American Indian Religious Freedom Summit Brings Tribal Leaders to Washington, Efforts to Preserve Peyote Habitat Heat Up

Leaders of the Native American Church of North America convened for the third consecutive year to advocate for peyote habitat conservation with leaders in Washington. Leaders and supporters met with Congressional leaders and staff to share progress of advocating for the conservation of peyote, a plant where only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes are permitted to possess and ingest for traditional ceremonial purposes.

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U.S. District Court Rules in Favor of Native American Church Chapter, Denying Bank’s Efforts to Dismiss Discrimination Case

A U.S. District Judge in Wisconsin denied a motion to dismiss a federal discrimination lawsuit involving a Native American Church chapter and a local bank on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley issued a 9-page opinion on the court’s denial of the defendant’s motion, upholding the protected use of peyote in traditional American Indian ceremonies.

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Cole Brings Plenty, 27, Found Deceased, Family and Supporters Demand Answers

A Kansas County issued a public statement on Friday, April 5, that a death investigation in Johnson County identified Cole Brings Plenty, 27, as deceased in a wooded area. Brings Plenty had been reported missing on April 1 and many have responded as a result including his family and friends. After his death was announced, thousands of people, including his family, news sources, and leaders in Indian Country, have shared words of condolences on social media.

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Last Real Indians
The International Indigenous Youth Council’s Oglala Chapter Told They Would Be Banned from Attending Denver March Powwow if Advocating for Palestine

A group of Lakota youth from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation representing the International Indigenous Youth Council (IIYC) Oglala Lakota Chapter were banned from attending the Denver March Powwow over the weekend, for displaying solidarity with Palestine. Many community members cited that the Denver March Powwow, one of the country's largest, was originally created to celebrate resistance after forced relocation to many urban cities. 

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Last Real Indians
Thousands of Minnesotans March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, State Officials Unveil License Plate Supporting Cause

 On February 14, thousands of people throughout Minnesota attended various  demonstrations and memorial walks to raise awareness of missing Indigenous peoples.  Advocacy work for missing Indigenous peoples has grown substantially over the last several  years with new legislation providing more funding for aiding families who have a missing or lost  relative due to violence, or trafficking.  This reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation https://www.iwmf.org/

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Indigenous Demonstrators Continue Opposition to Racism in Sports and Media at Super Bowl LVIII

 Indigenous demonstrators protest the continued use of the “Chiefs” by Kansas City,  as they played the San Francicso 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at the Allegiant Stadium in Las  Vegas. It is the second consecutive year where demonstrators organized a protest at the Super  Bowl denouncing Kansas City, the National Football League, and racism in sports and media.

Article by Darren Thompson

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Ghost Nation Responds to Governor Kristi Noem: “She Must Apologize”

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s recent remarks resulted in the Oglala Sioux Tribe banishing her immediately from tribal lands, and now the Ghost Nation has issued a public response regarding her false allegations.

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