Native Americans, Father Serra and ‘Two Spirited’

As soon as Pope Francis announced that he was going to canonize and make a “saint” of Father Junipero Serra (the 18th century Franciscan missionary of California) rightfully protests were immediately made and are going on to this day by Native Americans. Many Native American and “First Nation” leaders have compared Father Serra’s conversion of…

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Patent Office cancels Redskins trademark registration, says name is disparaging

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has canceled the Washington Redskins trademark registration, calling the football team’s name “disparaging to Native Americans.” Filed on behalf of five Native Americans this is the second time such a case was filed. A report in The Washington Post stated that federal trademark law does not permit registration of…

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President signs VAWA

Today, the President Barack Obama signed into law S. 47, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,” which reauthorizes several Violence Against Women Act grant programs through FY 2018; and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 through FY 2017. An extract from the president’s remarks at the signing ceremony: ” … And today,…

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