Category: News

Tell Harvard to Return our Relatives!

The Harvard Crimson newspaper recently reported that Harvard University holds the human remains of thousands of Native American people and 19 African Americans who were likely slaves.

The remains are primarily housed in Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnography. This violates the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) passed in 1990, which requires that the remains of Indigenous people be returned to their tribe.

Tell Harvard it is time to return our relatives so they can be in peace.

Protect Tribal Sovereignty: Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta

On June 29, in the case of Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, the Supreme Court majority held that a state could prosecute crimes against Indian victims by non-Indian people even if those crimes occur on Indian reservations.

This was a violation of both treaty rights and the United States Constitution.  

In a shocking decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote: “The Court today holds that Indian country within a State’s territory is part of a State, not separate from a State,” reasoning that “as a matter of state sovereignty, a State has jurisdiction over all of its territory, including Indian country.”

In a rebuking dissent to Kavanaugh and the Supreme Court majority, Justice Gorsuch stated: “Where this Court once stood firm, today it wilts. After the Cherokee’s exile to what became Oklahoma, the federal government promised the Tribe that it would remain forever free from interference by state authorities. Only the Tribe or the federal government could punish crimes by or against tribal members on tribal lands. At various points in its history, Oklahoma has chafed at this limitation….Where our predecessors refused to participate in one State’s unlawful power grab at the expense of the Cherokee, today’s Court accedes to another’s.”

This was a direct attack on tribal sovereignty and showed this Court’s desire to end tribal nations.

Congress must pass legislation immediately that returns the power of tribal nations to the tribes when a crime is committed on tribal land. Please fill out this form today to tell congress to act immediately to return the power to the tribes. They swore on oath to the constitution that declares, “All treaties shall be the Supreme law of the land.”

Tell President Biden to Free Leonard Peltier

In 1975, during a confrontation involving AIM members, two FBI agents were killed. Leonard Peltier was convicted of their murders but was denied a fair trial. There were severe violations, including the prosecution’s withholding of evidence that might have assisted Leonard Peltier’s defense.

In light of these concerns, the former US Attorney who supervised the prosecution team post-trial, James Reynolds, has since called for clemency.

Leonard Peltier is now almost 80 years old and has spent more than 44 years in prison. His health is deteriorating, and his lawyers have recently submitted a new petition for clemency.

Honor the Treaties – Recognize the Duwamish

Chief Si’ahl (Seattle) of the Duwamish and Suquamish Tribes was the first signer of the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. Chief Si’ahl honored the treaty, but as has been the case throughout history, the United States has not.

The Duwamish Tribe is no longer a federally recognized tribe despite being an integral part and cultural influence in the Pacific Northwest for decades.


The Bureau of Indian Affairs appeared ready to right this injustice under the Clinton Administration and recognize the Duwamish Tribe, only to have it revoked by the Bush Administration.


Please fill out this form, and it will contact Congress and let them know you support restoring the Treaty rights for the Duwamish Tribe. We must demand that the United States honor their treaties as they are the supreme law of the land (US Constitution – Article VI, Sec 2).

Tell Congress to make Chief Standing Bear a National Holiday

The Harvard Crimson newspaper recently reported that Harvard University holds the human remains of thousands of Native American people and 19 African Americans who were likely slaves.

The remains are primarily housed in Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnography. This violates the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) passed in 1990, which requires that the remains of Indigenous people be returned to their tribe.

Tell Harvard it is time to return our relatives so they can be in peace.