Existence as resistance: How the Trump administration’s recent actions impact Indigenous communities

The Trump administration’s attacks on factions and sectors of communities across the country are only ramping up. We’ve talked a lot about his attacks on immigrant communities, on communities of color, on LGBTQ+ folks and more. But we know that his attacks are not narrow or specific just to a few communities. They’re widespread, especially for folks with intersectional identities.

His attacks also have drastic impacts on indigenous communities. Those haven’t been as covered in mainstream media, but they’re happening and they’re aggressive.

Some of the latest news:

Federal agencies have recently flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid using. That includes “indigenous community,” the word “tribal,” and the words “Native American Defense Department.” Websites have also removed pages about Indigenous code talkers, whose usage of Navajo and other languages to communicate messages were vital.

Additionally, the Not Invisible Act Commission’s report on missing and murdered indigenous peoples is no longer available online. The Commission was actually mandated by bipartisan legislation and signed into law by Trump himself toward the tail end of his first administration.

They had created a final report, posted online, that provided Indigenous people and governments as well as federal, state, and local branches of US government with data and suggestions on how to reduce the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples in which Indigenous communities experience disproportionate rates of abduction, assault, and murder, especially for Indigenous women.

Once again, that report is no longer available on federal websites.

Advocates say that despite this, the fight to bring light to, and to end, what they’re calling erasure, continues.

With responses to the administration’s recent actions, and reflections on Indigenous history and culture, KGNU’s Jackie Sedley spoke with Waylon Pretends Eagle.

Listen: