Welcome back to another semester of Through Indigenous Eyes! I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things. Before I do that, though, Indigenous culture, politics and organizations made headlines all summer long; I think we are all due for a quick recap of Indigenous summer happenings. So, let’s talk about it!
Land Back: In June, the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America board voted to return church-owned land to the Native American Youth and Family Center. This vote occurred after the 2024 closure of the Bethany Lutheran Church on said land. The vote, as Paul Stromberg, vice president of the board, noted, is a small step in providing reparations to Indigenous peoples who experienced violent removal. According to NAYA, the property of the Bethany Lutheran Church will be turned into elder housing for local tribes.
This decision by the Synod is representative of efforts to return land to Indigenous peoples through the Land Back movement, which advocates for Indigenous sovereignty. The Synod has confirmed its commitment to Land Back, stating that future land returns are likely as more churches in the area face closure.
Bears Ears: On July 13, President Donald Trump issued a declaration cutting the protected lands of Bears Ears National Monument by over one million acres, leaving it at approximately10% of its previous size. Trump justified these cuts to the Utah land area by stating the now unprotected lands were home to silver, molybdenum, lead, uranium, vanadium and zinc, all of which are “critical to national security.” Several tribal organizations representing the Hopi, Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Pueblo of Zuni and Ute nations are fighting the Trump administration’s decision, and non-Indigenous organizations such as Patagonia have also filed lawsuits on behalf of Bears Ears.
This move at Bears Ears is not the first time Trump has attempted to parcel up the monument; he tried to do the same thing back in 2017. New this time, though, is the breaking of a foundational agreement between the Bears Ears National Monument and the Bears Ears Commission, a first-of-its-kind organization that facilitated tribal input on the monument’s management. What was true in 2017 is true now: The sight has unparalleled significance for Indigenous tribes and the history of North America. Bears Ears is home to some of the earliest archaeological findings on the continent, irreplaceable and now in danger due to Trump’s declaration.
Miss Universe Canada: In August, two non-Indigenous contenders in the Miss Universe Canada beauty pageant wore offensive Indigenous costumes. Karisa Haverkamp wore a feathered headdress, recreating a garment that is sacred to many Indigenous tribes. She also wore a red handprint on the side of her face, which traditionally represents missing and murdered Indigenous women. Jasleen Kaily wore mukluks and a fur dress with braids.
This incident opened the door for the pageant’s only Indigenous winner, Ashley Callingbull, to speak out about the inappropriateness of these costumes. When the Miss Universe Canada team put out a statement, Callingbull used her position as this year’s host of the pageant to call out organizers on live television; she helped secure an official apology and agreements concerning a comprehensive costume guideline.
Daisy Chain Fields: Back in June, artist Olivia Rodrigo announced her first all-female nonprofit music festival called Daisy Chain Fields. Hosted in Irvine, Calif., every artist on the billing performed for free and net proceeds were donated to 10 organizations that focused on women’s health and reproductive rights. One of these organizations was the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. The center is a safe haven for Indigenous women and girls, providing public health education, access to traditional water healing rituals, vaccines and cancer care.
On Aug. 28, one day before the festival, Rodrigo sat down with the leaders of each organization the festival was donating to, announcing that each organization would receive $1 million. Johns Hopkins Center leadership were present at Daisy Chain, where festivalgoers could learn how to get involved with the center. Then, before her headlining set, Rodrigo announced that Melinda French Gates was matching all the money raised by the festival, leading to $2 million for each organization ($20 million total).
Of course, time is not stagnant. All of these actions, both positive and negative, have lasting implications that are affecting Indigenous people as I write this. Bears Ears land was opened to mining permits just two weeks ago, and 16 mining claims were submitted within 24 hours. And even more happened than I could recap here; for example, progressive Indigenous politician Peggy Flanagan, the current lieutenant governor of Minnesota, won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s open Senate seat.
Like with all things, my opinions on these events vary: I’m overjoyed about Daisy Chain Fields and the Land Back initiatives, but these are colored with sorrow about Bears Ears and shock that inappropriate costuming is still a problem in 2026. As I reflect on the summer, though, I notice that the issues I’m seeing have wide-reaching implications; yet, I don’t see people talking about these issues, or how each of them affects the others — that’s why this column exists. This semester, each article will be investigating the broader implications of individual actions and decisions. With that said, let’s get on with the semester’s news!
