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Navajo Nation Washington Office
Wááshindoon Weekly
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Friday, September 2, 2022 | |
Executive Director's Corner | |
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Yá’át’ééh
It's hard to believe summer is almost over as the kids are back in school and Labor Day weekend is upon us. Congress will be making their way back to the Hill and we're looking forward to a busy election season and hoping for lawmakers who will support initiatives that benefit Indian Country and our Navajo people.
We are pleased that the Biden-Harris administration continues to support building connectivity in Indian Country. Our people will be able to do so much more once they have the infrastructure most of the rest of America enjoys and counts on to navigate the world we live in--internet is no longer being an option--it's a daily necessity.
It's a week of firsts for Native women from the far north to the Moon as we celebrate the election of an Yup'ik Eskimo woman--the first Alaska Native to ever serve in the House of Representatives. And when the International Space Station receives its next crew, a Native American woman will co-command the mission.
We're looking forward to next week as some of our staff will be out in Window Rock to participate in the Window Rock Fair and the crowning of the next Miss Navajo. It will be nice to see our Window Rock colleagues and be among our relatives.
We hope you have a safe Labor Day weekend. Please enjoy this week's issue of the Wááshindoon Weekly!
Ahéhee'
Lashawna R. Tso
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Indian Country Observes Labor Day | Native communities continue to lag behind the mainstream as there are fewer jobs and economic opportunities at the Tribal level. | |
On Monday the Navajo Nation will join the rest of the United States in celebrating the achievements of the American worker, whose daily toil built the roads that connect our cities and laid the power lines that light our homes. These are achievements to be celebrated.
The first Federal recognition of Labor Day came in 1894, largely as a symbolic gesture in response to the efforts of labor unions to secure safer working conditions in the wake of the Industrial Revolution transforming American society. That transformation was readily visible to observers throughout the world, as millions began the century-long migration from the farms to the cities to build a more prosperous society. But as is often the case, Indian Country was largely left behind. Throughout the 20th century, thousands of Native Americans left their homes—sometimes voluntarily, often by force or coercion—to participate in the great modernization of the U.S. economy. Unfortunately Tribal communities have reaped few of the benefits.
Thousands of Native young people face the same choice year after year: stay close to family and be unemployed, or move far from home to compete for a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) has been on average over 69% higher than the national unemployment rate since January 2003. In the last month for which data is available, it was 103% higher, with the national unemployment rate at 3.9% and the AI/AN rate at 7.9%. On the Navajo Nation it’s even worse, with the latest available figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce estimating the unemployment rate at 10.4% as of the second quarter of 2021.
But this doesn’t tell the whole story. The official unemployment rate has been criticized for undercounting people in areas with few job opportunities, as one is only considered to be unemployed if they are not engaged in any economic activity--but are nevertheless actively looking for work. For example, a part-time worker who cannot afford basic necessities is not considered to be unemployed, although they are clearly underemployed. Likewise, some workers, especially in rural communities with few job opportunities, do not actively apply for jobs when they know there are no jobs are available. But once a job opens up in their community, they are more than willing to go to work.
To adjust for this discrepancy, some economists prefer to look at the workforce participation rate, which tells the percentage of the population over age 16 actively engaged in the workforce. Here we see a much bigger discrepancy between Indian Country and the rest of the United States. According to BLS, the workforce participation rate, including all unemployed people, is 62.8%, but for AI/AN living in Tribal areas (primarily reservations and other trust lands) the rate is only 52.0%, and that number continues to fall. Since 2011, the Navajo Nation workforce participation rate has decreased by 3.4% overall. This gap shows that not only does Indian Country have more unemployed people, it also has more people who have been pushed out of the economy entirely.
Another way to measure the economic health of Tribal economies is to look at what sectors are represented among employers. Tribal communities are much more reliant on government jobs, with 33.4% of residents in AI/AN areas working directly for a government of some kind, whether it is Tribal, Federal, or State. By contrast only 13.6% of Americans overall work for a government entity. While cultural attitudes may differ toward government employment from one tribe to another, in many Tribal communities, Tribal enterprises are established to help create jobs precisely because the private sector is lagging.
While Tribal governments do what they can to provide for their people, including offering meaningful opportunities for employment, there are no easy solutions. Job growth in Indian Country is hampered by Federal regulations restricting what can be done on the land, a lack of infrastructure making investing in Tribal communities less attractive, and sometimes even well-meaning but counterproductive Tribal policies.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t hope. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, poverty was the norm. Mistakes were made along the way and not everyone benefitted, but ultimately hard-working men and women transformed society for the better, leading to longer lives and prosperity for millions. Labor Day seems like a good time to remind ourselves that the process isn’t over. We can continue to transform society for the better. But it’s going to require some hard work--something Indian Country knows all about.
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Biden Harris Administration Prioritizes
Internet in Indian Country
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Navajo NTIA staff members Vanessia Cresci and Chris Bicenti stopped by NNWO this week to meet staff and share NTIA initiatives in Indian Country. Photo courtesy of NNWO. | |
In August the Biden-Harris administration announced that they will bring affordable high-speed internet to Native communities—that includes a $500 million package directly to Tribes. Vice-President Kamala Harris stated, “Our administration’s vision is to connect all Native communities with the internet and with the opportunity that comes along with access to affordable internet, the opportunity to live healthier, happier and more prosperous lives. And we will continue to fight every day to make that vision a reality.”
Closing the digital divide in Tribal communities is a crucial step to closing the achievement gap for students at all levels and helping to protect cultures and traditions while invigorating the opportunities for global engagement and growth. The continued efforts of the Biden-Harris administration augments existing programs such as the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, ReConnect Broadband Grant, Tribal College Initiative Grants, and the Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program.
The Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have committed to providing loans and grants to Tribal communities for broadband infrastructure. FCC statistics show that American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have less access to broadband than the general U.S. population. Those that do have access to the internet are more likely to have broadband connectivity lower than the benchmark of 25Mbps/3Mbps.
In hopes of correcting this, the Department of Commerce National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) announced $146 million in awards to bring high-speed internet to Tribal communities in New Mexico and an additional $500 million to fund services in Alaska, Nebraska, South Dakota, Arizona, California, and other states. NTIA has also announced an additional $1 billion in funding available to Tribal communities through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The pandemic punctuated the need for high-speed internet on the Navajo Nation in order to facilitate online education, telemedicine, commerce, and in helping Navajo communities stay connected with family and keeping local governments stay informed and connected to the communities they serve. Increased connectivity will improve public safety, access to jobs, and so much more for the Navajo people.
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Alaska Native Wins House Seat | Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado. She also attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, and University of Alaska Anchorage. A Yup’ik Eskimo, in 1995 she won the Miss National Congress of American Indians pageant where she performed Yup’ik dances in traditional regalia. Photo courtesy of KINY. | |
This week former state legislator Mary Sattler Peltola was declared the winner of a special election to replace former Congressman Don Young, who died earlier this year. Peltola beat out former vice presidential nominee/former governor Sarah Palin. The special election was the first time Alaska used its new ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference allowing for an instant run-off if no one secures more than 50% of the vote. In this instance, Peltola received 40.2% of the vote in the initial count, Palin received 31.3%, and a third candidate, Nick Begich III, received 28.5%. As no one received more than 50% of the vote, Mr. Begich was eliminated as the lowest performing candidate and his ballots were redistributed based on the second-choice candidate of those voters, resulting in 51.5% of the second round vote going to Ms. Peltola and 48.5% to Ms. Palin.
Representative-elect Peltola hails from the Alaska Native village of Bethel, a Yup’ik community. She is the first Alaska Native ever elected to the House of Representatives. As a former Executive Director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Peltola ran on a platform that included fighting corporate trawlers that have depleted the King salmon, a subsistence food for Alaska Natives. She also supports rural development in Alaska that speaks to the uniqueness of Alaska’s rural landscape. She is pro-choice.
Peltola was a judge on the Orutsararmuit Native Council Tribal Court from 2020 to 2021. She served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009. After representing the 39th district from 1999 to 2003, she represented the 38th district for the remainder of her tenure.
In addition to being the first Alaska Native to serve in the House, Peltola is the first woman to represent Alaska in the House, the first representative from Alaska to have been born in the state, and the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the House since 1973, when the late Don Young (R-AK) won a special election to succeed Democrat Nick Begich Sr. who disappeared in a plane crash in October of 1973 and was declared dead in December of that year. She will be only the third Democrat to represent Alaska in the House since statehood and the first Democrat to represent Alaska in either chamber of Congress since Mark Begich (son of the late Nick Begich Sr.) left office in 2015.
One of 10 children, Peltola resides in Bethel, Alaska, with her husband, Gene Peltola, the Director of the Alaska Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She has four children and three stepchildren.
Peltola will go up against Palin again in the November midterm elections.
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First Female Native American Prepares for Launch | | |
Astronaut Mann has. a distinguished military career having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is married and has a son. Photo courtesy of NASA. | |
When NASA sends its new crew to the International Space Station this autumn, astronaut Nicole Victoria Aunapu Mann, of the Wailacki Round Valley Indian Tribe in Northern California, will make history as the first Native American woman in space. Mann will serve as a co-commander of the SpaceX Crew-5 Mission along with astronaut and pilot Josh Cassada, astronaut Koichi Wakata from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina.
Mann will fly in space for the first time after being chosen as an astronaut in 2013. She was one of the eight astronauts in NASA's 21st astronaut class, commonly known as the "Eight Balls," for space station operations as well as potential future trips to the Moon and Mars.
The team will conduct research during the upcoming mission with the goals of improving life on Earth and preparing for more human space exploration. The launch is set for Monday, Oct. 3. In addition to instruction in space station operations, robotics, and science, they also received training in the Russian language and space survival skills.
Mann was raised in California and earned her undergrad degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, where she also served as captain of the varsity women's soccer squad. She holds a graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and was a commissioned officer, later promoted to Colonel by the U.S. Marine Corps. During her two deployments on aircraft carriers, she flew sorties in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and received six awards for her efforts.
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Environmental Protection Agency is holding a Listening Session regarding the Pollution Prevention Grant
September 7, 2022
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White House Office of Management and Budget is holding a Tribal Consultation regarding President's FY2024 Budget
September 12, 2022
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Department of the Interior is holding a Tribal consultation regarding the Tiwahe Initiative
September 12, 2022
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Department of Commerce is hosting a series of consultations regarding the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
September 12, 2022
September 14, 2022
September 16, 2022
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Office of Head Start is holding a Tribal consultation regarding Meeting the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families
September 14, 2022
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Department of the Interior is holding a Tribal Consultation regarding 10-year National Plan on Native Language Revitalization
September 14, 2022
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White House Council on Native American Affairs is hosting a Tribal Consultation on the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Protection of Tribal Treaty and Reserved Rights
September 16, 2022
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Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program
The U.S. Department of Energy has $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees available exclusively for Tribes for energy projects to support economic development. The program has recently expanded to offer direct loans to Tribes.
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Power Unelectrified Tribal Buildings
Indian Energy Policy and Programs (Office of Indian Energy) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to release a $15 million Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) this summer to support powering unelectrified Tribal buildings.
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Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2022 Tribes
Assist at-risk local communities and Indian Tribes with planning and mitigating against the risk created by Wildfire. It prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by severe disaster. Deadline: October 7, 2022
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Deploy Energy Infrastructure on Tribal lands
Office of Indian Energy intends to solicit applications from Indian tribes including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations, to install clean energy generating system(s) and/or energy efficiency measure(s) for Tribal building(s); or, deploy community-scale clean energy generating system(s) or energy storage on Tribal Lands; or install integrated energy system(s) for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid) to power a single or multiple essential Tribal facilities during emergency situations or for Tribal community resilience.
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Indian Community Development Block Grant Program
The primary objective of the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program is the development of viable Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the creation of decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities primarily for persons of low-and moderate-incomes. Application Portal Opens October 24, 2022.
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From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of
Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals
The primary goal of the Program is to enable higher education institutions to build and sustain the next generation of the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences workforce including the future USDA workforce primarily through providing student scholarship support, meaningful paid internships, fellowships and job opportunity matching, and also facilitating opportunities to learn the processes and pathways leading to training and employment in the federal sector. Deadline: October 25, 2022.
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Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) appropriated $2 billion to Treasury to provide payments to eligible revenue sharing counties and eligible Tribal governments for use on any governmental purpose except for a lobbying activity. Deadline: October 31, 2022.
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The Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
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Indian Houding Block Grant Competitive Grant Program
Under the program, eligible Indian Tribes and tribally designated housing entities receive grants to carry out a range of affordable housing activities. Grant funds may be used to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing in safe and healthy environments on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas and carry out other affordable housing activities. Grant funds must be used to primarily benefit low-income Indian families. Deadline: November 17, 2022
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FY 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations Grants
AmeriCorps seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources into disaster services like COVID-19 response, economic opportunities, education, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous language, civic and social engagement, healthy futures and veterans and military families. Opportunities include three-year operating grants which engage AmeriCorps members in time-limited-service commitments and one-year planning grants to develop programs that implement evidence-based solutions to community needs. Deadline: April 5, 2023
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Additional News and Updates | |
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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
This notice provides the semiannual agenda of Department of the Interior rules scheduled for review or development between Spring 2022 and Spring 2023.
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Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Navajo Nation as a cooperating agency, has prepared a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (FPEIS) for the proposed Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan (NNIWMP) and by this notice is announcing its availability
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Tribal Consultation for Ownership and Control and Contractual Assistance
The US Small Business Administration announces that it is holding tribal consultation meetings in Anchorage, AL, Albuquerque, NM, Oklahoma City, OK and Washington, DC concerning forthcoming proposed revisions to the 8(a) Business Development (BD) program regulations.
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Public Law 477 Work Group Annual Meeting
The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs announces the annual meeting of Federal agencies and Tribes that participate. in the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Act of 2017 also known as the "Public Law 477 Work Group." The meeting will be conducted virtually via MS Teams and by telephone on September 12, 2022 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm EST.
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Advisory Board of
Exceptional Children Meeting
The Bureau of Indian Education is announcing the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children will hold a two-day in-person and virtual meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) for Indian Children with disabilities. The BIE Advisory Board meeting will be held on September 15 and 16, 2022 from 8:00am to 4:30pm EST.
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Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or the Department) is issuing this proposed rule on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (Section 1557). Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs and activities. Section 1557(c) of the ACA authorizes the Secretary of the Department to promulgate regulations to implement the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 1557. Comments due by October 3, 2022.
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National Tribal Broadband Summit
September 13, 20, and 27
The Summit will convene Tribal broadband experts to discuss how to make the best us of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Federal Broadband Connectivity Grants funds for Tribes and how to plan for. the future of wireless networks and digital economies on Tribal Lands.
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Native American
Economic Development & Diversification Conference
September 19 - 20, 2022
Through a variety of panels and interactive discussions, attendees will engage with experts focusing on economic diversification. Tribal leaders will come together to discover new ways to diversify their Tribe’s economic ventures and focus on building resilient and sustainable communities that thrive. By networking with other Tribal leaders, decision makers and industry professionals you can exchange tangible ideas on how to maximize your respective economies.
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National American Indian Housing Council
Legislative Conference
September 19 - 21, 2022
NAIHC’s annual Legislative Conference held in Washington, DC offers tribal leaders, housing professionals, advocates, and attorneys a platform to hear directly from Members of Congress and federal agency representatives through plenary session updates. At the Legislative Conference, attendees have opportunities to meet with Congressional staff to discuss important legislative and policy issues affecting Indian Country as well as network with fellow housing professionals.
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National Tribal Health Conference
September 25 - 29, 2022
Join NIHB and explore the topics of health equity, health policy, Tribal advances in health and many more. The National Tribal Health Conference serves as a forum to discuss policy and political work in the arenas of Tribal health care, public and behavioral, and environmental health. Tribal leaders, Tribal health directors, administrators, policy analysts advocates, Native youth and early career professionals are invited.
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2022 AISES National Conference
October 6-8, 2022
The annual AISES National Conference is a unique, three-day event focusing on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in STEM studies and careers.
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We're Hiring!
Are you a great communicator? Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of the Navajo people? Join our team at NNWO.
Government & Legislative Communications Officer
NNWO serves as the Navajo Nation’s advocate with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. We monitor and analyze congressional legislation, disseminate information on emerging topics of concern, and we develop strategies and decisions concerning national policies and budgets affecting the Navajo Nation.
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For more information on the information provided in this newsletter, please contact NNWO at info@nnwo.org. | | | | | |
