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EMAIL ME: tracelara@pm.me (outlook email is gone)
THANK YOU CHI MEGWETCH!
A new report by Statistics Canada says Indigenous adults were
incarcerated at a rate 10 times higher than non-Indigenous adults in six
provinces, a disparity that justice advocates called staggering, and a
roadblock to reconciliation.
The agency’s new measure, called the overrepresentation index, was
used to make the finding for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in
British Columbia, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta
in 2023/2024.
The United States' interest in Greenland is not a recent
phenomenon, but rather a recurring theme in its foreign policy,
stretching back over 150 years. The idea of acquiring Greenland first
surfaced in the 1860s under President Andrew Johnson's administration,
following the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia. Secretary of State
William Seward, a key figure in the Alaska acquisition, also eyed
Greenland, recognizing its potential natural resources such as coal.
While no formal offer was made at that time, a land swap involving
Greenland was proposed under President William Howard Taft in 1910,
which Denmark rejected.
The most significant historical attempt came in 1946, in
the wake of World War II and the nascent Cold War, when President Harry
S. Truman formally offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the island.
Denmark, though recovering from wartime occupation, firmly rejected the
offer, opting instead to expand U.S. military access to the island.
This led to the establishment of key military installations like
Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), which integrated
Greenland into the U.S. early-warning radar and missile defense network,
a presence that continues today under bilateral agreements. These
historical precedents underscore a consistent American perception of
Greenland as a strategic asset, even as Denmark and Greenland have
consistently rebuffed outright acquisition.
Last
Wednesday an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a
Minneapolis resident and mother of three. While Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims the shooting was in self defense, video of the incident shows Good attempting to drive away from the scene.
Since
the Trump administration sent 2,000 ICE agents to Minneapolis, at least
five Native American community members have been detained. The area
where Good was killed is near a historic urban Native community and the
Little Earth housing project. Near Little Earth, ICE agents detained
four men who are Oglala Lakota. One man was released after a 12 hour
hold, but the whereabouts of the other men are unknown. In a separate
incident, Jose Roberto “Beto” Ramirez was driving to his aunt’s house
North of Minneapolis when he noticed he was being followed by people in
an unmarked car. Ramirez is a descendant of Red Lake Nation. ICE agents
pulled Ramirez out of his car. “I felt like I was kidnapped,” he told ICT news. After detaining him for 6 hours, ICE eventually released Ramirez.
I want to hear from you!
I’m just starting this newsletter and I would love your feedback! As a freelance writer, I was frustrated with my writing living in multiple places and wanted a space to connect with my readers directly. I’d love to hear your thoughts! What topics are you curious about? Where would you like to see this newsletter go? - Rebecca Nagle
WE ARE FIRST NATIONS! Please be aware: watch this video:
I’ll cut to the chase, as they say. I’m now on the ground in Minneapolis, representing our team on the frontlines and doing what I can to help build a defense amid the ongoing occupation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). I can gratefully report that the section of the city where many Native people live is no longer experiencing quite the same level of infiltration by I.C.E. personnel as it had been over the past days. That said, we remain on high alert. The federal government recently sent more officers here, and its attacks on this brave community are clearly far from over.
As part of my activities on the ground, I’m networking with local Native leaders and press outlets. Today, I sat down for an interview with host Robert Pilot on Native Roots Radio to discuss the situation. I encourage you to take a few minutes and watch our highlights video of the conversation right here. And, if you have the time, you can watch the entire, nearly one-hour broadcast on the Native Roots Radio Facebook page.
Watch: I discussed the ongoing I.C.E. attack on Minneapolis on Native Roots Radio.
It should go without saying that we’re now at a critical moment for the survival of our democracy as we know it. The echoes of historic fascism — from the brazen attacks by militarized I.C.E. agents on people it considers undesirable to Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem’s new podium slogan (”One of ours, all of yours”) echoing the Nazi fervor for mass retaliation — are striking and deeply disturbing.
You may recall that we’ve been sounding the alarm about all of this for quite some time. The Project 2025 agenda clearly laid out the administration’s aims, and its subsequent attacks on birthright citizenship were another giant red flag, ultimately giving rise to our Original Homegrowns series of videos laying out the danger to Native — and all — people of this land.
Now, we’re here. But we, as Natives, know that even this can be overcome — if we stand together. As things progress, it will remain extra important to continue speaking truth to power, building alliances and a united front, and taking action where and when appropriate to protect one another, halt the tide of fascism, and restore sanity. Please stay locked in with us. Watch and share our video. We’ll have much more to say, and we plan to provide opportunities for you to make a difference going forward. Are you ready?
Wopila tanka — thank you, always, for supporting our ability to assist.
Chase Iron Eyes
Executive Director
Lakota People’s Law Project
Sacred Defense Fund
Elisia
and Tecumseh Manuel and their three children — Tecumseh, Precious and
Micah — adopted from Arizona’s foster care system. Provided photo.
..."These experiences prompted an internal question on behalf of families
like hers fostering Native youth: “Where are the resources?” Manuel
recalled asking herself.
"That wondering led to the creation of her nonprofit in 2014, Three Precious Miracles. The group’s initials correspond to those of the three Indigenous children the couple adopted from Arizona’s foster care system: Tecumseh — named after
Manuel’s spouse of 28 years — Precious and Micah. The kids were placed
with the Manuels as infants, and all are now pre-teens."
I was born in Minnesota and lived in the Cities in the 1980s.... What is happening now, we must be very careful not to fall into the trap they are setting... BE CAREFUL if you do protest... Trace
The woman shot and killed
by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on
Wednesday was Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three
who had recently moved to Minnesota.
Renee Good was MURDERED Yesterday by Sean Sherman
Trump’s Desire to Shoot Protesters Is Our New Reality
I woke up with two thoughts: there are two victims of adoption
who need help and not necessarily from each other: the adoptee and the
first mother. Each has its own burden and neither can heal the other.
This series ran in 2012 on American Indian Adoptees. It was my most popular series on the topic of adoption…
By Trace Hentz
part 4:
I
woke up with two thoughts: there are two victims of adoption who need
help and not necessarily from each other: the adoptee and the first
mother. Each has its own burden and neither can heal the other.
“I get up. I walk. I fall down. Meanwhile I keep dancing.” That is a line in the book “Bird by Bird” by Ann Lamott. Her comical book offers instructions on writing and life and so far -- I’ve had good belly laughs. Yep, Ann made a funny book!
In
part two of her book, Ann was fighting herself over jealousy of another writer
friend. She wrote, “Sometimes this human stuff is slimy and pathetic -
jealousy especially so - but better to feel it and talk about it and
walk through it than to spend a lifetime poisoned by it."
Poison is nothing to mess with. I spoke with an adoptee friend last night and Levi is sure we adoptees need to create new ceremonies, even some just for us adoptees. I was nodding at every word Levi said. A
lifetime of isolation from what we know to be ours, our blood rights
as Indigenous People, our language and culture and the healing offered
by participating in ceremony, it was not ours growing up white and
adopted and assimilated.
But we adoptees are not victims, Levi said. No, we are changed by adoption but not its victims.
I
thought about ceremony, what ceremony I missed growing up, and what
other Indian people probably took for granted growing up. That does make
me jealous. I didn’t get to meet my grandmothers in flesh, only in
dreams.
I
am sad I do not how to make my own regalia. I see others dance at
powwow and wish someone had time to teach me what I need to know.
I can think of a million things I’d like to know. When I met relatives in Illinois last year, I was over the moon happy.My Harlow cousins filled many holes in my heart.
I am in reunion. Jealousy is not my poison.
For those not in reunion, their hearts ache. We need to find a way to heal them.
The Cold War Over Greenland and the Inuit People at a Crossroads
The Inuit People
However, Greenland’s fate is deeply intertwined
with that of its indigenous people. The Inuit constitute between 89% and
90% of Greenland’s population, maintaining their ancient heritage.
Despite facing contemporary challenges and Danish
influence, the Inuit possess ancestral knowledge of the Arctic
environment and are fighting to preserve their cultural identity.
Their self-determined future, from remote
settlements to the capital Nuuk, is central to their opposition to any
annexation. As stated jointly by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen on December 22, 2025, as
cited by DW: "The island belongs to its inhabitants."
Johnston County Adoptees To Access Birth Records Locally In 2026
SMITHFIELD, NC – Beginning January 1, 2026, individuals who were adopted
and born in Johnston County will be able to obtain certified copies of
their adoptive birth certificates directly from the Johnston County
Register of Deeds Office, marking a significant change in access to
vital records.
The change comes as a result of Senate Bill 248, Birth Certificates
for Persons Adopted, recently enacted by the North Carolina General
Assembly. The legislation authorizes Registers of Deeds offices across
the state to issue certified copies of adoptive birth certificates, a
service previously available only through the North Carolina Office of
Vital Records.
Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive (photo) said the new law gives
adoptees the same level of access to their records as other county
residents.
“This new law is a big win for adoptees and provides equal access to
their vital records,” Olive said. “It will be a much easier, faster and
less expensive process for those who have been adopted to retrieve
certified copies of their birth certificates from our office rather than
going through the state.”
Prior to the law’s passage, adoptees were required to request their
birth certificates from the state office, often resulting in longer wait
times and additional costs. Olive credited advocates and lawmakers who
worked to make the change possible.
“We appreciate everyone who lobbied for this change and look forward to offering this service locally in our office,” he said.
Officials emphasized that the law does not alter privacy protections
surrounding adoption records. Original birth certificates issued prior
to adoption, as well as all related adoption records, will remain sealed
and unavailable for public inspection.
Access to adoptive birth certificates will be limited to the adoptee
and certain family members, including adopted parents, adopted siblings,
spouses, children and grandchildren. Proof of relationship will be
required at the time of request.
The Johnston County Register of Deeds Office is open Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Olive encouraged eligible residents to
visit the office once the law takes effect.
“As always, my doors are open, and I look forward to serving all citizens of our great county,” he said.
By Anumita Kaur October 2024 Some of the 200 cultural items that the Wyoming Episcopal Church returned to the Northern Arapaho tribe las...
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You are not alone
To Veronica Brown
Veronica, we adult adoptees are thinking of you today and every day. We will be here when you need us. Your journey in the adopted life has begun, nothing can revoke that now, the damage cannot be undone. Be courageous, you have what no adoptee before you has had; a strong group of adult adoptees who know your story, who are behind you and will always be so.
Diane Tells His Name
click photo
Lost Birds on Al Jazeera Fault Lines
click to read and listen about Trace, Diane, Julie and Suzie
NO MORE STOLEN SISTERS
click image
We conclude this series & continue the conversation by naming that adoption is genocide. This naming refers to the process of genocide that breaks kinship ties through adoption & other forms of family separation & policing 🧵#NAAM2022#AdoptionIsTraumaAND#AdopteeTwitter#FFY 1/6 pic.twitter.com/46v0mWISZ1
As the single largest unregulated industry in the United States, adoption is viewed as a benevolent action that results in the formation of “forever families.” The truth is that it is a very lucrative business with a known sales pitch. With profits last estimated at over $1.44 billion dollars a year, mothers who consider adoption for their babies need to be very aware that all of this promotion clouds the facts and only though independent research can they get an accurate account of what life might be like for both them and their child after signing the adoption paperwork.
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