Stretching across the heart of eastern Connecticut like a praying mantis , the senate district of state Sen. Cathy Osten, D- Sprague, either surrounds or passes within a few miles of four of the state’s five recognized Native American tribes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Osten has long been closely tied with many of the legislative battles related to the rights and recognition of local tribes throughout her five terms in Hartford. As part of those efforts, Osten has successfully pushed for a Native American curriculum to be taught in public schools, as well as punishing districts that continue to use Native American imagery or mascots. As lawmakers near the half-way mark of this year’s legislative session, however, Osten has been tracking nearly a dozen proposed bills that touch on Native American issues. For the most part, they are the work of her colleagues. “A lot of people associate the Native American legislation only with me, and that’s not true,” Osten said. “At least … [Read more...] about Tribal leaders cheer focus from CT lawmakers: “We’re not at the point where we have to fight so hard to be heard’