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"the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." - MLK 

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Note: The ideas and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the authors' and should not be ascribed to the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes or its members. On August 5, 2021, we archived old blog posts. You can find the archive by clicking here.


 

Posts Tagged "indigenous-peoples"

Honoring International Day of the Girl and Indigenous Peoples' Day

October 11, 2021
By Tracy Abler, Justice Coordinator

Today we stand in solidarity with two groups of very powerful people has we commemorate the UN International Day of the Girl and Indigenous People’s Day.

One way that you can honor both is by asking our Senators to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The current iteration of VAWA is critical because, among other things, it holds predators who prey on Indigenous women and girls accountable. The bill grants tribal courts the ability to prosecute non-Native people for sex-trafficking, sexual violence, and stalking. The bill passed the House in March, now we must ask our Senators to do the same. Email your Senators here.

We know that Indigenous women and girls experience violence" at disproportionate rates due to the impacts of colonization and the jurisdictional challenges currently facing tribes." According to a study by the National Institute of Justice, 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced sexual violence, stalking, or intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Around 97% of the female victims suffer violence at the hand of a non-native perpetrator. However, Native American tribes are not allowed to charge non-Natives with crimes, even if those crimes happened on tribal land. The only time they are allowed to charge non-Natives with crimes is when Congress gives them specific authority to do so in a law. 

As we commemorate International Girls Day and Indigenous People's Day on October 11, let us do all that we can to ensure justice for both.

Banning new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters

August 16, 2021
By Tracy Abler, Justice Coordinator

The Juggernaut Project recently shared an opportunity to take action and spread the word…

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised he would “ban new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters.” And while he did issue an executive order in January to temporarily pause such leases, it was temporary and has now been blocked by a judge.

Now, according to a new report from the Associated Press, “approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. public lands are on pace this year to reach their highest level since George W. Bush was president.”  The Biden administration is approving new oil and gas drilling faster than the Trump or Obama administrations.

As heat waves, floods and other extreme weather events wreak havoc and devastate our communities, it’s up to us to make sure Pres. Biden knows that continuing to allow business as usual in the oil and gas industry is completely unacceptable.

Click here to sign the petition to Pres. Biden: Stop allowing new oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples - August 9th

August 05, 2021
By Tracy Abler, Justice Coordinator

Monday, August 9th, is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.  The date marks the day of the first meeting in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.  This year’s theme is: Leaving No One Behind: Indigenous Peoples and the Call for a New Social Contract.

What does this mean?  I encourage you to visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day to seek understanding, read stories, and find resources. 

You may also want to join the 2021 Virtual Commemoration at 8 am (CST) Monday morning.  Register here for that.  This observation will also be streamed on Facebook Live, but interpretation will only be available at the Zoom event. 

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