Native Condition – Commentary, Opinion & Analysis from Native Americans
Guest Commentary
Meaningful Consultation between American Indian Tribes and US Government
Jennifer S. Baker in Native Condition »
The standard for consultation with Indigenous Nations is described as "government to government," and that standard must not be treated lightly. The duty to engage with tribes in this manner stems from treaties and the Constitution, and it has been expanded upon through court Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
Department of Justice's Probe into Journalists' Telephone Records Adds Doubts
Rhonda LeValdo in Native Condition »
The disclosure this past week that the US Department of Justice secretly seized the telephone records of Associated Press reporters and editors has sent shock waves throughout the journalism field in an unprecedented Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
Celebrating a Native Mother: Cecilee Moses Taught Shoni & Jude Schimmel to Love Themselves
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
March Madness continued into April this year for American Indians who became captivated as they watched the Schimmel sisters take their Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game in Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
Wounded Knee is American Indians' Gettysburg: Interior Dept Should Declare Eminent Domain
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
Ever since the property at Wounded Knee was put up for sale, American Indians across America have wondered aloud how a place such as Wounded Knee that is so iconic to Native people could even be up for Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
GREED: Wounded Knee Parcel For Sale - Asking Pricing $3.9 Million, Taxable Value $6,600
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
When I first heard Wounded Knee was for sale back in February I thought it was a joke of some sort. I immediately rejected the idea because it was incomprehensible to me that a place of such historic proportions could even be privately Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
Thoughts for Earth Day: Keystone XL Pipeline and Moccasins on the Ground
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
Today is Earth Day around the globe. There will be rallies in cities, clean up efforts at some Indian reservations or even Earth Day walks as there was yesterday on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
A Prayer for Indigenous People
Mark Charles in Native Condition »
Wednesday morning I sat in my home here on the Navajo Reservation and watched a live webcast of the "Evangelical Immigration Table." I felt impotent, tired, angry and frustrated. For on my screen Christians were rallying around and celebrating Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
The facts Defend Baby Veronica and Native American Family Values
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl
Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians in Native Condition »
The mainstream media has continued to make repeated factual errors when reporting on the high profile Supreme Court custody case involving a Native American father and his daughter. The latest are Tuesday's Washington Post and New York Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
A Plea to Save Wounded Knee
Joseph Brings Plenty in Native Condition »
The Lakota Sioux word "takini" means "to die and come back" but is usually translated more simply as "survivor." It is a sacred word long associated with the killing of scores of unarmed Lakota men, women and children by Read More »
Discussion »
Native Journalist Pumped Up Covering the Women's National Championship
Rhonda LeValdo in Native Condition »
Every once in a while, writing a story on a special event in Indian country gets even the journalist pumped up. We are invested in our stories, we want it to engage our readers and inspire them somehow. Such was the case when Read More »
Discussion »
Shoni and Jude Schimmel are Examples of What is Right about Indian Country
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
A group of American Indian musicians who are on tour this week stopped by a McDonald's in Montana so that one could turn on her laptop so they could watch Tuesday night's NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
National Indian Child Welfare Association's Terry Cross: Misdirected Blame
Terry Cross in Native Condition »
“We were told she wasn't an Indian child and didn't think it would matter.”Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
The Passamaquoddy of Maine Defend Culturally Based Fisheries Management Plan
Sherri Mitchell in Native Condition »
The Passamaquoddy of Maine, traditionally known as the people who spear the Pollock, are salt water people. They are located along the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, where they have lived since time immemorial. Since the beginning of time, the Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
Win or Lose in National Championship Game: Big Winner will be Indian Country
Brent Cahwee, NDN Sports in Native Condition »
Despite the outcome of the Louisville Cardinals season in the NCAA women's basketball national championship game tomorrow night in New Orleans, the real winners of this tournament will be the countless young Native American faces watching Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
Prime Time in America: Two Options Featuring American Indians on Tuesday Night
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Conditions »
Tuesday evening was a rare night in Indian country or in America, for that matter. For the first time I can remember American Indians were on two highly visible networks during prime time competing at the same time for Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
Native Empowerment: One State at a Time
Dustin Monroe in Native Condition »
The Montana voter registration and mobilization program started by Western Native Voice in 2011 had a large impact on the 2012 Election. Operating a community centered, grassroots based voter registration drive on all seven Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
Now Supposedly Protected by Treaties
Idle No More
Russ Letica in Native Condition »
Over the past several months we have witnessed First Nations people of Canada and supporters around the world stand up for the protection of their lands, water, resources, basic human rights and for their Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
In Defense of Dusten Brown
Terry Cross in Native Condition »
At the heart of the case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl is the story of a father who desperately wants to raise his daughter. Dusten Brown is a good father and an honorable man who has found himself in extraordinary circumstances. He is also a Read More »
Discussion »
Guest Commentary
Fasting and Idle No More: A Spark Lit the Fire
Claudia Julien in Native Condition »
As Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence embarked on her 44 day fast, which was really a spiritual journey, she demonstrated her courage to do this for her people and it awakened the spirit of nations. Many immediately began their own actions in Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
Congressmen Say the Craziest Things!
Congressman Cramer Shows No Respect for Indians
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
Some readers may be old enough to remember television's Art Linkletter's "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" segments. The segment would feature the outrageous and funny comments made Read More »
Discussion »
North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer Rants Against VAWA and Tribal Governments
Melissa Merrick in Native Condition »
As the Director of Spirit Lake Victim Assistance, I am a member of three coalitions: First Nations Women's Alliance, Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, and North Dakota Council on Abused women Services, NDCAWS, which is the North Read More »
Discussion »
Commentary
The Absurdity of a 60 Second Child Custody Hearing
Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Condition »
I attended the press conference last Thursday at the Adoba Hotel in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota where tribal officials, American Civil Liberties Union attorneys and American Indian families discussed the federal lawsuit they had filed only minutes Read More »
Discussion »
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