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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed federal funding cuts to tribal colleges spark fear
Kaiya Brown stands on campus at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute before heading to her internship at a local, Native nonprofit on June 10, 2025. (Bella Davis/New Mexico In Depth) Kaiya Brown was at work last week when she started getting the texts. Her friends were asking if she'd seen the news: The Trump administration wants to cut funding for tribal colleges by nearly 90%. Brown (Diné) is in her first year at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in northwest Albuquerque, one of 37 tribal colleges and universities in the country and four in New Mexico, many of which offer free tuition to tribal citizens. If Congress approves the administration's budget request released last Monday, funding for the schools will drop from over $183 million to about $22 million in the next fiscal year, starting in October. Federal funding makes up 74% of total revenue for tribal colleges and universities, ICT reported in January. This story was originally published by New Mexico In Depth. 'It's really scary,' Brown said. 'I don't think enough people understand the importance of tribal colleges and what they do for our communities. They provide opportunities that many students would have never had. It makes me really emotional, honestly, because they don't understand how this would impact so many lives.' Brown is studying early childhood education with hopes of going into social work to advocate for Native children. Part of why she chose a tribal college was because she didn't feel safe or supported at her Rio Rancho high school. In one instance, Brown wore her regalia, including moccasins and jewelry, to school, and a teacher asked, 'Where's your feathers?' Another time, she and a couple other Native students were carrying frybread for a sale, and a group of their peers started mocking them. One of the students told them, 'I thought we killed all your people.' Her experience so far at college, Brown said, couldn't be more different. 'We're all so close to one another. We all want to see each other succeed,' she said. 'And I truly feel that from the staff and from my instructors. These are Native instructors, people that look like me and know my ways.' She's also enjoyed the small class sizes. Last fall, 215 students were enrolled, according to data from the college, which was founded in 1971. The largest class Brown is in right now has five students total. Instead of getting lost in a lecture hall with a hundred other people, she's able to get more hands-on help from instructors. But the mood on campus hasn't been the same lately, Brown said. The community has been reeling from a round of layoffs earlier this year. The institute, along with Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas, is federally operated. In February, the Bureau of Indian Education laid off dozens of faculty and staff members at the two institutions in response to Trump's directives to reduce the federal workforce. Many classes were left without instructors, and a power outage in Brown's dorm lasted 13 hours because there weren't enough maintenance workers available to fix it. A few weeks later, some employees were re-hired, but it was unclear whether the hirings were permanent or temporary. That's according to a lawsuit against the federal government brought by the Native American Rights Fund in March. Brown is a plaintiff, along with four Haskell students and three tribal nations, including Isleta Pueblo. 'Tribal nations and the federal government should be working together to best serve our Native students,' Isleta Pueblo Gov. Eugene Jiron said in a statement. 'Instead, the administration is randomly, without preparation and in violation of their federal trust responsibility, taking away teachers and staff from already-underserved facilities. Our students deserve better.' The layoffs worsened problems caused by chronic understaffing at the schools, the lawsuit argues. Congress has underfunded tribal colleges by $250 million a year, ProPublica reported in 2024. The re-hirings brought some relief, Brown said, but the proposed cuts have stirred up fear among students and employees again. 'These schools have done so much for our people,' she said. 'So many passionate people and talented artists have come from these schools. They give us the tools to pursue our dreams. It's like our stepping stone into the world. And taking that away will be devastating to a lot of students, including myself.' New Mexico is home to three other tribal colleges: Diné College, which has campuses in Shiprock and Crownpoint, as well as in Arizona; the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe; and Navajo Technical University, with a main campus in Crownpoint. In fall 2024, an estimated 3,378 students were enrolled at the schools, according to the state Higher Education Department. In a statement last week, Robert Martin, president of the Institute of American Indian Arts, said, 'I know that we will prevail in the end, but we can't take that for granted. We have strong Congressional support but they need to hear from all of our constituents.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Arizona faculty say administrator causing severe harm to Native students
Photo by University of Arizona After several Native students at the University of Arizona expressed their concerns about student safety regarding an assistant vice provost, multiple Native faculty members are calling for immediate action from university leadership to ensure that Indigenous students receive the support they need for success. The Native American Faculty Group wrote in a letter to UofA President Dr. Suresh Garimella and other top administrators that 'Tessa L. Dysart is actively causing and has caused severe harm to the UA Native American community' since she was appointed assistant vice provost for the Office of Native American Initiatives (NAI) in 2024. Six Native faculty members wrote that students have approached them since the fall of 2024 to voice their concerns about their safety on campus. 'In our culture, we allow our children to speak, and we listen,' the group wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The faculty members who signed and sent the letter include Karletta Chief (Diné), Andrew Curley (Diné), Stephanie Russo Carroll (Ahtna-Native Village of Kluti-Kaah), Jameson D. Lopez (Quechan), Sheilah E. Nicholas (Hopi) and Valerie Shirley (Diné). As professors, they said that they have witnessed 'disturbing events' that do not align with leading protocols to support Indigenous students in higher education. The letter outlines the concerns raised by students since Dysart took office, including her lack of support for student-led academic work on the Land Back movement, community panels and discussions, and her physical attempt to silence a student during the Tribal Leaders Summit. Nearly 100 people — some faculty, some students, some alumni — have signed onto the letter to back the faculty calling on the university to remove Dysart as assistant vice provost. 'We find Dysart's actions to be unprofessional, misaligned with the interests of students, and, at times, clear attempts at intimidation — behavior that is unbecoming of a senior administrator who claims to advocate for Native American students,' the letter states. Several Native students and staff have shared with the faculty group how Dysart is 'sowing harm, district and division within the UA Native community.' Dysart lacks the qualifications to be the assistant vice provost, according to the faculty group, because she has never worked with Native American student admissions, retention or service programs in higher education, nor has she published any work related to Native American student retention or advancement. During Dysart's interview process, the faculty group alleged that she claimed to have longstanding relationships with Native law students, but they had consistently heard otherwise from the Native law community. 'Dysart's portrayal of her experience is misleading,' they wrote, adding that she has worked at UofA since 2017 but only became involved with the Native Faculty Group within the past three years. Dysart has no prior connection with the Native American communities at UA, in Tucson, Arizona or the Southwest, according to the faculty group. The faculty group also expressed concerns about leaders in the Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement (NAATE) office, including Levi Esquerra and Kari McCormick. Due to the ongoing concerns involving NAI and NAATE leadership, the faculty group said they cannot in 'good faith' recommend UofA to Indigenous students. The group wrote that they would rather refer Indigenous students to Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University due to the well-qualified administrators running their Native American initiatives. Dysart lacks the stellar reputation and qualifications of the Native Higher Administrators at ASU or NAU, according to the faculty group, and she does not possess the qualifications of many researchers in Native American education. 'Dysart earns $167,116 per year, yet there is no accountability, review, or annual reports showing her performance serving Native American faculty and staff,' the letter states. 'We have no confidence in Tessa Dysart.' The Arizona Mirror reached out to UofA and Dysart for comment, but did not receive a response. As part of the letter, the faculty group shared their disappointment in the consolidation of the Native American Student Affairs cultural center and the termination of its director, Julian Juan. Under Juan's leadership, the faculty group said that the Indigenous community at the University of Arizona has had only positive experiences. 'As a tight-knit community, we have consistently witnessed Juan's advocacy in fostering a safe and supportive space at NASA even as Dysart, Esquerra and McCormick contribute to a climate of hostility,' the letter said, noting that Juan is one of only three Tohono O'odham directors in the history of Native American Student Affairs, which is commonly referred to as NASA. 'In contrast to Dysart, Juan has deep connections and experience with tribal leaders and the local community,' the faculty wrote. 'Juan understands the importance of creating culturally appropriate programs and activities that create a sense of belonging for Native American students struggling to find their place and belonging within the Wildcat community.' UofA fired Juan on May 27. The university wrote in his termination letter that he failed to fulfill his duties as director. The faculty group expressed appreciation that NASA will continue to exist, but they 'adamantly oppose' moving it under Dysart's supervision at NAI, citing students' consistent concerns about their safety around her and her limited experience in student affairs. The faculty group is calling on Patricia Prelock, the new provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at UofA, to return NASA under the office of the provost, remove Dysart, reinstate Juan, reopen the NAI assistant vice provost position, create a Native American Faculty Council and maintain the Native American Community Council. 'As members of sovereign tribal nations that have nation-to-nation relationships with the United States federal government, we ask you to respect our sovereignty and fulfill our requests,' they said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former NM Democratic Party official wants a Hispanic person to replace her
Julie Rochman. (Courtesy photo) It remained unclear on Friday who will become the treasurer for New Mexico's ruling political party, following the previous treasurer's resignation after just one month on the job. Julie Rochman, of Albuquerque, resigned as treasurer for the Democratic Party of New Mexico on Wednesday, in a resignation letter addressed to all of the party's members, who elected her and the rest of its leadership on April 26. Rochman wrote she is concerned DPNM's officers don't reflect New Mexico's diversity. Including herself, three of the four officers are not originally from New Mexico, two are older white women, one comes from a rural area and none speak Spanish, she wrote. 'Most distressing to me, in our minority-majority Hispanic state, is DPNM's lack of a single Hispanic executive,' Rochman wrote. 'This is a glaring deficit and strategic negligence.' Rochman wrote the party should replace her with 'someone who represents the very people we've overlooked for too long — ideally a Hispanic leader rooted in a rural space.' DPNM spokesperson Daniel Garcia told Source NM on Friday party rules do not determine a timeline for replacing its treasurer, however, 'DPNM wants to move expeditiously in finding a replacement to fulfill the position's work without interruption.' The new treasurer will be selected by the party's officers, Garcia said, including Chair Sara Attleson, Vice Chair Cam Crawford, Secretary Brenda Hoskie and the three congressional district vice chairs. 'Right now there are not specific individuals under consideration, but the process will be conducted in a thorough, transparent process,' Garcia said. Rochman wrote that Attleson and Crawford 'have squashed efforts for all officers to work together as a team' and 'intentionally excluded' her. 'They don't inform or engage with me,' Rochman wrote. 'In short, they've made clear that my expertise and input are unwelcome.' In a statement, Attleson denied Rochman's allegations that she wasn't welcome in the party, and defended its leaders' diversity. 'Contrary to her letter, we welcomed Julie to be a part of the movement we're building,' Attleson said. 'Unfortunately, shortly after the election, she decided this team wasn't an ideal fit for her.' Attleson pointed to the majority of New Mexico's statewide and federal elected leaders being Hispanic, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, along with several of the congressional district vice chairs. Rochman told Source NM it is great that so many elected officials in New Mexico are Hispanic, 'but it doesn't excuse the fact that the party doesn't look like the state.' Attleson also pointed to Crawford's background as a young Black man, and Hoskie's membership in the Navajo Nation and fluency in Diné. 'New Mexico Democrats proudly draw our strength from our diversity, which is apparent in our leadership,' Attleson said. 'At a time when billionaires are dictating public policy and Donald Trump is eliminating essential services, we have to stay focused on fighting for working class New Mexicans, not turning on each other.' Rochman wrote that she received a nondisclosure agreement in late May after weeks of no communication about ongoing party affairs and strategic planning. Rochman told Source NM in an interview that Sean Ward, the party's executive director, asked her to sign it. A copy of the unsigned NDA shows it would have barred Rochman from saying or doing anything that would damage the reputation of any of the party's officers, staff or volunteers. Rochman wrote in her letter that the NDA is inconsistent with her values and undermines her right to free speech and her obligation to speak truth to power. 'Essentially, it would be a gag order for the rest of my life,' she wrote. Rochman told Source NM that she feels the document's non-disparagement language 'was very targeted' at her because she doesn't get along with Attleson. 'It seemed very Trumpian to me,' Rochman said. 'There had been some other things that were rather Trumpian, and I just didn't want to be associated with an administration that was going to govern that way.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Business of Fashion
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business of Fashion
Indigenous Designers Are Driving Brands to Collaborate, Not Appropriate
When Valentino debuted its pre-fall 2025 collection at the end of last year, the Indigenous community quickly took note. The collection included a black bag featuring beaded flowers and fringe, details commenters soon identified as closely resembling a 19th-century design by Métis beadworkers. The conversation escalated when actress Lily Gladstone called out the brand directly on Instagram, writing that the decision to recreate such a piece without Indigenous input 'baffled' her. 'Métis and Dene beadwork is stunning and deserves to be highlighted in a major way,' she wrote. 'But this isn't how to achieve that. Where other houses have taken meaningful steps forward, this is a major step back.' It wasn't an isolated incident. Just weeks after Gladstone's post, the Indigenous pop-culture news Instagram account spotlighted Fear of God's moccasin line, noting its similarity to contemporary Native styles. The brand's founder Jerry Lorenzo had recently worked with Alaska Native model Quannah Chasinghorse, a move critics described as confusing visibility with consent. (Fear of God declined to comment.) These moments reignited a long-running conversation around fashion's use of Native design language without credit, compensation, or collaboration. For decades, luxury brands have profited from a romanticised, decontextualised vision of Native aesthetics — often flattening centuries of innovation into vague bohemian motifs. Native designers, meanwhile, face a patchwork of protections ill-equipped to safeguard their intellectual and cultural property. 'Current legal protections for tribal designs remain inadequate,' said Susan Scafidi, fashion law professor at Fordham University. 'It's a patchwork of coverage that leaves many Indigenous creators vulnerable to exploitation.' Native design isn't merely visual — it's spatial, relational and symbolic. Diné weavers encode cosmology into pattern; Haudenosaunee beadworkers map lineage and ceremony into form. When these aesthetics are copied without context, they're stripped of meaning and collapsed into a generic, pan-Indian look. What's lost isn't just credit — it's cultural memory. Still, there are signs of positive change happening within the industry: Big-name brands like Ralph Lauren and Arc'tyrex have forged partnerships with Native creators, and Native designers themselves are seeing more attention. To chart a better course in the future, legacy brands should support Indigenous designers and find ways to collaborate with Native artists, and pay as much attention to process as they do the final result. 'The problem with most brand 'frameworks' is they focus on the end product rather than the relationship,' said cultural and ESG Consultant Matthew Yazzie. 'They want to know how to 'use' Native art correctly without doing the actual work of building genuine connections and relationships with Native artists and their communities.' A Demand for Accountability Increasingly, Indigenous designers are asserting their agency — and consumers are responding, drawn to the storytelling inherent to Native aesthetics. From direct-to-consumer models to limited-edition collaborations and intentional product drops, now Indigenous designers are shaping a dynamic fashion landscape — on their own terms. Notably, a flourishing Indigenous streetwear movement, including brands like Urban Native Era, 4Kinship and Here's To You, is capturing international attention, generating not only cultural capital but critical economic opportunities for artists, designers and entrepreneurs. There's also a new class of rising Native-owned fashion brands, including B. YellowTail, Navajo Spirit and Orlando Dugi, which have experienced recent sales spikes; Dugi is turning his focus from custom couture to ready-to-wear to meet demand. This fall, too, marks an upcoming milestone: Indigenous Fashion Week New York will debut in September. Contemporary Native designers are leveraging digital platforms to bypass traditional gatekeepers. Kwakwaka'wakw moccasin designer Jamie Gentry, for instance, uses Instagram to reach a broad customer base through direct-to-consumer sales, circumventing the geographic and institutional barriers that have historically marginalised Native artists. 'It's given artists a wider audience than they could reach from just a brick-and-mortar store in small communities where they don't have that opportunity to share their work broadly,' said Gentry. Plus, some Native designers are subverting traditional dynamics, putting their own spin on mainstream designs. Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), known for her intricate beadwork, famously hand-beaded a pair of Christian Louboutin heels — a volte-face from the familiar pattern of luxury brands borrowing from Indigenous cultures without acknowledgment. Celebrity visibility has further bolstered this momentum. 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Jennifer Tilly, along with actors Wes Studi publicly supported Native-made designs at the 2024 Santa Fe Indian Market — an influential and high-end market among the many vibrant bazaars across Indian Country. Meanwhile, mainstream publications have been taking notice, too: New York magazine's Winter 2024 issue featured Jessica Metcalfe's Beyond Buckskin adornments in a holiday gift guide, while Vogue writer Christian Allaire wrote a piece last month about wearing Indigenous designers on his book tour. Still, significant barriers persist. Native brands remain underrepresented across major retailers, and viral social media moments rarely translate into long-term change. In the absence of sustained, industry-wide commitment to platforming Indigenous creators have expanded awareness of cultural appropriation, but its deeper systemic roots — and the artists from hundreds of tribes affected — remain largely overlooked. From Tokenism to Provenance While the industry still sees instances of appropriation, more legacy brands are taking steps to chart a new course, spotlighting Native designers and educating consumers on ethical collaboration. Amazon's Buy with Prime blog, for instance, has published guides to help shoppers identify authentic Native American fashion, while Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom have begun providing more detailed provenance information for Indigenous designed pieces. Outdoor companies, in particular, have emerged as natural allies. Already positioned at the intersection of humans and the environment, these brands deepen that connection by amplifying Indigenous designers and environmental stewards. Last July, REI piloted a partnership with Urban Native Era, initially placing products — including sweats, T-shirts and hats featuring the message 'You're On Native Land' — in just eight stores. The launch weekend exceeded sales expectations, prompting REI to rapidly expand UNE inventory to all 181 locations nationwide by the following month. 'Wanting something with such a strong statement shows they want to put Indigenous visibility on their shelves,' said UNE founder Joey Montoya. A shirt from Arc'tyrex's Walk Gently collection (Courtesy) That same month, Vancouver-based outdoor brand Arc'teryx, headquartered on Musqueam territory, launched 'Walk Gently', a platform to support Indigenous presence in the outdoor industry. It included a collection of T-shirts and shorts designed in collaboration with Cole Sparrow-Crawford, a Musqueam creative director. 'As a company in Canada, if you want to honour Truth and Reconciliation, represent that,' said Sparrow-Crawford. 'We aren't asking people occupying our territory to leave but to walk gently.' For some brands, the goal is to reconcile a problematic legacy. Ralph Lauren, long criticised for appropriating Native aesthetics, took a new approach in 2022, launching its Artist-in-Residence program. The inaugural designer was Gen-Z Diné weaver and skateboarder Naiomi Glasses, who received both financial and creative freedom to design a collection aligned with traditional Diné wearing practices. The program also featured a Native-led ad campaign. 'Because it was a pilot program, they told me we'd both be learning together,' said Glasses. Her ability to dictate material and design specifications faithful to intergenerational techniques shaped a collection that, in her words, 'looked like a naturally hand-woven piece — not like a design thrown on a sweater." The Artist-in-Residence initiative will continue this year with queer Diné weave Zefren-M, further expanding the program's commitment to community-led storytelling. According to Sasha Kelly, Ralph Lauren's head of design with intent, the brand is learning to work at a different pace. She advocates for a slower process, one outside the traditional fashion calendar, focused on 'learning to unlearn, platforming the creator, manufacturing with the community, and providing a design fee and royalties returned to benefit the community at large.' Such practices not only mitigate the risk of cultural appropriation— they often result in more authentic, resonant and innovative designs.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Nalgene Water Fund Heads to Appalachia, Donates $50,000 to DigDeep, and Launches Limited Edition Bottle to Promote Lasting Clean Water Access
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In celebration of its five-year commitment to helping address the U.S. water crisis, the Nalgene Water Fund (NWF), established by Nalgene Outdoor, the makers of the iconic wide-mouth reusable bottle, today announced a $50,000 donation to DigDeep's Appalachia Water Project (AWP). The contribution brings Nalgene's mission to a region long sought out by its enthusiasts for its epic outdoor adventures and awe-inspiring landscapes, yet many communities there still lack access to clean, reliable water and basic sanitation. To express appreciation for Appalachia's beauty and engage its fans in supporting the region's pressing water crisis, Nalgene Outdoor is launching a limited-edition bottle inspired by Appalachia's iconic blue ridgelines and rivers. Available May 21 exclusively at each $20 bottle contributes $5 to the Nalgene Water Fund in support of DigDeep's community-led work to deliver long-term water solutions. 'Being chosen as the beneficiary of a Nalgene Water Fund bottle brings critical support and helps us reach new people who care about this crisis,' said Travis Foreman, Director of DigDeep's Appalachia Water Project. 'Creating sustainable water access takes long-term commitment and trusted support, and this collaboration brings both.' 'We designed this bottle to turn our appreciation for Appalachia into action,' said Eric Hansen, Marketing Director at Nalgene Outdoor. 'We hope Nalgene fans will rally behind DigDeep's mission and give back to a region that's given them so many unforgettable adventures.' Five Years of Action: Fueling Clean Water Progress Through Partnership Since 2019, the Nalgene Water Fund has provided more than $800,000 in funding and in-kind support to grassroots partners advancing clean water access across the country. The crisis remains urgent, with over 2.2 million people in the U.S. still living without access to running water or basic plumbing. Nalgene's impact has grown through collaborations like REVERB's RockNRefill program. For the first time, proceeds from bottles donated by Nalgene Outdoor and sold at live music events will go to the Nalgene Water Fund, turning fan purchases into meaningful support for clean water projects nationwide. Communities supported by the fund include: Flint, MI: With Thermo Fisher Scientific, helped launch the Flint Community Water Lab with $650,000 in equipment, funding, and bottles. Benton Harbor, MI: Donated $13,000 and 2,000 bottles to install lead-filtering refill stations in district schools. Navajo Nation: Raised nearly $80,000 with Diné designer Jaden Redhair to support DigDeep's Navajo Water Project and COPE. Western North Carolina: Donated $10,000 and 2,000 bottles to Water Mission following Hurricane Helene. How to Help Refill the Good The exclusive Nalgene Appalachia bottle is available now for $20 at with $5 from each sale supporting the Nalgene Water Fund. Like all Nalgene bottles, it's BPA/BPS-free, dishwasher safe, leakproof, and made from 50% recycled materials (ISCC-certified). Supporters can also contribute by purchasing RockNRefill bottles at REVERB-supported live music events. Every bottle sold helps fund clean water access for underserved U.S. communities. For photos and videos, samples, or more information, contact Marcia Gray at mgray@ Follow @Nalgene on Instagram and Facebook for updates. About NALGENE Outdoor NALGENE ® Outdoor Products is based in Rochester, New York and part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Founded in 1949 as a manufacturer of the first plastic pipette holder, the company soon expanded its product line to include state-of-the-art polyethylene labware under the NALGENE brand. By the mid-1970s, outdoor enthusiasts had discovered the taste and odor-resistant, leak-proof and rugged properties of NALGENE's large selection of plastic containers. In response to this emerging demand, NALGENE Outdoor Products was formed and today the consumer-oriented business offers its customers a wide choice of safe, environmentally friendly, BPA- and BPS- free products that meet their lifestyle needs. For more information, contact NALGENE Consumer Products or visit About DigDeep DigDeep is a human rights nonprofit working to ensure every person in the United States has access to clean, running water and sanitation at home. DigDeep has served thousands of families across the country through award-winning and community-led field projects: the Navajo Water Project (Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah), the Appalachia Water Project (West Virginia and Kentucky), and the Colonias Water Project (Texas). DigDeep is also a leading force in US water access research, workforce development, and policy advocacy, underscoring their commitment to addressing the sector's lack of comprehensive data. Notable national reports, including 'Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan' and 'Draining: The Economic Impact of America's Hidden Water Crisis,' unveiled the harsh reality that over 2 million people in the US live without a toilet or tap at home, which costs the American economy a staggering $8.6 billion annually. For more information, please visit
