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A group from Haskell Indian Nations University attend American Indian Higher Education Consortium Day in Washington D.C. (Photo-Haskell Indian Nations University)
News For All Americans
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A group from Haskell Indian Nations University attend American Indian Higher Education Consortium Day in Washington D.C. (Photo-Haskell Indian Nations University)
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An apology from the Presbyterian Church to Alaska Native people is read at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. (Photo-2016, Antonia Gonzales)
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The Seattle City Council votes to cut ties with Wells Fargo bank over the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Photo-Seattle City Council, Twitter)
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The Mole Lake Band in Wisconsin has finished a solar energy project in the community. (Photo-2016, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Facebook)
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People packed the Roundhouse on American Indian Day at the New Mexico Legislature. Events included honoring the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. (Photo-Antonia Gonzales)
By Art Hughes
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Law enforcement officials prepare to arrest protesters working to set up a new camp in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (Photo: screenshot of live video feed by Johnny Dangers).
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By Art Hughes
The Native American Journalists Association says the arrest this week of a working journalist at the North Dakota pipeline protests is unlawful and a violation of free press principles. Morton County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested reporter Jenni Monet along with 75 others. They were taken into custody while protestors were assembling a new camp on what officials say is private land. Monet—who has covered the protests on location for numerous news organizations including National Native News—was on assignment for Indian Country Media Network.
NAJA President Bryan Pollard says Monet’s arrest is in keeping with a pattern by Morton County law enforcement to try and prevent the press from documenting their actions.
“I think it’s more important than ever that journalists go there and document what’s happening,” Pollard said. “But I think it should be said that any journalist who goes there to cover what’s happening at Standing Rock needs to go there understanding that they are entering something that is resembling a war zone.”
Pollard says Monet is a clearly-credentialed journalist who has covered the events in North Dakota for months. He says officials need better awareness in order to distinguish reporters from protesters.
“Officials in charge either have not trained their forces properly, or simply don’t care that that’s an illegal action and a violation of the First Amendment,” Pollard said.
Monet texted her editors before she was arrested, saying she was unable to get away from the sweep of officers taking protesters into custody. Indian Country Media Network demanded Monet’s release and the dismissal of all pending charges.
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Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier. Frazier and other Great Plains tribal leaders have started dialog for their tribes to contract state functions directly with the U.S. (Photo-Antonia Gonzales)
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Veterans and others brave winter conditions in a march showing solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. (Photo-December 2016, Antonia Gonzales)
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Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has temporarily blocked 40 Yellowstone bison from being slaughtered. (Jimmie/Flickr)