This week’s headlines include support for tribal land transfer bills at the MN state legislature, a heroic Indigenous Girl Scout won a prestigious award for her lifesaving efforts, information about tribal elections season, and a reminder about upcoming Native recognition during May.
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SUPPORT FOR LAND RETURN BILLS AT MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE
This week, a coalition of 21 Native, Environmental, and Faith organizations united in support of the five Land Return Bills at the Minnesota legislature. If passed, these bills would transfer stewardship of state-owned lands to Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations throughout Minnesota. Access to public and privately owned lands will remain unaffected by the proposed changes. Organizations such as Rise Coalition, the Sierra Club, MN 350, and many more sent letters to Minnesota elected officials to clarify the proposed legislation's content.
The letters highlighted facts about the bills, including that all the proposed transfers reside within the boundaries of established Native reservations, and the lands were previously seized by the state without the tribes' consent and in violation of federal treaties.
Supporters hope the Land Stewardship transfer bills will pass during this legislative session, which ends on May 22, 2024.
INDIGENOUS GIRL SCOUT AWARDED BRONZE CROSS LIFESAVING AWARD
Senior Girl Scout Ilona Delaney (Miskwaa’Benaisi’Kwe, Mikanaak’Ikwe) was celebrated this week for her exceptional bravery. Last summer, she saved the lives of her mother and grandmother during a boating accident. She has become the first Indigenous Girl Scout to be awarded the prestigious Bronze Cross from the Girl Scouts USA, a rare medal that recognizes youth who risk their own life to save another.
Since the accident, Delaney has focused on swimming literacy, teaching water safety and swim lessons to marginalized youth who are at higher risk of drowning. She will also participate in swim trials with Team USA this summer.
TRIBAL ELECTIONS SEASON IN FULL SWING
Minnesota’s Tribal citizens are exercising their sovereignty in Tribal Elections this year. The initial primary elections took place in many tribal Nations at the same time as the state primary election, with many members voting in both on and off-reservation elections. Each tribe has its own voting rules and requirements for candidacy, and many provide absentee and by-mail voting for off-reservation citizens. Vacancies for elected officials vary by nation, but each tribe may vote for positions such as chairperson or chief, various members of their tribal council, district representatives, and more. These elections affect not only the citizens of each individual tribe but also the relationship of those tribes with state or federal officials, agencies, and programs. For more information about individual nation elections, please contact each nation directly or check their tribal website or news entity.
A REMINDER OF NATIVE RECOGNITION THIS MONTH
Minnesota celebrates American Indian Month in May, and the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Women and Relatives is approaching on May 5th. Communities, tribal nations, schools, and other entities statewide will participate in various events, outreach, and awareness of Indigenous peoples, cultures, and issues during this time.
THE MINNEAPOLIS AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER RE-OPENS
On May 1, the Minneapolis American Indian Center held a grand re-opening after being closed for nearly two years during a multi-million dollar renovation. Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and other community organization leaders helped cut the ribbon at a public ceremony, and hundreds of people from the community and greater Minnesota attended for music, food, and more. Stay tuned to Minnesota Native News for more coverage of this historic event.