Latest news with #PineRidge
CBS News
23-06-2025
- CBS News
Oglala Sioux Tribe asked to approve search for civil rights activist at Wounded Knee
The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council will be asked to approve a search for the remains of a Black civil rights activist who disappeared during the 1973 Wounded Knee standoff. He is likely buried on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Perry Ray Robinson Jr. was 35 years old when he left his home in Bogue Chitto, Alabama, in April 1973 to answer a call for help from the American Indian Movement. For 71 days, AIM members and supporters occupied the village and exchanged gunfire with federal agents gathered around its perimeter. Robinson never returned, was later declared dead without his body being found, and no one was ever charged. His name came to light after two men were indicted in 2003 on charges they killed Canadian Annie Mae Aquash in December 1975 in South Dakota's badlands. Arlo Looking Cloud was arrested in Denver. A federal jury in Rapid City convicted him in 2004 of murder. He was sentenced to life in federal prison, but that was later reduced to 20 years because of his cooperation and acceptance of responsibility. He was released in 2019. The other man, John Graham, fought extradition from his native Canada. A state jury in Rapid City convicted him of murder in 2010 and he is serving a life prison sentence at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Hulu documentary about Aquash Justin Baker, 40, who lives in Mission on South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation, started the latest effort to search for Robinson's body. He has been following the Aquash and Robinson cases since Looking Cloud and Graham were indicted. That included reading media accounts and documents released as part of a Freedom of Information Act request. Baker said he also spent considerable time with Leonard Crow Dog, a Sicangu Lakota medicine man and AIM's spiritual leader who died in 2021. Baker said he was prompted to action after watching a recent documentary about Aquash on the streaming service Hulu entitled " Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae." Witnesses testified that Aquash, who also responded to AIM's request for help and rose to prominence in the organization, was killed because she was suspected of being an informant. "I started thinking, 'Why can't they do something for this man, Ray Robinson?'" Baker said. He called Paul DeMain of Hayward, Wisconsin, the former editor of the News From Indian Country newspaper who extensively investigated the Aquash and Robinson cases. Among the people DeMain put Baker in touch with was Robinson's widow, Cheryl Buswell-Robinson, and their son, Deeter Robinson. "I asked Deeter, I said, 'What would you like me to tell people?' And he said what it was like growing up without a dad, not having somebody at my sporting events, not having a man's guidance, not having a father to lean on, and it caused a lot of hardships in my life," Baker said of the conversation. "This is somebody's family that was destroyed and is still hurting 52 years later, and there are still people remaining silent." Concerns about 1890 massacre site DeMain had already done extensive work trying to identify Robinson's likely resting place. Baker took up the cause using tribal channels. "I wanted to create a grassroots effort because I think everything else has been tried already," he said. Baker presented a resolution to and received unanimous support for it in May from the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council. That group in the Great Sioux Nation advocates for Native treaty rights and inherent sovereignty. The document's purpose was to start building support for a culturally sensitive search for Robinson's remains on the Pine Ridge reservation. Baker then went to the Oglala Sioux Tribe's land committee on Pine Ridge, which rejected the request for a search, saying it could unearth remains or artifacts from the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. Baker said the search would only involve a cadaver dog or ground-penetrating radar that would not disrupt the land. And the area already has been disturbed, he said. "Wherever Ray is laying was already disturbed through the form of buildings, construction within the downtown Wounded Knee area, or it was disturbed in 1973 from digging bunkers," Baker said. Baker has drawn up a resolution he plans to present to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, which includes the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council resolution and letters of support from elders, descendants of the 1890 massacre and others. The document, viewed by South Dakota News Watch, calls for all Lakota tribes, in collaboration with Buswell-Robinson and cultural experts, to create a working group to oversee a non-invasive search for the remains of Robinson. The effort would include historic preservation officers, spiritual leaders and elders, the Robinson family, Indigenous archaeologists and forensic scientists and independent advisers. "This resolution does not seek the removal or exhumation of any remains but seeks only to locate, document and honor the possible resting place of Perry Ray Robinson Jr.," it states. The document also calls for transparency and respect of those who died in 1890 and might have been killed on the site in 1973. "We're asking to search the ground that already has been disturbed and is a long way from the burial of the 1890 massacre victims," Buswell-Robinson said. Tribal leaders did not respond to a request for comment. Widow hopes for Robinson's return Besides a son, who has children, the Robinsons have two adult daughters in Detroit, Desiree Marks and Tamara Fant, who have their own children and grandchildren. "I'm 80 and doing fine. I'd like to get Ray back here before I'm dead," Buswell-Robinson said. "I'm excited about it because Justin (Baker) is so excited. "He's been wonderful to follow and has a strategy." Buswell-Robinson said that because she's in Detroit, she doesn't have the connections or know the local structures or politics like Baker does. Based on her recollections and letters she wrote in the years after her husband's disappearance, she believes he probably was killed because he naively thought he could turn an unorganized situation into a focused demonstration. His nonviolent approach probably was not well received at what was a violent situation, Buswell-Robinson said. And it's possible AIM members suspected he was a federal informant, which he was not, she said. FBI documents include references to fresh graves Two American Indians were confirmed to have died during the 1973 siege, and rumors of other deaths persist. FBI documents that are now public suggest the possibility of other people buried at Wounded Knee during the occupation. A May 1973 memo says the FBI talked to a man who reported grave sites just outside of Wounded Knee. Another, a few days later, states that an Interior Department official "observed several fresh graves" at Wounded Knee. One of the graves belonged to one of the two Native Americans killed, the memo states. There's no mention of Ray Robinson in the FBI correspondence, but two documents reveal the presence of two Black people toward the end of the standoff. A May 5, 1973, transcript of an interview with a man who claimed to be at Wounded Knee the week prior stated "he heard that one black man and one black woman had recently arrived." A May 21, 1973, FBI memo reported that a Native woman who left the village a month earlier counted 200 Indians, 11 whites and two Blacks. Buswell-Robinson said those two were most likely Ray Robinson and a woman from Alabama who went with him. She returned after the standoff. He didn't.
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Associated Press
Tribe asked to allow search for civil rights activist at Wounded Knee
The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council will be asked to approve a search for the remains of a Black civil rights activist who disappeared during the 1973 Wounded Knee standoff. He is likely buried on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Perry Ray Robinson Jr. was 35 years old when he left his home in Bogue Chitto, Alabama, in April 1973 to answer a call for help from the American Indian Movement. For 71 days, AIM members and supporters occupied the village and exchanged gunfire with federal agents gathered around its perimeter. Robinson never returned, was later declared dead without his body being found, and no one was ever charged. His name came to light after two men were indicted in 2003 on charges they killed Canadian Annie Mae Aquash in December 1975 in South Dakota's badlands. Arlo Looking Cloud was arrested in Denver. A federal jury in Rapid City convicted him in 2004 of murder. He was sentenced to life in federal prison, but that was later reduced to 20 years because of his cooperation and acceptance of responsibility. He was released in 2019. The other man, John Graham, fought extradition from his native Canada. A state jury in Rapid City convicted him of murder in 2010 and he is serving a life prison sentence at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Hulu documentary about Aquash Justin Baker, 40, who lives in Mission on South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation, started the latest effort to search for Robinson's body. He has been following the Aquash and Robinson cases since Looking Cloud and Graham were indicted. That included reading media accounts and documents released as part of a Freedom of Information Act request. Baker said he also spent considerable time with Leonard Crow Dog, a Sicangu Lakota medicine man and AIM's spiritual leader who died in 2021. Baker said he was prompted to action after watching a recent documentary about Aquash on the streaming service Hulu entitled ' Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae.' Witnesses testified that Aquash, who also responded to AIM's request for help and rose to prominence in the organization, was killed because she was suspected of being an informant. 'I started thinking, 'Why can't they do something for this man, Ray Robinson?'' Baker said. He called Paul DeMain of Hayward, Wisconsin, the former editor of the News From Indian Country newspaper who extensively investigated the Aquash and Robinson cases. Among the people DeMain put Baker in touch with was Robinson's widow, Cheryl Buswell-Robinson, and their son, Deeter Robinson. 'I asked Deeter, I said, 'What would you like me to tell people?' And he said what it was like growing up without a dad, not having somebody at my sporting events, not having a man's guidance, not having a father to lean on, and it caused a lot of hardships in my life,' Baker said of the conversation. 'This is somebody's family that was destroyed and is still hurting 52 years later, and there are still people remaining silent.' Concerns about 1890 massacre site DeMain had already done extensive work trying to identify Robinson's likely resting place. Baker took up the cause using tribal channels. 'I wanted to create a grassroots effort because I think everything else has been tried already,' he said. Baker presented a resolution to and received unanimous support for it in May from the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council. That group in the Great Sioux Nation advocates for Native treaty rights and inherent sovereignty. The document's purpose was to start building support for a culturally sensitive search for Robinson's remains on the Pine Ridge reservation. Baker then went to the Oglala Sioux Tribe's land committee on Pine Ridge, which rejected the request for a search, saying it could unearth remains or artifacts from the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. Baker said the search would only involve a cadaver dog or ground-penetrating radar that would not disrupt the land. And the area already has been disturbed, he said. 'Wherever Ray is laying was already disturbed through the form of buildings, construction within the downtown Wounded Knee area, or it was disturbed in 1973 from digging bunkers,' Baker said. Baker has drawn up a resolution he plans to present to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, which includes the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council resolution and letters of support from elders, descendants of the 1890 massacre and others. The document, viewed by South Dakota News Watch, calls for all Lakota tribes, in collaboration with Buswell-Robinson and cultural experts, to create a working group to oversee a non-invasive search for the remains of Robinson. The effort would include historic preservation officers, spiritual leaders and elders, the Robinson family, Indigenous archaeologists and forensic scientists and independent advisers. 'This resolution does not seek the removal or exhumation of any remains but seeks only to locate, document and honor the possible resting place of Perry Ray Robinson Jr.,' it states. The document also calls for transparency and respect of those who died in 1890 and might have been killed on the site in 1973. 'We're asking to search the ground that already has been disturbed and is a long way from the burial of the 1890 massacre victims,' Buswell-Robinson said. Tribal leaders did not respond to a request for comment. Widow hopes for Robinson's return Besides a son, who has children, the Robinsons have two adult daughters in Detroit, Desiree Marks and Tamara Fant, who have their own children and grandchildren. 'I'm 80 and doing fine. I'd like to get Ray back here before I'm dead,' Buswell-Robinson said. 'I'm excited about it because Justin (Baker) is so excited. 'He's been wonderful to follow and has a strategy.' Buswell-Robinson said that because she's in Detroit, she doesn't have the connections or know the local structures or politics like Baker does. Based on her recollections and letters she wrote in the years after her husband's disappearance, she believes he probably was killed because he naively thought he could turn an unorganized situation into a focused demonstration. His nonviolent approach probably was not well received at what was a violent situation, Buswell-Robinson said. And it's possible AIM members suspected he was a federal informant, which he was not, she said. FBI documents include references to fresh graves Two American Indians were confirmed to have died during the 1973 siege, and rumors of other deaths persist. FBI documents that are now public suggest the possibility of other people buried at Wounded Knee during the occupation. A May 1973 memo says the FBI talked to a man who reported grave sites just outside of Wounded Knee. Another, a few days later, states that an Interior Department official 'observed several fresh graves' at Wounded Knee. One of the graves belonged to one of the two Native Americans killed, the memo states. There's no mention of Ray Robinson in the FBI correspondence, but two documents reveal the presence of two Black people toward the end of the standoff. A May 5, 1973, transcript of an interview with a man who claimed to be at Wounded Knee the week prior stated 'he heard that one black man and one black woman had recently arrived.' A May 21, 1973, FBI memo reported that a Native woman who left the village a month earlier counted 200 Indians, 11 whites and two Blacks. Buswell-Robinson said those two were most likely Ray Robinson and a woman from Alabama who went with him. She returned after the standoff. He didn't. ___ This story was originally published by South Dakota News Watch and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
How to buy on the Gold Coast for under $200,000
Have you ever wondered what $200,000 will buy you on the Gold Coast? Frankly, it is not much, but if you are prepared to drastically alter your dream, you can still do it. 1. OFF-GRID LIVING Lodge 25 on Soiuth Stradbroke Island features two large bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living area and a sun deck overlooking the lagoon. It is also being sold fully furnichsed with offers over $175,000 considered. But there is a catch. There is always a catch. It is located in the troubled Couran Cove Resort. 'Please Note : Currently all power, water and gas has been disconnected on Couran Cove resort and the resort is closed,' the listing says, adding that despite these key features being turned off, the body corporate fees are still approximately $6500 a year, albeit they have 'dropped considerably'. The listing notes that the body corporates are working on a number of infrastructure projects. 'The home has a camping-style solar powered electrical supply with a generator for back up, has legally connected gas supply with 9kg bottles, has 4000 litre rainwater storage capacity and pump,' the listing says. 'This system is operational but should be considered a temporary solution for off-grid living.' A studio apartment in the resort is listed for offers over $70,000. 2. OVER 50s Located in Pine Ridge caravan village, this one bedroom caravan annex home is listed for offers between $79,000 and $93,000. 'Other benefits are no Gold Coast City council rates or stamp duty, and you own your home but not the land,' the listing says. 'There is a site fee of approximately $236.25 per week which includes Gold Coast water fees, and you only pay for electricity, gas if applicable and phone internet connections.' It features a small front veranda, seperate living and dining spaces, a large bedroom, bathroom, kitchen with gas cooktops, a double extended carport and shed. There is also a study nook, window awnings and front veggie gardens. Onsite amenities include a pool, BBQ area and fully maintained gardens. 3. BUY A BERTH If bricks and mortar are out of reach, there is always the option of buying a marina berth, with prices ranging from $90,000 (16m) to $250,000 (30m). Located in the Hope Island Resort Marina, the listing says that freehold marina berths on the GC are 'rare'. 'These berths are just like buying a block of land but it has water on it and of course you can moor your boat there or rent it out,' the listing says. It adds that the berths come with low body corporate fees and high rental returns making then 'better than money in the bank'. There is also an onsite manager, 24 hour security, and a protected harbour with house boats welcome. 4. RENTVESTORS LOOK HERE Single villas with solid returns are listed for sale in Merrimac, each eaqrning $580 to $590 per fortnight. 'Please note: due to the current pension scheme/DA/gov accreditation over this community, these units are for pensioner tenants to occupy and come with leases attached, sorry no owner occupiers,' the listing notes. 'Each of the single accommodations are fully resourced, servicing those looking for affordable assisted living accommodation.' Each single level villa comes fully equipped, ready for any tenant to move in, and features a kitchenette, open plan lounge area with durable flooring, a queen sized bedroom with a built-in robe, airconditioning/ceiling fans, a large bathroom/combined laundry with washer/dryer, security screen, privacy blinds and an undercover patio at the front and an open air patio at the back. 'Assisted Living at Bougainvillea Lodge & Westminster House offers your tenants a peaceful lifestyle with privacy and security, within a friendly communal environment,' the listing says. 'Virtually no vacancy, with a waiting list to live here, so you can enjoy the secure returns and protection of your investment with the bonus of having full time managers onsite to help with the residents everyday needs.' 5. STUDIO WITH A VIEW On the market for offers over $199,000, this 37sq m bolthole is located in Mantra on View, right in the heart of Surfers Paradise. 'The perfect investment that provides you a myriad of choices…Enjoy a weekend getaway or holiday escape with the assurance of high income through the hotel management or Airbnb,' the listing says. 'This is one of two exceptional buying opportunities that we currently have available within the building and at this price point the representation of value on offer will not be matched. Buy one or buy both.' The studio apartment has a balcony, bathroom, and is being sold fully furnished.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exploration Program for the Flagship Pine Ridge Uranium Project In Wyoming's Prolific Powder River Basin
Priority Targets Identified, ~38,000m Drill Program Anticipated to Start in July 2025 Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2025) - Snow Lake Resources Ltd., d/b/a Snow Lake Energy (NASDAQ: LITM) ("Snow Lake"), a uranium exploration and development company, announces that an exploration program for the Pine Ridge Uranium Project ("Pine Ridge") in the Powder River Basis in Wyoming, held by Snow Lake and Global Uranium and Enrichment Limited ("GUE") in a 50 / 50 joint venture (the "Joint Venture"), has been developed. Highlights Pine Ridge is an In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium project located in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and primed for accelerated development Powder River Basin, Wyoming is the leading uranium-producing region in the U.S., supported by a favourable regulatory environment and streamlined permitting processes Utilising the existing 1,214 drill holes on Pine Ridge, the Joint Venture team is developing a complete geological model (that includes 335 km of redox boundaries), and has developed a detailed exploration program to rapidly advance Pine Ridge Drill program is expected to start in July 2025, will focus on numerous target areas, and will be comprised of ~38,000m (125,000 ft) of drilling CEO Remarks "The potential for Pine Ridge to become a tier-one uranium asset in the United States is precisely the reason why we entered into the 50/50 joint venture with Global Uranium and Enrichment Limited (GUE)" said Frank Wheatley, CEO of Snow Lake. "The tireless work by GUE over the past 12 months to secure Pine Ridge, and to dramatically expand the project footprint, sets the stage for the initiation of a maiden drill program by our joint venture at Pine Ridge." Overview - Pine Ridge Exploration Program The Joint Venture has consolidated the existing historical data on the project area and integrated it with available public information from nearby projects to develop a 3D model of the known mineralization and potential mineralisation. The results of this data compilation and evaluation led to the staking of an additional 937 claims at Pine Ridge, and increasing the Joint Venture's landholding, to a total of approximately 15,130 ha (37,387 acres). In addition, the understanding and results from the data compilation and geological review have guided the prioritisation of drill targets in the area (shown in red below), with approximately 38,000m (125,000 ft) of drilling to be completed inside these areas during the initial exploration program. Figure 1: Priority Areas for 2025 Exploration Program at Pine Ridge To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Historically, Conoco drilled 765 holes, and Stakeholder Energy drilled an additional 449 holes, into the project area. Their drill campaigns were primarily designed to continue building on the geologic understanding of the project while testing key areas for uranium potential. The results from these drill campaigns allowed Stakeholder to develop a model that included 335 km of redox boundaries hosted in stacked horizons within the Tertiary sandstones. This interpretation is further supported by adjacent, ISR properties with published resources. Geologists for the previous vendors of Pine Ridge measured 350 sandstone outcrops on the south and west sides of the project area under the direction of Dr. Kent Sundell, Geology Professor Emeritus at Casper College. The purpose of the exercise was to better understand the geologic characteristics of the stacked sandstones and the paleo-river system that deposited the sands. SOLA Project Services will be contracted by the Joint Venture to provide technical and project support. A principal with SOLA, Mr. Bryan Soliz, has significant experience and expertise in the region, highlighted by more than 25 years of exploration and production work in the Powder River Basin, including at the adjacent Smith Ranch project operated by Cameco. The selection of drill contractors and geophysical contractors is currently underway. Permit approvals are expected in late June and the drill program will commence shortly after the permit is received. Overview - Pine Ridge Pine Ridge is an In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium project located in the southwestern Powder River Basin of Wyoming, the premier U.S. uranium basin. Historically, the Powder River Basin is the most significant area for uranium production in U.S. via ISR production methods. Pine Ridge is surrounded by existing uranium projects held by UEC and Cameco and is also located only ~15km from Cameco's Smith Ranch Mill which has licensed capacity of 5.5Mlbs U3O8 p.a. The Smith Ranch mill is one of the largest uranium production facilities in the U.S. Figure 2: Pine Ridge Uranium Project and Adjacent Properties To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Pine Ridge is a uranium project of potential significant scale with a large JORC 2012 exploration target. For more information on this exploration target, please refer to GUE's website1. Pine Ridge has been significantly de-risked through historic drilling and has an ideal geological foundation to be developed into a production Snow Lake Resources Ltd. Snow Lake Resources Ltd., d/b/a Snow Lake Energy, is a Canadian mineral exploration company listed on Nasdaq:LITM, with a global portfolio of critical mineral and clean energy projects. The Pine Ridge Uranium project is an exploration stage project located in Wyoming, United States, and the Engo Valley Uranium Project is an exploration stage project located in the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. Snow Lake also holds a portfolio of additional exploration stage critical minerals projects located in Manitoba. Learn more at Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements with regard to Snow Lake Resources Ltd. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Snow Lake Resources Ltd.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our registration statements and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Snow Lake Resources Ltd. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Contact and InformationFrank Wheatley, CEO Investor RelationsInvestors:ir@ Follow us on Social MediaTwitter: 1 To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arts groups for people of color steel themselves after Trump's NEA cuts: ‘They poked the bear'
Summertime at the Upijata Scissor-Tail Swallow Arts Company, an artistic program located on Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, is usually bustling. The arts community center, created to help combat high youth suicide rates on the reservation, would normally offer twice-a-week classes to enrolled students. Traditional artists – quilters or beadworkers – would be paid to teach interested participants. It was all a part of Upijata's mission to emotionally and economically support the vulnerable community, the poorest reservation in the US. But this year Upijata will have to significantly reduce its programming. Classes will now only be held monthly. Instead of hosting 20 students for workshops, Upijata will only be able to accommodate six. The cuts at Upijata come after a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) was rescinded last week. The funding, the first time Upijata has received an NEA award since being founded in 2019, made up about half of the company's budget. Upijata is one of hundreds of groups facing severe budget deficits after the Trump administration swiftly cut millions of dollars in NEA grants. Now, arts organizations nationwide, such as Portland Center Stage and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, are scrambling to cover the shortfall. Groups specifically catering to marginalized communities are also caught in the fallout. 'We're [building] a community where we're creating a sense of belonging to combat the suicide rates,' said Upijata's executive director, Shannon Beshears. 'If we cannot be that sense of belonging, because we don't have the consistency, the ability to impact our participants' lives in a positive way decreases dramatically.' An email sent out to grant recipients on 2 May said that the NEA would 'focus funding on projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President', several outlets reported. Recipients of rescinded grants were given only seven days to appeal the decision. Several top officials at the NEA have since resigned from the agency following the grant terminations. The NEA did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. These cuts are part of the larger story of how Elon Musk and Doge have tried to gut the federal government Adam Odsess-Rubin Projects being prioritized by the Trump administration instead include initiatives that 'elevate the Nation's HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, [and] empower houses of worship to serve communities', among others. Grant terminations have affected artistic programming in every corner of the US, and organization administrators have taken to social media to share their shock and outrage. Many of the funded projects are already underway. In the interim, institutions have launched emergency funding campaigns, urging community members to donate. Others say they are appealing to other streams of donation, including private philanthropists. Many have filed appeals with the NEA to have their grants restored. Several of the funded programs are also the signature projects for impacted organizations, such as the annual Uptown Shakespeare in the Park initiative for the Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) in New York City. CTH, known for its contemporary takes on Shakespeare classics and Greek tragedies, was only a month out from rehearsals for their production of Memon, a new play about an Ethiopian king who fought with the city of Troy, when they received news that their $60,000 grant had been cancelled. 'They sort of signaled that they were going to do something like this a couple of months ago,' said CTH's producing artistic director, Ty Jones. 'Did I think they would follow through? No, I didn't.' The production is a part of the theatre's annual Uptown Shakespeare in the Park festival, which sees about 2,000 attendees a performance. The event generates foot traffic for local businesses. Representatives from New York City's department of health and mental hygiene also provide community members with onsite services, including blood pressure checks and social service references. In Philadelphia, the advocacy group Asian Americans United (AAU) lost a $25,000 grant meant to support their annual mid-Autumn festival ahead of the event's 30-year anniversary in October. The event was first founded by local youth who couldn't be with their families for the mid-Autumn celebration, said AAU's executive director, Vivian Chang. The festival has since grown substantially, exposing upwards of 8,000 attendees annually to more than 100 local performers. 'For a lot of people, it's a very accessible way to reach a new audience. These aren't groups that will be on a super mainstream stage, or maybe they're performing an art form that's undervalued,' said Chang. 'Where do they get to celebrate this? Where do they get to display? The festival is one of the few places for that.' For many organizations catering to disenfranchised groups, the alleged reprioritization is especially frustrating and contradictory. Upijata, for example, works with tribal groups and theoretically should be considered eligible under the NEA's newly outlined goals, which include projects that 'support Tribal communities'. 'They said supporting tribal communities [in their new priorities], but in their effort to prioritize supporting tribal communities, they are directly taking funding from them,' said Beshears. 'It feels like there is so much back and forth, so much dishonesty.' Many affected organizations were not surprised to see the Trump administration's attack on funding. Prior to last week's cuts, the NEA was ordered to require grant applicants not to promote 'gender ideology', as a part of a broader executive order. The National Queer Theater (NQT), a non-profit theater based in Brooklyn, New York, had a $20,000 grant rescinded for its Criminal Queerness Festival, a showcase featuring work by queer artists from countries where queerness is criminalized or censored. The group joined a lawsuit in March with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to sue the NEA over its anti-LGBTQ+ policy. As for the latest NEA cuts, NQT's artistic director, Adam Odsess-Rubin, said he and staff members are 'upset by the NEA cuts, but I can't say we're surprised'. Related: 'It's all very sad': Trump's attack on arts funding has a devastating effect 'These cuts are part of the larger story of how Elon Musk and Doge have tried to gut the federal government and really focused on eliminating any programs they see as potentially counter to this administration's priorities,' said Odsess-Rubin. 'That includes any programming related to LGBTQ+ issues, any programming focused on Black and brown communities, as well as programming around climate change or healthcare'. Many groups are hopeful that they'll be able to close the gaps in funding, especially given outcry from the community. But questions of how to handle attacks on the arts in a long-term capacity remain. CTH ultimately decided not to request an appeal, instead opting to focus on future actions against NEA attacks. The theatre hopes to work with the other organizations who have also seen their funds stopped, possibly through legal means. In the meantime, CTH is moving ahead with their Memon production and is confident their community will help them raise $60,000 by June. 'I'm one of these crazy people that believes that the power of people is stronger than the people in power,' said Jones. 'I don't fear these people. If anything, they poked the bear. It's a spark that's put a flame in motion.'
