The Wrap: National Museum of the American Indian’s 20th anniversary
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20 years and counting
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. The National Museum of the American Indian first opened its doors on the National Mall in 2004 after it was established by an act of Congress in 1989.
To mark the occasion, this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival — hosted in June and July — honored the museum. The festival, titled “Indigenous Voices of the Americas” invited Indigenous peoples to Washington, D.C., from across Turtle Island and Abya Yala, a term referring to both North and South America.
The festival culminated in the return of Kānepō to Hawai‘i. — Kadin Mills, ICT
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Mo Brings Plenty on rez life and ‘Yellowstone’
As filming continues on the final season of “Yellowstone,” one of the main Native characters in the Paramount television series talked to ICT recently about his work on the five-season series, his childhood and his new job as a Native advisor for a major media and entertainment company.
“Yellowstone,” which premiered in June 2018 on Paramount Network, follows the Dutton family and their efforts to protect their Montana ranch from encroaching developers, corrupt government officials and tribal leaders.
In “Yellowstone,” Mo Brings Plenty plays the self-titled part of Mo Brings Plenty, a tribal officer and the right-hand man to casino mogul and tribal chief Thomas Rainwater (played by Gil Birmingham). The Oglala Lakota actor – known for his long braids and cowboy hat – said he’s enjoyed playing a character that some would describe as morally ambiguous. READ MORE. — Sandra Hale Schulman, ICT
Failed federal housing commitments leads to evictions for Native families
From Norma Aldredge’s kitchen table, you can hear the cooing of her three-month-old granddaughter and the crying of another grandchild, just 6 months old, in the next room. Two more of Aldredge’s elementary school age grandchildren giggled in the living room before finding their way to the snack cupboard shortly after they were dropped off by her daughter. The smell of fried rice and hot dogs soon filled the air. The sounds of family coming and going, and smells of Aldredge’s food are regular occurrences in her home at the end of a cul-de-sac on the off-reservation Nooksack Indian Tribe allotment.
Tuesday, Aug. 20, was a little different. Aldredge sat at the kitchen table with her niece, Michelle Roberts, as they prepared for a virtual court hearing about whether she and her husband would be evicted from the four bedroom, two bathroom house they’ve lived in for almost 19 years. The same house and yard where her 11 Nooksack grandchildren and six great-grandchildren have grown up visiting and playing. Where Aldredge used to host gatherings for the entire neighborhood until she, Roberts, and 304 of their family members were disenrolled from Nooksack Indian Tribe in 2016. READ MORE. — Luna Reyna, ICT
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Canadian Medical Association issues historic apology for mistreatment of Indigenous people
The Canadian Medical Association — the largest and oldest group representing medical professionals in Canada — issued a sweeping apology for the historical and ongoing mistreatment of Indigenous people.
In a ceremony held in Victoria, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, association President Dr. Joss Reimer apologized for the “ongoing and past harms” to Indigenous people, including Institutional racism and segregation, forced sterilization and experiments on adults and children. READ MORE. — Miles Morrisseau, ICT
New initiative aims to increase the number of Native voters in South Dakota
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Native Americans were given the right to vote in 1924 following the Indian Citizenship Act. One hundred years later, Native voters still face barriers when attempting to vote.
A new Lakota-led initiative, the He Sapa Voters Project, is working to make a change.
“I don’t think my ancestors would want me to be quiet. I’m urging everyone to talk to your relatives and families, to get out the Native vote,” said Marlene Poor Bear, Oglala Lakota, in a Sept. 17 press release.
This fall, the He Sapa Voter Project plans to bring voter registration opportunities to several urban and rural communities across the state. READ MORE. — Amelia Schafer, ICT
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