sNok signflz
NOVEMBER 15, 2021
NATIVE
AMERICAN
WATCHLIST
Watchlist: ‘This Land’
(Editor’s note: It is estimated that there are approximately 149
billion videos on YouTube, and the number continues to grow.
Grand Ronde Tribal member and Social Media/Digital Journalist
Kamiah Koch sifts through those myriad videos twice a month to
recommend a worthwhile Indigenous video to watch. Follow her
bimonthly recommendations and enjoy!)
By Kamiah Koch
Social media/digital journalist
This edition of Smoke Signals’
Watchlist recommendation is
more of a listen-list.
“This Land” is a podcast series
hosted by Rebecca Nagle of the
Cherokee Nation and produced
by Crooked Media. The podcast’s
second season started releasing
Aug. 23 and investigates the
Indian Child Welfare Act, which
recently landed on the docket of
the U.S. Supreme Court.
The latest season of the pod-
cast pieces together years of
ICWA legal battles and con-
cludes that the attacks on ICWA
are a front for a bigger legal
challenge against Tribal rights
and sovereignty.
Episode one starts by address-
ing the history of ICWA, ex-
plaining its origins stem from
residential school assimilation
practices. In summary, to stop
the continued systemic removal
of Native children from their
families and Tribe, ICWA was
put in place in 1978.
“The Indian adoption project fits
into this era of federal policy when
the government was literally
trying to get rid of Tribes,” Nagle
says in the episode called “Behind
the Curtain. “A tribe without chil-
dren doesn’t have a future.”
Throughout the rest of the sev-
en episodes, Nagle narrates and
interviews lawyers, Tribal offi-
cials and Native Americans with
firsthand experience in ICWA
custody battles. She includes
dialog from those involved in the
case that snowballed the recent
ICWA legal campaign, Brackeen
v. Haaland.
Defenders of ICWA reiterate
that the law protects Tribal cul-
ture and children by prioritizing
finding foster homes within their
family or Tribal community
rather than placing them in a
non-Native foster home, which
was the common practice before
1978.
Challengers say ICWA un-
constitutionally discriminates
against non-Native families
wanting to foster and adopt Na-
tive children. They emphasize
that with claims that ICWA ac-
tually harms Native children by
providing them with a smaller
pool of foster homes.
“This Land” supports that if
the Supreme Court is to uphold
the race-based discrimination
claim, it would set a precedent
that could be used to overturn
other rights that Tribal sover-
eignty depends on.
What makes this podcast
stand out in the reporting of
ICWA is its investigation into
the paper trail behind the
Brackeen v. Haaland case and
cases like it. In episode two,
Nagle questions why Gibson
Dunn, one of the most powerful
corporate law firms in America
known for representing billion
dollar companies like Chevron
and billionaires like Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerburg,
quickly started representing the
Brackeen family in Texas fam-
ily court. More importantly, it
exposes who is funding the firm.
Later episodes examine pri-
vate adoption agencies’ hand in
challenging ICWA and the pro-
grams that work to reconnect
individuals to the Tribal culture
they were adopted away from.
While we wait to see if the
Supreme Court will address the
Brackeen v. Haaland case, “This
Land” has raised awareness
about this issue with media at-
tention and won a Webby Award
in 2020.
ICWA a complex issue, but an
important one for Indian Coun-
try. To listen to the podcast,
look up “This Land” on Spotify,
Apple Podcasts or wherever you
listen to podcasts.
9
Health & Wellness now
offering youth vaccinations
The Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center is now offering the
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, Health Services
Executive Director Kelly Rowe announced on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
The vaccinations are available for Grand Ronde Tribal members,
descendants, other Native American youth and established clients.
To schedule an appointment, call 503-879-2032.
Baker Technical Institute
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
CDL Training for Construction Trades
Get your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) while learning to operate a semi-truck,
loader, and dump truck in a Construction setting. Baker Technical Institute specializes
in teaching the technical skills that industry needs. This training will prepare you for a
great career!
In this hands-on training, you will learn:
• Skills needed to obtain your CDL, with pre-trip and behind-the-wheel experience
• Learn to operate the heavy equipment used to load dump trucks and trailers
• To secure loads for construction needs and materials
• Construction traffic patterns and safety
• This is a 5-week, unpaid course
Requirements: Ability to pass a UA and an acceptable driving record to get your CDL
Class Starts: January 10, 2022
Location: Polk County Fairgrounds, Rickreall, OR
Space is Limited - Call Your TERO Office @ 503-879-2188 or
email Tero@GrandRonde.org for your application
•A Different Kind of Education•
Attention All Artisans
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is seeking
bids for our 2022-23 crowns and medallions.
Submit full design that includes:
• The Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde logo (including feathers)
• Court Year 2022-23
• Titles: Little Miss Grand Ronde
Junior Miss Grand Ronde
Senior Miss Grand Ronde
• Crowns and medallions must be
completed and delivered by
July 29, 2022
Must submit photos of progress when requested
Bid Deadline is Jan. 14, 2022
(deadline is firm and no bids will be accepted after 5 p.m.)
Are you frustrated with your diabetes control?
Do you have questions about diabetes?
Do you need help managing your diabetes?
If so…
Call the Medical Clinic today at 503-879-2002
To schedule an individual diabetes education appointment
Mail bids and designs to:
CTGR Royalty c/o Public Affairs
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Questions: Call Chelsea at 503-879-1418 or email chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
*Bids and designs can be sent to the above email address.
Ad by Samuel Briggs III