Future of the Internet Public Hearing with Tribal Input

August 16, 2010 Leave a comment

Save the Date: Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, 6 p.m.

Future of the Internet Public Hearing

On August 19, Free Press, Main Street Project and the Center for Media Justice are co-hosting a public hearing on the Future of the Internet. This important hearing is a valuable opportunity for those outside of Washington to share their ideas, experiences and concerns with the FCC.

The hearing will feature two public interest champions, FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn. Deliver your message directly to the commissioners and encourage them to bring it back to Washington.

The debate over the future of the Internet in America is at a critical juncture. On one side are the millions of people who have seen the Internet become a vital part of their daily routine. They’ve contacted elected officials and regulators demanding that Washington protect the open Internet and foster universal broadband access and adoption for all Americans.

On the other is a lobbying juggernaut that seeks to destroy this openness so that phone and cable companies can rebuild the Internet as a gated community that pads their bottom line.

The world is changing, and increasingly, having access to the Internet and knowing how to use it determine who stands to benefit from the new economy, and who is left behind.

They’ve had their say inside the Beltway, but the FCC needs to hear from the rest of us. Join us on Aug. 19, 2010, at a hearing to urge the FCC to protect Internet users, pass real Net Neutrality rules, and connect everyone to fast, affordable broadband service.

Location: South High School Auditorium, 3131 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

Date/Time: Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, 6 p.m.

Featured Speakers: FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (All FCC commissioners are invited to speak, and other elected officials have also received invitations to speak. Additional speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.)

Tribal Participants: Native Public Media Advisory Council Member Sydney Beane, former NPM AC Member Laura Watterma Wittstock, Leach Lake Tribal Member Frank Reese. Others will be in attendance.

Contact: Steven Renderso for more information, steven@mainstreetproject.org

Event page: http://www.savetheinternet.com/mnhearing

To Watch Live:  www.mag-net.org (6-9 pm CT)

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FCC Establishes Office of Native Affairs and Policy Headed by Geoffrey Blackwell

August 13, 2010 Leave a comment

NEWS
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
​Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
August 12, 2010 Dan Rumelt at (202) 418-7512
e-mail: dan.rumelt@fcc.gov
​
FCC ESTABLISHES OFFICE OF NATIVE AFFAIRS AND POLICY

Washington, DC — In order to develop and advance an agenda aimed at bringing the benefits of a modern communications infrastructure to all Native communities, the Federal Communications Commission has established an Office of Native Affairs and Policy. The office will work to promote the deployment and adoption of communications services and technologies throughout Tribal Lands and Native communities, by, among other things, ensuring robust government-to-government consultation with Tribal governments and increased coordination with Native organizations.

“Tribal lands and Native communities suffer unacceptably low levels of communications services, especially broadband,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “Increasing connectivity in Native America is one of the FCC’s top priorities. With this new office, the Commission will work closely with Native leaders to develop and implement policies that ensure their communities enjoy the benefits of 21st Century communications infrastructure.”

The office will be headed by Geoffrey Blackwell, and will be part of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. “The Office of Native Affairs and Policy is a historic milestone and the culmination of many years of effort by leaders in Indian Country and at the FCC,” said Blackwell. “There is a lot of good hard work that remains on the path ahead. As Tribal Nations and Native communities exercise their sovereignty and self-determination to ensure a bright future for their generations, the entire agency now has a new capability to engage with them. Many people throughout the FCC have worked diligently on behalf of Tribes for a number of years. I look forward to working with them to further advance the Commission’s efforts on behalf of Native communities.”

The Office of Native Affairs and Policy will handle ongoing consultation and coordination with American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and other Native and Tribal entities, and will be the official Commission contact point for these activities. It will also engage in work with Commissioners, bureaus, and offices, as well as with other government agencies, private organizations, and the communications industries, to develop and implement FCC policies regarding Tribal Nations and Native communities.

Action by the Commission July 29, 2010, by Order (FCC 10-141). Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker with Commissioner Copps issuing a statement.

– FCC –

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GAO Report on Federal Agencies’ Non-Compliance With NAGPRA, Recommendations for the Obama Administration Among Topics at Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Meeting

August 5, 2010 Leave a comment

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gao-report-on-federal-agencies-non-compliance-with-nagpra-recommendations-for-the-obama-administration-among-topics-at-tribal-historic-preservation-officers-meeting-99925414.html

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nearly two decades after the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed federal auditors say the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and other key federal agencies that all have significant collections of Native American remains and cultural objects have not fully complied with NAGPRA.

The results of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: After Almost 20 Years, Key Federal Agencies Still Have Not Fully Complied with the Act,” will be discussed at the 12th annual meeting of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers or NATHPO hosted by the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin Aug. 9-13 in Green Bay, Wis.

After decades of desecration or sending Native American human remains to museums or anthropology labs for study, Congress enacted NAGPRA in 1990 to protect indigenous human remains and cultural objects. The law also requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return Native American human remains and cultural items to their respective families and tribal homelands. The agencies and museums are required to take inventory and notify tribes about their collections and work in collaboration with tribes in determining a cultural link to the remains or objects. But some federal agencies have not identified or reported all the remains or cultural items in their possession, according to the GAO report.

Representatives from the GAO, including lead auditor Jeff Malcom, assistant director of the GAO Natural Resources and Environment Team, on Aug. 11 will discuss their findings, conclusions and recommendations of the recently published report.

“Native people from around the country are gathering next week to come together and talk about pressing cultural issues in Indian country, with a focus on the GAO report on NAGPRA,” NATHPO General Chairman Reno Franklin said.

GAO representatives will also be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 to talk with tribal preservation officers about the NAGPRA report and two other studies currently in review: Smithsonian repatriation efforts and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

On Aug. 10, President Obama-appointee Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, will discuss challenges to protecting tribal cultural properties and share his experiences in working with Indian country as the California State Historic Preservation Officer. Donaldson will also address challenges and changes, and accept recommendations from tribal historic preservation officers for the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement and productive use of our nation’s historic resources. The council advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.

On Aug. 9, NATHPO will host an all-day pre-conference NAGPRA training session on how to use the newly finalized NAGPRA regulations (43 CFR 10.11) to return “culturally unidentifiable” Native American remains and associated funerary objects. Cost of the meeting is between $100 and $600, depending on membership.

Additional activities include tours of the Forest County Potawatomi Cultural Center, Library & Museum, the Menominee Cultural Museum and Menominee Logging Museum and the Oneida Nation Museum. Burton W. Warrington, Policy Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, will address the assembly on Aug. 10. Also on Aug. 10, National Park Service representatives will discuss current and emerging Park and Tribal issues and innovative partnerships, including gathering of plant materials for traditional uses. For more information, go to www.nathpo.org.

About NATHPO

Founded in 1998, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers is the only national non- profit membership organization of tribal government officials who are committed to preserving, rejuvenating and improving the status of tribal cultures and practices by supporting Native languages, arts, dances, music, oral traditions, cultural properties, tribal museums, tribal cultural centers, and tribal libraries. NATHPO activities include monitoring the Congress, administration and state activities on issues that affect tribes.

SOURCE National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)

Back to top RELATED LINKS
http://www.nathpo.org

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How Native Women Built the Tribal Law and Order Act : Ms Magazine Blog

August 5, 2010 Leave a comment

Please read this great blog post on Ms. Magazine on the history of the study behind the Tribal Law and Order Act.

Repost:

As a Native feminist without apology, I’m thrilled that the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 has been passed to protect Native women from violence. I have fellow Native woman warrior and feminist to thank for coining that exact phrase, and in fact, the bill itself: my shero Ms. Sarah Deer.

via How Native Women Built the Tribal Law and Order Act : Ms Magazine Blog.

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Funamentals of Fundraising Essential Skill Training for Non-profits in Rural & Native American Communities

August 3, 2010 Leave a comment

AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising:

Essential Skill Training for Non-profits in Rural & Native American Communities
Friday, September 10, 2010 9AM – 4PM
Moenkopi Legacy Inn Conference Center (opened April 2010)
Junction Highways 264 & 160, Tuba City
Member / Non-member – $50
10% discount to multiple registrants from same organization

Topics will include:
• Overview of Fundraising in Rural and Native Communities
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Securing the Gift

Who should attend:
This workshop is designed for established and start-up organizations and will provide training for non-profit staff, volunteers, board members, or people just interested in learning more about fundraising.

Presenters:

Jim Anderson, Partner, GoalBusters Consulting LLC and AFP Master Teacher, specializes in analyzing donor
motivations, implementing marketing and social media campaigns, finding compelling stories for organizational case
statements, and making any special event more effective and fun. He has worked with the Hopi Education Endowment
Fund, The Hopi Foundation, and KGHR, among many others in support of their fundraising efforts. Jim has been a
Northern Arizona resident since 1982.

Alice Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE, Partner, GoalBusters Consulting LLC and AFP Master Teacher, has over nineteen
years of professional fundraising experience, and is a two-time honoree as AFP-Northern Arizona Fundraising Professional of the Year. Alice is Vice Chair, Member Services for AFP International and the 90thprofessional worldwide to receive the ACFRE credential. She specializes in strategic and development planning, annual giving programs, grant writing, board development and fundraising coaching and training.

Vernon Kahe (Navajo/Hopi), Resource Development Manager, Hopi Education Endowment Fund is responsible for
developing and expanding relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations to secure support for the HEEF. Previously, as the Office Manager of the HEEF, he was responsible for all administrative aspects including policies & procedures which established the foundation for the fund. Vernon is a graduate of the Hopi High School and Northern Arizona University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing.

For More Information and to Register Click Here

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