Traditional food educator Twila Cassadore is working to revitalise wild food culture amongst the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in an effort to combat poor mental and physical health as well as substance abuse. Foraging was once a crucial component of the Western Apache’s diet, but after being forced onto reservations, the practice dwindled along with access to healthy food. In partnership with the tribe’s wellness centre, recovery groups and high school, Cassadore teaches foraging for desert plants and culturally-specific recipes, imbuing the practise with importance to the culture and connecting people with their healthy, lived heritage. Re-embracing wild food also unites members of the community and eases the pain of addiction and depression whilst providing a source for mental and emotional fulfilment. After identifying more than 200 wild plants and developing countless traditional recipes, Cassadore is now recognised as one of the White River, San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations most significant food educators and cultural preservers.
A California appeals court has allowed a case brought by a group claiming to be descendants of Serranus Hastings to proceed against officials of the University of California Hastings College of the Law, which recently changed its name at the request of the school's officials. State lawmakers passed a bill in 2022 to change the institution's name at officials' request over concerns about Hastings’ history with Native Americans. However, alumni and six Hastings descendants launched a lawsuit claiming the name change violated S.C. Hastings’ contractual rights. A judge rejected their preliminary injunction.
Two series about America's involvement in the rise of Nazi Germany have recently arrived on streaming platforms. The US and the Holocaust documentary by Ken Burns explores how the US responded to the Holocaust and how complicit US corporations were in Nazi Germany's campaign of terror. Transatlantic, a seven-part adventure drama on Netflix, follows the activities of the Emergency Rescue Committee, which was formed in New York and tasked with helping those in danger because of Hitler's offensive. However, the series also portrays the importance of artistic merit to secure rescue, averting others who didn't meet the desired profile. Both series examine the anti-Semitic sentiments that led to the rise of Hitler and the repercussions of American policies. Arguably, it highlights the link between US politics at that time and subsequent events. By depicting real people and events, the two series confront the viewer with often ignored aspects of American history that are all-too-relevant today.
The Biden administration is moving to take Indian Health Service funding out of the annual budget negotiation process and build it into law, an initiative that aims to pump around $44 billion into the Service's budget in fiscal 2033. Services to Native Americans have been underfunded by the federal government, which had promised to provide free medical care for Native Americans through a number of treaties it had signed after forcing them from their lands in the mid-19th century. The Biden administration's proposal, however, is still short of the funds required to meet Native health care needs.
War Pony is a first-time movie by actor Riley Keough, which focuses on a boy and a young man from the Oglala Lakota community, living on Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota and seemingly different from one another. It is ultimately realised that they share a similar outlook on life. The backgrounds of Matho and Bill are tough, with the former living with a meth dealer relative and the latter searching for love through bad decisions. However, both demonstrate an entrepreneurial flair and a willingness to bargain. War Pony was screened at Cannes and is to be seen in UK and Irish cinemas from 9 June.
Adria Jawort, an Indigenous trans woman, was scheduled to give a lecture on the history of trans and Two Spirit people in Montana, but the event was cancelled due to concerns about a new law against drag performers reading to children. However, Jawort believes this censorship is part of a wider problem in the US, where far-right politicians are attacking the rights of queer people. She spoke about her experience and work, noting that across the country, politicians are largely ignoring economic issues and focusing on laws targeting vulnerable populations in debates loaded with hateful rhetoric.
Jawort’s cancelled lecture was set to explore the history of Two Spirit people in the west, and she describes Two Spirit as the 1990 umbrella word replacement for what anthropologists had previously called “berdache”. She goes on to explain that “Two Spirit” stems from the Ojibwe term niizh manidoowag, which means having the “Two Spirits” of male and female. Jawort believes this history is important and believes more empathy and understanding is needed around these issues.
Jawort speaks to the idea that people who don’t think deeply about these issues tend to tell vulnerable populations to leave red states. As an Indigenous person, she explains that while she sometimes considers moving and writing full time, she will also “give ‘em hell,” believing that there is hope for thinking and empathetic people who understand the importance of voting and democracy.
The US Supreme Court's decision ordering Alabama to redraw its congressional districts could become a platform for reversing political maps which decrease the power of people of colour, according to minority lawmakers and voting rights activists. The court determined that Alabama concentrated black voters in one district while scattering them among other districts, making it more difficult for more than one to be elected. Several similar maps have been created by Republican-controlled legislatures in other states, with African-American and Hispanic voter bases increasingly likely to be compressed into one district making it difficult to elect more than one candidate of their choice.
Actress and filmmaker Riley Keough and co-director Gina Gammell struggled to get funding for their debut film War Pony, despite winning the Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The film depicts two Native American young men trying to make their way in the world, and features a mostly indigenous cast of first-time actors. Keough believes that there is still a significant gender imbalance in funding and decision making in the film industry. She said that financiers became involved after seeing the pair's vision for the film. War Pony will be released in the US, Europe and UK.
Court challenges to the new voting districts, drawn from updated census data for the latest US elections, could result in lawmakers or special commissions having to create a new set of maps for the 2024 election. The result of this would mean that voters who had only recently moved into new districts for Congress representatives or state legislatures would have to vote in yet another area. Some of the reasons the districts could change include recent Supreme Court rulings, such as an Alabama case which suggests that state’s Republican-led Legislature and its GOP governor will have to create new districts that, unlike current boundaries, give more political power to Black voters. Other challenges to voting districts include pending lawsuits in states such as Texas, Arkansas, Florida and New Mexico that claim the current boundaries were rigged and unfairly benefit either Republicans or Democrats. The fact that court rulings, as well as the location of newly appointed, partisan judges, appear to be shaping new voting boundaries is damaging the impartiality of US democracy.
Navajo police officers in Phoenix have made contact with more than 270 Native Americans from various tribes who were left homeless by the Arizona state government's crackdown on Medicaid fraud. Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch said many had accepted accommodation offers while others returned to their reservations. Arizona officials closed more than 100 unlicensed and fraudulent sober living homes, leaving some people who had sought help with addiction without places to live. A total of $75m has been seized by authorities investigating the issue, with 45 indictments issued thus far.
Former President Donald Trump will face 37 criminal charges, including alleged violations of the Espionage Act, at a federal court in Miami after the Justice Department accused him of taking classified documents out of the White House without permission, causing the US government to file a case against him following a special counsel investigation. The government further claimed that Trump failed to hand over sensitive materials to the National Archives, conspired to interfere with a federal investigation, and shared national security secrets with individuals not authorized to view the documents. Trump is set to plead not guilty, with potential allies keen to criticize the government on his behalf both inside and outside court. Trump is also expected to fly back to his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club where he plans to give a speech before appearing in a different court to face separate criminal charges. The Justice Department has accused Trump of inciting the January 6 insurrection.
The new movie The Flash premiered in Los Angeles, with lead actor Ezra Miller in tow, despite the production's arduous journey. Attempts to make a film revolving around the DC Comics superhero Barry Allen had been percolating since the 1980s. It was not until 2014 when Warner Bros announced that a Flash film would be released in 2018, starring Miller. But development on the Flash's own film stalled, and by then, it was clear that the DC Extended Universe was no competitor for Marvel. The Flash finally entered production in April 2021, with a release date for June 2023, but filming faced several hiccups, the most infamous being Miller's transgressions outside of work, leading some to question whether the actor should be banned. Still, Warner Studios went ahead with the release of the film.
While Miller had behaved professionally on set, the actor started to act in a fashion that was practically unprecedented by modern blockbuster standards, including brandishing a gun at a mother and her 12-year old daughter in Massachusetts while dressed as a cowboy and a series of incidents that saw Miller variously abusing customers at a Hawaii karaoke bar. Most problematic of all, Miller was hit with a restraining order obtained by the parents of the 18-year old activist Tokata Iron Eyes, claiming that she was in a miasma of “violence, intimidation, threat of violence, fear, paranoia, delusions, and drugs.” DC and Warner studios were faced with an unappealing choice about whether to quietly cancel the film altogether or press on and hope for the best. They decided to go ahead despite the issues.
American author Cormac McCarthy has died at the age of 89, with the news confirmed by his publisher. Best known for his 2006 novel about a father and son journeying through a post-apocalyptic wasteland, The Road, he also wrote All The Pretty Horses and No Country For Old Men, with both novels turned into successful films by the Coen brothers. Upon news of McCarthy's death, fellow authors paid tribute to him, with Stephen King hailing him as "maybe the greatest American novelist of my time". Often described as a reclusive author with a stark prose style that was compared to authors including Herman Melville and William Faulkner, McCarthy remained a respected figure up until his death. He won a Pulitzer Prize for The Road and was praised by some critics as a leading US novelist, enjoying numerous awards and accolades throughout his life.
Cormac McCarthy was a renowned American author who achieved fame relatively late in his career. His sixth novel, "All the Pretty Horses," brought him mainstream attention and was followed by two more novels to form "The Border Trilogy." McCarthy's novels "No Country for Old Men" and "The Road" also became bestsellers and were made into successful films. In 2022, McCarthy's final books, "The Passenger" and "Stella Maris," were released to mixed reactions. "Stella Maris," in particular, received criticism for McCarthy's attempt to write a female lead character. However, both books still showcased flashes of McCarthy's classic style and wit. One of McCarthy's most brilliant novels, according to author Sebastian Junger, is "Suttree." The book is set in Knoxville, Tennessee, and follows the protagonist, Cornelius Suttree, as he drifts through dive bars and diners. McCarthy's breakthrough novel, "All the Pretty Horses," was more conventional but still contained his unique vision. McCarthy's novel "Blood Meridian" is considered his greatest work and is often compared to Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick." It explores themes of violence and the birth of America. McCarthy's brilliance lies in his ability to capture the harsh realities of human nature and the enduring presence of war.
Cormac McCarthy, the acclaimed American writer known for his novels All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and No Country for Old Men, has died at the age of 89. McCarthy initially gained critical recognition but struggled with commercial success until the release of No Country for Old Men, which won four Oscars. His later works, including The Road, were also successful and adapted into films. Despite his success, McCarthy remained reclusive and rarely made public appearances or statements. He was known for his spare, evocative prose and exploration of themes such as violence, redemption, and the human condition. McCarthy's death marks the end of a remarkable literary career that spanned over five decades.
The cultural significance of body hair removal is discussed in a Guardian article. The piece acknowledges that while body hair removal is generally seen as a female-based practice, the popularity of removing underarm hair among men is increasing, particularly among sportspeople. The article also notes that women’s body hair choices have become more loaded and political, with marketers and beauty brands beginning to take note. The article concludes by emphasising that the most important thing is choice.
The US Supreme Court has upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act to preserve the law's preference for the foster care and adoption of Native children by their relatives and tribes. The legislation has been in effect for nearly 50 years and was implemented following a congressional investigation that found that over a third of Native children were removed from their tribal homes and placed with non-Native families and institutions. The ruling comes after a challenge from non-Native prospective adoptive couples and three states who argued that the law violated state sovereignty and their constitutional rights.
The US Supreme Court has upheld federal requirements that Native American and Indigenous tribal members must be given preferences in the adoption or temporary fostering of Native children. The ruling supports the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which requires that “preference” be given to members of a child’s extended family, other tribe members, or “other Indian families”. The decision is seen as a major victory for Native tribes, children, and the preservation of Native American culture and heritage. The law was challenged by non-Native American families seeking to adopt or foster Native American children.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that Native Americans should continue to have preference in adoption or foster care of Native American children. The court's decision preserves the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), rejecting a challenge by a white Texas couple who argued the law was a form of racial discrimination. Native American leaders and US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland argued that the law helps protect their traditions and cultures. The ICWA was put in place 45 years ago to address the historical practice of taking Native American children from their families in order to assimilate them into white America.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld federal requirements that give preferences to Native Americans and tribal members in the adoption or foster care placements of Native American children. The court rejected a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which seeks to reinforce tribal connections and end the practice of removing Native American children from their families and placing them with non-Native Americans. The plaintiffs, non-Native American families seeking to adopt or foster Native American children, argued that the law was racially biased against non-Native Americans, but the court found that they did not have legal standing to challenge it.
