Indivisible IL9 Antiracist Work Group (AWG) Sunday Nov 22 from 10-11am CT

Each week, we decide what we will discuss the following week, we agree to dig deeper into that topic that week, and then we come together on Sunday mornings to discuss what we have learned (and unlearned). At last week’s meeting, considering that US Thanksgiving is this coming week and that Indigenous voters made a big difference in the election this year in Arizona, Wisconsin, and other states, it was suggested that we turn our attention to Indigenous people (the “I” in the acronym BIPOC).

By request, I am sending out this email a bit earlier than I usually do and that’s a good thing because Cynthia W and I have compiled quite a few resources. Please note: You do not have to read all of this — choose any one of these topics and join us this Sunday to discuss your thoughts, observations, concerns, etc. Please note that we include the week’s topic in the Indivisible IL9 newsletter that goes out every Tuesday, so if you ever want to get a head start, that’s a great place to look. We also update the notes during the week. If you have anything to contribute to the week’s topic at any time, please let me know.

Allyship

• How to Be an Ally to Native and Indigenous People: Includes words and phrases to eliminate from our vocabulary such as: powwow, spirit animal, squaw, “circle the wagons,” and “off the reservation,” to name a few.

• Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef: “This Is The Year To Rethink Thanksgiving” : A member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, he’s hoping for a national reset that dismantles hurtful narratives and fills our plates with locally sourced food.

Land Acknowledgements

• Video: We Are All on Native Land: A Conversation about Land Acknowledgments with Debra Yepa-Pappan, Chicago Field Museum

• Take a moment to look up which Indigenous lands you now live on.

Indigenous voters swung the 2020 Election

• How Indigenous voters swung the 2020 election (High Country News): In Arizona and Wisconsin, Native turnout — which often leans liberal — made the difference in Biden’s slim but winning margin

• The Power of the “Something Else” Vote (New Republic): Native voters continue to be othered by the media, but the election results prove their vote has never been stronger.

• Native Americans Overcome Major Obstacles; Part of Voting Coalition That Led Biden to Victory (Latino Decisions)

Native American women in office

• Record number of Native American women elected to Congress (The Guardian)

• Sharice Davids (D-KS) Supports Deb Haaland for Interior Secretary (Native News Online): If Haaland becomes Interior secretary, she would be the first Native American to ever serve in a presidential cabinet position.

This Week in Racism: Indigenous Peoples’ edition

Note: “This Week in Racism” is a segment of our meeting each week where we bring news articles that may not seem racist on the surface, but we dig deeper to examine the inherent racism within the story. Honestly, you don’t have to dig deep at all to see the problems with these two…

• COVID-19 data on Native Americans is ‘a national disgrace.’ This scientist is fighting to be counted (Science): Native Americans who are impacted by COVID are fighting to be counted

• Washington Football Team Ends Ties with Native Foundation (Native News Online)

Deeper Reading