Native American

Commentary

California has a new plan for the Delta but faces the same conflicts over water

California has a new proposal for allocating water to enhance the environmentally fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, but the state's fundamental water conflicts remain.

By Dan Walters • October 8, 2023

Water

The Bay-Delta ecosystem is collapsing. California just unveiled rival rescue plans

A long-awaited, controversial report weighs updates to standards that state officials say have failed to protect fish and wildlife. But environmentalists, Native tribes and others already are furious about how long this has taken — and the state is years away from putting a plan into action.

By Rachel Becker • September 29, 2023

Environment

The world’s largest dam demolition has begun. Can the dammed Klamath River finally find salvation?

As four aging hydroelectric dams are demolished, tribes and communities along the Klamath River wait anxiously to see what the future holds. “Once a river is dammed, is it damned forever?” experts ask.

By Rachel Becker • August 31, 2023

Commentary

Feud between Native American casinos and California card rooms moves to Legislature

California voters last year rejected a ballot measure that could have settled a long-running feud between casino-owning tribes and poker parlors. Now the battle over betting turf is being revived in the Legislature with a tribe-backed bill.

By Dan Walters • August 14, 2023

Water

California water agency under investigation for discriminating against tribes, people of color

A discrimination complaint filed by Native American tribes and environmental justice groups alleges that California has failed to protect water quality in the Bay-Delta. The EPA is investigating.

By Rachel Becker • August 9, 2023

WhatMatters

California bills in danger in ‘suspense file’

If you’re the author or supporter of a bill before the California Legislature, this is one list you dread: While getting sent to the “suspense file” doesn’t seal a measure’s fate, it does put it at some risk of being killed for the year.  Leading up to the big suspense file decision day next week, […]

By Lynn La • May 10, 2023

Capitol

Across the aisle: Can bipartisan caucuses change the California Legislature?

The Problem Solvers Caucus, one of 16 non-party caucuses in the state Legislature, wants to put public policy before partisan politics, but that's a tall task. Other caucuses are bipartisan mostly in name only.

By Sameea Kamal • April 25, 2023

WhatMatters

Can a suicide hotline help California’s Native Americans?

From 2018 to 2021, 109 Native Americans took their own lives in California. Can the new national hotline help save some lives? This week in Sacramento, Assemblymember James Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe who is the first Native American to be elected to the state Assembly, partnered with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services […]

By Lynn La • March 24, 2023

Commentary

Waiving California environmental rules for Delta water equates to a civil rights issue

Despite reversing course last week, the February decision by Gov. Gavin Newsom and state water officials to bypass environmental rules for water storage allowed greater harm to salmon populations already besieged by drought. Native American tribal members argue that such environmental harm amounts to a civil rights violation.

By Guest Commentary • March 17, 2023

Commentary

There’s nothing clean about offshore wind development unless California tribes are involved

Officials from California's largest tribe are concerned about the lack of engagement so far by offshore wind companies, reviving worries over the historic extraction of resources without their involvement.

By Guest Commentary • January 13, 2023