Latest news with #NCAI
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shinnecock Nation Asserts Fishing Rights in Long Island Waters
Shinnecock Nation's tribal citizens are taking their fight for aboriginal fishing rights to federal court, aiming to protect the traditional practices that have sustained their people for generations. The case, Silva v. Farrish, now before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, could have significant implications for tribal sovereignty and the future of Indigenous-led environmental stewardship in the region. The Shinnecock Nation argues that their rights to fish in the waters of Long Island, particularly Shinnecock Bay, have never been ceded, relinquished, or extinguished. Their case contends that, because neither the United States nor the Shinnecock Nation has ever agreed to give up those rights, the State of New York has no authority to criminalize their fishing practices. 'This case is about affirming the continued existence of aboriginal Shinnecock fishing rights that have never been ceded away or extinguished in any manner,' Riley Plumer, attorney for the Shinnecock tribal fishers said in a press release. 'My clients seek to continue exercising their ancestral fishing rights and carry forward Shinnecock traditional ways.' Never miss Indian Country's biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Support for the Shinnecock comes from national Tribal organizations, including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF), both of which filed amicus briefs on May 15, along with the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers. 'For centuries Shinnecock citizens have fished these waters as a rightful lifeway, not a hobby,' NCAI President Mark Macarro said in a press release. 'When states ignore that living history and criminalize traditional harvest, they violate the very principles of Tribal sovereignty on which this Nation was founded.' The Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, an Indigenous women-led group focused on environmental restoration through sustainable kelp farming, also weighed in, highlighting the connection between Indigenous rights and ecosystem health. 'We have a right to fish, to gather, to hunt, and we never ceded or gave away those rights,' Tela Troge, one of the Kelp Farmers said in a press release. The Shinnecock have fished, farmed, and stewarded the waters of the Peconic Estuary and Atlantic Ocean for thousands of years. Tribal members continue to rely on those waters for food, cultural practices, and environmental restoration. 'The Shinnecock Indian Nation is an inherently sovereign government that predates the arrival of colonizing forces, and 'Shinnecock's aboriginal fishing rights flow from this inherent sovereignty. Federal Indian law says Shinnecock retains these rights until clearly abrogated by Congress or legally relinquished by the Tribal Nation. USET SPF is proud to stand in support of Shinnecock and its citizens in calling on New York to recognize these inherent rights,' said Kirk Francis, President of USET SPF and Chief of the Penobscot Nation. However, pollution and state interference have made their efforts harder. Despite these challenges, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has refused to recognize the Nation's fishing rights or work collaboratively to manage local aquatic resources. About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. " Contact: kberg@ Solve the daily Crossword
Economic Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump slammed by two Native American groups for supporting 'Redskins' name revival
President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social, claimed there was 'a big clamoring' for the Commanders - who adopted their current name in 2022 - to revert to their previous moniker, adding that 'our great Indian people' want it restored. (AP/PTI) Synopsis President Trump's call to reinstate the 'Redskins' name for Washington's NFL team has sparked strong condemnation from two Native American organisations. They denounce the name as a racist caricature, emphasizing the need for respect and self-determination. While the team aims for a new stadium in DC by 2030, Trump's stance could influence congressional approvals. Two Native American organisations strongly condemned President Donald Trump on Monday after he threatened to block a proposed new NFL stadium in Washington, DC, unless the local team reinstates its former 'Redskins' name. ADVERTISEMENT Trump, posting Sunday on Truth Social, claimed there was 'a big clamoring' for the Commanders - who adopted their current name in 2022 - to revert to their previous moniker, adding that 'our great Indian people' want it restored. He also called on MLB's Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Indians, to change their name back. In response, the Association on American Indian Affairs denounced Trump's push, saying such names and mascots 'do not honor Native Peoples - they reduce us to caricatures'. The organisation emphasised that Native nations are 'sovereign, contemporary cultures who deserve respect and self-determination, not misrepresentation'. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) also rejected Trump's comments, labeling racist mascots as 'an affront to Tribal sovereignty'. NCAI President Mark Macarro stated that the organisation has opposed such imagery for 75 years, asserting that mascots mocking and dehumanising Native people have no place in modern society."We unequivocally oppose President Trump's call for the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians to reinstate their former, racist names. Tribal Nations have been unambiguous on this issue for generations. We are not your mascot. We are not your distraction," NCAI said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT The Washington NFL team retired the Redskins name and logo in 2020 after decades of criticism. Trump's comments come as the team prepares to return to DC with a new stadium expected in 2030. While Trump cannot directly block the project, Congress - which oversees DC governance - could influence funding and approvals. ADVERTISEMENT The Commanders, a storied NFL franchise with three Super Bowl titles, were ranked by Forbes last year as the league's 10th most valuable team, with an estimated worth of $6.3 the criticism, the Native American Guardians Association voiced support for Trump's stance, accusing cancel culture of erasing tradition and identity. ADVERTISEMENT Other major sports franchises with Native American-themed names - such as the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks, and Kansas City Chiefs - have said they do not plan to change their names, keeping the debate over sports mascots alive. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump slammed by two Native American groups for supporting 'Redskins' name revival
Two Native American organisations strongly condemned President Donald Trump on Monday after he threatened to block a proposed new NFL stadium in Washington, DC, unless the local team reinstates its former ' Redskins ' name. Trump, posting Sunday on Truth Social, claimed there was 'a big clamoring' for the Commanders - who adopted their current name in 2022 - to revert to their previous moniker, adding that 'our great Indian people' want it restored. He also called on MLB's Cleveland Guardians , formerly the Indians, to change their name back. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo In response, the Association on American Indian Affairs denounced Trump's push, saying such names and mascots 'do not honor Native Peoples - they reduce us to caricatures'. The organisation emphasised that Native nations are 'sovereign, contemporary cultures who deserve respect and self-determination, not misrepresentation'. — IndianAffairs (@IndianAffairs) The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) also rejected Trump's comments, labeling racist mascots as 'an affront to Tribal sovereignty'. NCAI President Mark Macarro stated that the organisation has opposed such imagery for 75 years, asserting that mascots mocking and dehumanising Native people have no place in modern society. Live Events "We unequivocally oppose President Trump's call for the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians to reinstate their former, racist names. Tribal Nations have been unambiguous on this issue for generations. We are not your mascot. We are not your distraction," NCAI said in a statement. — NCAI1944 (@NCAI1944) The Washington NFL team retired the Redskins name and logo in 2020 after decades of criticism. Trump's comments come as the team prepares to return to DC with a new stadium expected in 2030. While Trump cannot directly block the project, Congress - which oversees DC governance - could influence funding and approvals. The Commanders, a storied NFL franchise with three Super Bowl titles, were ranked by Forbes last year as the league's 10th most valuable team, with an estimated worth of $6.3 billion. Despite the criticism, the Native American Guardians Association voiced support for Trump's stance, accusing cancel culture of erasing tradition and identity. — GuardiansNative (@GuardiansNative) Other major sports franchises with Native American-themed names - such as the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks, and Kansas City Chiefs - have said they do not plan to change their names, keeping the debate over sports mascots alive.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Native Organizations and Tribal Leaders Respond to Ann Clouter's ‘We Didn't Kill Enough Indians' Remark
When conservative pundit Ann Coulter posted 'We didn't kill enough Indians' this past weekend, she wasn't just spreading hate speech—she was launching a direct attack on tribal sovereignty and the inherent right of Native nations to exist. Since Tuesday, national Native organizations and tribal leaders have issued statements in response. While excerpts from some of these have appeared in previous coverage, we are publishing the full, unedited statements received by our newsroom here: Statement by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) emphatically condemns the hateful, genocidal statement of Ann Coulter on July 6, 2025, through a post on the social platform X, declaring: 'We didn't kill enough Indians.' There is no place in society for this direct incitement of hatred and violence toward American Indian and Alaska Native people. Never miss Indian Country's biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 'These words are not provocative social commentary; they are a violent attack on Native people and Tribal Nations. Celebrating genocide against Tribal Nations crosses every moral line,' said NCAI President Mark Macarro. 'Careless comments like this glorify the darkest chapters of U.S. history and actively endanger Native peoples' lives today. We will not sit silently at attempts to normalize this abhorrent behavior. We demand an immediate retraction and public apology — and we expect leaders of every political persuasion to denounce this abomination without equivocation.' 'Free speech does not confer a license to advocate for or justify mass murder — past or present,' added NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. 'When a public figure with more than two million followers romanticizes extermination, it fuels harassment, hate crimes, and political violence. Silence from elected officials and media outlets will only normalize this genocidal history. We call on them to speak up now.' NCAI further demands that X enforce against vitriol like this and send a message that such inciting hate speech will not be tolerated by banning this individual from their platform. Instead of amplifying divisive and inhuman perspectives, let us turn our attention to celebrating the powerful, nation-building contributions of Tribal Nations to the United States. NCAI encourages all Americans to learn more about the many contributions that Native peoples and Tribal Nations have made and continue to make to this country. Visit a Tribal Nation near you, explore the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., or New York, read from abundant award-winning literature produced by American Indians and Alaska Natives. We encourage all media outlets, elected leaders, educators, and individual Americans to uplift these living stories of service, innovation, and cultural resilience. In centering these and other Native achievements, we reject hatred and misinformation, celebrate our Tribal sovereignty, and honor our shared community and history. Statement by John E. Echohawk, Executive Director, Native American Rights Fund Yesterday, pundit Ann Coulter stated on X (formerly Twitter) that 'we didn't kill enough Indians.' The post was shared more than a million times. As a writer and a lawyer, Coulter knows that words matter, especially for someone with her platform. Suggesting that Native Americans—whose communities and cultures persist and thrive despite the American government having systematically taken Native lands, children, religions, and lives—deserve to die or were not persecuted enough, is ignorant and abhorrent, this language is not new. Getting rid of Native Americans has been the stated goal of a slew of U.S. policies from the Trail of Tears to the Termination Era. One hundred years ago, policy makers engaged in cultural genocide: killing the Indian to save the man. Many advocated to just kill the Indians. Genocidal language aimed at Native Americans was supposed to be something of the past. It was something that mainstream society had rejected and moved past—until Coulter's call on all those who are decent, who have moral values, to denounce this type of hate speech. We should not treat each other in this way. The dark history of the United States' policies towards Native people should not be repeated. Join us in standing up for the rights of Native people and preserving our existence for generations to come. Statement by the National Indian Health Board The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) condemns the genocidal and hateful statement made by Ann Coulter: 'We didn't kill enough Indians.' This is not free speech, it is hate speech. And its consequences extend far beyond the digital space. This kind of language is not a joke. It is violence—violence that echoes through generations, reopens wounds, and contributes to the devastating rates of depression, suicide, and trauma that too many of our Native youth are forced to carry. Words like these are not abstract; they directly impact how young Native people see themselves, their safety, and their worth in a country that has already tried to erase them. Our communities are still healing from government-sanctioned boarding schools that attempted to strip Native children of their language, culture, and identity. These systems created lasting intergenerational trauma—trauma that Native families continue to confront and work through today. Reckoning with this truth is part of the healing process. READ Native News Online's Editor Levi Rickert's Opinion on Ann Clouter's Remark 'Our children hear these words. They internalize them. And far too often, they are left to wonder if their lives matter in the eyes of this country,' said NIHB Chairman William 'Chief Bill' Smith, Valdez Native and Alaska Area Representative. 'When prominent voices glorify genocide, it sends a dangerous message—that Native people are less than human. That message threatens the mental health, identity, and future of Native youth everywhere.' NIHB joins with Tribal Nations and Native organizations across the country in calling for a full retraction, public apology, and immediate accountability from all levels of leadership and media. We further urge social media platforms like X to enforce community standards and ban voices that incite racial hatred and violence. From suicide prevention to cultural revitalization, NIHB and its partners work every day to help Native youth heal from historical and contemporary trauma. But we cannot do this work alone. We need a country that respects our children enough to condemn hate without hesitation. Native Nations contributed to the earliest forms of American democracy and continue to lead in public health, medicine, and community care. These truths must be honored. As Americans, we must not repeat or excuse past harms—we must learn from them and walk forward together in healing and truth. There is no health without respect. There is no healing without truth. And there is no excuse for celebrating genocide. Statement by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Cherokee Nation Ann Coulter's post this evening on X that 'we didn't kill enough Indians,' is beyond abhorrent. It is dangerous hate speech designed to inflict damage on a marginalized community and designed to arouse support in the deepest darkest gutters of social media. Although it is tempting to decline to dignify her regressive attack on Native Americans, I cannot and will not. This is no time for timidity. Coulter's statement, on its face, is a despicable rhetorical shot trained on the First Peoples of this continent, designed to dehumanize and diminish us and our ancestors and puts us at risk of further injury. We have faced enough of that since this country's founding. Such rhetoric has aided and abetted the destruction of tribes, their life ways, languages and cultures, the violation of treaty rights, violence, oppression, suppression and dispossession. It should not be lost on any of us that Coulter's lament that 'we didn't kill enough Indians' takes place against the backdrop of our relatively low average life expectancies, high suicide rates and the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous people, just to name a few aspects of our continuing struggle. The cruelty of Coulter's comments are, of course, self-evident to decent human beings from all quarters. We have made much progress in the United States as it relates to federal Indian policy. Conservatives, liberals, Republicans and Democrats have had a hand in advancing this cause, which is so special to me as Chief of the nation's largest tribe, particularly over the last half century. Coulter's statement tonight would be extreme even by 19th century standards (though I believe President Andrew Jackson would like and share her post if he lived among us today.) Though her star power has faded over the decades, Ann Coulter remains an opinion leader in the United States and beyond. Her account on 'X,' formerly Twitter, has 2.1 million followers. Her post has been shared over 1.4 million times as of this writing. She is a published author and appears frequently in television media. Her opinion, though peppered over the years with vitriolic attacks on marginalized populations, matters. It is not simply that Coulter chose to attack Native Americans that moves me to speak out this evening. It is my deep concern that these sorts of attacks aimed at minorities and other marginalized populations in the country is at risk of being normalized. Her attack does not take place in a vacuum and it is not an outlier. It occurs at a time attacks on marginalized populations seem to be on repeat, used to score political points, to advance policy agendas, and sometimes to scare people to advance all of that and more. The country frequently seems on the verge of political violence. Coulter's post implicitly encourages it. We can get used to the frequent attacks and watch silently as this group and that group is dehumanized and diminished. Hatred in the public will become white noise, accepted as 'just the way it is.' Alternatively, we can speak out against it. What Ann Coulter said is heartless, vicious and should be repudiated by people of good faith regardless of political philosophy or party. Some things are simply wrong and we cannot validate it through our silence. I will not and cannot chase every hateful social media comment aimed at Native Americans. But, at a moment when I remain optimistic that people of good will across parties, faiths, philosophies, regions, races, political status can work to unify the country, denouncing Ann Coulter's regret that we 'did not kill enough Indians' is surely the right thing to do. Please join me. Statement by Chief Ben Barnes (Shawnee Tribe), Chairperson, United Indian Nations of Oklahoma United Indian Nations of Oklahoma condemns Ann Coulter's comments on Native Americans Shawnee Chief and UINO Chairperson Ben Barnes today released the following statement repudiating conservative media pundit Ann Coulter's inflammatory statement regarding Native Americans. 'Ann Coulter's vile comment that 'we didn't kill enough Indians' is not only morally repugnant—it is a stain on the conscience of this country. As a Tribal Nation whose people endured forced removals, massacres, broken treaties, and generations of erasure, we do not need reminders of America's darkest chapters. We live with the consequences every day—yet we continue to stand, speak our language, raise our children in our traditions, and govern ourselves with dignity. Ms. Coulter's words dishonor every value this nation claims to uphold, and they have no place in any civilized let us be clear: we do not respond with hate. We respond with truth, resilience, and the strength of our ancestors. We are still here. We are still sovereign. And we are not going anywhere.' About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@ " Contact: news@
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'We have truly lost the titan of the art world'
Late Zeitz MOCAA Executive Director and Chief Curator Koyo Kouoh. Mehdi Benkler Image: Mehdi Benkler Those who wish to honour and pay their respects to the remarkable legacy, leadership, and dedication of Koyo Kouoh, may do so at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) Scheryn Arena. Cameroonian curator Kouoh, the head of the top contemporary art museum in Africa and first African woman appointed to lead the Venice Biennale, died Saturday, the Zeitz MOCAA confirmed. The museum had closed to the public and suspended all public programming, and reopened on Tuesday. Those who wish to pay their respects to Kouoh, can visit the Zeitz MOCAA's Scheryn Arena on Level 0. Guests can also leave messages of condolence and remembrance in the space. Those unable to visit the museum are welcome to add a message to the digital tributes by visiting the museum's website. 'Our thoughts are with Koyo's family at this time,' Zeitz MOCAA said. Tributes have been pouring in from around the globe, highlighting the impact of Kouoh's life on the art world. Iziko Museums of South Africa said her sudden passing was a profound loss to the cultural heritage and museum sectors, impacting the arts fraternity in Cape Town, Africa, and across the globe. 'Her legacy will continue to inspire and influence the arts community for years to come.' Goodman Gallery said: 'Together with both the South African and global art community we mark the loss of a curatorial leader whose vision shaped global dialogues.' The National Gallery of Zimbabwe said it was with great sadness that they learnt of the sudden death of friend and constant collaborator, Kouoh. 'Koyo's influence and encouraging presence here in Zimbabwe, on the globe, will be a void that will be felt. She worked with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe over the course of the last decade and her contribution to the development of Zimbabwe art is unfathomable. 'We have truly lost the titan of the art world." The Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI) said the influential curator shaped contemporary African art and inspired a generation of artists and curators. 'Koyo was a dear friend and steadfast supporter of NCAI from our very beginning, having been present at the first gathering where the idea for NCAI was born. Her unwavering belief in our vision helped transform what was once just a dream into the vibrant community we are today. 'Her visionary work not only left an indelible mark on the African and global art world but charted a path forward for so many who followed in her footsteps. Koyo served as a lodestar in our community - a champion of spirit and imagination who made so much possible for countless artists, curators, and institutions across the global art community.' Cape Times
