2005 Top Ten Storieswithin/about/around

Native AmericaPresenters

Tai Benally (Dine) Mike Young Bear Cling (Dine/Chippewa-Cree/Oglala Lakota)

Lani Tsinajinjinnie (Dine)

May 04, 2006

ProfessorDr. Beverly Singer (Santa Carla Pueblo/Dine)

NAS 300Research Methods in Native American Contexts

Purpose

• We are conducting this research in order to identify the top ten stories in/about/from Native Americans of 2005. This research is a part of a group project for the Native American Studies Research Methods in Native American Contexts class at the University of New Mexico.

• To identify and research the methodologies of the top ten stories about/with or around Native America

• To acquire Native American resources and investigate what makes a story stand out.

#10Piestewa/ War in Iraq

Sources: Indianz.com. “U.S. military casualties in Iraq reach 2,000”. Indianz.com, 26 October 2005. 4 May

2006 http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/010969.aspIndianz.com. “Piestewa episode of ‘Extreme Makeover’ to air”. Indianz.com, 20 May 2005. 4 May

2006 http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/008297.asp

#9Cecilia Fire Thunder

• 1st Oglala Lakota Woman to be voted President for the Oglala Lakota Tribe in 2004

• In 2005 accusations by tribal members and the violations of treaty rights

• “Sovereignty is not to be played with, these are our people.”

Source: Indian Country/Lakota Times

Picture: Personal Mike Young Bear Cling

#8

NCAA Bans Native American Mascots

Source: Associated Press. “NCAA rejects Bradley nickname appeal”. Indian Country Today, 1 November 2005. 4 May 2006 http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411822

Source: Ted Warren A/P

#7Cobell vs. Norton Lawsuit

Source:Talhelm, Jennifer. “Plaintiff in Indian trust case vows to fight on”. Casper Star Tribune, 21 November 2005. 4 May 2006 http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/11/21/news/wyoming/ed36e7228ef0b8f9872570bf00269986.txt

#6Bush Administration cuts Federal Indian Programs

• In 2005 Bush Administration Proposed cuts about 5 Percent.

• $107 million Cut for the Native American Housing Block Grants Program

• $46 million from the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund

• $64 million for Indian health services

• $85 million from the budget for building new health care facilities.

• "The federal government spends $1,914 per capita administering health care to Native Americans,". "That's half of what is spent on federal prisoners each year."

• "I believe that is a disgrace. • (Jeff Sen. Jeff Bingman, D. of NM)

Source: www.indianz.com

http://www.indiancountrynews.com/fullstory.cfm?ID=246

#5Methamphetamine Problem Throughout

Indian Reservations• Noticeable problem

since late 90s. • 64-0 vote in Navajo

Legislation to outlaw Meth on the Navajo Reservation

• Meth and Murder in Hogback, New Mexico

Source: Wagner, Dennis. “Meth lays siege to Indian Country”. USA Today, 30 March 2006. 4 May 2006 http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-03-30-meth_x.htm

Source: http://www.navajos.org/ March Press Release

“Effects people on all walks of life.”

#4Petroglyphs Controversy

Source: Weahkee, Laurie. “The Petroglyph Fight and Albuquerque’s Future”. SAGE Council, 14 November 2005. 4 May 2006. http://www.sagecouncil.org/A%20PetroNews/LAW%20Op%27ed.htm

Sacred Peaks Defiled by Wastewater in The Name of Tourism

“That’s our cathedral, that’s our church, that’s who we are”

-Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley

Source: Indianz.com. “Navajo president testifies in sacred site trial”. Indianz.com, 3 November 2005. 4 May 2005 <http://www.indianz.com/News?2005/011110.asp

Picture: By Cy Wagner http://www.savethepeaks.org/

#3

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Bill

Legislation proposed in 2005 for funding and permission to drill oil on ANWR

In December 2005, Senate Removes ANWR Bill from Defense Bill

#2

Picture of Evon Peter and Gwich’in Committee at Washington, DC. Picture: AP Photo

#1Red Lake High School Shootings

• Troubled Teen Kills 9 and kills himself on the Band of Red Lake Nation of the Chippewa Nation in Northern Minnesota.

• Media frenzy builds up on the reservation and aired on various news resources such as NBC, ABC, CNN, etc.

• Red Lake Nation becomes the biggest highlight since the Columbine High School shootings. Red Lake community is shocked and becomes the spotlight and highlight in every homes.

Source: http://indianz.com/ Pictures: (R) Chairmain of the Tribe and (L) Scene outside of HS

"darkest day in the history of this tribe."

Chairman of Red Lake Nation Floyd Jourdain

Gender/Age Range

Gender

44%

56%

Male

Female

Male

20%

20%35%

15% 10%

Teens

20s-30s

30s-40s

40s-50s

50s-Beyond

Female

12%

36%

20%

12%

20%

Teens

20s-30s

30s-40s

40s-50s

50s-Beyond

Other Origins

27

16

2

0 10 20 30

Traditional

Non-Traditional

Progressive

# of people

Traditional/Non-Traditional

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

High School/GED

Some College

Associates

Bachelors

Grad School

PH Level

# of People

Highest Level of Education

15

30

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

# of People

Indian Country

Urban Indian

Current Location

Political Analysis

22

19

4

0

5

10

15

20

25

Republican Democrat Independent

Polictial Party

Yes No

S1

38

7

05

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Registered Voters within there Tribal Communities

YesNo

S1

35

10

0

10

20

30

40

Vote for Tribal Elections

Participatory outcome goals

• Based on literature review• No top ten list done before for Natives• Encourage more Native journalism• Seek out positive less-biased stories• Positive Feedback from Interviews and the

diverse background of interviews• Seek professionalism from educators,

editors and journalists that are from Indigenous background

Methodologies

• Look for already existing top ten lists

• Identify top stories from 2005 from internet resources/newspapers/journal articles/radio

• Survey/interview people

• Contact editors and journalists

• Determine top ten based on feedback

What is the biggest issue that concerns your community or Nations? From the scale of 1 to 10, do you think this issue

reflects your life or identity as being affiliated with this tribe?

• Unemployment/Jobs-10• Drugs/Youth Violence-9

• Loss of Culture/Language-10• Budget Cuts on Health Care-10

• Language/Cultural Revitalization-10• Political Leadership Stability-7

• Language/Cultural Perpeturation-10• Education-10

• Economic Development-7• Programs Addressing Historical Traumas and

International Grief-10• Not interested in tribal polictics-1• Social Issues/Native Cultural-5

Do other tribal or Indigenous Nations or Bands issues concern you? From the scale of 1 to 10, please rate your concerns or news about

other nations or groups influence you?

• I am concerned about how other tribes fair in addressing economic development…also about how they are dealing with drugs…and violence…4 (Navajo Nation, Gallup, NM)

• Other Nations or Bands Issues concern me because as Indigenous Groups we share reoccurring common themes, although each individual Nation is unique we as Indigenous people share fundamental beliefs such as a deep reverence for our Mother Earth. 10 (Mandan/Hidasta/Arikara, New Town, ND)

• 8-Yes Although we are sovereign nations there exists a spiritual connectedness between the peoples of all our nations. To offer/receive strength we must keep in common the concerns and issues of our friends and relatives of other nations with that of our own. (Creek Nation, Seminole, Ok)

• 1-No, Tribal Issues or any other Concerns is that on my list. (Navajo Nation, Pleasant Point, Maine on Passamaquoddy)

• 10-Although I live in Canada, we all embattle the difference between the sovereign issue along with our “discovery of ancestors”. I also ache for every embattle issues between us and the United States, we all share a common theme. “Survival”. (Star Blanket Cree, Regina Sk, Canada)

• 1-I am only concerned about my native communities issues. (Northern Arapahoe, Wyoming)

More Questions we asked

• Where do you usually get your news sources from?• What kinds of stories do you usually hear or read about?• What do you think makes a good news story?• Are there any news sources that you read or listen to

that are primarily devoted to Native American news?• Do you think that media news sources cover Native

American news stories well?• In your view, what are some top stories involving or

about Native Americans from 2005?

Conclusion

• Need more time and resources to widen demographic range for surveys

• Need more stories from unbiased sources• Better contact and cooperation with

journalists and editors• Stories do not reflect complete Native

American population• Results reflect knowledge and concern by

Native people of issues

Acknowledgements• All the participants of the interviews: Navajo Nation, Three Affiliated Tribes, San Felipe Pueblo, Creek, Oglala Lakota, Sisseton Oyate Dakota, Shakopee, Crow, Chippewa-Cree, Northern Cheyenne, Cheyenne Arapahoe, Delaware, Mohawk, Seneca, Sweetgrass Cree, Starblanket Cree, Hobbema Erimskin Cree, Cherokee, Sac & Fox, Seminole, Choctaw of Mississippi, Objiway, Northern Ute, Southern Piaute, Hopi, Shoshoni-Bannock, Blackfoot, Yakama, Pawnee/Otoe, Winnebago, Nez Perce, Elk Valley, Hoopa Valley & Sagiwa Chippewa

• Red Lake News Website Staff, Windspeaker Editor from Canada, Lakota Times Editor, Indian Country Editor, Farmington Daily Times, Navajo Times, and Gallup Independent.

• Gathering of Nations Committee for allowing to interview.