News

EdWeek: Commentary on Indigenous Ed in Alaska

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is “Alaska Is Failing Its Indigenous Students” by Evon Parker.

NYTs: “A Wrenching Choice for Alaska Towns in the Path of Climate Change”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here. Incredible visuals.

NYTs: “Even as Trudeau Reaches Out to First Nations, Mercury Rises”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here, by Stephen Marche.

Standing Rock’s Other Pipe Problem: The North Dakota pipeline protesters, and other marginalized groups, need access to communications technology

Sarah M Donnelly

Link to Slate article by Greta Byrum here.

Excerpts:

The potential impact of FirstNet on First Nations’ broadcast sovereignty has many potential repercussions for both telecommunications independence and the integrity of journalism. If AT&T were to shoulder out competitors like Standing Rock Telecom and exercise control over content broadcast on its network, that could once again lead to a situation where certain content could be blocked by the company, regardless of its importance to the public. Like Facebook, AT&T is not bound by public interest obligations when it comes to news and reporting. Furthermore, big telecom has a history of pricing services out of reach for poor and marginalized populations.

…

If AT&T’s FirstNet bid succeeds, it could threaten the viability of small operators like Standing Rock Telecom. But to take an even broader view, it could threaten the viability of all communities to organize themselves in disasters—both because of pre-emption and because having more market share could help AT&T push aside smaller, local competitors who are better positioned to fix outages or set up mobile equipment quickly at local sites as needed. Of course, it’s essential for our official first responders to be able to communicate while a catastrophe is underway—but there are many emerging technologies that can help them do so without pre-empting citizen communications, as well as build-out practices that don’t threaten independent and small telecom companies.

…

This is the emerging question: Will we continue to consolidate resources like water, energy, and communications in the hands of the few and the powerful, distributing them according to consolidated market forces and political power? Or will we build the capacity of local communities to adapt and address emerging needs in our changing world, with its changing climate?

NYTs: “Old Treaties and New Alliances Empower Native Americans”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Also, “Feeding the Fight at Standing Rock.”

Troy Eid Serving on Trump Transition Team

Sarah M Donnelly

Link: Former U.S Attorney from Denver to be on Trump’s transition team

Drama at Nooksack

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is “Emotions run high as woman faces eviction from Nooksack tribal land.”

NYTs: “Environmentalists Target Bankers Behind Pipeline”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Indian Country Grassroots Statement on Standing Rock

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX

November 3, 2016

 

Lands and waters, in our deeply held way of life, are not mere resources nor are they boundaried areas to be owned. They are the foundation of all relationships. Relationships, in a sense deeper than commonly understood, is the foundation of peace, happiness, law and order. Land, waters and human beings are mutual stewards. The tragic consequences of contamination to rivers and oceans has been repeatedly demonstrated by the mining at Black Mesa and Tar Creek, and by the Exxon Valdez and BP oil spills.

 

The Dakota Access Pipeline is now almost upon the Missouri River despite renewed calls from within the federal government itself for a stop until the environmental impact is formally assessed. Such calls were in existence since spring but were nevertheless ignored by the agencies responsible for such assessments. Instead, the pipeline was “fast tracked.”

 

The Pipeline directly threatens the Missouri River, which is the source of life for the Standing Rock Sioux. It is understood that the pipeline will carry one million gallons of crude oil an hour, and that any leak that is not quickly stopped will cause irrevocable environmental damage. There are news reports of nearly 300 oil pipeline spills in North Dakota in less than two years in remote areas where leaks are not readily known. Leaks are inevitable. Therefore, indigenous Americans from numerous tribes have gathered in protest to save the source of life; to save the Standing Rock Sioux people.

 

The gathered protesters are not merely scattered activists; they are representatives of their Indigenous Nations who have all endorsed the request of the People of the Missouri River for stoppage in order to dialog with the Nations. They are also representatives of the American people. They stand together asking that the laws of the United States be followed and honored – the laws establishing a duty to act on behalf of all Americans in managing our natural resources.  We must all stand together to protect our limited and irreplaceable waters.

 

Indian Country Grassroots Support

“Life on the Pine Ridge Native American reservation” — Al Jazeera

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.