News

Arizona Snowbowl Treated Snowmaking System May Generate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the NYTs here. An excerpt:

Now, apart from longstanding concern about harmful chemicals in the water that will be used to make that snow — piped directly from the sewage treatment system of the nearby town of Flagstaff — new research indicates that the wastewater system is a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant genes.

The genes were not detectable in the plant itself but “increased dramatically” at the point of use, meaning that they were found in places like sprinkler heads, the study said. “This means bacteria is growing in the distribution pipes,” said Amy Pruden, the author and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.

The study has not been published or peer-reviewed, but Flagstaff officials are taking it seriously enough to have invited Dr. Pruden to serve on an advisory panel that the city formed last week.

Antibiotic-resistant genes are an area of emerging concern to scientists because they impede the body’s ability to fight disease.

IRS Newsletter with Updates on TEDBs and Tribal Trust Judgment Proceeds

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

ITG News Oct 2012

News Article on American Indian Youth Suicide Epidemic

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

LA Times Op/Ed (Lee C. Bollinger and Claude M. Steele) on the Fisher v. University of Texas Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

The Nation: American Indian Vote Could Win Senate for Dems

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here. H/T Pechanga.

Truth-Out Article on Lakota Language Revitalization

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here.

The link in the article to Andrea Smith’s Amnesty Report on American Indian boarding schools appears to be broken. That report is here.

State News Article on MSU Indigenous Students

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

An excerpt:

As one of 131 American Indian students enrolled at MSU, French senior Sean Patrick works four jobs, pays his own bills and faces the looming payback of student loans after graduation.

“I am completely on my own,” said Patrick, who is not officially recognized by an American Indian tribe, but is co-chair of the North American Indigenous Student Organization, or NAISO. “When friends ask, I say, ‘No, I don’t receive any aid.’”

Today marks Indigenous People’s Day, an unofficial holiday observed as a counterweight to Columbus Day — a day to clear up some misconceptions about the heritage of American Indians.
For students with indigenous ancestry, securing financial aid can be a challenge.

Louise Erdrich on NPR’s All Things Considered

Kate Fort1 Comment

A particularly timely interview of Louise Erdich on her new book, The Round House, given Prof. Carlson’s talk at our symposium this afternoon.

Here.

On the difficulties of finding justice on Native American reservations

“There are several kinds of land on reservations. And all of these pieces of land have different entities who are in charge of enforcing laws on this land. So in this case, Geraldine Coutts does not know where her attacker raped her. She didn’t see, she doesn’t know. So in her case, it is very, very difficult to find justice because there’s no clear entity who is in charge of seeking justice for her …

“So in writing the book, the question was: If a tribal judge — someone who has spent his life in the law — cannot find justice for the woman he loves, where is justice? And the book is also about the legacy of generations of injustice, and what comes of that. Because, of course, what comes of that is an individual needs to seek justice in their own way when they can’t find justice through the system. And that brings chaos.”

NYTs Article on Sioux Tribes Efforts to Buy Back Black Hills Lands

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here.

Study of Nez Perce Hatchery Cause for Optimism

Ann Tweedy1 Comment

Here’s a news article on a recently completed study of a Nez Perce hatchery project. The results suggest that hatcheries may help restore natural runs in some cases, particularly when the genetics of the hatchery fish match those of local wild fish.