Las Vegas, Nev. – This week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is participating in a virtual tour of all of Nevada’s 17 counties, meeting via teleconference with community officials and government representatives, and attending virtual tours of local businesses and non-profits. Today, the Senator spoke with elected officials from Carson City and Douglas and Lyon counties and conducted virtual tours of the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum in Carson City and Peri and Sons Farm in Lyon County. She also met with Welcoming All Veterans Everywhere (WAVE) to discuss challenges that Nevada’s rural veterans are facing throughout the state.
“Nevada’s rural communities are shining examples of resiliency and innovation. As we all take measures to keep our communities safe and stop the spread of COVID-19, I’m glad I can still virtually connect with so many local officials, stakeholders, and community leaders throughout rural Nevada to talk about the challenges their communities are facing.
“On the first day of my virtual Nevada Tour, I connected with hardworking local farmers who are working overtime to deliver fresh food to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, brave veterans advocating for resources for their communities, and the staff of the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum who are shining a light on the difficult history of systemic harm that Nevada’s Native tribes suffered at the hands of our government. I’ll keep listening to the voices of all Nevadans and advocating for the support and resources our rural areas need to recover from this pandemic and grow into the future.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto has sent multiple letters in support of farmers, dairy farmers and cattle ranchers who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. She has also continually advocated for resources for Nevada’s veterans, including additional investments in veteran-owned businesses, funding for students who are military veterans, and virtual peer support programs for those struggling with mental health concerns.
The Stewart Indian School, which operated from 1890 to 1980, was part of the Native American Boarding Schools Project, a national program that removed children from their families to force them to assimilate into the dominant culture. The school’s former administrative offices opened in early 2020 as the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, dedicated to the memories of the first Stewart students from Great Basin tribes and all students and families who were impacted by the Stewart experience. Personal accounts by Stewart alumni throughout the museum tell the story of a complex past that changed the course of generations of children. The countless stories of hardship, resilience, strength, and triumph are at the core of the current efforts to preserve the Stewart campus, and are illustrated in exhibits throughout the museum.
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