In the latest episode of Indian Times with Kevin and Leo, we talk with Frank LaMere and John Maisch, the activist and the filmmaker who shut down the beer stores in Whiteclay, Nebraska in 2017. Nearly a year after the beer stores were closed, LaMere and Maisch talk about what it took to shutter the stores and what's happened since.

By a voice vote on June 6, 2018, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved the nomination of Tara Sweeney to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

Sweeney, who is Inupiat from Alaska, can now be considered by the full Senate. If she is confirmed, she would be the first Alaska Native to serve in the political-level post at the Department of the Interior, and the first woman in 20 years.

Though no one objected during the voice vote vote, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) wanted answers on a key issue -- whether Sweeney will remain recused from decisions affecting Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native corporation with energy interests in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which the Trump administration is opening for oil and gas development.

During her confirmation hearing on May 9, Sweeney promised that she would not seek a "waiver" from her recusal when pressed on the issue by Cantwell.

But Cantwell, during the business meeting, said Sweeney's written response to a question she subsequently posed was confusing. She said she would seek further clarity before a vote on the Senate floor.

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a federal agency that includes the Bureau of Indian Education. The position has been vacant since January 2016.

President Donald Trump nominated Sweeney for the post on October 16, 2017.

Committee Notice:

https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/business-meeting-consider-nomination-tara-mac-lean-sweeney-alaska-serve-assistant-secretary

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329

The House Committee on Appropriations approved the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a vote of 25-20 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Debate included an amendment to prevent the Trump administration from reorganizing the Department of the Interior without engaging in consultation with Indian Country and without providing additional information to Congress.

The committee did not adopt the amendment, which was proposed by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She also serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Press Release:

https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395336

Committee Notice:

https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395329