Big Fire Law News

In less than a month, we have witnessed a new Congress getting sworn in, an insurrection at our United States Capitol and a Presidential Inauguration. The world continues to battle a pandemic and Americans have begun to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

On Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden announced that U.S. Representative Debra Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, will be nominated to be the 54th United States Secretary of the Interior. As one of the first Native American women elected to the United States Congress and a 35th generation New Mexican, Rep. Haaland serves the 1st district of New Mexico.

In May 2020, the United States initiated Operation Warp Speed to accelerate the development, approval and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. Initial distribution of a vaccine is slated for January 2021. The United States Indian Health Service (“IHS”) has been consulting with tribes and urban Indian health organizations with some pretty rapid turnaround times.

The moment is upon us to get out, vote and make our voices heard. With the pandemic, your state may be offering several ways to vote: in person at a polling place, mail in your ballot, or drop off your ballot. Make sure you make your plan to vote.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold the 15th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation on October 27-30, 2020, from 1-5p.m. EST.

The President has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s seat on the United States Supreme Court. Judge Barrett has been a federal judge since 2017.

COVID-19 continues to grip Indian Country, our country and the world. Tribal leaders, tribal organizations, advocates and allies have been working non-stop to protect the health, safety and economic recovery of their people.