Today, we’re focused entirely on our Native American legislative work. This Week in the World is a newsletter which covers breaking news, world events, and actions in Congress every Friday. If you want more updates on Native concerns, the Native American Legislative Update is a monthly newsletter which explores FCNL’s Native American policy advocacy and ways for you to engage your members of Congress.
For the past several years, FCNL’s primary legislative focus for our Native American advocacy has been the passage and creation of a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools (S.761) - and this bill is getting closer to reality!
This was the focus of our 2024 Spring Lobby Weekend, which brought over 300 young adults to Washington to lobby for justice and steps toward healing for the Indian Boarding School era.
The goal of these boarding schools was to force Native children to assimilate into the predominant white culture – accomplished through cruel and abusive tactics. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Christian churches collaborated with the government to create hundreds of these boarding schools. The conditions at these schools, some of them Quaker-run, were unspeakable.
Now we are getting closer to passing a bill this Congress to start the journey to address these wounds. On July 31, the bill was reported out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which means that the full Senate now has the chance to vote on it. The bill has now been placed on the Senate calendar. When Congress returns in September, they will have an opportunity to pass the legislation. Encourage your senators to vote for the bill!
FCNL has been dedicated to passing this bill, using as many tools as we can to support it, from activating our network at Spring Lobby Weekend to working in coalition with Native groups like the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS). We also help to coordinate advocacy on the bill with other faith groups. Our letter in support of the bill reached a record number of cosigners this spring.
This legislation is close to making it through the Senate. Help give your senators the final push to take this important step.
Elsewhere
Tribes Deserve to Run their Law Enforcement
In response to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Crisis (MMIWR), FCNL has supported the passage of legislation that would empower tribal communities to conduct their own policing and investigations work, rather than rely on the federal government to address the crisis. One of these bills, the BADGES for Native Communities Act (S.465), led by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) would streamline bureaucratic hiring processes and empower tribal police in Native communities. S.465 was also placed on the Senate Calendar this month. In a quote provided to FCNL, the Senator said this about the legislation:
“Tribal communities in Nevada and across the country face an epidemic of violence, particularly against women and girls, but they often lack the resources they need to combat it,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My bipartisan BADGES for Native Communities Act would ensure that Tribal law enforcement can recruit and retain more officers to promote public safety and reduce violent crime. I was proud to pass this bill through the Senate last Congress, and I’m going to keep fighting to get it across the finish line.”
Sacred Western Apache Site Under Mining Threat
In Arizona, the federal government is attempting to transfer a parcel of land to an international mining conglomerate, which would destroy Chi’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat), a sacred site to Western Apache. The land transfer (attached to the NDAA in 2014) was cleared to proceed beginning this August.
In line with our commitment to “Seek an Earth Restored” and in solidarity with Native American communities, FCNL advocates for the protection of indigenous sacred sites.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe and other environmental groups filed a lawsuit to prevent the transfer. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals paused the transfer until they could hear the case. This temporary reprieve gives activists more time to strategize a plan to protect Oak Flat.