Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

January 10, 2022

Rights of Salmon Case Brought Against City of Seattle, by Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe



Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe Brings First 'Rights of Salmon' Case

Southern Resident orcas, Tribe depend on Skagit River salmon


Case follows Chippewa litigation filed to protect wild rice and treaty rights


Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights
Thomas Linzey, Senior Legal Counsel, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, tal@pa.net
Censored News
January 11, 2022


DARRINGTON, Washington -- On January 6, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle. The case, filed by the Tribe on its own behalf and on behalf of Tsuladxw (salmon in the Tribe's language), was filed in Sauk-Suiattle Tribal Court.

The Tribe seeks recognition that salmon have inherent rights to "exist, flourish, regenerate…and restoration," and that the Tribe possesses the duty to "protect and save" salmon in the face of continued harm and decline, including from the City of Seattle's dams on the Skagit River.

Navajo Nation reports 242 new COVID cases in one day regardless of high vaccination rate -- January 9, 2022


On Christmas, and during January, Dine' volunteer Mercury Bitsuie, Uncle Andy Dann, family and friends delivered food and water to fellow Navajos. Although the Navajo government received $2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds in May of 2021, eight months ago, the funds have not yet been distributed to Navajos in need. The Navajo government approved hardship payments in December, but the funds are yet to be distributed. -- Photo courtesy Mercury Bitsuie

Questions remain about COVID vaccine and treatment experiments on Navajos, as new COVID cases total 242 in one day on Sunday

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Jan. 9, 2022

The Navajo Nation has one of the highest rates of vaccinated adults in the US. The New York Times reported that 70 percent of Navajo adults are vaccinated.

Today, in one day, there were 242 new cases of coronavirus on the Navajo Nation.

Since March of 2020 and the first outbreak at a church gathering on the Navajo Nation, 1,593 Navajos have died as a result of coronavirus. 

Questions remains about vaccine and plasma treatment experiments 

Johns Hopkins, which headed up the Navajo Nation coronavirus team from the beginning, received $35 million from the US Pentagon to research COVID plasma infusions on Navajos.

January 6, 2022

Indigenous Works at Sundance Film Festival: Virtual Festival 2022



YOUR GUIDE TO ALL INDIGENOUS WORKS AT THE 2022 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

The Headhunters Daughter

Sundance announced on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, that this year's hybrid Sundance Film Festival will out of necessity be changed to virtual.

At the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, we are honored to have 15 projects by Indigenous artists screening. From immersive experiences to short films, the stories that will be presented in January continue to highlight Indigeniety in unique and powerful ways.

January 4, 2022

Wet’suwet’en Water Protectors evade Canadian police mobilizing for raid



Wet’suwet’en Water Protectors Evade RCMP as Police Mobilize For Raid

Article and photo by Gidimt'en Checkpoint
French translation by Christine Prat
Censored News
January 4th, 2022

Unceded Gidimt’en Territory, Smithers (BC) -- Two weeks after Wet’suwet’en water protectors evicted Coastal GasLink workers and occupied a key pipeline drill site, water protectors executed a strategic retreat to avoid arrest and violence at the hands of dozens of militarized RCMP. Before a large scale mobilization by police, water protectors vanished into the woods, evading police violence and criminalization. We expect an imminent assault on our people at the direction of Coastal GasLink as we continue to occupy and utilize our yintah.

“Our warriors are not here to be arrested. Our warriors are here to protect the land and the water, and will continue to do so at all costs,” stated Sleydo’ (Molly Wickham), a wing chief of the Cas Yikh people. “Every time that the RCMP, the C-IRG, has come in to enforce CGL’s injunction they have done violence against our women. They have imprisoned our Indigenous women and our warriors. We will not allow our people to be political prisoners.”