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Culture Watchlist: ‘To stop uncontrollable wildfires in California, look to this once-outlawed Indigenous practice’ 06.14.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist Summer is almost upon us, which means wildfire season is looming. The Grand Ronde Tribe’s Silviculture and Fire Protection programs work throughout the year to prevent extensive widlfires. They do so through a traditional practice called “prescribed burns.” Or, as a University of California’s Fig. 1 …

Culture Watchlist: ‘Missing in America: Inside Montana’s Native American Community 08.11.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist An NBC News series called “Missing in America” was published on TODAY’s YouTube channel, sharing one Native American woman’s efforts to raise awareness for murdered and missing Indigenous people. Chippewa Cree Tribal member Jen Buckley says she felt Indigenous people who have gone missing are not looked for the same way as other …

Culture Watchlist: ‘The Navajo Water Lady’ 09.14.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist Navajo member Darlene Arviso, known as the “Water Lady” in the Navajo Nation, stands in Nina Garcia’s home on the Reservation. Garcia, who has never had running water in her life, is one of Arviso’s 250 customers that she delivers monthly water to with her water-tank truck. (Smoke Signals screenshot) By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist In 2015, CBS Sunday Morning featured Navajo member Darlene Arviso, known …

Culture Watchlist: 'The hidden history of ‘Hand Talk’' 09.29.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist Did you know that American Sign Language (ASL) is not the first signing language? In fact, one of the oldest languages and one of the main signing languages to influence ASL is a Native American signing language called “hand talk.” The Vox series “Missing Chapter” shares Native stories you may not know. In the latest edition to the series published to its …

Culture Watchlist: ‘Can Americans celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day?’ 10.13.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist Columbus Day is still a federal holiday celebrated the second Monday in October to mark the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas in 1492. However, President Joe Biden proclaimed the day as Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021. ABC News shared a feature on Monday, Oct. 10, recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day …

Culture Watchlist: ‘First Lady Jill Biden Hosts the First Reception in Honor of Native American Heritage Month’ 11.30.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist The first reception honoring Native American Heritage Month was held in the White House on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The event host, First lady Jill Biden, announced notable Native attendees that included Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids, National Endowment for the Humanities …

Culture Watchlist: ‘Salmon People: A Native Fishing Family’s Fight to Preserve a Way of Life’ 01.12.2023 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica published a short documentary on Dec. 21, 2022, sharing the way of life for people on the Columbia River. The video follows Yakima Tribal members Randy Settler, LiaDonna Lopez Whitefoot, Samuel George and Aiyana George as they share the salmon stories passed down to them …

Culture Watchlist: ‘UC Berkeley has been slow to repatriate Native American remains’ 04.13.2023 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires institutions to return stolen ancestral remains to their respective Native American communities, was approved. According to a ProPublica investigation, more than 30 years after the act was passed, 200 institutions have not repatriated any …

Culture Watchlist: ‘Native Americans seek justice for murdered, missing’ 09.28.2023 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist All across America, Tribal communities are looking for answers to their cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people. In southern Montana, one Tribal community’s efforts were featured in an Associated Press video published Wednesday, Sept. 20. “My granddaughter is Kaysera Stops Pretty Places and she was murdered in August of 2019,” advocate …

Culture Watchlist: ‘Native Americans have long history of military service’ 05.16.2024 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist With Memorial Day approaching on Monday, May 27, this edition’s Watchlist looks back. According to a news clip from ABC 7 in Chicago, there’s a long tradition of Native Americans joining and serving the United States military. “This was a theme I found repeated throughout Indian Country,” Director for Northwestern Center for Native American …