Interview with USDA’s Tribal Ambassador Gilbert Louis III

By NAT Staff

(Photo Credit: USDA)

Introduction

Indigenous peoples have long protected local ecosystems and preserved biodiversity through land management and farming practices. They taught colonists how to cultivate crops like corn, beans, and squash, which were crucial for their survival, especially during the harsh winters. Without the assistance of Native peoples, many settlers would not have been able to survive. In modern times, the community’s agriculture involves a blend of traditional practices and modern techniques, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and cultural preservation.

Following the forced removal of five tribes from their lands in the Southeast, cattle ranching quickly became one of the leading economic activities in Indian Territory. Many Indian agents, working with different tribes, believed establishing successful ranching operations would assist in the long-range goal of assimilation. Today many Native nations still participate in cattle ranching as an economic activity, continuing many ranching traditions. Native American ranching techniques, deeply rooted in sustainable practices, involved careful land management and a strong understanding of ecosystems.

The Pilgrims relied on Native peoples to learn how to live off the land.
(Photo Credit: Modern Farmer)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) supports America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. They interact with the community through various initiatives aimed at improving access to and effectiveness of their programs, including federal crop insurance.

The United States has a unique government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Tribes as defined through treaties, statutes, court decisions, Executive Orders, and Departmental Regulations.

Interview

Gilbert Louis III serves as USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s first Tribal Ambassador, providing insights to Native American farmers and ranchers. In this role, he travels throughout Indian Country promoting risk management programs and practices to build prosperous and resilient agriculture in Tribal communities.

A proud member of the Pueblo of Acoma Tribe, Louis hails from a multigenerational family of ranchers, and brings forward his practical experiences to the job.

NAT

Tell us about your background with the USDA?

I've been involved with USDA since around 2018, when I was on the Board of the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching, which is an advisory committee of USDA. It was established to address the unique challenges faced by Native American farmers and ranchers in accessing USDA programs and resources. Going back, the agency was under the false impression that Indian people had help from the Bureau of Indian Affairs or their local tribes and were referred back to their tribe for assistance. The Council’s job was to serve as an advocate and advisor for farmers, ranchers, and tribal entities. We delivered a strong message there’s a number of USDA programs we're allowed to participate in – and don't be apprehensive about signing up because USDA and its Risk Management Agency (where I presently serve) are there to be of help. We personalized the message where people can understand it, which eradicated some of the skepticism that may have been out there.

NAT

Skepticism?

For example, when Native Americans hear about the insurance benefits being offered, some people can be a little bit skeptical of the government, just because treaties are still being broken to this day.

NAT

You mentioned “insurance” as an available USDA Risk Management Agency program to tap into. What’s that benefit about?

I myself participate in the precipitation insurance, which is basically a rainfall insurance. If it's a bad drought, we get paid. You'll get a payment from USDA and/or the insurance company. This protects your business operations and helps to ensure you’re still farming and ranching next year.

NAT

Going back to the Council, do you feel it got a lot accomplished, along the way?

So, the Council met a couple times a year and were giving feedback to USDA on tribal issues and concerns – and how they can better improve federal services. We were accomplishing our mission but there’s still a lot to do.

At a conservation planning training and workshop, Louis describes
the process and evaluation of soil sampling, including how to analyze
soil depth and identify soil types and horizons. (Photo Credit: FirstNations.org)

NAT

And your leadership role with the Council, how did that ultimately translate to your present position as Tribal Ambassador?

I've been connected to agriculture all my life, and also was the Chairman on the Livestock Raising Board for five years, here in Acoma, New Mexico. I attended an agricultural conference in Las Vegas. There, I met some USDA personnel at their booth and while talking with them, noticed my picture on their promotional flyer. I said, “Hey, that's me on that flyer you got right there, that postcard, that's me, man.” I joked around and said, “I'll send you guys the bill for using my picture.” But I also mentioned if you guys have any jobs available, I’d love to help Indian Country. They asked me to send a resume and it just kind of happened like that. And I met with the Undersecretary for USDA’s Risk Management Agency, Marcia Bunger, and we just kind of kept in touch. A couple months later, they explained they tried an advocacy-type program with African Americans, and would like to do something similar with Native people. They asked if I’d be interested in becoming their Tribal Ambassador which I was happy to accept. Yeah, it was very fast paced, and honestly at one point I wasn’t sure if I could do it.

NAT

Do you feel being a multi-generational rancher played a role in their decision?

I believe so. I think about my grandparents all the time and why they got into agriculture, raising animals and harvesting fields to provide for their family. It was a monetary situation where they can take their cattle to sale, their livestock to sale. Or, if they need food on the table, they have their animals and their crops. It was kind of a safety net, I would say, for my grandparents to provide for their family. And so, I'd like to keep that same mindset and provide for my own family – not just my immediate family, but my extended family, my aunts, cousins, you know, whoever I can help out. And help the community, too. I recently donated a steer to a neighboring tribe. Harvesting a buffalo the whole tribe will come out and ensure that we're all sharing in that bounty. It was a lot more than just, oh, yeah, we're big-time ranchers or big-time farmers. No, it wasn't that. It was having enough to provide for our people and making sure that our people are surviving and we're healthy. And so again, my family roots run deep. I have a beef company but at the end of the day, I told the people, I'll donate my steer. And so, my job as Tribal Ambassador is to advocate for our farmers and ranchers and to let them know various programs are available to be of support.

Ambassador Louis, a third-generation farmer and
rancher, poses with his father. (Photo Credit: USDA)

NAT

Speaking about roots and traditions, can you provide an example of how today’s Native farmers and ranchers honor old ways?

As Native Americans, we pray to our cattle, we wash our cattle, we talk to our cattle. To us, they're sacred. Those are our prayers. And not only that, they provide the bounty for our people, the nourishment. You know, every time I take a cattle to get processed, I pray to it, I give it thanks, and I apologize to the mom, giving her thanks, even though she’s not present. I tell her that her calf is going to provide for our people, and we're very grateful and not to feel bad or hurt. Yeah, tradition and culture are all tied into it.

NAT

Tell us a bit about yourself as a young person leading to your time with Acoma Fire Department?

I was always in trouble and in high school getting into fights. And at 17, I had a kid and I was freaking out. At that point I made my mind up and said, “Okay, you need to stop messing around. You need to graduate, get a good job, and not just any job. You need to get a career and provide for this child that's coming.” So, I did that, graduated from school and joined the Acoma Fire Department. I stayed there for three years until I turned 21 then went into Albuquerque Fire Rescue. And believe me, I wanted to quit during the Academy, it's military style and our instructors are yelling at us, and my legs are shaking. And I'm standing there in the hot sun, thinking I can go back to Acoma Fire Department and don't need this. But then the thought crossed my mind, you're doing this for your son, you want him to have a better life, you want him to have a house in Albuquerque. And so, I stuck it out and lo and behold, 20 years later, I took retirement. I now offer peer support to the department’s Retirees Association and mentorship to youth seeking careers as first responders, including my own son, Julian. After spending a little time in retirement, I started looking for another job which led me to USDA.

(Photo Credit: New Mexico State University, Jane Moorman, Photographer)

NAT

Does the Ambassador’s Office sponsor events, like symposiums or conferences? Basically, how do you promote the USDA opportunities available?

Yes, we attend events to get the word out there and there's also an opportunity for the Native agricultural community to voice questions and concerns. And some of these events are big, like the Intertribal Agriculture Council which took place in Las Vegas. and the Gathering of the Nation's Pow Wow here in New Mexico. You would have a booth usually at the conference so people can learn and network with you. And so again, my job is to relay USDA and its Risk Management Agency’s programs and how they benefit farmers and ranchers.

NAT

If you had to sum it up, what’s the goal here?

At the very minimum, to get farmers, ranchers and tribal entities to visit their local USDA building, to learn of various opportunities. The goal of the USDA is to make sure that America keeps farming and ranching right. We want to reach out to Indian Country and let people know that they can participate in our programs – what's available and why these programs are here. Recently, I heard the term warrior. A warrior not only protects his people, but provides for them as well. It really struck a chord on me as to who we are, as Native Americans.

End of Interview

To learn more about opportunities, contact Ambassador Louis at:

glouisrma@gmail.com, or via phone 505-250-3960. He’s also available for consultation on issues and challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) serves America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. They are committed to increasing the availability and effectiveness of Federal crop insurance as a risk management tool. RMA’s vision is to secure the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America.

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy. Their vision is to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive. USDA preserves our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

Native Americans in Congress: Past & Present

By NAT Staff

Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Congressman Tom Cole, a
member of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving his tenth term. Rep. Cole is current Chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee, responsible for drafting and approving the federal budget.
He’s also Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus and Deputy Whip for the Republic Conference.

Going Back

In 1870, Hiram Revels made history as the first Native American to join the United States Congress as a Senator. Since then, over 20 Native peoples have come to take their seat at Congress, with 5 members currently presiding. Here is a look at the history of Native American representation in Congress, past and present.

Senate

Picture	Senator (lifespan)	Tribal ancestry	State	Party	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Hiram Revels (1827–1901)	Lumbee	Mississippi	Republican	Feb. 23, 1870	March 4, 1871	Retired
	Charles Curtis (1860–1936)^[1]	Kaw, Osage, Potawatomi	Kansas	Republican	Jan. 29, 1907	March 4, 1928	Resigned after being elected Vice President
	Robert Owen (1856–1947)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	Dec. 11, 1907	March 4, 1925	Retired
	Ben Nighthorse Campbell	Northern Cheyenne	Colorado	Democratic (1993–1995)	Jan. 3, 1993	Jan. 3, 2005	Retired
	Ben Nighthorse Campbell	Northern Cheyenne	Colorado		Jan. 3, 1993	Jan. 3, 2005	Retired
	Markwayne Mullin (born 1977)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2023-2026	Incumbent

Senator Robert Owen

Senator Owen Latham Owen of Oklahoma was a member of the Cherokee Nation and an attorney. He taught orphaned children and represented the Five Civilized Tribes as a federal Indian agent before entering politics as a Progressive Democrat. His achievements helped pave the way for his election to the U.S. Senate in 1907, one being winning a court case on behalf of the Eastern Cherokees seeking compensation from the government for lands they lost during the Indian Removal Act.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, then-chairman of the Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs, speaks during an oversight hearing on tribal lobbying matters.

Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) was elected to the Colorado State Legislature as a Democrat in November 1982, where he served two terms. In 1986, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served six years. In 1989, he authored the HR Bill 2668 to establish the National Museum of the American Indian. Nighthorse was the first Native American ever to chair the Indian Affairs Committee, and sponsored legislation settling Native American water rights and protecting Colorado’s wilderness areas. He also sponsored legislation creating the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park.

House of Representatives

Picture	Representative (lifespan)	Tribal ancestry	State	Party	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Richard H. Cain (1825–1887)	Cherokee	South Carolina	Republican	March 4, 1873	March 4, 1875	Retired
	Richard H. Cain (1825–1887)	Cherokee	South Carolina	Republican	March 4, 1877	March 4, 1879	Retired
	John Mercer Langston (1829–1897)	Pamunkey	Virginia	Republican	Sep. 23, 1890	March 3, 1891	Lost Reelection
	Charles Curtis (1860–1936)	Kaw, Osage, Potawatomi	Kansas	Republican	March 4, 1893	January 28, 1907	Resigned to become U.S. Senator from Kansas
	Charles Carter (1868–1929)	Chickasaw	Oklahoma	Democratic	November 16, 1907	March 4, 1927	Lost renomination
	William Hastings (1866–1938)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	March 4, 1915	March 4, 1921	Lost reelection
	William Hastings (1866–1938)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	March 4, 1923	January 3, 1935	Retired
	Will Rogers Jr. (1911–1993)	Cherokee	California	Democratic	January 3, 1943	May 23, 1944	Resigned to join the U.S. Army
	William Stigler (1891–1952)	Choctaw	Oklahoma	Democratic	March 28, 1944	August 21, 1952	Died in office
	Ben Reifel (1906–1990)	Lakota Sioux (Rosebud Sioux)	South Dakota	Republican	January 3, 1961	January 3, 1971	Retired
	Clem McSpadden (1925–2008)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	January 3, 1973	January 3, 1975	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the nomination to the 1974 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
	Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born 1933)	Northern Cheyenne	Colorado	Democratic	January 3, 1987	January 3, 1993	Retired to run successfully for the 1992 United States Senate election in Colorado
	Brad Carson (born 1967)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Democratic	January 3, 2001	January 3, 2005	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the 2004 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
	Tom Cole (born 1949)	Chickasaw	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2003	Incumbent	Longest serving Native American in the House^[2]
	Markwayne Mullin (born 1977)	Cherokee	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2013	Incumbent	Has announced retirement to run for the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma
	Sharice Davids (born 1980)	Ho-Chunk	Kansas	Democratic	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	First LGBTQ Native American elected
	Deb Haaland (born 1960)	Laguna Pueblo	New Mexico	Democratic	January 3, 2019	March 16, 2021	Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
	Yvette Herrell (born 1964)	Cherokee	New Mexico	Republican	January 3, 2021	January 3, 2025

	Mary Peltola (born 1973)	Yup'ik	Alaska	Democratic	September 13, 2022	January 3, 2025	First Alaska Native elected to Congress
	Josh Brecheen (born 1979)	Choctaw	Oklahoma	Republican	January 3, 2023	Incumbent

Rep. Ben Reifel

Ben Reifel, the son of a Brule Sioux Indian mother and a German-American father, was born in Parmalee, SD, on the Rosebud Reservation in 1906. There, he was an agricultural extension expert and administrator to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Reifel was a 5-term U.S. Congressman who was actively involved in advocating the interests of Indians during his tenure in Washington. He served in the Appropriations Committee and was instrumental in securing appropriations for the high school facilities at Sisseton and Mission, which benefited South Dakotan Indians immensely. He was also instrumental in securing funding for the EROS (Earth Resource Observation Satellite) Project for the Sioux Falls area. After his retirement, Reifel continued to work on behalf of Native communities and was Chairman of the American Indian National Bank. He was named Outstanding American Indian, Sheridan Indian Days, WY, and received the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award.

Rep. Charles Carter

Charles David Carter was an Oklahoman politician of Chickasaw and Cherokee descent, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and served from 1907 to 1927.

Prior to his 20-year tenure in Congress, Carter was auditor of the Chickasaw Nation and a member of the Chickasaw Council. He was also superintendent of schools of the Chickasaw Nation, and appointed mining trustee of Indian Territory by President William McKinley in November 1900. He’s most well-known for the significant roles he played in keeping Indian homesteads under the protection of the federal government.

Carter served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs and was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2006.

In the Administration

Markwayne Mullin, current Secretary of
Department of Homeland Security.

Former Oklahoma Congressman and Senator Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee) is the first Native member of the Senate since the retirement of Colorado’s Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2005, as well as the first Native American senator to represent Oklahoma since Cherokee Nation citizen Robert Owen retired in 1925. Prior to his Cabinet appointment, Sen. Mullin introduced the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act to ensure pharmaceutical companies continue to develop drugs to treat rare diseases affecting children, including types of cancer. He also served on the Armed Services Committee; the Committee on Appropriations, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee; and the Indian Affairs Committee.

Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker presents a ceremonial blanket.
(Photo Credit: Fort Smith Times Record)

Vice President Charles Curtis (1929-1933)

Charles Curtis was a republican from Kansas who served as Senate Majority Leader and 31st Vice President of the United States under Herbert Hoover. He was the great-great-grandson of White Plume, a Kaw chief who aided the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. He was the first person of color to cross racial boundaries and become Vice President.

Curtis receives peace pipe from Chief Red Tomahawk, leader of the
Sioux Nation and credited with having killed Sitting Bull. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

Former Rep. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), served as the Secretary of the
Interior under the Biden administration. Here she poses for the history-making
ceremonial swearing-in. (Photo Credit: Joshua Roberts / Reuters file)

Present Members of Congress

There are currently four Native American members in Congress. They are Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee), Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) and Rep. Josh Brecheen (Choctaw).

Tom Cole (R-OK)

Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Tom Cole, an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving his tenth term. Rep. Cole was appointed to the Rules Committee in 2013 and has remained on the distinguished panel since then. He has presided on the House Appropriations Committee as Vice Ranking Member and is a Member of 16 caucasus including the Congressional History Caucus, the Republican Study Committee, and the Pro-life Caucus. Among his leadership positions, Rep. Cole is Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus. A member of the Air Force, Army and National Guard Caucuses, Cole’s an ardent supporter of a strong military and also an advocate for small businesses. He is known to be Capitol Hill’s foremost expert on issues related to Native Americans.

The National Congress of American Indians has recognized Cole’s distinguished service with the Congressional Leadership award on three different occasions, more than any Member of Congress. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2017. His late mother, Helen, was also inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame and served as a state representative, state senator and the Mayor of Moore, Oklahoma.

Tom Cole is the Chairman of The Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over spending measures, including appropriations bills that fund all federal government agencies. There are 12 subcommittees, each with jurisdiction over an annual appropriations bill.

Rep. Tom Cole at a rally for the Violence Against Women Act. (Photo Credit: Kolby KickingWoman via Indian Country Today)

Cole and Congresswoman Betty McCollum honoring Native American code talkers awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

In June 2024, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)’s bill, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024, which he co-led with Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03), passed through the House Education and Workforce Committee markup. This legislation will investigate, document, and report on the histories of Indian boarding schools, Indian boarding school policies, and the long-term impacts of Indian boarding schools on Native American communities.

Following the passage of this bill through full committee markup, Congressman Cole released the following statement:

“Indian boarding schools have had devastating impacts on Native communities. Yet, for so many years, the true stories about what happened to these Native children are unknown,” said Congressman Cole. “As an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the longest-serving Native American in the House of Representatives, it is a priority of mine to properly represent our Indian communities in Congress. Therefore, I am committed to investigating the tragic abuses that occurred at these boarding schools and bringing light to this dark chapter in our nation’s history. This Commission will hopefully bring these communities one step closer to healing and peace for themselves, their families, and future generations, and I would like to thank Chairwoman Virginia Foxx for moving this bill through the legislative process.”

Sharice Davids (D-KS)

Rep. Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, serves as the Chief Deputy Whip for the Democrat Party. Her committee positions include the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Small Business, and the Committee on Agriculture. Rep. Davids is the Vice Chair for Member Services for the New Democrat Coalition, and serves as Co-Chair for the Congressional Equality Caucus, the Congressional Native American Caucus, the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus, the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, and the Animal Protection Caucus.

She is co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and a Democratic Regional Whip for Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Rep. Sharice Davids presiding over the House of Representatives.

Davids is committed to limiting the influence of special interest groups and to ensure all Americans have affordable, accessible health care. She advocates for employment opportunities for veterans and service members who incurred illness or injury while serving in the military, and works to help veterans transition their skills from service to business through legislation that examines barriers, including lack of access to credit. In addition, she voted to address the veteran suicide crisis and veterans experiencing homelessness.

Before being elected to Congress, Rep. Davids lived and worked on reservations where she fostered economic development opportunities, community programs and tribal initiatives.

Davids is known to be a vocal advocate for the underserved, and
issues including reproductive healthcare decisions

In June 2024, Representative Sharice Davids appeared on MSNBC’s “Velshi” to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision to preserve access to Mifepristone, a safe and effective form of medication abortion. She also expressed concern over Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s continued legal attack on the medication, which was approved decades ago and is used in more than 60 countries to safely end a pregnancy.

During the segment, Davids said, “The access has been protected for now, and seeing some of these extreme politicians and actors pushing these extreme policies is not just scary; it’s dangerous. We have to make sure we’re keeping our eye on the ball and not letting people like Kris Kobach, who, by the way, does not speak for the vast majority of Kansans, as we saw in August of 2022. The vast majority of Kansans do not want politicians interfering in our reproductive health care decisions.”

Josh Brecheen (R-OK)

Rep. Josh Brecheen (pronounced Bra-keen) is a committed Christian, husband, father, and is a fourth generation rancher in Coal County, Oklahoma. Prior to his time in Congress, he owned and operated a small excavation and trucking business, Rawhide Dirtworks L.L.C. He served as an Oklahoma State Senator from 2010 to 2018, obtaining an overall voting record as the third most conservative senator among those with whom he served. He was the original author of measures that included capping state debt, banning dismemberment abortions, and a true repeal and replacement of the common core educational standards—the nation’s first. From 2004 to 2010, Brecheen worked for U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. as a field representative, working directly with Oklahoma constituents and evaluating federal programs for waste and inefficiencies.

Brecheen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a dual degree in agriculture. He served the Oklahoma FFA Association as State President in 1999 and later worked seasonally for the National FFA Organization as an ALD conference presenter. Until 2010, he brought inspirational messages into approximately 500 public schools, universities, and conferences through his motivational speaking business, Brecheen Keynotes and Seminars and also as a free service when employed by Tom Coburn.

Brecheen grew up in the professional cutting horse industry and in his youth was a two-time national qualifier for the National Cutting Horse Association Eastern Championship show. After college, Brecheen started training cutting horse futurity prospects as a “non pro” and has been raising quality cow horses for over 20 years.

As a member of Congress, he is focused on reining in our unsustainable debt and deficit spending, which he is convinced is undermining our national security.

Rep. Brecheen serves on the Homeland Security Committee, a standing committee formed in 2005 to ensure that the American people were protected from terrorist attacks. The committee focuses on legislation and oversight related to the security of the United States. He is also a member of the Budget Committee, whose principal responsibility is to develop a concurrent resolution on the budget to serve as the framework for congressional action on spending, revenue, and debt-limit legislation.

In June 2024, Congressman Josh Brecheen voted for a conservative National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes several amendments to fight back against the Biden Administration’s social engineering experiment on our troops, which has led to record low military recruitment. The bill included Congressman Brecheen’s amendment, which would prohibit drag shows and drag queen story hours at our military bases.

Oklahoma state Sen. Josh Brecheen is running for the congressional seat left open by
Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin's Senate bid. (Photo Credit: Sue Ogrocki / AP file)

A former state senator, Josh Brecheen is a
member of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma. (Photo Credit: Brecheen campaign).

End of Story

Homepage Image: Artist David Parkins

David Alan Parkins is a British cartoonist and illustrator who has worked for D.C. Thomson, publisher of The Beano and The Dandy. After the Beano's 60th birthday celebrations in 1998, Parkins took over illustrating the comic's long-running character "Dennis the Menace". In freelance, he’s worked on postcards, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, comics, and illustrated over fifty children's books. The artist has additionally drawn political cartoons for The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, the Times Higher Education Supplement, The Economist, the Literary Review of Canada, and Nature. In 2013, Mr. Parkins became an editorial cartoonist for The Globe and Mail.

(Accompanying Story)

The Iroquois and Founding of the U.S. Constitution

By NAT Staff

When the Founders met in 1787 to create the U.S. Constitution, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe from which they could draw inspiration. The only forms of government they had encountered were those of the Native American tribes. Of particular interest was the Iroquois Confederacy, who had already formed a multi-state government that ensures individual governance and freedoms. The structure of the Confederacy represented five tribes:

Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Seneca and was federal in nature, operating under The Great Law of Peace, a doctrine of 117 codicils where individual tribes handled their own affairs but came together to solve issues of common importance. The founders were impressed by how the Iroquois legislated their affairs and shortly thereafter, they drafted the U.S. Constitution echoing the Great Law of Peace. Historians agree the Iroquois wielded a major influence in the writings of the U.S. Constitution.

Mohican Chief Hendrick Theyanoguin, Mayor Abraham Yates, Jr., and Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Conference, 1754. (Illustration by John Kahionhes Fadden)

Before the Congressional Congress, leaders of the Confederacy attended the Albany Congress in 1754, where Benjamin Franklin was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote what’s known as the Albany Plan of Union. It advocated for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers. In 1776, during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia invited the Iroquois to make an address, where they were well received by the patriots.

An Onondaga sachem giving John Hancock the Iroquois name Karanduawn
(meaning “Great Tree”) at Independence Hall. (Illustration by John Kahionhes Fadden)

In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution. It reads, "The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was inﬂuenced by the political system developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles incorporated into the constitution itself.” In addition, the resolution stated, “the continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution,” which reaffirmed the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.

About the Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, to when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee. They were known during the colonial years to the French as the Iroquois League, and later as the Iroquois Confederacy. The English called them the Five (later Six) Nations. Today, each of the tribes who comprise the Confederacy administer their own affairs and have independent tribal councils.

The Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center provides for the viewing of 3000-plus artifacts, and features story telling lectures, and a gift shop adorned with Mohawk baskets, beadwork, books, t-shirts, silver jewelry, and acrylic paintings.

Op Ed: Tribal Casinos Staff for Good with Employees with Disabilities

By Darelyn Pazdel

One of the many beneficiaries of PRIDE Industries, now working with
Native American hotels and casinos. (Photo Credit: PRIDE Industries)

It’s a tough time to be hiring in the hospitality industry.

According to a report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, 67% of hotel operators are short-staffed, and 12% said they are “severely understaffed,” impacting their ability to operate effectively.

Tribal casino resorts face additional hiring obstacles—extensive background checks, locations that are often outside of employment hubs, and 24/7 staffing requirements.

“Hiring can be difficult,” said Matt Montana, HR Manager at Red Hawk Casino + Resort, located about 40 miles east of Sacramento, California. “We require more background checks in the gaming industry, so finding people that can work can be difficult. Then finding people to do some of the tougher jobs like janitorial and custodial positions add to the challenge.”

Red Hawk hosts 10,000 guests daily, with more than 78,000 square feet of facilities, and a 150-room hotel to support. Montana and his team tried multiple recruiting methods, including popular online job platforms, job fairs, and local contract firms, but shortages persisted.

Then he learned about a novel solution—working with an agency that hires, trains, and supervises teams of employees with disabilities. That would be my employer, PRIDE Industries.

Red Hawk partnered with PRIDE Industries to implement an innovative solution to their employment problem: supported work groups. Within a few weeks, PRIDE Industries recruited, hired and trained a dedicated workforce comprised of several teams of three-four employees, each with its own embedded employment coach. PRIDE Industries even handled employee transportation.

Travel another 40 miles north of Sacramento and you’ll find Thunder Valley Casino and Resort, a AAA Four-Diamond facility with a 17-story, 408-room luxury hotel and144,500 square feet of nonstop gaming action.

Thunder Valley wasn’t happy with the quality and cost of its outsourced laundry service and built 6,000-square-foot in-house facility to handle 1,000 pounds of laundry per hour.

But it needed a reliable workforce, 24/7.

Thunder Valley turned to PRIDE Industries to hire multiple work groups reaching 30 employees to staff its laundry facilities.

“It’s a great workforce,” said Brant Kelly, Director of Hotel Operations. “It’s been nothing but a pleasure to work with them.”

The work groups have done such a stellar job that Laundry Manager Khawar Qureshi dubbed them an “elite laundry team,” calling on others to “step up and learn” from them.

In Alpine, California—30 miles inland from San Diego--Viejas Casino and Resort has been hiring people with disabilities for more than 10 years. Currently, about 20 employees with disabilities provide custodial and laundry services.

Let’s talk about retention. Mike, an employee at Viejas with a developmental disability, was recently featured on San Diego’s CBS 8 News for providing a decade of “hard work” says: “I would like to work here at the casino for 10 more years.” So valued is this team that they are “treated like family,” according to Viejas management.

Red Hawk, Thunder Valley, and Viejas have experienced firsthand the many advantages of an inclusive workforce, including low employee turnover, high morale, reliability, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Because PRIDE Industries is the employer of record, background checks, training, supervision, payroll, compliance, and sometimes even transportation, are all taken off of the casino operators’ plates.

“The cost of hiring an employee can be expensive, but with this partnership, PRIDE Industries is the employer,” said Red Hawk’s Montana. "We just need to do the training on our systems, which saves us time. Plus, with PRIDE Industries providing the on-site coaching and transportation, it’s easy.”

If your casino resort is looking for a solution to staffing shortages, I encourage you to consider hiring people with disabilities. A National Institutes of Health Review of 6176 studies found businesses that actively hire people with disabilities see improvements in profitability due to low turnover and absenteeism, employee loyalty, and company image.

Red Hawk’s Environmental Services Manager Roxanna Carlson has seen these benefits firsthand. “Our experience hiring people with disabilities has been great,” she said. “They are some of our most productive employees. We have had very good attendance and retention. They have been incredibly dependable.”

Homepage Photo Credit: Vidhi

About the Author

Darelyn Pazdel is the Vice President of Workforce Inclusion at PRIDE Industries, the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities, where she’s worked for 27 years. Prior to joining PRIDE, Darelyn worked as a counselor with injured workers seeking employment in new career fields. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree. She is also a graduate of the Air Force Civilian Leadership training program.

About PRIDE Industries

Founded in 1966, PRIDE Industries delivers business excellence with a positive social impact. A social enterprise, PRIDE provides facilities operations and maintenance services, custodial services, contract manufacturing, supply chain management, packaging and fulfillment services, and placement services to private and public organizations nationwide. Their overall mission is to create employment for people with disabilities, and to help individuals realize their true potential in leading more independent lives.

Native Hawaiian Salt Makers Combat Climate Change and Pollution to Protect a Sacred Tradition

By DEEPA BHARATH
Associated Press

The salt flats of Hanapepe. (Photo Credit: Mallory Francks)

HANAPEPE, Hawaii (AP) On a warm summer afternoon, Tina Taniguchi was on her hands and knees scraping dirt off an oblong depression in the ground. Thick brown hair peeked out from her coconut leaf hat. Splotches of mud stuck to her T- shirt and speckled her smiling face.

Taniguchi smiles a lot when she's working in her corner of the Hanapepe salt patch on the west side of Kauai, a terracotta plot of land about the size of a football field dappled with elliptical pools of brine, crystallizing in clay beds.

"It’s hard work, but for me it's also play," Taniguchi said, adding with a laugh, "I play in the mud all day."

Taniguchi’s family is one of 22 who over generations have dedicated themselves to the cultural and spiritual practice of “paakai,” the Hawaiian word for salt. This is one of the last remaining salt patches in Hawaii. Its sacred salt can be traded or given away, but must never be sold. Hawaiians use it in cooking, healing, rituals and as protection.

Over the past decade, this tract has been under constant threat due to development, pollution from a neighboring airfield, sand erosion from vehicle traffic and littering by visitors to the adjacent beach.

In addition, climate change threatens to obliterate the practice with rising sea levels and modified weather patterns. This year, the salt-making season lasted barely three months from July to September because of above-average rainfall. During a good year, work typically begins in May and ends in November.

Taniguchi drives about an hour to get here. For her, it’s church and play rolled into one the time she forges a spiritual connection to the land.

"This would be a religious practice of mine for sure," Taniguchi said. "My dad raised us saying that these mountains are his church, and the ocean is where you get cleansed."

Malia Nobrega-Olivera's grandfather was instrumental in forming the group of salt-making families called Hui Hana Paakai. She is also an educator and activist who leads efforts to preserve this centuries-old tradition. The organization's goal, she said, is to speak with a collective voice when communicating with the landowner, the state of Hawaii, whenever issues arise. Nobrega-Olivera said the salt patch is part of lands taken away from Native Hawaiians after the U.S.-backed overthrow of Hawaii's monarchy in 1893.

Members of the Hanapepe 'hui' agitate their salt beds, raking
and harvesting the finished salt. (Photo Credit: Mallory Francks)

"Regardless of what a piece of paper might say, we are stewards of the area and this land is our 'kupuna' (elder)," she said.

Nobrega-Olivera looks fondly at black-and-white photos of her grandparents, uncles and aunts from about five decades ago, standing near hillocks of shimmering salt. Back then, they would give away 5-gallon buckets. Today, they hand out salt in sandwich bags. Trading salt for other items continues to this day, she said, adding that her late father once traded salt with a man who was selling piglets on Craigslist.

Born from the need to preserve fish and other meats, the process of turning seawater into salt can be slow and grueling. The season begins once rain stops and waters recede, exposing the salt beds. Ocean water travels underground and enters the wells. Each family has their own well, known as a “puna.” As water enters the well, so do tiny, red brine shrimp, giving Hanapepe salt its unique sweetness, said Nobrega-Olivera.

Eventually, water from the wells is moved into the salt beds, which have been cleaned and lined with rich black clay. There, layers of salt crystals form. Typically, the top layer, which is the whitest, is used as table salt. The middle layer, pinkish, is used in cooking while the bottom layer, with a deep red hue, is used in blessings and rituals.

Salt beds in various states of evaporation - the top, whitest
layer of salt would be used for table salt. (Photo Credit: Mallory Francks)

After the Maui fires last August that claimed 100 lives, spiritual practitioners there specifically requested white Hanapepe salt from Nobrega-Olivera to bless and "calm" the traumatized island, particularly areas that housed makeshift morgues. The salt makers continue to send their salt to survivors who are rebuilding their lives, so they can ``make their food delicious and bring some of that joy into their lives," she said.

Nobrega-Olivera believes Hanapepe salt has the power to ward off bad energy.

“When I walk into a difficult meeting, I put a salt crystal on my tongue as a reminder to watch my words.”

Many of the salt-making families are Christian. Nobrega-Olivera said reconciling their Christian faith with their spirituality as Native Hawaiians can be challenging, but it happens organically.

"There are some gatherings where we may honor our deities," she said. "Other occasions may call for a Christian prayer in Hawaiian or English, or both. You do what feels right for that space."

Nobrega-Olivera believes Western science and Indigenous knowledge can combine to combat the effects of climate change and save the salt patch. The steps include building up the wells` edges so when sea levels rise, the water won't inundate the area. Another important step: preventing sand dune erosion from vehicle traffic to the beach, which causes the waves to crest and flood the patch.

Salt maker Kuulei Santos is battling for better treatment of the salt flats,
which go dormant in winter. (Photo Credit: Brittany Lyte)

"Some ask us why we can`t move this practice to a different location," she said. "That's impossible because our cultural practice is particular to this land. There are elements here that make this place special for making this type of salt. You cannot find that anywhere else."

Those working on the salt patches enter with reverence. Nobrega-Olivera said menstruating women typically do not come and red clothes are avoided.

Kanani Santos said he removes his shoes before entering because he likes to “be connected to the ground.” He enjoys walking there at sunset, when the brick-red patch of land appears bathed in gold and the salt crystals sparkle like magic dust.

"I say a little prayer, ask for blessings to have a good harvest, to have a quiet soul and to embrace the moment," he said.

Kurt Kuali`i, a chef whose family has made salt for 10 generations, choked up when speaking about this as his "kuleana," which means responsibility.

"I get moments of silence here like church," he said. "I believe in akua (god), a higher power. This is where I come to connect with that higher power, teach the children and be with family. There's good energy here."

Even when rain disrupts an entire day's work, Kuali`i says he knows it's "God telling us it's not time yet, to slow down." The best part of salt making is giving it all away, he said.

"Sharing is Hawaiian. This is something you make with your hands. I may not be the best at everything, but I can make Hawaiian salt."

Kane Turalde has been coming to the salt patch since he was 7. He is 68 now, a Native Hawaiian educator and canoe-racing coach. He has protested in the past to block luxury homes and other development near the salt patch, which he says would have created more traffic and pollution.

“I always come here in the spirit of akua,” he said. “Before I leave home, I call my ancestors here so when I arrive, they are here.”

A basket filled with finished salt crystals. (Photo Credit: Mallory Francks)

In his family's home, Turalde's grandmother kept a bowl of salt by the door. Everyone would take a pinch and say a prayer before going out, for protection, he said.

With the resurgence of Hawaiian culture and language on the islands, Nobrega- Olivera said she now thinks about how to transmit this knowledge to younger generations.

One way she honors the Hanapepe salt patch is by composing "mele," or Hawaiian songs and chants. She recently taught some school children one of those chants whose chorus is "aloha aina," which means "love of the land." Her eyes welled up as she saw their enthusiasm to learn the mele.

"Aloha aina captures our philosophy, the reason we do this," Nobrega-Olivera said. "You take care of the land, and the land takes care of you."

Non-Natives Making a Difference: Artist Russ Docken

By NAT Staff

Artist Russ Docken: “The Native American is compelling both visually and historically. I focus on the idealistic, spiritual interpretation rather than the historical interpretation.”

Painting professionally for over thirty years, Russ Docken has been featured on news programs and in magazines in the likes of Southwest Art, Art of the West, and Wildlife Art. You can find his original oil paintings in private collections and his artwork is reproduced in limited-edition prints, plates and collectibles and sold throughout the world.

Docken grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, a state that hails five federally recognized tribes, and the setting where he attended Pow Wows and familiarized himself in Native American culture. He studied liberal arts at North Dakota State University under a full athletic scholarship. Russ became a nationally ranked athlete and a three-time NCAA champion in track and field while pursuing visual arts as a career. Through his experience in athletics and achieving the fame of an NCAA champion, Russ carried the valuable lesson of discipline to his commitment to art, as well everyday life.

Docken’s artworks are sensitive interpretations of people showcased in idealistic settings. Each figure and face are unique in their shadows, highlights and colors revealing an endless variety of features. As he relays it, “People have always been my inspiration. Whether painting a beautiful woman or a rugged mountain man, capturing the spirit of the subject is my ultimate goal.”

Now with Docken’s career well-established, he lives and creates his artwork in Owatonna, Minnesota, where his wife, three daughters and five grandchildren have always supported making his dream of professional artistry a reality. "It is important to find something in life you are passionate about and then find a way to make a living at it," Russ has always told his kids. “I feel fortunate to have a career I truly love and hope my work may inspire or invoke a favorable response to those who see it.”

Samples of Native-themed Works, With Artist Comments:

Sacred Storm. "My vision for this painting was to express the bond of body and spirit with the forces of nature and the most sacred element of the Native American culture: the buffalo skull…In the distance, powerful bolts of lightning called Thunder Beings crackle in the darkening sky, signifying the imminent arrival of forces from the spirit world.”

True American

The Burden Basket. "The beauty and grace of the model Veronica Phillips inspired me to paint this work of art. With Apache and Navaho ancestry, she proudly adorns her Apache dress, furs and handmade Burden Basket.”

Native American Dreams

A New Beginning. “Though we have struggled with the clash of cultures, friendships have also developed. In this painting, the chief is the center of interest and bids farewell to an old friend.”

Through My Eyes

Sioux Boy

Loyal Companions

Eagle Vision

Spirit Seekers. “This painting was created to symbolize the spiritual union between the Native American and the wolf, as if they were joined in a Sacred Council.”

Look of War. “In preparation for battle, the decorative headdress and powerful pose of this American Indian is an inspirational, striking image.”

They Call Me Wolf. “The mystical portrayal of this warrior emphasizes his close union with the wolf. The name 'wolf' may have been given to him as his supernatural protector from a dream or vision, as wolves are highly respected by Native Americans.”

Untitled

Editor’s Note: Russ’s originals, prints and licensing opportunities are available through Wild Wings, a leading publisher, distributor and retailer of wildlife, sporting, and nostalgic Americana art.

25 Rare Photographs from 100 Years Ago

By Kinga Walicka

Curtis’ self-portrait.

In 1906, Edward Sheriff Curtis, a well-known photographer from Seattle was contracted by the famous banker J.P. Morgan to create a photo series of Native Americans. Curtis was paid an astonishing $75,000, a small fortune at the time. The project took 20 years to fully complete, where Curtis traveled across North America, taking photographs and transcribing songs and stories of over 80 tribes.

Interview with USDA’s Tribal Ambassador Gilbert Louis III

Native Americans in Congress: Past & Present

(Accompanying Story)

The Iroquois and Founding of the U.S. Constitution

Op Ed: Tribal Casinos Staff for Good with Employees with Disabilities

Native Hawaiian Salt Makers Combat Climate Change and Pollution to Protect a Sacred Tradition

Non-Natives Making a Difference: Artist Russ Docken

25 Rare Photographs from 100 Years Ago

#1

Sioux Chiefs, 1905

#2

Okuwa-Tsire, also known as "Cloud Bird," of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1905

#3

A Hupa Fisherman with a spear, standing on a rock in midstream, 1923

#4

A group of Navajo in the Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, 1904

#5

An Apache man, circa 1910

#6

A Kwakiutl wedding party arrives in canoes, 1914

#7

A Klamath chief stands on a hill above Crater Lake, Oregon, 1923

#8

An Apache woman reaps grain, circa 1910

#9

A Qagyuhl woman wears a fringed Chilkat blanket and a mask representing a deceased relative who had been a shaman, 1914

#10

A Jicarilla girl, circa 1910

#11

An Apsaroke man on horseback, 1908

#12

Members of the Qagyuhl tribe dance to restore an eclipsed moon, circa 1910

#13

A Hupa spear fisherman watches for salmon, 1923

#14

A Hupa woman, 1923

#15

Qagyuhl dancers, 1914

#16

An Apsaroke mother and child, 1908

#17

Piegan tepees, 1910

#18

Nakoaktok dancers wear Hamatsa masks in a ritual, 1914

#19

Hollow Horn Bear, a Brulé man, 1907

#20

A Kwakiutl shaman performs a religious ritual, 1914

#21

A Tewa girl, 1906

#22

Kwakiutl people in canoes in British Columbia, 1914

#23

Black Eagle, an Assiniboin man, 1908

#24

A Qahatika girl, 1907

#25

An Apache woman with a baby, 1903

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A Hupa Fisherman with a spear, standing on a rock in midstream,
1923

Nakoaktok dancers wear Hamatsa masks in a
ritual, 1914