Photo: U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola addressed Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Thursday afternoon. (Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media)

At the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention in Anchorage last week, AFN delegates voted unanimously to endorse U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (Yup’ik/D-AK) in her bid for re-election.

Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports.

The Democrat faces a fierce challenge from Republican Nick Begich.

When Rep. Peltola addressed the convention, she did not specifically ask for their vote.

Instead, she talked to the gathering about the lessons in survival she learned from her elders.

“No one is coming here to save us. We need to know our survival skills and one of them is getting along working together, having a unified voice. Another one of our survival skills is voting.”

Peltola warned that her race could be extremely close.

“We have got to make sure we have really high voter turnout rates. Whoever wins this race is going to win by dozens of votes. This Congressional seat is going be won by dozens of votes. We are going to need everyone who’s on our side to be out and voting.”

Peltola spoke of a concerted effort on the part of Republican leaders to make it harder to vote.

“Hey, if we can survive in Alaska for over 12,000 years, we know how to find the polling place. We know how to mail in a ballot. We know how to do this. (applause)”

Peltola, in her first run for office, was helped by Ranked Choice Voting, a new system of casting ballots in Alaska.

AFN passed a resolution to oppose a ballot measure this November, that would do away with ranked choice voting.

(Photo: C.J. Keene / SDPB)

As research continues to demonstrate the need for youth mental health services, some schools work to fill the need.

Now, the Rapid City, S.D. area schools has received a $3.4 million grant to address service gaps in its schools.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Education School-Based Mental Health Services Grant program and will be distributed over the next five years.

Interim superintendent Cory Strasser says it offers the district a chance to invest in culturally sensitive programming.

“That allows us to meet the vast, diverse needs of our students. When we look at student wellbeing, this is a really targeted approach to increase our staffing and provide culturally appropriate determinants of mental health.”

Rapid City Area Schools has the highest percentage of Indigenous students out of any other district in the state, except for those on reservations.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources is putting together a new strategic plan on how to manage state lands concerning recreation and outdoor access.

Steve Jackson reports the plan seeks to address issues important to tribes in the state.

DNR reports increased use on public lands in recent years have caused more issues like increased litter, unsanctioned trails, and timber theft.

They hope a new strategic plan can help reduce those problems.

DNR Chief Hilary Franz says a draft plan put together in the last few month with various stakeholders also will attempt to address the impact of increased land use on the state’s Native American tribes.

“Tribes have a sovereign right to the lands of the state, and we have a responsibility that their access to natural and cultural resources is recognized and respected, not just now but in the future”

The agency is soliciting public comment on the draft of the plan, which can be found on the DNR website.

Public comment the Outdoor Access and Responsible recreation plan is open to November 21.

(Courtesy: Navajo Nation)

Services are planned Wednesday in Arizona for Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel, Sr., the Navajo Times reports.

Kinsel served in World War II in the Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima, and was among Navajo men who used their Native language to develop an unbreakable code.

He passed away Saturday at age 107.

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