Decades after saber-toothed cat bones were discovered in Oregon, two scientists realized they belonged to a previously unidentified species. Cayuse scholars helped name the feline, which they say shows their language persists.
Posted inHistories
In Native Communities, History Helped Fight COVID-19
Tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest leverage sovereignty and experience to fight the pandemic.
Posted inActivism
Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Considers Freedmen Citizenship
The Constitution of the Choctaw Nation bars enrollment for the descendants of enslaved Black people. Chief Gary Batton says enrollment is based on ‘a federal construct that has fueled division and racism.’
Posted inEducation
Pandemic Relief Funds Long-Overdue Broadband Improvements
COVID-19 created a need for more internet access. On reservations, barriers remain to high-speed broadband.
Posted inHealth Care
Cultural Rights: Tribes Make Difficult Decisions to Balance Safety and Tradition
Earlier this year, 17 members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation went on trial for violating COVID-19 restrictions. In court, they argued that they had a right to practice their traditions. Pandemic restrictions have made it harder for many Native Americans to maintain contact with their culture, some leaders say.
Posted inMMIR
Two Years After Oregon’s MMIWG Legislation, Next Steps Unclear
The COVID-19 pandemic and mismatched databases confound efforts to address failures investigating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Wednesday is a national day of action.
Posted inFood Sovereignty
Bringing Beavers Back to the Beaver State
Oregon tribes are reintroducing a species that creates important habitat for First Foods. But the Beaver State’s laws don’t work in the animal’s favor.
Posted inEconomy
A Financial Lifeline During COVID-19
The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has hit Indian Country particularly hard. Entrepreneurs are turning to small, local lending institutions in a region that’s often outside the reach of traditional banks.
Posted inEconomy
Filling a Financial Gap in Eastern Oregon
As employment by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation drives an economic engine, tribal members and reservation residents lack access to traditional banking. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services is trying to bridge that gap.
Posted inHealth Care
‘Moccasin Telegraph’ Finds New Life as Source of Vaccine Information
Once leery of federal health initiatives, Native Americans embrace COVID-19 vaccines as a way to protect communities and families.