Yáadilá!!

"Sharing one skin” Okanagan Community

The article 'Sharing One Skin’ was about how Jeannette Armstrong, a member of the traditional council of the Pentiction Indian Band in British Columbia and is director of the En'owkin Centre talks about what it means to be an Okanagan and what they stand for as a community. Okanagan is located in a part of British Columbia. She says the word Okanagan is a word for ourselves, that they are actually saying "the ones who dream and land together” that is our original identity. They don't see themselves as different but unique and united. She also inputs that the word Okanagan also refers to the phrase “our one skin”. They are taught that each person is born into a family and a community,  that being Okanagan not only means you are automatically a part of the rest of the community but you aren't alone and you will always have family to support you. Being Okanagan also means that you and your body is earth itself. They are also taught that they survive by the continuous interaction between their bodies and everything around them. Jeannette explains that Okanagans speak of themselves as individual beings within their bodies. They identify the whole person as having four main capacities that operate together. These four capacities are the physical self, emotional self, thinking-intellectual, and spiritual self. In all, I learned that the Okanagan community is very unique, united, and very connected to them as people, earth itself, their tradition, and what they believe in. 

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and 

Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, 

Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.

How Place Names Impact the Way We See Landscape

The article ‘How Place Names Impact the Way We See Landscape’ was about how the names of places are important. It's saying this because the place names and the stories behind them define how we perceive and connect to landscapes. They explain how a lot of places are not only attached to stories but are important for us to remember because they are trying to tell us something about ourselves and our past. Places names are only important to how we perceive and connect but also reminds us a Native Americans of our ancestors who inhabited these areas and can convey teachings from their living descendants. These sacred sites hold a mythic significance. The article also shares how colonial place names lack these deep connections because of how they keep repeating colonizers' names giving power to the dead. It keeps the trauma of dispossession fresh. It's hard to know what to call some places because we don't know what stories belong to the landscapes and its indigenous peoples. 

Toastie, B. “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News: Know the West, 1 

May 2022, https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape. Accessed 27 August 2022.

 Native American Causes Underfunded Due to Misconceptions, Study Finds

The article “Native American Causes Underfunded Due to Misconceptions, Study Finds” talks about how studies show why they believe Native American communities are being underfunded. They have interviewed staff representing eighteen foundations. During these interviews, they found out that they lack knowledge about native Americans, generally lack involvement with native Americans, and have a view of native American communities that ignores the strengths and capacities of those communities. During this study, they also concluded that non-funders reasons for not giving enough grants to native organizations cause racial views, misinformation, and stereotypes. What was also included was that non-profit leaders reported that the shrink of funds that smaller organizations remain underfunded. In all it claimed that the causes of Native Americans are being underfunded due to the lack of acknowledgment, lack of knowledge, being judged by stereotypes, and not having a native point of view.

Native American Causes Underfunded Due to Misconceptions, Study Finds. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/native-american-causes-underfunded-due-to-misconceptions-study-finds. 

Strong, Self-Sufficient Native American Communities

The article ‘Strong, Self-Sufficient Native American Communities’ talked about Native Americans living on tribal lands. The article described living conditions on the reservation as “comparable to the Third World”. It talks about three topics of living on tribal lands which were, employment, housing, and health. The first talked about was employment. It said that typically tribal and federal governments are the largest employers on the reservation but since jobs are hard to find and lack of economic opportunity. This means that four to eight out of ten adults on the reservation are unemployed. It stated that the overall percentage of American Indians living below the poverty line is 28.2%. The people in charge of the household are usually forced to leave and seek work out in the cities. Secondly, what was talked about was the housing issues. It was said that in an Indian country, our housing is an issue, that there are 90,000 homeless or under-housed Indian families, and that 30% of Indian housing is overcrowded. Due to the no housing being provided, it caused families to be overcrowded in their homes filled with generations of families. This then creates health risks. It says that about 55% of American Indians rely on the Indian Health Service which we all know as IHS. The underfunding of IHS causes them to not be able to provide their services for many Native Americans. In the article, it also states that the pressures from shifting from traditional ways to Western lifestyle has also made an impact. The impact it has made was dramatic towards the health and welfare of native people and introduced diseases among the people. This article mainly talked about three main factors of how the lack of resources affectst the community. 

Native American Living Conditions on Reservations - Native American Aid, http://www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=naa_livingconditions. 

Underfunded Native American Communities Struggle With Remote Learning | NBC Nightly News

A video named ‘Underfunded Native American Communities Struggle With Remote Learning | NBC Nightly News’ talked about one reservation, and about 60% of students are able to get into online classes. It talked about the troubles of having to do online classes while living in remote areas where they aren't able or available to wifi. That when some are able to join it buffers or doesn't run smoothly. One person being interviewed was asked why this is happening and his response was “lack of infrastructure development from the government” examples he said were education, healthcare, and housing. It also includes how one family doesnt have water or electricity but nearby their grandparents have solar so that's where she is able to charge her Chromebook. But on cloudy days they power off and occasionally use the generator. Due to children not being able to afford computers Intel donated computers and schools donated hotspots. This whole video was shining a light on how the lack of resources and funding had a toll on native kids and parents in this new generation.

NBCNews. “Underfunded Native American Communities Struggle with Remote Learning | NBC Nightly News.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 Sept. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4U0n0Buqs. 

'Still killing us': The federal government underfunded health care for Indigenous people for centuries. Now they're dying of COVID-19

In the article ‘'Still killing us': The federal government underfunded health care for Indigenous people for centuries. Now they're dying of COVID-19’ on USA TODAY talked about how Melvina Musket's grandpa had passed away after being diagnosed with a heart infection and COVID-19. Even though he and his whole family were careful they all ended up getting tested positive for COVID-19. During the high rise of covid, it started to overwhelm McKinley County, and medical experts and other sources say that federal authorities were slow to respond. This was no accident but was the direct result of centuries of systemic racism that has left the county's healthcare system chronically underfunded, understaffed, ill-equipped, and outdated. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation says, “I am sure if the federal government had intervened a lot quicker, things would have been a lot better. It’s obvious there was a lack of support,” due to the lack of support for the individuals needing medical support. During this pandemic people who came to the detox center in Gallup to sober up usually stay in large rooms with many people, but as the cases rose people who were exposed were sent to motels or the streets increasing the homeless population. In this article, it also mentions how the broken promises were given in the healthcare system and how its been very poor and hardly been seeing improvement. For example, how when cases were being flooded hospitals weren't prepared for all the chaos. 

Wagner, Dennis, and Wyatte Grantham-Philips. “'Still Killing Us': The Federal Government Underfunded Health Care for Indigenous People for Centuries. Now They're Dying of Covid-19.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 26 Oct. 2020, https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/10/20/native-american-navajo-nation-coronavirus-deaths-underfunded-health-care/5883514002/. 

'Report: US fails in funding obligation to Native Americans

The article ‘Report: US fails funding obligation to Native Americans’ by Felicia Fonseca mentions how a new report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights discovers that funding levels for Native American Tribes are very poor even though the federal government’s responsibility is to provide for education, public safety, health care and other kinds of services under laws, treaties and other types of acts. This report was made as a follow-up to another report made in 2003 that states the issues and mentions the quiet crisis happening in communities. Since then the funding has remained at a low level leaving Native tribes unable to manage the widespread of suicide, dropout rates, abuse against women, and climate change. But Commission Chairwomen Catherine Lhamon said she believes it boils down to the lack of political will on the U.S government's part but not all the commissioners agree with what she has stated. She told the press, “I am ashamed that this is the way we as a nation treat any among us” and “I hope that people who live with this every day and for whom this is and has been a set of experiences and expectations will recognize themselves in this, will feel heard and honored and see a path forward consistent with what they are owed.” following the report it recommended that congress assemble a sending package that meets tribals basic needs like electricity and running water. This article also mentions how Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of diabetes, are five times more likely to have tuberculosis, and Native youth are more likely to commit suicide than any other group. Bohlen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians based in Michigan said “We are sicker, die younger and suffer longer than any group in the U.S.” and “And why? Because of broken promises. It is long past due to investing in the health of Indian Country.”. Also, a bipartisan group of 20 congressional members wrote to the commission in 2015 asking in the conditions have improved since the 2003 report in Indian Country and a democratic rep said he has visited all the tribal libraries with no internet access and heard the concerns about parts of the reservations that are below sea level because of climate change. 

Fonseca, Felicia. “Report: US Fails in Funding Obligation to Native Americans.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 20 Dec. 2018, https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-wa-state-wire-b0809ce879294ca7b07ef7ef633adb12. 

Native American tribes are ‘starting to feel the impact’ of shutdown funding delay

The video ‘Native American tribes are ‘starting to feel the impact’ of shutdown funding delay’ by PBS talks on the topic of underfunding on Native American Communities and how it affects the Mohican Indians in Wisconsin specifically on how they are already short more than a million dollars. The president of the tribe had already been getting concerns regarding the services provided such as health care, education, public safety, and care for the elderly that are being provided by the tribe. It is also mentioned that even though most tribal nations receive federal funding budgeted through Congress annually, the funds that the Mohican tribe receives are through the trust and treaty responsibilities. So due to the shutdown, these funds are not going to the communities, and we are already starting to feel the impact it is making. For example the funds they receive allow them to run their clinics and health services. Even before the shutdown, this tribe has been offsetting costs from their own pockets. And this shutdown not only effects this one tribe but all who are already underfunded.

“Native American Tribes Are 'Starting to Feel the Impact' of Shutdown Funding Delay.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 14 Jan. 2019, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/native-american-tribes-are-starting-to-feel-the-impact-of-shutdown-funding-delay. 

Long Island Communities Hit Hardest by COVID-19 Have Most Underfunded Schools

The article ‘Long Island Communities Hit Hardest by COVID-19 Have Most Underfunded Schools’ talks about COVID-19 infection rates and the chronic underfunding of public schools in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. It added that a report named, 'Sickness, Death & Cuts: The impact of COVID-19 on Long Island Students’ showed that the Long Island communities with the highest infection rates are also the communities that have the most underfunded schools, and received a combined $46 million cut in state aid for the 2020-2021 school year. The Nassau and Sullfolk school districts were in fiscal distress prior to the pandemic as a result of this educating students with such limited resources during a pandemic is an additional hurdle these districts now have to face. In this Jasmine Gripper, executive director at the Alliance for Quality Education said that “through illness, death and a financial crisis, children will need more support, not less.” and “They see the suffering in our communities, and they have chosen to ignore it.” And a very important piece,” For decades, these Long Island communities have been punished by harmful and unnecessary austerity budgets that have decimated their schools and other essential services, all while New York’s wealthiest residents rake in record profits,” Lisa Tyson, director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. The information given in this article shows how this community is being neglected and as a result children's education is being put at risk.

commscoordinator, Author. “Long Island Communities Hit Hardest by Covid-19 Have Most Underfunded Schools.” Alliance for Quality Education, 28 July 2020, https://www.aqeny.org/2020/07/28/long-island-communities-hit-hardest-by-covid-19-have-most-underfunded-schools/. 

Thousands of South Dakota children unsupervised due to lack of funding, care options

The article, “Thousands of South Dakota children unsupervised due to lack of funding, care options, " discusses how many South Dakota children are being left unsupervised. They state that the reason they are being underfunded is that an Argus Leader investigation found that the state has failed to prioritize funding for out-of-school activities for decades. This lack of funding has left fewer out-of-school care options for parents, fueled longer wait lists for existing programs, and left thousands of children to their own devices, all in a state where it's legal for a child to be left alone at any age. Also mentioned, South Dakota is in the lead for the highest number of unsupervised children all at the same time the state became first in the nation for single-working mothers and second for dual-career households. Parents have been paying to have their children go to after-school care programs while they work. But because of money problems, they are faced with having to leave their children at home unsupervised or left with strangers. One important thing mentioned in this article is the Trump administration's 2019 budget proposal earlier that year included a $3 billion cut to the education department. But if that cut were approved by Congress it included a plan to eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program, which provides about $6 million in federal funds for programs for children in high-poverty, low-performing schools across the state.

Tuchscherer, Shelly Conlon and Rebekah. “Thousands of South Dakota Children Unsupervised Due to Lack of Funding, Care Options.” Argus Leader, Argus Leader, 15 Aug. 2018, https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/education/2018/08/15/south-dakota-funding-unsupervised-parenting-laws-sioux-falls/878529002/. 

Nashville mayor: Vouchers could mean closed schools, underfunding

The video "Nashville mayor: Vouchers could mean closed schools, underfunding” it talks about how the city rushes back on a voucher given to them by the Tennessee Supreme Court. In this, they were at a press conference explaining their position on the ruling of why they should relook at it. At this conference, MNPS and city leaders said the Education Savings Account (ESA) program will inevitably be a bad deal for the city and Metro's legal department submitted a petition to the court asking for them to reconsider. But the court ruled against them saying ESAs were constitutional because they didn't violate the Home Rule Amendment. The mayor had said that “Inevitably we're going to be faced with terrible and impossible financial decisions that could lead to schools closing because of the erosion of financial support from programs siphoning off our resources from vouchers."During this conference, it was also said that this voucher does not give enough money to the school system and falls short. Due to this ESA's could be hard to prepare.  

Horan, Kyle. “Nashville Mayor: Vouchers Could Mean Closed Schools, Underfunding.” News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF), News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF), 1 June 2022, https://www.newschannel5.com/news/nashville-mayor-vouchers-could-mean-closed-schools-underfunding.