News from the Nations

INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY GOING DIGITAL ONLY

This Week From Indian Country Today, the New York City-based publication owned by the Oneida Nation, is abandoning print in favor of an online-only presence, in a cost-cutting move that worries some readers who fear they may lose access because of the switch. According to the Federal Communications Commission, just 43 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives have access to broadband Internet at home, compared to 65 percent of the U.S. population as a whole. Access on reservation and tribal lands is even scarcer, at less than 10 percent.

A spokesperson at Indian Country Today Media Network said they are not worried about moving away from print or the broadband reach issue, noting the high volume their website sees and the use of smartphones to get information rather than conventional internet.

Indian Country Today, which was started in 1981, will become an online newsletter starting with its July 17 issue.

SHONI SCHIMMEL IS FIRST AMERICAN INDIAN WUG GOLD MEDALIST

KAZAN, RUSSIA – The United States women’s university basketball team defeated the host country and home favorite Russia in the gold medal game at the 2013 World University Games by a final score of 90-71.With the win, the USA women became the first country to win the gold medal a record nine times in this event.

Indian country’s own Shoni Schimmel, Louisville, from the Umatilla Indian Reservation, made huge contributions for the USA ladies in the early rounds of the tournament. In the opening round, Shoni had a game high nine assists and added thirteen points which sparked a record run for the US team as they finished the game with thirty-four assists in a win over Mali which beat a previous Team USA record of twenty-seven. In the next game against the Czech Republic, Shoni contributed six points and against Brazil Shoni added four points and four assists.

With the win over the Russians, Shoni becomes the first American Indian, for women’s university basketball, to earn a gold medal at these university games. Former Arizona State standout Ryneldi Becenti, Navajo, played for the 1993 USA Women’s squad that earned a bronze medal. Both ladies remain as the only American Indian participants for the USA world university team.

The final total stats for Shoni and her participation in 5 of the 6 games for Team USA, include 23 overall points, 15 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Shoni ended up with a 52 percent on her field goal attempts and was 16 percent from behind the arc. Shoni was also two for two on the charity stripe as well.

LONGEST WALK 4 BEGAN IN DC, ENDS ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND ON DECEMBER 21

The Longest Walk 4 kicked off recently from the Washington Monument on the National Mall in the nation’s capitol. The purpose of this Walk is to reaffirm the heart of Traditional Tribal Sovereignty rooted in Ceremony and land based spiritual relationships. “We call on all Indigenous Peoples to come and support this Walk,” according to the Return to Alcatraz website. The Longest Walk 4 long walkers will cover the length of the country from Washington, DC to Alcatraz Island from now until December 21.

The first Longest Walk covered the country in 1978 when long walkers walked across the country to bring attention to the 11 bills that were pending in Congress to abolish sovereign rights. The Longest Walk was considered hugely successful because none of the legislation that threatened American Indian sovereignty ever passed.

The 1978 Longest Walk began in San Francisco and ended Washington. On August 11, 1978 the US Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.

The Longest Walk 4 reverses the route by beginning in Washington and ending in San Francisco.

JOHNNY DEPP REACHES OUT TO OGLALA SIOUX PRESIDENT TO BUY WOUNDED KNEE

On the first Saturday that Johnny Depp’s “The Lone Ranger” was released in theaters nationwide, the Daily Mail Online ran a story on Depp’s feelings on several topics, including his role as Tonto. Buried in the article was Depp’s outrage that Wounded Knee is for sale. The article says: “he is planning to spend millions of his own money to return land, Wounded Knee, in South Dakota, to their ownership.”

Recently, President Bryan Brewers’ Public Relations Director, Toni Red Cloud, released a statement indicating that President Brewer – while in Rapid City – received a call about 3:00 pm from England that Johnny Depp is making an offer to purchase Wounded Knee and return the land back to the Oglala Lakota nation.

The land that is for sale is 40 acres where a trading post was operated by Clive and Agnes Gildersleeve, who bought the parcel of property in 1930. The Gildersleeves sold the property to James A. Czywczynski in 1968. During the siege of Wounded Knee, the trading post was burned to the ground. The land has not had a structure on it since 1973.

Czywczynski’s asking price is $3.9 million. The land has a taxable value of $6,600.

Red Cloud’s statement indicated talks would be starting soon between the two parties.

According to Native News Network, President Brewer said there have been several parties that have offered to purchase the parcel of land anonymously.