Latest news with #HopiTribe
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
University of Minnesota to return ancestral remains this fall
Melissa OlsonMPR News During an annual update to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, senior advisor to the president on Native American affairs Karen Diver said the repatriation of the Mimbres collection could begin in October. 'We anticipate working with the Hopi as the lead tribe to repatriate their ancestors and funerary objects in the fall,' said Diver. Anthropologists at the university excavated more than 150 ancestral remains and thousands of Mimbres cultural items from the ancestral gravesites of Indigenous people in the southwest during digs that took place between 1928 and 1931. The Hopi Tribe is located in northeastern Arizona. 'They have been sending representatives here, giving us guidance on how to care for their ancestors and funerary objects,' Diver said. The update from Diver marks another phase in a process that has taken place over the past three years as the university stepped up repatriation efforts. The university's regents passed a resolution authorizing the collection's return in February 2022. 'It is the moral and ethical calling of our land grant university that inspires and guides us, demanding that we act justly by repatriating that which was never ours,' wrote former Board of Regents chair Ken Powell in 2022. The return of the Mimbres collection complies with requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act — the 1990 law passed by Congress, which requires institutions that receive federal funds to return human remains and items of cultural patrimony to tribal nations and Native Hawaiian organizations. Diver said the Weisman Art Museum at the university has worked to build the necessary relationships with tribal nations to care for the collection as the repatriation process moves forward. 'The bottom line on this is that the tribes are happy with the way the process is going and the regard and concern that they've been given,' she said.
Washington Post
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Alcatraz's lore captivated America. Now it's inspiring Trump.
Alcatraz Island has loomed large in the American consciousness for nearly a century as a brutal prison full of notorious criminals, from which escape is nearly impossible. The San Francisco island fortress nicknamed 'the Rock' served as a federal prison from 1934 until it shuttered in 1963 because of the staggering costs of operations and maintenance. In those nearly three decades, the isolated facility established a reputation for housing some of the most legendary convicts of the day, including gangsters like George 'Machine Gun' Kelly and Al Capone. Today's Alcatraz is a tourist attraction, but President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he was ordering the decommissioned prison to be rebuilt and expanded to house the country's 'most ruthless and violent' offenders. 'When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,' Trump wrote on social media. President Millard Fillmore set his sights on the island in 1850, envisioning the rocky terrain roughly a mile from the San Francisco coast as the ideal spot for a West Coast military installation. Fortified with more than 100 cannons, Alcatraz became part of a 'triangle of defense,' along with Fort Point, near the southern entrance of what would become the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lime Point to the north, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Four years later, Alcatraz became home to the first operational lighthouse on the West Coast, bolstering its role as a key lookout post for the San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz later served as disciplinary housing for military detainees and by the turn of the century it became a prison for Native Americans who refused to relinquish their children for forced reeducation. Nineteen members of the Hopi Tribe were sent to Alcatraz when they resisted the federal government's assimilation program. At the onset of World War I, conscientious objectors like anti-war activist Robert Simmons were imprisoned at Alcatraz as tales of the squalid living conditions reached the mainland. Simmons arrived at the facility in 1918 and was thrown into the 'hole' for two weeks — described by the National Park Service as a 'pitch-dark dungeon cell with slimy walls, crawling with rats.' By the 1930s, the prison's brutal conditions were being matched by its residents. Prisoners who couldn't adapt to the rules of other federal penitentiaries — often killing and injuring other inmates or guards — were sent to Alcatraz. Mobsters like murderer Robert Franklin Stroud, known as the 'Birdman of Alcatraz,' and mobster Whitey Bulger were among those who later served time on the Rock. While Alcatraz became known for brutal conditions, its reputation was further enhanced by the common perception that it was inescapable. Getting past the prison walls was only one part of a perilous journey to freedom. Escapees also would have to swim more than a mile through frigid waters and powerful currents to reach the San Francisco shore. (Contrary to popular myth, there are no man-eating sharks in the bay, according to the NPS.) During the 29 years Alcatraz operated as a federal prison, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes (including two inmates who tried twice), according to the Bureau of Prisons. The attempts ended with the prisoners' capture, killing or drowning, including a 1946 escape attempt by six prisoners that left two guards dead and 18 injured in a two-day standoff that became known as the 'Battle of Alcatraz.' The fate of three Alcatraz escapees remains unknown. The Bureau of Prisons listed brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris as 'missing and presumed drowned' after a 1962 attempt, but their bodies were never found. In 2018, a letter — first sent to San Francisco police in 2013 — surfaced in which the writer claimed to be John Anglin. The letter writer said that after he and the two other men escaped Alcatraz in June 1962, he was the only one still alive. A representative of the U.S. Marshals Service told The Washington Post at the time that the agency believed the letter was without merit. Alcatraz ceased operations as a prison in 1963 when the factors that had made it so formidable also made it prohibitively expensive to operate: The facility needed $3 to 5 million in restoration work, while the day-to-day operational costs per prisoner were more than three times that of a similar penitentiary in Atlanta. Because of Alcatraz's island location, everything from food to fuel to water had to be brought from the mainland by barge each week. Alcatraz Island was abandoned from the prison's closure until 1969, when members of several Indigenous tribes occupied the island for 19 months, launching a new era of Indigenous activism that sought to pressure President Richard M. Nixon to repeal the federal policies known as 'Termination and Relocation.' After the occupation ended in 1971, the island and prison were turned over to the NPS's Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1972. Alcatraz reopened to the public a year later as a tourist attraction. The public's fascination with Alcatraz kicked off a generation of films and books that sought to dramatize real events or use the prison's legacy as a plot device. The 1979 film 'Escape From Alcatraz' saw Clint Eastwood play Frank Morris as the ringleader of the 1962 escape. In the 1996 Nicolas Cage movie 'The Rock,' a prisoner secretly known to be the only man to escape Alcatraz is recruited to help infiltrate the island and foil a terrorist plot. In recent years, Alcatraz has drawn visitors who are more interested in its current residents than its past ones: the array of wild and cultivated flowers that bloom on the island.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Navajo president endorses Trump's coal order, but activists cite climate, health risks
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier in April to watch President Donald Trump sign an executive order aimed at deregulating coal production on federal lands and revitalizing the mining industry, signaling what appears to be the tribal leader's support for coal. In the executive order, Trump asserted that coal is vital to the nation's economic and national security. He declared that removing federal regulatory barriers to coal production is a national priority and encouraged the use of coal to help meet the country's growing energy needs. The order also directed the Interior and Agriculture secretaries to prioritize coal leasing as the primary use of public lands with identified coal resources. The order called for expediting the leasing process. Coal mining provided jobs and a steady source of revenue for the Navajo Nation, but much of that was lost with the closure of key mines in the region and the shuttering of the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station near Page in 2019. "Today marks a pivotal moment for energy policy in the United States," Nygren said of the president's action. "As President Trump signs an executive order aimed at revitalizing the coal industry, I want to emphasize the importance of including tribal nations like the Navajo Nation in this national conversation." Nygren's presence at the signing of the coal executive order has been widely interpreted as a show of support for coal revitalization, even though his news release stops short of explicitly stating that. Instead, Nygren emphasized the importance of the Navajo Nation securing a seat at the table in discussions about coal, learning from past policy decisions and preserving jobs. "The harmful policies of the past have unfairly targeted coal, but those tides are turning. Last year, the U.S. produced over 1 billion tons of coal, and even now, we are producing more than 500 million tons annually," said Nygren. "If the federal government is serious about increasing domestic energy production, enhancing permitting, and bolstering energy security, it must work in partnership with tribal nations," he added. "Together, we can strengthen local economies, generate revenue, and create good-paying jobs in historically underinvested areas like ours." The order on coal was one of 100 executive orders Trump has signed in his first 100 days, and many have affected Indigenous communities across the country, from energy policy to voting rights. One of the earliest orders affecting Native American citizens was related to deportation efforts, when ICE agents reportedly engaged in racial profiling that led to the detention of tribal members. Verrin Kewenvoyouma, a member of the Hopi Tribe and managing partner of Kewenvoyouma Law in Tempe, said his associates are looking into whether any tribes are legally challenging the emergency orders on the grounds of constitutionality or proper authority. When it comes to the executive orders, he said his clients have seen immediate impact: "Initially, on-reservation Indian Health Services and tribal health facilities implemented hiring freezes until the administration reversed course, recognizing that tribal health care facilities are already understaffed, under-managed, and lack resources." "Of course, this is not to say that many of our federal programs don't need some infrastructure and operation overhauls, but you don't accomplish that by across-the-board budget cuts or terminations," Kewenvoyouma told The Republic. He noted that regardless of whether it's a Republican or Democratic administration, tribes have always had to advocate for themselves. What sets this moment apart, he said, is the combination of broad, nationwide policies that indirectly impact tribes, along with more targeted actions, such as attacks on tribal sovereignty and tribal colleges. "While developers of coal or gas-fired plants may be controversial in some communities, in others they may be the sole source of employment or economic development," said Kewenvoyouma. "There is no bright line on these projects, ultimately each tribe and person has to consider for themselves the value of those and impact on culture." Fossil fuels: Pollution from coal-fired power plants led to hundreds of deaths in Arizona, NM, study says As Kewenvoyouma noted, each tribe and individual carefully considers the impacts of energy choices. For community organizers who have dedicated years to protecting the land, water, people and wildlife from the effects of mineral extraction, Nygren's position is hard to reconcile. To them, it appears to benefit a select few rather than the broader Navajo community. They question why he continues to support coal instead of addressing the growing climate crisis that increasingly affects the Navajo Nation. "I don't understand why a younger person ... why there isn't a prioritization that he has with really addressing climate change," said Robyn Jackson, executive director of Diné Care. "That has been a missed opportunity on his part. I think it's a priority that anybody of a younger generation should absolutely be working on, especially in leadership. I don't understand why that's missing from his administration." The 2019 closure of Navajo Generating Station, the largest coal-powered plant in the Southwest and located in the Navajo community of Lechee, cost the Navajo Nation hundreds of jobs and significant revenue, Nygren said, around 3,000 direct and indirect jobs and $40 million annually. He emphasized that the current priority must be preserving employment in the Four Corners region and ensuring that any transition supports, rather than harms, the Navajo people. Jobs and revenue for the tribe have always been the main reasons that fossil extraction persists. Andrew Curley, a professor in the School of Geography, Development and Environment at the University of Arizona, is the author of "Carbon Sovereignty: Coal, Development, and Energy Transition in the Navajo Nation." His book serves as a critical history of coal mining and miners on the Navajo Nation. "(Nygren's) press release didn't mention anything present or future-oriented; it was lamenting the loss of NGS," said Curley. "I think that was a strange way to characterize the closure of the plant, which wasn't us closing it down, it was Salt River Project deciding to end the plant. It wasn't a decision by the Navajo Nation, it was a decision by SRP. Navajo Nation had agreed to continue the lease agreement for another 25 years." He said this characterization is misleading, and actually highlights the fundamental issue that when the tribe is involved in energy production, "In this case, coal. We are at the whims of utilities and their decision and what they will prioritize for energy production." Curley interviewed coal miners for his book and said even the numbers listed by Nygren when it came to the 3,000 jobs lost was not correct. "The statistic are inflated... it said 3,000 no citation, no information where they're getting that would be much less than that, who actually worked in the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine combined," said Curley. "It's not to say those jobs being lost are good. We all thought that was a bad thing for the Navajo Nation to lose those jobs, but I don't think it helps the situation to make up numbers or exaggerate what kind of impact that industry has." The overstated reliance on coal mining limits leadership's ability to envision alternatives beyond coal for employment and economic development, according to Curley. This narrow focus hinders efforts to explore new pathways the Nation could pursue to replace lost jobs and recover revenue following the closure of NGS and the Kayenta Mine. "What Trump is doing and what Buu Nygren is supporting is a step backwards," said Jackson, of Diné Care. "There are far more reliable ways for generating energy. There are a lot of other renewable project that could be developed. That's really a big reason why a lot of the utility companies have moved towards renewable projects. It's because the coal energy has been on the decline for many years now." An estimated 460,000 people died of causes attributed to fine particulates from coal power generating stations nationwide, according to a 2023 study, which examined so-called "excess deaths" between 1999 and 2020. Three of the plants in the study operated in northern Arizona or in New Mexico along the edges of the Navajo Nation. Navajo Generating Station: Navajo residents seek 'just and equitable' help after closure of power plant, coal mine In 2019, Navajo Transitional Energy Company acquired three coal mines through the purchase of Cloud Peak Energy's assets in Wyoming and Montana. Nygren said NTEC was the third-largest producer of coal in the United States. It was established in 2013 by the Navajo Nation government to buy Navajo Mine near Farmington, New Mexico. "That International Energy Agency reported a record-breaking global demand for coal — driven largely by energy needs in China, India, and Southeast Asia," said Nygren. "As global electricity demand continues to surge, we are proud that NTEC and the Navajo Nation are part of this narrative — providing critical resources to support energy security at home and abroad." According to Nygren, last year, "the U.S. produced over 1 billion tons of coal, and even now, we are producing more than 500 million tons annually." He said if the federal government is serious about coal mining, then they must work with tribes. "Navajo Transitional Energy Company supports the Executive Order President Trump signed last week, reversing years of regulation and inaction that have threatened the coal industry and the critical revenue and jobs it provides to the Navajo Nation and hard-working Americans. Coal is an important piece of America's energy independence, and NTEC is honored to continue to provide this valuable resource to support America's energy needs," said Lauren Burgess, Sr., director of communications and external relations for NTEC, in an email to The Arizona Republic. In an April 8 press release, state Rep. David Marshall, along with 22 other members of the Arizona House and Senate Republican majorities, sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, urging him to use his full authority to prevent the closure of coal-fired power plants in Arizona and to support restarting those that have already been shut down. They urged preservation of the remaining units at the Cholla Power Plant near Joseph City and to revive generation at sites like the Navajo Generating Station. "The closure of Navajo Generating Station in 2019 and ongoing retirement of Cholla Power Plant have led to significant job losses, economic hardships, and a reduction in affordable and reliable energy options for our communities," said the lawmakers. "Revitalizing these plants and supporting the continued operation of our remaining units can help to bridge the gap in energy production as we work to meet rising demand." Arizona Public Service stopped generating electricity at the Cholla Power Plant earlier this year and has said it made the decision to retire Cholla because it was no longer economical to continue operating it. "The recent closure of the Cholla coal plant is unfortunate for workers and the community of St. Johns," said Nicole Horseherder, executive director for To Nizhoni Ani, in a press release. "While I know the owner/operator of Cholla, Arizona Public Service, probably let workers know well enough ahead of time of the upcoming closure, I was hoping that unlike Navajo, the communities around Cholla would pull together resources and work with the utility to get new investments going in the communities and some training and redeployment for workers." Navajo Generating Station was not only decommissioned but also completely demolished in 2021. A study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that few — if any — of the 102 coal-fired units shut down in the past four years are viable candidates for restart. Moreover, efforts to revive them overlook the fact that many of the remaining operational plants are already running well below capacity. In short, the study concludes that restarting coal plants doesn't make economic sense. Also noted, the median age of the 102 closed or converted units as of 2025 is 56 years. U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows that the average age of retired coal plants since 2000 has been about 50 years." "To start with, most of the closed plants were old. As coal plants age, maintenance costs rise, pushing up their generation costs," stated IEEFA. "Low generation cost is a key driving factor in the economic competitiveness of coal-fired power plants." Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and Send ideas and tips to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo President Buu Nygren supports Trump's coal executive order
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Forensic DNA breaks new ground for MMIP cold cases
Mary Annette PemberICT The sight of a room full of human cadavers can be off-putting for some, but not for Haley Omeasoo. In fact, Omeasoo's comfort level and lack of squeamishness convinced her to pursue studies in forensics and how DNA can be used to solve crime and identify human remains, especially among Indigenous peoples. SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. Omeasoo, a citizen of the Hopi Tribe and a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation, encountered the cadavers as part of a high school class trip to the University of Montana medical school, where she spent time in a college level anatomy class. 'Some people go there and pass out, but I thought, 'This is pretty cool,'' she told ICT. That visit to the University of Montana was a defining moment for the budding scientist. She realized that by gaining expertise in rapidly advancing forensic technology she could help put Indigenous peoples on equal footing with scientific research that has often targeted them but has seldom been used for their benefit. This imbalance of power is especially evident in the booming business and study of human DNA data, such as that generated by investigative genetic genealogical, or IGG, testing. For Omeasoo, forensic science is deeply personal. In 2017, her friend and classmate, Ashley Loring Heavy Runner went missing from her home in Browning, Montana, on the Blackfeet Reservation. Loring Heavy Runner has still not been found and no charges have been filed in the case. Born and raised in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation, Omeasoo has long wanted to apply the study of forensics to help solve cases of missing and murdered people and identify human remains so that ancestors can be brought home. Using the science of genetic genealogical testing of DNA seemed to be a perfect fit, so at the age of 27, in 2024, she launched one of the first Indigenous-controlled DNA databases, Ohkomi Forensics. In the Blackfeet language, Ohkomi means 'to use one's voice.' 'There are so many cases like Ashley's that have gone unsolved,' she said, 'and so many families that have not received closure, answers or justice pertaining to their family members' cases.' Using DNA for MMIP Public interest in learning about ancestry helped fuel growth of direct-to-consumer DNA testing sites such as 23andMe and Ancestry, which use genetic genealogical testing. The potential applications for the huge databases created by these companies can seem to be drawn from the annals of science fiction. Beyond offering insight into a person's ancestry, the technology can be used to solve crimes, identify and predict genetic disorders, confirm a health diagnosis and determine which drugs work best for individuals, among myriad genetic testing has the power to offer a measure of healing for families and communities suffering from losses of loved ones, there is also potential for misuse of the data, however. Native people know all too well about unethical practices of researchers and their lack of culturally safe methodologies. They often have concerns about data ownership and privacy stemming from historical injustices and marginalization. For instance, researchers gathering data for a Havasupai diabetes study used tissue samples for other purposes unrelated to the initial study without informed consent. In 2010, Arizona State University agreed to pay $700,000 to 41 members of the tribe to settle claims about the misuse. The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates that there are more than 4,000 missing and murdered cases of Native people that are unsolved, though law enforcement and advocates agree that that actual number is likely much higher. And for the country at large, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, NamUS, reports that as many as 600,000 people are reported missing annually, with more than 11,000 sets of unidentified human remains held by medical examiners and coroners. Omeasoo's efforts to develop tribal expertise in IGG is especially timely. In February, the BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit announced its partnership with Othram, a private Texas-based company that uses IGG or forensic genetic genealogy, known as FGG, to help identify human remains as part of the agency's Operation Spirit Return. 'Cultural concerns' Omeasoo has long been interested in advancing and understanding the drivers of violence against Native women. Her master's degree research at the University of Montana in forensic anthropology and human biology helped sharpen her focus on how forensics can be used to address high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. She identified a correlation between skull fracture patterns and intimate partner or domestic violence. 'I found that Native American women between the ages of 25 to 44 were more likely to display these fracture patterns in association with domestic violence situations,' Omeasoo said. She notes that research correlating domestic violence to the high rates of MMIP in Indigenous communities is still emerging, but her work helps make that connection. The master's research led her to take a deeper dive into how DNA analysis could assist tribes in addressing the MMIP crisis. Omeasoo's doctoral research at the University of Montana in the forensic and molecular anthropology program examined the ethical considerations of performing genetic analysis on Indigenous peoples and human remains. Her work is also imbued with a belief in interconnectedness, in which all living things, including humans, are related and interdependent, a belief that is central to most Native cultures. Omeasoo is currently working with Blackfeet tribal members, leaders and elders to determine cultural protocols for collecting and using DNA data. For instance, in response to concerns about the destructive nature of DNA analysis when working with human remains, she uses a method that doesn't require the use of bone powder. 'For some tribes, giving up DNA is giving up a part of yourself; there are a lot of cultural concerns surrounding that,' Omeasoo said. She will receive her doctorate in May. Follow the money In years past, Native people were often discouraged or turned away by police when asking to submit DNA for comparison with unidentified remains. Cost was often a barrier, according to Amanda Takes War Bonnet-Beauvais, public education specialist with the Native Women's Society of the Great Plains. But as consumer DNA testing companies began cashing in on the public's interest in ancestry, they began offering the service at prices around $100, encouraging many people – including Native Americans - to submit their DNA to the sites. 'What started with one of us in our family doing a DNA test soon spread to other members,' Takes War Bonnet-Beauvais told ICT. 'There are so many Native Americans on ancestry DNA sites now.' Takes War Bonnet-Beauvais, of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is a former journalist with Indian Country Today and has researched the history and ancestry of her family and tribe. The recent bankruptcy of the popular consumer genetic company, 23andMe, however, is shining a light on the potential monetary value of genetic databases and the dearth of privacy regulations protecting sensitive and personal information. In its contract with customers, 23andMe states that there is a possibility that its data would be sold if it goes into bankruptcy. The company's profit was tied to the public's demand for ancestry DNA testing kits, but as interest declined so did the company's profits. But its enormous data set, which includes about 15 million DNA samples, could be invaluable for some industries. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global forensic technology market, which includes IGG data, was valued at $5.65 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to nearly $10 billion by 2032. Medical, pharmaceutical and forensic industries, often backed by wealthy venture capitalist groups,are in a race to acquire these rich databases. Investors such as Gigafund, a venture capitalist firm that has investments in futuristic companies such as billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX and Neurolink, are also betting on the value of DNA and genetic data. In 2021, Gigafund invested $18 million in Othram, a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, or FGG. In the meantime, the public is struggling to understand the entirety of uses for genetic data. GEDMatch, a company that compares DNA samples among companies and whose work helped identify the Golden State Killer in California in 2018, acknowledged the uncertainties in its terms-of-service page. 'We cannot predict what the future holds for DNA or genealogy research,' according to terms of service from GEDMatch. 'We cannot predict what the future will be for GEDmatch. It is possible that, in the future, GEDmatch will merge with, or operations will be transferred to other individuals or entities.' In a study released in 2024 by the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington in Seattle, researchers interviewed experts working in the IGG industry. One genetic genealogist summarized the nascent industry as the 'Wild, Wild West.' 'I don't know who, or what companies specifically, would want to buy 23andMe,' Katie Hasson, associate director at the Center for Genetics and Society told the Washington Post in a recent interview. 'But we are seeing the ways that our personal data is being vacuumed up and collated, and sold to different companies for marketing, targeting for ads, and who knows where it goes from there.' Gigafund did not respond to an email request for comment from ICT asking about its interest in IGG or the company's speculation about future uses for the technology. 'More resources' Many in Indian Country, however, are more concerned with the immediate benefits for their communities. 'More resources, more help, it's always going to be a good thing, especially when we're in crisis mode of our people going missing,' Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire told the Cascadia Daily News regarding additional funding allocated by the Washington state legislature for DNA testing of unidentified remains. 'Thanks to the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit and its partners, our Operation Initiative will help return missing relatives to their families, so that they can be comforted knowing their loved ones have come home,' said Bryan Mercier, director of the BIA, exercising the delegated authority of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in a February 2025 press release. 'We've approved 15 cases so far for the testing process,' William Horton, regional agent in charge of the BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit, told ICT. In January, investigators identified the remains of Michelle Elbow Shield, a 26-year-old mother of two reported missing by her family in December 2023, according to Horton. Elbow Shield was a citizen of the Oglala Lakota tribe and lived in Rapid City. The Rapid City Police and BIA are still investigating the case. The BIA contracts with Othram, and a direct DNA sample provided by a relative allowed investigators to confirm Elbow Shield's identity. The BIA has long used DNA as an investigative tool through databases such as the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, which is maintained by the FBI, Horton said. But the DNA data kept in CODIS is from people who have been arrested or convicted of serious crimes and consists of sequences of DNA known as short tandem repeat, or STR, that can identify an individual using 13 to 20 markers. An STR profile can be used to identify and compare DNA samples from crime scenes and convicted offenders. But the technology used by direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies such as Ancestry, 23andMe or MyHeritage is based on genetic genealogy, a blend of DNA analysis and genealogic research. It examines far smaller bits of DNA — up to 500,000 single nucleotides instead of segments — and can identify not only an individual but even very distant relatives, providing information about appearance and health. In criminal investigations, this technique is called forensic genetic genealogy, FGG, or investigative genetic genealogy, IGG. It can also be used to amplify very small samples of DNA through techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, PCR. Using amplification techniques like PCR , scientists can produce millions of copies of specific DNA segments to create a profile even from trace or degraded bits of DNA. The implications for solving cold cases and identifying human remains are massive. David Mittleman, chief executive officer of Othram explains how it works. 'Think of DNA like a radar system — when we search a DNA profile, we don't usually get an exact match, but we do get 'pings' from people who share some DNA with the unknown person,' he said. 'These pings don't tell us physical distance, like a traditional radar, but instead reveal genetic distance — how closely related two people are.' The company uses what is called Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing, or FGGS, to create a detailed DNA profile, which is then compared to a database of people who voluntarily shared their DNA for genealogical research. 'Traditional forensic DNA testing, like what's used in CODIS, only works if an exact match is already in the system — like a direct suspect or a close relative,' Mittleman said. 'When we run this search, we get a radar-like map of genetic relatives—some close, some distant. From there, we work with investigators to piece together family connections, building a path that can lead to identifying the unknown person or suspect.' Othram works directly with law enforcement but also operates DNASolves, a database that allows the public to upload their DNA data already purchased from direct-to-consumer databases for free. It also allows the public to upload their DNA directly for testing for a fee. Othram did not respond to ICT about cost, but other forensic testing sites charge between $200 to $1,500 for the service, which doesn't provide any ancestry or health information for the client. DNASolves uses crowdfunding and public donations to fund its work. Othram, however, is a for-profit company that charges law enforcement for its services. The company also includes other public 'consented' databases in its searches. For those people participating in BIA investigations, testing is paid for by the agency, according to Mittleman. In addition to lab techniques, forensic genealogy also uses Artificial Intelligence, AI-driven analysis to interpret genetic relationships, he said. Mittleman said Othram works only with forensic data. 'Since we don't want to create any concerns, we completely avoid the medical space,' he said. Genetic links Since genetic genealogy can identify so many distant generations of relatives from just one sample, the more people who submit DNA to such data bases, the more powerful the data becomes, potentially showing connections among entire populations. Krystal Tsosie, Diné, a geneticist and epidemiologist at Arizona State University, notes that due to smaller population sizes among Native communities, even a single individual's genomic data can reveal connections to many relatives. So Omeasoo's goal of obtaining 100 DNA samples from Blackfeet citizens whose entire population is around 15,000 could link thousands of people, making the resulting data set incredibly revealing. According to a study published in the Columbia Science Technology Law Review in 2019, a database only needs to cover approximately 2 percent of a population in order to provide a third-person match to nearly every person in that population. Cece Moore, actress and genetic genealogist, spoke of the crime-solving potential of genetic genealogy in an interview with the Intercept. 'I really believe we can stop serial killers from existing, stop serial rapists from existing,' said Moore, who has worked for the popular PBS show, 'Finding Your Roots.' Indeed, in 2018 data from a public genetic genealogy website helped police catch Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State Killer, alleged to be responsible for at least a dozen murders and about 50 rapes in California during the 1970s and 1980s. One of DeAngelo's distant relatives uploaded their DNA profile created by a direct-to-consumer company to a free, public website in which users agree that their data can be used by law enforcement. There is no broad federal law in the U.S. specifically governing use of direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and different states have their own rules about genomic privacy and how genetic data can be used. Some states are strict about unauthorized use of genetic info, while others are more relaxed. Because of privacy concerns, states like Maryland and Montana now require search warrants for accessing consumer DNA databases. The DNA data held by 23andMe was off limits to law enforcement without a search warrant, but if the data is sold, there's no guarantee on how it would be used. Officials, however, didn't need a court order to search the public site, GEDMatch, where DeAngelo's relative had uploaded their data. Police obtained a sample of DeAngelo's DNA from a trash can in order to match him with the available evidence. Many public sites such as GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA allow users to use their DNA to find relatives and explore family history. They also allow users to opt-in to database searches by law enforcement. Laws are also lax on how genetic testing can be used to reveal information about people's risks for certain diseases and other health problems. The data isn't protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, unless the DNA was submitted as part of a person's health care. Critics caution that the large and rich datasets could be of interest to industries such as health insurance companies to identify customers with increased health risks, by pharmaceutical companies to market drugs to people with certain conditions, and by market researchers to understand consumer preferences and behaviors and other uses. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization defending civil liberties, argues that law enforcement use of IGG or FGG data is unconstitutional, violating the Fourth Amendment prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures. Critics further caution that law enforcement and government could use the data for surveillance or to prosecute less-serious crimes. In recognition of such concerns Moore launched a new nonprofit database, the DNA Justice Foundation, that caters only to law enforcement. Data sovereignty Community control of data is central to Omeasoo's work and that of other Native scientists. For instance, Tsosie leads a movement called "DataBack" aimed at returning control of Indigenous genomic data to Native peoples and their tribes and emphasizing the importance of genomic health equity. Tsosie, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences, advocates for more Indigenous scientists and leaders to reclaim control over their DNA data and emphasizes the need for global recognition of Indigenous data sovereignty as a fundamental right. In her Ph.D dissertation, Omeasoo explored why DNA analysis can be controversial from an Indigenous perspective. She noted, for instance, that DNA research could be used to trace Indigenous migration patterns throughout the world and in the process re-import racist categories into science. This research, she writes, becomes a powerful tool for colonizing states to appropriate Indigenous bodies, living and dead, reducing them to cultural artifacts supporting Western academic knowledge without the added benefit of Indigenous knowledge and perspective. DNA data surrounding health is also concerning for many Native people, according to Omeasoo. Researchers have long pursued proof of the thrifty gene hypothesis, suggesting a single gene predisposes Indigenous peoples to type 2 diabetes. According to studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Native Americans are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than other populations. Among Native people in the U.S., researchers have maintained that the Akimel O'oodham or Pima tribes which includes the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, are reputed to have the highest rates of the disease in the world, rates attributable to genetic predisposition. But more in-depth genetic studies of the hypothesis in connection to the Akimel O'Oodham have shown that the population shows no genetic evidence to support the thrifty gene theory. Rather, the high rates of type 2 diabetes are attributed to complex environmental, economic and social factors. Embracing the future Omeasoo is currently working to identify human remains, likely of the Blackfeet tribe, that are part of a collection of Indigenous remains held by the University of Montana. Before beginning the work, however, Omeasoo had the research approved by the Blackfeet Nation's institutional review board which oversees research within the community, ensuring ethical treatment and protecting Indigenous knowledge and communities from harm. Omeasoo advertised information to the community about the project which also includes a goal of solving MMIP cases. 'Participation is 100 percent voluntary,' she said. She collected 105 samples in less than two hours. Her goal was 100 samples. 'We advertised for about a month or so to get the word out and set up the collection site; the community really showed up,' Omeasoo said. 'We aren't looking at the whole genome [which reveals health factors] in this project, which was what the community was concerned about; we are only looking at family heritage,' she said. Omeasoo sees the project as a pilot study that other tribes may embrace in the future. 'Hopefully it will show other tribes that the system works to identify our family members and bring them home without paying these large companies,' she said. According to Omeasoo, this would allow tribes to ensure data sovereignty. Looking ahead Omeasoo is currently looking for additional sponsors and donors to support Ohkomi. Early on, she received $25,000 from Season of Justice, a nonprofit organization that provides funding for investigative agencies and families to help solve cold cases. The organization was founded by Ashley Flowers, founder and chief creative officer of Audiochuck, the media company that produces Crime Junkie, a popular true crime podcast that has aired several episodes dedicated to exploring MMIP cases. The donation allowed Omeasoo to purchase her own field equipment. 'Aside from our lab work, we actually go out and search for missing people, too,' she said. 'There are no strings attached to Season of Justice's funding which is so cool.' Indigenous DNA testing sites have not attracted the interest of venture capitalists like Gigafund. Okhomi buys DNA testing kits from Qiagen, a company offering technology and testing DNA testing products 'They (Qiagen) just sell me the testing kits; I do all the work and then the tribe is able to own its own database,' she said. Omeasoo is working on building relationships with law enforcement both on and off the reservation. 'Sometimes tribal law enforcement isn't very receptive to outside help but since Okhomi comes from the community, I'm hoping to establish and build trust,' she said. The goal is to test and solve cases on a local level. 'Since I work at the University of Montana's forensics lab, we have a memo of understanding with the Montana State Crime lab,' she said. The pain of searching for loved ones strikes an intimate chord for Omeasoo, who is a mother of two. 'There are so many families that are still looking for answers within our tribe and across the nation,' Omeasoo said. 'As Indigenous people we are all impacted by this issue; just one person giving their DNA could possibly give a family a chance for knowledge and relief.' Mittleman agrees. 'Getting families pieced back together by finding their loved ones and catching people who do bad things and exonerating those wrongly accused of doing bad things is our focus at Othram,' he said. Neither Okhomi nor Othram claim ownership or control of DNA data in their databases. 'If we take someone's DNA, they sign a consent form indicating exactly what it's being used for,' said Horton, the regional BIA agent. 'It will not be available to any of these civilian databases.' Mittle said the protections are important. 'I don't think it's a shock that Native American communities would be suspicious or concerned about how their data is used; they haven't necessarily been treated well by the government over the years,' Mittleman said. "No one wants to see a rapist or murderer go free, but they also want to feel comfortable that their data is being used for their intended purposes.' In the end, Horton hopes that DNA testing can bring closure to Native American families whose loved ones are missing or have been victims of crimes. Omeasoo envisions working directly with law enforcement and other accredited forensic companies in order to offer truth, healing and reconciliation to Native communities and beyond. Her vision could soon become a reality. In April, the Department of Justice announced a surge in FBI efforts to solve violent crime in Indian Country. 'After all,' she said, 'We're all kind of related somehow.' Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hopi awarded more than $4 million for water infrastructure project
Daniel Herrera CarbajalICT The Hopi Tribe has been awarded more than $4 million for a solar-powered microgrid to advance its energy and water funds, awarded from the Department of Energy, will be used to build a 250-kilowatt, solar-powered microgrid to power two wells at the unelectrified Side Rock Well Field located on the Hopi Reservation in northeast wells will deliver water to the villages of Upper and Lower Moenkopi via a pipeline that is currently under construction.'It'll be bringing much-needed water to the village of Moencopi on the Hopi Reservation,' Hopi tribal council representative Leroy Shingoitewa told Arizona Democratic senators, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, announced the news.'I'm excited to announce that the Hopi Tribe has been awarded over $4 million to help secure its energy and water future,' said Gallego. 'Clean water is vital for community health and economic development, and this innovative project will ensure that some of the most remote parts of the Hopi Reservation have reliable access for years to come.''This project means Hopi families will have a steady, reliable water source,' said Kelly. 'By using solar power to run these wells, they're lowering costs and making sure the community has the water it needs for years to come.'The addition of a microgrid is part of a larger, ongoing project – Side Rock Water Supply project, which aims to provide a reliable water source for the Hopi Tribe.A microgrid is a self-contained electrical network that can work independently from the main power grid or alongside it. The new Hopi microgrid will work independently from its main power the Upper and Lower Moencopi villages are disconnected from the rest of Hopi Tribe. The Hopi Tribe is surrounded by the Navajo Nation, but the Moencopi village is separated from the main Hopi land. Shingoitewa told ICT that this leaves Moencopi far from the main Hopi water supply.'We live on the western portion of the reservation approximately 55 miles away from the Hopi tribal headquarters, and we really are kind of sitting on an island outside of the main Hopi Reservation,'Shingoitewa told Moencopi village has wells, but the water produced from them is not 'adequate,' said to the U.S. Department of Energy, the current water source is now insufficient for community needs.'With the money that's now gonna be available for the wells to bring water here, we will have the opportunity to provide more water to meet the needs of our people here in our village … and also for the future,' said fight for water is ongoing for tribal nations, with many tribes still fighting for their water rights in Kelly and Gallego introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, which was referred to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. A version of the act also has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both houses of Congress would need to pass the legislation, which would ratify and fund the largest Indian water rights settlement in the country. It would secure water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement will settle the three tribes' claims to the main stem of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River, and relevant groundwater sources in Arizona. It will guarantee the tribes' access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, with specific groundwater rights and agreement also requires the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation to leave 17,050 acre-feet per year of Arizona Upper Basin water in Lake Powell for the first 20 years.'This is a truly historic moment for our Tribe and for our sister tribes. Clean, running water and permanent homes are luxuries our people have gone too long without,' said San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe President Carlene Yellowhair in a press release. 'This legislation will ensure we have these basic human rights now and into the future. We are grateful to Senator Kelly, Senator Gallego, Congressman Ciscomani, Congressman Stanton, and the entire Arizona Delegation for their continued support for this important legislation.' Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
