Basic Job Search
Click logo for homepage of IMDiversity.com - where careers, opportunities and communities connect
home | search jobs | my account employer profiles | career center | about us | for employers
Featured Employers



Featured Jobs

View Featured Jobs

$100K-PLUS Jobs
 

Native American Village Categories
Blog
Arts, Culture & Media
Business, Finance & Economics
Careers, Workplace, Employment
Civil, Human & Equal Rights
Education & Academia
Family, Lifestyles, Traditions
History & Heritage
Opinion and Letters
Politics & Law
World Affairs
News & Announcements
Organizations & Links
 
 
MY JOB TOOLS
Account Login
Create Account
Search Jobs

 
 
American Indian News
Native American Indian News Headlines Insert Page
Suspended Anchorage shock-jocks return to airwaves
Panel addresses violence against Native women
Hawaiian sovereignty seekers take over Honolulu palace
Ads aim to curb meth use in Indian communities
Navajo president pushes to reduce tribal lawmakers
villages/native/ AP Daily_News Headlines.asp
Specials

Expanded Job Tools Section
New QuickSearches by location and industry, salary tools, more at the Career Center

Graduate/ Professional School Opportunities

What's New with the IMDiversity site

 

Native American Village News

By The Associated Press


 

Suspended Anchorage shock-jocks return to airwaves

By RACHEL D'ORO

Associated Press Writer

Apr 30 10:55

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ Two Anchorage shock-jocks have returned to their popular morning show, three weeks after making a derogatory comment on the air about Alaska Native women.

Greg Wood and Chris Wilcox, known as Woody and Wilcox, were suspended April 15 following a storm of protest over the remark that had many comparing the disc jockeys to Don Imus.

Wilcox and Woody were jesting April 9 about what makes someone a real Alaskan. One of them switched the verbs on an old saying that real Alaskans have urinated in the Yukon River and made love to an Alaska Native woman. Many also consider the original saying offensive.

Alaska Natives and others have since canceled advertising with KBFX-FM, a Clear Channel hard rock station that features Wilcox and Wood.


Panel addresses violence against Native women

The Associated Press

May 01 13:55

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  - A three-day conference was held in Anchorage to look at the issue of violence against Alaska Native women.

The panel, which concluded Wednesday, included some of the state's most prominent Alaskans and top law enforcement officials. The members of the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission included U.S. Attorney Nelson Cohen, state Attorney General Talis Colberg, and Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

The conference, called "Building Momentum,'' was put on by the Alaska Native Justice Center with funding from the U.S. Justice Department, Office on Violence Against Women.

A separate panel of four women who had been raped or physically abused spoke out about their experiences. Among them was U.S. House candidate Diane Benson. She told the crowd that she was repeatedly sexually abused in foster care.

Benson has talked publicly about her experiences for a dozen years.

She told the crowd gathered at a downtown hotel that when she went to the police, a Ketchikan officer not only didn't pursue charges but said he wanted to get in on it. She said she was raped three times by age 20. She didn't even try to report those, she said.

The panel asked tough questions about inadequacies in the system that is supposed to respond to the violence. Members of the panel on rural justice admitted they didn't always have good answers.

Benson, a Democrat, has talked publicly about her experiences for a dozen years at victim conferences around the country, though the rapes might be news to people in Alaska.

It's not the kind of thing she'd bring up as a campaign strategy, she said. She talks about the worst times of her life to offer hope to other women, she said.

"If I can be a person who can get out there and do what I do, after this violent, neglectful and abusive kind of history and still demand my dignity, find my self-respect, after all of it, so can somebody else,'' Benson said.

Lisa Frank, a board member of the Alaska Native Women's Coalition who lives in Arctic Village, said she was raped 12 years ago Outside and was able to come home to heal. But think of all those assaulted by someone in their village, who may have to see the person who hurt them every day, she said.

"We're coming together and we're talking,'' said Denise Morris, president of the Alaska Native Justice Center.

Audience members stood one after the other to ask the panel questions.

Why has government funding for substance abuse treatment dropped when everyone knows that's a big need? Why are victims treated poorly by certain prosecutors and law enforcement officers? Shouldn't officers be required to use the specially trained Sexual Assault Response Teams whenever possible?

As to the last question, the answer for troopers is definitely yes, Monegan said. The teams help gather evidence, identify suspects and begin the healing process for victims, he said.

Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com


Hawaiian sovereignty seekers take over Honolulu palace

By MARK NIESSE

Associated Press Writer

May 01 00:29

HONOLULU (AP) - When Native Hawaiian sovereignty advocates chained shut the gates of historic Iolani Palace, they said they were reclaiming land of the Hawaiian monarchy that was stolen during the overthrow of the kingdom more than 100 years ago.

Unarmed security guards from the Hawaiian Kingdom Government group allowed only Hawaiians, media and students to enter. Tourists, employees and the general public were kept out for hours until the conflict was peacefully resolved and the palace grounds opened.

Hawaiian activists have long used Iolani Palace, the site of Queen Liliuokalani's imprisonment following the 1893 U.S. overthrow, as a prime location for protests of the United States' occupation of the islands. But never before Wednesday had they physically taken control.

"This is our seat of government and always will be,'' said Mahealani Kahau, who was elected "head of state'' of the group seven years ago. "As long as we have breath to speak, we'll be here.''

The 60 protesters began arriving early in the morning Wednesday, sealed the gates with chain-link locks and hung yellow signs stating, "Warning! No trespassing. This is private property.''

Police surrounded the palace but didn't force their way inside the fence. The activists were locked out of the palace itself and didn't do any damage to the area, which they consider to be sacred.

After more than six hours, authorities and the Hawaiians agreed to end the blockade and reopen the palace to the public. No arrests were made immediately, but state officials said the protesters could still be charged. Protest leaders had said they were prepared to be arrested and would remain peaceful.

"It was kind of exciting to see an insurgency,'' said Dorothy Scully, a visitor from Modesto, Calif., who had a morning appointment to tour the palace but couldn't get in. "We were victims of the insurrection this morning.''

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is one of several Hawaiian sovereignty organizations in the islands, which became the 50th U.S. state in 1959. One of the most visible signs of protest seen across the state is upside-down Hawaii state flags on display at homes of members, signaling distress.

What sets this group apart from the rest is that it's the only one to establish a government headquarters, Kahau said.

"Hopefully the occupation today will make the people aware of the history of the Native Hawaiian people and the attacks on their land,'' said Trisha Kehaulani Watson, executive director of another Native Hawaiian group, Kakoo Oiwi.

The ornate Iolani Palace is operated as a museum of Hawaiian royalty. King Kalakaua built it in 1882, and it also served as the residence for his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, the islands' last ruling monarch.

The palace's granduer was neglected after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, but the structure was restored in the 1970s as a National Historic Landmark. It includes a gift shop and is open for school groups and offers tours for $6 to $20.

"This is the manifestation of the frustration of the Hawaiian people for the loss of sovereignty and land,'' said state Sen. Kalani English, a Native Hawaiian and a Democrat from East Maui-Lanai-Molokai who met with the protesters and brought them food. "This made a statement. It got the word out about the plight of the Hawaiian people.''

The protesters said they wanted to restore Iolani Palace as the seat of their government, and they plan to meet there daily to conduct the business of a sovereign Hawaiian government. They pledged to return Thursday, although they say they won't restrict access to the palace again.

Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of Iolani Palace, said the building was originally used as the royal residence of the monarchy, not as the seat of government.

Only after the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom was the palace renamed as an "Executive Building'' to show that the old rulers were powerless, he said.

"It is historically wrong for any individual or group to state that the palace is to serve as a government building,'' Chu said. "We welcome any group who would like to celebrate the history of Iolani Palace and Hawaii's monarchy in a historically appropriate manner that embraces all visitors.''

About 40 students from Halau Lokahi, a Hawaiian-focused charter school, later joined the activists by blowing conch shells and reciting Hawaiian chants. They came to witness the palace occupation without getting directly involved in the protest, said Hinaleimoana Wong, cultural director at the school.

"This is a crucial spot. This is where much of the injustice took place,'' Wong said.

The last significant conflict at Iolani Palace before Wednesday happened when sovereignty advocates clashed with flag-waving Statehood Day celebrants trying to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner'' in 2006.

On the Net:

Iolani Palace: http://www.iolanipalace.org

Hawaiian Kingdom Government: http://www.higovt.org


Ads aim to curb meth use in Indian communities

The Associated Press

Apr 27 14:52

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - An ad campaign has been launched in hopes of raising awareness and curbing the use of methamphetamines in American Indian communities across the nation.

The National Congress of American Indians, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and federal officials unveiled the campaign at the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Officials say it's the first national meth prevention initiative developed specifically for Indian Country.

According to officials, American Indians, Alaska Natives and native Hawaiians have the highest rates of meth abuse among all ethnicities.


Navajo president pushes to reduce tribal lawmakers

By FELICIA FONSECA

Associated Press Writer

Apr 30 07:43

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. is moving forward with a plan to reform the tribal government and first on his wish list is reducing the Tribal Council from 88 delegates to 24.

Shirley's staff filed paperwork Tuesday with the tribe's election office that will start the process of gathering signatures to put the question before voters. The petitioners will have six months to collect about 16,000 signatures, but Shirley said the goal is to get at least 25,000 in 90 days so that the matter could go before voters in the November elections.

"The sentiment of the people, I feel, is that they want to reform government,'' he said in a recent interview. "I don't think a lot of them like the way our government is run.''

J.R. Thompson of the Navajo Nation Election Administration said his office received the documents late Tuesday. The names of petitioners need to be checked against voter registration rolls before signatures can be gathered, and Thompson said that could take a couple of days.

"Until we see that everything is proper and in order, then they can proceed with it,'' he said.

Shirley announced the formation of a government reform task force last week during the council's spring session. He also wants voters to approve a line item veto that would give him the authority to approve or reject certain budget items or supplemental appropriations.

Former Arizona state Rep. Sylvia Laughter, acting executive director of the Office of Navajo Government Development, said while she supports a move to reduce the council, she sees Shirley's push for a line item veto as a power play.

"The line item veto tells me that he's not willing to work with the legislative body,'' she said. "At the same time, the legislative body is just as much at fault. ... There just seems to be a lot of difficulty in moving forward with anything.''

The executive and legislative branches have been at odds recently over a proposed $36 million legislative complex, discretionary funds and the draining of a capital improvement fund.

While Shirley has exercised his veto power on a number of bills he said included unnecessary appropriations, the council hasn't hesitated to override those vetoes.

One of Shirley's biggest challenges in reducing the council likely will come from the delegates.

More than half of the 88 tribal lawmakers represent two or more communities, and downsizing the council would cheat communities out of representation in the tribal capital of Window Rock, said council Speaker Lawrence Morgan.

"The Navajo people should be worried about the president's move,'' he said.

Navajos voted in a 2000 referendum to reduce the council to 24 delegates, but the measure failed because its language required a majority vote in each of the tribe's 110 chapters.

Delegate Leonard Tsosie said he believes Navajo voters would be receptive to reducing the council and having delegates work harder to get elected.

"It will be harder, more competition, but in a way I don't mind,'' he said. "I think the Navajo people should be afforded the competition of ideas on how to make better their own lives, their community and the Navajo Nation.''

If a reduction is approved, only 24 delegates would be elected in 2010. The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors would reapportion the delegates with approval of the current council by August 15, 2009. If the council rejects the plan, the Navajo president would have the authority to develop and approve a plan.

The line item veto would go into effect immediately if approved.

Delegate Leslie Dele said Shirley should have a plan before the issues are voted on.

The council created a reform office shortly after the tribal government was reorganized in 1989 under three branches -- the executive, legislative and judicial -- though Navajo voters never ratified the change. Previously, a chairman served as both the head of the tribal government and the speaker of the council.

The council voted late last year to place the office under the administrative control of Morgan. Shirley vetoed the measure, but the council overturned it.

Laughter's main focus has been looking at the feasibility of establishing a Navajo constitution. The Navajo Nation is one of a few tribes that rejected a constitution under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. 

Shirley suggested that a constitution could be part of government reform, but said "It's not my initiative.''

Dale Mason, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico's Gallup branch, said there is widespread support for reducing the council -- partly to save money -- but doesn't believe Shirley has the clout to pull it off.

"I think there are a lot of Navajos that would like the Navajo government changed, but I don't think there's a consensus on what it should be,'' he said.


Also of Interest

 

[Back to Top]

[Back to Native American Village Home]

[Add Native American Village to Your IE Favorites]

 

Associated Press

Copyright by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

IMDiversity.com is committed to presenting diverse points of view. However, the viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at IMD.

 

IMDiversity, Inc.
contact us
© 2008 IMDiversity Inc. All Rights Reserved.
privacy statement
True