Indigenous People’s Day isn’t time for performances, but to pay rent for stolen land

Land acknowledgments and Instagram posts don’t make up for 230 years of genocide and cultural erasure of native peoples in Idaho. Indigenous Peoples Day is not the time for white savior performative allyship. It’s a time to make ourselves uncomfortable, to honor the work of indigenous people across our country, and truly stand behind the tribes in the fight for justice.

It starts by paying rent. All non-native Statesman readers live on stolen lands. When was the last time you supported indigenous organizing? Indigenous Idaho Alliance, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment, the Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation, The Tzó-Nah Fund, and F.I.E.L.D.S. are just some of the incredible indigenous-led organizations supporting land back, education and climate justice in our state.

Individual contributions are not enough, though. We need systemic change to pay real reparations to the indigenous peoples of our state. Idaho needs leaders who will uphold their oath to the U.S. Constitution and protect tribal rights and treaties. It’s time to free the Lower Snake River and restore reservations to their original size. Call our statewide leaders and demand they put their money where their mouth is on tribal justice.

Lily Saperston, Boise

Reject constitutional amendment

Please join me in voting NO on SJR 102. The last thing Idahoans need is legislators empowered to call themselves into session and waste our tax dollars. Stupid ideas such as this remind me of the words of my dearly departed mother. Every year, out of exasperation, she said, “The Idaho Legislature should really go back to meeting only every other year because when they are in session they only do harm.”

Barry Maheras, Pocatello

Racism makes pregnancy dangerous

Black women are three times more likely to die than White women during and following pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This racial disparity has existed for decades in the United States, and Idaho’s Black parents are equally at risk.

I work with families with young children. I am increasingly serving more Black families as this population grows in Idaho. It is devastating to hear the birth stories of Black women who have received prenatal care and delivered their babies in Idaho report they were not listened to or believed and how it affected themselves and their children.

Idaho’s medical professionals must work towards proven solutions to decrease these death rates. OBGYNs, Family Practice Physicians, nurses, and hospital staff need more training on implicit bias and how it affects their work. Medical professionals must listen to and not dismiss Black women when they say something is wrong. Idaho mothers’ and children’s health and lives are at risk if changes are not made.

Marci Stucki, Rexburg

Support for veterans or political convenience?

I just saw on the internet where Matt Gaetz is talking about eliminating the VA system in this country. Now, I ask you does Mr. Crapo vote for the betterment of the veterans for does he vote what his party tells him?

From what I have read about his voting record he doesn’t care about the Veteran; he doesn’t care about you. But he does care about power and money.

Seems you have a choice in this election, do you want someone that will represent you or someone that only follows the orders of the RNC?

Jerry Johnson, Payette