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2020 was the most prolific year of my career as a Native writer thus far. Here is a year end thread featuring my favorite pieces from the past 12 months:
I started off 2020 by questioning whether the US government practices the honor they claim to value, discussing the Lakota Black Hills land claim in detail & broaching the concept of #LandBack before it became popular. #HonorTheTreaties https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/1/14/the-us-claims-to-value-honour-but-has-it-ever
Last winter, I wrote about how First Nations across Canada captured the attention of their oppressors by shutting down ports, highways, government offices & railways in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en, who were being invaded by Coastal GasLink Pipeline. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/3/1/it-is-not-the-wetsuweten-who-are-hurting-canada
In March I sounded the alarm about the need to protect sacred sites that are being destroyed by Trump’s shoddy border wall. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/3/11/we-must-protect-sacred-sites-from-trumps-us-mexico-border-wall
I really enjoyed writing this piece for Teen Vogue about 5 Native women leaders who made history. #Toypurina #Lozen #BuffaloCalfRoadWoman #SacheenLittleFeather #DebHaaland https://www.teenvogue.com/story/native-american-women-leaders-history
This year, the Trump administration continued to attack Tribal sovereignty. Last Spring, they tried to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag, the Tribe that saved the pilgrims. If allowed to stand, it would have set precedent to terminate all Tribes. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/native-tribes-mashpee-wampanoag-disestablished
COVID-19 rocked Native communities & in South Dakota, Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) Tribes battled a contentious Governor who threatened us for putting up Covid checkpoints meant to protect our most vulnerable. https://theappeal.org/south-dakota-governor-doubles-down-on-her-anti-native-reputation-by-targeting-tribes-covid-19-checkpoints/
Trump threw a superspreader rally at Mt. Rushmore in July, with fireworks, during fire season in Black Hills National Forest. Mt. Rushmore is a Lakota sacred site called The Six Grandfathers. I made the argument for Lakota Treaty rights & common sense. https://theappeal.org/trumps-planned-trip-to-mount-rushmore-puts-lives-and-a-fragile-ecosystem-at-risk/
2020 brought Natives a decades-long, hard-won victory in the fight against race-based mascots when the Redsk*ns moniker finally fell thanks to new pressure exerted by the #BlackLivesMatter 
movement. I covered the announcement for Medium. https://zora.medium.com/the-redsk-ns-were-forced-to-admit-that-racism-is-no-longer-profitable-6502b4009d5d
movement. I covered the announcement for Medium. https://zora.medium.com/the-redsk-ns-were-forced-to-admit-that-racism-is-no-longer-profitable-6502b4009d5d
For #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, I separated #Thanksgiving Myth from Fact for Teen Vogue. Save this one to use for years to come. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/thanksgiving-myths-facts-mayflower-landing
The #NativeVote began mobilizing after Trump’s election in 2016 & it paid off. Tribes helped elect Biden, especially in swing states like AZ. For Business Insider I discussed this hard work & how we deserve more respect than being called “Something Else.” https://www.businessinsider.com/native-american-voters-swing-win-presidential-election-joe-biden-democrats-2020-11
In 2020, I began writing a column for @AtmosMag. To close out the year, I wrote about a subject close to my heart— Grandmother Moon. Within, I tackle the need to choose study & exploration over colonization & resource extraction as we move into space. https://atmos.earth/moon-research-colonization/
I appreciate your support so much. Wopila (thank you) for crossing paths with me & I wish you many blessings for the coming year. Mitakuye Oyasin.
