikey was elected as a representative prior to the War Between the States and honorably severed as Speaker of the House.

He continued public service as a representative until circa 1890.

Mr. Pikey ran a successful ranch that covered more than 1,000 acres, the largest in the Silver City area on the south side of the South Canadian River. He raised cattle, hogs and horses. He trained horses and traded with the U.S. Cavalry.

A prominent Chickasaw landowner, Mr. Pikey was granted permission by the Chickasaw Nation to help build a 50-mile fence along the South Canadian River. The fence helped protect Chickasaw lands during a time of livestock thefts and other criminal activities throughout the lands bordering the river.

During the War Between the States, Mr. Pikey served the Confederacy as Captain of Company G, Shecoe’s Chickasaw Battalion Mounted Volunteers.

After the War he established Pikey’s Crossing, one of several important cattle crossings for the Chisholm Trail. With the land run and the creation of Oklahoma City, Pikey’s Crossing became the main crossing point on the South Canadian River between Chickasha and Oklahoma City until 1932 when highway bridges made the ferry obsolete.

Benson Pikey died July 1895 at his home on the South Canadian about 18 miles east of Minco.

Mr. Pikey’s obituary in the Minco Minstrel newspaper said, “He served his people well throughout his long and useful life. He was an honest man, straight as a line in his dealing with all men and though a man of strong convictions, he kept them for his own conduct and spoke gently of the failings of others.”

Mr. Pikey is buried at Clopton Cemetery, Newcastle, Oklahoma.

‘Save the Date’ for Chickasaw Hall of Fame May 7

Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductees will make a red carpet entrance at 6 p.m., May 7. The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m.

There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required for the event, which is expected to accommodate approximately 525 guests.

Reservations will be accepted beginning April 13. To make reservations contact Lori Rico at (580) 332-1165 or email Lori.Rico@chickasaw.net.

Induction to the Chickasaw Hall of Fame is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Chickasaw by the Chickasaw Nation. For more information about the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, visit www.chickasaw.net/hof.

Enrollment dispute has Nooksack tribe in turmoil

April 11, 2013

By JOHN STARK — THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

DEMING – Questions of tribal identity are pitting friends and relatives against one another as the 2,000-strong Nooksack Indian Tribe waits for the tribal court to rule on a move to disenroll 306 members.

Tribal Chief Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis has scheduled a May 1 hearing on legal challenges to the disenrollment filed on behalf of the affected people.

Meanwhile, Nooksacks who support the disenrollment are circulating recall petitions against two tribal council members, Michelle Roberts and Rudy St. Germain, who are among those facing disenrollment.

One of those affected, Norma Aldredge, said she faces loss of her home in a tribal housing project, where the $150 monthly rent enables her to survive on a $500 monthly Social Security check.

Not the least of her distress comes from the new animosity that divides her and her family from the rest of the community.

“I’m afraid to even talk to anybody because I don’t know who my friends are and who my enemies are,” Aldredge said. “Why do they hate us so much? Why don’t they just leave us alone?”

Nooksacks who support the disenrollment say it is not a matter of hate. They say it’s simply a matter of fixing an old mistake that allowed unqualified people to reap the benefits of tribal membership, including a share in the tribe’s limited resources.

Nooksack tribe member Abby Yates has a marketing business that is doing well right now, but a few years ago she was not doing as well and hoped to get into subsidized tribal housing. There was no room. As she sees it, some of the 306 improperly enrolled people are getting help with housing while real Nooksacks go without.

Yates and another tribal member, Leandra Smith, said elders in their families have never considered members of the Rabang, Rapada and Narte-Gladstone families to have authentic Nooksack ancestry. As they see it, these families are descended from members of the Skway tribe in British Columbia, but not from anyone they consider a true Nooksack.

Tribal council members moved to challenge the families’ membership in 1996. But the families packed the council chambers in a show of strength that some council members found intimidating, aqccording to Yates and Smith. The matter was dropped.

Yates commends Kelly and his allies on the council for taking up the disenrollment issue again.

“Sometimes, doing what’s right is very difficult,” she said. “We have a strong leadership on our council who are willing to do the difficult tasks. … The money that is there should go to the descendants who are truly Nooksacks. Our ancestors fought for that.

“Smith said there is nothing personal in the dispute, and said she has three nephews and several friends among those who may be disenrolled.

The disputed right to Nooksack membership hinges on a woman named Annie George, who died in 1949. The Nooksacks facing disenrollment are descended from her. They insist that Annie George was Nooksack and that her descendants qualify for membership under a provision of the tribal constitution opening enrollment to anyone with one-fourth Native American blood “who can prove Nooksack ancestry to any degree.”

But on Feb. 12, 2013, Chairman Kelly and five of the other seven members of the tribal council approved a resolution that approved disenrollment of Annie George’s descendants, based on a tribal ordinance that limits membership to descendants of those whose names appear on a 1942 tribal census, or those who can prove they are descendants of someone who got an allotment of tribal land in the early days. Annie George does not meet those tests, according to the disenrollment resolution.

On March 1, the council followed up with a vote to start the process of amending the constitution to delete the provision that opens membership to those with “any degree” of Nooksack ancestry. The March 1 council resolution describes that provision as “so ambiguous that it cannot be fairly applied and has potential for abuse.”

Those threatened with disenrollment see the constitutional amendment as evidence that Kelly and his allies will stop at nothing to get them out of the tribe.

In a sworn statement submitted to tribal court, council member Rudy St. Germain also complains that Kelly ordered him and the other council member facing disenrollment, Michelle Roberts, out of the closed council sessions where the issue was discussed. St. Germain contends that was improper because he and Roberts were, and remain, members of both the tribe and the council until the matter gets legal review.

In an email, Chairman Kelly said he could not comment while the matter faces legal review.

Reach John Stark at 360-715-2274 or john.stark@bellinghamherald.com. Read his Politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or get updates on Twitter at @bhampolitics. Reach JOHN STARK at john.stark@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2274.

Johnny Depp thrilled by Native American honor

Updated: 4/11 3:20 pm | Published: 4/11 3:08 pm

Actor Johnny Depp was thrilled to become an honorary member of the Comanche tribe while he filmed The Lone Ranger in New Mexico last year, insisting the ‘adoption’ was “possibly the greatest memento”.

The movie star, who plays Native American hero Tonto in the new film, was thrilled when tribe elders invited him to become a member of their extended family and he jumped at the chance to be a part of a sacred ceremony at the home of activist LaDonna Harris in Albuquerque.

He says, “When the request came in, I couldn’t believe it. It was an honor beyond all honors… The name they chose for me, Mah-Woo-Meh, means shapeshifter, which I suppose is quite apt, and I take great pride in that choice.”

Depp tells EntertainmentWeekly magazine that the honor helped convince him that he’s chosen wisely when it came to creating Tonto for the film.

The actor explains, “Even with what little knowledge I have of the degree of indigenous blood within me, our Native American brothers and sisters gave me the passion and drive to build my character with great care.”

The Lone Ranger hits cinema screens this summer.

Cantwell Congratulates Quinault Leader for Being Named ‘Champion of Change’ by White House

Ed Johnstone of Taholah honored for leadership to address climate change

Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, April 11, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) congratulated Washington state’s Ed Johnstone for being named a “Champion of Change” today by the White House. The White House honored Johnstone and 11 other local leaders at a ceremony today for their efforts to prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.

Johnstone, a member of the Quinault Indian Nation who lives in Taholah, earned this recognition because of his leadership in educating the public about climate change’s impacts and readying Indian Country to deal with its consequences.

“This award is well-deserved recognition of Ed’s national leadership in addressing the impact of climate change on Indian Country,” said Cantwell, the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “From the first treaties with Indian Nations, the federal government has acknowledged that Native people are the stewards of our land. Ed has continued this proud tradition, bringing together hundreds of coastal Tribal leaders and climate change experts for the inaugural First Stewards climate change symposium last year in Washington, D.C.

“I was honored to speak at the symposium and have been proud to work with Ed over the years on fisheries and climate issues in the Northwest. I congratulate Ed on this significant honor and look forward to working with him in the future on these critical issues for our coastal Tribes and all of Washington State.”

The Champions of Change program is part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative, which spotlights the extraordinary work that Americans do every day to improve their communities. Each week, the White House names new Champions of Change and invites them to the White House to share their ideas for bettering communities around the country.

Miami Tribe funds school resource officer

“The Miami Tribe is implementing this new officer position in memory of the loss of the 20 children and six adult teachers and staff in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.”

Melinda Stotts / Miami News-Record The Miami Tribe is funding $50,000 for the salary for a school resource officer for Miami Public Schools to promote school safety and in remembrance of Sandy Hook Elementary students and teachers. Attending the presentation were Miami tribal members, Business Committee and Economic Development members, Miami school officials, and center (from left) Miami Police Chief George Haralson, Miami Superintendent Loretta Robinson, and Chief of the Miami Tribe Tom Gamble. — Melinda Stotts / Miami News-Record
The Miami Tribe is funding $50,000 for the salary for a school resource officer for Miami Public Schools to promote school safety and in remembrance of Sandy Hook Elementary students and teachers. Attending the presentation were Miami tribal members, Business Committee and Economic Development members, Miami school officials, and center (from left) Miami Police Chief George Haralson, Miami Superintendent Loretta Robinson, and Chief of the Miami Tribe Tom Gamble.

Posted: 9:58 pm, Wed Apr 10, 2013 in MiamiOk.com

Melinda Stotts melinda.stotts@miaminewsrecord.com

The nation mourned and then rallied to action after the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School took the lives of 26 students and teachers. Reacting locally, schools, tribes, and the community took a closer look at what could be done to improve the safety of area students. In response the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is funding $50,000 of a School Resource Officer’s (SRO) salary to serve Miami schools.

The position is for a full-time officer who will help patrol the nine public schools in Miami on a daily basis,with emphasis at the Will Rogers Middle School, to allow for a visual deterrent against violence, and bullying, added security and to provide another trusted individual for the students to confide in or look to for security while on campus.

The Miami Tribe is implementing this new officer position in memory of the loss of the 20 children and six adult teachers and staff in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy which shocked and saddened the nation on Dec.14, 2012.

“Our youth are our future,” Chief Tom Gamble of the Miami Tribe said, “It is our responsibility as good community partners, and as responsible individuals, to ensure that our children are protected and feel safe while they are at school.”

Chief Gamble said the Miami Tribe’s Business Committee members first looked at other ways to help, such as locks, cameras, and bullet proof glass, which are useful safety tools, but after discussing the issue decided a presence on campus was much more useful and needed.

Miami’s Police Chief George Haralson said the job position will be posted and he expects from three to five applicants from his department. He said hiring should take place by a review board by July in time for the new officer to be in place by the next school year. The School Resource Officer will work for and under the direction and jurisdiction of the Miami Police Department through memorandums of understanding with the Miami Public School system.

The new School Resource Officer will be the second in Miami, joining SRO Joey Williams who works mainly at Miami High School.

“We’re very excited about it, “Miami Schools Superintendent Loretta Robinson said, “Officer Joey does a great job, but he’s one person. There are 2,551 students in Miami. This gives an opportunity to have the officer presence at the Middle School as well as some support at the elementary schools. We appreciate not only the Tribe, they were the ones that initiated this, but the police department that did come though with additional funds for those other three months when we’re not in school.”

Robinson stressed that this opportunity is an example of community cooperation made possible only through such a joint effort.

“The revenues came through the Tribe’s economic development funds, so one good thing with having our own money, we get to do with it what we want. It’s rewarding to help,” Chief Gamble said.

Education is a high priority for the Miami Tribe who helps fund education for many of its tribal members through scholarships.

“Our children attend school to receive an education as a foot hold towards a prosperous and successful future. They shouldn’t have to worry about anything else but studying while they are in school,” Chief Gamble said.

The Miami Tribal officials said they are proud to commit to this important program to protect all Miami youth, and hope that, following this one year commitment, other resources within the community will continue to fund this important position.

“It is an honor for the Miami Tribe to serve the community in this way,” Chief Gamble said, “We plan to present Sandy Hook Elementary with a plaque commemorating the institution of this important position here in Miami so they will remember that we share in their loss and take responsibility to try to ensure against violence against our children.”

Q&A With Cherokee Counsel for Baby Veronica Case

The Supreme Court decision will impact every tribe in the country

Cherokee Nation Assistant Attorney General Chrissi Nimmo speaks at the April 8 press conference concerning the case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa. (NICWA)

Brian Daffron

Published April 11, 2013 in ICTMN

After the April 8 press conference at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa in which the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) and the Cherokee Nation shared the latest developments in the case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, Indian Country Today Media Network spoke with Chrissi Nimmo, the counsel of record for the Cherokee Nation.

In the “Baby Veronica Case” that has generated significant media interest in the past year, Cherokee Nation tribal member Dusten Brown is fighting to retain custody of his daughter. This particular case has consisted of a vast coalition of attorneys and support from tribes and tribal organizations, including the Native American Rights Fund, the National Congress of American Indians and NICWA. With future implications of the Indian Child Welfare Act on the line, the case will be heard in the United States Supreme Court on April 16, with an actual decision taking place by June of this year.

What has been your involvement?

I represented Cherokee Nation in South Carolina in family court in September 2011 when it went to trial the first time. It was a four-day trial in Charleston [South Carolina]. I then represented Cherokee Nation and presented oral argument at the South Carolina Supreme Court when it was appealed there. I am also counsel of record for the United States Supreme Court.

Do you consider the attention to the Indian Child Welfare Act positive or negative right now?

I think it’s both. This case has grown a lot of attention to the Indian Child Welfare Act. A lot of people who don’t understand it, don’t like it. I also think it’s good in that more people know about it. Once people really understand why the law was passed and what it’s intended to do and what it is doing, it sometimes changes from bad attention to good intention.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Dusten Brown and his family, what will this mean for the Indian Child Welfare Act?

There are splits in the state court system. One way or the other, the Supreme Court will answer those questions. If they affirm the lower court decision, it’s a strong statement to state courts across the country that they need to follow the Indian Child Welfare Act to a T.

What would happen if they rule against the Indian Child Welfare Act in the Supreme Court?

It would be devastating for Indian children, but it would be devastating for tribes as well. There are bigger Indian law issues wrapped up in this case. A detrimental decision could call into question several other federal laws that deal with tribes as tribal organizations but also as Natives as individuals.

What has the preparation been like for this case?

For the last four months, I’ve worked on nothing but this case. I was fortunate to have other co-workers that could take over my other duties.

What are you anticipating from the adoptive couple side of the case?

We know what their legal arguments are, because the briefs are already all done. That’s where the oral argument is an hour total. In this case, four different attorneys are speaking. Most of that time is spent with the Justices asking questions. I don’t think there’s going to be anything that’s a surprise.

How will this case change the Indian Child Welfare Act?

I think it’s one of two outcomes. If what we believe happens and what we think should legally happen, it strengthens the enforcement of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The other situation is a loss for a father of the Cherokee Nation. It would undo [over] 35 years of work on the Indian Child Welfare Act. Any adverse decision would impact every tribe in the country. There’s no doubt.

First Indian Affairs hearing of 113th Congress Focuses on Need to Reauthorize Tribal Housing Bill

Chairwoman Cantwell Calls for Reauthorization of NAHASDA, Which Expires in September

Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

WASHINGTON D.C. – On Wednesday, Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) held a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing to address housing and infrastructure needs in Tribal communities and to discuss the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). Wednesday’s hearing – entitled “Identifying Barriers to Indian Housing Development and Finding Solutions” – marked the first oversight hearing by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during the 113^th Congress.

During the hearing, Cantwell called for reauthorization of NAHASDA, the critical Tribal housing bill that is scheduled to expire in September 2013. NAHASDA was last reauthorized in 2008 for five years.

“Since the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act was implemented in 1998, 31,000 Indian families now live in newly constructed housing units, and another 64,500 Indian families have been able to rehabilitate their homes through the Indian Housing Block Grant program,” Cantwell said. “This hearing begins the reauthorization process, as the Committee works to address housing challenges to ensure that all Tribal members have access to safe and affordable housing and that housing programs are meeting the needs of tribal members, now and into the future.”

The Committee heard testimony from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National American Indian Housing Council, and three Tribal housing Directors.

Witnesses at the hearing echoed the need to streamline housing programs under the federal structure, during NAHASDA reauthorization. They described the challenges posed by the fact that multiple agencies are often involved in the development of a single housing unit in Indian Country. Multi-agency requirements can be redundant, leading to delays in housing delivery to Indian communities. In addition, cumbersome regulations do not allow for technological advancements in energy-efficient housing and other innovative approaches.

The Committee also heard testimony from Annette Bryan, Executive Director of the Puyallup Nation Housing Authority in Washington state. “NAHASDA represents great progress toward the goal of self-determination and has provided tribes and tribal housing authorities with important tools for meeting the vast housing needs in Indian Country,” Bryan said. “Tribes need the flexibility to identify and target our local needs, including advancement in green housing, and we look forward to working with the Committee on the best ways to address these issues.”

In addition to Ms. Bryan, the Committee heard from Russell Sossamon, Executive Director of the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority in Oklahoma: “The reauthorization should maintain the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the federal government,” Sossamon said. The timely reauthorization of NAHASDA should be one of Congress’ top priorities before the end of this fiscal year.”

In 1996, Congress first passed NAHASDA to better meet the needs of Tribal governments and to acknowledge that Tribes, through self-determination, are best suited to determine and meet the needs of their members. NAHASDA replaced funding under the 1937 Housing Act with Indian Housing Block Grants and provided tribes with the choice of administering the block grant themselves or through their existing Indian Housing Authorities or their tribally-designated housing entities. In 2002, NAHASDA was reauthorized for five years, and was again reauthorized in 2008 for a five-year period which expires in September 2013.

President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Indian Affairs Budget Focuses on Strengthening and Supporting Tribal Nations

Request supports Indian Affairs’ mission to serve federally recognized tribes and individual Indian trust beneficiaries

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget request for Indian Affairs, which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), is $2.6 billion – a $31.3 million increase above the FY 2012 enacted level. The proposed budget maintains the President’s commitment to meeting the government’s responsibilities to the 566 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, while exercising fiscal responsibility and improving government operations and efficiency.

“The President’s budget request for Indian Affairs reflects his firm commitment to keeping our focus on strengthening and supporting tribal nations, and protecting Indian Country,” said Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn. “While realizing the benefits from improvements to Indian Affairs program management, the request supports our mission to federally recognized tribes, particularly in the areas of trust lands and natural resource protection. The request also promotes economic development, improves education, and strengthens law enforcement and justice administration.”

Strengthening Tribal Nations Initiative

The Strengthening Tribal Nations Initiative is a comprehensive, multi-year effort to advance the President’s commitments to American Indians and Alaska Natives to improve conditions throughout Indian Country and foster economic opportunities on Indian reservations.

The FY 2014 budget request includes $120 million in increases for this initiative to support sustainable stewardship and development of natural resources in Indian Country, public safety programs that apply lessons learned from successful law enforcement pilot programs, operations at new and expanded detention facilities, contract support costs to facilitate tribal self- governance, and new and expanded payments for water rights settlements. Additionally, it

provides increased funding for post-secondary education and an elementary and secondary school pilot program based on the U.S. Department of Education’s turnaround schools model and concepts.

Advancing Nation-to-Nation Relationships

The FY 2014 budget request for Contract Support Costs is $231 million – a $9.8 million increase over the FY 2012 enacted level. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, as amended, allows federally recognized tribes to operate federally funded programs themselves under contract with the United States – an expression of the federal government’s policy to support tribal self-determination and self-governance. Tribes rely on contract support costs funds to pay the costs of administering and managing contracted programs. It is a top priority for many tribes.

In light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Salazar v. Ramah Navajo Chapter, the FY 2014 budget request includes the Administration’s proposed interim solution to budgeting contract support costs. The Administration proposes Congress appropriate contract support costs on a contract by contract basis and will provide Congress with a contract funding table for incorporation into the Department’s FY 2014 appropriations legislation. Through tribal consultation, this interim step will lead to a long-term solution that will result in a simpler and more streamlined contract support costs process.

Protecting Indian Country

The FY 2014 budget request for BIA Public Safety and Justice programs is $363.4 million with targeted increases over the 2012 enacted level of $5.5 million for Law Enforcement Operations, $13.4 million for Detention Center Operations and $1.0 million for Tribal Courts.

The request also includes a $3.0 million programmatic increase in BIA Human Services to address domestic violence in tribal communities. A partnership between BIA Human Services and Law Enforcement will address the needs at tribal locations with high levels of domestic violence. The initiative will improve teamwork between law enforcement and social services to more rapidly address instances of domestic violence, and expand services that help stem domestic violence in Indian Country and care for its victims.

The FY 2014 budget request for Law Enforcement Operations is $199.7 million, a $5.5 million programmatic increase over the FY 2012 enacted level. The increased funding for Criminal Investigations and Police Services will enable the BIA to hire additional bureau and tribal law enforcement personnel. The request includes $96.9 million for Detention Center Operations, a program increase of $13.4 million over the FY 2012 enacted level. The additional funding for staffing, training and equipment will strengthen BIA and tribal capacity to operate existing and newly constructed detention facilities.

The request also includes $24.4 million for Tribal Courts, an increase of $1.0 million above the 2012 enacted level. The funding will be used for judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court

clerks, probation officers, juvenile officers, and support staff, as well as for training and related operations and administrative costs for tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses.

The FY 2014 budget request also supports the BIA’s successful pilot program, launched in 2010, that carries out the President’s Priority Goal of reducing violent crimes by at least five percent within 24 months on four initial reservations. The targeted, intense community safety program successfully reduced violent crime by an average of 35 percent across the four reservations. In 2012, the program was extended to two additional reservations. After a year, the two new sites have experienced an increase in reported crime – a trend similar to that seen at the initial four sites. The BIA will continue to support the efforts of all six programs in 2014 with funding, technical assistance, monitoring and feedback.

Improving Trust Land Management

Taking land into trust is one of the most important functions the Department undertakes on behalf of federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, whose homelands are essential to their peoples’ health, safety and economic well-being. The BIA’s trust programs assist tribes and individual Indian landowners in the management, development and protection of trust lands and natural resource assets totaling about 55 million surface acres and 57 million acres of subsurface mineral estates.

In 2012 and 2013, the Department undertook the most substantial overhaul of the federal fee-to- trust process in over half a century. In 2012, Interior placed 37,971 acres of land into trust on behalf of tribes and individual Indians and approved 299 fee-to-trust applications. Over the past four years, Indian Affairs has processed more than 1,000 separate applications and acquired over 196,600 acres of land in trust.

The FY 2014 budget request for the Trust – Natural Resources Management program, which assists tribes in managing, developing and protecting their trust lands and natural resources, is $189.2 million, a programmatic increase of $34.4 million over the FY 2012 enacted level. The increases support sustainable stewardship and development of natural resources and will support resource management and decision making in the areas of energy and minerals, climate, oceans, water, rights protection, and endangered and invasive species.

The FY 2014 budget request for Trust – Real Estate Services is $128.9 million, a programmatic increase of $7.7 million increase over the FY 2012 enacted level. This program carries out the BIA’s trust services, probate, and land titles and records functions, as well incorporates the Department’s trust reform improvement efforts. The request proposes a $5.5 million increase to fund authorized activities related to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement at $7.0 million and provides $1.5 million for litigation support for Indian natural resource trust assets management.

Advancing Indian Education

The FY 2014 budget request for the Bureau of Indian Education of $802.8 million, a program increase of $6.7 million above the FY 2012 enacted level, advances the Department’s continuing

commitment to the education of American Indians and Alaska Natives from the federally recognized tribes. The Advancing Indian Education initiative addresses the full spectrum of educational needs throughout Indian Country from elementary through post secondary levels and adult education. The 2014 budget supports student academic achievement in BIE schools by initiating a $15.0 million pilot program to turnaround lower performing elementary and secondary schools, provides $2.5 million in increased funding to meet the needs of growing enrollment at tribal colleges, and provides $3.0 million in new funding for a Science Post- Graduate Scholarship Fund. The budget also proposes an additional $2.0 million for tribal grant support costs.

Achieving Better Results at a Lower Cost

Administrative Cost Savings Over the last few years, Indian Affairs has taken significant steps to reduce the administrative costs associated with the wide range of services it delivers. In addition to $7.1 million in cost-saving measures from information technology standardization and infrastructure consolidations, the FY 2014 budget request includes a reduction of $19.7 million to reflect anticipated cost savings from streamlining operations. The request also includes $13.8 million in savings from reductions to contracts, fleet management, awards, and travel.

Indian Arts and Crafts Board The budget proposes to transfer the $1.3 million funding for the IACB from the Office of the Secretary to Indian Affairs, thereby allowing Indian Affairs to oversee the implementation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, as amended, which contains both criminal and civil provisions to combat counterfeit activity in the American Indian and Alaska Native arts and crafts market, and the Board’s management of three museums in the Plains Region dedicated to the promotion, integrity and preservation of authentic American Indian art and culture.

Program Reductions and Eliminations:

Housing Improvement Program (-$12.6 million) Eliminates the HIP. Tribes are not precluded from using HUD funding to provide assistance to HIP applicants.
Law Enforcement Special Initiatives (-$2.6 million) Reflects decreased participation on collaborative activities such as intelligence sharing.
The Indian Student Equalization Program (ISEP) (-$16.5 million) Offsets $15.0 million for a turnaround school pilot program.
Replacement School Construction (-$17.8 million) The construction program will address improving physical conditions of existing school facilities through the Facilities Improvement and Repair program.
The Indian Guaranteed Loan Program (-$2.1 million) The funding level of $5.0 million will guarantee over $70 million in loans.
Indian Affairs’ responsibility to the federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes is rooted in Article I, Section 8, of the United States Constitution, as well as in treaties, executive orders, and federal law. It is responsible for the management, development and protection of Indian trust land and natural resources, providing for public safety and justice in Indian Country, and promoting tribal self-determination and self-governance. Through the

Bureau of Indian Education, it funds 183 elementary and secondary day and boarding schools, of which two-thirds are tribally operated, located on 64 reservations in 23 states and serving in School Year 2011-2012 a daily average attendance of 41,000 students. It also provides funding to 27 tribal colleges and universities and two tribal technical colleges, operates two post- secondary institutions of higher learning and provides higher education scholarships.

Snohomish County 2013 Walk MS

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Location: View with Google Maps
Address: Tulalip Amphitheatre, 10400 Quil Ceda Blvd, Tulalip, WA
Site Opens: 9:00 a.m.
Route Length: 2.4 miles

What if we could connect every person living with MS? Every person who cares about someone with MS. Every family affected by it. Everyone who has seen what this disease can do to people. What if we could come together, even one day a year, to show the power of our connections? At Walk MS, our connections become more powerful than the connections MS destroys.

When you participate in Walk MS, the funds you raise give hope to the more than 12,000 people living with MS in our community, and more than 72,000 others whose lives are directly impacted (family members, friends, co-workers, and caregivers). The dollars raised support life-changing programs and cutting-edge research.

If you would like more information about Walk MS, or the Greater Northwest Chapter and the services we provide, please use the contact information below.

General Questions: walkMSnorthwest@nmss.org
Donations: waswebdonations@nmss.org
Website: waswebsite@nmss.org

Check your child’s shot record to ensure full protection

Early vaccination works best — National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28

Source: Snohomish County Health District

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Parents want to protect their children, but they might not know about some of today’s vaccines or the serious diseases they prevent, such as polio, diphtheria, hepatitis, and whooping cough. These diseases can be especially serious for infants and young children – witness the Lake Stevens infant who died in the whooping cough epidemic that swept Snohomish County last year. More than 35,000 cases of whooping cough were reported across the United States last year, including 15 infant deaths. The majority of these deaths were among infants younger than 3 months of age.

Medical providers are standing by in Snohomish County to help you ensure your child is fully immunized against 16 vaccine-preventable childhood diseases during National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28.Vaccination is so important that Washington state subsidizes shots for children under age 19. Families are asked to pay an office visit and administration fee. These charges may be waived if the family cannot pay.

Vaccinate kids on time. Overseen locally by the Snohomish Health District, the state’s Vaccines for Children program enrolls and assists 84 health care professionals to safely stock and administer vaccines according to the recommended childhood immunization schedule. The Health District also immunizes children at its clinics in Lynnwood and Everett.

Vaccinate completely. A recent sample of local medical records showed about 25 percent patients aged 3 months-10 years were not up to date with the recommended whooping cough shots. Forty-nine percent of children 19-35 months of age in Snohomish County do not have complete vaccination records on file in the state’s central immunization registry.(Source: Washington State Department of Health, Child Profile Immunization Registry, 2010).

All vaccinators are encouraged to enter immunization information into the state’s Washington Immunization Information System, formerly known as Child Profile. Ask your pediatrician and family practice doctor if they participate, and check your family’s immunization status.

Vaccinate during pregnancy. In response to recent whooping cough outbreaks in several states, including Washington, the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises all pregnant women to get adult whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) during each pregnancy, ideally in the third trimester. The antibodies formed will provide disease protection until the child is old enough to begin the vaccine series at two months of age. If Tdap is not given during pregnancy, women should get the vaccine as soon as possible following birth to prevent them from getting pertussis and passing it along to a newborn.

Flu vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women, so a baby is born with protection until it can receive flu vaccine at 6 months of age. To protect infants under six months old, make sure that everyone near them is fully vaccinated.

Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier Snohomish County through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health Board and the Health District at http://www.snohd.org.