(C) Verite News New Orleans

(C) Verite News New Orleans
This story was originally published by Verite News New Orleans and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .

Native American communities witness historic progress in 2023 [1]

['Brandi Liberty', 'More Brandi Liberty', 'Verite News']

Date: 2023-12-20

In a year marked by significant milestones, 2023 stands out as a historic period for Native American communities across the United States, with the Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. in early December underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments as detailed in the “2023 Progress Report for Tribal Nations.” The report outlines achievements such as USDA’s support for tribal bison producers; the creation of the Hall of Tribal Nations; new veteran services; and actions addressing Indigenous peoples’ disappearances.

These efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy to support the well-being and autonomy of Native American tribes and highlight the enduring vitality of Indian Country. From political breakthroughs to cultural revivals, the year has been a testament to the resilience and evolving landscape of Indian Country.

The political landscape witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of Native Americans holding office in both state and federal governments, with more than 26 appointments to federal positions this year. In November 2023, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) appointed its first assistant director for Indigenous engagement and Native American affairs. The role leads OSTP’s interactions with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other Indigenous Peoples and is integral in ensuring a comprehensive government approach to elevate and integrate Indigenous knowledge into federal decision-making processes. These appointments bring Indigenous voices into the political discourse and highlight the importance of diversity in leadership.

This year, several tribes celebrated the reclaiming of ancestral lands, a movement that signifies a return of sacred territories but also a commitment to environmental stewardship. The U.S. Department of the Interior also concluded its Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, restoring nearly 3 million acres across 15 states to various tribes, showcasing a nationwide effort to address historical injustices and reconnect Native American communities with their ancestral lands.

Economic independence has been a key focus for many Native American communities this year. The successful launch of business ventures, ranging from tourism to renewable energy, boosts economic stability and sets an example of self-reliance and innovation.

Measures to tackle social issues, including substance abuse, housing conditions, and domestic violence have been a focus for Native American communities. There were significant investments in housing and infrastructure, with a particular focus on expanding homeownership and transportation networks. These initiatives foster healthier and more resilient communities. Progress has also been made in enhancing healthcare services for Native American populations, with the expansion of healthcare facilities, increased mental health services, and culturally tailored healthcare programs to address long-standing disparities and pave the way for improved community health.

In 2023, Native American tribes saw landmark legal wins, notably the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act which affirms tribal sovereignty, and protects Native children’s rights to familial and cultural connections.

The milestones achieved in 2023 signify the strength and perseverance of Native communities on their journey toward recognition and equality.

Related Stories

Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Close window X Republish this article This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Unless otherwise noted, you can republish most of Verite’s stories for free under a Creative Commons license. For digital publications: Look for the “Republish This Story” button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS).

You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.

You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.

Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.

If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola @VeriteNewsNola For print publications: You have to credit Verite. We prefer “Author Name, Verite News” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Verite News” and include our website, veritenews.org

You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.

You cannot republish our photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor Tim Morris

Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories.

You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.

You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection.

Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.

If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter. If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris. Native American communities witness historic progress in 2023 <h1>Native American communities witness historic progress in 2023</h1> by Brandi Liberty, Verite News December 20, 2023 In a year marked by significant milestones, 2023 stands out as a historic period for Native American communities across the United States, with the Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. in early December underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration's commitments as detailed in the "2023 Progress Report for Tribal Nations." The report outlines achievements such as USDA's support for tribal bison producers; the creation of the Hall of Tribal Nations; new veteran services; and actions addressing Indigenous peoples' disappearances. These efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy to support the well-being and autonomy of Native American tribes and highlight the enduring vitality of Indian Country. From political breakthroughs to cultural revivals, the year has been a testament to the resilience and evolving landscape of Indian Country. The political landscape witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of Native Americans holding office in both state and federal governments, with more than 26 appointments to federal positions this year. In November 2023, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) appointed its first assistant director for Indigenous engagement and Native American affairs. The role leads OSTP's interactions with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other Indigenous Peoples and is integral in ensuring a comprehensive government approach to elevate and integrate Indigenous knowledge into federal decision-making processes. These appointments bring Indigenous voices into the political discourse and highlight the importance of diversity in leadership. This year, several tribes celebrated the reclaiming of ancestral lands, a movement that signifies a return of sacred territories but also a commitment to environmental stewardship. The U.S. Department of the Interior also concluded its Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, restoring nearly 3 million acres across 15 states to various tribes, showcasing a nationwide effort to address historical injustices and reconnect Native American communities with their ancestral lands. Economic independence has been a key focus for many Native American communities this year. The successful launch of business ventures, ranging from tourism to renewable energy, boosts economic stability and sets an example of self-reliance and innovation. Measures to tackle social issues, including substance abuse, housing conditions, and domestic violence have been a focus for Native American communities. There were significant investments in housing and infrastructure, with a particular focus on expanding homeownership and transportation networks. These initiatives foster healthier and more resilient communities. Progress has also been made in enhancing healthcare services for Native American populations, with the expansion of healthcare facilities, increased mental health services, and culturally tailored healthcare programs to address long-standing disparities and pave the way for improved community health. In 2023, Native American tribes saw landmark legal wins, notably the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act which affirms tribal sovereignty, and protects Native children's rights to familial and cultural connections. The milestones achieved in 2023 signify the strength and perseverance of Native communities on their journey toward recognition and equality. This <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org/2023/12/20/native-american-communities-witness-historic-progress-in-2023/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org">Verite News</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-Verite-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://veritenews.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=11387" style="width:1px;height:1px;"> Copy to Clipboard

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://veritenews.org/2023/12/20/native-american-communities-witness-historic-progress-in-2023/

Published and (C) by Verite News New Orleans
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 US.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/veritenews/