The Bay Mills Indian community has become the first tribal community in Michigan to legalize recreational marijuana.
In November 2018, Michigan voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state with a 55 percent margin. Wishing to provide the same laws to tribal citizens, the Bay Mills Indian Community legalized the possession, use and cultivation of marijuana for adults over the age of 21, becoming the first Native tribal community in the state to legalize marijuana on the reservation. Bay Mills Indian Community Chairman Bryan Newland says the decision has been met with mostly favorable support and was initiated by the General Tribal Council - which encompasses all of the adult elders of the tribe who voted to recommend ordinances to legalize marijuana. Other tribes in Michigan have expressed interest in the ordinances. In addition to legalization, tribal citizens can petition tribal courts to remove past marijuana related offenses.
Carl Petersen, Lakota, is a Dakota State University student and computer design major that one a Billy Mills Dreamstarter grant. He is making a Lakota language video game and is starting his own gaming company, ‘Northern Plains Games.’ In March of 2019, Carl Petersen was one of ten recipients of a $10,000 Dreamstarter grants offered by Running Strong for American Indian Youth. The Dreamstarter grants and grant program were started by Gold medal Olympian Billy Mills, co-founder of the non-profit organization. Want to learn more? Sign up for Carl Petersen’s company email list for updates. You can read about the other grantees as well in the story link below.
Lisa Johnson Billy continues to make history. The two-time Chickasaw Nation legislator and former Oklahoma State Representative is now the first Native American to be named to the Oklahoma Governor’s Cabinet in the state’s history, serving as the first Secretary of Native American Affairs. Billy says of her new role: “We have 39 federally recognized tribes in the state and my job is being an adviser to the governor, so I’m touring across the state and meeting with every tribe and finding out what they want from state government. How can we better serve them? Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, of the Cherokee Nation, created the position during his first few weeks in office and appointed Billy on Jan. 30. She was confirmed by the Senate committee Feb. 28.
With an Induction Ceremony to be held November 2 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the National Native American Hall of Fame, which so far has included the likes of Olympian Billy Mills, LaDonna Harris and more has released the twelve names gracing this years list. The inductees for 2019 are Lucy Covington, Louise Erdrich, Billy Frank Jr., Forrest Gerard, Hattie Kauffman, Oren Lyons, Richard Oakes, Elizabeth Peratrovich, Pascal Poolaw, Mary Golda Ross and Wes Studi, for more information about the inductees to include their tribal affiliations and accomplishments, follow the story link below.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss it. But watch 14-year-old Walter Duff of the Cree Nation solve this ‘Skewb’ Puzzle in 1.83 seconds.
After 8 seconds to review the skewb, Walter Duff set a Canadian National record. Duff said he first tried the Skewb Sec when he was 10, later he decided he wanted to solve the Rubik’s cube in under 25 seconds. After lots of practice, he solved it in under 15 seconds. Currently, he and his father Warren are fundraising to get to Melbourne, Australia’s World Cubing Association Championships in July. He is seeking to get a world record. Go get ‘em Walter.
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Also check out my #NativeNerd column posted every Friday. Last week my article was titled, Native Nerd: I’m over 50 years old. My 10 bits of advice for Native youth and future graduates.
You know school administrators should know better not to be racist and anti semitic. And not to use these slurs on their students. These administrators should be fired immediately.