Native American Issues / Public News Service

Native American tribes and support organizations have pursued several lawsuits since the 2020 redistricting cycle, in hopes of securing fair political boundaries. There is also a push to get more tribes to be active when maps are drawn, so legal action will not be necessary. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps

Across the U.S., most political boundaries tied to the 2020 Census have been in place for a while, but a national project on map fairness for …

The Bureau of Land Management's newly issued Public Lands Rule is designed to safeguard cultural resources such as New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Park. (Photo courtesy SallyPaez)

Friday, April 19, 2024

BLM's 'Public Lands Rule' could reform conservation, access in NM

Balancing the needs of the many with those who have traditionally reaped benefits from public lands is behind a new rule issued Thursday by the Bureau…

During what is known as the Medicaid post-pandemic

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Report: SD Medicaid expansion enrollment remains low

Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state wh…

There are more than 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, including the piping plover, a shorebird found on sandy beaches in southern Maine. (Adobe Stock)

New Endangered Species Act rules consider climate impact on ME wildlife

Conservationists in Maine said reinstated protections of the Endangered Species Act could help wildlife already struggling to adapt to climate change…

Enbridge owns and operates Line 5, a controversial oil pipeline that crosses tribal lands and runs under a portion of the Great Lakes. (Adobe Stock)

Midwest Tribes to take Line 5 concerns to United Nations forum

Next week, Native American leaders from the Midwest will go before a United Nations panel with their concerns over a controversial oil pipeline they …

In 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichenger revoked the 1953 easement allowing Enbridge's Line 5 to operate. (Earthjustice)

Indigenous leaders come to NY to speak about pipeline impacts

Indigenous community leaders will be in New York addressing the United Nations. They'll be speaking at the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous …

Enbridge Energy's longstanding Line 5 oil pipeline has resulted in heavy opposition, including legal challenges, from environmental and tribal organizations in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. (Photo courtesy Earthjustice)

Tribal interests remain at heart of opposition to Great Lakes oil pipeline

Later this month, Indigenous leaders will speak before a United Nations panel about their ongoing concerns with a controversial oil pipeline in the …

More than 90% of available land in the Greater Chaco region, former home of Ancestral Puebloan civilizations, is dotted with oil and gas wells, according to WildEarth Guardians. (WildEarthGuardians.org)

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Tribal communities, including those in New Mexico, can now apply for grant funding and direct assistance to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells …

Downtown Winnebago is in northeast Nebraska's Thurston County. The Ho-Chunk Village housing development can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy HCCDC)

Winnebago Tribe's development corp earns top rating, $2 million grant

The Nebraska Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation, or HCCDC, has been awarded $2 million through MacKenzie Scott's Yield …

Methane emissions were measured from four dams on the Snake River in southeastern Washington. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Report: Lower Snake River dams source of methane emissions

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

Lewiston is at the Washington border where the Snake River enters Idaho. (Nadia/Adobe Stock)

Snake River dams' clean energy claims questioned

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

The Snake River is the largest tributary to the Columbia River. (Sascha Burkard/Adobe Stock)

Carbon emissions found from Columbia River Basin dams

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

The Mario Atencio v. the State of New Mexico lawsuit is the first to focus on a 1971 environmental clause included in the state's constitution. (Austin/Adobe Stock)

NM oil and gas pollution lawsuit gets Santa Fe hearing

A court hearing is scheduled this week in a lawsuit claiming New Mexico is violating residents' rights to a clean and healthy environment by not holdi…

Indigenous people will be discussing tribal identity on and off Montana reservations and learn what it means to be

Indigenous conference to address cultural identity

Billings-based Western Native Voice is holding its annual membership conference in Great Falls starting tomorrow, and members are discussing …

Leaders from the Yurok Tribe and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods walk among native plants planted as part of a revegetation effort at 'O Rew. (Evan-Marie Petit)

Historic agreement to return Redwoods land to Yurok Tribe

Plans to open a new gateway to Redwoods State and National Parks got a big boost Tuesday, paving the way for a key parcel of land to be returned to …

The Puyallup Tribe reservation is located outside of Tacoma. (Derrick/Adobe Stock)

Puyallup Tribe played key role in WA police accountability push

By Frank Hopper for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

Tourism and outdoor recreational are top drivers of New Mexico's economy. (Pew Charitable Trusts)

NM ambassadors travel east to advocate for West's Gila River

New Mexico has one of the nation's last "wild" rivers, free of human-made structures and community representatives will be back in the nation's …

The Quinault Indian Nation has been working on purchasing forest parcesl on their reservation on the Olympic Peninsula for several decades. (Sam Beebe/Flickr)

WA tribe receives funding to return forest lands to tribal stewardship

A Washington state tribe is getting funding to return forest lands to tribal stewardship. The Washington state Legislature has approved $25 million …

The U.S. military opens the Trinity bomb site, 210 miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico, to the public twice a year. (Nina/Adobe Stock)

NM activist seeking atomic bomb reparations invited to State of the Union

A New Mexico resident will attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union address tonight as legislation is pending to expand the Radiation Exposure …

Following a major earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident in Japan on March 11, 2011. (Freer/Adobe Stock)

Fukushima remembrance event highlights local concerns in Michigan

Bringing together Michigan tribes and environmental advocates, an upcoming event marks a commemoration of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster…

Around 20% of children in San Juan County are uncertain about their next meal, which is double the statewide average, according to Utah Food Bank. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank opens two pantries on Navajo Nation

Utah Food Bank is expanding in San Juan County, and has announced the opening of two new pantries that will help support residents of the Navajo …

Missouri's Senate Bill 1314, similar to House Bill 2365, prohibits funds from being expended by any state department for interdepartmental programs, staffing or other initiatives associated with

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

A new report finds some Missouri laws and prospective laws are perceived as discriminatory regardless of their actual intent - and it outlines some bi…

The Indigenous Peoples Task Force is bringing new baby food to Native populations. Those involved did extensive testing of recipes originally created by Lori Watso, a chef and nurse from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community. (Photo courtesy of Jaida Grey Eagle, Arts Midwest)<br /><br />

Indigi-Baby: MN project gets infants off to a wholesome start

By Jay Gabler for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabo…

The lands under consideration for the S�tt�tla National Monument in the Medicine Lake Highlands are currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service. (Bob Wick)

Tribes call for new Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern CA

Tribes in far northeastern California are pressing President Joe Biden to create a new national monument about 30 miles from Mount Shasta. The Pit …

Nine in 10 voters across eight Mountain West states including Colorado want oil and gas companies, not federal and state governments, to pay for cleanup and restoration costs. (Adobe Stock)

West's Latino voters want conservation over development on public lands

Voters, including 74% of Republicans, 87% of Independents and 96% of Democrats, would support candidates in elections who prioritize conservation on …

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is an internationally recognized wetland and designated Ramsar site. (Adobe Stock)

Calls renewed to protect Ash Meadows wildlife refuge

Nevada conservationists held a webinar to discuss the protection of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near the Nevada-California border from propos…

Census data from 2020 included population counts of nearly 1,500 race and ethnicity groups and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its "Race for …

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has the authority to cancel fishing seasons under part 411 of the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The DNR notice said it is too soon to determine whether this year's cancelation will affect the harvest limit for next year. (sablin/Adobe Stock)

Black Lake sturgeon season cancelled due to mild temperatures

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday it is canceling the 2024 Black Lake sturgeon harvest due to warm temperatures and uns…

Heart Butte, Mont., population 600, is on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The suicide rate for Montana's Native American youth is more than five times the statewide rate for the same age group, according to the Montana Budget and Policy Center. (Amanda MorningStar)

MT Tribes grapple with crippling suicide rate

By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News/Public News …

Montana has consistently had one of the highest voter turnout rates in the nation, according to the Secretary of State's office. The group Western Native Voice is working to increase the number of Indigenous voters this year. (Adobe Stock)

MT Indigenous group creates app to increase voter turnout

A Native American advocacy group is making a big push to get out the Indigenous vote in this year's elections. It is hiring field organizers across …

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville is reintroducing Canada Lynx onto their reservation in eastern Washington. (David Moskowitz/Yes! Magazine)

WA tribes reintroduce species to native habitat

By Rico Moore for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would halt approval of new drilling permits within a mile of school facilities starting in July. (Photo courtesy of Consumer Watchdog)

A trio of NM bills could rein in lucrative oil, gas industry

A trio of bills to curb oil and gas pollution is under consideration by New Mexico lawmakers. New Mexico is the country's second-largest oil …

The $80.1 million investments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are part of President Joe Biden's commitment to advance equity for people who have been historically underserved and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. (ysbrandcosijn/Adobe Stock)

USDA funds 28 housing units in Michigan's Alpena County

Braving the week's icy conditions, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and several members of the Legislature highlighted the state's housing crisis at …

Bradford Island is located near the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. (J-B-C/Adobe Stock)

After Superfund listing, cleanup of Columbia River site progresses slowly

Advocates are making slow but steady progress to clean up a portion of the Columbia River named a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agenc…

Critics of PacifiCorp say the company broke a 2004 promise to retrofit its hydroelectric dams to include fish passages. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

Will PacifiCorp make good on its fish recovery promises?

Coming into the new year, Columbia Riverkeeper is supporting efforts by the Cowlitz Tribe and Yakama Nation to restore salmon migration throughout …

Latino children in Maine fare better than their peers nationwide, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation report. An estimated 70% of Latino children in Maine live in families with incomes at or above 200% of the poverty line, compared to 47% of Latino children nationally. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report finds gaps in child well-being persist across Maine

Children of color in Maine fare relatively well compared to their peers nationwide, but gaps in child well-being persist - according to a new report…

Indigenous woman wearing a traditional dress. (SALMONNEGRO/Adobe Stock)

Omaha Maya organization receives $15,000 grant for regenerative ag practices

An Omaha Maya organization has received one of five $15,000 grants from the nonprofit GreenLatinos. Some 85 organizations applied for the grant …

Hydrogen use is expected to grow sixfold from today's levels to meet 10% of total energy consumption by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency. (malp/Adobe Stock)

Navajo Nation hydrogen project raises red flags in New Mexico

Hydrogen power is touted as a game-changer in curbing climate change. But in New Mexico, those who feel exploited by the fossil fuel industry have …

View from underneath of the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. (ehrlif/Adobe Stock)

New Year brings renewed concerns over Great Lakes Line 5 project

The New Year brings a chorus of familiar concerns about the risks of building a 21-foot diameter tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for oil and gas …

The Montana Legal Services Association's Tribal Advocate Incubator Project focuses on legal advocacy, <br />court representation and the basics of how to run your own business. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates boost legal services to MT's native tribes

A new program from the Montana Legal Services Association is boosting legal assistance to people living on the state's tribal land. The Tribal …

Commercial buildings in Winnebago, Neb., including headquarters of award-winning Ho-Chunk Village, and Ho-Chunk Village residential housing in background. (Sam Burrish/Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Study credits diversification for Winnebago Tribe success

A new study calls the economic and social changes brought about by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska over the past three decades "a story of numerous ac…

A diet devoid of indigenous foods is known to have a dramatic effect on the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives. (Courtesy: Save the Children)

Navajo Nation children embrace cafeteria's native foods

Across the globe, hunger is an enormous threat to children. To combat the problem, one rural school district in northwest New Mexico is bringing …

Indigenous AZ researcher calls for more quality focused farming

By Breanna Draxler for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News …

The Bureau of Land Management's Rock Springs plan leaves 99.8% of the area under consideration available for livestock grazing. (Adobe Stock)

BLM's Rock Springs proposal draws ire from some lawmakers

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's draft plan to manage lands owned by all Americans in southwestern Wyoming has come under fire from some …

In 2022, 29.3 million adults, representing 11.2% of the population, reported having three or more chronic conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado 12th healthiest state in nation as chronic conditions rise

Colorado is the 12th healthiest state in the nation, according to the latest America's Health Rankings report. But the number of Coloradans dealing …

Piping plover sits near sand bags used by Enbridge in its Bad River bank stabilization project in Ashland County, Wis. (MierCat Photography/Adobe Stock)

Line 5 moves forward, despite wildlife advocates' calls for shutdown

Conservation groups in Michigan and the Great Lakes region say they'll keep calling for an orderly shutdown of the Line 5 oil pipeline, despite the …

A red handprint across the mouth has become a symbolic representation of violence that affects Indigenous women, in the United States and beyond. (tloventures/Adobe Stock)

NM restores Council on Missing, Murdered Indigenous People after protests

New Mexico has more missing Indigenous people than any other state, so the announcement that a disbanded investigative committee will be restored is …

Members of the Rural Utah Project identified about 5,600 potential structures across San Juan County in their efforts to distribute 'plus codes.' (Adobe Stock)

Technology, ingenuity deliver addresses to UT residents of Navajo Nation

By Peter Yeung for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Alex Gonzalez for Utah News Connection reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 19, 2024

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Native American/Indigenous

Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps

BLM's 'Public Lands Rule' could reform conservation, access in NM

Report: SD Medicaid expansion enrollment remains low

New Endangered Species Act rules consider climate impact on ME wildlife

Midwest Tribes to take Line 5 concerns to United Nations forum

Indigenous leaders come to NY to speak about pipeline impacts

Tribal interests remain at heart of opposition to Great Lakes oil pipeline

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Winnebago Tribe's development corp earns top rating, $2 million grant

Report: Lower Snake River dams source of methane emissions

Snake River dams' clean energy claims questioned

Carbon emissions found from Columbia River Basin dams

NM oil and gas pollution lawsuit gets Santa Fe hearing

Indigenous conference to address cultural identity

Historic agreement to return Redwoods land to Yurok Tribe

Puyallup Tribe played key role in WA police accountability push

NM ambassadors travel east to advocate for West's Gila River

WA tribe receives funding to return forest lands to tribal stewardship

NM activist seeking atomic bomb reparations invited to State of the Union

Fukushima remembrance event highlights local concerns in Michigan

Utah Food Bank opens two pantries on Navajo Nation

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

Indigi-Baby: MN project gets infants off to a wholesome start

Tribes call for new Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern CA

West's Latino voters want conservation over development on public lands

Calls renewed to protect Ash Meadows wildlife refuge

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

Black Lake sturgeon season cancelled due to mild temperatures

MT Tribes grapple with crippling suicide rate

MT Indigenous group creates app to increase voter turnout

WA tribes reintroduce species to native habitat

A trio of NM bills could rein in lucrative oil, gas industry

USDA funds 28 housing units in Michigan's Alpena County

After Superfund listing, cleanup of Columbia River site progresses slowly

Will PacifiCorp make good on its fish recovery promises?

Report finds gaps in child well-being persist across Maine

Omaha Maya organization receives $15,000 grant for regenerative ag practices

Navajo Nation hydrogen project raises red flags in New Mexico

New Year brings renewed concerns over Great Lakes Line 5 project

Advocates boost legal services to MT's native tribes

Study credits diversification for Winnebago Tribe success

Navajo Nation children embrace cafeteria's native foods

Indigenous AZ researcher calls for more quality focused farming

BLM's Rock Springs proposal draws ire from some lawmakers

Report: Colorado 12th healthiest state in nation as chronic conditions rise

Line 5 moves forward, despite wildlife advocates' calls for shutdown

NM restores Council on Missing, Murdered Indigenous People after protests

Technology, ingenuity deliver addresses to UT residents of Navajo Nation