Native American Issues / Public News Service

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)

Friday, October 7, 2022

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 …

Nearly three in four Nebraska jobs that pay a living wage will require at least some postsecondary education by 2027. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Nebraska Students

The biggest obstacle facing indigenous students in Nebraska completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the …

Methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure in New Mexico are the state's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the University of New Mexico. (umm.edu)

NM Fossil-Fuel Industry Fights Methane, Ozone Rules Compliance

Environmental groups in New Mexico say a lawsuit filed by an advocacy group for the state's fossil-fuel industry suggests it values profit more than p…

The Nez Perce Tribe finds spring chinook salmon on the Snake River are unlikely to recover without substantial intervention. (Hanjo/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders: Breaching Snake River Dams Necessary, Not Yet Possible

An announcement from Washington state leaders on the future of the lower Snake River dams contained both good and bad news for groups defending native…

Artist Stella Nall made this painting of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, located in north central Montana. (Montana Conservation Voters)

'Remember Our History': Artists Paint MT National Monuments

Artists in Montana have recently immortalized the state's national monuments on canvas. At "Pint Night" events put on by the Montana Conservation …

The Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act builds on protections passed by Congress in 1978 by clarifying state policies and procedures regarding implementation of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. (Adobe Stock)

Brief Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Indian Child Welfare Act

The ACLU of Nebraska has joined a national brief filed in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a 1978 law passed by Congress aiming to …

Six out of seven occupations identified by the Wyoming Department of Employment as the most in-demand require some form of post-secondary education. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Americans to Complete Degrees

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

Around 72% of survey participants in a new college affordability study for Indigenous students reported running out of money at least once in the last six months. (Adobe Stock)

New Study Details College Cost Barriers for Indigenous Students

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

A new Indigenous academy in South Dakota, geared for younger students, says it wants the kids to have a deep sense of belonging, higher engagement and motivation. (Adobe Stock)

New SD Tribal Academy Readies for Fall Start

Organizers behind a new Indigenous school in western South Dakota hope they can give young Native American students a more optimal learning environmen…

According to a 2021 study, 90% of coal must remain unextracted to keep global temperatures at levels considered safe by leading scientists. (Adobe Stock)

Court Ruling Adds to Challenges Facing Wyoming Coal Industry

A federal court's decision to require the Department of Interior to consider the potential health and climate impacts of coal mining on public lands c…

The Padlock Ranch was established in northwest Wyoming in 1867 as a sheep operation. In 1940 the Northern Arapaho Tribe purchased and renamed it the Arapaho Ranch. (Hoffman)

Tour Set for Arapaho Ranch, Former Site of Historic Padlock

On August 27, members of the public will have a rare opportunity to visit the historic Padlock Ranch first developed for livestock in 1867, now …

Summit Carbon solutions has been seeking voluntary land agreements with private property owners in multiple states for its underground carbon storage project. (Adobe Stock)

ND Landowners Continue Mobilization in Opposing Carbon Pipeline

Next week, North Dakota landowners will get a chance to hear updates on a proposed underground pipeline for transporting and sequestering carbon …

Recently, members of the coalition to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument in Southern Nevada held a series of meetings with Biden-Harris administration officials and members of the Nevada congressional delegation. (Photo courtesy of Coalition)

NV Honors National Monument, with Hopes for Another

Over the weekend, Nevada's Lehman Caves celebrated its 100th anniversary as a national monument. Supporters behind a proposal to add another monument …

The proposed mine is located adjacent to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups, Nez Perce Not Sold on ID Gold Mine

Idaho has issued its first major permit for a gold mine east of McCall. Conservation groups and the Nez Perce tribes say the project raises alarm …

A public meeting on redistricting is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Salish Kootenai College. (Salish Kootenai College/U.S. Department of Education)

MT Redistricting Has Impacts for Native Communities

With new voting maps for Montana's Legislature to be revealed soon, Native American communities are being encouraged to watch the process closely…

A January leak and subsequent shutdown of the federally operated Cliffside Helium Plant in Texas has contributed to a shortage of helium in the United States. (blm.gov)

Environmental Concerns Slow Helium Mining Proposal on Navajo Nation

People on the Navajo Nation have lived through decades of oil, gas, uranium and coal extraction, and helium could be next. The Navajo Nation Oil and …

Montana's current legislative map is in place until state-level elections in 2024. (leg.mt.gov)

Montanans Can Follow, Comment on State-Level Redistricting

With congressional districts settled, Montana is now drawing state-level voting maps for its legislative seats. The deadline for members of the …

ND Tribal School: New Book Highlights Language Preservation Movement

Many Indigenous languages face extinction, and in the U.S. efforts are popping up to preserve traditional Native American dialects and culture…

Eugene Mural Brings New Attention to Native Oregon Plants

A new mural in Eugene depicts Kalapuya people harvesting native plants and preparing them as food and medicine. It is part of a larger project to …

Life expectancy for Native Americans fell more than any other ethnic group during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by the University of Colorado-Boulder. (newmexico.org)

Study: Native Americans' Lifespan Reduced Most by COVID-19

New research shows COVID-19 caused life expectancy to drop for all groups of Americans, but none as much as American Indians and Native Alaskans…

In New Mexico, herds of pronghorn typically are found roaming the high plains throughout the eastern part of the state. (Steppinstars/Pixabay)

USGS Seeks More Funding for Big-Game Migration Mapping

A four-year project to map big-game routes throughout the West will end without additional funds from Congress - at least for now. Since 2018…

South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation has its own Public Safety Department to uphold tribal and federal law. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Decision Prompts Concerns about Tribal Sovereignty

Tribal advocates are closely analyzing the potential impact of a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with state investigations of certain crimes on …

Native Americans, who are now in court in response to North Dakota's redistricting efforts, say not prioritizing public hearings on tribal lands contributed to the issues seen with the maps that were approved. (Adobe Stock)

New Activity in ND Redistricting Lawsuits about Tribal Lands

July 1 is the next scheduled hearing date for a pair of lawsuits tied to North Dakota's redistricting process. The legal issue is political …

Western Native Voice is setting up voting kiosks at tribal buildings across Montana. (Western Native Voice)

Group Aims to Boost Native American Turnout After MT Primary

A Native American organization is hoping to increase voter numbers after low turnout during the Montana primary this month. Keaton Sunchild…

The latest report from leading climate scientists warned that greenhouse-gas emissions need to peak within three years, and then start going down, in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Summit in Lander Aims to Boost Awareness, Engagement

Wyomingites concerned about bigger and more frequent wildfires, prolonged drought, threats to clean air, water and wildlife can explore ways to …

Researchers looking at disparities in children's well-being in North Dakota say the issues play out into adulthood. People of color with a bachelor's degree or higher earn $4 less in median hourly wage than their white peers. (Adobe Stock)

Report Examines Needs, Well-being of BIPOC Youth in ND

North Dakota is seeing more diversity within its youth population, but researchers say they face a tougher road in securing a brighter future…

Native Americans make up about 6% of Montana's population. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Low Homeownership Rates Hurt MT Native Americans

After a history of forcible removal from their land, Native Americans now struggle to own homes. Until recently, indigenous people had little …

Conservationists note that old, wild forests bring various benefits, from storing carbon to preserving biodiversity. (Wikimedia Commons)

Groups Aim to Protect Old Forest in Northern Appalachian-Acadian Ecoregion

Conservationists in the Northern Appalachian-Acadian region are changing how they think about forest protection and management, by bringing together …

In addition to legislative seats, North Dakota will see Native American candidates running for county-level seats and school boards this year. (Adobe Stock)

Building Access for ND's Tribal Voters Focuses on Communication, Data

Ahead of North Dakota's June 14 primary, a civic engagement group is crunching numbers and maintaining talks with county and state election leaders …

While some tribal governments, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority, have been able to accelerate internet accessibility, service affordability is still a barrier for tribal members. (Adobe Stock)

Closing Tribal Connection Gap: SD Reservations Get Internet Funds

Native American communities say the pandemic severely limited their ability to communicate with the rest of the world and each other, largely because …

The totem pole made about a dozen stops in Idaho, Oregon and Washington over the past three weeks. (House of Tears Carvers)

Totem Pole Takes Journey for Salmon, Struggling Puget Sound Orca

A totem pole from Washington state promoting a free-flowing Snake River has nearly completed its 2,500-mile journey around the Northwest. The Spirit …

More than 200 organizations submitted a letter last month urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to halt new construction on Line 5, which runs under the Straits of Mackinac. (Wikimedia Commons)

MI Water Advocate: Pipeline Reroute Puts Tribal Fishing Rights at Risk

CORRECTION: Enbridge is proposing a rerouting of its existing Line 5. An earlier version incorrectly stated the project involved an expansion…

The planned reroute of Line 5 around the Bad River reservation will cost Enbridge, Inc. about $450 million, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

WI Tribal Advocates: Pipeline Threatens Agricultural Traditions

Enbridge is seeking to reroute a portion of its Line 5 around the Bad River Band's territory in northern Wisconsin. The rerouting falls within the …

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has launched the

NM's Chaco Supporters Rally for Protections from Drilling

At a rally today in Santa Fe, thousands of comments about a proposed withdrawal of new oil and gas drilling leases near New Mexico's Chaco Culture …

A storytelling project in the desert Southwest demonstrated the resiliency of local food production versus reliance on the industrial food system. (Courtesy Michelle Carreon)

Desert Southwest Shows Resilience in Feeding Families Amid COVID-19

When a nonprofit food center in the desert Southwest began a project to chronicle challenges of land and water access combined with climate change…

A new bill in Congress would rename Walker Ridge as

Tribes, Lawmakers Press to Expand Berryessa Snow Mtn. Monument

Local lawmakers and Native American leaders are speaking out in favor of a new bill to add almost 4,000 acres to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monu…

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