Ramona Bennett Named in Forbes 50 Over 50 List by Frank Hopper

Ramona Bennett, the Puyallup elder who for nearly 60 years has been a leader of the Native rights movement in the Pacific Northwest, was listed last week in Forbes Magazine’s list of the 50 most impactful women over 50.

Current affairsLast Real IndiansAugust 8, 2023Ramona Bennett, Puyallup, Frank Hopper, Last Real Indians

Tribal Leaders Respond Harshly to Gov. Inslee’s FPIC Betrayal

In a strongly worded response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s veto of the Native consent provisions in an important climate change bill, the offices of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and the Vice President of the Quinault Nation, Fawn Sharp, blasted the governor’s first offer to reach a compromise.

FeaturedLast Real IndiansOctober 24, 2021Last Real Indians, Frank Hopper, Gov Inslee, climate change

Processing Delays and Computer Glitches Block Alaska Natives From Receiving CARES Act Money, by Frank Hopper

After being held up in federal courts for over a year and a half, funds earmarked for members of two Southeast Alaska Native organizations were delayed even longer this week due to bad planning and computer glitches.

FeaturedLast Real IndiansOctober 5, 2021Frank Hopper

The Pandemic in Prison: How COVID Robbed Native Inmates of Vital Cultural and Spiritual Support by Frank Hopper

Many different reasons brought the Native American members of the Tribal Sons to prison, but once there one thing united them: The path of the Red Road. For many, like myself, it was our first introduction to Native Spirituality, to the Sweat Lodge and to the Čhaŋnúŋpa.

FeaturedLast Real IndiansMarch 2, 2021Frank Hopper, Last Real Indians, prison

Colonize This, MOTHERFUCKERS! The Day the Orcas Fought Back

The song they sang was an ancient one, sung by our clan ancestors to orcas they saw while out hunting. My aunt and the group sang the song to thank the child orca for coming to visit them, and also to say farewell.

FeaturedLast Real IndiansSeptember 22, 2020Frank Hopper, Last Real Indians, Orca

Memorial on the tenth anniversary of John T. Williams’ death honors the extensive legacy of the humble woodcarver

John made and sold authentic Native carvings to shops along Seattle’s waterfront and at the Pike Place Market, just as his father and other family members have done for over a hundred years. He was considered the most talented carver in his family.

First Nations leaders speak out against Canada's refusal to allow appeal of Trans Mountain Pipeline approval

Kinder-Morgan’s application for approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX) has been bouncing around in Canada’s federal courts like a pinball since 2013. First Nations tribes and environmental groups have valiantly worked the flippers of the judicial pinball machine for years, filing lawsuits and appeals, to keep that shiny ball from rolling down the drain of approval.

We need to talk about classism: The real reason ANCs don't deserve COVID-19 bailout funds by Frank Hopper

Three separate lawsuits against the Treasury Department have been filed by 18 tribal governments, seeking to stop ANCs from receiving stimulus funds. They all say Alaska Native corporations are private, for-profit companies, not tribal governments, and should not receive bailout money meant for tribes.

Glenda Breiler brings the values of canoe journey to her state legislature bid

When she was approached to run for the open seat in the 22nd Legislative District in Thurston County, Breiler thought about it and decided to combine the timeless traditions she had learned from her family and from the canoe journeys with the modern administrative, academic and investigative skills she learned doing research.