Latest news with #HunkpapaLakota
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico becomes 19th state to guarantee students' right to wear regalia
Stewart HuntingtonICTNew Mexico officials are hoping that Native high school students celebrate their identity in upcoming graduation ceremonies under a new law securing their right to wear culturally significant clothing, accessories and objects during school spread the joy.'We're hoping to kind of run a campaign to some extent … to showcase native students,' Josett Monette, the state's cabinet secretary for the Indian Affairs Department, told ICT. 'We're hoping we get some selfies or photos of students in their regalia as they do their different events towards the end of the year, and that we're able to kind of highlight those' on official State of New Mexico social media March 19, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the legislation into law, ensuring students across New Mexico can freely express their cultural identity at school ceremonies. 'This legislation represents our commitment to honoring and respecting the rich cultural heritage of New Mexico's Native communities,' said Lujan Grisham. 'Every student deserves to celebrate their academic achievements in a way that honors their identity and traditions.'The legislation passed unanimously through both chambers of the Legislature and took effect immediately after the governor signed it. New Mexico joins at least 18 other states that have enacted laws that enshrine Native students' rights to express their cultural identities sartorially. Education officials praised the new statute. '(The bill) SB 163 is a significant step forward in honoring and respecting the cultural heritage of Native American students across New Mexico,' said Sec. Mariana Padilla of the New Mexico Public Education Department. 'By ensuring their right to wear traditional regalia at school ceremonies, this bill affirms the importance of identity, culture, and self-expression of the nearly 40,000 Native American students enrolled in a public school across the state. Education should uplift and celebrate the rich traditions that make our communities stronger.'Monette, a Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians citizen, said the bill was the first one she had initiated in her year as secretary of the Indian Affairs Department that went through to become law – and that seeing it in the formal legal registry gave her a boost.'Very excited to have gotten the bill through,' she said. 'We felt it was appropriate to put this into law to ensure that the right (to wear culturally significant clothing) remained intact, and that there was no question as to whether or not students would be allowed to do that. … I'm hopeful that this just makes one of those steps a little bit easier for students to not have to worry about it.'Students have often had to worry about it. Across the country and in New year in Farmington, New Mexico, a Hunkpapa Lakota student had her graduation cap – that she had adorned with a traditional feather plume – removed by school administrators during her graduation ceremony. The incident, caught on video, prompted outrage and a rebuke from the Navajo Nation Council.'No student in any school should be prohibited from wearing regalia that signifies their cultural and spiritual beliefs,' the council said. 'These actions are belittling, humiliating, and demeaning to the student and her family. There is no place for this type of behavior in our educational systems. The school officials owe an apology to the student and her family.'The Native American Rights Fund, a leading legal advocacy organization in Indian Country, has made it a priority to fight for students' rights to wear regalia. Last year NARF released a help sheet for students and parents – and school administrators – to navigate the issue. 'Many Tribal Nations recognize leadership achievements by bestowing the person who earned the honor an eagle feather or plume,' the guidelines state. 'While tribal religions and spiritual practices vary from each other, in general, a Native person who wears a plume or eagle feather at a public event has done something amazing to show that they have the maturity to pray and care for themselves and others. … This guide shares steps to help high school graduates successfully wear eagle feathers during their commencement ceremony.'The guidelines further urge parents to seek legal advice should schools balk at allowing cultural displays at school ceremonies – a consideration that the new law in New Mexico aims to render moot.'There's at least 18 other states that have a similar law in place,' said Monette. 'And so we thought it was time for New Mexico to be part of that as well. I always say that New Mexico should be at the forefront of what's going on in Indian country, and across the entire country.'I think it's going to be really exciting. I hope the students and the parents appreciate it. I'm hoping we see lots of students wearing their regalia for graduation.'And sending selfies to the secretary of the Department of Indian Affairs. The 18 other states with similar laws, according to the Native American Rights Fund, are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Dark Winds' star Zahn McClarnon credits show for 'humanizing and normalizing Native people on television'
Zahn McClarnon is back as Lt. Joe Leaphorn in the noir crime series Dark Winds, and this season, the Navajo Tribal Police officer is exploring the guilt and 'moral gray areas' that follow after choices made in Season 2. 'Exploring Joe Leaphorn's psyche this season … and what makes Joe tick, that's always exciting,' McClarnon told Yahoo Entertainment. 'I have fun doing that.' Season 3 of the AMC series premieres March 9 and is based on books by Tony Hillerman. This season, which sees the tribal police investigating the disappearance of two boys on the reservation, also stars fellow Indigenous actors Jessica Matten and Kiowa Gordon. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. McClarnon, who is Hunkpapa Lakota and an executive producer on the series, said that working with a Native cast and crew is 'a dream come true.' 'I think we've come a long way in this business as far as representation of Native communities, and I think we have a ways to go yet, and we want to keep it going,' he said. 'But I feel very fortunate that I've been able to experience it in my career. We're humanizing and normalizing Native people on television.' Not only does McClarnon star in and serve as an executive producer on the series, but he will also have his directorial debut in the recently announced Season 4. 'We're chipping away at those stereotypes and those tropes that we've been dealing with for a long time,' he said. 'We have more of a voice now, and it's very fortunate to be a part of that.' Gordon, who plays Navajo Tribal Police officer Jim Chee, agreed. 'It's great, because why the hell not?' he told Yahoo Entertainment. 'It's taken us long enough to get into these positions, and I just love to see it. It's great. Great for all of us. Great for morale. Great for setting up the next generation to believe in themselves that they can do it too.' For Canadian actress Matten, who is Red River Métis and Cree, the strong presence of Indigenous voices was 'nothing new to me.' 'I think it's more interestingly enough new to the States, but you know, my entire life I grew up with an Indigenous network, Indigenous storytellers, Indigenous executive producers, directors, writers,' Matten, who plays former tribal police officer and now Border Patrol officer Bernadette Manuelito, told Yahoo Entertainment. 'That's nothing new in my world, but again, it's really cool to be helping to lead the pack of being in that generation, introducing that to the United States and also globally.' Fans around the world have embraced the series, which boasts a producing team that also includes Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin and Cheyenne-Arapaho filmmaker Chris Eyre. The show has since brought on actors who are guest-starring and making fun cameos in Season 3. 'We have freaking Jenna Elfman,' Gordon exclaimed. 'Bruce Greenwood, Terry Serpico, just all these great players that came to play.' The Hualapai actor said it was meeting Elfman that he was most excited about. 'I don't know why I put people on pedestals, but I put people on pedestals, and she's one of those people,' he said. 'It's just intimidating when you meet somebody for the first time that you think you're close to, and in reality, you're not really. But in some sense, you are, and we're all doing the same thing.' The cast is hoping that fans of the series will appreciate the 'universal themes of family and community' in Season 3, McClarnon said. Championing the show as a way to 'share our stories' and create 'more understanding in the world, Matten said this season 'may be our best season.' As for the upcoming Season 4, Gordon said, 'I feel real great, feel grateful. It's nice to have a collective sigh of relief from the cast and crew to know that we'll be working again and seeing each other and not putting these characters to bed yet.' While the series will return, that doesn't mean the stars haven't thought about keeping some mementos from the set for themselves — especially given the 1970s-style clothing and set pieces. 'So legally, we're not allowed to take anything because we've got to keep it if there is another season,' Matten said. 'I think if anything, I would like to take one of the Bernie tops, just like one of our typical tribal ones. That would be cool.' 'Oh, I've taken a few things home. I can't say what, 'cause I'll get in trouble. They'll want them back,' McClarnon said. 'Actually, I took a hat from last season, a straw hat that I really liked. And I've got to take it back this season just in case Joe has to wear it again.' For Gordon, in addition to the custom suits that Chee wears, he said he's 'saving up my money' to buy the 'American muscle car' that's featured in the show. 'It'd be really fun to have one,' he said. 'If it ran well.' Season 3 premieres March 9 on AMC and AMC+.
Voice of America
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Native American news roundup, Feb. 2-8, 2025
Each year, the Sitanka Wokiksuye, or Chief Big Foot Memorial Ride, remembers the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre with a 14-day journey on horseback from the Cheyenne River Reservation to the site of that violence on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation. By the late 1880s, the Native American Lakota tribe was confined to reservations, their traditional ways of life forbidden, and the buffalo, critical to their survival, were decimated. Left to survive on inadequate U.S. government rations, the Lakota and many other tribes found hope in the Ghost Dance, a messianic movement that promised a return to their former way of life. The U.S. Army interpreted the dance as a call to arms and sent the 7th Cavalry to suppress the dancing and arrest Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull, who the U.S. government believed was orchestrating rebellion. Sitting Bull was shot dead, and his half-brother, Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitanka, dubbed Big Foot, led his followers to consult with the Oglala leadership on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Army intercepted them and forced them to camp at Wounded Knee village; the next day, while confiscating weapons, a shot rang out, triggering the Army to open fire. By the end of the day, Big Foot and about 300 Lakota, including unarmed women, and children, lay dead. The event was celebrated as a victory for the U.S. Army, and the government awarded Medals of Honor to 20 cavalry soldiers for their actions. This year, the Big Foot riders and their supporters hoped that President Joe Biden might revoke those medals. Oliver 'O.J.' Semans has spent years lobbying U.S. administrations to 'take back honor wrongly bestowed.' The Sicangu Lakota voting rights advocate from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota lost many ancestors in that violence and said, 'If Biden's going to do anything, the best day would be December 29th' as that is the anniversary of the massacre. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced the Remove the Stain Act in 2019, calling on the Army to revoke those Medals of Honor. Despite some bipartisan support and backing from Native leaders and advocacy groups, the bill did not advance. Administrative action This July, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a review of medals of honor given for what he called the 'engagement' at Wounded Knee to assess whether awardees violated the laws and military ethics of the era. "It's never too late to do what's right," said an unnamed senior defense official quoted in the Pentagon press release that announced the decision. "And that's what is intended by the review that the secretary directed, which is to ensure that we go back and review each of these medals in a rigorous and individualized manner to understand the actions of the individual in the context of the overall engagement." Austin directed a review panel of five members – three from the Department of Defense and two from the Interior Department -- to gather all relevant historical records and assess the actions of those soldiers based not on today's standards but by those at the time. "This is not a retrospective review," said another unnamed DoD official in the same Pentagon press release. "We're applying the standards at the time. And that's critical because we want to make sure that as these are reviewed and as a recommendation is made to the secretary and then to the president that we have applied the standards appropriately, while ensuring that we look at the context.' The U.S. Army's 1863 General Orders No. 100, also known as the 'Lieber Code,' banned using excessive force, killing noncombatants, attacking during a ceasefire, and looting. The Army held two sets of hearings on the matter in early 1891, interviewing officers and witnesses that included newspaper reporters, a surgeon and a Catholic priest. 'The Army was on the cusp of being a modern professional force, and so they at least made an effort to investigate allegations of crimes at Wounded Knee,' said Dwight S. Mears, author of 'The Medal of Honor: The Evolution of America's Highest Military Decoration.' In the end, the Army excused the cavalry's actions as accidental and unintentional, and the U.S. Secretary of War recommended commendations. 'There was no political will to prosecute anybody, but they did collect a lot of evidence,' Mears said, 'and if you sift through that with a critical eye, you can find a whole bunch of places where officers misrepresented themselves, which is a crime under oath.' Three months after the massacre, the first Medal of Honor for Wounded Knee was awarded to an officer who, according to the medal citation 'killed a hostile Indian at close quarters, and although entitled to retirement from service, remained to the close of the campaign.' An award without guidelines The U.S. Medal of Honor was created in 1863 to recognize acts of bravery, gallantry, and other distinguished actions in battle. "But the Army didn't publish any standards for awarding it until 1889, so the commanding general of the Army just gave the medal out however he saw fit,' Mears explains. In 1916, Congress directed the Army to review more than 2,600 medals and determine whether any had been issued 'for any cause other than distinguished conduct by an officer or enlisted man in action involving actual conflict with an enemy.' After an eight-month review, the Army struck more than 900 medals from the record. All of the Wounded Knee medals remained in place. This year's Wounded Knee review panel was given until October 15 to present its findings. By mid-November, Cheyenne River Sioux President Ryman LeBeau reported that the panel had voted three-to-two in favor of maintaining all medals awarded. Semans believes that review was flawed from the start. 'Military historians weren't used, and it was done over such a short period of time that evidence really couldn't be put together,' he said. Senator Warren and South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds asked the Interior and Defense departments to extend the review's deadline to give stakeholders — including tribes, survivor descendants and historians a chance to weigh in. "The devil is in the details,' Mears said. 'If you don't know what actually happened at Wounded Knee, you might assume that every member of the 7th Cavalry, you know, just stood up and executed Lakota. And that is not what the record supports.' To date, neither the Pentagon nor the White House has made any statement about the review panel's findings. 'We have no additional updates to share at this time,' a Defense Department official told VOA.
