Native American Issues / Public News Service

The dam removal opened up more than 30 miles of new spawning grounds for steelhead and 15 miles of salmon habitat. (Ian Shive)

WA conservationists preserve 5 miles of lower White Salmon River

Conservationists are celebrating the protection of five miles of river frontage along the White Salmon River. The 174-acre site was purchased by The …

The Island Fox is the only carnivore unique to California. (Photo courtesy Chuck Graham)

CA's Channel Islands Fox, a conservation success story

A small fox that lives on the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California is thriving after near extinction. The island fox - found nowhere …

In Snohomish County, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, mostly from fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

WA Native Americans feel disproportionate effects of fentanyl

CORRECTIONS: Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson was not at the 3rd annual taskforce summit. An earlier version incorrectly stated he had attended. In …

Ho-Chunk, Inc. is a major economic driver in Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa, generating annual revenue of $417 million, according to its annual report. (Adobe Stock)

Ho-Chunk launches summer internship program, offering path to career success

Ho-Chunk has kicked off its summer internship program in Nebraska after sifting through 600 applicants. It is opening pathways to higher education …

American Indian and Alaska Native Coloradans paid higher monthly and out of pocket health care costs, even with insurance, compared to their white peers, research shows. (Adobe Stock)

Health gaps persist for American Indian, Alaska Native Coloradans

American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Colorado continue to face significant gaps in health care access, quality and outcomes, according to …

Polls consistently show that most Americans, no matter their political affiliation, oppose the federal government selling off public lands. (Adam/Adobe Stock)

Public lands supporters to rally during Santa Fe governors' meeting

Supporters of public lands will gather in Santa Fe next week to oppose pending legislation that would sell off millions of acres in 11 Western states…

Sensitive areas such as San Diego's Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve are experiencing impacts from degraded water quality and sea level rise. (Nancy D. Regan/Flickr)

CA Ocean Protection Council adopts roadmap to protect 30% of waters by 2030

California took a big step Tuesday toward the goal of conserving 30% of land and waters by 2030. The Ocean Protection Council adopted a roadmap to …

Volunteers growing taro in Oregon, a crop that is a fundamental part of Hawaiian traditions. (KALO HCC)

OR groups fighting hunger: People need culturally specific food

As food insecurity rises across the state, groups fighting hunger are highlighting the need for food that is not only nutritious, but culturally …

In the latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, North Dakota saw gains in reducing the number of children not covered by health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Bright spots for ND child well-being but work is needed

North Dakota is moving up in the ranks when measuring child well-being but policy experts said there are cracks beneath the surface. The Annie E…

Sixty-four percent of Colorado's fourth graders are not proficient in reading, and nearly 70% of eighth graders are not proficient in math. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado jumps up five spots to 12th nationally for child wellness

Colorado has moved up five spots to 12th among the states in the 2025 Kids Count Data Book released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which …

Angel Mounds was one of the largest and most complex Indigenous communities ever built in what is now Indiana. (Indiana University)

Indiana’s ancient city comes to life in virtual reality

Hoosiers can now step into the past. A new exhibit opens this weekend at the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Bloomington…

Among other 2025 bills passed, the Montana American Indian Caucus helped reauthorize Native language preservation programs and get formal recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day in the state. (Western Native Voice)

MT Native leaders: Civic engagement brings continued legislative wins

A Montana-based Indigenous advocacy group said it is increasing membership this year in a new way, with a traveling conference. Western Native Voice …

Gallup, New Mexico, has a disproportionately high number of

FBI promises missing Indigenous investigations but deletes historical data

The FBI has said it will add resources in 10 states including New Mexico to tackle unresolved crimes, with a focus on those related to missing and …

Legal assistance groups said native voters in North Dakota have struggled for nearly a century for the right to vote and for inclusion in the democratic process. Despite a setback through the courts this week, they say they will keep defending those rights. (Adobe Stock)

Part of Voting Rights Act gutted for ND, other Midwestern states

Legal groups are weighing an appeal after a court ruling this week that left voters in several states, including North Dakota, at a disadvantage in …

A new study recommended California require health insurers and health systems to invest more in primary care, to make it easier for people to find a provider nearby and get an appointment quickly. (Mirifadapt/Adobe Stock)

Study: Preventable hospitalization rates in CA higher for Medi-Cal patients

A new study showed in 2022, more than 240,000 hospitalizations in California could have been prevented with proper outpatient care. Researchers said …

A push for renewed climate solutions in AZ, across US

Nonprofits, businesses, organizers and leaders have signed a letter calling for more climate solutions in Arizona and around the country. They claim …

The most common types of vandalism to Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are incised initials, names, <br />and dates and firearm damage, according to a 2024 report. (Tami Freed/Adobe Stock)

Actions by Wyoming, feds could have opposing effects on Indigenous rock art

Protections for Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are in limbo after state lawmakers and the Trump administration took potentially conflicting actions re…

Among the many Montana bills Western Native Voice advocated for this session is one recognizing Indigenous People's Day, in conjunction with Columbus Day. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Montana-based Native advocacy group opens D.C. office

On the heels of a busy Montana legislative session, the advocacy group Western Native Voice is setting its sights higher and opening a Washington…

North Dakota's Native American tribes said thanks to a new state grant program aimed at helping them boost their tourism promotion, including powwow events. (Adobe Stock)

With new grants, ND tribes can elevate their tourism game

Tourism generates $3 billion annually in North Dakota but tribal officials say direct spending from visitors does not always reach their areas. Now…

Originally operated by Entergy, Palisades was acquired by Holtec International in June 2022. <br />(JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

DOE invests millions to revive MI nuclear plant, amid growing criticism

The owner of Michigan's Palisades Nuclear Plant is getting another $47 million to restart the facility. It is the third installment of a $1.5 …

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, with more than 50,000 women experience life-threatening complications due to labor and delivery each year. (Adobe Stock)

Maternal death outcomes drop, except for Black women

Today marks the last day of Black Maternal Health Week, a nationally and internationally recognized observance that serves to build community …

There are 11 federally recognized Native American tribes in Wisconsin. Indigenous people make up about 1.5% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal communities see historic turnout at Wisconsin polls

Voter turnout from tribal communities in Wisconsin has increased in recent years, with historic numbers for the state Supreme Court election this …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the construction industry faces a shortage of 500,000 workers, prompting calls for bigger and more accessible training programs. (Adobe Stock)

MN tribal college looks to be key player for skilled labor training

Minnesota's unemployment rate is low, but the state still faces a skilled labor shortage. A regional college hopes to be a solution as it looks to …

Data show of all U.S. college undergraduates in 2021, 107,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native, a 40% drop since 2010. But some advocates said the numbers are off because of poor data collection.(Adobe Stock)

Former grant recipients now ambassadors for Native education opportunities

The Jackson-based group Native American Jump Start has been providing grants to Native students, interns and young workers for decades and this year…

There were more than 5,700 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls reported in 2016 in the U.S. Fewer than 200 were logged in the Department of Justice database. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Alarming violence rates continue against Indigenous women

Indigenous people have made great contributions to the state of Wisconsin yet the alarming rates of violence against them remains a public health cris…

Chuckwalla National Monument is one of two created in mid-January by President Joe Biden, just before he left office. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Two CA national monuments in peril as feds announce plan to rescind them

Two new national monuments in California are in jeopardy after the White House announced a plan to revoke them and then appeared to retreat. On …

The Montana Food Bank Network distributed food through 330 partner organizations in 2024, including food pantries, schools, senior centers and more, according to the organization's impact report. (West Rose Media/Adobe Stock)

MT food bank, neighbors collaborate to improve food access for tribal nations

Food bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Montana, to launch the 104 Degrees West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

The Food Bank of Wyoming served people across 97,903 square miles and in all 23 counties in 2024, according to the organization's impact report. (Adobe Stock)

Four-state collaborative seeks to improve food access in Native nations

Food-bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Wyoming, to launch the 104° West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

Started in 2019, the Tribal Foundational Public Health Service is designed to foster a more equitable, prevention-focused public health system for tribes. (jokekung/Adobe Stock)

Cuts looming for WA tribal public-health funding

Washington state's Tribal Foundational Public Health Service is the first dedicated funding for tribes to advance public health initiatives. In Gov…

There are more than 500,000 buffalo in North America today, but nearly all of those are livestock, in commercial herds and owned by private landowners. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the …

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the uninsured rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives under age 65 decreased 12 percentage points since passage of the Affordable Care Act, from 32.4% in 2010 to 19.9% in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment is over, but tribal members can still get health coverage

Open enrollment for health insurance from the online marketplace is over, but Wyoming experts are reminding tribal members that they qualify to …

Indigenous people are incarcerated at a rate four times higher than white people.(Framestock/Adobe Stock)

WA legislators weigh voting rights for incarcerated people

More than 14,000 incarcerated people in Washington are not able to vote and two bills in Olympia aim to change it. One bill would make voting more …

The State of Montana first passed its Indian Child Welfare Act in 2023, decades after a federal version was enacted by Congress in 1978. A bill to expand Montana's law advanced from the state Senate to the House on Tuesday. (Wikimedia Commons)

MT Senate bills on Native education, child welfare advance to House

Three Montana bills regarding Native rights and culture advanced from the Senate to the House this week, despite some previous setbacks. Bills to …

Native people have higher death rates at most ages, but particularly at younger ages, according to the National Indian Council on Aging. (Adobe Stock)

NV program to bridge insurance gaps for Native Americans needs more 'buy-in'

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Nevada News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public New…

Sun Bear Industries coordinates and manages renewable energy projects, connecting tribal governments with contractors specializing in renewable energy. (Adobe Stock)

WI tribal nations working toward energy autonomy

By Robert Chappell for Madison 365.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Madison 365-Public News Ser…

Medicaid is the single largest health insurer for children in New Mexico. (MonaM�kel�/AdobeStock)

GOP budget eyes Medicaid cuts, a significant impact for Native communities

A preliminary federal budget unveiled by Republicans this week includes cuts to Medicaid, which a recent study reveals would disproportionately …

Montana ranks ninth in the country for the ratio of non-elderly adults in rural areas that rely on Medicaid coverage, at 22.2%, according to a January report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Native communities would see big impacts from proposed Medicaid cuts

A January report shows that in rural counties home to large numbers of American Indians, including in Montana, people are more likely to rely on …

Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations during an international conference. (Joy Fera/Adobe Stock)

NV lawmaker proposes new date for Indigenous Peoples Day

Nevada's only sitting Indigenous legislator has introduced a bill to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day on what she calls the "correct day," the second…

About 38 percent of Oregon Native students went on to college in 2024, which is higher than the national average, but still the lowest of all racial/ethnic groups. (Tasneem H/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR needs to do more to get Native Americans into higher ed

Institutions need to do more to close the higher education graduation gap for Native Americans, according to a new report. The report notes at just …

The American Federation of Teachers says schools must be safe havens, welcoming places of learning and free from racism, discrimination and the threat of deportation. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

School districts across Texas are grappling with ways to keep migrant children safe and engaged in class now that the Trump administration has made it…

More than 54,000 Native American people have no home access to electricity, according to a 2023 report from the Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit brings light to tribal lands in Arizona

By Yessenia Funes for Atmos.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News …

In 2024, at least 10 states enacted 19 restrictive voting laws, according to the Brennan Center for Justice and 21 states enacted 32 expansive ones. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court declines Montana voting rights case

The nation's highest court has declined to hear a case about Montana voting laws which would have disproportionately affected Native people. Last …

Enbridge's Line 5 can transport 540,000 barrels per day of petroleum liquids. (Dean Pennala/Adobe Stock)

New report: Enbridge’s Line 5 plan costly, flawed

ADDITION: Comments by Enbridge, received after deadline, have been added. (10:10 a.m. MST, Jan. 22, 2025) A new report says Enbridge's plan to build …

Enbridge's Line 5 runs from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, passing through northern Michigan. (Michael Carni/Adobe Stock)

Tribes, environmental groups challenge Line 5 tunnel in appeals court

This week, four tribal nations and environmental groups urged the Michigan Court of Appeals to overturn the state's approval of Enbridge's Line 5 …

High water flows brought young sockeye quickly to the ocean, contributing to the record number of fish passing through the Bonneville Dam last summer, 92,000 more than the previous record. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Resisting industry on the Columbia in 2025

Oregon salmon populations had some significant wins in 2024, including a record number of sockeye salmon passing through the Columbia River's …

Along South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation, Sicangu Co. members Mayce Low Dog and Karen Moore harvest local plants. (Photo courtesy of Grace Hussain)

For SD tribe, food sovereignty means eating climate-friendly

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Sentient/Just and Climate-Friendly Food…

The new Chuckwalla National Monument is part of the Biden Administration's commitment to preserve 30% of the nation's land and waters by the year 2030. (Bureau of Land Management)

Tribes applaud as Biden announces two new national monuments in CA

The White House announced two new national monuments in California on Tuesday, one just east of Palm Springs and the other near Shasta Lake. A …

In South Dakota, 68% of missing persons are Native Americans even though they only make up 9% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Resource gaps cloud efforts on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In South Dakota, the push to secure justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women remains …

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