Anadarko, Oklahoma –- Indian Health Service Acting Director Elizabeth Fowler is visiting sites in the IHS Oklahoma City Area.

On November 8, 2021, she visits the Anadarko Indian Health Center staff and meets with local tribal leaders to highlight COVID-19 vaccine availability for 5-11 year olds.

WHO:

Elizabeth Fowler, acting director, IHS

Rear Adm. Greggory Woitte, U.S. Public Health Service, IHS Oklahoma City Area chief medical officer

Terry Hunter, IHS Anadarko facility unit director

Chairman Bobby Gonzalez, Caddo Nation

President Terri Parton, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes

Representative Alice Kassanavoid, Comanche Nation

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children 5-11 years old. The first children vaccinated at the Anadarko Indian Health Center will be on November 8 at 10:30 am.

More than 1.73 million vaccine doses have been given to adults and adolescents throughout the Indian health system. More than 440,000 of those vaccines were given to adults and adolescents within the IHS Oklahoma City Area.

The IHS is ensuring that pediatric COVID-19 vaccines are quickly distributed and made conveniently available to children and their families across Indian Country.

Photo by Indian Health Service:

https://twitter.com/IHSgov/status/1457841769601765380

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.2088, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill places about 76 acres in Tennessee into trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The lands include significant cultural and historic properties that are currently managed by the federal government.

H.R.2088 was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a markup on October 13. A prior version of the bill passed the House during the 116th Congress but did not advance in the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.4881, the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill places land into trust for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and declares it to be part of the tribe’s reservation. The land is located in Tucson, Arizona, and will be eligible for gaming purposes.

A hearing on H.R.4881 took place before the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on October 5. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a markup on October 13.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers S.108, a bill benefiting the Seminole Tribe, on November 1, 2021.

The bill authorizes the Seminole Tribe to lease or transfer certain lands in Florida without running afoul of the Indian Nonintercourse Act.

Similar measures have been enacted for other Indian nations in the past.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.5221, the Urban Indian Health Confer Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require the Indian Health Service and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services to “confer, to the maximum extent practicable, with urban Indian organizations.”

A hearing on H.R.5221 took place before the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on October 5. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a markup on October 13.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.1975, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill places about 721 acres in California into trust for the Pala Band of Mission Indians. The land includes sacred and culturally sensitive areas.

H.R.1975 was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a markup on October 13.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.2758, the Lumbee Recognition Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe, headquartered in North Carolina. The Lumbees are currently subject to a termination-era law that prohibits them from receiving federal services extended to other Indian nations.

A prior version of the bill passed the House during the 116th Congress but did not advance in the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.1619, the Catawba Indian Nation Lands Act, on November 1, 2021.

The bill affirms the acquisition of 17 acres in North Carolina into trust for the Catawba Nation and ensures that those lands can be used for gaming purposes. The tribe is headquartered in neighboring South Carolina.

The bill was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources during a markup on May 26.

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a business meeting on H.R.1688, the Native American Child Protection Act.

The bill updates the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, which first became law in 1990 to help tribes and the federal government address child abuse in Indian Country amid reports of widespread victimization.

The U.S. House of Representatives already approved the measure on May 12. Approval by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs moves it one step closer to passage in the U.S. Senate, and closer to becoming law in the 117th Congress.

Committee Notice:

https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/business-meeting-consider-hr1688-oversight-hearing-voting-matters-native-communities

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds an oversight hearing titled “Voting Matters in Native Communities” on October 27, 2021.

The committee hears from tribal leaders and Native voting rights advocates about ongoing challenges to exercising the right to vote in Indian Country. They also learn more about the less-formally documented Native Hawaiian voter experience.

Witness List

The Honorable Janet Davis

Chairwoman

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Nixon, Nevada

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/fawnsharp102721.pdf

The Honorable Fawn Sharp

President

National Congress of American Indians

Washington, DC

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/juliekitka102721.pdf

The Honorable Julie Sitka

President

Alaska Federation of Natives

Anchorage, Alaska

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/juliekitka102721.pdf

Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee

Director

Indian Legal Clinic, Arizona State University

Phoenix, Arizona

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/pattyfergusonbohnee102721.pdf

Ms. Jacqueline De Leon

Staff Attorney

Native American Rights Fund

Boulder, Colorado

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/jacquelinedeleon102721.pdf

Mr. Nā’ālehu Anthony

Community Advocate & Principal

Palikū Films

Honolulu, Hawiii

https://www.indianz.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/27/naalehuanthony102721.pdf

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice:

https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/business-meeting-consider-hr1688-oversight-hearing-voting-matters-native-communities