Council on Native...

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What actually matters in this document.

Text

Interior Secretary

Haaland to Chair

the White House

Council on Native...

Hopi Law Enforcement

Services purchase

new vehicles...

-More on pg. 15

-More on pg. 4

COLUMN

COMMUNITY

LARRY’S CORNER

Locally youth

led organization

hustling to bring

a skate park to

Hopi...

More on Page 5

My Shades are

cool

about it

April 21, 2021

Volume 29

Number 8

~ E s t. 1987 • OFFIC IA L NEWSPA P E R OF T H E H OP I T R I B E • N E W S S OU R C E F O R T H E H O P I P E O P L E ~

42˚/ 31˚

Sunny

Hopi Tribe to Move into Phase Two on April 22, 2021

Announcement Made During April 19, 2021 Open Tribal Council Session

Story on Page 2

Hopi Tutuveni Main Office still in disarray on April 20, 2021. Photo by: Romalita Laban, Managing Editor

HOPI TUTUVENI

PO BOX 123

KYKOTSMOVI, AZ 86039

1110-01600-7460

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The White House’s unanswered

Medicad question

-More on pg. 16

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Hopi Tribe to Move into Phase Two

Hopi Tribal Council Second

on April 22, 2021

Quarter Session March 1, 2021

Announcement Made During April 19, AGENDA Month of April 2021 –

2021 Open Tribal Council Session

Amendment #1

Romalita Laban, Managing Editor

Hopi Tutuveni

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – On Monday, April

19, 2021 during the open Hopi Tribal

Council session which was being aired on

the local KUYI Hopi Radio station, Hopi

Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva made

the announcement and update about the

different Re-opening Phases the Tribe is

going through and announced it has been

three weeks since Phase One was effective, that, “Phase Two is coming in this

week…on the 22nd…”

As of Thursday, April 1, 2021, the Executive Order #008-2021 Hopi Phase One

Re-Opening itam soosoyam qale ‘ykini

has been in effect. No other announcements, memorandum to Hopi Tribal employees or Executive Orders have been

received by Hopi Tutuveni staff before

publication deadlines.

Hopi Tutuveni staff has inquired with

the Hopi Chairman’s Office about updates

and/or memoranda that may have been

sent out, but not yet received in Hopi Tutuveni offices, regarding the Re-opening

plans and Phases, updated list(s) of the Essential Tribal Government Employees and

what type of schedule will be followed for

the employees not on the Essential Employees list but no replies have been received before publication deadlines.

Tenakhongva also mentioned during the

open Tribal Council session that, “…then

May 5th by then all phases should have

been addressed…by then all employees

should be coming back…” In an email

response, today, to the above mentioned

inquiry to Hopi Chairman’s Office, Tenakhongva corrected his statements and notified Hopi Tutuveni staff that the “May 5th

“ date should actually be May 14th.

During the Tribal Council session,

Council members were quick to state concerns about not receiving updated plans

for the Re-opening to which Tenakhongva

reminded them that on two separate occasions Tribal Council has been sent the Re-

turn-To-Work Guidelines document.

Council members were adamant at

expressing frustration and concerns in

Hopi, for employees not receiving updated information about returning to work

plans. One Council member mentioned,

“…this is about the third individual who

has texted me that they haven’t received

anything…” before expressing that all

employees should be notified about any

“plans.” Other Council members made

similar comments before Tenakhongva

made closing remarks and thanked everyone for their support and understanding

before stating, “At 10 zero 2, calling the

meeting into recess until Wednesday at

9am.”

Hopi Tutuveni has not received any

press releases about the upcoming Phase

Two plans, nor have we received any timelines or updated schedules for when Tribal

employees are to return, since November

2020. Staff is unaware if any changes or

updates have been made to the Return to

Work Guidelines document, as well.

Hopi Tutuveni readers and community members have been inquiring with

the Managing Editor about the Return to

Work plans and we’ve had to re-direct individuals to the Chairman and Vice Chairman’s Offices. It is unknown if they have

made further contacts or have received the

information and updates being sought.

The Hopi Tutuveni staff is doing our

best to bring vital and important information to the Hopi public about the issue but

we have faced shutdowns and all the staff

is still not being allowed into the Tutuveni offices by the Executive Director. If in

the next two days, on this Thursday, April

22, 2021, the Assistant Editor is allowed

back into the Risk Management building,

he will have a lot of work ahead of him in

unpacking, re-arranging equipment - still

sitting on its sides, and setting up to continue the work of the one and only newspaper of the Hopi Tribe.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Action Item #061-2020 – To approve the settlement agreement in the Hopi Tribe v.

United States of America, No. 06-0941 (Fed. Ct of Claims) – Author/Fred Lomayesva,

General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel – TABLED to April 5, 2021

NEW BUSINESS

1. Action Item #013-2021 – To approve a Management, Development and Springing

Consultant Agreement with Tonto Apache Tribe to develop and manage tribal casinos –

Author/Dwayne Secakuku, Chairman, Hopi Gaming Committee

2. Action Item #-014-2021 – To approve Hopi Tribe Economic Development Corporation’s Special Land Use Assignment in the amount of 18± acres to develop on Hopi

Indian Trust Lands consistent with the I40 Feasibility Study for Winslow Industrial

Park, Parcel 16 – Author/Lucinda Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Hopi Tribe Economic

Development Corporation - **Time Certain – April 6, 2021 starting @ 2:00 p.m.

3. Discussion with Judge Eric Bruggink re: Settlement Agreement in the Hopi Tribe v.

United States of America, No. 06-0941 (Fed. Ct of Claims) – Fred Lomayesva, General

Counsel, Office of the Tribal Counsel - **Time Certain – April 6, 2021 starting @ 9:00

a.m.

4. Letter dated April 6, 2021 to Honorable Secretary of Interior Haaland from Stewart

Koyiyumptewa, re: Hopi Tribe’s comments regarding consultation with the Department

of Interior - Clifford Qotsaquahu, Tribal Council Representative, Village of Bacavi **Time Certain – May 3, 2021 @ 9:00 a.m.

5. Letter dated February 1, 2021 from First Mesa Consolidated Villages’ Leadership

re: Complaint on the development of aboriginal and traditional land use areas by the

Hopi Tribe without consent – Phillip Quochytewa, Sr., Tribal Council Representative,

Village of Kykotsmovi - **Time Certain - May 5, 2021 @ 9:00 am.

Are you into drawing

COMICS?

New Perspective - Education

by: Carl Onsae

Submit your comics to

consae@hopi.nsn.us

Drawing comics is a great way to show your

drawing skills and your side of Hopi Humor.

If you have the skill and the humor to draw comics

for the Hopi Tutuveni

Call 928-734-3283

To find out more information.

DISCLAIMER: Comics submitted will become property of Hopi

Tutuveni. Name of artist will be

displayed and not edited when submitted. Hopi Tutuveni has

the right to publish submitted comics.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Ex-cop guilty

of murder and

manslaughter

in George Floyd

case

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin listening to verdict on April 20, 2021. (Screengrab)

Amy Forliti, Stephen Groves and Tammy Weber

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minneapolis Officer Derek

Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter

for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the

Black man's neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests,

violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in

the U.S.

Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades.

People elated by the verdict flooded the surrounding streets

downtown upon hearing the news. Cars blared their horns, and

people ran through traffic, waving banners.

Floyd family members gathered at a Minneapolis conference

room could be heard cheering from the next room as each verdict was read.

The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones

came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations

over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

His face was obscured by a COVID-19 mask, and little reaction could be seen beyond his eyes darting around the courtroom.

His bail was immediately revoked and he was led away with

his hands cuffed behind his back.

As the judge asked jurors if they reached a verdict inside,

a hush fell on the crowd 300 strong in a park adjacent to the

courthouse outside, with people listening to the proceedings on

their cellphones. When the final guilty verdict was announced,

the crowd roared, many people hugging, some shedding tears.

At the intersection where Floyd was pinned down, a crowd

chanted, "One down, three to go!" — a reference to the three

other fired Minneapolis police officers facing trial in August on

charges of aiding and abetting murder in Floyd's death.

Janay Henry, who lives nearby, said she felt grateful and relieved.

"I feel grounded. I can feel my feet on the concrete," she said,

adding that she was looking forward to the "next case with joy

and optimism and strength."

The verdict was read in a courthouse ringed with concrete

barriers and razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops,

in a city on edge against another round of unrest — not just

because of the Chauvin case but because of the deadly police

shooting of a young Black man, Daunte Wright, in a Minneapolis suburb April 11.

The jurors identities were kept secret and will not be released

until the judge decides it is safe to do so.

Floyd, 46, died May 25 after being arrested on suspicion of

passing a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes at a corner

market. He panicked, pleaded that he was claustrophobic and

struggled with police when they tried to put him in a squad car.

They put him on the ground instead.

The centerpiece of the case was the excruciating bystander

video of Floyd gasping repeatedly, "I can't breathe" and onlookers yelling at Chauvin to stop as the officer pressed his knee

on or close to Floyd's neck for what authorities say was 9 1/2

minutes. Floyd slowly went silent and limp.

Prosecutors played the footage at the earliest opportunity,

during opening statements, with Jerry Blackwell telling the

jury: "Believe your eyes." And it was shown over and over, analyzed one frame at a time by witnesses on both sides.

In the wake of Floyd's death, demonstrations and scattered

violence broke out in Minneapolis, around the country and beyond. The furor also led to the removal of Confederate statues

and other offensive symbols such as Aunt Jemima.

In the months that followed, numerous states and cities restricted the use of force by police, revamped disciplinary systems or subjected police departments to closer oversight.

The "Blue Wall of Silence" that often protects police accused

of wrongdoing crumbled after Floyd's death: The Minneapolis

police chief quickly called it "murder" and fired all four officers,

and the city reached a staggering $27 million settlement with

Floyd's family as jury selection was underway.

Police-procedure experts and law enforcement veterans inside and outside the Minneapolis department, including the

chief, testified for the prosecution that Chauvin used excessive

force and went against his training.

Medical experts for the prosecution said Floyd died of asphyxia, or lack of oxygen, because his breathing was constricted by the way he was held down on his stomach, his hands

cuffed behind him, a knee on his neck and his face jammed

against the ground.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson called a police use-of-force expert and a forensic pathologist to help make the case that Chauvin acted reasonably against a struggling suspect and that Floyd

died because of an underlying heart condition and his illegal

drug use.

Floyd had high blood pressure, an enlarged heart and narrowed arteries, and fentanyl and methamphetamine were found

in his system.

Under the law, police have certain leeway to use force and

are judged according to whether their actions were "reasonable"

under the circumstances.

The defense also tried to make the case that Chauvin and the

other officers were hindered in their duties by what they perceived as a growing, hostile crowd.

Chauvin did not testify, and all that the jury or the public ever

heard by way of an explanation from him came from a police

body-camera video after an ambulance had taken the 6-foot-4,

223-pound Floyd away. Chauvin told a bystander: "We gotta

control this guy 'cause he's a sizable guy ... and it looks like he's

probably on something."

The prosecution's case also included tearful testimony from

onlookers who said the police kept them back when they protested what was happening. Eighteen-year-old Darnella Frazier,

who shot the crucial video, said Chauvin just gave the bystanders a "cold" and "heartless" stare.

She and others said they felt a sense of helplessness and lingering guilt from witnessing Floyd's slow-motion death.

"It's been nights I stayed up, apologizing and apologizing to

George Floyd for not doing more, and not physically interacting and not saving his life," Frazier testified, while the 19-yearold cashier at the neighborhood market, Christopher Martin,

lamented that "this could have been avoided" if only he had

rejected the suspect $20 bill.

To make Floyd more than a crime statistic in the eyes of the

jury, the prosecution called to the stand his girlfriend, who told

the story of how they met and how they struggled with addiction

to opioids, and his younger brother Philonise. He recalled how

Floyd helped teach him to catch a football and made "the best

banana mayonnaise sandwiches."

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Hopi Law Enforcement Services Purchases

New Vehicles and Equipment through Grant

Funding

Hopi Law Enforcement Services

Honors

2021 National Public Safety

Telecommunications Week

Hopi Law Enforcement Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – April 16, 2021,

Hopi Law Enforcement Services (HLES)

is celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (NPSTW) by honoring its five dispatchers. The NPSTW

started back in 1994 and was signed into

law in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton. NPSTW is always held the second

week of April. 2021 NPSTW is being held

from April 11-17, 2021

Dispatchers are the “unsung heroes.”

They play a vital role for the Hopi Tribe

and its surrounding communities because

they are normally the first point of contact during emergency situations. They

are the ones gathering and sharing information with emergency medical services,

fire departments, and surrounding law enforcement agencies to provide much needed information prior to their response to

any calls for service.

PHOTO courtesy of HLES

Hopi Law Enforcement Services

PRESS RELEASE

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – April 8, 2021,

Hopi Law Enforcement Services added

five new fully equipped police vehicles to

their current fleet. The new vehicles were

purchased and up-fitted with grant funding awarded by the United States Department of Justice – Community Oriented

Policing Services (COPS) grant. The grant

was awarded for the FY2019 cycle in the

amount of $324,760. By securing reliable

and up to date fully equipped police vehicles, Officers will be able to respond to

calls for service safely.

Hopi Law Enforcement Services also

purchased safety equipment through grant

funding awarded by the Office of Arizona

Attorney General’s Office in the amount

of $16,000. Hopi Law Enforcement Services has experienced an increase in calls

for service pertaining to the use of firearms. The safety equipment will offer additional protection for Officers responding

to these high risk calls.

Hopi Law Enforcement Services continues to seek out and apply for grant

funding to enhance their services to the

community.

For more information about National

Public Safety Telecommunications Week,

call HLES Office (928) 734-7344.

Dispatchers are there 24 hours a day,

365 days a year to answer calls for service.

They often deal with people when they

are having one of their worst days. Dispatchers deal with everything from calls

for crimes, car crashes, and every critical

event in between.

The HLES dispatch center currently

has 5 dispatchers. When first hired, each

dispatcher attends a three week dispatch

academy and after graduation they participate in field training program. Communication, the ability to remain calm under

stressful situations, and a willingness to

help others are critical skills dispatchers

must possess to be a dispatcher.

Hopi Law Enforcement Services continues to seek applicants to join their team.

Those interested in applying can call the

HLES Office for more information.

For more information about National

Public Safety Telecommunications Week,

call HLES Office (928) 734-7344.

2021 National Drug

Take Back Day

Hopi Law Enforcement Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – April 16, 2021, The

Hopi Law Enforcement Services (HLES)

will be participating in the 2021 National

Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April

24, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

HLES Staff will be accepting unwanted,

expired and unused prescription medication pills at the Hopi Law Enforcement

Services Office in Kykotsmovi, Ariz. We

will not accept inhalers, needles, glass, or

liquids. The service will be free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The Drug Take Back Day is a national

initiative, conducted in partnership with

the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), aimed at encouraging the

public to dispose of expired, unused or

unwanted prescription medication pills

that are prone to abuse and theft.

All Centers for Disease Control

COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.

Please practice social distancing and wear

your masks.

For more information about the

Drug Take Back Day call Sgt. Singer at

(928)734-7340

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Grand Canyon National Park

Re-Opens East Entrance Gate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grand Canyon, AZ - Beginning April 8,

2021, visitors traveling to Grand Canyon

National Park will be able to enter the park

through the East Entrance at Desert View.

Park officials, working with tribal and

state officials, stakeholders and community leaders, announced the reopening of

the Park's east entrance gate this week.

The east entrance, along Arizona State

Highway (Hwy) 64, has been closed since

April 1, 2020. The intent of the closure has

been to minimize visitor traffic through

the Navajo Nation and other communities

east of the Park, respecting the health and

safety need of park neighbors during the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Superintendent Ed Keable made the

decision to reopen the east gate based on

input from the Navajo Nation, along with

state and local officials and community

members. Keable stated, "over the past

year, we have continued to coordinate

with local Cameron Chapter and tribal

officials from the Navajo Nation, as well

as other stakeholders and business leaders on the east gate closure. As vaccine

rollouts continue, we recognize the need

to normalize our operations and allow for

visitors to have a drive-through option on

Hwy 64."

When driving through the Navajo Nation, all roads other than state and federal

highways will be closed to non-residential

traffic. Mask wearing is required at all

locations on the Nation. For more information on Navajo Nation guidance, please

visit the Navajo Department of Health

website.

No services--including food, gas, and

the campground--will be available at Desert View until further notice. These services will open as soon as staffing allows.

The nearest services available to Desert

View are in Cameron, AZ, about 30 miles

east of the Desert View developed area.

Other services are currently available on

the South Rim in Grand Canyon Village.

Credit cards, Your Pass Now, and America the Beautiful passes will be accepted

for entry. Cash will not be accepted at this

time.

For a complete list of available services

and open facilities on the South Rim,

please consult the Grand Canyon National

Park website.

CORRECTION

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – April 16, 2021, in the “Hopi Law Enforcement Services March

2021 Report” published in the April 7, 2021 publication of the Hopi Tutuveni, “TOTAL

ARRESTS FOR JANUARY” should have read, “TOTAL ARRESTS FOR MARCH”

We sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Hopi Tutuveni wants to know how we are

doing.

Call or email us to tell us if we are doing a good job. We need your

feedback

928-734-3283

Locally Youth Led Organization Hustling to Bring

a Skate Park to Hopi

SkateHopi 264 breaking barriers to make their dreams a reality

Youth from the SkateHopi 264 photo credit to sender

SkateHopi 264

PRESS RELEASE

Polacca, Ariz. – As of March 11, 2021,

SkateHopi 264 is a locally, youth led organization whose goal is getting a skate

park built here on the Hopi reservation. To

date, we have completed and compiled a

survey, hosted multiple skateboard giveaways. We’ve also managed sticker sales

and raffles to get our community involved

and to raise money for the skate park. We

aim our attention towards the youth because we depend on them to carry on our

values and culture, but we do not exclude

anyone of older ages. We hope to create

a supportive and positive environment for

our Hopi/Tewa sinom to come together

through the joy of skating.

Our team is comprised of four young

Native American skaters, who established

SkateHopi 264. We all reside on the Hopi

reservation and belong to different villages and clans. Our co-leads are in the age

group of 16-18 years old who are listed,

as follows: Quintin Nahsonhoya, Jacque

Thorpe, Laela Nevayaktewa and Terrill

Humeyestewa. Our mentors are Samantha

Honani and Paul Molina, who have both

been with us since the start of SkateHopi

264. Each Co-lead has the support of their

parents who are also involved in helping

with our various projects, fundraisers, and

meetings.

Currently, we have a plan that includes

our short and long term goals. A majority of our co-leads of SkateHopi 264 are

located in Polacca, Ariz. and so we plan

on building a permanent and sustainable

skate park built in either of the two places. Our priority area is at the First Mesa

Youth Center, with 3 areas to consider

around the property. A short term goal

is to accept an amazing donation from a

Phoenix-based skateboard company and

to place these semi-permanent structures

for a smaller skate park located at the

Tewa Village administration area. Both

areas we feel would be accessible to all

of our community and ultimately meet the

goals of SkateHopi 264. It is our dream to

push through every challenge to make this

a reality while we are still able to enjoy it

as co-leads.

We are doing so much more as SkateHopi 264. With only 6 months into becoming

established, some of our highlights include: 1) Meeting weekly on Wednesdays

(with co-leads taking turns facilitating) 2)

An amazing following on our social media

accounts 3) Our very own website (sponsored by outside Native entrepreneurs) 3)

Building our YouTube account and 4) Establishing our core group with a mission

statement, roles, and goals.

On our social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) we host special days

of the week assigned for some community interaction. These events are known as

our Wipeout Wednesdays (encouraging

all skaters to never give up when we fall)

and Indigenous Female Fridays (celebrating and highlighting female skaters from

all Indigenous communities). We are also

hosting selling events to raise money for

our future skate park. The most recent

fundraising events included our awesome

prize raffle which was held on March 27th

and our sticker sales that we sell on the

daily. The raffle date may be extended into

April if we do not meet our sales goal, so

be on the lookout for updates on our Facebook or Instagram.

Please follow us on our social media

platforms for ways to support or email:

eelaynam@gmail.com

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Haaland skirts

boundary specifics

in Utah visit

Photo credit E&E News

NEWS RELEASE

Jennifer Yachnin, E&E News reporter

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland yesterday sidestepped

pleas from Utah lawmakers seeking to delay President

Biden's expected restoration of more than 2 million acres

of public lands to a pair of national monuments.

During a joint news conference with Gov. Spencer Cox

(R) following a visit to the Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah, Haaland pledged ongoing engagement with the state's all-GOP delegation but didn't

embrace their pitch for a legislative compromise instead

of executive action.

"I think that we'll continue to be in touch. We'll continue to talk. We'll continue to see how we can work things

out," Haaland said. A video of the event was broadcast by

CBS affiliate KUTV.

She continued: "Of course, the president will make a

decision. But, look, legislation can always move forward,

right? Regardless of what President Biden does, legislation can always move forward."

Biden ordered a review of reductions to the two Utah

monuments made by his predecessor in late 2017. He is

widely expected to reverse those cuts — which shrank

Bears Ears from 1.35 million acres to about 202,000

acres, and likewise reduced the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to about half of its former 1.9-million-acre footprint — via executive action.

Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, presidents are permitted to set aside public lands as national monuments to

protect areas of cultural, historic and scientific interest.

Utah elected officials had long criticized the two monuments, established by President Obama in 2016 and President Clinton in 1996, before persuading President Trump

to shrink the sites during his first year in office.

Cox and the state's congressional delegation have

pressed the Interior Department to recommend Biden

hold off on any executive action on either site, arguing

that without legislation, the disputed lands will merely

change status each time political control of the White

House changes hands.

"In my heart, I think there is an opportunity for that, to

provide the resources that are needed here. All of those

things can only be done through legislation, they can't be

done through an executive order. But that's hard work,"

Cox said. "The easy way will ultimately be more divisive."

At the same time, Cox effusively praised Haaland

during her first visit to the state as Interior's top official,

calling her "delightful," "brilliant" and "engaging."

In separate remarks, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (R) and

Rep. Blake Moore (R) also pressed for Biden to offer legislation to Congress.

"The administration can do something permanent so

the pingponging and the lawsuits end," Romney said,

referring in part to a pair of federal lawsuits challenging Trump's 2017 reductions. Plaintiffs in those cases,

including Native American tribes and environmentalists,

argue that Trump exceeded his authority under the Antiquities Act and only Congress may reduce a monument.

He added: "I hope the president is able to take action to

bring us together."

Both Cox and Romney also emphasized a desire among

the state's elected leaders to avoid designating the disputed acreage within both sites as national monument lands.

"A monument is just a word, and there are laws around

that, but what is it that we really want?" Cox said. "We

want to protect these lands, but the minute we made them

a monument, people started coming. The more people

that come the more degradation that happens to the lands.

How do we celebrate these areas and not love them to

death?"

But in subsequent remarks, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Co-Chairman Clark Tenakhongva reiterated his

desire to see that monument restored immediately, and

only then addressed by legislation to make those changes

permanent.

"If they're really sincere about legislation, I hope Sen.

Romney does put that legislation through, because it can't

come from any other state except for the state of Utah.

They're the ones opposing," said Tenakhongva, who is

also vice chairman for the Hopi Tribe.

The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which represents

the Navajo Nation and the Pueblo of Zuni, as well as the

Hopi, Ute Mountain Ute and Ute Indian tribes, played

a key role in Obama's designation of the monument in

2016.

"It took years of hard work for us to get to this point,"

Tenakhongva said. "It's never been fair. Why is it they are

saying that this is a good opportunity for the Biden administration at this point to start showing about compromise and living together in harmony? Why does it have to

be a Native American issue? Why?"

Rep. John Curtis (R), whose district encompasses the

Bears Ears monument, met with Haaland during her trip

but did not attend the news conference.

Cox noted that Sen. Mike Lee (R) and Reps. Chris

Stewart (R) and Burgess Owens (R) are scheduled to join

Haaland on a visit to the Grand Staircase-Escalante monument in southwestern Utah today.

Haaland also fielded questions about whether the Biden

administration will expand the Bears Ears monument,

something that tribal leaders and local elected officials

have endorsed.

The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition has said it wants

a 1.9-million-acre site.

Those additional 500,000 acres would allow the inclusion of cultural sites and objects that failed to gain

protections under the original boundaries, according to

expansion proponents.

"It's pretty clear that people everywhere have a feeling

about this area and know that the cultural heritage of this

area belongs to all Americans, and it's so important that

we think of that for the future," Haaland said.

www.eenews.net.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

North Kaibab and North Rim

Grand Canyon Fire Managers

Begin Spring Prescribed Fire

Operations

PRESS RELEASE

Hopi Tutuveni wants to know how we are

doing.

Call or email us to tell us if we are doing a good job. We need your

feedback

928-734-3283 or rlaban@hopi.nsn.us

Fredonia, Az., April 16, 2021 — Beginning April 17, National Park Service

and USDA Forest Service fire managers,

working together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, anticipate initiating prescribed burns on the

North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of

the Grand Canyon. Over the next several weeks fire managers will be assessing

weather, fuel moistures, and other conditions for opportunities to conduct burns

safely and effectively.

Units targeted for spring burning are

in areas south of Jacob Lake, Crazy Jug/

Big Saddle area, and the North Rim Developed area. The North Rim and National Forest areas south of Jacob Lake

remained closed until May 15, making

this an opportune time to perform burns

for infrastructure protection and hazardous fuel reduction as smoke impacts and

disruption to visitor experiences would be

minimized.

Smoke: Prescribed fire smoke from will

be most visible during ignition operations

and will likely gradually diminish after ignitions are completed. Smoke may be visible along Highways 89A and 67 as well

as from various locations on the North

Rim and South Rim. Smoke is expected

in the canyon, one to three days after each

ignition. Fire managers are working with

the Arizona Department of Environmental

Quality- Smoke Management Division to

reduce and mitigate potential smoke impacts.

Fire managers plan to treat a total of

approximately 2100 acres with broadcast burning, targeting light surface fu-

els and downed woody debris composed

of logs, twigs, and stems. These types of

prescribed fires are important for removing forest floor fuels which are the primary carriers of fire during wildfire events.

Weather conditions and outlooks play a

key role in the success of prescribed fire

implementation and fire managers are

working closely with National Weather

Service forecasters prior to prescribed fire

implementation.

Prescribed fires play an important role

in decreasing risks to life, resources, and

property. Fire managers carefully plan

prescribed fires, initiating them only under environmental conditions that are favorable firefighter and visitor safety and

to achieving the desired objectives. Prescribed fire objectives include reducing

accumulations of hazard fuels, maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and protection of sensitive

cultural and natural resources.

Plans for each burn unit contain a set

of parameters which define the desired

weather and fuel conditions under which

a prescribed fire can be initiated. Prior to

implementing the burns, fire managers

will evaluate current conditions and will

only begin ignition if the prescribed fire

conditions are within allowable environmental parameters.

Brienne Pettit

Public Affairs Officer

Forest Service

Kaibab National Forest

c: 928-310-6035

brienne.pettit@usda.gov

800 S. 6th St.

Williams, AZ 86046

www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

HOPI H.E.O.C UPDATES

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Hopi Tribe Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 Emergency

Response April 19, 2021 Report

Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – April 19, 2021 — Nationwide

there has been a moderate increase in cases due to a

combination of the more transmissible variants of the

COVID-19 virus and certain states lifting their preventative guidelines. Currently the rising cases are mostly

found in the Midwest and the North East. Arizona has

continued to have a lower relative Covid-19 burden,

but Coconino County and the Western communities of

the Navajo Reservation have continued to see increases.

Furthermore, the Hopi reservation continues to see small

pockets of Covid-19 and is monitoring for community

transmission. We all must continue to practice the three

W’s, Watch your distance, Wash your hands and Wear

a mask. In addition to practicing the three W’s, everyone who can be vaccinated (people over the age of 16)

should contact their healthcare provider about receiving

the Covid-19 vaccine.

For the Covid-19 vaccines, overall effectiveness has

been reported in the range of 70% to 95% for symptomatic Covid-19, which is well above the average effectiveness of the flu vaccine, for example. Not only do these

vaccines appear to lessen risk of developing COVID-19,

but they also appear to lessen the risk of severe disease.

In large clinical trials, most side effects have been minor. When side effects do occur, they typically last just

a few days. A side effect or reaction isn’t necessarily all

bad, as it may indicate that the body is building protection against the virus. Common side effects include: 1.)

pain at the site of the injection; 2.) painful, swollen lymph

nodes in the arm where the vaccine was injected; 3.) overall fatigue; 4.) headache. It is normal to feel apprehensive

about any new treatment. But two common misconceptions often result in people avoiding the COVID vaccine

unnecessarily. When health problems develop soon after

vaccination, people tend to blame the vaccine. Yet cancer,

strokes, heart attacks, blood disorders, and rare illnesses

occurred before the pandemic, and will of course continue to happen long after. If a person contracts COVID-19

soon after vaccination, it is not due to the vaccine. No

live SARS-CoV-2 virus is used in the currently available

vaccines or those in development.

Here is a quick overview of the COVID-19 statistics on

a national, state, and local level:

As of April 19, 2021

The United Sates now has approximately 31.48 million

confirmed positive cases with 48,032 new cases and over

564,292deaths reported.

Over 854,453 confirmed positive cases now exist in

Arizona. Of those, close to 16,058 are in Navajo County

alone.

The Hopi Health Care Center has tested over 9,094

patients to this date. Over 1,385 of those tests at Hopi

Health Care Center came back positive with 1004 from

Hopi Tribal members. Tuba City Regional Health Care

Corporation reported 269 positives for Hopi Villages

with a combined number of 1273 positive Hopi Tribal

members.

The information below provides a glimpse of the current numbers in those respective villages.

The information by villages presented above is released

by the Hopi Department of Health & Human Services,

and the data shown reflects patients tested at the Hopi

Health Care Center and at the Tuba City Regional Health

Care Corporation specifically on Hopi tribal members.

The data from Lower and Upper Munqapi is consolidated until specific data can be re-verified. (+) number decreased due to individual being identified from another

village. The community of residence for one Hopi Tribal

member who tested positive at HHCC is in the Phoenix

metropolitan area. The community of residence for four

Hopi Tribal members who tested positive at HHCC is in

Winslow. The data here does not include all state-wide

data from other facilities such as Flagstaff, Winslow,

Phoenix or other hospitals.

*Note: These data include newly added testing results

from the Abbott ID NOW machine since April 20, 2020

** A total of 1268+ individuals who tested positive are

members of the Hopi Tribe.

+ Includes Village member(s) retested positive

Prevention:

Watch for symptoms. People with COVID-19 have

had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from

mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the

virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of

symptoms may have COVID-19:

•

Cough

•

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

•

Or at least two of these symptoms:

•

Fever

•

Chills

•

Repeated shaking with chills

•

Muscle pain

•

Headache

•

Sore throat

•

Congestion or runny nose

•

Nausea or vomiting

•

Diarrhea

•

New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or

concerning to you.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

HOPI H.E.O.C UPDATES

Hopi Tribe Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 Emergency Response April 19, 2021 Report, Cont.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Hopilavit - school related

W D

April 7 issue

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H O W A

H O N

O R

M S

O W T

O H O O

O O M

S W A

C M

O W E

D O

K W

O O

A W A

U W H

A O M D

O U G C

R O

M Q

A W A

E M N

L W D O W O

V M O

A M

V W X

K W A

N G

H O H O M

V M B

O N

C O R

X W A W

O N G O

HOPI WORDS

Pavatya

(Tadpole)

Pahona

(Beaver)

Sikwi

(Meat)

Samii

(Fresh Corn)

Noqkwivi

(Corn & Meat Stew)

Kowaako

(Chicken)

Leetayo

(Fox)

Pat Ga

(Squash - Pumpkin)

Koyongo

(Turkey)

Kokowe’e

(Rooster)

Isaw

(Coyote)

Hekweepu

(Brownish Lizard)

Hootsoko

(Small Eared Owl)

Hoonaw

(Bear)

Tokotska

(Black Bird)

Tsili

(Chili)

Wutaga

(Corn Gruel)

Mooro

(Burro)

Moosa

(Cat)

Pooko

(Dog)

Mosayru

(Bison, Buffalo)

Qomi

(Sweet Corn Cake)

Tootolo

(Grasshopper)

Yongosona

(Turtle)

Toho

(Mt. Lion)

Sowiyngwa

(Deer)

Hohomitst

(Pocket Mice)

Wakaasi

(Cow)

Hospowi

(Roadrunner)

Tsiro

(Small Bird)

Kwaahu

(Eagle)

Paakwa

(Frog)

Piki

(Blue Corn Bread)

Toosi

(Sweet Corn Meal)

Qaao

(Corn)

Tumna

(Potato)

Pikami

(Wheat & Sweet Corn

Pudding)

Somiviki

(Blue Corn Flour, Sweet

Tamale)

Piklapkutuki

(Roasted & Salted Crumbled Piki)

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Larry’s Corner

My Shades are Cool

Ever wonder about the past? I know in the Hopi

tradition you are not supposed to wonder about the

past, because it could make you sick. Although, we

Hopis tend to always be looking at the past, and it

seems we never look forward to anything great in

the future. Because of that, I believe we are a sadistic group of people.

I know I have a crude sense of humor sometimes,

but in all seriousness, I believe our people should

look forward to a greater future. Sure, there are

things we need to look back into the past for reassurance and for guidance. But we need to look past

all the hungry land grabbing Hopis, the extreme traditionalists, the “opposers” who only want to live

the “true” Hopi way.

I get those people; they want to live in the past

and how it should be lived. But the “past Hopis” did

not just sit back and say “I want to keep living in the

past.” No, they wanted to move forward with living

while still practicing our culture.

When I was growing up, there was a lot of fighting

in the different villages about economic structure,

and electricity for the villages. Some villagers wanted nothing to do with the white man’s way of living,

while others saw an opportunity for the future and

how it could make them grow. I get both sides of the

argument where one side says we need to live like

the true Hopi and the other side saying they want

to live like a Hopi but with improvements to their

lives.

It creates a lot of controversy when you bring in

religion and you bring in people who want nothing

to do with the white man’s way, but also, people

who say they don’t want anything to do with white

man’s way are the same people accepting donations

from the white man. So, all in all, who is right?

Hopis believe in taking the long path, we take our

time to get to the point and we do it because, our

ancestors took the long path to get to where we are

today. And we are slow with bringing in a new way

of living.

So, you are probably wondering, “What does a cat

believe in?” Do I believe in the white man’s way?

Do I believe in the Hopi way? Do I believe in both?

Well, I’ll let you know, I’m a cat and I do want to

live like a Hopi and live like a white man. But that is

also creating a lot of controversy because I believe

in two separate things. Like believing in a dog’s life

versus a cat’s life, they may seem like they live the

same lives but really, they are totally different.

So, I ask you, what sort of life do you want to

follow, the white man’s life or the Hopi Life? Or bit

of both?

It is very hard to live two lives on the Hopi reservation. We love to practice our Hopi tradition and

we love it so much that we sometimes see an option

to only practice Hopi religion. But we soon remember that the white man’s way is a bit more convenient to our needs than to practice our own tradition.

What I’m saying is that in this world we live in now,

we can’t live without both entering our lives. I’m

saying that we can’t live without the white man.

I know it sounds crazy, but it is true, we say we

can practice our Hopi religion just by doing the

Hopi thing…but we also need help from the white

man’s culture to make our religion work.

Crazy…I know. I know how that sounds but if you

really read into it, it will make sense.

I guess living in both worlds is not such a bad trade

off to live in this crazy world we live in today. Sure,

we can still practice our Hopi religion but now we

have some help with the white man’s culture to do

so. So, take for example, Hopis are born runners, we

can run great distances without food or water. But

now, we need the white man’s help with his shoes,

his plastic water bottles, and his cool running eye

shades to make Hopis distance runners again. Could

we go back to running like how we used to? Yes, we

could do that, but we would look silly without those

cool running eye shades.

What I’m saying is that even though we say that

white man has no place in our culture, we are right

for the serious part of it but we also need to have

white man’s supplies to make it happen, if you know

what I mean.

So, my advice to you is that because living in

two worlds is very hard for us Hopis because we

like pizza, fast cars, and Netflix. But we also love

Hopi dances, gifts from the gods, and singing our

traditional songs. Could we go back to the past and

just live like a Hopi? I say, NO, we cannot do that,

the past is the past, and we cannot re-create the past

even if we tried. We can remember it for what it was,

but somethings will have to change, sometime for

the worst and sometimes for the better.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

"DNA - People's Legal Services ensuring the health

and safety of staff and clients by conducting applications

and eligibility information by phone only.

DNA addresses legal issues involving public benefits:

food stamps, unemployment, evictions, repossessions,

debt collection, family law, domestic violence and other

legal issues.

If experiencing a legal emergency like an upcoming

court appearance or eviction, you may provide that information to the intake staff by calling: 1-833-362-1102 or

applying online at: www.dnalegalservices.org

That's 1-833-362-1102 or www.dnalegalservices.org"

DNA PEOPLE’S LEGAL SERVICES

P.O. BOX 306

WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA 86515

The Hopi Foundation

Job Announcements

Would you like to put your

legals into the Newspaper?

For a single price you can

put your legals into the

Hopi

Tutuveni

Call 928-734-3283

Cat got your tongue?

Don’t know which color to pick or how to layout your ad?

Hopi Tutuveni can help you with creating an ad to your specific

need. Call or email us to find out how

Call 928-734-3283 or

email: consae@hopi.nsn.us

"Program Manager – Hopi Leadership Program

Position Summary: Responsible for overall management of Hopi Leadership Program (adult &

youth leadership programs and HLP alumni activities)

and supervision of program staff, volunteers, and interns

to ensure programming deliverables are met. Coordinates adult HLP outreach/marketing process, application and selection process, all monthly leadership

training sessions, and provides professional guidance to program participants. Develops and maintains

program curriculum, strategic development, to ensure

program objectives are met. Communicates with

partner agencies, cohort alumni, and HLP Community Advisory Board.

Program Manager – Hopi Opportunity Youth Initiative (HOYI)

Position Summary: Responsible for assisting the

Hopi Foundation Planning Team with strategic

development, coordination, and implementation of

HOYI goals and objectives. HOYI objectives include

data collection, facilitation of collaborative activities,

and overall communications with external partners,

agencies, and individual stakeholders. Serves as the lead

in promoting the HOYI project through interagency

partnerships and similar organizations that can strengthen bonds and nurture opportunities for Hopi youth.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Monday, May 10, 2021

FULL JOB DESCRIPTIONS & APPLICATIONS:

HopiFoundation.org/jobs

Contact: Deanna Ortiz - 928-734-2380 │ info@hopifoundation.org

Salary: Based on experience & qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 3 years’ management and

supervision experience and BA/BS degree, or any

equivalent combination of education, training and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the

duties of the position.

Necessary Requirements: Must possess valid driver's

license; able to work some evenings/weekends; No

misdemeanor convictions within the past 5 years and

no felony convictions; Background investigation and

fingerprinting may be required; Use of personal vehicle

may be required.

Remote/tele-work options: Yes"

The Hopi Tribe P.O. Box 123 Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039

Ph: (928) 734-3281 • Ph: (928) 734-3283

Editorial Board of the Hopi Tutuveni

Kyle Knox , Gary LaRance, George Mase

Hopi Tutuveni Staff

Managing Editor - Romalita Laban

RLaban@hopi.nsn.us

Assistant Editor - Carl Onsae

Consae@hopi.nsn.us

ARTICLES:

The Hopi Tutuveni welcomes

original articles reporting on

local, state and national news

items on issues related to Hopi

or of interest to Tutuveni readers.

We are especially interested

in articles reporting on issues

impacting the Hopi community or on events and activities

involving members of the Hopi

Tribe. Articles should not exceed

750 words and should follow

Associated Press (AP) style and

formatting. The Managing Editor

reserves the right to edit articles

for style, length and clarity. If

significant editing is required, the

Managing Editor will communicate with the author prior to

publication.

PRESS RELEASES:

Press releases must be submitted

on official letterhead and include

the name of the organization,

contact person, telephone

number and email address. Press

releases should not exceed 500

words and submissions may be

edited for length and clarity at

the discretion of the Managing

Editor.

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR:

Letters should not exceed 250

words and must include the

name of the author and complete

contact information (address,

phone number or email address)

CIRCULATION

and the headline and date of

the article on which you are

commenting. Anonymous letters

and letters written under pseudonyms will not be published.

The Tutuveni Editorial Board

reviews all submissions and

reserves the right not to publish

letters it considers to be highly

sensitive or potentially offensive

to readers, or that may be libelous

or slanderous in nature.

OPINION EDITORIALS:

Submissions must be exclusive

to Hopi Tutuveni and should not

exceed 1,000 words. Include with

your submission your name and

complete contact information,

along with a short 2-3-sentence

bio.

SUBMISSION

INSTRUCTIONS:

All press releases, articles, letters

to the editor and Opinion Editorials electronically as a Word

document or as plain text in the

body of an email to the Managing Editor, Romalita Laban. Articles, press releases and editorials

that include photographs must

be in high resolution, 300dpi

or more and must be your own.

All photographs must include

photo credit and a caption for

each photo listing the names of

all persons included in the photo

and description of what the photo is about. (call 928-734-3283

for deadline schedule).

The Hopi Tutuveni is published twice a month, with a circulation

of 2,500 copies throughout the entire Hopi Reservation. The paper

is delivered on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month to the

following locations: Moenkopi Travel Center, Moenkopi Legacy

Inn, Hotevilla Store, Kykotsmovi Village Store, Tribal Government

Complex, Hopi Cultural Center, Hopi Health Care Center, Polacca

Circle M, Keams Canyon Store.

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

LEGALS

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hopi Tribal Council

Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma,

Chairman

Second Mesa Day School is NOW

HIRING & RECRUITING for

the 2021-2022 Academic School

Year

Clark W. Tenakhongva,

Vice Chairman

Dwayne Secakuku,

Interim Tribal Secretary

"HIRING immediately …Kindergarten and

First Grade Teacher

Teacher Assistants, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

RECRUITING..First Grade Teacher, 1 Position

Third Grade Teacher, 2 Positions

Interested? Send resume, along with a copy of

your AZ teaching certificate and AZ Level One

Fingerprint card to HR@SecondMesa.org, or

fax to 928-737-2565 or you can mail to PO Box

98, Second Mesa, AZ 86043

Questions? Contact Vida J-Golaway @ 928737-2571 x 4212, or email at HR@secondmesa.

org.

SMDS offers a sign on bonus and a competitive

salary. 100% employee health benefits. Teacher housing and retirement plans with up 4%

match.

What we offer… At Second Mesa Day School

(SMDS) , we want to be a great employer,

focusing on education, inclusion, collaboration, health and well-being. We live our values,

making sure we put our children first. Their

education is at the heart of what we do.

We need the very best people to help us achieve

our educational ambitions. We have a motivated and talented team which we want to retain,

support and develop.

BUT… we also want to attract new talent. WE

believe our ambitions and goals make Second

Mesa Day School an attractive and exciting

place to work."

Wilfred Gaseoma, Tribal

Treasurer

Violet Sinquah, SergeantAt-Arms

Village of Upper

Moenkopi

Robert Charley

Philton Talahytewa, Sr.

Hubert Lewis, Sr.

Michael Elmer

Village of Bakabi

Dwayne Secakuku

Clifford Qotsaquahu

Velma Kalyesvah

Village of Kyakotsmovi

David Talayumptewa

Phillip Quochytewa, Sr.

Danny Honanie

Herman G. Honanie

Village of Sipaulavi

Rosa Honanie

Alverna Poneoma

Vacant

Village of Mishongnovi

Delores Coochyamptewa

Pansy Edmo

Mervin Yoyetewa

First Mesa Consolidated

Villages

Albert T. Sinquah

Dale Sinquah

Wallace Youvella, Sr.

Wallace Youvella, Jr.

PH: (928) 289 0974

porturica@gmail.com

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Family support and adjusting expectations help Native

grads facing historically high unemployment

by Christine Trudeau

Native News.Net

At 26, Megan Heller has not one, but

two master’s degrees from Eastern Washington University. But after classes moved

online early and a virtual graduation in the

spring because of the pandemic, Heller

had no luck finding a job.

“I probably applied for about fifty

jobs,” Heller said. “I got a lot of ‘positions

were canceled due to funding limits.’ Entry level jobs that I applied for said I didn’t

have enough experience or I didn’t meet

the qualifications or they just didn’t get

back to me.”

Heller, a citizen of the Kalispel Tribe of

Indians near Spokane, Washington, moved

back in with her parents following graduation. She was able to save a little money

living rent free and babysitting for family

members as they went to work. Like many

graduates this spring, Heller was left with

very few options.

Donna Feir, a Research Fellow with the

Center for Indian Country Development at

the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis,

said that those entering into the labor force

just out of school are doing so at a particularly bad time.

“Obviously unemployment rates rose

dramatically in April after the onset of

pandemic,” says Feir, “this is particularly challenging for Indigenous Americans

where unemployment rates increase much

more dramatically than any other demographic group.”

An August report by Feir found that despite a slight rebound to the employment

rate since April, employment for Native

Americans is still well behind that for the

white workforce. Feir’s survey focuses

on people over 25 years of age. She said

through no fault of their own, young people having difficulty finding work might

be affected throughout their careers.

“Unemployment rates generally rose

very dramatically and we know if you are

an individual who is entering the labor

force in an economic downturn this can

sometimes have a permanent impact on

your wages and attachment to the labor

force throughout your life course,” Feir

said.

Across the country tribes and Native

communities are pulling together,

accessing traditional family and community support to cope with the virus

threat and the ongoing economic setbacks.

Food donation and delivery drives, youthled initiatives to provide masks, hand sanitizer, and information on social distancing and other preventative measures, and

tribal officials closing reservation borders

have all helped keep people alive and

afloat.

Heller counts herself among those relying on that family support. So does Ashley Nicole Hamilton, who is also back at

home after graduating from Harvard University in the spring. Unlike Heller, Hamilton, 22, had a fellowship lined up after

receiving her bachelor’s degree in sociology. A citizen of the Winnebago Tribe of

Nebraska, Hamilton started in June as the

Wilma Mankiller Fellow in Tribal Governance with the National Congress of

American Indians.

“I recognize that I’m in a very unique

situation to, one, get a job during a pandemic, but also be able to keep it and

know that I’ll be able to have this job,”

Hamilton said.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

When Harvard closed down in March,

college officials gave students living on

campus five days to vacate their dorms.

With no financial help from the school and

unable to get storage nearby, Hamilton

said it made more sense to rent a truck and

drive to to her job in Washington, D.C.

At the time, she thought she’d be starting

her job in person, but NCAI decided she

should work remotely for the foreseeable

future. She returned to South Sioux City,

Neb. and says, in the months since, working from home has been good, allowing

her to reconnect with family.

“I feel like I’ve healed in a way from

the four years of being away,” said Ham-

ilton. “Healing mentally, physically, and

emotionally and learning more about

myself. Like what situations I thrive in.

What situations I don’t thrive in. Understanding that having my family, having a

good community around is necessary. I’m

not saying that at Harvard I didn’t have a

great community of friends, I just think

that the lifestyle of living in the dorms,

not being able to cook my own food, not

being connected to my food and to more

of a home routine really affected me a lot.

Being home has healed that in a way, and

especially being close to my family.”

Hamilton also got a dog over the summer named Winnie, who has been a companion between work and occasionally

grocery shopping.

“I think because Nebraska never really

issued any sort of lockdown stay-at-home

orders statewide, the pandemic has felt

very consistent for me and in the sense

that I’m still following the same guidelines that I was following in March,”

Hamilton said.

Thankfully, Hamilton said, COVID-19

case numbers have remained relatively

low for her tribe. When her fellowship finishes up in May, she has her heart set on

studying Indian law, but remains cautious.

“I know with the pandemic anything

can change in an instant, and so I want to

start planning for options so I don’t end up

in a position where I don’t have a plan or I

don’t have a job or anything like that,” she

said. “I just want to know what my options

are, but I’m not really getting my hopes up

on any of them because, you know, there’s

a pandemic. So, I’m just ready for anything to change in an instant.”

Reconnecting with family and community is also a source of healing for Megan

Heller.

“I’ve been trying to tell myself that it

was an extended vacation, like a reset from

school, because school was so stressful,”

says Heller. “I would spend a lot of time

outside, whether it’s just walking around

or going for hikes in the nearby area.”

Washington was the first state hit hard

by COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee enacted

stay-at-home orders early. Heller credits

the Kalispel Tribe for taking quick, providing antibody testing, giving out masks

and other measures. When supplies were

scarce, they organized donation drives

to local food banks to help those in Spokane County, both tribal members and

non-members alike.

“I think it’s been going relatively well,

considering the situation,” Heller said.

“My immediate family, we’ve all been

safe as well as my extended family who

are up here in Washington. Everybody’s

been good about social distancing and

wearing masks.”

Four months into her job hunt, fortunes

finally turned. She started a new job as

the Human Resources Compensation

Specialist this week for her tribe. Though

not her dream job yet, Heller says the position provides some financial security

and a foot in the door. Down the line, she

hopes the Kalispel Tribe opens a position

for economic development and environmental protection when they are able to

resume normal operations. Heller’s degrees are in public administration and urban and regional planning. Her thesis was

on tribes planning for climate change. She

is eager to put her passions to work and

looks forward to the day she can help her

tribe diversify economically and plan for

a sustainable future. But for the moment

she’s just glad to get back to work.

“I’m eager to get back to having a routine, letting go of the stress and worries I

was having about not knowing what the

future will hold, ” Heller said. “Not that

I know now, but about the way that bills

weren’t going to be paid, or what I was

going to do if I couldn’t find a job for a

long time. Now I can focus on my professional development… and my professional goals, where I want to go one day

within the tribe and the kind of career path

I want.”

This story is a collaboration between

National Native News and the Solutions

Journalism Network

Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

Interior Secretary Haaland to

New Kansas law to make it a crime

Chair The White House Council

to trespass at pipelines

ANDY TSUBASA FIELD

bation.

on Native American Affairs

AP news

The bill says lawmakers intend to pro-

Deb Haaland, then the Interior secretary nominee, during President Biden's inauguration.

Haaland will chair the newly resumed Council on Native American Affairs. @DebHaalandNM/

Twitter

BY NATIVE NEWS ONLINE STAFF

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Thursday Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will

serve as the chair of the newly reconstituted Council on Native American Affairs.

The Council was first created under

President Obama, which was dormant

during the Trump administration, will

meet on April 23. Officials said the interagency Council, which includes leaders

from across the federal government, has

not met regularly since 2016. It began in

2013 in response to a request from tribal

leaders.

Next week's meeting will be convened

by Haaland and Susan Rice, the White

House domestic policy adviser.

"The White House Council on Native

American Affairs represents an important

commitment to strengthen tribal sovereignty, uphold our commitment to tribal nations, and honor the United States'

nation-to-nation relationships," Haaland

said in a statement.

"Addressing the systemic inequities that

impact Indigenous peoples is the responsibility of every federal agency that will

require an all-of-government approach

across the administration," she added.

Rice said the council "will maximize

federal efforts to support tribal nations

as they tackle pressing issues, such as

COVID-19 response, reopening schools

and rebuilding tribal economic development."

Interior said the meeting will take place

virtually and will be closed to the press.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill signed

into law by Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly will make it a misdemeanor to

trespass near oil and gas pipelines.

The bill Kelly signed last week gained

bipartisan support in the state Senate, but

drew criticism from some House Democrats, including two Native American

legislators who said the bill targets Native

American protesters like those who opposed the Dakota Access oil pipeline, the

subject of months of sometimes-violent

protests in 2016 and 2017.

The new law goes into effect on July 1.

The legislation makes it a misdemeanor to

trespass near oil and gas, rubber manufacturing and wastewater treatment facilities.

It would also make it a felony to trespass

with the intent to damage them. It is already a felony in Kansas to damage oil

and gas pipelines.

In addition to pipelines, the bill also defines railroad tracks as a critical infrastructure and makes it a felony to trespass to

obstruct them. First time offenders found

guilty could face up to two years of pro-

tect the right to peaceably assemble. Proponents say that damaging the facilities

outlined in the bill could harm Kansans.

“Governor Kelly signed this bill because it will enforce the law by protecting

critical infrastructure facilities – such as

water treatment plants or gas processing

plants – while still protecting Kansans’

right to peacefully protest,” said Kelly

spokesperson Lauren Fitzgerald in a statement.

The bill was introduced at the request

of the American Fuel and Petrochemical

Manufacturers association, which cites

an incident in Florida, where a hacker in

February gained entry to the system controlling a water treatment plant and tried

to taint the water supply with sodium hydroxide, a caustic chemical.

Andy Tsubasa Field is a corps member

for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for

America is a nonprofit national service

program that places journalists in local

newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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Hopi Tutuveni April 21, 2021

The White House’s unanswered

Medicaid question

White House press secretary Jen Psaki calls on a reporter during a press briefing in the White House in Washington, Friday, April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Mark Trahant

Indian Country Today

On Friday the Biden administration announced a plan to spend $4 billion from

the American Rescue Plan for pandemic

relief in Indigenous communities. And

of that amount half, or $2 billion, would

be used to supplement third-party billing

within the Indian health system.

This is one of those announcements

that work on many levels. For most it’s

just a big number. But if you know how

Medicaid and other third-party insurance

programs support the Indian health system

… it’s a really big deal. Perhaps it's pulling one of the most significant levers that

could lead to full funding for the Indian

healthcare system.

The White House announcement was

set for 9 am EDT on Friday. About that

time we had a call with Aliyah Chavez,

who has been writing a lot of the stories in

ICT about the new administration. Turns

out that day she had been picked to ask a

question at the White House briefing. All

week Chavez had been working on her

questions ranging from plans for the tribal

nations conference to the number of Native Americans receiving appointments to

work in this government.

These are all questions that would never

get asked in a White House briefing. Yet it

seemed to us that the $2 billion Medicaid

story was worthy of a follow-up question.

So Chavez asked: “The plan for $2 billion for third-party billing in the Indian

health system shows the significance of

Medicaid and other insurance programs.

We know that some states are stingy with

Medicaid regulations. Does this plan

demonstrate the need for tribes to be treated like states so that they can develop their

own eligibility rules and priorities?”

This question was clearly not in the

White House briefing book.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki reported the

earlier announcement and then added this:

“So I would say that just as we are working with states directly — we are working

with local communities, we have our own

federal programs, pharmacy programs,

and other programs — we will work directly with Indian Country to ensure that

they have the resources, the funding, the

vaccine supply needed in order to get the

pandemic under control.”

But let’s parse Chavez’s question and

examine what it could mean.

The Indian health system is a combination of the federal Indian Health Service,

tribal and nonprofit hospitals and clinics,

and urban facilities that serve 2.56 million

American Indians and Alaska Natives in

37 states. These days about 60 percent of

that system is run by tribes or nonprofits;

the federal government’s direct services

— the Indian Health Service we think

about — are the shrinking part of the system. It’s the tribal, nonprofit and urban

programs that represent growth.

This is where Medicaid and other

third-party insurance programs come in.

Officially third-party billing is $1.3 bil-

lion of a $6 billion budget (in fiscal year

2020). But then there is an asterisk. And

that’s because that budget line only includes federal facilities. Tribes, nonprofits

and urban programs — the majority of the

system — are not included. Indeed, there

is no reporting mechanism for 60 percent

of the Indian health system.

This is complicated and basically there

are three reasons why this matters.

First: Many of the tribal, nonprofit and

urban programs have become quite good

at third-party billing making sure that as

many patients as possible are covered by

health insurance, especially since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.

Second: Third-party billing, by law, is

used to boost funding at the local facility.

The dollars are billed at a clinic or a hospital and then stay at that facility.

And, third, and perhaps most important,

Medicaid funding is automatic. Funding

for the Indian Health Service goes through

the process of appropriations every year.

But Medicaid is an entitlement. If a patient is eligible, then the money is there.

That’s why Chavez’s question was so

important. Medicaid is officially a state

and federal partnership designed to provide insurance to people who cannot afford private insurance. The federal government pays each state a share of the cost

and each state sets the rules for who is eligible and what services are covered. But

the federal government also pays a 100

percent match for American Indians and

Alaska Natives.

So a patient might go into a tribal facility in say, North Dakota, and be eligible for

Medicaid insurance coverage and the clinic would be able to bill for those services.

This is because North Dakota expanded

Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

But a family member who lives a few

miles away, in South Dakota, would not

get the same insurance coverage because

the rules in South Dakota are different.

Yet in either case the federal government reimburses the state Medicaid program at 100 percent.

This makes no sense.

The funding stream from Medicaid

has been one of the most successful elements of the Affordable Care Act in Indian

Country. The uninsured rate dropped and

third-party billing is up (opening up a revenue stream that could permanently fund

Indian health programs.)

And the divide between expansion

states and non expansion states is significant. The Kaiser Family Foundation found

in a 2017 report that the uninsured rate for

nonelderly American Indians and Alaska

Natives in states that implemented the

Medicaid expansion fell by twice as much

(from 23 percent to 15 percent between

2013 and 2015) as the rate in non-expansion states (from 25 percent to 21 percent).

Medicaid already insures more than one

in four patients within the Indian health

system and half of all children.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.