Native American Issues / Public News Service

The Castner Range contains cultural sites that document the history of Native tribes, while also providing habitat for wildlife such as the golden eagle, mountain lions and the western burrowing owl. (Dale/AdobeStock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Texas' Poppy-Covered Castner Range Now State's Third National Monument

A celebration will be held in El Paso Friday after five decades of activism paid off, when President Joe Biden designated Texas' Castner Range a …

Wildfire experts plan to use unmanned drones to help improve early detection, battle fires more effectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests. (Windsong/Adobe Stock)

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

During the White House Conservation Summit, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame a national monument. (photo courtesy of Will Pregman)

President Biden Declares Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

President Joe Biden has designated Avi Kwa Ame, known by some as Spirit Mountain, a national monument. The designation preserves about half a million …

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is a federal law governing the removal and out-of-home placement of American Indian children. A challenge to the policy could result in the U.S. Supreme Court either scaling back or overturning the law. (Adobe Stock)

ND Considers Child Placement Protections for Tribal Families

A North Dakota Senate committee hears a bill this week which would enshrine protections for Native American children who have to be placed in foster o…

Going back generations, many Indigenous cultures developed strong ties with bison and relied upon them for sustenance, shelter, and cultural and religious practices. (Adobe Stock)

In SD, Bison Restoration Part Of Food Sovereignty for Natives

South Dakota is home to one of the nation's largest American Indian reservations, and the area is part of a movement among tribal nations to take …

Blackfeet Community College is in Browning, Mont. in Glacier County near the Canadian border. (David Adamec/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Boosts Student Parents at MT Tribal College

A grant is helping student parents at a college in northwestern Montana. The Aspen Institute has announced Blackfeet Community College and seven …

In 2020 alone, U.S. Bureau of Land Management field offices purchased nearly 1.5 million pounds of seed to use in areas affected by wildfires. (Julia/Adobe Stock)

Report: National Native Seed Supply Not Up to Climate Challenges

Researchers with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine spent two years studying the nation's supply of native seeds, and …

Leaders of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations tell state lawmakers tribal sovereignty would bring federal funding, and jobs. Research shows per-capita income for non-Maine tribes grew by 61% between 1989 and 2020, yet only 9% for Wabanaki Nations. (Wabanaki Alliance)

Wabanaki Nations Seek Tribal Sovereignty from Maine

Leaders of the Wabanaki Nations are asking Maine lawmakers to recognize tribal sovereignty and help ensure a better economic future for their youth…

The Gila National Forest and Wilderness boasts more than 100 bird species including seasonal, year-round and migratory birds. (JuanCarlosGonz�lez/AdobeStock)

NM Supporters of Gila River Protections Make 3rd Pitch in Nation's Capital

A decadelong effort to secure protections for New Mexico's last remaining free-flowing rivers and tributary systems has been introduced in Congress fo…

Opponents of requiring citizenship documents to vote say they can be expensive and time-consuming to obtain. (Adobe Stock)

Pro-Democracy Groups Still Worried About Citizenship Bill in ND

As North Dakota's legislative session moves forward, additional debate is expected on a controversial voting bill, which calls for proof of …

Michigan's Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is studying the feasibility of operating its own power utility. (Adobe Stock)

Michigan Native American Tribe to Study Building Own Power Utility

A Michigan Indian tribe has been awarded a $100,000 federal grant to study the possibility of creating its own power utility. The Little River Band …

Irresponsible target shooting, littering and off-highway vehicles are among the human factors causing damage to heritage assets. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Outlines Reasons for Protecting Great Bend of Gila

Conservation groups have added an interactive story map to their toolkit as they continue to push for permanent protections for the Great Bend of the …

Facilities manager Wes Davis at Turtle Mountain Community College is at work at his desk. A miniature wind turbine sits on its surface. (Photo by Jessica Plance/Homegrown Stories)

A Vision for Tribal Sovereignty Through Sustainable Energy

By Jessica Plance for Homegrown Stories via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service for the Public News Service/Daily…

While many circumstances of Native American female homicide are unknown, the largest known circumstance involved an argument between the victim and the offender. (Adobe Stock)

ASU Research Shows Increasing Number of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls

Researchers at Arizona State University are tackling the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women in the state, trying to figure out why it is …

According to the 13th annual Conservation in the West poll, 95% of voters support investing in water infrastructure to reduce leaks and waste. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Support for NV Conservation Efforts Remains Strong

Water shortages, climate change and protecting wildlife are just a few of the issues Nevadans made clear they are worried about in the annual …

The Colorado River, which once flowed to the sea in Mexico, has been chronically overused, and combined with climate change, the river system now is in crisis as reservoirs dry up. (John/AdobeStock)

Poll: Westerners Remain Strongly Supportive of Conservation Issues

Climate change, pollution, effects from oil and gas drilling and a strong concern for protecting drinking water are just some of the issues New …

A new conservation easement overlooking the Animas River protects natural habitat for wildlife ranging from swift fox, bear and mountain lion to elk and deer. (Linda Lidov)

Conservation as a Tool for Strengthening Business

A few miles south of Durango on a parcel of Florida Mesa land overlooking the Animas River, a landowner is using an increasingly popular land …

This is a three-dimensional model of the Resolution Copper Project. Opponents say it will use 40,000 acre-feet of water per year, comparable to the City of Tempe, Ariz. (Photo courtesy Henry C. Mu�oz, Sr.)

Proposed Mine Near Superior Draws AZ Tribal, Environmental Pushback

Members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe are planning a march and other events this week to oppose what they're calling a destructive mining project sla…

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)

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…

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-…

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…

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 …

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