Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008

3-11-08 A Native American Affairs Commission in Connecticut?

(24 downloads)

Download this episode (55 min)   
J. Kehaulani Kauanui examines legislation currently before the Connecticut state Committee on Environment: HR 5141, an Act Concerning a Commission on Native American Indian Affairs. The state of Connecticut already has state commissions such as the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, and the African-American Affairs Commission. Dozens of states across the United States have Native American Affairs Commissions, and New England is no exception with the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, and the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. Given that Connecticut is rapidly earning a reputation for its anti-Indian hostility, many people suggest that a Commission could help turn the tide of fear, racism, and ignorance regarding the state-recognized Native Nations and other Native American residents, including the increasingly diverse population of Native Americans from tribes across the country moving here for employment and educational opportunities. This episode will feature a range of perspectives on the politics of this proposal in interviews with L. Mixashawn Rozie (Mahicanu), Mikki Anganstata (Eastern Cherokee), Sherman Paul (Maliseet), Ruth Garby Torres (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation), Trudie Lamb Richmond (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, and Cedric Woods (Lumbee).

Posted by Indigenous Politics at 12:08 PM |   

<< Home