A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Sorted by date Results 26 - 37 of 37
By Isaac White A group of bipartisan senators has introduced a new bill that holds promise for addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in tribal and highly rural communities. The proposed legislation seeks to allow governors and Tribal entities to petition for the extension of foreign visas, specifically targeting educators holding J-1 visas. Traditionally, these visas come with a requirement for the holders to return to their home countries for at least two years after their term ends. However, under the new bill, this requirement could...
By Isaac White. Diné College, in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), has unveiled a unique and groundbreaking initiative, the Bachelor of Arts in Navajo Law. Spearheaded by Patrick Blackwater, dean of the School of Business and Social Sciences at Diné College, and advocated by Stacy Leeds, dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU, this program is a significant stride towards nurturing legal expertise within the Navajo Nation. The BA in Navajo Law program, approved by the Dine College Board of Regents on May 3, ste...
By Isaac White. A tragic incident rocked Akwesasne in March 2023 and led to an investigation that has now revealed a purported large-scale human smuggling operation. The occurrence, which happened under grave weather conditions with passengers who were hesitant to cross, resulted in multiple deaths and initiated the investigation. The deceased included members of the Chaudhari family from Gujarat, India, Praveenbhai (50) and Dakshaben (45), and their children Meet (20) and Vidhi (23); and the Iordache family from Romania: Florin (28) and Cristi...
By Isaac White On a slightly cloudy day filled with the rich aroma of gourmet coffee, Akwesasne gathered to celebrate a significant local milestone-the grand opening of Edith Mae Cafe. Nestled on St. Regis Road, this much-anticipated event marked the culmination of six months of soft operations transitioning into full steam ahead. Owned and operated by James Tarbell, a local entrepreneur committed to offering the highest quality coffee around, Edith Mae Cafe has quickly become a beacon for...
By Isaac White In a striking response to ongoing tensions, all nine indigenous tribes of South Dakota have enacted a ban on Governor Kristi Noem entering their lands. This collective decision by tribes such as the Oglala Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Standing Rock Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Yankton Sioux, and Crow Creek Sioux, Brule, and now the Flandreau Santee Sioux, underscores a deepening rift between the state government and tribal nations. This series of bans culminated with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, which was...
By Isaac White The Metropolitan Museum of Art finds itself at the center of a heated controversy involving Patricia Marroquin Norby, its first curator of Native American art, whose Indigenous heritage claims are now hotly contested. Appointed with considerable fanfare in 2020, Norby presented herself as having Apache and Purepacha descent. However, her heritage has recently come under scrutiny by Native American activists who have dubbed her a "Pretendian," a term for someone falsely claiming Native American ancestry. The crux of the...
By Isaac White In recognition of Older Americans Month, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) introduced the Enhancing Native Elders’ Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect (Native ELDER) Act. This legislation aims to significantly enhance federal programs and services for older Native Americans, specifically targeting the unique challenges they face, such as cultural isolation and limited access to culturally competent healthcare. The Native ELDER Act builds upon the foundational goals of the Older A...
By Isaac White The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has initiated a bold move by seeking arrest warrants for leaders from both Israel and Hamas. This action includes prominent figures such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These warrants stem from allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity conducted during the ongoing seven-month war that has seen Israel executing military operations against Hamas in Gaza. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and has drawn...
By Isaac White. Controversy brewed at Haskell Indian Nations University, culminating in a scandal that rocked the foundations of the historic institution. At the heart of the controversy was a comprehensive investigative report that unearthed a series of grievous allegations ranging from harassment and bullying to outright sexual misconduct. The report, prepared by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), painted a damning picture of institutional failure and indifference that, for years, went...
By Isaac White. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died on Monday after their helicopter, a Bell 212, crashed in dense fog. The crash occurred in the rugged, forested terrain of the Dizmar forest in East Azerbaijan province, complicating search and rescue efforts. All eight individuals aboard, including regional government and religious officials, were confirmed dead. Following the incident, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim...
By Isaac White The Navajo Nation, along with the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes, is advancing a comprehensive water rights settlement to address decades of inadequate water access in the expansive and arid regions of the Colorado River basin. This ambitious proposal, introduced to the Navajo Nation Council, marks the beginning of a complex approval process that spans tribal, state, and federal levels, aiming ultimately for Congressional endorsement. The urgency of this settlement arises from ongoing climate change and intense water...
By Isaac White. I think it’s time I break free of the strictures of this small slice of the wider world. In other words, I’m going to make a concerted effort to make my voice heard in the entertainment world. Why? I want to meet Gary Busey if you're going to know the truth. I have an idea for a movie, and I think he’d be perfect. Plus, Under Siege was playing the other day for some reason, and it’s rad. I thought how cool it would be to see Gary Busey in movies again. What a way to start our weekly conversation, eh? I was talking to someone...
