Podcasts about lower sioux indian community

This week on the Hemp Show, we catch up with filmmaker Joel Caldwell and hempcrete builder Danny Desjarlais about the film "Green Buffalo." Coming off of a win for the short documentary category at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, "Green Buffalo" is making waves. Caldwell shares his experience on making the film within the limitations of the short documentary medium and how he was able to capture the resilience of the Lower Sioux in the film. "I had the light turned on as far as this massive solution," he says. "We can create carbon banks and live in healthier homes." Desjarlais explains how his crew is addressing the local housing crisis by rebuilding their community — one hempcrete home at a time. “I came into this as a conventional builder, trying to find the bad in hempcrete, and I keep getting proven wrong," says Desjarlais. Resources & Links: ✅ The Lower Sioux Indian Community ✅ Watch the Green Buffalo film from Patagonia ✅ Joel Caldwell's filmography, including The Issue with Tissue ✅ The International Hemp Building Symposium, October 3 – 5, 2025, at the Lower Sioux Indian Community's hemp campus ✅ Hemp Clothing at Patagonia ✅ Watch Legacy Regenerated, a Patagonia film about North Carolina hemp farmer Patrick Brown Thanks to our sponsors: ✅ IND Hemp – Family-owned hemp feed, food, and fiber company bringing new opportunities to farmers and manufacturers across the U.S ✅ Forever Green – Distributors of the KP4 Hemp Cutter. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Business Meeting to consider several bills Date: March 5, 2025 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 H.R.165, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete all actions necessary for certain lands to be held in restricted fee status by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe S.105, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete all actions necessary for certain lands to be held in restricted fee status by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe S.240, To amend the Crow Tribal Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 S.241, To provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Fort Belknap Indian Community S.390, To require Federal law enforcement agencies to report on cases of missing or murdered Indians S.546, To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to make a technical correction to the water rights settlement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation S.550, To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois S.562, To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San José Stream System and the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the Rio Jemez Stream System in the State of New Mexico S.563, To approve the settlement of water rights claims of Ohkay Owingeh in the Rio Chama Stream System, to restore the Bosque on Pueblo Land in the State of New Mexico S.564, To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe in the Zuni River Stream System in the State of New Mexico, to protect the Zuni Salt Lake S.565, To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Navajo Nation in the Rio San José Stream System in the State of New Mexico S.612, To amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations S.620, To provide public health veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations for rabies prevention S.621, To accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that Community S.622, To amend the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act to provide for the transfer of additional Federal land to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe S.632, To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow Indian Health Service scholarship and loan recipients to fulfill service obligations through half time clinical practice S.637, To amend the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act to make improvements to that Act S.640, To make a technical correction to the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Trust Fund, to make technical corrections to the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund and Aamodt Settlement Pueblos' Fund S.642, To provide compensation to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the taking without just compensation of land by the United States inside the exterior boundaries of the L'Anse Indian Reservation that were guaranteed to the Community under a treaty signed in 1854 S.673, To amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding S.689, To approve the settlement of the water right claims of the Tule River Tribe S.719, To amend the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to improve that Act S.723, To require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process and complete all mortgage packages associated with residential and business mortgages on Indian land by certain deadlines S.748, To reaffirm the applicability of the Indian Reorganization Act to the Lytton Rancheria of California S.761, To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States More on Indianz.Com: https://wp.me/pcoJ7g-w6g

This week's guest on the Industrial Hemp podcast is Lucia Vignale, a third-year PhD student at Cornell University, where she studies plant breeding, genetics and pathology. “I'm interested in searching for, mapping, and characterizing new sources of resistance against hemp powdery mildew,” she said. Vignale earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in molecular biologist in her native Uruguay, and in 2022 she came to Larry Smart's hemp lab at Cornell on a Fullbright scholarship to pursue her PhD. Her passion for hemp is intertwined with her passion for science. There's so much that we don't know about hemp, she said, “so I want to answer questions. I want to solve problems.” She said with other crops like corn, cotton or soy, there is already so much research out there, so much is already known. But hemp, she said, “has been largely unexplored due to legal issues,” and the untapped potential excites her. “There's so many things that we can do and learn from it, and we are seeing that in person now with all the new products and applications that we can get from it, she said. One of her jobs in the Cornell hemp lab this year was to plan and execute the fourth annual hemp webinar series, which starts January 29 and runs biweekly until May 7. This year's webinar series will focus on hemp grain and will include presentations from hemp grain experts. (see full list below) The webinar series is free but registration is required. Go here to register: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vJzjCiA0SLCOua 2025 Hemp Webinar Series Schedule January 29: IND Hemp, founding and mission – Morgan Tweet, IND HEMP February 12: Pathogens affecting hemp cultivation – Nicole Gauthier, University of Kentucky February 26: Hemp products as food ingredients – Chadwick White, Nepra Foods, Ltd. March 12: Screening of seed related traits in wide germplasm – Tyler Gordon, USDA-ARS March 26: Novel high oleic acid seed oil trait – Ian Graham, University of York April 9: Hemp seed meal as a feed ingredient in animal diets – Nathalie Trottier, Cornell University April 23: Best agronomic practices – Bob Pearce, University of Kentucky May 7: Hemp products as food ingredients – Kendra Meier, HPS Food & Ingredients Learn More about Cornell Hemp: https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu/ News Nuggets: 13th Annual International Hemp Building Association Symposium to Be Held at Lower Sioux Indian Community https://internationalhempbuilding.org/ https://lowersioux.com/hemp-program-and-housing-project/ Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP Americhanvre Kings Agriseeds Forever Green

In this special Thanksgiving episode, hemp podcast host Eric Hurlock sits down with hempcrete builder Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast Hemp. Fresh off his return from the World Hemp Forum in France, Cameron shares insights from his whirlwind trip, including a tour of La Chanvrière's world-class processing facility and his participation on a global panel of hemp-building experts. The conversation explores the state of hemp construction globally and at home, covering key events like Greenbuild in Philadelphia and the Lower Sioux Indian Community's groundbreaking hemp projects in Minnesota. Eric and Cameron also reflect on Pennsylvania's bipartisan support for hemp and the industry's bright outlook for 2025. Episode Highlights: The World Hemp Forum: Cameron discusses his time in France, including his tour of La Chanvrière's innovative robotic processing systems and his reflections on French leadership in hempcrete construction. Greenbuild 2024: A behind-the-scenes look at showcasing hemp building materials at one of the largest sustainability events in the U.S., and the unexpected challenges of staying true to green values. A Year in Review: Federal investments, grassroots movements, and key milestones for industrial hemp in 2024, including $75 million in government funding for the industry. Lower Sioux & The Green Buffalo: Highlights from Patagonia's new short film documenting the Lower Sioux Indian Community's inspiring work with hemp. Looking Ahead: A hopeful conversation about the growing demand for bio-based materials and the role of hemp in creating healthier, more sustainable communities. Support the Kickstarter for One Planet Film Patagonia's The Green Buffalo Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A15X3-FFEXw This Thanksgiving, we're reminded of the resilience, passion, and community that drive the hemp industry forward. Thank you for listening, and travel safely this holiday season. Until next time, see you in the newspaper! Thanks to Our SPONSORS! IND HEMP – A family-owned, mission-driven company providing innovative hemp food, feed, and fiber products to farmers and rural communities. Learn more at INDHEMP.com. National Hemp Association – Advocating for sensible public policy and building a sustainable future while promoting rural economic development. Learn more at NationalHempAssociation.org. Music by Tin Bird Shadow

MORTON, Minn. — The Lower Sioux Indian Community celebrated the opening of its new hemp-processing facility with a full day of hemp education and demonstrations on September 5, 2024. This processing plant brings the tribe one step closer to what it calls “Seed to Sovereignty,“ where the tribe creates its own supply chain: growing the hemp to be processed in the facility, where it will be made into hempcrete houses to address the housing crisis on the reservation through agriculture. This week on the Hemp Podcast, we bring you conversations from the Lower Sioux. We'll hear from Danny Desjarlais, project manager and leader of the building crew; Kristi Shane, Tribal Council treasurer; Robert Larson Jr., hempcrete mixmaster; and the “Earl of Hemp” himself, Earl Pendleton, who for many years has been the tribe's vision holder for hemp. We'll also talk to Mary Jane Oatman, executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and a member of the Nez Perce Tribe of the Columbia River Plateau; Rob Pero, founder of Canndigenous and a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians; and Nick Hernandez, founder and CEO of Makoce Agriculture Development in Porcupine, South Dakota, and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a citizen of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Plus, Ken Meyer from Complete Hemp Proeccsing and Derrick Dohmann from Horizon Hemp Seeds, North Dakota hempcrete builder Matt Marino, Minnesota inventor Bob Albertson, broadcaster Dan Lemke from the Linder Farm Network, and more. News Nugget: Newsom says hemp industry is ‘a disgrace' for not policing itself over intoxicants Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP AMERICHANVRE Forever Green   Music by Tin Bird Shadow  

This week's podcast is Part Two of our Lancaster County Hemp Circuit Coverage. Editor's note: Hey there, it's me Eric. I'm traveling this week to Minnesota for the Field Day at the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation, so in order to get the podcast out to you in a timely manner, I gave the transcript of the audio to my ChatGPT buddy and asked for a break down. And that's what the following is: AI-generated text. Thank you for your understanding! -e Here's a breakdown of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast episode titled Lancaster Hemp Circuit, Part Two: Who: Eric Hurlock: Host of the podcast and senior digital editor at Lancaster Farming Newspaper. Fred Strathmeyer: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for Pennsylvania. Tarit Chatterjee: Director of Operations at Natural Textile Solutions and Bast Lab. Alyssa Collins: Plant pathologist from Penn State. Ron Kander: Professor from Jefferson University. Shawn House: Entrepreneur and founder of Hempzels, a hemp pretzel company. Other speakers: Local hemp experts, machinists like Joe from Joe's Machinery, and hemp advocates like Erica Stark and Cameron McIntosh. And Eric Beezer is running for office. What: The podcast features interviews from the *Lancaster County Hemp Circuit*, where participants discuss the latest developments in hemp production in Pennsylvania. Topics include advancements in industrial hemp, state support, fiber and grain hemp processing, and the potential growth of Pennsylvania as a leader in the hemp industry. Where: The event took place in various locations around Lancaster County, PA, including King's Agriseeds, the Landis Valley Farm Museum and Steve Groff's farm. Participants also mention upcoming events in Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey, which include field days and workshops focused on industrial hemp. Why: The podcast aims to spotlight Pennsylvania's growing role in the hemp industry. There is a significant push for infrastructure development, processing facilities, and innovative uses of hemp in textiles, construction, and feed. With local and state government support, the goal is to position Pennsylvania as a key player in the national and international hemp markets. This episode highlights the collaborative efforts and future potential for industrial hemp in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of local partnerships, state government involvement, and educational efforts to promote sustainable growth in the hemp sector. Here's a summary of the news nuggets, calendar items, and sponsors mentioned in the podcast episode: News Nuggets: Volkswagen and Hemp Leather: Volkswagen is developing a biobased leather alternative made from industrial hemp, which could be used in their car interiors starting in 2028. Calendar Items: Lower Sioux Hemp Field Day (September 5, 2024): Eric Hurlock will be attending a field day at the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota. The event will feature attendees from around the country and celebrates the opening of the tribes processing facility. Cornell Hemp Events in Geneva, NY (September 11-13, 2024): USDA Germplasm Tour (September 11) Fiber and Grain Field Day (September 12) Cannabinoid Field Day (September 13) Hempcrete Workshop in Manahawkin, NJ (September 20-22, 2024): Hosted by Right Coast Hemp, featuring a hempcrete building workshop. Sponsors: IND Hemp (Fort Benton, Montana): A family-owned, mission-driven industrial hemp feed, food, and fiber company. INDHEMP.com Forever Green, Distributors of the KP-4 Hemp Cutter, a revolutionary hemp harvesting machine designed for speed, efficiency and durability. Available at HempCutter.com. Mpactful Ventures: A Massachusetts-based organization focusing on supporting sustainable ventures.  These segments provide a mix of industry updates, upcoming events, and product promotions relevant to the hemp community. The music in this podcast is courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow, a band or musical group whose work is featured throughout the show. The music serves as background during transitions between segments and interviews, contributing to the overall tone and feel of the podcast. It's likely used to create a relaxed, engaging atmosphere that complements the conversational and informative style of the podcast.

Our guest this week is Danny Desjarlais, head builder for the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton Minnesota, where the tribe is undertaking what appears to be one of the most ambitious hempcrete building projects in the country. Desjarlais said his community is has been experiencing a housing crisis. No so much homelessness, he said, but overcrowding—extended families all living together in small, poorly constructed houses on the reservation. But with hempcrete, he sees a path forward to provide respectable, comfortable, dignified housing for the people of the Lower Sioux in an efficient yet timely manner. In the past two years, Desjarlais and his crew have completed four hempcrete houses and a retro fit of an existing house. More hempcrete houses than most communities in the world, but still it's not enough. “Our main need here in the community is housing. And so we really need to make a difference,” he said. “And even four houses, five houses a year isn't going to make a big enough impact for what we need.” A recent census of the community determined the need was closer to 200 houses, which would more than double the number of houses on the reservation. One of the issues with building in Minnesota is the weather. Desjarlais said winter starts late and ends early, so there is a limited window for on-site construction, which is why the tribe is planning to make prefab houses from hempcrete panels—4' by 8' sections of walls that can be built in a facility and then assembled on site. This is the plan the tribe is working towards. To that end, they have developed a processing facility that will be opening soon, so they can be self-sufficient. They'll grow the hemp, process the hemp, and build houses for their people. The hemp houses and processing facility will be on display to the public on September 5, 2024, when the tribe is hosting their inaugural field day. Also, on this episode, we hear from Morgan Tweet and Andrew Bish from the Hemp Feed Coalition moments after AAFCO voted to approve hemp as a livestock feed for laying hens. Learn More: Lower Sioux Indian Community Thanks to our sponsors: IND HEMP Forever Green Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Business Meeting to consider S. 616, S. 2868, S. 3022, H.R. 1240, S. 2796 Date: May 1, 2024 Time: 2:45 PM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 Agenda: S. 616, Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Technical Corrections Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that Community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 H.R. 1240, Winnebago Land Transfer Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-465-s-2695/

This week's podcast takes us to a hempcrete workshop in Barto, Pennsylvania. That's where Cameron McIntosh of Americhanvre Cast-Hemp hosted a four-day hands-on training session to teach the basics of the spray-applied method of hempcrete installation using the Ereasy system. Training began Saturday morning at McIntosh's shop at a farm in Berks County. With a total of 14 participants and four assistant instructors, he said, “this is our single biggest training.” Attendees traveled from around the country and the world, including Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota, California, and British Columbia. Damien Baumer, who developed the Ereasy Spray-Applied system in 2014, traveled from his village in France to help McIntosh with the training. Baumer said his system is not in wide use in France, but is used in many other European countries, and now has a strong footprint in America, thanks to McIntosh. McIntosh's company, Americhanvre (a mash-up of America and the French word for hemp, chanvre), is the authorized North America distributor of the Ereasy system, and there are now more Ereasy systems in use in America than in the inventor's home country. Baumer is happy to see the growth in America, and said through a translator, “Cameron's a warrior who's been fighting for the last three years to make this happen.” Earlier this year, Americhanvre was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Army for $1.9 million. While the training isn't directly related to the grant, McIntosh sees the connection. The purpose of the SBIR program, he said, “is to commercialize your technology and your company, not only in the private sector, but also publicly.” Attendees get more than basic instruction on how to run the spray machine. “We also teach estimating and bidding. We teach accounting, we give the participants tools that they would need not only to run the system, but also to run a successful business around it,” McIntosh said. The Ereasy system is simple in its design and function. Hemp hurds are mixed with lime and water in a hopper. That slurry is then pushed through tubes by a large air compressor while the lance operator sprays the wet hempcrete mixture at a wall or, in this case, an SIP panel, which can then be used in construction. Attendees sprayed over 30 panels during the course of the workshop. Denzel Sutherland Wilson traveled from Gitxsan Nation in north British Columbia. “I came to learn how to spray hempcrete and just see if this would be something that could help us back where I come (from),” he said. Wilson is from the community of Kispiox, which sits at the confluence of the Skeena and Kispiox rivers. It's surrounded by mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. “We have a lot of poorly insulated and overcrowded houses and mold issues,” he said. “And this hemp seems like it could address a lot of issues in the housing realm.” He also said he finds great inspiration from the work the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota is doing with hempcrete, where the tribe is building houses for community members in need. Danny Desjarlais is the head builder at Lower Sioux and was on hand at the workshop to assist in the training. Desjarlais and his team have built three hempcrete houses in the past year and they are gearing up to build more. He sees hemp construction as a way to rebuild rural communities around the country. “For any community that wants to give their community members jobs and even better homes or whatever product you're going to make with it,” he said, “the potential for the jobs is there and the potential to take back your community.” On this week's podcast, we meet the people at the workshop. Why did they sign up? What did they learn? All that, plus a tour of a hempcrete house in Pottstown. On this episode we talk to the following people: Cameron McIntosh Damien Baumer Navid Hatfield Danny Desjarlais Tim Callahan Henry Valles Dani Baker Denzel Sutherland Wilson Cliff the Gardener Tina Jones John Price Learn More about Hempcrete: US Hemp Builders Association https://ushba.org/ Hemp Building Institute https://www.hempbuildinginstitute.org/ Americhanvre Cast-Hemp https://americhanvre.com/ Lower Sioux Indian Community https://lowersioux.com/ New Nuggets US poised to ease restrictions on marijuana in historic shift, but it'll remain controlled substance https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8 21st EIHA Conference in Prague https://eiha-conference.org/ Hempwood, the coolest thing made in Kentucky https://hempwood.com/ Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/ King's Agriseeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/ Forever Green https://www.hempcutter.com/ Music courtesy of Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S. 2385, S. 2868, S. 3022, S. 2796 & S. 3230 Date: February 8, 2024 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 S. 2385, Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 S. 2868, A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that community, and for other purposes S. 3022, IHS Workforce Parity Act of 2023 S. 2796, A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes S. 3230, Winnebago Land Transfer Act Witnesses PANEL 1 The Honorable Melanie Anne Egorin Assistant Secretary for Legislation Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. Ms. Kathryn Isom-Clause Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Honorable Manuel Heart Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Towaoc, Colorado The Honorable Douglas Lankford Chief Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Miami, Oklahoma The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota The Honorable Victoria Kitcheyan Chairwoman Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Winnebago, Nebraska Ms. Angie Wilson Executive Director Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center Reno, Nevada Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-hearing-to-receive-testimony-on-s-2385-s-2868-s-3022-s-2796-s-3230/

You may have heard of Betty Whiteout, Ctrl Salt Delete, Sleetwood Mac or Plowy McPlowface — past winners of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Name a Snowplow Contest. And while the now-annual event garners thousands of punny monikers, some plow drivers are hoping it's an opportunity to keep Indigenous languages alive, one truck at a time. The contest was born in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became wildly popular — 24,000 entries strong — as a much-needed moment of levity for Minnesotans during a dark, isolated time. Anne Meyer, who works for MnDOT, said the idea came from Scotland, where people have been naming snowplows for years.MnDOT now has 24 named plows on the road, and while the contest is fun for everyone, it's also a chance to build cultural awareness. Christopher Chee, a member of the Diné Nation, works for MnDOT out of Redwood Falls in southwest Minnesota. He lives in the Lower Sioux Indian community where his wife is from, plowing in the winter and doing road maintenance in the summer. In his previous job as roads director for the Lower Sioux Community, he worked with the city of Redwood Falls, Redwood County, the tribal council and MnDOT to become the first tribal nation in the state to have dual-language road signs welcoming people in Dakota and English. The signs went up in 2016. During last year's Name a Snowplow Contest, he wanted to build on his work. He encouraged friends to send in Native language names, and he submitted one in Dakota. “‘Ičamna' means ‘snowstorm' or ‘blizzard,'” Chee said. “And being a snowplow driver, we're out there in the blizzards, in the snowstorms keeping the roads open, rescuing people if we have to, making way for troopers and paramedics.” Ičamna made it to the second to last round of the contest but didn't make the final cut. One of his supervisors noticed Chee's disappointment, and promised to see what he could do. Sure enough, two weeks later, Chee walked into the breakroom and saw an Ičamna vinyl sticker on the table. Now Chee and his truck partner of three years, Jovi Lund — who is a tribal member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community — drive their plow with pride. Mike Connor is another driver who helped push for a plow with an Indigenous name: Giiwedin, Ojibwe for “the North Wind.”“Naming this plow helps with building cultural awareness between the state and tribal entities,” said Connor, a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and a MnDOT driver. “It's important to show the traditions and language.”Connor said the state and tribal governments have had a formal relationship, but dubbing the plow with an Indigenous name was a sign of goodwill. “There's a lot of policies and procedures between tribes and MnDOT, and it is encouraging to see the engagement with the tribes,” he said. A second plow in northeast Minnesota bears the name Goonodaabaan. It's a combination of the Ojibwe words “goon” and “odaabaan,” which translate to “snow,” and “sleigh” or “sled.“This year's contest closes at noon on Friday — and submissions have been pouring in. MnDOT staff will select a few dozen from the more than 7,000 entries for the public to vote on in January, Meyer said. Chee hopes more tribal nations and ethnic groups from around the state will submit names in languages other than English this year. He hopes for at least one truck with an Indigenous name on each of Minnesota's 11 tribal nations. “Have another up by Red Lake, have another around Shakopee, have another one at Treasure Island, Upper Sioux, and from there, White Earth,” he said. Chee said he's happy that many Indigenous communities are investing in teaching young people their native languages. And, he said, something as simple as a dual language road sign or a name on a snowplow can help with that mission.

Joining host Robert Pilot with Little Moments Count is Vanessa Goodthunder, Director at the C̣aƞṡayapi Waḳaƞyeża Owayawa Oṭi, a Lower Sioux Indian Community birth-age 5 Dakota immersion school. Along with her is head start teacher Denton Jackson! PLUS, Bob Blake from Red Lake is back!!

This week's podcast is a follow-up to a story we brought to you in April about the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota, where members of the tribe have been busy this summer building with hempcrete. With special permission, we share with you the first episode of the JD Experience, a podcast made by 12-year-old Jesse Desjarlais, who interviews two members of his tribe who have been busy making hemp a reality on the reservation: Earl Pendleton and Joey Goodthunder. Desjarlais is the son of Danny Desjarlais, the project manager and lead builder for the hemp projects at the Lower Sioux, where this summer the tribe is finishing up a hempcrete duplex that will serve as emergency housing for tribal members in crisis. Pendleton said he has been working to make his vision for hemp a reality for 15 years. “It kind of came and went as people laughed in my face for the first few years,” he said. “But in the last four years, it's really gotten the support from the community leadership.” Goodthunder is a farmer and grows all the hemp for the Lower Sioux. “This is my fourth growing year now,” he said. “I just really enjoy the plant, I like what it can do. I see the yield bonus that I get from it from the next crop. It's a really good crop.” Pendleton's vision is a circular one. The tribe will grow industrial hemp to feed the processing facility on the reservation to produce building-grade hemp hurd which the tribe will use to build housing for the community. After episode one of the JD Experience, Lancaster Farming interviews Jesse Desjarlais about his experience making the podcast and what he learned. Then we talk to his father, Danny Desjarlais, who was taking a break from the sweltering Minnesota summer with a heat index of 115. Once the house was framed, it took the hempcrete crew only four days to install the hempcrete walls using the Ereasy spray applied system. Danny said the reaction to the first hemp house on the reservation has been overwhelmingly positive. Even the naysayers, he said, have come around. “All the people that had doubted Earl for the last 15 years, now they're even like, ‘Man, we should have been building with hemp 15 years ago.',” he said. The Lower Sioux Hemp project has gotten lots of attention in Minnesota, even prompting a visit from the governor and lieutenant governor, Desjarlais said. “They came and took a tour of the house and they loved it,” he said. “The lieutenant governor actually wants us to retrofit her house with hempcrete now.” The tribe worked with Cameron McIntosh from Americhanvre, a Pennsylvania-based hempcrete building company, and with Navid Hatfield from Massachusetts-based HempStone. McIntosh also joined the call with Jesse and Danny. “I am still at a loss for words that accurately encompass what we experienced there, what these guys did, how impressive the entire tribe is,” McIntosh said. Learn more about the Lower Sioux https://lowersioux.com/ Hear Lancaster Farming's interview with Earl Pendleton and Danny Desjarlais from April 2023 https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/hemp/hemp-builds-hope-for-lower-sioux-indian-community/article_3c0a0b0a-e458-11ed-823f-271073c790d5.html Thanks to our sponsors: IND Hemp https://indhemp.com/ King's AgriSeeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/

The Lower Sioux Indian Community in southwestern Minnesota is quite literally growing houses. They are the first in the state to build what is being called a Hemp House. It's an environmentally-friendly home, built using the material “hempcrete.” The alternative is just beginning to blossom, with potential to provide affordable and quality homes for the Lower Sioux community. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked with Lower Sioux Indian Community Council Vice President Earl Pendleton and Hemp Construction Project Manager Danny Dejarlais about the effort.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

On this week's hemp podcast, we focus on the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota. The Lower Sioux are part of the larger Dakota tribe, which once thrived in the Upper Midwest, following the bison herds across the Great Plains. The Lower Sioux Indian Community sits along the southern bank of the Minnesota River in southwestern Minnesota. The tribal land was greatly reduced after the Dakota War of 1862. Earl Pendleton, vice president of the tribal council, is the first guest on the podcast this week. Pendleton describes life on the reservation and how things have changed over the course of his life. “There's a lot of history in this area for the relations between the U.S. government, the state government and the Dakota people,” he said. “The U.S./Dakota conflict of 1862, which is 160 years ago, is still kind of fresh out here. And there's still a lot of tension between who we are and what we deserve.” “The reason for that conflict was people seeing their families starve and seeing their food sources being eliminated around them and the encroachment of settlers and things like that,” Pendleton said. The conflict led to some of the most brutal episodes in American history, including the public hanging of 38 Dakota warriors the day after Christmas 1862, the largest mass execution in U.S. history. “Obviously, I don't blame anybody here today for that. But I think there's just a story that should be told. I think our our kids need to hear our real history and feel proud of who they are,' he said. One of the bright spots for Pendleton and the Lower Sioux Community is industrial hemp. 2023 is their fourth season of growing the crop. “We're at a pretty small scale,” Pendleton said. “We started at 40 acres, we moved up to 80 and 100, and I think we're doing 100 again this year. So we have a a stockpile of of hemp bales that are ready for processing.” The Sioux grow a dual-purpose variety called X59, which produces grain and fiber. The tribe sells the grain and processes the fiber on site with a 1-ton-per-hour decorticator. The vision is to use the hemp fiber to build houses for the community. Many homes are government housing, Pendleton said, and were not built with the best materials or with longevity in mind. And there is a shortage of housing too. “We have a lot of families living together, overcrowding, some homelessness,” he said. “So when I looked at hemp and seen that is a potential for construction, it seemed like the perfect fit for our community.” Working with HempStone, a hempcrete construction company from Massachusetts, the tribe is learning how to turn their hemp hurds into hemp housing. Last year the group completed a small shed as proof of concept. And this summer the tribe is building its first full-size home. The tribe is also building a home made from conventional materials to do a side-by-side comparison of energy efficiency. Danny Desjarlais is the project manager for the tribe's hemp-building endeavors, and also a guest on this week's podcast. A traditional builder by trade, he is a convert to building with hemp. “I don't want to use any traditional buildings anymore. You know, after discovering the hemp and the hempcrete and all of its benefits has just been very eye-opening for me as a builder,” he said. Desjarlais sees great potential in hemp for existing houses in the community. “We have 165 houses on our reservation right now; 160 of them probably need retrofitting or could be fixed up in some way,” he said. Desjarlais said the people of his community are very excited by the prospect of industrial hemp and the hope it brings. “Our people used to follow the buffalo, and we used every part of the buffalo, he said. “And so I look at hemp as like the green buffalo — we can use every part of the plant. And so we're only barely just scraping the surface right now with with growing and building houses out of it.” Lower Sioux Indian Community https://lowersioux.com/ HempStone https://hempstone.net/ Tell Your Senator You Support the 2023 Industrial Hemp Act If you think grain and fiber hemp farmers should be able to grow grain and fiber like they can grow corn and soy, then contact our senator and tell them to support the Industrial Hemp Act of 2023. https://www.hempexemption.com/contactcongress Thanks to our sponsors: Mpactful Ventures An investment and incubation company focused on sustainability and supporting startups and other initiatives that play a vital role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. At Mpactful ventures, they strive to amplify enterprises that bring innovative, green opportunities to the forefront and empower those making a significant impact for a sustainable future. https://www.mpactfulventures.org/ IND HEMP https://indhemp.com/

Updated: 8:30 a.m. A massive new report details the University of Minnesota's long history of mistreating the state's Native people and lays out recommendations, including “perpetual reparations,” to improve relations between the university and Minnesota's 11 tribal nations.Among its troubling findings, the report by the TRUTH (Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing) Project concludes:The U's founding board of regents “committed genocide and ethnic cleansing of Indigenous peoples for financial gain, using the institution as a shell corporation through which to launder lands and resources.”The U's permanent trust fund controls roughly $600 million in royalties from iron ore mining, timber sales and other revenues derived from land taken from the Ojibwe and the Dakota.The university has contributed to the “erasure” of Native people by failing to teach a full history of the land on which it was founded.Researchers didn't put a dollar figure to their call for reparations but urged the University to do more to help tribal nations, including providing full tuition waivers to “all Indigenous people and descendants” and hiring more Native staff and faculty.Totaling more than 500 pages, the report released Tuesday marks the first time a major American university has critically examined its history with Native people, said Shannon Geshick, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.While Geshick praised the U's willingness to help unmask its past, she said the reckoning around that awful history was long overdue. “The TRUTH Project just rips that open and really reveals a narrative that a lot of people I think just don't know.” ‘We carry all of that trauma'The TRUTH effort draws on archival records, oral histories and other sources to examine through an Indigenous lens the troubled history between Native people and the state's flagship university.It launched following a series of reports in the publication High Country News in 2020 revealing how universities around the country were founded on the proceeds of land taken from tribes through the 1862 Morrill Act.That included a financial bonanza — dubbed the “Minnesota windfall” — that channeled more than $500 million to the fledgling University of Minnesota from leases and sales of land taken from the Dakota after the federal government hanged 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minn., in December 1862, ending the U.S.-Dakota war.Following the High Country News stories, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council called on the university to acknowledge its exploitation of Native peoples dating back to the U's 1851 founding.A team of Indigenous researchers began digging into university archives, cataloging and studying more than 5,000 pages related to the university's founding. Early on, they realized the work would be much more emotionally taxing than they had anticipated.“I remember a couple of times just sitting at a table and starting to cry,” recalled An Garagiola, a TRUTH Project coordinator and researcher who works for the Office of Native Affairs at the University of Minnesota.In the archives, “you're reading communications and policy and decisions that were made on a daily basis to commit genocide against people … millions of little cuts that we don't think about.” Tuition controversy Students urge University of Minnesota to better fund scholarship, Native American studies From February U recommends returning Cloquet Forestry Center land to Fond du Lac Band Troubling stories surface U probes its history with Native people For Garagiola, a descendant of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, the research hit close to home when fellow researcher Audrianna Goodwin came across documents showing the involvement of the University of Minnesota's extension service in relocating 36 families on the Bois Forte reservation in the mid-20th century.The names of the families weren't mentioned in the documents. But her grandmother was relocated around that same time, and “thinking then of the trajectory that that set my family on, I guess I'm still trying to process that,” Goodwin said. “That was kind of the point where I knew I had to step away from the archives, because I couldn't take in any more of that at the time.”Goodwin, a research assistant for the TRUTH Project also appointed by the Red Lake Nation as a tribal research fellow, said she felt the sad weight of a brutal history as she pored over documents.“As soon as we got into the archives, and started to read through some of these firsthand accounts of what we experienced as a people, it was really hard to read and to learn about,” she said. “You start to see the connections from the past with what we're experiencing today.”Native people have some of the highest rates of fatal overdoses from the opioid epidemic; some of the highest rates of suicide and diabetes, and of other health and social disparities.The project received additional funding to pay for a Native American grief counselor and a spiritual advisor for researchers. The Mellon Foundation, which supported the TRUTH report through a $5 million higher education racial justice program called Minnesota Transform, paid for the added support.For Goodwin, to see and touch documents detailing how Native people were dispossessed of their land provided powerful evidence of how actions from the university and other governmental entities in the early 1800s have resulted in intergenerational trauma 200 years later.“Sometimes when we were researching, we would just have to stop,” she said. “Those emotions would become so overpowering, because we carry all of that trauma and all of that pain. Hopefully with this report, we won't have to carry that alone.”‘Used as test subjects'Researchers say the TRUTH report is notable for its Native-centered, community-driven approach. Each tribe appointed a research fellow to explore histories important to their communities.For the Red Lake Nation in northwestern Minnesota, Goodwin explored the history of medical research that was conducted by University of Minnesota doctors on young Red Lake children in the 1960s.After a disease outbreak in the 1950s killed a 2-year-old on the Red Lake reservation, U researchers planned a study around a decade later in which they enrolled about 100 children to conduct kidney biopsies. During that follow-up study, a second outbreak occurred.According to Goodwin's report, U researchers concluded during the first outbreak that a shot of penicillin was a viable cure for the disease. Yet in the second outbreak, they did not share that information with local doctors, the report said. Rather they enrolled more children in their study.“Our tribal members were used as test subjects,” said Red Lake Tribal Secretary Sam Strong.A companion report commissioned by the university tells a different story. The three physicians who compiled the report said there was no evidence penicillin would have helped stop the second outbreak, and said they were unable to determine whether parents had consented, in part because the tribe refused to share records.“Not having seen the consent forms (or patient charts) used for this work, despite repeated requests, we were unable to draw a conclusion as to the adequacy of the consent process,” the researchers concluded.That approach angers Strong, who says the university failed to keep records of the research. He said the university report also ignored strong circumstantial evidence that consent was not obtained in many cases.“I was hoping for a more transparent and accountable university system. And it's really disheartening to see that they're trying to silence our voice, the harm that they caused to our community.”In northeastern Minnesota, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has long pressed for the return of land that's now home to the Cloquet Forestry Center — 3,400 acres of land that was guaranteed to the Fond du Lac in an 1854 treaty was later transferred to the university without consent for use as an experimental forestry station.The TRUTH report notes a frustrating reality: Band members aren't allowed to hunt, fish or gather on the land, which is located entirely within the Fond du Lac reservation. But the U profits from the land through timber sales, tuition from forestry students and recognition for its forestry research.University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel, who is leaving the U to take over the University of Pittsburgh, recently recommended returning the Cloquet center to the Fond du Lac Band, a step it says would help restore its homeland.In response to the report, the University of Minnesota made a statement Tuesday morning.“First and foremost, we recognize that the countless hours of work reflected in this report and the truth-telling that will benefit us all going forward is built upon the time, effort and emotional labor of every individual involved. We want to reiterate our appreciation for each of you.In recent years the University has committed to acknowledging the past and doing the necessary work to begin rebuilding and strengthening relationships with Tribal Nations and Native people. Openly receiving this report is another step toward honoring that commitment. While documenting the past, the TRUTH report also provides guidance as to how the University can solidify lasting relationships with Tribes and Indigenous peoples built on respect, open communication and action. As we engage in the important discussions that will now follow, that guidance will be invaluable.”‘Can't do better until people know the truth'While the TRUTH report offers a damning assessment of the university's relationship with Native people over the decades, there are also passages reflecting slow, hopeful change.Researchers, for instance, detail for the first time the recent return of a sacred arborglyph to the Fond Du Lac Band. Standing about 5 feet tall, the artifact was kept by the Cloquet Forestry Center when student researchers cut the tree down decades ago.“It is a depiction of a spirit, completely unique to our people,” Charles Smith, Anishinaabe language specialist for the Fond Du Lac Band, explained in the report. “This ancestral artifact is rare. As this artifact is studied and grows older — its cultural significance will grow.”Fond Du Lac Band leaders learned of the arborglyph's existence in 2021 when forestry center staffers reached out.“It sat in the campus for over 60 years, knowing Fond Du Lac reservation is literally down the road,” wrote Kami Diver, the research fellow for the project appointed by the band.Researchers involved with the report understand that change won't occur overnight. But Misty Blue, coordinator of the TRUTH Project, remains hopeful that the university can “move from a place of harm to a place of healing.”That's a tall order, she acknowledged; “But I think that transformation can happen.”The University has taken meaningful steps toward addressing some of their concerns, tribal leaders say. In 2021, the U created a program that offers free or substantially reduced tuition to many enrolled members of the state's 11 federally recognized tribes.Gabel created high-level positions within her administration focusing on Native American issues and tribal relations and held quarterly, face-to-face meetings with tribal leaders. But Geshick, with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, said a lot more could have been done.For example, she and others have called for an expansion of the scholarship program, which has been criticized for only benefiting a fraction of Native students.“It's a great start. But it shouldn't be the end,” said Robert Larsen, president of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and chair of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.Tribal leaders who pushed for a full accounting of university-tribal relations were fueled by a desire for more people to understand the true history of how the university was built on the proceeds of land stolen from Native people, he added.“It's not to shame or blame anybody here and now, but to put that simple truth out there,” Larsen said. “We really can't do better until people know the truth.”

A group of activists and allies marched through the Philips Neighborhood in Minneapolis to recognize Minnesota's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. Beth O'Keefe is a member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women's Society. She joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer live from the march.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Field Hearing titled “Investing in Native Communities: Transformative Opportunities in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” Tuesday, June 28 2022 - 12:00 PM Location: Mystic Lake Center, of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Room Number: Minnetonka Conference Room NOTE: Adam Savariego of the Upper Sioux Community was an additional witness. A dropout in audio occurred toward the end of the hearing, during the question and answer period. WITNESS LIST (As originally scheduled) The Honorable Bryan Newland Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, DC *Accompanied by Jason Freihage, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC Ms. Elizabeth Fowler Acting Director, Indian Health Service U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Washington, DC Mr. Jeremiah Baumann Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure U.S. Department of Energy Washington, DC The Honorable Cathy Chavers Chairwoman Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Orr, Minnesota The Honorable Melanie Benjamin Chief Executive Officer Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Onamia, Minnesota The Honorable Kevin Dupuis, Sr. Chairman Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Cloquet, Minnesota The Honorable Keith Anderson Chairman Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Business Council Prior Lake, Minnesota The Honorable Robert Larsen President Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, Minnesota ADDITIONAL WITNESS The Honorable Adam Savariego Tribal Secretary Upper Sioux Community Granite Falls, Minnesota Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/field-hearing-titled-investing-native-communities-transformative-opportunities

A West Central Tribune Minute feature story: Beth O'Keefe, an artist based in Morton and the Lower Sioux Indian Community, is one of four regional artists taking part in the inaugural Ignite Rural "At Home" artist residency program through the Department of Public Transformation. Her project, a traditionally made dress, will represent not only her family history, both Native American and European, but also all Native women. 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S.1397, S.3168, S.3308, S.3443, S.3773 & S.3789 Wednesday, March 23 2022 – 02:30 PM Location: Dirksen Room Number: 628 On Wednesday, March 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. HT, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds legislative hearing to receive testimony on six bills. S.1397, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021. The bill ensures that tribal health authorities enjoy access to the same public health data as state governments. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.3841, a companion version of the bill, on June 23, 2021. S.3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010. The bill ensures that the White Mountain Apache Tribe can utilize its already enacted water rights settlement to complete a water project on the Fort Apache Reservation in the state of Arizona. S.3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021. The bill ensures that the Colorado River Indian Tribes can utilize its previously ratified water rights from the Colorado River by leasing or allocating them to other entities in Arizona. S.3443, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Recognition Act. The bill extends federal recognition to the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, a group in Alabama that was previously denied acknowledgement through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. S.3773, a bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in the state of Washington. Similar bills have been enacted for other Indian nations. S.3789, a bill to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, also known as the NATIVE Act. The NATIVE Act requires federal agencies to update their existing management plans and tourism strategies to include American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. Witness List PANEL 1 The Honorable Bryan Newland Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. Mr. Marvin Figueroa Director, Intergovernmental and External Affairs Department of Health and Human Services Washington, D.C. The Honorable Gwendena Lee-Gatewood Chairwoman White Mountain Apache Tribe Whiteriver, Arizona The Honorable Amelia Flores Chairwoman Colorado River Indian Tribes Parker, Arizona The Honorable Harry Pickernell, Sr. Chairman Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Oakville, Washington The Honorable Lebaron Byrd Chief MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Mt. Vernon, Alabama Dr. Darin Prescott Director Health and Clinic CEO Lower Sioux Indian Community and Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board Morton, Minnesota Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/legislative-hearing-receive-testimony-s-1397-s-3168-s-3308-s-3443-s-3773-s-3789

Minnesotans are heading outside to go camping, hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching and more this Memorial Day weekend as summer unofficially begins.  But there are disparities in who has access to outdoor spaces and who feels welcomed in outdoor recreation. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), people of color make up about 20 percent of Minnesota’s population, but only about 5 percent of state park visitors.  The DNR created the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force in 2020 to address the problem. A report the group published in April recommends the state create a new Outdoor Recreation Office to increase access and participation for Black, Indigenous and people of color in Minnesota.  Several community groups are also working to create more outdoor recreation opportunities for people of color.  Host Angela Davis talked with two outdoor activists who started outdoor recreation groups about the work they are doing and how to make Minnesota’s outdoor spaces more inclusive.  Guests: Anthony Taylor is the senior vice president for Equity Outdoors for YMCA of the North and the co-founder of Melanin in Motion, which works to connect Black people to active living opportunities in the outdoors. Asha Shoffner is the environmental and outdoor education coordinator for Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, the creator of Fiwygin Outdoors and the founder of the BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities Facebook group.  Elliot Christensen is the assistant tribal planner and grant writer for the Lower Sioux Indian Community in southwestern Minnesota. He was also a member of the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force. 

This week on the Minnesota Native News health report, tribal leaders are stressing the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine to help curb the spread in Minnesota's Indian Country. Reporter Dalton Walker explains with this week's stories.The internet is a powerful tool. Tribes use it to communicate directly with citizens in near real time. It's easy to find a post on Facebook or a YouTube video with relevant and reliable information that may affect you or your tribal community. Boise Forte Band of Chippewa Chairwoman Cathy Chavers regularly shares updates via YouTube. Other tribal leaders and tribal health officials across the state do the same. In one of her latest messages, Chavers said the tribe will launch a vaccination message focused on tribal citizens under 30 years of age. Chavers: We are trying to reach out to those age categories who have been already vaccinated to tell their friends to please get the vaccination, please get vaccinated, it's very important. Sometimes, people don't like the government telling them what to do, I don't feel like I should be wearing a mask, I don't feel like I should be vaccinated. But if you get the virus and you end up real sick, you can also get others very sick and you could possibly pass from this virus.3:28-3:53= 26 secondsThe tribe has seen a recent increase in positive cases from unvaccinated eligible people, Chavers said. Chavers asked citizens questioning the vaccine's safety to contact their health providers. Remember, be sure to subscribe or follow your tribes' social media channels for the latest information by simply searching keywords online.In other news…Soon, our young people ages 12 to 15 will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer's vaccine for youth as young as 12. Reports say the FDA may endorse Pfizer's vaccine for even younger children later this year. Pfizer was the first federally approved vaccine and requires two-doses.Children rarely get seriously ill from the coronavirus. However, children with no symptoms can still spread it to other people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teens as young as 16 were given the green light to get the vaccine not long after the rollout began. Youth from the Lower SIoux Indian Community shared why they got the vaccine in a short public service announcement. Five high school students were part of the video posted on the tribe's Facebook page this month. Youth: And the reason I got the covid vaccine is to keep my elders safe. And the reason I got the vaccine so that life could hopefully go back to normal. I got the vaccine because I wanted to protect those around me. I'm getting vaccinated to help prevent the spread of corona to young kids and elders. 0:22-0:39= 18 secondsAnd finally…President Joe Biden has a new vaccination goal for the country. Biden wants at least one shot to 70 percent of adults by Fourth of July. The goal comes as nearly 105 million U.S. citizens are fully vaccinated, according to the White House. The Indian health system is doing its part. In Biden's first 100 days as president, 1.1 million vaccine doses have been administered in Indian Country, according to Indian Health Service. For Minnesota Native News health report, I'm Dalton Walker

Summer Powwows on the Horizon After a Year Of Postponement This week on the Minnesota Native News health report, we check in on the latest developments for how Indian Country is responding to the COVID-19 health crisis. Here's reporter Dalton Walker with this week's stories.For 36-year-old Wesley Jourdain, a champion powwow singer from the Red Lake Nation, the snow melting usually meant powwow season was almost here. That changed last year when the country shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, and events known for large crowds were canceled. Now, as more people get vaccinated across the state, and as tribes continue to report high vaccination rates, the path back to the powwow trail is clearing by the day.Jourdain: Just to be at a presence at a powwow, was one of the best feelings I've had growing up.2:18-2:26 = 8 secondsShort powwow song clipA 25 second clip is available and can be cutJourdain: We've heard the drums over social media, videos, stuff like that. Just having that feeling of the drum, you know, that vibration, and everything it gives off in the moment right there, that is one of the things I miss.11:01:-11:21 = 20 secondsSome tribes in Minnesota have been promoting upcoming powwow celebrations. The Lower Sioux Indian Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Red Lake Nation have already announced summer powwow dates and others could be close behind.  Jourdain is part of the Battle River drum group, a popular group on the powwow circuit. In past years, for Jourdain, the powwow season started in April and slowed down in October. In between those two months, he might have attended nearly three dozen powwows across the Midwest and beyond, even into Canada.Jourdain: You always come across people that you know, that you see, kind of adopted into your own family, to seeing these people, and vica versa they adopt you. I suppose that comradery, that respect, that mutual friendship with one another is one thing I really, really miss.10:34-10:56 = 22 secondsJourdain made it a priority to get vaccinated as soon as he was eligible. He wanted to be an example for his two young children and for his students. He's a Ojibwe language and culture teacher for lower elementary students on the reservation. Jourdain: So I made it a priority because putting myself out there in front of all these kids, all the people in the school right now, I felt I had to get the vaccine, in my mind, to protect what I bring home from my work place and for my family.24:30-24:53 = 23 secondsIn other news….Indian Health Service and some tribes in Minnesota have paused all Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration. The vaccine, known for its one-and-done shot, is under federal review after at least six reported U.S. cases of a rare type of blood clot in individuals. More than 7 million people across the country have received the J&J vaccine.IHS reported that less than 2 percent of recorded shots were Johnson & Johnson.And finally…. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is offering financial assistance for coronavirus-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. There is no deadline to apply for the federal program. More information can be found at disasterassistance.gov. For Minnesota Native News health report, I'm Dalton Walker

Robert Larsen has waited years for the Minnesota Historical Society to return 114 acres of land to the Dakota people of the Lower Sioux Indian Community. When the unanimous vote finally came this year, Larsen was watching on his computer. As soon as it was official, he drove to the spot off of County Highway 2, east of Redwood Falls. He said a prayer, sang a song and made an offering of tobacco. “Steps towards healing is what we need,” Larsen, the tribe's chair, said. “And this is one of those steps.” This land is part of the Lower Sioux Indian Community's homeland, C̣aƞṡayapi, and until last month, it was controlled by the state. The historic site commemorates the start of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The conflict began when the United States refused to distribute to the Dakota people the food and supplies stored there, violating its treaty. Documentary 'Little War on the Prairie' The war between Dakota tribes and the U.S. government lasted six weeks. After it ended, President Abraham Lincoln ordered 38 Dakota men hanged in Mankato, the largest single-day execution in the country's history. “This land has been paid for over and over and over with the blood and the lives of our ancestors,” Larsen said. Hannah Yang | MPR News A sign in the Dakota language welcomes visitors to C̣aƞṡayapi, the name of the Lower Sioux Indian Community's homeland, along County Road 24 in Redwood County. The historical society bought the property from private landowners starting in the 1960s. Its return to Lower Sioux Indian Community was a culmination of talks that began in 2004. Local government officials were skeptical about the change, Larsen said. The land transfer ultimately required the involvement of the state Legislature, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the federal government and 31 different tribal nations. Lower Sioux Agency Lonely outpost marks war's start Photos The U.S.-Dakota War, remembered MPR News coverage The U.S.-Dakota War, 150 years later “Preserving our state's history doesn't always have to mean the Minnesota Historical Society is doing that all by ourselves,” said Ben Leonard, who oversees the historical society's portfolio of sites outside of the Twin Cities and is pleased the Lower Sioux Community now controls the site. “That is their history. That is their story,” Larsen's family was involved throughout the long process of reclaiming the land. His father and great-aunt were there from the start, and he says many community members deserve credit for the achievement. “If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here,” he said. In February, tribal citizens accepted the transferred land on behalf of their ancestors. “By reclaiming some of our traditional homelands, we're expanding the opportunity for our generations to have a broader connection to their Dakota identity,” said Cheyanne St. John, the community's historic preservation officer. “It was certainly a milestone within our nation's history. The Minnesota Historical Society will still help maintain the interpretative trails on the site and for now, the tribe plans to leave the property mostly unchanged. Its goal is to encourage more visitors to visit and learn about Dakota history. It's an unusual move for the state to return a historic site to the tribe that once owned it, but Larsen hopes it is only the beginning. “To get back to that relationship with the land is important to us,” he said. History we don't teach Mankato hangings an uneasy topic for MN schools On 150th anniversary Feelings last long over U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 Hannah Yang is MPR News' newest regional news reporter. She covers the communities south of the Minnesota River in southwestern Minnesota, from the South Dakota border all the way to Mankato and south to Iowa. She's new to the region, and would love to hear your stories. Share news tips, ideas or just say hello at @HannahMYang on Twitter, or email her at hyang@mpr.org.

HEADLINES: This week on Minnesota Native News:  Lower Sioux Indian Community reclaims 114 acres, a Sumer opportunity for Native college students and a timely review for TV watchers. STORY #1 - Canca'yapi Returns to Lower Sioux Indian Community (2:30)The Lower Sioux Indian Community in  Canca'yapi [Chosh-shay-ah-pee] recently reclaimed 114 acres of land from the state of Minnesota. Reporter Melissa Townsend has those details and more.This 114 acres is part of the homelands of the Dakota people. This spot, called the Lower Sioux Agency,  is where the war of 1862 began. That war ended with the forced removal of many Dakota people from Minnesota. Cheyanne St John is the Tribal Historic Preservation officer and Director of Lower Sioux Cultural Department.  ST JOHN: Our indigenous people have always had such a strong connection to land so when we had these forced removals and all these different traumatic events happen, one of the ways in which we were able to find little bits of healing and reconnection to identity was through land and returning to our homeland. (:24)In 2004 conversations began between the tribe and the state about the tribe reclaiming this land. It's taken nearly 2 decades for the process to unfold. It involved the state legislature, the DNR, the Historical Society, the federal government and 31 other tribes.ST. JOHN: Any tribes that have direct affiliation with Canca'yapi or this part of Minnesota are notified of what is being proposed so without the support of those 31 tribes it could have been a much longer process.  (:17)St John says she doesn't feel it's appropriate to say the tribe now “owns” the land. ST JOHN: From an indigenous perspective, land is not owned - our connection to our history is far stronger than any piece of paper that could be signed. (:12)Now that the tribe is the steward of the land St John says it will retain the site as- is.ST. JOHN: Maybe down the road there would be some planning and conversations in the community about how to make that space a bit more contemporary in telling our Dakota history. (:13)St John says she feels grateful to all the people who have worked over the past two decades to return this land to the Dakota people. She feels lucky to be here when the final documents were actually signed.In other news — STORY #2  - MNHS Internship (1:05)The Minnesota Historical Society is planning to host 5 Native college students for a 10 week paid internship this summer.  The Native American Museum Undergraduate Fellowship engages Native students in exploring the world of tribal historic preservation and museum exhibits. Ambar Annis, Mnicoujou Lakota, is Program and Outreach Manager at the Minnesota Historical Society.She says the program is part of the museum's efforts to indigenize story telling about Native communities and culture. ANNIS: We're trying to  working to make sure it's native people who are telling the stories, that it's Native Nations and Native communities members who are coming to us who are saying these are the stories that need to be told and we need to be in control of those. (:12)Because of Covid-19 the 10 week summer program will start online. Annis says they hope to gather all the interns in St Paul for the final few weeks of the program to visit sites and work safely in-person together. Interns receive money for travel, food and their time. Housing is also arranged.For those interested, search for Native American Fellowship at the website mnhs.org.  For Minnesota native News, I'm Melissa Townsend.STORY #3 - WandaVision ReviewFinally, as we are still spending a lot of time indoors at home, Gerry Zink recommends a new show from Marvel Studios - the studio behind Endgame, the highest grossing movie of all time.  Zink is a 17 year old Lakota comics aficionado.  Here is his review of Wandavision.Wandavision is the first TV show made by Marvel Studios post Endgame, and it's the first in a long line of shows made exclusively for Disney Plus. It stars Scarlet Witch and Vision,  from the most recent Avengers movies. It is the first time marvel has veered into sitcom territory, with a little mix of alternate reality fiction and 1950s surrealism. The characters fit very well within the sitcom landscape, with many hilarious sketches and jokes. While the show is very funny, it also uses the audience's broader knowledge of the Marvel universe to generate a decent amount of tension within the audience. It is impossible to say any more without spoiling, but Wandavision is a great watch for Friday nights on Disney Plus.

HOST INTRO:This week on Minnesota Native News, we get a picture from the polls on election day in Indian country. Reporter Melissa Townsend has that story and more. STORY #1 - VOTING STORYMORE THAN 3 million Minnesotans voted in this election.  About half of them cast their ballots early with absentee voting. And the other half voted in person on election day November 3rd.  Ahead of election day there were widespread concerns about voter intimidation at the polls - so we checked in with a few Native folks on tribal lands to see how it went when they cast their ballots.  Marie Rock who lives near the Leech Lake reservation - and is host of this newscast - voted with her husband and her son at the Cass Lake City Hall. ROCK: We vote in the primaries, we vote in the regular elections - it's our big thing. We make sure we always vote. (:06)She had heard the buzz about possible voter intimidation at the polls, but she jokes she wasn't worried. ROCK: To me, if anyone tries to interfere with me I'll go to jail, ‘cause I'll fight them. But that didn't happens and I kind of knew it wouldn't. Overall Rock says  it was a pretty sleepy scene.A little northwest of Marie Rock, George Strong, citizen of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe,  says the same was true for him STRONG: I just walked right in, greeted friendly and just kind of moved along the line.He voted at at about 9 in the morning at his polling place, the Greenwood Township Hall near Tower Minnesota. He said the only thing out of the ordinary was the weather.STRONG: It's so beautiful!  What it's like 57/59 degrees. It was just a picture perfect fall day. Strong says one of the most important issues for him this election was a return to real civic dialogue.STRONG: That we bring some civility and talk about issues rather than create these monsters against each other. And finally down in southwestern Minnesota, Cheyanne St John, member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community says it was peaceful at her polling place too.  She says there were just a handful of voters at the Redwood Falls Fire Station.ST JOHN: It was really neat because when the other voter got up and left, I noticed the greeter immediately came into the room and began to sanitize the area where that person was sitting.  I thought it was really neat they were doing things in a safe way. Joe Biden won the vote for President in Minnesota but as of the time of this newscast - the overall winner has not yet been announced.   STORY #2 - BUGONAYGESHIG SCHOOL AMPS UPS WIFI FOR STUDENTS In other news— a story from the BUGONAYGESHIG school on the Leech Lake reservation.  The school serves 220 Native students in northern Minnesota. When they started distance learning last March, Dan McKeaon, the school's administrator says they knew they couldn't do online learning.MCKEON: We knew that that wouldn't work because there were roughly 50% of our households without reliable internet connection.  (:07)Internet access is patchy across rural parts of Minnesota. So last spring, school buses traveled door to door handing out  paper learning packets and food to BUGONAYGESHIG families. But McKeon says that didnt' really work very well.MCKEON: Boy to be frank, a distance learning program that's not online that we operated las spring - it failed pretty miserably.  There wasn't much teaching happening and there certainly wasn't much learning happening.  It's just such an extraordinarily difficult to try to teach to put together a packet of things and send it on a bus to get dropped off. It's jut no way to do it. (:22)So after a summer of planning, the school has used federal CARES act money to connect more than 90% of their students to the internet.  MCKEON: This summer we grouped our households into three different priority groups. (:06)The first priority group had no internet access because they lived in a location were there is no internet access. For them, the school bought hot spots and gave families instructions on how to use them. The second priority group were families who didn't have internet but lived in areas where they could get hooked up.  For them, the school paid for an internet subscription. And finally a third priority group had internet access, and the school took over payments for it.MCKEON: So we just make it a blanket thing that we are going to pay for internet subscription for each household that has a BUGONAYGESHIG student. (:08)McKeon says now almost all the families at the BUGONAYGESHIG school are connected to the internet - but they have a ways to go to engage with all their students in distance learning. MCKEON: To me, this process is like casting a net. And right now the network casting is catching. So to speak maybe 50% of our kids. So now it's like, okay, how do we adjust this net that we're casting so that we pull in another 10% and another 10%, so that if we have to do this all year we're engaging 90% of our kids, rather than 50% of our kids. Dan Mckeon BUGONAYGESHIG  school administrator says it's a work in progress.  For Minnesota Native News, I'm Melissa Townsend.

As the vaping epidemic continues in Minnesota, we bring you a preview of our upcoming video documentary: stories from the people on the front lines of this fight against big tobacco. The 2019 Minnesota Student Survey found more than a quarter of Minnesota 11th-graders and 11 percent of 8th-graders used an e-cigarette in the past month. From 2016-2019, the 8th-grade vaping rate nearly doubled. The commercial tobacco industry uses flavors to attract these kids. Two thirds of current high-school tobacco users in Minnesota reported using a flavored product. The deliberate marketing tactics used by the tobacco industry have made vaping popular among youth. The Minnesota Student Survey also found that Eighty-eight percent of Minnesota high-school students are exposed to e-cigarette ads. Investigations have revealed e-cigarette maker JUUL targeted kids as young as eight with marketing including a summer camp, school programs and social media influencers. The state of Minnesota has sued JUUL Labs for illegally advertising to youth and engaging in deceptive practices. Flavored tobacco products are driving the youth nicotine epidemic, which has erased nearly two decades of progress to reduce youth tobacco use. The alarming rise of youth vaping goes hand-in-hand with the insidious impact of predatory marketing the commercial tobacco industry has targeted at marginalized communities – including African Americans, American Indians, and LGBTQ people. In the podcast we'll hear from  Laura Smith,  Senior Public Affairs Manager at ClearWay Minnesota. Will Gitler and Claire Hering share their personal experiences with vaping. These experiences led them to join local action and advocacy work to reverse this epidemic and protect the health of all Minnesotans. Watch for more on vaping epidemic in our upcoming documentary, where we continue with these conversations. We'll also explore how vaping is impacting Native American youth from the Lower Sioux Indian Community and how tribal leaders are addressing the problem. We'll learn more about the serious health impacts of vaping from Dr. Brook Moore, a pediatric pulmonologist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

In part 3 of our series on Sacred Tobacco, we'll talk about “Healing Generations" in the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Throughout these conversations we've learned that “culture is prevention.” Cultural practices and traditions, including the use of sacred tobacco play an essential role in healing and wellness. We hear from Mat Pendleton, Lower Sioux Youth Recreation Director, reflecting on sacred tobacco traditions that he has learned and shares through his work. We also hear from Darin M. Prescott, CEO of the Lower Sioux Health Care Center about how traditional practices inform and transform conventional medical practices. Lastly, we hear from Kara Siegfried, Assistant Tribal Planner/Grant Writer for Lower Sioux, reflecting on the holistic approach to health at Lower Sioux.