Columbia University Paves the Way for West Harlem Expansion

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by West Harlem business owners of Columbia University’s use of eminent domain on Monday. This paves the way for Columbia to expand their campus into the manufacturing zone of Manhattanville and means local business owners and residents must move. In June, the New York State Court [...]

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Happy Halloween: A Superhero (Not an Ethnic Minority) is a Halloween Costume

I love Halloween…but I don’t love racist Halloween costumes. And, sadly, it seems like the “go to” Halloween costume is often an “Indian Chief” or a scantily clad “Indian Princess.” When in doubt, wear something brown, cut some fringe, put a headband around your head and attach a feather. Now, you’re an Indian!…??!! What kind [...]

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Reconsider Columbus Day

“Christopher Columbus did not discover America, he discovered Native Americans living peacefully in their homeland. And, as history has taught us, Mr. Columbus was not even the first to visit America from Europe.

So, then why do we continue to disgrace Native Americans by throwing this “National Holiday” up in their faces? It’s about time we realize that as Americans we are continuing the hate cycle by allowing this to continue. We should be thanking Native Americans for taking us in and sharing with us their ancient wisdom.

We have never had a Native American holiday in the U.S. and that is truly a shame. We deem anything we want as a “Federal Holiday” if only for the benefit of government employees having yet another 3-day weekend.

Let us give credit where credit is due. We urge you to change “Columbus Day” to “Native American Day”.”

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Michael Steele Cancels NABJ Appearance Last Minute

SAN DIEGO, CA – I was shocked not really that surprised to see that RNC Chairman, Michael Steele, was not going to be at this afternoons’s plenary. After spending the early part of my day attending one workshop after another and spending what seemed like forever in the career fair, I really wanted to skip [...]

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Documentary explores Native perspective on health care

Rich-Heape Films, the creators of the documentary “Our Spirits Don’t speak English: Indian Boarding School” (a Native American perspective on Indian Boarding Schools) are working on a new project about health care and Native Americans. It is tittled “AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTHCARE: A NATIVE PROSPECTIVE”. Check out the teaser… From the Rich-Heape Films website: “AMERICAN INDIAN [...]

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New documentary focuses on violent crimes on Indian reservations

A good friend of mine, Ryan Redcorn, has made quite a name for himself with his pro-Native, often (progressive) political t-shirt company called Demockratees and his design and interactive branding agency, Red Hand Media. Both companies are based on the Osage reservation in Oklahoma, where Ryan is from. Most recently, Ryan wrote an article for [...]

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(Native American) Immigration Law Enforcement

If you haven’t seen this video yet, you really need to take a minute and check it out. It’s so well made and shows the other perspective on the illegal immigration issue. If you’re originally from Europe, let me see YOUR papers. You’re being deported for coming here illegally! I know we may not be [...]

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NAJA Responds to Michael Steel’s Racist Remark

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – Ronnie Washines, Native American Journalists Association President responds to RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s use of the racial slur, “Injun” (a racial slur for Native Americans) during an interview with Sean Hannity on FOX News. Steele said that the Republican Party platform is “one of the best political documents that’s been written in [...]

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Obama’s 2010 State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC – Last night President Barack Obama spoke to Congress and the nation during the annual State of the Union Address. Check out the video below if you missed any of it or want to hear it again. Topics covered were: the economy, including the stimulus bill and jobs; the environment, including the energy [...]

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Anderson Cooper is my hero.

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI – I’ve taken a break from blogging while I work on my graduate school applications. I am just about done (finally!) and I plan to be back very soon! I wasn’t planning on posting anything until I was ready for my official return, but after seeing the following video I just [...]

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