U.S (NATIVE ORGANIZERS ALLIANCE) : NOA's July 2023 News.

 

 

 

NOA ON THE GROUND July 2023 Quarterly Newsletter           Dear friend,      While the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was a moment of celebration for Indian Country, this will not be the last time a case against Tribal rights will be brought to the courts. Haaland V. Brackeen is part of a larger campaign to undermine Tribal sovereignty to set a precedent that guts the legal infrastructure that codifies Tribal sovereignty. Native Organizers Alliance will always be involved in the grassroots movement to protect ICWA and other laws protecting Tribal Sovereignty at all levels. Community organizing in our Native communities has led to codifying ICWA into law in twelve states, and six states are considering similar legislation. We are not just sitting by as opponents, funded by the fossil fuel extractive industries, try to dismantle our sovereignty, destroy our lands and harm our children.    Native Organizers Alliance will continue to hold governments accountable for protecting and upholding our sovereignty.          Read our full statement here.              Native American Voting Rights Act The Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA) is an important piece of legislation aimed at eliminating the obstacles that prevent Tribal members from voting in federal, state, and non-Tribal elections. Native Americans face unique challenges, such as limited access to polling places, language barriers, and discrimination. The reintroduction and passage of NAVRA are crucial to guarantee that every Native American can exercise their right to vote and have a say in the decisions that impact their lives. Native people deserve equal access to the ballot box. One of the key benefits of NAVRA is that it protects Tribal sovereignty. When Native Americans vote, they can choose representatives who understand and respect their autonomy, allowing them to safeguard their sovereignty and ensure their voices are heard in decisions that affect their communities and way of life.            Please visit our website to learn more about NOA's work on NAVRA and Sign the Petition urging Congress to support NAVRA. SIGN THE PETITION A Victory for Oak Flats ! The San Carlos Apache, Apache Stronghold, and sacred site advocates have acquired more time to protect Oak Flat, a sacred site to the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona. The Biden administration planned to issue a Final Environmental Impact Survey to give the land to a mining company with a bad record. However, our allies spoke. We sent over 16,000 emails to President Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, forcing them to delay that transfer timeline and safeguard Oak Flat for now, but the fight continues. Join NOA and our allies in supporting the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act proposed by Arizona Representative Raúl Grijalva.          Visit our website to learn more about our campaign, following the guidance of Apache Stronghold’s leadership, and preventing the Biden Administration from issuing the land transfer. SIGN THE PETITION Exercising Native Sovereignty : Grassroots Power in the Electoral Arena The Native Organizers Alliance recently held a session called "Exercising Native Sovereignty : Grassroots Power in the Electoral Arena" at the 22nd Century Conference in Minneapolis, MN. The conference included frontline advocates, organizers, elected officials, and donors who were fighting against right-wing authoritarian political movements. Our panel consisted of Native American-elected representatives from the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro areas, who highlighted the harmful policies and growing difficulties faced by Native and rural voters. The panel also discussed actions that Native communities can take to achieve significant and historic shifts in power.          Please visit our website to watch the recording.             Turtle Island Hoops Do you know any high school basketball players ready to take their basketball game to the next level ? The Turtle Island Hoops program is a fantastic opportunity for Native high school boys to get the exposure, access, and preparation needed to succeed in college athletics. The program trains with experienced coaches from Native high schools and collegiate programs and even competes in a tournament at the end of the week.          If you want to learn more about how we can help Native students get into college basketball or sign up, check out NOA's website here. LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT Native Community Organizers Training The Native Organizers Alliance (NOA) conducted its first national training event in Federal Way, Washington, from June 11-17, 2023. The training attracted 27 participants from 12 states, 25 tribes, and 27 organizations, and it was one of the largest events so far.    Participants engaged in various activities, including coalition-building, power-mapping, communication strategies, and other knowledge-sharing activities grounded in cultural values. NOA's upcoming national training will occur on November 9-18, 2023, in Federal Way, Washington. The training aims to provide tools for influential grassroots organizing led by Indigenous values to build effective teams and powerful partnerships that can affect transformational change on a massive scale.          Visit NOA's website to learn more and apply here !              NOA Welcomes New Staff ! Tremayne Nez (Diné) is NOA’s Policy Director. He is committed to working with tribal leaders and grassroots organizers to ensure Native voices are heard and represented at all levels of government.   Tremayne is enrolled in the Navajo tribe and currently resides in Winslow, AZ. He has dedicated his career to advocating for policies that respect the Indigenous communities’ unique needs and cultural perspectives. Tremayne’s work includes tribal housing advocacy with the National American Indian Housing Council and government contracting work focused on Indigenous perspectives for Avid Core, a Virginia-based communications firm.    In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University, Tremayne also attended the Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University and the Indigenous Leadership Academy at Arizona State University.    Brandon Barela (Diné) is NOA’s Development Operations Manager. Brandon is a member of the Navajo Nation who is dedicated to empowering Native communities across the country. He works as the Development Operations Manager for Native Organizers Alliance, overseeing the organization's development office.    Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brandon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico. In his spare time, he mentors young people in his community and enjoys exploring scenic areas with his family, taking photographs along the way. He also cherishes spending time with his baby boy.              What We're Tracking : S. 1723 Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-Mass.) – A bill to establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States. This law would allow the Commission to investigate and acknowledge the wrongs that were done in the past by the government's Indian boarding school policies. Recently, The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has made changes to the bill that could gain support from both parties and getting this bill passed. This is a big step for Tribal nations, across the country, who are still dealing with the effects of the boarding school era. S. 919/H.R. 1705 A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act (Rep. Raul Grijalva D-AZ-07) – This bill aims to tackle the issue of toxic waste sites and highly polluting fossil fuel infrastructure in and around communities of color, Native communities, and low-income communities. It calls for the President to establish a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council. Additionally, the bill proposes an amendment to the Clean Air Act, which mandates that applicants seeking permits for projects that could produce air pollution must assess and analyze the project's potential impact beforehand. H.R. 1351 Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act (Rep. Raul Grijalva D-AZ-07) – A bill to revoke section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2015, which allowed a multinational mining company to acquire Oak Flats, a sacred site to the San Carlos Apache Nation in Arizona. Section 3003 was added, as a provision to the NDAA at the last minute, without any Tribal consultation. If passed, the law would protect the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District (Oak Flat) in the Tonto National Forest from destructive mining activities. H.R. 663 Native American Child Protection Act (Rep. Ruben Gallego D-AZ-03) – A bill that reauthorizes two critical grant programs for Tribal prevention programs and creates a national resource center for Tribal agencies. This law would also enable cultural programs and services to be used in grant programs and give Congress more power to fund Tribal grants.              NOA in the News : Funders have the wrong idea about democracy and Indian Country (Philanthropy News Digest) Biden Administration Prohibits New Drilling Adjacent to Precious Tribal Land (Vigour Times) Win for tribes as high court upholds ICWA (Cherokee Phoenix) Biden Administration Bans New Oil Drilling Near 'Irreplaceable' Tribal Cultural Site In New Mexico (Yahoo News) Native Organizers Alliance and EarthJustice Responds to Biden's Approval of Willow Project (Indian Time)             Looking Ahead : Join NOA's upcoming webinars that focus on the recent SCOTUS rulings, including the Brackeen v. Haaland case, Navajo Water Rights Case, and more. Our partners, including the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), Illuminative, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), will provide a detailed analysis of the ruling's significance and its impact on Indian Country in the future. In the second webinar of the series, we'll explore the 2024 election, including the Native American Voting Rights Act, and provide insights on how to get involved in this critical election. Stay tuned for more information ! NOA is now accepting applications for its second National Community Organizer Training for 2023. This training is open to Native leaders, nonprofit leaders, and organizers in both rural and urban communities. Join us in Federal Way, Washington, from November 9-18, 2023, for a week of skill-building and engagement with fellow Native leaders, nonprofit leaders, and organizers in rural and urban communities. Learn new strategies and communication methods grounded in traditional practices and values to effectively create transformational change.              NOA’s work is made possible by our incredible network of donors. With your support, we can take critical steps to advance sovereignty for all Nations across Indian Country. DONATE TODAY