The November 6, 2018 election was historically significant for Indigenous candidates and voters. More than 100 candidates of Native American descent ran for public office before the primaries and more than half of them were women. Below, AIPI profiles the indigenous lawmakers in Congress and the Arizona State legislature.
The Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA) became Public Law 115-264 on October 11, 2018. Title II of the MMA carries important Tribal implications for recordings pre-dating 1972, which could potentially increase public access to sound recordings for noncommercial purposes. This raises serious concerns regarding public access and use of collections of sound recordings made of Tribal ceremonies, songs, oral histories, and languages.
The Akimel O’otham (Pima) are well-known for their innovation and industriousness when it comes to water management in the desert. Prior to European contact, they – and their Huhugam ancestors before them – constructed hundreds of miles of canals to control water flow and multiply the production capacity of their farmlands. Today, the Gila River Indian Community is building on that legacy, using wireless technology to conserve water and harness the full potential of its canal system.
Spectrum has become a vital and important natural resource because it is finite and has economic and public use, purpose, and benefit. Similar to other natural resources such as water, timber, minerals, and precious metals, the use of radio frequencies (spectrum) has become integrated into everyday life. However, unlike other natural resources, the spectrum frequencies used to wirelessly transmit digital television, radio, and voice and data communications (e.g. the internet) are not visible to the human eye without the use of technological instruments.
Historically, Native American tribes have not been included in important water discussions in Arizona, but that changed with the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) — a multi-state agreement designed to secure the future of water in the Southwest.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and other institutions of higher education across the U.S. have transitioned academic coursework to online internet platforms. However, this transition assumes that Native students have constant access to affordable, and reliable internet options. As universities move to strictly online platforms, it’s important to recognize that not every student has internet access in their home communities.
In 2019, the American Indian Policy Institute published the “Tribal Technology Assessment: The State of Internet Service on Tribal Lands”. The TTA surveyed residents of tribal reservation residents and found that:
Election day is right around the corner. With the nation living under the shadow of COVID-19, and an expectation that it will continue to be a presence well into autumn, officials are scrambling to ensure the November 2020 general election proceeds as smoothly and safely as possible. How are tribes involved with 2020 election processes?
Controversial changes to the U.S. Census Bureau’s operational plans mean hard-to-reach populations face an increased threat of being undercounted in the 2020 Census and therefore a greater potential of being underrepresented and underfunded in the next decade.