Author Archives: Stephen Carr Hampton

About Stephen Carr Hampton

Stephen Carr Hampton is an enrolled citizen of Cherokee Nation, an avid birder since age 7, and a former resource economist for the California Department of Fish & Game, where he worked as a tribal liaison and conducted natural resource damage assessments and oversaw environmental restoration projects after oil spills. He writes most often about Native history and contemporary issues, birds, and climate change.

Headline from 1606: Spanish Conquistador Juan de Oñate recalled to Mexico City

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

Sante Fe, NM: In a stunning turn of events, Governor of the Northern Territories Juan de Oñate was recalled to Mexico City today by Spanish authorities for excessive violence and brutality against both Natives and colonists. Given the recent history … Continue reading →

Posted in news | Tagged Acoma, Albuquerque, Onate, protest, Pueblo, shot, statue | Leave a comment

Abolishing the police: Minneapolis looks to alternatives

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd and associated riots, the people of Minneapolis are turning to a 2017 report, Enough is Enough: A 150 year Performance Review of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD150). The Past The report … Continue reading →

Posted in news | Tagged #GeorgeFloyd, abolition, aim, alternatives, Fletcher, George Floyd, looting, minneapolis, MPD150, police, protest, reform, restorative justice, riots | Leave a comment

How Andrew Jackson used the smallpox vaccine against Native Americans: A cautionary tale of politics and disease

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

In 1832, smallpox raged along the Mississippi River. After years of bitter debate, the Indian Removal Act had just been signed by President Andrew Jackson. A sharply divided white nation prepared for widespread Indian removal to west of the river; … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, my own thoughts, news | Tagged 1832, Andrew Jackson, Arikara, Blackfeet, cass, Hidatsa, Indian Vaccination Act, lewis cass, Mandan, navajo, smallpox, smallpox vaccine, trump | 4 Comments

Navajo Nation now has one of the highest COVID rates in the world: May 3 update

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

COVID-19 cases in Navajo Nation continue to rise at high rates across in all regions. Both confirmed cases and deaths grew on average 6% per day over the last week, implying doubling of cases and deaths every 12 days. CLICK … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 | Tagged CARES Act, coronavirus, COVID-19, navajo | 1 Comment

Navajo Nation COVID outbreak still spiraling: Apr 10 update

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

Navajo Nation has been hit with some of the highest per capita rates of infection anywhere in the world. The current number of cases are increasing 12% daily, doubling every 6 days. Detailed information and emergency orders can be found … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, news | Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, navajo | 5 Comments

White noise in the time of coronavirus: The chaotic California Fish & Game Commission telemeeting

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

When the California Fish & Game Commission attempted to hold a telemeeting on April 9, it quickly devolved into chaos and was cancelled within minutes. It was an illustration of white rage, white privilege, and white noise making other voices … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, news | Tagged ban, california, colonized, coronavirus, COVID-19, fishing, recreational fishing, rights, white noise, white privilege, white rage | Leave a comment

COVID-19 outbreak at Navajo Nation: Apr 4 summary

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

See my first update on Apr 1 for relevant background and links to Navajo Nation press releases. Here is the summary for Apr 4. There have now been 13 deaths. CLICK TO ENLARGE The COVID-19 epidemic in Navajo Nation was … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, news | Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, navajo, pandemic | Leave a comment

COVID-19 outbreak at Navajo Nation: Apr 1 summary

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 1, 2020 Navajo Nation is currently experiencing one of the largest outbreaks of COVID-19 among any Native community in North America. Navajo Nation press releases document the spread, which I summarize here. The outbreak began on … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 | Tagged Chilchinbeto, coronavirus, COVID-19, navajo, pandemic | Leave a comment

Lost Bird died in the last pandemic

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

In 1920, Lost Bird, aka Zintka, aka Zintkala Nuni, died in the Spanish flu pandemic in the Bay Area of California. We still don’t know her real name. Wounded Knee, 1890 After the massacre, Hugh McGinnis, of the same 7th … Continue reading →

Posted in my own thoughts | Tagged adopted, Colby, flu, lakota, Lost bird, pandemic, Wounded Knee, Zintka | Leave a comment

Asymptomatic but contagious: Healthy youth may be spreading the virus

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Stephen Carr Hampton

Here’s what they learned in the town of Vo’, Italy, when they tested everybody. This comes from a Physicians Facebook group, posted by an Italian doctor (Daniela Molena): A letter from Prof Romagnani Sergio who is a Professor in Florence. He … Continue reading →

Posted in news | Tagged #flattenthecurve, asymptomatic, contagious, coronavirus, COVID-19, elders, isolation, Italy, lockdown, Molena, pandemic, Sergio, testing, Vo | 1 Comment