Native American Issues / Public News Service

The Indian Child Welfare Act was enacted in 1978 following the removal of many Native children from their homes by government and adoption agencies. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, February 3, 2023

UT Tribes Urge Lawmakers to Pass Bill Ensuring Protections for Native Kids

Tribal leaders from the eight federally recognized tribes in Utah gathered at a news conference at the state Capitol this week and called on state law…

A three-pound sockeye salmon filet is now one of the options in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations for the Lummi Nation. (O'Kelly Photography/Adobe Stock)

Locally Caught Salmon Provide Step Toward Food Independence for WA Tribe

Under a new project, locally sourced food is part of a food assistance program for members of the Lummi Tribe in northwest Washington. The Food …

Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed out of many people's reach during the pandemic. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Native Americans Moving Off the Rez Face Discrimination in MT

Native Americans in Montana face a slew of challenges to finding housing off reservations - including discrimination. A tight housing market in the …

Aaron LaPointe, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, inspects an ear of organically grown traditional Indian corn. (Photo courtesy Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

NE's Ho-Chunk Farms to Focus on Conservation in 2023

A northeast Nebraska farming operation is starting the new year with an even bigger commitment to conservation, and they hope other farms take note…

The conservation group Keep it Colorado has awarded $197,000 in grants to protect 8,512 acres of lands, including 2,500 acres adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, that would otherwise be at imminent risk of being sold, subdivided or converted to other uses. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants to Help Preserve Iconic Mesa Verde Viewshed

A new grant is expected to help close the deal to protect key parcels of historic ranchlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park…

With road access cut off, certain Native American tribes in South Dakota were forced to try to survive the recent blizzard with dwindling access to food, water, medicine and firewood. (Adobe Stock)

SD Tribes Hindered by Limited Resources During Brutal Storm

Conditions may have improved, but Native American tribes in South Dakota say they're still reeling from the recent blizzard that left many stranded …

In 2019, Ty'Lesha Yellowhair worked with the town of Gilbert as its Native American management intern, as part of its Family Violence Unit. (Photo courtesy of Yellowhair)

ASU Grad Wants to Make a Difference for AZ Tribal Members

Arizona tribal communities face inequalities every day, but a recent Arizona State University graduate said she wants to shape public policy to help …

In a 2018 ruling, a state District Court judge found New Mexico was failing to prepare students equally for college and a career, specifically citing a lack of sufficient education for Native Americans. (AdobeStock/mmg1design)

NM's Boost in Early Education Funds Included in Federal Omnibus Bill

New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question in November to spend more money on early childhood education and public schools, and now …

Following defacement of New Mexico's centuries-old La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in January, momentum is growing for permanent protections for Caja del Rio. (sfnfsitestewards.org)

Permanent Protections Sought for NM's Caja del Rio

New Mexico is home to more world heritage sites than any other state, but also a smaller site outside Santa Fe that indigenous leaders and …

About 30% of residents on the Navajo Nation do not have running water or electricity in their homes. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Knowledge, Science Team up to Fight Climate Change in AZ

By Fiona L.Q. Flaherty for Cronkite News.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

The Copper Mountain mine is just 25 miles north of the Washington state border in British Columbia. (edb3_16/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Call for Greater Regulation of BC Mines Threatening NW Waters

Tribes in Washington and other western states are calling for greater regulation of upstream British Columbia mines that impact their waterways across…

Tribes from Alaska, Montana, and British Columbia have been adamantly opposed to pollutants flowing into a transboundary waterway between the U.S. and Canada. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Tribal Leaders Bring Canadian Mine Waste Concerns to D.C.

Tribal leaders from the Northwestern U.S. have been in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss how waste from mines in British Columbia is threatening …

There's a long history of mining across the Canadian province of British Columbia. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Say BC Mine Waste Threatens Water, Way of Life

Tribal representatives from across the Northwest are flying into Washington, D.C. this week to discuss how mine waste in British Columbia is …

Harvard's Peabody Museum has posted an apology on its website for what it calls

Harvard’s 'Hair Collection' Triggers Demand for Legislative Action

Indigenous activists in the Commonwealth are calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation to strengthen protections for Native American remains…

The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Council member Johnny Hemmers and Council Secretary Colleen Garcia shared bird songs and dances at Avi Kwa Ame with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Representative Susie Lee in September. (Ashley Hemmers)

NV Tribes, Conservation Leaders Praise New National Monument Plan

Native American tribal communities and conservation groups got a big win Wednesday as President Joe Biden announced he intends to create a new nationa…

Kelsey Scott, left, operates DX Beef in South Dakota. Scott is a fourth-generation Native American farmer who practices regenerative agriculture. (Jennifer Zeller)

Decolonizing Regenerative Cattle Ranching

By Ray Levy Uyeda for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

It is said founding father Alexander Hamilton once remarked,

Wild Turkeys in MA: A Model for Conservation Efforts Nationwide

Wild turkeys are not only the official game bird of the Commonwealth but the latest champion of conservation efforts in Congress, where …

Makerspaces allow Native American youths, communities and teachers to engage with culturally connected making activities using high- and low-tech materials, leveraging existing indigenous technologies and craft practices. (Adobe Stock)

Native American Makerspace Coming Soon to Macy and Santee

The Center for Rural Affairs is launching collaborative work spaces on Nebraska Indian Community College campuses in Macy and Santee for making…

Advocates say the creation of a new national monument at Spirit Mountain would be a boon to the outdoor economy in Southern Nevada. (Kirk Peterson)

Feds to Hold Public Meeting Today on Proposed National Monument

The proposed national monument to be called Avi Kwa Ame is getting a big boost today as the top leaders of the Bureau of Land Management hold a public…

Free Program Fosters Business Skills for AZ Native American Women

Native American women in Arizona are getting a chance to launch their own businesses, with expert advice. Project DreamCatcher is a unique, free …

During this year's midterms, the Native American Rights Fund maintained contact with trained poll watchers in several states, including North Dakota, to offer any legal advice if an Indigenous voter had barriers in casting a ballot. (Adobe Stock)

ND Tribal Advocates Highlight Efforts of Poll Watchers in Midterms

Organizers behind a multistate effort to assist Indigenous voters at the polls in last week's election said it proved to be a valuable tool. North …

As buffalo herds graze, they inspire new vegetative growth across vast tracts of lands in a natural process that mimics the onset of spring. (Adobe Stock)

Buffalo Restoration Key to Wildlife Economy, Tribal Health

By Jake Bullinger for Bitterroot Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

After the 2020 Census, Montana added a House seat in the U.S. Congress. Its two seats are up for election on Tuesday. (Iryna/Adobe Stock)

Group Works to 'Get Out the Vote' for Indigenous Montanans

Election Day is almost here, and one organization wants to ensure indigenous folks in Montana know how they can cast their ballots. Ta'jin Perez…

Over the past year, several polls have indicated a majority of South Dakotans support Medicaid expansion. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Health Expert Discusses Medicaid Expansion in SD

In less than a week, South Dakota will learn whether voters support expanding Medicaid, where a researcher said approval would especially help tribal …

In examining two North Dakota tribal communities, a new data project says the average length voters have to travel to cast their ballot is 60 miles. (Adobe Stock)

ND Tribal Advocates Say Numbers Don't Lie in Voting Barriers

Native Americans have long faced barriers when it comes to voting, and a new North Dakota data project adds another layer to the arguments for access …

In a CDC report following COVID-19, unintentional injuries and chronic liver disease were some of the leading reasons for a drastic decline in life expectancy among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives from 2020 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Health Disparities Only Part of Problem for AZ Native Americans

Between 2020 and 2021, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives saw a two-year decrease in their life expectancy - the biggest drop among demographic …

White Earth Tribal and Community College is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy weei.com)

Tribal Colleges Hope Voters Show Support at the Polls

Minnesota is home to three tribal colleges. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout for the midterms…

Little Big Horn College in Montana is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy lbc.org)

Native Americans Urged to Vote with Higher Ed in Mind

Montana is home to seven tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout …

The 2022 Kids Count report found 56% of New Mexico three- and four-year-olds are not in preschool, the lowest ranking in the nation. (Susan Warner/savethechildren.org)

NM Voters to Decide Major Funding Shift for Early Childhood Education

In educational performance, New Mexico consistently ranks at or near the bottom among the 50 states, but it could change if an influx of dedicated …

Oglala Lakota College is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy olc.edu)

Tribal Colleges: Strong Voter Turnout Helps SD Campuses

South Dakota is home to three tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong …

The Indian Child Welfare Act establishes a preference for native children removed from their families to be placed with extended family members or in native foster homes to preserve their culture and heritage. (PxHere)

SCOTUS to Hear Constitutional Challenge to Indian Child Welfare Act

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court has Native Americans in Utah and other states concerned the outcome could revive the centuries-old practice of …

Native American students, girls on the right and boys on the left, attend class at the Walapai Indian School in Kingman, Ariz., around 1900. (Wikimedia)

SCOTUS Case on 'Separations' Could Affect AZ, Other Native Families

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court has Native Americans concerned the outcome could revive a centuries-old practice of separating indigenous …

In addition to a bill to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, there is legislation in Massachusetts to protect Native American heritage, remove racist mascots from schools, and teach Native American culture and history. (Adobe Stock)

Backers of Indigenous Peoples Day Vow to Keep Working for MA Recognition

While the Commonwealth still recognizes today as Columbus Day, backers of replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day said it would be an important …

With voting booths often located far from home, absentee ballots are a way many Native Americans in Montana vote. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

MT Election Laws That Created Barriers for Native Americans Struck Down

A Montana District Court has struck down three election laws which would have created voting barriers weeks before the midterm election. Two of the …

Leaders of tribal colleges say Native American students face greater barriers in completing a degree and starting a career. An emerging apprenticeship program is designed to remove some of those barriers. (Adobe Stock)

ND Tribal Colleges: Apprenticeship Donations Big Help

Tribal colleges across North Dakota are now making plans to boost apprentice opportunities with a $14 million donation. The money was donated by a …

In a recent lawsuit, a federal judge found nearly 10 examples in which the State of South Dakota had made it difficult for Native Americans to register to vote. (Adobe Stock)

Following Settlement with Tribes, SD Phases In Voting-Access Reforms

This election season, South Dakota is starting to implement voting-access reforms in light of a recent settlement with Native American tribes…

Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River is located near the Oregon town of Cascade Locks. (RG/Adobe Stock)

After Superfund Listing, Hard Work of Columbia River Site Cleanup Starts

A popular fishing site on the Columbia River for members of the Yakama Nation has been listed as Superfund site by the federal government. Now comes …

Lack of cultural inclusion in off-reservation schools is seen as one of many barriers for Native American college students in completing their degree. (Adobe Stock)

WI Tribal College Highlights Key Milestones

Only 17% of Native Americans are able to continue their education after high school. Tribal colleges hope their efforts to help these students …

Native Americans face unique barriers when they pursue higher education, but more scholarships and tuition support could help, according to research by the National Native Scholarships Providers. (collegehorizons.org)

Money, Family Responsibilities Limit Indigenous College Attendance

Native Americans must often overcome long odds to attain a college degree, but first-of-its kind data is helping educators better understand the …

Not only has inflation created more economic gaps in tribal areas, food experts say it also has sent the cost of things like wild rice soaring. And that has limited access to these staples for Natives living in larger cities, too. (Adobe Stock)

Economic Pressure Builds Ahead of Elections in Tribal Areas

The economy is usually a big topic during elections. With the midterms near, recent inflation woes are especially felt in tribal areas, and …

The Lummi Nation totem pole traveled through the islands of Puget Sound before making its way to the East Coast. (Freddie Lane)

WA Totem Pole Travels U.S. for 'Just' Clean Energy Transition

A totem pole from the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington is traveling across the country as part of a bid to call for clean energy and environmental…

Because of its population increase over the past decade, Montana will have two congressional districts this year instead of one. (Svetlana/Adobe Stock)

MT Native Org Getting Folks Registered to Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and one Native American rights organization in Montana is ensuring people are ready to vote in November…

Three in four good-paying jobs in Colorado require a college degree or other post-secondary credentials. (Adobe Stock)

Deep Data Dive Finds Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Students

The biggest obstacle facing Indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the National Native …

Petroglyphs and other rock formations dot the landscape in the Great Bend of the Gila, which could become a National Conservation Area. (Dawn Kish/The Wilderness Society)

Bill Would Give Tribal Leaders Stake In Managing AZ Conservation Lands

A bill to make tribal governments equal partners with the federal government in managing a pair of Arizona land preserves advanced in the U.S…

The area known as Squaw Bay near Alpena in northeast Michigan has been renamed Birdsong Bay by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Pixabay)

Interior Review Finds Hundreds of Place Names with Indigenous Slurs

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Michigan and across the country, containing …

Interior Department Changes 650 Place Names to Remove Racial Slur

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Arizona and across the country, containing …

The new Indian Youth Service Corps enlists Indigenous youths for paying jobs that include trail restoration, habitat surveys, climate mitigation, watershed restoration and other culturally important tasks. (Kristi Rugg/National Park Service)

Indian Youth Services Corps Offers Jobs in Conservation, Preservation

Indigenous youths have been enlisted in the Southwest, including New Mexico, to help conserve natural and cultural resources on tribal lands as part …

A mountain peak near Provo is now Kweeyahgut Peak, one of 50 sites in Utah being renamed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Wikimedia Commons)

Interior Dept. Orders Changes to 650 Place Names to Remove Indigenous Slurs

The U.S. Interior Department has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Utah and across the country, containing words …

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