Navajos want say over their justice matters

Associated Press (AP via mail.com, 8/28/20); Xochitl, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Why isn't this map of Native American nations in the history books of the USA?

Jonathan Nez addresses crowd after being sworn in as president of the Navajo Nation in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Nez has asked Trump to commute death sentence of tribe member Lezmond Mitchell to life, citing the tribe's longstanding opposition to the death penalty in a 7/31/20 letter.

Navajo Nation wants more say over criminal justice matters

US history of stealing children: ethnic cleansing

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona — Shortly after the only Native American man on federal death row was deprived of breath, his tribe blasted the federal government and accused it of violating the spirit of a law that allows tribes to decide whether to subject their citizens to the death penalty, which gets called capital punishment to soften what it is.

Rest

Restoring stolen sovereignty

Indigenous History of USA

(Aug. 28, 2020) Lezmond Mitchell, 38, was executed Wednesday [Aug. 26] at a federal prison in Indiana where he was imprisoned.

The Navajo Nation had asked Pres. Trump to reduce Mitchell's sentence to life in prison. As the state execution neared, Trump took no action, and White courts declined to intervene.

The Navajo Nation said the situation highlights the need to restore tribes' ability to determine criminal justice matters on tribal lands, especially when it concerns Native victims and Native perpetrators.

Jurisdiction now falls to a mix of agencies, including a tribe, that respond depending on the exact location of the crime and who is involved.

Justice? Killing is not part of our belief system.

“We’re all realizing right now, it’s not enough to try and fix this little piece of the patchwork of justice in Indian Country,” said Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Slater.

“What we need to do is restore that authority and reaffirm it because it’s every nation’s sovereign right to handle these matters internally.” More

Natives only get negative national coverage

Comfort foods from fed staples

Ever notice that Native Americans, when covered, are only covered for annoying and negative reasons? It's no accident. It's editorial policy. What about the good news? Who cares. We are all led to believe there is no good news. There are no climate saving activities, there are no peaceful gatherings of tribes (powwows), there are no indigenous spiritual activities, there is no return to native ways overcoming the theft of children, language, cultural practices, prophecies, or delicious foods. These things exist, but the federal government is still on an eradication campaign, coming at native from all sides. Know that there is much positive that's ignored.