Native American Issues / Public News Service

For decades, Arizona courts interpreted the state Constitution to deny the right to vote to Native Americas as

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Federal judge blocks AZ law that 'disenfranchised' Native voters

A federal judge has blocked a 2022 Arizona law that voting-rights advocates say would have made it harder for some Native Americans to vote. House …

Aerial view of Winnebago, Neb., home of Little Priest Tribal College. It is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUS) in the United States. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Monday, September 25, 2023

Little Priest Tribal College builds opportunity 'pipelines,' STEM workforce

Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago says its student body and campus are growing - and so are its options for people to study in STEM fields…

It has been nearly four years since North Dakota reached a settlement with Native American tribes over its Voter ID law, but advocates say there are still barriers for tribal members who want to cast a ballot. (Adobe Stock)

As 2024 vote looms, ND Tribal advocates ramp up outreach

While North Dakota does not have voter registration, civic engagement groups say efforts are still needed to help underserved populations get …

The U.S. Department of the Interior currently manages 11,000 bison in herds across 4.6 million acres of public lands in a dozen states. (Adobe Stock)

Native American Tribes get funding for bison restoration

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced $5 million in funding to help reintroduce bison to Native American Tribal lands around the country…

Native American voters living on rural reservations often use ballot-collection services because of limited access to home mail services and polling places. Montana, home to 12 tribal nations, enacted a law that makes it illegal to pay organizers who collect completed absentee ballots from voters, according to the Brennan Center. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous Effort Aims to Get Out the Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and in Montana, Indigenous advocates are working to register people and get out the vote. As part of its …

Washington Invests $5 Million in Tribal Land Bison Restoration

The U.S. Interior Department has invested $5 million in reintroducing bison to Native American Tribal lands across the country. Montana's iconic …

Thousands of miles of fencing in Wyoming and across the Western U.S., which act as barriers to wildlife seeking winter and summer ranges, was installed over 100 years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Hunters, Anglers Get $2.5 Million to Restore Migration Corridors

A new partnership between the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the group Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) aims to improve migration corridors …

Many saguaro cacti were damaged or destroyed during construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall initiated by former President Donald Trump and funded by taxpayers. (Photo courtesy: LaikenJordahl)

NM Saw Lasting Consequences from Trump's U.S.-Mexico Border Wall

The unprecedented attempt to build a wall along the U.S. Mexico border has had devastating effects on wildlife from which they may not recover…

Tonight: Great Lakes Documentary Premieres in Traverse City

They're calling it an "adventure conservation documentary," and the film has its first showing tonight in Traverse City. "Troubled Water" chronicles …

Access to health care in rural America was a popular topic at the Rural Policy Action Summit in April, according to a report, with concerns raised about the number of rural hospitals closing their doors. (Adobe Stock)

A Call for Better Broadband, Jobs, Local Investment for Rural IA

A group of rural policymakers and advocates has released its top priorities to help small towns thrive in Iowa and across the country. The 2023 …

Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park have destroyed some cultural sites and transformed others into industrial parks. (MarkKaletka/Flicker/Creative Commons)

Protection of NM's Greater Chaco Region Faces New Threats

A previous agreement to protect New Mexico's Greater Chaco Canyon region from oil and gas development is back on the table, forcing supporters to…

Fermi 2 is a 1,198 MWe General Electric boiling water reactor that began operations in 1985.(spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

DTE Energy Nuclear Plant Closed for Almost 3 Weeks

The Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant has been closed for repairs for almost three weeks. Local residents and advocacy groups in Monroe County are voicing …

Claire Gunderson is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Jemez and Laguna Pueblo of New Mexico. (Charlie Leight/ASU News)

First-Year ASU Student Helps Close Engineering Gender Gap

The percentage of female engineers varies by specialty, but 2021 figures show only 9% of mechanical engineers are women. One Arizona State University …

An upcoming event in South Dakota, centered around food sovereignty, aims to help Native American chefs, community leaders and others share traditional and modern ideas about expanding food systems. (Adobe Stock)

SD Summit: Creating More Pathways for Indigenous Food Sovereignty

As food-sovereignty efforts continue among Native American tribes, a South Dakota organization is bringing together stakeholders for a key …

Hunger relief experts say the pandemic made it much harder for marginalized populations to access healthy food, and federal relief grants helped some organizations address gaps. (Adobe Stock)

Relief Grants in MN Help Instill Hope in Addressing Food Insecurity

Minnesota saw a record 5.7 million people people visit food shelves last year. While there is still great concern about households not having enough …

In 2018, Michigan's Proposal 3 was touted as a

Report Cites 'Flawed' Voter Purges as Unfair

There are many good reasons for states to update their voter rolls in preparation for elections, but a new report contended many are too zealous …

Officials with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Student Success Through Applied Research Lab are gathering data from colleges and universities across the country as they create a searchable database for Indigenous students seeking financial relief. They hope to have an initial version ready next year. (Adobe Stock)

WI Project to Create Financial Aid Tool for Native College Students

Indigenous college students face many obstacles in higher education, including overwhelming costs and not feeling culturally connected on campus…

The new monument's Native American name is Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, which refers to the ancestral footprints of Indigenous peoples. It is made up of three distinct areas to the south, northeast and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park. (Adobe Stock)

Biden Announces Historic National Monument Near Grand Canyon

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced the designation of a new national monument near the Grand Canyon. The latest move will conserve and …

Desiree Fowler will be formally inducted into her new role during the board's annual conference in December. (AZ School Boards Association)

Arizona School Boards Association Elects First Indigenous President

The Arizona School Boards Association has for the first time in the organization's approximately 80-year history chosen an Indigenous woman to be pres…

Roughly 190 species of birds breed in New Hampshire. Of these, roughly 80 are decreasing, especially those migrating the longest distances, or feeding on insects in flight, including sparrows, according to the Audubon Society. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New England Avian Experts Monitor Impact of Wildfire Smoke

Avian experts in New England say billions of birds have been affected by recent wildfires in Canada's boreal forest and the resulting plumes of smoke…

More than 400 students received assistance through the Oregon Tribal Student Grant in its first year. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

College Assistance for Native Students Grows, But Some Excluded

By Natalie Pate for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Se…

The National Weather Service says a heat index at or above 90 degrees poses a significant health risk. (nmsd.k12.nm.us)

Study: NM Needs New Policies to Protect Children from Extreme Heat

New Mexico must do more to protect children and other vulnerable residents from extreme heat, according to a new report from the advocacy …

Dental Therapists Could Fill Dental-Health 'Gap' in AZ

Since last month, dental therapists can apply for licenses to practice in Arizona, and some believe they'll play a critical role in a state full of …

Nearing 25th Anniversary, Little Priest Tribal College is Growing, Open to All

A community college in Winnebago, Little Priest Tribal College, celebrates its 25th anniversary this September. After more than 20 years of roughly 12…

More than 70 million people live in areas of the United States with dentist shortages, according to dentalherapy.org. (Graphicroyalty/AdobeStock)

NM Remains Slow in Closing Dental Care Equity Gap

Dental care is vital to overall health, but finding and affording services is a challenge in many states - including New Mexico. Dental therapists…

One in five U.S. adults, or nearly 53 million people, lived with a mental illness in 2020, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (NLawrenson/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

DACA Weighs on Some During BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

Racism and discrimination act as stressors to increase mental health vulnerability, according to experts, especially for BIPOC individuals; Black…

In New Mexico, 'Oppenheimer' Film Revives Painful Memories

This summer's "Oppenheimer" movie will shine a light on development of the first nuclear weapons, but for many in southern New Mexico it is another …

Harmful algal blooms typically occur in Michigan during the summer months and can last well into the fall. (sunday_morning/Adobe Stock)

Watch for Harmful Algal Blooms in MI Recreational Waters

Michigan residents are being warned to be prepared for another season of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. The Michigan Department of …

About 4% of the present population of Montana is indigenous. The major groups include the Assiniboin, Blackfeet, Chippewa-Cree, Crow, Flathead, Grosventres, Kalispel, Kootenai, Little Shell Band of Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Piegan, Salish and Spokane. (Adobe Stock)

Western Native Voice Launches Road Tour to Educate Constituents

Indigenous advocates kick off educational listening sessions in rural Montana this month to educate Native Americans about actions the state legislatu…

Homes in the award-winning Ho-Chunk Village on the Winnebago Reservation. (Photo by Jerry L. Mennenga, courtesy of Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Village Wins Major Award, Serves as Model

Nebraska's Winnebago Tribe is considered a mid-sized tribe, but it's a big award winner. The tribe's Ho-Chunk Village housing development is one of …

South Dakota's Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is trying to reclaim and restore historical elements of the Lakota language. Organizers said data sovereignty will play a big role in ensuring younger generations in the region have access to the teachings. (Photo courtesy TVCDC)

Data Sovereignty Movement for Native Populations Reaches SD

Around the U.S., there are efforts among tribal nations to reclaim stolen land from colonization and preserve language history, and a South Dakota …

Umpqua Community College is a small institution in southwest Oregon with about 3,000 full time students. (Gordon Friedman/Wikimedia Commons)

OR Tribal Student Grant Gets Permanent Funding

A college grant program for tribal students in Oregon received an extension in this year's budget. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant was funded with $2…

Jacob Moore is the former associate vice president of tribal relations in the Office of Government and Community Affairs. (Charlie Leight/ASU News)

New Leader at Arizona State University for American Indian Affairs

Arizona State University wants to continue fostering and cultivating relationships with tribal nations in the state. It plans to continue to do so …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are about 220,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies each year over the course of a decade. (Adobe Stock)

MT Partnership Trains Nursing Assistants to Address Critical Shortage

Facing a critical shortage of front line health care workers, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry has partnered with the Blackfeet Indian …

Several groups representing Native American college students say the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to largely remove affirmative action from college admissions is

Tribal Education Groups Respond to SCOTUS Ruling on Admissions

Advocates for underrepresented college students continue to assess the fallout from last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision dealing with affirmative …

SCOTUS Ruling on College Admissions Felt by Tribal Education Leaders

Advocates for underrepresented college students continue to assess the fallout from last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision dealing with affirmative …

The 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes and culture. (ruslanita/AdobeStock)

SCOTUS Adoption Ruling Delivers Win for Tribal Sovereignty

Native Americans, tribal leaders and other supporters of last week's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding adoption say it affirms their …

One key issue in the case is whether Montana is responsible for emissions within the state and downstream emissions from fossil fuels extracted in the state and transported elsewhere, or whether it is responsible only for emissions within its territory. (Lesley Clark/POLITICO's E&E News)

Montana's Youth-Led Climate Case Could Set Precedent

Now in its fifth day, 16 kids are participating in a court trial with a lawsuit accusing Montana state agencies and the governor of compromising the …

Native American advocates say this week's Supreme Court decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act ultimately protects tribal culture and heritage by ensuring there will be continued efforts to keep Native children in their community environments if they're considered for adoption or foster care. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Advocates Feel 'Relief' After SCOTUS ICWA Ruling

Tribal advocates are cheering a U.S. Supreme Court decision Thursday which allows a landmark law dealing with child welfare cases to stand. It …

According to the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, in 2022, outdoor recreation in Arizona, in places like the Grand Canyon region, generated $3.3 billion in wages and salaries. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Tribal Nations, Lawmakers Want New Grand Canyon Nat'l. Monument

President Joe Biden has designated new national monuments in Nevada and Texas - and some in Arizona say it is time to do the same for the Grand Canyon…

Federal data show nearly 4,000 of the oil and gas drilling permits issued by the Biden administration are on public lands overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico office. (Photo courtesy WildEarthGuardians)

NM Advocates: Climate Crisis Demands End to Feds' Fossil-Fuel Leasing

The Bureau of Land Management has auctioned off another 10,000 acres of New Mexico public lands to the oil and gas industry, despite a local rally …

About 20% of Americans living in rural areas, or about 6.5 million people, have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Address Rural-Urban Mental-Health Care Gap

A new report underscores the challenges of getting mental health treatment when living in rural areas, like much of Montana. The Bipartisan Policy …

The Biden administration has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2030, enough to power more than 10 million American homes. (Adobe Stock)

Bills Aim to Create 'Responsible' Offshore Wind Industry in ME

Maine lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation which supporters said are needed to ensure "responsible" development of offshore wind projec…

In exchange for 25 pro bono hours and 225 reduced rate service hours, the Montana Legal Services Association's RIPL program provides networking, assistance with business and client development, and hands-on legal experience. (Adobe Stock)

Program 'Incubates' New Lawyers and Rural Montanans

The Montana Legal Services Association has started a program to help young attorneys get started on a path to success - becoming community leaders…

Pollution flows from mines in Canada's Elk River Valley to the Kootenai River, which runs through Montana and Idaho. (JOAN/Adobe Stock)

Canadian Coal Mine Pollution Threatens North ID River

Pollution from Canadian mines is endangering one of Idaho's largest rivers. Selenium and other pollutants from coal mines across the northern …

Canada-based Enbridge Inc. operates Line 5, an oil pipeline that stretches 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. (Adobe Stock)

New Court Fight Emerges Over WI Oil Pipeline

A court hearing is scheduled for this week as environmental and tribal advocates continue to voice concerns about an oil and gas pipeline that runs ac…

Miigwech Inc. represents 12 federally recognized tribes. (Philip Hutchinson/Northern Territory Photography)

Our Vote as Our Voice: Rocking the Native Vote in Michigan

With elections on the horizon, Indigenous groups in Michigan are educating native communities about how they can make their voices heard to make …

Studies have shown that while Minnesota has an overall healthy population, there are glaring health disparities. That has prompted efforts to help racial and ethnic groups have equal access to necessities, in hopes of boosting health outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

MN Steps Outside Doctor's Office to Improve Health Outcomes

Research keeps emerging about social determinants of health, including a new study linking these factors to suicide risks. In Minnesota, nonprofits …

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