Antonia Gonzales

The Iñupiat community of Kaktovik in northern Alaska is known as the polar bear capital of the U.S. Hundreds of tourists used to flock to the village of about 250 people to see bears. But several years ago, the tours were halted because of opposition from residents. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA has more on what happened to the tours, and what the tribe is doing to revive them. “There is polar bear ground right there.” Nathan Gordon Jr. is driving his truck on the spit right outside of Kaktovik. He is mayor and leads the town's polar bear patrol program. Under his back seat, he has a shotgun, and in his console, shotgun rounds and cracker shells. Mayor Nathan Gordon Jr. looks at one of the rounds for deterring bears on March 3, 2026. (Photo: Alena Naiden) Kaktovik sits on Barter Island on the Beaufort Sea coast. In late summer and fall, up to 80 polar bears come on land – a trend that has been increasing as the sea ice diminishes. That brought the need for patrol – and created opportunities for polar bear viewing. “There was booming during the fall time.” But in 2020, the pandemic put a pause on visitation. Then the federal government halted the tours. Gordon says Kaktovik leaders have been working to revive them. “Let’s get this place back to making money, and it’ll be great for everybody.” Ketil Reitan started the company Kaktovik Tours in 2010. By 2019, he and his two children took several hundred tourists a season. “We were able to make a year’s income in about six weeks.” The number of tourists soared from about 50 in 2010 to over 1,000. Tourism grew so quickly, residents were worried it was interfering with subsistence practices. NoraJane Burns says that visitors would book out seats on small flights and limit the amount of freight that was coming in. “Especially when we have elders that go out for medical … and then when they try to come back, the flights would be booked.” NoraJane Burns outside of her home in Kaktovik, Alaska on March 3, 2026. (Photo: Alena Naiden) The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the tours. A year later, the U.S. Department of Interior issued an order to pause commercial polar bear viewing permits. Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been collaborating with the city and village of Kaktovik, as well as Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation. They have been working on a management plan for polar bear viewing. Gordon says that this time around, he wants the community to develop infrastructure for tourists and focus more on educating them. But who will run the tours? Burns is busy with her job at Kaktovik Public Works Department and Reitan sold his boats and moved to Nome, but they both hope the younger generation will take over polar bear tours, if and when they are back. (Courtesy Maȟpíya Lúta) A South Dakota high schooler is receiving one of the nation's highest honors for citizens by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. SDPB's Jackson Dircks reports. Cody Two Bulls (Oglala Sioux) came up with an idea four years ago at baseball practice. His teammates told him they did not have backpacks and school supplies. Two Bulls began trying to find donations to help his teammates, but soon realized there were a lot of people needing the resources. “I started like, ‘What if instead of helping out just specifically my teammates or my family, what if I did it for everyone?' So then, like a flower it started blossoming. And then new people started reaching out to me, and I put it out there on the internet. Next thing you know, I'm getting like a bunch of donations to help as much as I can on the reservation.” That idea has led to thousands of meals, backpacks, holiday gifts, and essential items reaching kids and families in need on the Pine Ridge Reservtion. Two Bulls created what is called Baseball and Backpacks. People donate items on Walmart and Amazon shopping lists, and those get sent to Two Bulls' house. He gathers the items, things like notebooks and toiletries, into backpacks for students. The giveaway is done at a baseball field, where simultaneously Two Bulls holds a baseball clinic that teaches kids the fundamentals of the sport. There are four of these different drives, though some look different, like a Christmas toy drive and Easter drive. He does this on top of being a multisport athlete at Maȟpíya Lúta. Two Bulls is one of five individuals named a 2026 Citizen Honors Award recipient. He's receiving the Service Act Award – which honors Americans who “consistently place others before themselves through a focused initiative of volunteer service.” Two Bulls calls it humbling and honoring to be recognized. “The fact that I'm just a smalltown kid from South Dakota, it's mindblowing. It's crazy to me how just by helping others, I was able to get recognized for that,” Two Bulls said. “So, even today for example, when I started telling all my teachers and we shared it to school, it's a whole new feeling. It's like, ‘Wow!'” Two Bulls will be honored March 25 in Washington D.C. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, March 23, 2026 – Stakes are high in the Line 5 oil pipeline legal fight

Photo: U.S. Reps. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo/D-NM), left, Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS), and Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK), testify before a subcommittee on March 4, 2020 as members of the Native American Caucus. (Courtesy Rep. Markwayne Mullin) The nomination of U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK) to be the next Homeland Security secretary cleared a key committee vote after overcoming a cringeworthy confirmation hearing over his combative past comments. Correspondent Matt Laslo reports on the bipartisan relationships the enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation has built over his decade in Washington. Contrary to the tough guy you may have seen on your screen picking fights with union bosses or Senate committee chairs, Sen. Mullin has lots of fans in Congress. U.S. Sen.Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) serves with Mullin on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “I may have some policy disagreements with Sen. Mullin. Mark's Mark. That's who he is, you know? So yeah, I don’t know that there’s anything out of sorts there. It’s just, that’s just who he is.” Luján says Mullin has been a key ally on the other side of the aisle in today's divided Washington. “Not just, you know, Democrat, Republican. He’s been a member that tribal leaders have sought out to support different efforts.” Mullin stepped into a 137-year long fight last year and played a pivotal role in helping North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe gain full federal recognition over protests from other tribes. U.S. Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) told National Native News that Mullin was pivotal. “He thought that the opposition by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina was incorrect. And so as an enrolled Cherokee, he supported the Lumbees and it’s always appreciated.” U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS) overlapped with Mullin in the U.S. House for her first two terms. Besides the two both being former MMA fighters, Rep. Davids says she and Mullin put partisan differences aside and worked together for Indian Country. “When he was in the House, we worked on quite a few tribal related things, including trying to stabilize Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). And then, also on foster programs and that kind of stuff. So we’ve been able to work together on issues that we both care about.” Masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may garner the national headlines, but Davids says she is watching to see how Mullin handles the other parts of the sweeping Homeland Security agency that outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem neglected. “I’m hopeful that he will be much better in terms of leading the department. Of course there’s hot button issues, but when you think about FEMA and the importance of FEMA functioning, of our TSA folks …” The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is offering a career pathway for tribal students looking at wildland firefighting jobs. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. Highschoolers across six BIE-run schools are participating, including Northwest High School in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation. “This just happened to occur organically.” Carmelia Becenti (Diné) is BIE chief academic officer. She credits President Trump's executive order on “expanding educational freedom”. They are also pitching the curriculum to colleges. “We are trying to somewhat steer them towards being stewards of our lands. That doesn't always happen.” Garth Fisher is with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Wildland Fire Management. He says they are teaching coursework about leadership, fire suppression, and FEMA readiness. Once done, students put their training to the test during a field day. “They get to put the gear on, how it feels. They get to look like a firefighter.” That equipment is expensive, says Becenti, which is why the BIE is buying it now. “And that way, year after year, as we recruit more students at these schools and across the bureau, you know, we have this PPE that we can use over and over and over.” Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, March 20, 2026 – A view from the Iditarod trail and other winter sports competitions

The nomination of U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation/R-OK) to become the next Homeland Security Secretary hit a rough patch Wednesday.  Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lost the faith of President Donald Trump, but the pick to replace her, Sen. Mullin, lost the faith of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), for mocking him for being attacked by his neighbor nine years ago, as Matt Laslo reports. “You told the media that I was a ‘freaking snake' and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force.” Mullin is a former MMA fighter and was not backing down. “I think before I can start my opening statement, I have to address the remarks of the chairman made calling me a liar. Sir, I think there’s — everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point, and if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face.” While the heated exchange made national headlines, most Republican senators, like U.S. Sen. Ted. Cruz (R-TX), shrugged it off. “The two of them don’t like each other. There’s no ambiguity on that.” U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said, “I’m not going to get involved in that.” U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) told National Native News cited his mother’s wisdom. “Reminded of what my mom would say, ‘if you don’t have something good to say about somebody, don’t say it.’ And, you know, those rules we learned in kindergarten still apply up here as well.” Even Mullin's home state colleague, U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), was taken aback by the barbs. “In my time in Congress, rarely have I seen such an intense exchange between two members of the same party, especially in the [U.S.] Senate. Clearly, both of them are very strong-willed, very confident in their point of view and perspective and their memory. It was just fascinating.” While most Republican senators are refusing to weigh in, Sen. Lucas says he is not discounting Chairman Paul or Mullin's accounts. “I know from having served with Markwayne in the House, I suspect the case in the [U.S.] Senate is the same — members have an insight into the nature of each other that no one on the outside can have. I never impugn the opinions of my colleagues, so maybe there was a little bit of truth in what they both had to say.” (Courtesy Asm. James Ramos / Facebook) Assemblymember James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla/D-CA) is urging for the establishment of California Native American Day as an official paid state holiday. A bill introduced by Asm. Ramos would designate the fourth Friday of September as a paid holiday for state employees. Ramos, along with tribal representatives, legislators, and labor leaders, held a press conference Wednesday in Sacramento., Calif. Ramos says the legislature and the state should honor California's First People with the paid holiday. “It’s true and just that this has to happen. It’s time that the voices continue to move forward and to make sure that we’re calling out for respect and honor for California’s First People and tribal elders.” Ramos say they have many worthy holidays, but the bill creates justice for past atrocities toward California Indian people who have lived through colonization, including the mission era and gold rush eras. Denver’s bison transfer included a ceremony with songs and prayers for the bisons’ safe return to tribal lands. (Photo: Rachel Cohen / KUNC) Several tribes are working to bring bison back to their lands. As the Mountain West News Bureau’s Rachel Cohen reports, one source helping them is in Denver, Colo. where the local government manages a herd. Snow was falling fast and hard at a mountain park west of the city earlier this month, when 34 bison were gifted to four tribes or nonprofits. Denver has managed two small herds since the early 1900s and started giving some animals to tribes six years ago.  Lewis TallBull is with the TallBull Memorial Council, which has members from various tribes.  Lewis TallBull with the TallBull Memorial Council was part of the drumming ceremony to honor the bison. (Photo: Rachel Cohen / KUNC) This year, the organization is taking one bison back to a property it manages near Denver. “The Bison represent so much. They represent the water and the fire and the thunder and the clouds and the snow. They represent all that. But at the same time, they represent us as Indigenous people.” Tribal leaders said the animals would add genetic diversity to their growing herds – and help feed tribal members with a historic food source. The Navajo Nation got 11 bison in the transfer and the Northern Cheyenne in Montana received 10.  Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, March 19, 2026 – Native American Muslims, a distinct minority, reflect on Ramadan and religious intolerance

Legal online sports betting in Wisconsin would have to go through in-state tribal computer servers, under a bi-partisan bill given final okay by the state legislature Tuesday. Chuck Quirmbach reports. Supporters and critics of online sports betting acknowledge it frequently occurs in Wisconsin. Gamblers go through commercial companies like Draft Kings, but the Wisconsin Constitution says most legal betting can only occur on sovereign tribal properties here, regulated by state-tribal gaming compacts. The just-passed bill by the legislature attempts to reinforce that online sports bets in the state must go through the 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin. Shannon Holsey is President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. She says the new legislation is good public policy. “It provides clarity, respect to tribal sovereignty, and it strengthens Wisconsin’s long-standing state and tribal partnership. Especially for our tribe and all tribes. It really creates opportunity, while allowing us to grow responsibly, securely and on our own terms.” Holsey says any additional revenue for the Stockbridge-Munsee would go toward funding things like tribal housing, health care and public safety. Remarks opposing the Wisconsin sports betting bill center on what critics like State Sen. Steve Nass (R-WI) say is the possibility of more people becoming addicted to gambling. “Making gambling easier and more accessible online will only accelerate these harms-family breakdown, lost productivity, addiction treatment.” But other supporters of the sports betting bill say more ways to prevent problem gambling could now be negotiated with the tribes. Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) still has to sign the legislation and the federal government has to approve amended gaming compacts. Pete Kaiser leaving Unalakleet checkpoint. (Courtesy Iditarod Insider) Jessie Holmes was the first musher to reach the end of the 1000-mile trail from Anchorage to Nome, winning his second consecutive Iditarod. KNBA’s Rhonda McBride reports. Four of the race's Indigenous mushers were still out on the trail Wednesday morning. Pete Kaiser (Yup'ik) from Bethel and Ryan Redington (Iñupiat) were finishing up their mandatory eight-hour rest in White Mountain, one of the last two checkpoints in the race. Both former champions were hoping for a repeat, b But Kaiser says his team contracted stomach virus on the trail, so he rested them more to give them time to recover. Kaiser told the Iditarod Insider this changed his focus. “I've been kind of reminiscing and soaking in the sights more than ever, trying to be in the moment more than stressing out about placement and different things like that. So of course it would be fun to be further up, but that's not always in the cards. I've had a good trip.” Kaiser's team is positioned to finish in the top ten. He says the cold dry snow on the Bering Sea Coast was one of the biggest challenges, because it sticks to the sled runners. Redington, who is not far behind Kaiser, told the Iditarod Insider this last stretch of the trail also tested his team. “Hopefully we get a little less wind. If it is windy, I'm going to take a lot more rest.” Ryan Redington talks about the strong Bering Sea winds are slowing his team down. (Courtesy Iditarod Insider) There were also three rookie Indigenous mushers in the race. Jesse Terry, an Anishinaabe from Ontario, is in 16th place and Kevin Hansen, an Iñupiaq from Kotzebue, is in 21st place. Jody Potts-Joseph, a Hän Gwich'in from Eagle Village, who had to contend with bison on the trail, pulled out of the race after her team came down with kennel cough. She said she had to put her team first. Iditarod Trail officials praised her handling of the dogs. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – States, philanthropy help keep tribal clean energy projects going

Prosecutors in South Dakota have dismissed charges against an Indigenous rights advocate. South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s CJ Keene reports. Charges stemming from a 2022 incident against Nick Tilsen, CEO and founder of NDN Collective, were dropped. In a statement, Tilsen said, “my freedom wasn't granted by a judge, a jury, or the settler colonial court system. My freedom was won by the people, the movement, and the ancestors.” Tilsen faced more than 25 years in prison, originally facing charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and obstruction. Ultimately, the trial resulted in a hung jury. Tilsen maintained his innocence throughout, saying the incident was an effort to watch an interaction between police and an Indigenous member of the Rapid City, S.D. community. NDN Collective spokespeople had contended the charges were excessive. In the same statement, representatives describe them as, “blatantly politically motivated effort to silence a movement leader by criminalizing his actions.” In response, Pennington County State's Attorney said, “the decision to dismiss this case was made after careful review and thoughtful consideration.” The office adds they stand by the charging decision. “While we believe the case was properly charged and presented, the jury's inability to reach a verdict was an important factor in evaluating whether further prosecution would serve the interest of justice.” A nearly empty critical care unit at Bartlett Hospital on April 7, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo: Rashah McChesney / KTOO) Alaska will receive about $1 billion from the federal government over the next few years to improve healthcare, but millions of that depends on the legislature passing several bills aligning Alaska with best practices for rural healthcare. Alaska Native people are much more likely to live in rural areas than other Alaskans. As Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra reports, a proposal to make it easier for out-of-state nurses to practice in Alaska is facing fierce pushback. When you boil it down, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association head Jared Kosin says joining a so-called license compact is pretty simple. He says there would be a set of criteria nurses would demonstrate. “And if they do, then they are issued a license and then they can practice in any states that use those same standards.” Proponents say joining a compact would help ease a nurse shortage across the state that is projected to worsen. Kosin says it may be simple to explain, but actually getting a bill passed to join the nurse licensure compact has been anything but. “It’s just so snagged up in politics.” The last version of the bill was introduced in 2023. It was supported by most healthcare organizations in the state, but it was opposed by nursing unions. He says that created a toxic dynamic. And this year there is new pressure on the legislature thanks to the Rural Health Transformation Program. When the Alaska Department of Health (DOH) applied for the money, it told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the state would join the compact. The state has been directed by CMS to create compacts for other health care positions too: physicians, emergency medical services, psychologists, and physician assistants. The DOH does not know exactly how much money would be clawed back if Alaska does not pass all the required legislation, but a DOH official wrote over email that a ballpark estimate is that millions of dollars is at stake annually and tens of millions of dollars over the five years of rural funding. Shannon Davenport is a union leader and a nurse. She says there are many problems with the nursing field right now, especially workplace safety, and she doesn't think the nursing compact is the solution to them. “It’s not the golden goose. It’s not the answer to everything.” Even so, most nurses support a compact — almost 90% of nurses living in Alaska, according to a 2023 survey. The federal deadline to join the compact is at the end of 2027. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – Re-enactors help bring Native American perspective of the Revolutionary War to life

The Chandler Museum in Arizona has a new exhibit called “Being Eddie Basha.” It is a retrospective of the hometown-turned-statewide grocer who died in 2013. And as KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, this 3,800 sq ft installation is all about unpacking the man behind the grocery king persona. Chandler Museum's storytelling coordinator, Sarah Biggerstaff, literally leaned on Basha's own words for one interactive display. “This is our telephone. There's about 20 clips, and they range from, like, 20 seconds to a minute. You can pick it up, give it a couple seconds, but then you hear him actually speaking. And at our opening, it was really moving.” “I would want my epithets to have to say, ‘Eddie Basha, he was a good man, but a bad boy.’ And that's how I want to be remembered.” An interactive telephone display inside the “Being Eddie Basha” exhibit at Chandler Museum. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) Another one of his principles was putting people over profits. The great-grandson of Lebanese immigrants brought his family brand to tribal lands beginning in 1981 with the Diné Supermarket in Chinle. Basha even committed 25 cents of every dollar to the Navajo Nation. “And of course, the relationship with the Navajo became extremely powerful and fruitful and still exists today.” From Tuba City to Window Rock, stores kept popping up. More locations would follow on Apache land in Peridot and Whiteriver. The one-time gubernatorial candidate was also an avid collector of Western and American Indian art. Basha owned one of the world's largest private collections, most of which has since been donated to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. Parker Kenick of Nome competing in the One Hand Reach at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. (Photo courtesy Carter Photography) Athletes, coaches, and spectators crowded Main Street in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada Saturday for the closing ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games, also known as the Olympics of the North. And Team Alaska had a lot to celebrate. Among the six Arctic nations, it led the count for ulus, the medals shaped like the curved knife emblematic of Arctic life. Alaska had 227 ulus, followed by Team Yukon with 174 and Alberta North with 127. As KNBA's Rhonda McBride tells us, Parker Kenick of Nome took home three gold ulus and many lessons about life. Although Parker Kenick started learning traditional Alaska Native games when he was eight, he did not take part in the Arctic Winter Games until later in life. This year he competed in the adult category and won gold ulus in the Two Foot High Kick, the Alaskan High Kick, and the One Hand Reach. Kenick says he is grateful for the community support that made it possible for him to travel to the games. “Our spirits get lifted here because there's so many people here that want to see us do our best, to our absolute limit.” Kenick competed in his first Arctic Winter Games in 2023 and says he was lucky to be mentored by some of the best Indigenous athletes in the world. Now he's returning the favor. One of his coaches, Candace Parker, says when Kenick first started out, he was very quiet and kept to himself. Today, he readily volunteers to coach the younger athletes. “I would say full circle moment for him to be out on the floor passing on the knowledge. May not have been technical but doing more encouraging.” Parker Kenick of Nome, center, enjoys mentoring younger students at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse. (Photo courtesy Carter Photography) Parker says young people can be self-absorbed, but the games teach them to think beyond themselves. She says it is an important exercise in humility, one that athletes like Kenick have embraced. Parker has been coaching since 1996, but this year she reached an important milestone – having three generations of her family compete in this year's Arctic Winter Games. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, March 16, 2026 – What's in a (tribe's) name?

This month, 34 bison were loaded into trailers at a park in Colorado's foothills – and sent across the Mountain West region to tribal lands. Rachel Cohen reports. The bison are part of herds that the City and County of Denver has managed for almost a century. And since 2020, 170 animals have been gifted to tribes. Jason Baldes is a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe in Wyoming and works with the Intertribal Buffalo Council. He says Denver's donations play a big role in bison restoration. “Because there are so few animals in isolated populations, it’s important to diversify your gene pool so that you have a healthy population.” In this year's transfer, Navajo Nation received 11 bison and the Northern Cheyenne in Montana got 10. Jody Potts-Joseph in McGrath, Alaska. (Courtesy Jody Potts-Joseph) The leaders in the 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome have reached the halfway point. Two of the mushers — Ryan Redington (Inupiat) and Pete Kaiser (Yup'ik) — are former champs of the Iditarod. Both have teams with some of the fastest speeds on the trail. Redington was in third place early this morning and Kaiser was not far behind in the 11th spot. There are three other Indigenous mushers in the Iditarod. Kevin Hansen and Jesse Terry, who are in the middle of the pack, are rookies to the race, as is Jody Potts-Joseph, who as Rhonda McBride reports, has been holding her own at the back of the pack. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma recently added an amendment to the tribe's Public Health and Wellness Fund Act to set aside funds for the tribe's reentry program. $6.5 million is being set aside in new opioid settlement funds, which will include building and operating transitional housing for formerly incarcerated Cherokee citizens. According to the Cherokee Nation, in 2017, it became the first tribe in the country to sue the opioid industry for damages. The tribe has continued its legal efforts, which include the latest settlement. The reentry program served 500 Cherokee citizens last year. (Courtesy Cherokee Nation) Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, March 13, 2026 – The Searchers: cinematic treasure or stereotypical disaster?

A new report shows access to nearby nature in the U.S. is not equal and the gap is closely tied to race and income. Researchers say Indigenous communities are among those most affected. The Mountain West News Bureau's Kaleb Roedel has more. Communities of color are three times more likely than white communities to live in places with severe nature loss — fewer parks, fewer trees, more pollution. That is thanks in part to resource extraction and the rapid development of natural spaces. Researchers say that is significant for tribal areas, where land is closely tied to cultural traditions and food systems. Rena Payan with Justice Outside, which co-produced the report, says losing nearby nature isn't just about scenery. “Nature deprivation isn’t just about the aesthetics of who has access to ‘big nature.' It’s also about who has access to clean air and clean water.” The report also highlights Indigenous-led solutions. On the Navajo Nation, local groups are restoring native grasslands and wildlife habitat. In Alaska, Native organizations are protecting salmon streams and coastal ecosystems that support subsistence. Researchers say efforts grounded in Indigenous stewardship could help close what they call the nation's growing nature gap. Reliable high-speed internet is still out of reach for many tribal communities. A new report highlights ongoing barriers to broadband access in Indian Country. Daniel Spaulding has more. The report from the Urban Institute says many Indigenous communities lack reliable high-speed internet, especially in rural areas. Recent federal investments have helped expand broadband in some tribal communities, but gaps remain. Tomi Rajninger is a co-author of the report. “In certain parts of the country, especially in Indian Country and a lot of rural communities, folks have a lot less access to high speed broadband than other parts of the U.S.” The Urban Institute's Gabe Samuels says geography is one of the biggest challenges. “Because of the historic way where a lot of tribes are relocated, they’re often located in maybe more remote rural areas that are physically harder to access, it’s just kind of compounds the challenge to accessing.” Rajninger and Samuels both say allowing tribes to manage their own broadband infrastructure will be key to improving access. American bison inside a pen at Genesee Park near Golden, Colo. on March 6, 2026. (Courtesy Denver Parks and Recreation) American bison are a symbol of the West that might have vanished from this landscape entirely, if not for conservation efforts. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, the city of Denver donates bison from a long-established herd to tribes and nonprofits each year. Snow powdered the 34 bison inside a pen while tribes blessed them. Eleven went to the Navajo Nation. The rest were sent to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, a Lakota nonprofit, Buffalo First, in South Dakota, and the Denver-based Tall Bull Memorial Council. This keystone species once roamed the Great Plains, but faced the brink of extinction. In 1908, the Denver Zoo had only 18 animals left in captivity, but they would help form a herd near Golden, Colo. The city has transferred more than 170 buffalo into tribal hands. (Courtesy Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center) In New York state, more than 900 acres of land is returning to Indigenous care. The Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, Paul Smith's College, the Nature Conservancy, and the Adirondack Land Trust joined in the land-back partnership. The Nature Conservancy purchased 600 acres of land for $1.1 million from the college and transferred ownership to the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center. The cultural center will privately own and steward the land. The land trust has already transferred 300 acres of adjoining land to the cultural center. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, March 12, 2026 – Confronting a past of forced sterilization

Photo: A scenic overview of the Colorado River from the Navajo Bridge near Jacob Lake. (Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has invited tribal leaders to testify on Capitol Hill today. As KJZZ’s Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, the Northeast Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act is the hearing's subject. This $5 billion deal would resolve claims for three parties, including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. For San Juan Southern Paiute President Carlene Yellowhair, this proposal is not just about securing precious water in the Southwest. If passed, it would also set aside 5,400 acres for a new reservation in Arizona. “We want to settle, because we want our land, our home, a place to build. We lost all of our elders. They started it and we just want to finish it.” The tribe has more than 300 members, including Vice President Johnny Lehi Jr. “You know, the land and the water, that's what we needed to become more sovereign.” Prisoner Mark Andrews is housed at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo: Anne Hillman / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments this month on whether prisoners can be forcibly medicated with psychiatric drugs — without a court hearing and the right to a lawyer. In the state corrections system, Alaska Native people are incarcerated at about twice the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) brought the case against the Department of Corrections (DOC) on behalf of a prisoner, Mark Andrews. He says he has been unjustly drugged with powerful psychotropic medication for most of the last seven years, without due process or access to legal counsel. The Department policy currently allows prisoners to be drugged against their will if they are gravely disabled or are in imminent risk for harming themselves or others. Doron Levine is a lawyer for the ACLU. He argued at the hearing that the policy infringes on rights protected by the state constitution. “Few things are more personal than someone’s body, and arguably, nothing is more personal than a person’s mind. It’s the locus of a person’s identity, and it’s a last refuge of freedom for people who are incarcerated.” Under department policy, prisoners have the right to hearings every six months with department staff. And they have the right to appeal the decision to a department committee. The ACLU argues that Andrews did not have sufficient access to hearings or an appeal. Justice Jennifer Henderson questioned Kimber Rogers, the attorney representing DOC. Justice Henderson says the facts seem to suggest that the prisoner was denied the rights promised in the department's policy. Justice Henderson: How do you respond to that? Kimber Rogers: Your Honor, I agree that there were definitely some problems, and Mr. Andrews’ hearings, but I don’t think that that’s important. JH: There were more than some problems. There were long periods of time where there were no hearings, for example. KR: Well, Your Honor, I would dispute that actually. The ACLU lawyer argued that there should be a hearing in a courtroom because DOC staff may be biased to protect the institution over the person, but Rogers says a hearing inside prison is the best approach. When the Supreme Court issues a ruling, the decision could apply to the approximately 22 Alaska prisoners who are being forcibly drugged. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is applauding the House passage of the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act. The bill to improve access to homeownership for Native families on tribal trust land is led by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and passed last week. NAIHC executive director Rudy Soto says the bill improves coordination between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, lenders, and tribal communities, establishes timelines, and helps Native families, veterans, and tribal citizens who want to achieve homeownership. The Senate previously approved the measure and it now heads to the president's desk. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, March 11, 2024 – Michigan backs away from Boarding Schools report

A second funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) sought to create a safeguard for tribes getting caught up in immigration crackdowns. Rep. Grijalva has been regularly meeting with tribal leaders from across southern Arizona, like the Pascua Yaqui, Tohono O'odham, and Gila River. She says they are all telling her the same thing. “DHS must consult with tribes. They're not doing it now. This administration doesn't honor sovereignty.” Grijalva proposed an amendment to the funding bill that would have required U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to consult with tribes before conducting immigration enforcement on their land, but her effort to attach that requirement to a DHS funding bill failed. “They're all concerned with the presence of ICE and how they are profiling their members because, you know, they might look like working people who have darker skin.” Meanwhile, Kristi Noem has been ousted by President Donald Trump as DHS secretary. He named U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK) as her replacement. “Removing Noem doesn't root out the lawlessness at ICE. Maybe leadership style might be different, but the end goal is still the same.” Ketchikan-based artist Savannah LeCornu was selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau, Alaska. (Courtesy Jason Baldwin) Ketchikan, Alaska-based artist Savannah LeCornu was recently selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau. The annual spring event seeks art submissions from Alaska creatives for festival merchandise, including its promotional poster. KRBD's Hunter Morrison sat down with LeCornu to discuss how the opportunity will help expand representation of Indigenous artists throughout Alaska. Hunter Morrison: Can you tell me a little bit about what inspires your work as an artist? Savannah LeCornu: I'm an Indigenous artist. I’m part of three different tribes. I’m Tsimshian, Haida and Nez Perce. So a lot of my inspiration comes from the art styles of my tribes, as well as my family, surroundings, environment, friends, that kind of thing. HM: Can you tell me a little bit more about what mediums of art you specialize in? SL: Yeah. So mainly I draw and I paint. I do a lot of traditional drawing, but I also do digital drawing as well. So, working with Procreate on my iPad. And then I also do painting, mainly acrylic, but I have done watercolor here and there. HM: You were selected as this year’s poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival. Do you have a design yet for that poster? Or, do you have ideas of what that design might look like? SL: I don’t know how secret they are with it. I will say my inspirations were some of my favorite musicians in Alaska, as well as the northern lights. HM: How will this opportunity expand not only your work as an artist, but expand the celebration of Indigenous people and Indigenous art? SL: Wow, what a great question. What I’m hoping for with being the artist for this year’s folk fest is that my art gets started to be seen more widely throughout Alaska. I will say it’s not my most obvious Indigenous design. I will say all of my art inherently becomes Indigenous because I am Indigenous, but at the same time, there’s no form line in it. There’s no traditional Native art in it for this design. But I still hope that means that people look into my own art and see more of what I do, and that people just explore more of it. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Elections watchers prepare for Midterm complications

Photo: Quannah Chasinghorse checks out the dog teams at the Iditarod ceremonial start on Saturday. Her mother, Jody Potts-Joseph, is rookie in the race. (Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) Five Indigenous mushers and their dog teams are headed to Nome, Alaska. The 1,000-mile Iditarod race got underway in Willow, north of Anchorage on Sunday. A fresh blanket of snow covered the trail. Two of the top contenders in a field of 37 mushers are Alaska Native. Ryan Redington, an Iñupiaq musher from Knik, won the race in 2023. Pete Kaiser, a Yup'ik from Bethel, took the title in 2019. Kaiser skipped last year's Iditarod and had not planned to race this year until three weeks ago, following his historic tenth win of Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race. Pete Kaiser with his family and lead dog, just after winning his historic tenth Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race. (Photo: Gabby Salgado / KYUK) After Kaiser set the record for winning the most Kusko 300s, he says returning to the Iditarod felt like the right decision. “By the time the Kusko's over, you know, you’ve done 90% of the work. Started training in July, and so I just felt like things were looking okay. Felt like, going down the trail again. So here we are.” There are three Indigenous rookies in the race to watch. Jesse Terry, an Anishinaabe musher from Sioux Lookout, Ont., is a veteran of several mid-distance races. He has been mushing dogs since he was 11 years old. Another rookie, Kevin Hansen, an Iñupiaq from Kotzebue, has been sprint racing since the third grade. He finished second in last year's Kobuk 440, just behind defending Iditarod champ, Jesse Holmes. But for Hansen, this race is about more than competition. “Part of who I am as an Iñupiaq, and you really feel it out there. And times when it’s just you, your dogs and the land and dealing with the elements and challenges.” This may be Jody Potts-Joseph's first Iditarod, but the Hän Gwiich'in from Eagle Village, is well known. She starred in the TV show, “Life Below Zero: First Alaskans”, and her daughter, Quanna Chasinghorse, is an Indigenous model, featured in magazines like Vogue. Together, they have been outspoken environmental advocates. “Why mushing out of all the spectrum of things that I do? It's because that's really where my heart is. I just love the land. I love being out on the land with the dogs. And it fills my soul, and it just gives me a lot of purpose.” Potts-Joseph says it has been a tough training season. Interior Alaska temperatures dropped down to 30 to 65 below F this winter — too cold for her dogs to run safely. Her main goal: to finish the Iditarod with a healthy team. The first finishers are expected to cross the finish line next Monday or Tuesday. Inside a data center at one of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories. (Photo: Joe DelNero / National Laboratory of the Rockies) The federal government is encouraging tribes to partner with data centers. That could mean leasing land or, as the Mountain West News Bureau's Hanna Merzbach reports, selling power. At a U.S. Department of Energy webinar, Ken Ahmann with Colusa Indian Energy said that is where the big bucks come in. “Potentially billions of dollars into the coffers of tribes.” His company provides energy infrastructure to data centers on tribal land. He says these partnerships can be good for tribes that have land and resources to power big projects like the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. Paul Bemore is the chair of the tribe's utility board. “Tribes that are casino-dependent really need to look at other ways to build their economies, and I think data centers is one of those opportunities.” Though Bemore says people may be wary about how this will impact the environment. Other tribes have expressed concerns about data centers draining precious water supplies. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, March 9, 2026 – Surviving cancer

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. is congratulating U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK). On Thursday, President Donald Trump nominated Sen. Mullin as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin would be the first Native American man to become a U.S. cabinet secretary if confirmed. Chief Hoskin said in a statement that having a Cherokee Nation citizen serve within the U.S. Cabinet is a mark of high esteem for his tribe. Hoskin says the appointment reflects the resilience and leadership of Cherokee people. Arizona Humanities is once again teaming up with an Indigenous nonprofit to organize an all-day celebration of a unique food from the Southwest. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more on Saturday's gathering. Blue corn is not only nutritious, it is also synonymous with traditional ceremonies across this arid land. Amber McCrary (Diné) is programs manager with Arizona Humanities and she says that is why, for the second year running, a festival named after this desert crop is taking root in downtown Phoenix. “It's always been there in my life and I would just like to see it kind of become this bigger thing that we all will celebrate together.” This time around, the festival is tied to a Smithsonian initiative where each state is responsible for hosting a single folklife event this year, in honor of the country's 250th anniversary. And for Arizona, that theme is blue corn – through food, art, and storytelling – even down to the wardrobe, says co-organizer Kinsale Drake (Diné), founder of the NDN Girls Book Club. “If you are coming to the festival, wear your best blue. … We have a dress code.” Kyle Watson, 12, taught himself to dance by coming to the Alaska Native Medical Center Hospital lobby every Wednesday. (Photo: Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) You can count on it, like the steady beat of a Native drum. Every Wednesday night, dancers across the generations fill up the hospital lobby at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. But as KNBA's Rhonda McBride tells us, the kids are the ones to watch. These days, we see mostly see Alaska Native dance groups on the stage, but in the hospital lobby, the dancing is not meant to be a performance. Instead, a shared experience. The rhythms are almost hypnotic, yet the dancers are fully present. Everyone is seated, within a circle of sound and motion that spirals out from a small group of drummers. “In Yup'ik, we say Yuraq. Not dance.” Kyle Watson (Yup’ik), a 12-year-old sixth grader at Mears Middle School in Anchorage, is here every Wednesday. His movements are precise, as if every fiber of his being snaps to the beat of the drum. “It just makes me happy.” Once Kyle is here, he says any anger or sadness fades away. The Yuraq demands his full attention. “I keep on learning about Yup'ik words. And I keep on learning about dance motions too.” And then, as if he Is channeling something from another time and place. The excitement that comes out of Kyle's throat comes from way-down deep, a throwback to a technique his ancestors used to excite the dancers and encourage them to pick up their pace. Kyle's grandfather Percy Alexie usually stands in the back of the room to watch. “I'm proud of him. He makes it fun. He makes it fun. He goes around and meets people. And I enjoy meeting other people that enjoy watching him too. And I'm proud to say, he taught himself. He taught himself and it's just over a year now.” Group leader Ossie Kairairuak (Yup’ik) says this dance gathering is going on its sixteenth year – and by far, the best part is watching kids like Kyle. “Kids in their most pure form can never do wrong. This kid is purely motivated to learn those songs by heart. And let his body, let his feelings express it. He has that gift. And it's fun to watch. And it's fun to embrace. And let him be who he was meant to be.” Kairairiak says Kyle's voice is an echo from the spirit world, proof of what his mother always told him – that our ancestors are always with us. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, March 6, 2026 — Notable events: Heard Museum art fair and Native culture in miniature

A new report by the Urban Institute based in Washington D.C. is looking closely at Native American tribes and their continued challenges with broadband infrastructure. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) spoke with Amanda Hermans, a research associate for the report, on how sovereignty comes into play. Hermans says, as sovereign nations, Native American tribes have the right to govern their own digital infrastructure, which in the past was not possible. “This was rooted in a history of you know them not having the ability to take sovereignty over their access to things like broadband and other utilities.” Hermans said broadband providers in the past have not allowed tribes a seat at the table when it came to making decisions on how to serve their communities with internet, but, she says, that's changing and tribes are building expertise in broadband construction — and taking back control of these plans. That does not mean they have to do it by themselves. “Some tribes, depending, you know, on their priorities, may not have the desire or the capacity to do that all themselves and there’s also a lot to be gained by partnering with knowledgeable industry experts and maybe contracting out some of those services or roles to bolster their capacity.” She says building broadband infrastructure on tribal lands is crucial on many levels — and can help bring in revenue and create jobs for tribal members. Old growth forests with just modest exposure to fire are now most at risk for severe wildfires, according to scientists with Oregon State University (OSU) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). As KLCC's Brian Bull (Nez Perce) reports, part of the problem is lack of Native stewardship. Researchers say three-fourths of the Pacific Northwest's forests that historically saw low and mixed severity fires are highly vulnerable to devastating blazes today. Part of this vulnerability came after Indigenous people were driven out and therefore unable to practice controlled burns to reduce slash and pests, as well as rejuvenate the landscape. Meg Krawchuk is OSU fire ecologist and forestry professor. “There’s a reawakening of that knowledge and movement forward in terms of indigenous fire stewardship, but there are so many parts of the landscape that are not ready to receive fire well, and that require additional care and tending to bring back fire to our landscape.” Pockets of landscape less susceptible to crown fire called fire refugia may help buffer these sensitive forest areas, and reduce severe fire risk by up to 20 percent. A playground near the permanent tribute for 14-year-old Emily Pike within Fitch Park. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) Spring training is in full swing at Fitch Park, home of the A's. Near the baseball diamonds and a playground, the city has planted a tree. Next to the sapling is a plaque with an image of Emily that reads, in part, “No more stolen sisters.” Beside that is a metal bench, engraved with a bloody handprint. This is all a few miles south of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road – the intersection where Emily was last seen alive – and where the makeshift shrine was erected. Her family is now asking everyone to leave that old spot alone. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, March 5, 2026 — Taxes, roads and law enforcement: how tribes are asserting their sovereign rights

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published numbers on how many employees left the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) during President Donald Trump's first year in office. BIA focused on reducing its federal workforce through layoffs and hiring freezes. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has details. The 31-page report finds that more than 800 employees were gone by last July. That is roughly 11%. When such restructuring occurs, BIA is supposed to notify tribes in advance. “Tribal leaders told us that the consultations happened after the staff reductions.” Anna Maria Ortiz is director of GAO's natural resources and environmental team. “It's resulting in the loss of a lot of institutional knowledge. It's very hard for BIA to fulfill its mission.” BIA did not offer a comment to GAO on its report, but tells KJZZ it is committed to increasing efficiency, accountability, and support for tribal self-determination. (Courtesy CSPAN) Since assuming his second presidential term last year, Trump has leveled several executive orders that have affected Two Spirits and the Native LGBTQ+ community. Brian Bull (Nez Perce) of Buffalo's Fire reports. Trump's decree for federal agencies is to only recognize “male” and “female” as genders, determined at conception. Trump has also banned gender-affirming care for youth. Elton Naswood is the executive director of the Two Spirit and Native LGBTQ+ Center for Equity. He says, as the White House began its onslaught against his community last year, he reached out to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), which reactivated its Two-Spirit Task Force. “I had heard a community member express the frustration of  ‘Why our people are not protecting us?’ Just that simple phrase really hit me, and instilled some type of advocacy tactic to be able to begin to highlight the issues of how the Trump administration’s executive orders were going to impact our communities.” Before colonization, Two Spirits were accepted and even seen as sacred in many tribes, but over the past few centuries, Western attitudes have sparked intolerance and harassment against them and Native LGBTQ+ people. Naswood says resolutions from the NCAI help, as does carrying on events like the annual Bay Area American Indian Two Spirit Powwow. Just being among community is healing, he adds. (Courtesy BLM) Western Washington communities are applauding the state house and senate for including full wildfire prevention funding in their proposed budgets. Isobel Charle has more. The decisions honor a previous legislative commitment. Glenn Ellis Jr. is a board member of The Nature Conservancy and a member of the Makah Tribe. The Makah reservation sits on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula – one of the rainiest places in the country. Ellis notes that while people rarely associate the peninsula with fire, recent years have proven otherwise. “Three years ago, we had two fires sprout up during November. It’s just crazy to think that fire could spread in a place like this during that time. We get 119 inches of rain a year. We’re a temperate rainforest.” Funds from what was known as H.B. 1168, that passed five years ago, have helped 175 small forest landowners in three counties reduce wildfire risk through thinning and prescribed burns. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, March 4, 2026 — Fighting to preserve hard-won gains in K-12 lessons about Native Americans

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, which is also called the Battle of the Greasy Grass or Custer's Last Stand. Ahead of commemorative events planned in late June near Crow Agency, Mont. are reports that the National Park Service (NPS) is removing signs sharing the Native perspective on the battle. Brian Bull (Nez Perce) of Buffalo's Fire reports. In late January, the Washington Post reported that President Trump ordered the removal of signage through his so-called “restoring truth and sanity to American history” directive, which pushes an ideology that the U.S. has an “unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.” The Battle of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is on the list of sites. Wallace Bear Chum is chairman for the Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission. Along with the Lakota Sioux and Arapaho, his tribe defeated Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1876. Bear Chum says federal officials and tribes need to discuss any changes per their government-to-government relationship. “We're still finding out what exact changes that they're going to make. And the Northern Cheyenne, it was a victory for us there. And our story's there, I mean how can you change that story? Y'know, there's no way you can do that. And what exactly are they trying to change?” The Northern Cheyenne Tribe unanimously approved a resolution last month to prevent any changes to markers, signage, and monuments that recognize Native people at Little Bighorn, a direct challenge to the Trump administration. Meanwhile, an email from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Office denies any signage has been taken down at the battlefield monument. It says parks are complying through an ongoing review process with subject-matter experts, tribal partners, and park leadership. Courtesy NPS An Alaska doctor has documented the first case of a rare and potentially risky infection from contact with a brown bear. Alaska Public Media’s Rachel Cassandra reports. The infection is known as “seal finger” and people typically get it handling seals, especially during seal hunting and processing, but in 2024, Dr. Benjamin Westley diagnosed it in a man who had cut his hand skinning a brown bear hunted on the Alaska Peninsula. He had three days of redness and painful swelling that didn't resolve with standard antibiotics. Dr. Westley says early tests “did not find anything definitive, so eventually he sent a tissue sample to a lab for more comprehensive analysis. “What was particularly shocking about this patient was he had a finger infection after skinning a brown bear that was not responding properly to antibiotics. So I sent special PCR tests, but I did not expect this bacteria.” Seal finger is not uncommon in Alaska and circumpolar regions, but Westley says this is only the second time this potentially more serious strain of the infection has been identified in the state. He diagnosed the first case too, in a patient whose finger infection had spread to his hip. “So when the report came back, I was shocked, because the first case was my own patient 10 years prior, and now it was the exact same bacteria for the second time in Alaska, but from a brown bear exposure, not from a seal exposure.” The infection is only a risk through direct or indirect animal contact. Other cases outside the state have been tied to a polar bear and a domestic cat. Scientists do not know if those animals caused seal finger because they had contact with a seal or through other means. In this case, the patient was treated at first with the wrong type of antibiotics used for bacterial infections. That allowed the infection to worsen and ultimately caused dead tissue, a damaged tendon and a bone infection. He recovered, but still has lingering finger stiffness. Seal finger is often misdiagnosed and a delay in treatment can cause serious problems, so Westley urges health care providers to consider treating patients for seal finger if they have an infection and had contact with seals, bears, or cats. That is even before getting bacterial test results. Westley says Alaskans can also protect themselves when hunting and processing seals or bears. “Try not to get injured through the skin, cut or let bacteria from an animal you’re working with into the tissue, because that can result in a manner of weird infections that can be hard for doctors to sort out.” And he says to wash your hands with soap if you get a wound. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 3, 2026 — Proximity and family outreach hold promise for tribal addiction treatment

A state task force in Alaska released recommendations last month for making psychedelic therapy available, if treatments are approved at the federal level. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has the story. The Alaska state legislature established a task force in 2024 to examine psychedelic therapies, which hold a lot of promise but are still considered experimental. Jennie Armstrong is a former state representative who was on the task force. She says the group tackled questions like how to make therapy accessible and how to offer safe and culturally competent care. “The whole point of the task force was to bring up these types of questions so we’re not scratching our heads when this becomes medicalized and scrambling and being reactive, but we’re actually being proactive.” The task force did not take a stance on whether psychedelic therapies are good or bad, but recommends Alaska incorporate them as they are legalized nationally. None of the task force's recommendations are binding, but Armstrong says they are meant to guide legislators on the types of laws the state would need to offer access. Armstrong says the task force recommends incorporating a training program for therapists and healthcare providers who want to guide therapy. “Everyone needs to go through this type of training, because just being a doctor doesn’t make you qualified to facilitate this type of care.” And she says the aim is to make training accessible so a diversity of people can become certified. She says that would ensure people getting treated are a good fit with the person who guides them. Armstrong says Alaskans could benefit a lot from psychedelic therapies if they are legalized. That is because the state has such high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and other mental illnesses. Psychedelic therapies are being studied to treat those disorders and Armstrong says some of the research is promising. “There are so many folks who, through these trials, went from being suicidal and having treatment resistant depression, unable to work, unable to function, to being in remission within months.” She says that can change how people and communities can thrive. There is a new career pathway for tribal students looking at wildland firefighting jobs. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more on the partnership between the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Highschoolers across six BIE-run schools are participating, including Northwest High School in Shiprock, Ariz. on the Navajo Nation. Carmelia Becenti (Diné) is chief academic officer for BIE. She credits President Donald Trump's executive order on “expanding educational freedom”. “This just happened to occur organically.” They are also pitching the curriculum to colleges. Garth Fisher is with the BIA Division of Wildland Fire Management. “We are trying to somewhat steer them towards being stewards of our lands. That doesn't always happen.” Fisher says they are teaching coursework about leadership, fire suppression, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) readiness. Once done, students put their training to the test during a field day. “They get to put the gear on, how it feels. They get to look like a firefighter.” That equipment is expensive, says Becenti, which is why the BIE is buying it now. “And that way, year after year, as we recruit more students at these schools and across the bureau, you know, we have this {#[Personal Protective Equipment] PPE that we can use over and over and over.” Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, March 2, 2026 — Native crews help solve the growing marine trash problem

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees more than 12 million acres in Arizona alone. And much like the rest of the West, it has public lands making up national monuments that hold value for tribes. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, President Donald Trump's pick to run BLM pledged to respect them in his confirmation hearing this week. During his first term, President Trump shrank the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah – only for President Joe Biden to restore them and name 10 new ones. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) answered “yes” when asked about whether he was committed to honoring those sites by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), who thanked the nominee for his “great” and “short, clear, concise, and on-the-record” answer. Pearce added that “the Native Americans sometimes are overlooked from Washington and …” when Sen. Padilla interrupted with, “And not just sometimes, far too often”. Pearce then noted “We became a voice for them, and would continue to do that.” Pearce doubled down when U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) asked about Arizona's Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, which President Biden created near the South Rim in 2023. “The Grand Canyon, it's one of the most magnificent things, frankly, in the world. So we'll do whatever we can to work with you any way that's necessary.” X̱'unei Lance Twitchell teaching pre-kindergarten students. (Courtesy Ryan Conarro) Language educators in Juneau are working to create a Master's in Teaching program for teaching Indigenous languages at the University of Alaska Southeast. It would be the first of its kind in Alaska. KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey reports. Lingít language professor X̱'unei Lance Twitchell talked about the possible future degree program during KTOO's Juneau Afternoon. “My colleague Éedaa Heather Burge and I are collaborating to create a certificate in teaching Indigenous languages, and as we look at how our language is taught in Alaska, who teaches them, what are their qualifications? What are they permitted to do in the current school systems? And what they’re permitted to do is just not enough.” The program would be for those who want to go into teaching Alaska Native languages to all ages. There are more than 20 distinct Indigenous languages throughout the state. Twitchell said the program still has some steps ahead of it before prospective students can enroll. “This degree has to go before the Board of Regents, and so we’re very hopeful that they will see the value in it. They’ll see the need. They’ll see the demand. I think it’s maybe one of two programs that are like it, perhaps in all of North America.” Twitchell said, while Southeast Alaska Native languages have endured and continue to grow, they should still be prioritized – and with urgency – by schools and communities. “But to be able to get to that is going to take some monumental shifts in the way that we do things, which is really hard today, because one of the things that a colonial government likes to do is pretend that there’s no time, there’s no money, everything’s already spoken for.” Twitchell said this program would create more pathways for educators who can advocate for time, money, and effort to go into revitalizing Indigenous languages. He said the program would focus on the “hows” of teaching Indigenous languages: how to create schools, build programs, and what materials to use. University officials are currently reviewing the proposal. After that, it'll be up to the University of Alaska Board of Regents to decide whether to approve the program. Meda DeWitt (Tlingit) is running for governor as an independent. (Courtesy DeWitt campaign) A 17th candidate has entered the Alaska governor’s race. Alaska Public Media’s Liz Ruskin has more. Meda DeWitt is a traditional healer, drawing on her Tlingit heritage. She teaches at the University of Alaska. She is running as an independent candidate, unaffiliated with any party. “I care about our future. I care about the way that we steward our lands and want to see a state that has a thriving ecosystem and healthy communities that can live in perpetuity.” In 2021, DeWitt chaired a campaign to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK). The petition gathered more than 60,000 signatures but fell short of the number needed for a recall election. Her campaign website lists a wide array of priorities, from cost of living to health care to the state economy. DeWitt lives in Anchorage and has family roots in Wrangell and Yakutat, as well as relatives around the state. The August 18 primary will feature a long list of gubernatorial candidates, most running with the Republican label. In the primary, voters can choose just one. The top four candidates, of any party, will advance to the November ballot. General election voters will have the option of ranking up to four candidates. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, February 27, 2026 — Native Playlist: Cary Morin and Status/Non-Status

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she is willing to help a northern Wisconsin town get reimbursed for money it paid to access roads. As Danielle Kaeding reports, the town of Lac du Flambeau made payments to the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for access to four disputed roads. Three years ago, the Lac du Flambeau tribe barricaded four roads after negotiations failed over expired easements on roads crossing tribal lands. While roads later reopened, the town paid the tribe to maintain access. In a House judiciary committee hearing this month, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) called the payments extortion. “They ultimately got $600,000 from the town of Lac du Flambeau.” In the hearing, Tiffany asked Bondi if she would seek compensation for the town in the longstanding feud. Bondi had this to say. “We would more than welcome working with you.” The tribe said the payments were not extortion. Lac du Flambeau Tribal President John Johnson Sr. says Tiffany's statements were false and a direct attack on tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. The tribe says it remains committed to working with local, state, and federal officials to resolve road access issues in a way that respects residents' safety and laws governing Indian lands. The Arctic continues to warm faster than other parts of the world, and is experiencing record high temperatures and record low levels of sea ice. That is according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which released its report card for the region in December. As the Alaska Desk's Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports, those findings directly affect Alaska Indigenous communities. The Arctic Report Card has been documenting changes in snow and sea ice cover, as well as air and ocean temperatures in the northern part of the globe for the past 20 years. It has shown that, in that time period, the Arctic's annual temperature has increased at more than double the global rate of temperature changes. Hannah-Marie Ladd is the director of Indigenous Sentinels Network. “These changes cascade directly into people’s lives, affecting fisheries, coastal safety, and subsistence harvests. We are no longer just documenting warming. We are witnessing an entire marine ecosystem, which is tied to our economies and culture, transform within a single generation.” The report highlights an emerging phenomenon called rusting rivers. That is when permafrost thaw causes ground water to seep deeper and interact with mineral deposits, which likely turns some streams and rivers to a rusty orange color. Abigail Pruitt says that, in Alaska, over 200 streams turned orange in recent years. “Within Kobuk Valley National Park, we observed the complete loss of juvenile Dolly Varden and Slimy Sculpin, in a tributary to the Akillik river when it turned orange. Beyond the effects on fish, rusting rivers may impact drinking water supplies to rural communities as well.” The report highlights how Indigenous communities have been observing the changes in their environments and wildlife and collaborating with scientists to better understand those changes. Ladd, with the Indigenous Sentinels Network, describes one example of such work. She says that St. Paul residents collect samples of harvested traditional foods – like seabirds, marine mammals and halibut. Those samples are tested in a tribally owned lab and analyzed for contaminants like mercury. “Indigenous leadership, local workforce development and community driven observing are not optional. They’re essential to understanding the Arctic that we have today and preparing for the Arctic we are moving into.” In response to a question about how federal cuts to climate science might affect the future of the Arctic Report Card, NOAA officials said that they will continue their efforts to observe the changing environment. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, February 26, 2026 — Native Hawaiians work to save birds with rich ecological and cultural significance

Canadian energy firm Enbridge will reimburse a northern Wisconsin county for the cost of policing protests expected with construction of the company's Line 5 reroute. As Danielle Kaeding reports, the Ashland County board approved the deal Tuesday. The Wisconsin Counties Association negotiated an agreement where Enbridge will reimburse local governments for public safety costs tied to the Line 5 project in northern Wisconsin. Funds will be deposited into an escrow account managed by the association. Some residents worried the deal would turn local authorities into a private security force. Bad River tribal member Edith Leoso warned against signing the agreement to get reimbursed by Enbridge. “They will feed you what you want to hear, and then they will take everything from this area and leave you to pick up the pieces.” An Enbridge spokesperson said the company volunteered to fund the account. Enbridge also said it received a final US Army Corps permit that the company says will allow construction to move forward, but state approvals for the project are being challenged in court. Enbridge previously paid millions for public safety costs tied to protests of its Line 3 replacement project in Minnesota. ZenniHome founder Bob Worsley shares his excitement about opening up his facility in 2024 atop the former Navajo Generating Station near Page, Ariz. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) A civil lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona alleges a factory on the Navajo Nation was “squandering millions on improper and mysterious expenditures” before suddenly shutting down in July. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based firm Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture (IDSA) alleges that Mesa subcontractor ZenniHome breached its $50 million deal to build 160 modular homes. “There's a whole lot of money that got dumped into Zenni and obviously only to produce 18 homes, it's a mystery how that occurred.” Attorney Jay Curtis says IDSA is looking to repair the reputation of its founder, Tamarah Begay, in addition to recouping roughly $22 million from the American Rescue Plan Act for the Navajo Nation. ZenniHome CEO Bob Worsley says there will not be a refund of any amount. “No, the money is gone … It's not sitting in somebody's account somewhere, so the company has been liquidated. There's no more assets. It's just almost theater when we spent every dime they gave us, and about $4 million more than that – out of my pocket – so yeah, that's not going to happen.” Worsley also faces a separate federal class action lawsuit after laying off more than 200 employees last year. Rex Lee Jim, Vice President of the Navajo Nation prepares notes prior to a media call in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Radio Studio in Washington, D. C., Monday, March. 3, 2015. (Photo: Bob Nichols / USDA) Former Navajo Nation Vice President Rex Lee Jim is being remembered for his advocacy for Navajo people, including in education and culture, and as an international diplomat. Jim served as vice president from 2011 to 2015 with Navajo President Ben Shelly. He also served on the Navajo council, was a poet, playwright, author, and traditional medicine man. The Navajo Nation Council said Jim passed away on Tuesday and recognized his dedication to Navajo people, cultural preservation, and global Indigenous advocacy. JoAnn Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), former executive director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), is being remembered for strengthening NCAI's national presence and advocating for Native rights. Chase served as executive director from 1994 to 2001. In a statement Tuesday, NCAI said of Chase's passing that her leadership help the organization become stronger and more visible, working with tribal leaders, Congress, and others. She later worked in philanthropy, policy, and arts, including most recently serving as vice chair of the board for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, February 25, 2026 — The Menu: Commod Bods, a standout frybread stand, and Afro-Indigenous mutual aid in Minneapolis

A Lake Superior tribe wants a court to halt construction of a Canadian energy firm’s $450 million plan to reroute an oil and gas pipeline around its reservation in northern Wisconsin. As Danielle Kaeding reports, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa asked a court last week to review a decision that upheld state permits for Enbridge’s Line 5 relocation project. The Bad River tribe is challenging a recent decision by an administrative law judge that upheld wetlands and stormwater construction permits for Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute. Attorneys representing the tribe also filed a motion to put construction on hold until an Iron County judge hears their case. The tribe's chair, Elizabeth Arbuckle, said in a statement that the Bad River watershed is not an oil pipeline corridor, and the tribe must protect its homeland. An Enbridge spokesperson said it would be unreasonable to halt construction following the judge’s decision and years of state review. Enbridge has said state permits contain extensive environmental protections and restoration plans. The company says construction would not cause significant harm to water quality or wetlands. The Bad River tribe disputes that. The project would involve blasting and drilling to install the pipeline. The Line 5 reroute would cross close to 200 waterways and more than 100 acres of wetlands. Enbridge has said it would create 700 jobs during construction. (Photo: Murphy Woodhouse / Mountain West News Bureau) Declining snowpack is affecting tribal agriculture and traditional food systems across the West. A new webinar series is helping Indigenous communities adapt. For the Mountain West News Bureau, Daniel Spaulding has more. Across the region, snowpack is below average heading into spring runoff. That has major implications for tribal producers who rely on snowmelt for irrigation, livestock, and traditional foods. The Native Resilience Project is a four-year effort to build resilience in tribal agriculture. This year, the project evolved to address the ongoing snow drought. Dr. Kyle Bocinsky is a partner on the project and the Director of Climate Extension at the Montana Climate Office. “It’s going to be variable across communities, but I think the biggest takeaway is just that what we’re seeing right now is, at least for the last 25 years, a historically low snowpack situation. And it’s going to tax a lot of our systems.” The webinars cover snow conditions, drought assistance programs, drought planning, and new pathways for tribes to directly request federal disaster declarations. There are three more webinars in the series, which ends in May. Hannah Bissett with her family sheltering in place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Courtesy Hannah Bissett) An Alaska Native family from Wasilla is sheltering in place outside Puerto Vallarta. Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA has more. The family became stranded along with about 500 other tourists at their resort, after the Mexican military killed a notorious drug lord known as “El Mencho”. Other cartel members died and a wave of violence followed. Suspected cartel members torched businesses, buses, and cars in retaliation for the killings. Hannah Bissett says she and her mother, grandmother, ten-year-old brother, and a family friend had just arrived in Mexico. “We had like a half a day of normalcy, and as we were going to bed, things started turning upside down and got pretty intense pretty quickly.” Bissett said she and her family have not left their resort. All the stores around them, along with the hotel's restaurants, are closed. “Assuming things are closed, still, like the major grocery stores nearby, or even the local markets, in the next three or four days, we're gonna run out of food.” Bissett says the resort has been serving an evening buffet meal once a day. Overall, Bissett says she and her family are staying calm yet vigilant – encouraged that traffic seems to be moving again. Bissett says she received a personal phone call from U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) and calls from the offices of U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. All said they are ready to assist if necessary. Bissett is a former reporter at KNBA and currently a graduate student at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, February 24, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: “Blood Relay” by Devon Mihesuah

Photo: The entrance to the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation. (Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) The Interior Department is reviewing signs posted at more than a dozen national parks and monuments as part of President Donald Trump's agenda to “restore truth and sanity to American history”. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, one figure featured at the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site on the Navajo Nation is now in the crosshairs. To Navajos, Ganado Mucho (Many Cattle) is like a folk hero. He went on the “Long Walk”, marching hundreds of miles to be held at a New Mexico fort until he and other leaders signed an 1868 treaty. “And he wasn't defeated in the easy binary of stories that are winners and losers, but peacemaker doesn't mean you're not a resistor.” University of Oklahoma professor Farina King (Diné) says Mucho's legend may be at odds with how the U.S. wants to remember its past on the heels of the nation's 250th anniversary. “The thorn in the side is a disruption to the celebratory stories of Manifest Destiny, conquering the West, taming it and subjecting, you know, Indigenous peoples as if they're just a part of a wild landscape.” Three Navajo men, Tiene-su-se, left, Ganado Mucho, and Mariano in 1874. (Courtesy National Anthropological Archives / Smithsonian Institution) Once freed, Mucho then met fellow trader John Lorenzo Hubbell and kept making peace in the Southwest, settling disputes – often between Mormon ranchers and Navajos. In 1878, Hubbell set up his iconic trading post – still open to this day – and would rename that area. Hence Ganado, Ariz. Health care officials say a new Level IV EMS trauma facility opened by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska will mean faster and more efficient care for residents who need emergency medical attention. Mark Moran has more. Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare Services completed a $15 million emergency department in December, which then received a Level IV trauma center designation from the Nebraska Department of Public Health. Marketing Specialist Halle Murray says the new facility is a dramatic upgrade over calling 911. “Maybe the response time for Winnebago is longer if you try to call 911. So, here we actually have our own emergency line. It’s just a quicker response time, whether that’s needing help with something, or a ride to the hospital in an ambulance.” It took six years for Winnebago’s emergency department to earn the trauma center designation, which included rigorous training for the medical professionals and other staff who work there. In additional to advanced training and updated treatment protocols, the site itself was subject to a series of inspections and reviews prior to its Level IV designation. Murray says the trauma center fills a big need. “There’s always people who need help here on the reservation. Again, just getting to them quicker and helping them out the best that we can, and helping them get the care that they deserve, and I would say it’s a huge need in the Winnebago community right now.” Nebraska has one Level I trauma center, located in Omaha. A bill in the New Mexico Legislature that would have allowed state driver's licenses and identifications to include Native American designations failed as the session closed last week, New Mexico In Depth reports. The bill would have allowed applicants to request a mark to appear on their license or ID as Native American. Supports say it is in response to federal immigration actions taking place across the country, as Native Americans have been among those confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and having the designation would be another layer of identification. A handful of tribes in the state reportedly supported the bill. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode

Photo: A wide shot of the west side of the WélmeltiɁ Preserve in north Lake Tahoe, Calif. (Courtesy Elizabeth Carmel) The Washoe Tribe announced its acquisition of more than 10,000 acres of land north of Lake Tahoe. This new WélmeltiɁ Preserve marks the largest tribal land return in the Sierra Nevada and third largest in California. KUNR's Mariel Day has more. The Washoe Tribe recently finalized the purchase of the land in partnership with organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Board. The land spans across from the northeast of Lake Tahoe and to about 20 miles north of Reno. Washoe Tribal Chairman Serrell Smokey says this is an opportunity for the tribe to revitalize their traditional practices, stewardship and language preservation. “The Washoe People, being removed from our lands, fought hard to get every little bit back, and now we actually have something to call ours.” Although the preserve is the first under the Waší·šiw Land Trust, they hope to acquire more of the Washoe homelands. In the meantime, Smokey hopes to start restoring the land and focus on conserving the wildlife and its natural resources – while ensuring it's a safe place for everyone. Super Bowl Halftime headliner Bad Bunny recently won three Grammys, including Album of the Year. He's from Puerto Rico and one song explores colonization in his home and Hawaiʻi. HPR's Cassie Ordonio spoke with Puerto Ricans and Hawaiians last year about the similarities between the islands. Bad Bunny's song, “Lo Que Le Paso A Hawaii”, translates to what happened to Hawaiʻi. Many locals say it highlights stark similarities and is a reminder of the islands' colonial past. Daniel Kauwila Mahi is a Native Hawaiian artist. He interpreted the song as Bad Bunny protecting his homeland by taking a political stance against statehood. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898, six years after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Mahi underscored that Native Hawaiian musicians have been raising issues of over tourism and sovereignty rights. These artists include, but are not limited to, Sudden Rush, Braddah Iz, and “Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's Hawai‘i ‘78”. “For this broader conversation is how Kanaka Maoli and Latino culture have been. through music since Paniolo came to Hawaii and our have have influenced each other for a lot longer than people think.” Angel Santiago-Cruz is a 69-year-old Puerto Rican who has lived in Hawai‘i for about 40 years. He joined the U.S Army with a guarantee to be stationed in Hawaiʻi. He wanted to see what statehood looks like. “What are you going to lose?” One lyric that stood to him was to never forget the lelolai. Santiago-Cruz says it's an expression from the jibaro, which is a person who is connected to the land. “When the Hawaiians say, ea, that’s an expression for your Hawaiianness, that’s an expression to the connection to the island. Lelolai is the same.” Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, February 20, 2026 – Remembering Osage leader Jim Gray

Photo: Crews install the final stages of a new fiber-optic internet network across four tribal nations in northern New Mexico. (Courtesy NMPBS) The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has announced more than $900 million in investments towards broadband infrastructure, with the help of both federal and state support. Some of the funds will go to the Navajo Nation. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) has more. Among the 17 projects announced, the Navajo Nation was awarded $111 million. That is the largest single supported project from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Sonia Nez manages the Navajo Nation Broadband Office. She says the project will affect 11,000 households across New Mexico's portion of the Navajo Nation. She also says an effort to bring broadband to the community like this has never been done before. “Telehealth, education across the whole spectrum, lifts the people up to a new level where there was no connectivity before, but now they will have connectivity at the home, and so just opens the whole door of opportunity for the people, businesses, entrepreneurship, education, across the whole spectrum.” Nez says tribal members continue to face challenges without broadband. “So without internet connection, for example, you have to go either to get college education, you have to go off the reservation, you have to go to the cities, you know. So this will give them opportunity to have school right there at home and not have to leave the Nation.” Nez says the BEAD program will help more homes have broadband service. She also says Navajo Nation is working to establish broadband in all chapter houses and install 5G towers for mobile internet. A few dozen people gathered in Anchorage on January 31, 2026, while several dozen more joined virtually, to discuss whether to rebuild or relocate Kipnuk. (Photo: James Oh / Alaska Public Media) Kipnuk was one of the Western Alaska villages hit hardest by the remnants of Typhoon Halong in October. Residents are starting to vote on whether they want to rebuild their community, or relocate to higher ground. The Alaska Desk's Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports. Rayna Paul sits in an Anchorage office, scrolling through a spreadsheet filled with hundreds of names of Kipnuk tribal members. “We are just on As…” (laughs) Paul is in charge of the village's voting process. Over the next several days, she and her team will call every single adult tribal member — that's about 900 people — and ask them: Do they want to rebuild the village in its current location or move to higher ground? “It’s very important for us to find out what the tribal members from Kipnuk want.” Last fall's disastrous winds and flooding destroyed homes and infrastructure and contaminated land and water. Most of Kipnuk's residents remain evacuated, including Paul. She says she wants the future Kipnuk to be safe. “We love our community. We miss our community. We’re doing it for our future generations to come, because they might not know what to do when this happens again. I think we’re just going to be hit with many, many storm events.” The first community meeting about whether to relocate happened about a week ago. The decision to start voting followed swiftly. Sheryl Musgrove directs the climate justice program under the Alaska Institute for Justice. She says the village needs to act fast to make the most of both the short construction season and the available funding for disaster recovery. “They don’t have decades. They need to do it immediately. … That’s my hope is they can show other communities that are going to be faced with this in the future, that you can rebuild someplace else– if that’s what they decide– on a short timeline as the disaster recovery process.” Right now, Kipnuk leadership is looking at two sites for relocation. Both spots are located on higher ground. During the voting process, Paul and her team of four are also asking residents if they want to suggest any other sites. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, February 19, 2026 – The growing AI appropriation threat

Federal fisheries regulators approved some limits on Western Alaska chum bycatch in the Bering Sea last week. The highly debated – and long awaited – decision aims to protect declining salmon stocks, a crucial food resource for Alaska tribes. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA has this story. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to set a Western Alaska chum bycatch limit in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. The council said the move will balance protections for Western Alaska salmon returns, while also allowing pollock fisheries to continue their harvest. Council member Nicole Kimball voted for the motion. She says it addresses those needs and reflects best available Western and Indigenous science. “I think it’s going to change behavior. I think it’s going to reduce Western Alaska chum bycatch … I’m sure, as per usual, nobody is very happy, but all of the discussions have really helped … inform the outcome.” The trawl fishery in the Bering Sea near the Aleutian Islands is focused on pollock, but boats also scoop up other types of fish. That includes chum salmon, some of which migrates to Western and Interior Alaska rivers and is a crucial subsistence resource there. But chum runs have been declining, leading to repeated fishing closures in some communities. Alaska Native Council member John Moller, originally from Unalaska, is a commercial fisherman. He says he is fortunate to put fish up each year and feels for those who cannot. “I know how important that is to me, how important that is to my family, and passing that on to my children – I get that. And my heart is ripped out, speaking with all of you that are living on the rivers right now that don’t have that same ability that I have living in Southeast.” The council voted to support a motion that sets a limit to Western Alaska chum bycatch. Exceeding that limit would trigger a partial closure. Rachel Baker is the Deputy Commissioner at Alaska Department of Fish and Game. She presented the motion. Several members who voted against the motion said it is not likely to provide a meaningful improvement for salmon returns, but Baker argued. “We’re at this table used to thinking about large volumes of fish, in tons … we heard in testimony that four fish were able to provide the needs for a potlatch.” The plan goes to the National Marine Fisheries Service next before it can be implemented. (Courtesy AMC) This weekend saw the recent premiere of Season 4 of AMC's award-winning detective drama, “Dark Winds” which takes place in 1970s Navajo Country. As Brian Bull reports, tension and resentment threaten the romantic relationship between two main characters. After Bernadette Manuelito quits the U.S. Border Patrol and returns to the Navajo Tribal Police Department, it looks like a carefree and intimate rekindling of her romance with fellow officer, Jim Chee. But Lt. Joe Leaphorn shares a life decision with Manuelito that will shake up the force, a secret which Chee inevitably learns. Feeling affronted and mistrusted, a schism occurs between the couple. Actors Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten talk about bringing this conflict to their characters. “Leaphorn's coming from a place of understanding the matriarchy system, and in order to protect this relationship dynamic, she doesn't feel like she's lying to Chee, she feels like she's actually protecting him from what he doesn't need to know.  Y'know she's dealing with a lot of the PTSD of her just killing a man in season 3, and sometimes you just don't want to tell the truth right away because you might actually spiritually just drown, because it’s too much.” “And he is dealing with his own demons that he's been pushing away but now they've come to collect. And having to deal with that and trying to maintain your professionalism when you're working with the love of your life at the same time, and so there's a lot of dynamics being played out.” (Courtesy AMC) Meanwhile, an investigation takes the pair and Leaphorn to Los Angeles. Gordon and Matten say much of the filming still happened in New Mexico, parts of which resembled L.A. more than 50 years ago. New episodes of “Dark Winds” air Sunday nights on AMC and a fifth season has already been greenlit. The premiere episode of “Dark Winds” season 4 ended with a tribute to executive producer Robert Redford, who passed away last September. (Courtesy AMC) Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – Native in the Spotlight: Keeya Wiki

As immigration enforcement actions continue across the country, Indigenous people are increasingly concerned they are being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). And some have been detained. For the Mountain West News Bureau, Daniel Spaulding has more. On the morning of December 5, ShyLynn Allen received a panicked phone call from Jose Joaquin Sanchez Alvarado, the father of her children. Alvarado was driving from his home in Meridian, Idaho to pick up their 10-year-old son to take him to school. Suddenly, he was surrounded by police. “He called me from inside the car and he’s like, ‘I think,’ he’s like, ‘I think they’re taking me.’ And he was just like, ‘I’m pretty sure.’ He’s like, ‘I’m pretty sure they’re detaining me.” Allen is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe in Idaho and Nevada. Alvarado, who is undocumented and not a tribal member, came to the United States from Mexico when he was just 11-years-old. “He doesn't have a criminal record. I don't even know why they're really targeting him. You know, he's a good person. He's not. He's never been in trouble like he always works like that's all he does is work.” Alvarado is now being held in an ICE detention facility near Las Vegas, Nev. Allen says the emotional toll has fallen heavily on their children. “Now they don't even want to go outside or do anything.” As ICE ramps up operations across the country, that fear is widespread in Native communities. Despite being U.S. citizens and members of sovereign tribal nations, Indigenous people are increasingly being questioned – and in some cases detained – by immigration agents. In January, Peter Yazzie, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was detained by ICE in Phoenix before being released later that day. “We are the first peoples of the country, and our citizenship should never be questioned or challenged by anyone.” That is Crystalyne Curley, the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council. In January, the council passed legislation calling on ICE to formally recognize Navajo Nation identification documents. Many tribes across the country are urging their citizens to carry tribal IDs at all times. In January, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) hosted a know your rights webinar. Over a thousand people attended. Beth Wright (Laguna Pueblo) is a senior staff attorney at NARF. “Yeah, we’re getting a lot of outreach from folks all over the country. I think there’s a lot of concern about what to do if tribal citizens are stopped by ICE and what their rights are in different encounters with ICE. I think one of the important messages to convey is that tribal citizens are citizens of the U.S.” But many Native parents are worried that tribal IDs won't be enough. Eva Flores is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona. She lives in Caldwell, Idaho. “You know, I fear for my kids to go out, even just to school or activities, not knowing if, you know, they're coming home or if they're going to be picked up.” In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said its agents are trained to determine a person's immigration status and whether they are subject to removal. As tribal leaders call on federal authorities to respect tribal sovereignty, parents like ShyLynn Allen are focused on protecting their children. “We don't need ICE on our street. They're only terrorizing brown people. And it's not doing any good. They're violating constitutional rights, they're killing people.” Defending adult division world hoop champ Josiah Enriquez wins his third title in a row at the Heard Museum on February 15, 2026. (Courtesy Heard Museum / Gila River Broadcasting Corporation) The annual Indigenous hoop dancing championships was held over the weekend, returning to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, the reigning titleholder made history by defending his crown once more. A two point difference – 214 points – a three-time champion, Josiah Enriquez…” The three-peat adult division champ, who is Navajo and from the pueblos of Isleta and Pojoaque in New Mexico, made history Sunday night. His victory marks a very rare feat no one else has achieved, except the sport's most decorated dancer three decades ago. Arizona's Derrick Suwaima Davis (Hopi and Choctaw) won three of his record-setting seven world titles in a row between 1996 and 1998. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – Will limiting commercial trawler bycatch save salmon in Alaska?

The federal government is encouraging tribes to partner with data centers. That could mean leasing land or, as the Mountain West News Bureau's Hanna Merzbach reports, selling power. At a U.S. Department of Energy webinar, Ken Ahmann with Colusa Indian Energy said that is where the big bucks come in. “ Potentially billions of dollars into the coffers of tribes.” His company provides energy infrastructure to data centers on tribal land. He says these partnerships can be good for tribes that have land and resources to power big projects like the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. Paul Bemore is the chair of the tribe's utility board. “Tribes that are casino-dependent really need to look at other ways to build their economies, and I think data centers is one of those opportunities.” Though Bemore says people may be wary about how this will impact the environment. Other tribes have expressed concerns about data centers draining precious water supplies. (Courtesy Disney) Disney's animated film “Moana 2” has been translated into Hawaiian just like the first movie. Hawai‘i Public Radio's Cassie Ordonio reports. Most Disney productions are dubbed in more than 40 languages after appearing in English. The Moana series is one of them. The sequel made history with a global debut on Disney plus this month – marking the beginning of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month. Lāiana Kanoa-Wong is a member of the “Moana 2” Oceanic Cultural Trust. “Things that you could find on the media or in shows, we didn’t have it. We were watching every cartoon you could imagine at the time. We were watching all of these things, but nothing ever looked and sounded like us. And so being able to be a part of this project was a huge honor and privilege.” Kanoa-Wong was honored to be a part of the project and to see the characters brought to life in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. “It was important to make sure that the maoli Hawai‘i was still strong, like the essence and what we’re trying to say was so strong, even if sometimes it didn’t match perfectly with the lip flap, we forgave ourselves sometimes, if it conveyed the meaning and it was helpful for that purpose, or we would sometimes like we would have written it out, and we’re like, Oh, we got to add a few more things why don’t we add this word or these sounds that can also deepen the meaning, but from a Hawaiian worldview.” “Moana 2” tells the story of the Polynesian princess receiving a call from her wayfinding ancestors. She embarks on a dangerous journey across the ocean, reunites with Maui, and recruits other characters from her home in Motunui to join her. The Hawaiian language version of the film is produced by an all-local cast, including the original Moana voice actress Auli‘i Cravalho. The character Loto is voiced by Native Hawaiian actress Pualalea Panaewa. “For me, it was a very special opportunity to be able to voice a character in such a beloved Disney film series. Moana is huge. Not just amongst our people too. Not just amongst Hawaiians or Polynesians or Oceania like in the world.” Jim Gray, former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, is being remembered for his leadership and advocacy for Indian Country. He passed away last week at age 64. Chairperson Ben Barnes of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma says Gray's achievements for his tribe and Indian Country have left a profound impact, including modernizing the Osage Nation's government by ratifying its first constitution, and securing equal voting rights for every Osage member. The National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro says Gray devoted his life to strengthening the Osage Nation and advancing tribal sovereignty. Funeral services are being held Monday on the Osage Nation. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, February 16, 2026 — Tribes come to grips with $1.5 billion federal funding retraction

The 15th annual Bay Area American Indian Two Spirit Powwow is happening this Valentine's Day. Buffalo's Fire reports that organizers hope that the event goes fine, with participants and volunteers feeling safe and supported as the rawhide drum ushers in the Grand Entry. Tzapotl Flores (Salvi-Mexi Xicana) is a co-chair for the BAAITS powwow. She says, this year, the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is creating concerns. “We are developing very specific ICE protocols internally. We hear these forms of propaganda where Two Spirit people are ‘terrorists.' All of these different attacks on our community, but it's still going to happen. Because it is a tantamount important event that people need.” Another co-chair, Kat Warren, says the Trump administration has made things challenging for Two Spirits and the Native LGTBQ+ community. The president has rolled out executive orders that bans gender affirming care for youth, and defines gender as only male or female, determined at conception. “Y'know a lot of our folks are very concerned about the folks that are going to attend this powwow because we do bring in a lot of folks, and we want to make sure everyone is taken care and able to experience the medicine of the powwow. We see the struggles and we see the ongoing pressure of this administration and we are trying our best to be above it.” BAAITS is regarded as the largest Two Spirit powwow in North America, with non-gender contest dancing and flags representing Native LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit people. The North Fork of the Yellow River on July 17, 2025. (Photo: Danielle Kaeding / WPR) States and tribes would have less power to protect waterways under the Clean Water Act when reviewing energy and infrastructure projects. As Danielle Kaeding reports, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would limit their authority under a new rule. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the changes would protect water quality while ending “weaponization of the law” that has delayed or blocked projects. States and authorized tribes can review the effects of dams, bridges, and pipelines on wetlands and waterways under the Clean Water Act. The proposal would narrow water quality impacts they could consider. Nancy Stoner is an attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center. She says the rule would also remove a process that allows tribes to weigh in on federally regulated projects even if they haven't adopted their own programs to set water quality standards. “It puts a huge hurdle in front of tribes that they have to actually adopt a whole water quality standards program in order to look at a federally permitted activity, and what are the impacts on the waters, on the tribal waters.” Only about 15% of federally recognized tribes have received approval from the EPA to adopt their own programs for water quality standards. Franka Potente as Irene Vaggan in “Dark Winds” Season 4, Episode 3. (Photo: Michael Moriatis / AMC) This weekend sees the return of the AMC series “Dark Winds”. The award-winning detective series takes place in 1970s Navajo Country. Zahn McClarnon plays tribal police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, who finds himself stalked by a mysterious woman who carves a path of destruction across the reservation. Zahn McClarnon as Lt. Joe Leaphorn in “Dark Winds” Season 4, Episode 3. (Photo: Michael Moriatis / AMC) Franka Potente plays Irene Vaggan. She and McClarnon discuss their dynamic upon their first physical meeting in the season. “He's very vulnerable with no clothes on, half naked, but (Frank laughs) also vulnerable in his life and what he's going through psychologically and emotionally, with the possibility of losing his wife and searching for what the Diné people call ‘hozho’ y'know, the balance and stability in his life. And he's in search of that very much when he meets Irene for the first time. “I'm not connected to the earth anymore so she's very impressed and very enamored with what she's seeing, and she just wants to devour that.” “Dark Winds” premieres Sunday night on AMC. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, February 13, 2026 – Indigenous Winter Olympians compete for gold in Italy

It has been a month since hundreds of members of a northern Ontario First Nation were put in hotels across the province after a water crisis. Many, however, have chosen to stay at the reserve. As Dan Karpenchuk reports, a state of emergency was declared in early January after a parasite was found in water samples and led to dozens of cases of gastrointestinal illnesses. Medical staff left Kashechewan a week ago after consultation with community leaders, but they say residents who remain will still be able to access healthcare services. Lisa Westaway is the regional executive for Indigenous Services Canada. “We've worked with Weeneebayko area health authority, Orange, which is emergency response and the ministry of health to ensure that services are in place for community members who choose to remain in Kashechewan.” Band leaders in Kaschewan declared a state of emergency on January fourth after damage to the water system. That led to sewage seeping into people's homes creating public health and safety issue. More than 1500 people were sent to communities across Ontario including Niagara Falls, Timmins, and Kingston. Less than 400 decided to stay. Tyson Wesley is the executive director of the Kashechewan First Nation. “A lot of people that are currently in the community are deciding to stay. However we're trying to develop some plans to allow them to be there such as our community across the river Fort Albany. So we're trying to see how they can access health care.” More than 60 band members at the fly-in community on the western shore of James Bay have been diagnosed with the parasite cryptosporidium, which causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramps, diarrhea, nausea, fever, and vomiting. Most cases are resolved without medication over a couple of weeks. It is still unclear when people will be able to return home. Tribal leaders from across the country spoke out this week at a U.S. Senate hearing against possible changes within the Small Business Administration (SBA) program that supports Native entities. The Alaska Desk's Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports. The 8(a) Business Development Program provides federal contracting opportunities to socially disadvantaged individuals or tribes. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-led the oversight hearing focused on the program. “It delivers mission-critical work for civilian and defense agencies, and it promotes economic development in Native communities while helping to fulfill the federal trust responsibility.” But over the past year, the federal SBA and other agencies have launched audits into the program, and announced a sweeping suspension of companies participating in it. U.S. Defense Secretary aka U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced on social media last month that his department would be “taking a sledgehammer to the oldest [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] DEI program in the federal government.” Murkowski says that Native-owned businesses participate in the program because Congress recognized the government's trust and treaty obligations to Native communities. “That was not based on race, it was not based on DEI.” Katherine Carlton (Iñupiat) is the president of Chugach Alaska Corporation. Her organization has participated in the program for decades and has benefitted from its economic opportunities. “For us, it provided the pathway to recover from the devastating Exxon Valdez oil spill in our region.” Polly Watson is vice president of operations at Bristol Bay Native Corporation and says her organization has several businesses participating in the 8(a) program. Watson says the corporation reinvests the revenue it receives through government contracts back into the community. One example is a partnership with the state Division of Motor Vehicles to deliver mobile services. “To bring real ID and driver's license services to seven villages in the Bristol Bay region serving rural residents.” Tribal leaders and senators from Nevada, Oklahoma, Montana, and Hawaii all spoke in support of the Native participation in the 8(a) program. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, February 12, 2026 – Young ‘Champions' inspire positive change

Protecting tribal sovereignty is a top discussion at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2026 Executive Council Winter Session, which is taking place this week in Washington, DC. NCAI President Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) highlighted the importance of tribal sovereignty in his State of Indian Nations address. Macarro says before there was a U.S., there were sovereign tribal nations. “Our sovereignty was not created by treaties, nor granted by Congress. It is inherent and existed before colonization. Treaties did not give us sovereignty. They recognized it. The Constitution did not define us it acknowledged us. Federal laws did not create our rights, it memorialized them. And yet for centuries, our sovereignty has been attacked and attempts continue to constrain and diminish it. Yet our nations continue to govern, continue to lead, to teach, to resist, and to rise.” Macarro says recent attacks include calls by Gov. Kevin Stitt (Cherokee/R-OK) to limit tribal sovereignty, which Macarro says is appalling. Tribal leaders in Oklahoma agree with Macarro’s sentiment. Reggie Wassana is governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. “This day and age, we shouldn’t have to ask why tribes have a sovereignty. We shouldn’t have to ask what the tribe’s capabilities are, how they can function, how they can prosper, and who are tribes.” Wassana and Macarro say tribal leaders are often educating elected officials about American Indian history, tribal sovereignty and the U.S. government's trust and treaty responsibilities. Before every census, the federal government picks several test sites, focusing on hard-to-reach areas, but the bureau has cancelled that testing at four of the six regions, including two that cover Arizona tribal lands. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, this is not the first time the Census has changed course with Indian Country. In fact, this also happened in 2016 when two reservations in Washington and South Dakota were nixed, citing budget uncertainty and funding shortages. Census consultant Saundra Mitrovich (Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California), co-leads the Natives Count Coalition. “In the last two decennials, not only have we had the undercount, but we've had this cancellation of test sites for tribal areas twice.” Mitrovich says one concern is that the Trump administration is considering to use postal service staff to replace temporary census workers to conduct the count and cut down on costs. “A lot of the households are left invisible to the census, and they also have non-traditional addresses.” In 2020, the nonprofit Native American Rights Fund reported that more than 80% of all registered Indigenous voters in Arizona – outside of metro Phoenix and Tucson – rely solely on P.O. boxes. This time around, San Carlos and White Mountain Apache homes in Arizona as well as Cherokee households in North Carolina are being left out. The Census Bureau would not say why. “How are we gonna say that we're going to carry out this fair and full representation that the survey is supposed to provide of the country?” And on this day in 1978, the “Longest Walk” by Native activists began. A start-up ceremony took place on Alcatraz Island, where the group then proceeded to travel by foot from Sacramento to Washington D.C. to build awareness of treaty rights and injustice. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, February 11, 2026 – Route 66 changed tribes' connections and culture

Tribal leaders from across the country are gathered in Washington D.C. this week for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2026 Executive Council Winter Session and State of Indian Nations Address. NCAI Youth Commission Co-Presidents Jonas Kanuhsa (Gila River Indian Community) and Angelina Serna (Oneida Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) kicked off Monday morning's assembly by delivering the youth commission speech. Serna says her message to tribal leaders is to recognize the contributions being made by Native youth. “I really talk about tokenism when it comes to Native and really putting youth at the forefront and having youth at these tables, at these conversations, giving youth that opportunity to really learn, and for the adults to be learners and teachers as well, and incorporating language and culture in everything that we do because what we do has spirit, has purpose.” Kanuhsa says his message to attendees is to help find ways for Native youth to get more opportunities, especially for those who live in remote areas. “Opening roles for more Native youth. I think Native youth on rural reservations have a hard time maybe connecting to maybe internships, fellowships, maybe just early on new jobs, entry jobs, because of those location barriers.” The Youth Commission co-presidents also touched on safety concerns when it comes to Native people and recent federal immigration actions across the U.S. They also talked about the commission's work this week on Capitol Hill to advocate for funding, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery models for substance abuse. NCAI President Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians), who delivered the State of Indian Nations address, followed the youth commission’s remarks by saying young Native people are an important part of NCAI. “In my time here at NCAI, the youth started to say we have a voice, you know, what we have to say matters, and it matters in this moment. And, you know, we took stock of that and been making strides to have them be more inclusive. They’re right and their take on the world or take on issues in Indian Country is different than ours, and so we need to allow ourselves to hear that. but we also need to create those opportunities for us to mentor them.” NCAI’s winter session continues Tuesday with updates from federal agencies including the departments of justice, transportation, and housing. Leaders will also hear from some members of Congress from New Mexico and Washington state. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids during a 2022 hearing. (Courtesy C-SPAN) The history and effects of Indian boarding schools would be investigated and documented under legislation re-introduced by U.S. Reps. Tom Cole (Chickasaw/R-OK) and Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS). Rep. Davids is one of the first two Native women elected to Congress, and has long spoken of the boarding school era, including on C-SPAN in 2022. “The policies and assimilation practices of the United States had the sole purpose of culturally assimilating American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children in residential boarding schools across the country. Children were coerced and compelled to attend boarding schools away from their home. Many children did not return to their families or their communities. Those that did return lost generations' worth of cultural knowledge, stories and traditions, and communities lost their language keepers, cultural practitioners and future leaders.” H.R. 7325 would establish a commission to investigate and report on the histories of more than 500 federally run boarding schools, which operated between 1819 through the 1970s. President Joe Biden formally apologized for the schools in 2024. British forces under fire from the French and Indian forces at Monongahela, when the Braddock expedition failed to take Fort Duquesne. And on this day in 1763, the French-Indian War officially ended. The armies of France and England wrestled for territory in the Americas, with both sides swaying Native tribes to help their efforts. Some, including the Ojibwe and Winnebago, helped the French, while the Iroquois helped England. While the outcome was favorable for the British, the cost of the war compelled England to raise taxes on the 13 colonies, eventually spurring the American Revolution. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – From the child tax credit to paperless refunds: what to know about this year's tax returns

Audio available by 12 p.m. EST For decades, Native women and other women of color were subjected to forced sterilization by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. New Mexico lawmakers introduced a memorial last week to create a truth and reconciliation commission that would conduct a study into the history, and continuing impacts of this abuse. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) has this report. Senate memorial 14 includes research dating to the 1970s which shows between 25%-50% of Indigenous women ere sterilized, with some of the highest incidents occurring in New Mexico. The memorial would develop a plan to create a state truth and reconciliation commission to research and find all cases of sterilization in the state, gather survivor testimony, and review and recommend educational policy. Keely Badger is a human rights advocate who wrote her dissertation on the forced sterilization of Native women. Lawmakers asked her about challenges finding and accessing records. “I do think that the requests have to come from an official state body, official agencies, to get to the heart of this information. It is going to be more than one person’s ability to accumulate this information.” She says this may have been intentional by the states. “At a national level, they have sealed some of these records for a reason, in the same way that a lot of the information about the boarding school system was very challenging; took decades and decades of research to accumulate to get to a point where we could have a national apology. “I believe that this is one of those situations where it is going to require real political will and advocacy from civil society groups to get to the real heart of this from a national perspective.” If the memorial goes into law, New Mexico would be the first state in the nation to formally investigate and acknowledge these violations. The memorial will head to the senate floor for a vote and if passed, will go to the House of Representatives. White Mountain Apache Chairman Kasey Velasquez speaks about the significance of the Apache trout in Mesa, Ariz. on September 4, 2024. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ Thousands of members from the White Mountain Apache Tribe went to the polls last week to vote in a primary election that resulted in the sitting chairman losing his chance at another term. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports. In a three-way race, Chairman Kasey Velasquez earned a little over 400 votes, while his challengers both received nearly four times as much, according to the tribe's election commission. In the end though, longtime Whiteriver school board member Orlando Carroll got the most votes by a margin of more than 50 ballots. He will face off against Councilman Gary Alchesay in the April general election. Also on Wednesday, the tribe announced that a special prosecutor declined to criminally charge Velasquez under tribal law for allegations of sexual harassment against the HR director. A civil investigation by the tribe is still ongoing. And you will be seeing lots of commemorative Seahawks swag now that Seattle's NFL team has won Super Bowl 60. The ‘hawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13. The BBC reports that many Native American and First Nations people appreciate the team's logo. Turns out, it is based on a carved transformation mask from the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation from the late 1800s. The logo was chosen by the Seahawk's manager in the 1970s. Seattle's Burke Museum traced the origins of it to a photo of a ceremonial mask in an old art book. This led them to the Hudson Museum in Maine. The mask was loaned to Seattle for a ceremony with tribal members and team representatives. The BBC reports that, unlike other major league sports teams, the Seahawks logo has not sparked backlash because it respectfully borrows from Indigenous culture and does not resort to racist stereotypes. Some Indigenous people from Canada and the U.S. say it has inspired them to learn more of their own culture. A ceremony and parade for the Seahawks will be held in Seattle Wednesday morning. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out Native America Calling’s special coverage of the 2026 State of Indian Nations address Monday, February 9, 2026 – 2026 State of Indian Nations

Before he left office, President Joe Biden came to Arizona and formally apologized for the federal government's role in running boarding schools designed to forcibly assimilate Indigenous children. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, Biden's words still carry meaning as one group continues fulfilling a promise from his administration. “Children would arrive [at] school, clothes taken off – their hair that they were told was sacred was chopped off. Their names [were] literally erased, replaced by a number or an English name.” At least 526 facilities were built nationwide and resulted in more than 3,000 deaths. “The pain it has caused will always be a significant mark of shame, a blot on American history.” An enduring pain Deb Haaland, Biden's Interior secretary and the daughter of a boarding school survivor, began trying to heal. “For decades, this terrible chapter was hidden from our history books, but now our administration's work will ensure that no one will ever forget.” More than a year later, healing continues within the Gila River Indian Community. “It feels like just yesterday that we were doing our opening, and we were standing up here and telling you how we were going to make this week be a safe space for you.” That's Lacey Kinnart (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) with the nonprofit National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Their group came to Gila River as part of a national tour collecting boarding school testimonials. They aim to document 400 survivors by the end of the tour. Each video recording will be accessible through the Library of Congress. “One of my favorite things about this work that we do is being able to see healing happening right in front of our eyes.” Charlee Brissette is an oral history program co-director and from the same tribe as Kinnart. “We don't say that we're the healers, but we offer space for healing to happen. By the end of the week too, a lot of our relatives that have shared their story with us come back, because they're like family now.” Like boarding school survivor Ramona Klein, who is from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota and sits on the nonprofit's board. “I know what it was like for me, so I'm hoping it was kind of like that for them, because there's a relief.” Their intimate project involves a lot of aftercare, with the nonprofit remaining mindful of mental health. “Each survivor will be contacted by the person who interviewed them in the next week or so, and then we continue to follow up for the next year. In addition to that, we offer a healing circle that's virtual. We want to be very cognizant that we don't open up wounds and hurt people.” The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition will stop in Denver, Colo. February 23-27, 2026, to continue its Oral History Project. (Courtesy Rep. Sharice Davids / Facebook) U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk/D-KS) reintroduced this week the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act to strengthen the Small Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs, and expand support for Native entrepreneurs. Speaking on the House floor, Rep. Davids said Native entrepreneurs face unnecessary barriers to accessing the tools and resources they need to grow, create jobs, and compete. She says the bill strengthens programs so they can better meet those needs. To introduce the legislation, Davids was joined by U.S. Reps Eli Crane (R-AZ), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), and Kelly Morrison (D-MN). Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Friday, February 6, 2026 — New art exhibitions offer creative interpretations of Native survival and endurance

Photo: Kipnuk resident Larry Kalistook asks village and state officials questions about possible relocation during the meeting on January 31, 2026. (James Oh / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Native village of Kipnuk is at a crossroads. A powerful storm last fall destroyed homes, contaminated water, and left residents with a critical decision: rebuild in the same spot or move to higher ground? As the Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports, the conversation is just getting started. Kipnuk resident Rayna Paul fights back tears as she talks about how the remnants of Typhoon Halong ravaged her village — and why relocating is so important for the next generation. “We want them to have a livable life too.” She shared her thoughts at a recent meeting in Anchorage, where more than 50 Kipnuk residents discussed the future of their community. Village Council President Daniel Paul says it'll be up to the residents to decide what's next. “I had many calls from our tribal members, half of them wanna stay, half wanna go.” Kipnuk is about four miles inland from the Bering Sea coast and was once home to about 700 people. Nearly everyone evacuated after the October storms. Paul says about 100 residents are back now, working to rebuild, but there's a lot to do. The storm demolished about 150 homes, wiped out vital infrastructure, and left lands and water contaminated. During the meeting, residents spoke predominantly in Yup'ik, asking what relocation could look like. They asked about how to choose a new site and secure land ownership. And they pondered what it would take to set up critical infrastructure at a new place. Village Council Vice President Chris Alexie says that would include a school, airport, and health clinic. “This isn’t going to be an easy process to do, but we have to do that.” Village officials say the relocation process can take years. Kipnuk elder David Carl says he supports relocating. “We’re not thinking about ourselves, who we are now, we just want to fight for our upcoming generations.” But for Daniel Paul, Kipnuk is home and he hopes to live there again one day. “For me, I’m gonna stick with Kipnuk, regardless of how the situation is. I was raised there, and I’ll stay there.” Paul says the meeting was just the first step in the relocation discussion, and residents have a lot of factors to weigh. But Kipnuk leaders also feel a sense of urgency. Paul says the village expects only one substantial influx of federal funding. To make the best use of it, he says they need to decide soon whether they want to stay or move. Navajo County Complex. (Courtesy Navajo County) For decades, public health officials in Navajo County, Ariz. have been helping tribal members and elders who were not born inside a hospital with obtaining birth certificates. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, they have seen a spike in applicants following reports of Native people getting caught up in ICE crackdowns nationwide. Last year, 305 residents applied for delayed birth certificates across Navajo County, two thirds of which covers tribal lands belonging to Navajos, Hopis, and White Mountain Apaches. Violet Redbird-Nez (Kiowa and Diné) is a vital records specialist with county public health. She treks to Kayenta quarterly to help residents get documented and for the last three months, Redbird-Nez says there is an uptick. “They're worried that they might get deported.” There were 22 applicants last month alone. Once the paperwork is filled out, it typically takes six weeks. “And it's so endearing to know that they came by to say, ‘Hey, thank you for helping me get my birth registered. I'm legal now,' is what they say. So that's awesome.” Indian Health Service is headquartered in Rockville, Md. (Photo: Antony-22 / Wikimedia) U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced this week the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act. The legislation elevates the role of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Director to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. Senators say elevating the position would give IHS greater authority to address the health care needs of Native communities. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Thursday, February 5, 2026 – Can caribou slow the drive for oil and mineral development in Alaska?

Photo: Members of the MMIW Search & Hope Alliance attend a cadaver session led by Dr. William Borman, in Portland, Oreg. Thursday, January 22, 2026. (Brian Bull / Buffalo's Fire) Search teams working on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases must prepare themselves for the likelihood they will come across a body. One group based in Portland, Oreg. is proactively preparing volunteers for that encounter, as Brian Bull of Buffalo's Fire reports. Inside an anatomy lab, William Borman, professor of basic sciences for the University of Western States, carefully turns a cadaver over on a metal table. Metal canopies cover human cadavers inside Linfield University's anatomy lab in Portland, Oreg. Thursday, January 22, 2026. (Photo: Brian Bull / Buffalo's Fire) A tinge of formaldehyde fills the air. Seven volunteers with the group, MMIW Search & Hope Alliance, examine its tendons, nerves, and organs. Kimberly Lining is the group's founder. She says she has seen death up close many times. “And I think through my years of traumatic experiences with violent death, I’ve seen a lot, it’s prepared me. I think just due to fire, like steel is forged through fire.” But for most people, exposure to death and corpses is not a recurring thing, so Lining reached out to Borman to arrange a visit. Not only does it gird people for when they find a body, but it helps them discern between human and animal remains. Two volunteers, Sabrina Griffith and Isabella Regalado, say they would recommend this experience. “Just seeing the veins, the actual ligaments, the bone, the muscles, it was quite surprising to see it and feel it in real life. I've only touched bones and stuff like that, so it’s very interesting to actually feel the inner part of our body.” “It’s actually been better than anticipated. I thought it would be a little bit more gruesome, but everyone has been very professional and understanding, and everyone has been doing their best to educate everyone else.” Lining and Borman remind people that viewing cadavers is not the same as coming across a corpse, whether that is in the wilderness or city. Such bodies are not preserved, and beyond what the cause of death inflicted, would be subject to the elements and scavengers. “If it’s in the wilderness, in the forest, bears, cougars, wolves … they’re gonna tear at stuff and leave the bone. So definitely pieces more than together.” Near the end of the visit, Borman sprayed a blue hydrating liquid to keep the cadavers from drying out and developing mold. He said everyone in Lining's group was respectful and asked great questions. “I’m pleased that we were able to make this happen. If she were interested in doing it again, I'd be open to doing it again.” Lining and her volunteers gave small gifts of gratitude to Borman and thanked him for his time. MMIW Search & Hope Alliance is preparing for two search efforts in the next few weeks. Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is asked about the arrest of Máire Mhic an Fhailí during a Policing Board meeting in September 2025. (Courtesy Policing Board / Facebook). An Irish language activist has won a landmark decision in Northern Ireland following her arrest during a protest. Seo McPolin has more from Ireland. Seventy-four-year-old grandmother Máire Mhic an Fhailí attended a peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian people last August in Belfast. She was among those arrested under the UK’s controversial Terrorism Laws because of her t-shirt. JJ Ó Dochartaigh from the Irish language band Kneecap wore the same T-shirt as Máire Mhic an Fhailí ahead of the band's 2025 Glastonbury set. (Courtesy Kneecap / X) During the arrest, English-speaking police officers were unable to understand her as she gave them her address – because she spoke in her Indigenous language of Irish. The Police Ombudsman ruled last week that the arresting officer should have taken reasonable steps to arrange a translation service – and that Mhic an Fhailí experienced “oppressive behavior”. The police watchdog also issued a policy recommendation for future engagements with Irish-language speakers. Mhic an Fhailí’s lawyer says this decision “puts a marker down” for how the police service must respect the Irish language moving forward. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Wednesday, February 4, 2026 – College Native American Studies programs map their next steps

Photo: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. (Ty Nigh / Flickr) Ojibwe tribes in the Great Lakes region are raising concerns about Trump administration plans to remove a rule that limits road building in national forest land, as Chuck Quirmbach reports. The Roadless Rule is a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) policy that for 25 years has curtailed building or reconstructing roads in the national forests. There have also been limits on commercial timber harvesting in roadless areas that have been inventoried. Last summer, the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA), which includes USFS, proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule. The department said that would give more decision-making authority to regional forest managers and improve access for fighting fires. But the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission – which serves eleven Ojibwe tribes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan with treaty-protected hunting, fishing, and gathering rights – backs the Roadless Rule. Commission spokesperson Jenny Van Sickle says agency scientists looked at how the rule has protected five national forests in what is called the Ceded Territory. She says the federal government has a responsibility to enforce treaty rights there. “That’s wild rice. That’s tapping maples for sap to make sugar. These are real activities, they’re not theoretical. These are federal responsibilities that remain in place. So, to try to kick that to regional foresters doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Van Sickle says there are already many roads in the national forests. She says if the Roadless Rule needs amending, the tribes are willing to talk. “If the rule needs work, we want to be at those tables. We want to talk about those problems. We want to get to those solutions. We can do that together. We’ve worked very closely and formally with the Forest Service for nearly 30 years.” A USDA spokesperson says the agency remains committed to a consultation process with the tribes and, if the Roadless Rule ends, land use decisions would still need to comply with specific forest or grassland management plans and other applicable laws – all developed with public involvement. (Courtesy OETA) Tribal leaders responded to Gov. Kevin Stitt (Cherokee/R-OK)'s final State of the State address, which he delivered Monday. Tribal leaders say Gov. Stitt misrepresents tribes. Tribes and the governor have had a rocky relationship, including disagreements over jurisdiction, gaming, and other issues. In his speech, Stitt said all laws should apply equally to all Oklahomans. “Many of us in this room have decried the [diversity, equity, and inclusion] DEI programs of the Biden administration, yet standby quietly when some say an Indian should be subject to a different set of laws.” Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton in a statement said tribes and tribal members have sovereign rights, which are not based on race but treaties and other agreements between tribal nations and the U.S. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement that the governor effectively called for the termination of tribal government, calling it rhetoric cloaked in references to DEI and race. Chief Hoskin said fortunately, Stitt spoke to a bipartisan chamber. Both leaders say they look forward to working with the legislature and other elected officials. A number of tribal leaders attended the address. The Interior Department has added the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to the official list of federally recognized tribes, formalizing the tribe's government-to-government relationship with the U.S. The agency published the updated list in the Federal Register following President Donald Trump's signing of legislation in December granting federal recognition status to the Lumbee Tribe. The list consists of 575 American Indian and Alaska Native tribal entities. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – National Park Service removing historical references to Native American history

Leaders of the North Slope village of Nuiqsut sued the U.S. Department of Interior on January 28, for canceling a key subsistence protection for a development project, as The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports. About a year ago, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued an agreement with Nuiqsut leaders that prohibited oil and gas development around Teshekpuk Lake, which is located in the northeastern corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The goal was to mitigate the harm that the ConocoPhillips' Willow project would have on caribou – a crucial subsistence resource for Nuiqsut residents. But last month, the Department of the Interior, which oversees BLM, canceled that agreement, saying it was improperly issued in the first place. In turn, Nuiqsut's leadership filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that the cancellation was illegal. “We’re fighting to protect the area and think about the caribou.” George Tuukaq Sielak is the president of Nuiqsut's Kuukpik Corporation. He says the cancellation was disappointing and damaged the trust of Nuiqsut residents. “By pulling that right of way off, I mean, it’s just like throwing us away.” Department of Interior officials declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. When BLM approved the controversial Willow project in 2023, one condition was mitigating the harm on Teshekpuk Lake – a key habitat for the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd. And BLM signed a right-of-way agreement with Nuiqsut to meet that condition. That conservation measure was backed by the law that directs the Department of Interior to conduct oil and gas leasing in the reserve. The law also requires “maximum protection” for Teshekpuk Lake and other significant subsistence areas. M Sielak, with Kuupik Corporation, says that Nuiqsut residents are careful when they consider development projects so close to their home, but the promise of additional protections for caribou helped more residents to get on board with Willow. “We will support development in our area, as long as we work together to balance, such as what we’re doing here with a right of way.” But the Department of the Interior said that the federal law does not authorize such conservation measures when it canceled the right-of-way agreement. The department also said in its cancellation letter that right-of-way agreements are usually used to allow oil and gas activities, not prohibit them, and that the primary goal of the law regulating the reserve is to support oil and gas leasing, while subsistence protections come second. The department indicated that they expect to hold lease sales this winter, which may include the area around Teshekpuk lake. Nuiqsut leadership say they might consider legal avenues – like seeking injunctive relief – to protect the area, but no decision has been made yet. A moonson sunset at Massai Point inside Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona. (Photo: Ron Stewart / National Park Service) A bipartisan bill on Capitol Hill is looking to turn one of Arizona's federal monuments into the state's fourth national park behind Saguaro, the Petrified Forest, and the Grand Canyon. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has details. Established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge, Chiricahua National Monument is known by many as the “Wonderland of Rocks”. From Geronimo to Cochise, this land is also steeped in Apache history, something the San Carlos Apache Tribe and neighboring Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico, want to see permanently protected. The effort is being led by U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) in the House. If passed, Arizona would tie fourth-overall with Colorado – behind Utah, Alaska, and California – for states with the most national parks. Yurok Chairman Joseph L James speaks at the 3rd Annual MMIP Tribal Policy Summit. (Courtesy Yurok Tribe / Facebook) California tribes are gathering this week for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Tribal Policy Summit. The annual summit in its fourth year and is expected to draw tribal leaders, lawmakers, advocates, and victims' families. The theme is justice, healing, sovereignty, and solutions to the MMIP crisis. Two proposed pieces of legislation will be discussed: a bill to establish a MMIP Justice Program within the state justice department – and a bill to establish a Tribal Foster Care Prevention Program to prevent Indigenous children from entering the child welfare system, which advocates say is a MMIP pathway. The event is taking place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Monday, February 2, 2026 – Native Americans are compelled to respond to indiscriminate ICE pressure

Photo: The Wind River Family and Community Health Care clinic in Riverton, Wyo. would have been impacted by the proposed cuts in tribal Medicaid funding. (Hannah Habermann / Wyoming Public Media) State lawmakers in Wyoming backtracked this week on what many – including some lawmakers – believed was a big proposed cut to tribal Medicaid funding. Wyoming Public Radio's Hannah Habermann reports. Earlier this month, the Joint Appropriations Committee voted to deny a $58 million request from the Wyoming Department of Health for federal funding for tribal Medicaid reimbursements. The move was met with pushback and protest, but this week, State Rep. John Bear (R-WY) told the Tribal Relations Committee those funds will come through. “ I just wanna make it really clear that the funding was never, ever in jeopardy. These are accounting issues that we’re trying to work through.” Bear is the co-chair of the Joint Appropriations Committee. He originally voted for the cut, but this week said there was a workaround with what's called a B-11, which he hadn't mentioned in the original meeting. “Then they get the reimbursement after the activity is taken care of for the tribal member.” Now, Bear says the committee will authorize the funding for the Department of Health before the session starts, but at current reimbursement rates, that will be more like $41 million, rather than $58 million. Nick Tilsen. (Photo: Brooke Anderson @movementphotographer) The trial of Native advocate Nick Tilsen ended in a hung jury this week in Rapid City, S.D. Tilsen is still indicted and the state has the option to drop the charges or press forward, as South Dakota Public Broadcasting's C.J. Keene reports. Tilsen is the president and CEO of NDN Collective, a Rapid City-based Indigenous advocacy nonprofit. It is known for projects which advance Native living conditions and its protests of President Donald Trump's attendance at Mount Rushmore. For this case, he is charged with alternative charges of aggravated assault or simple assault against law enforcement. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading to a mistrial. Both charges are felonies and Tilsen also faced a misdemeanor obstruction charge. The next steps are in the hands of the state. The Pennington County State's Attorneys office could drop the charges or push for a new trial. The incident in question dates to June 11, 2022. On that day, footage shows Tilsen pulling into a parking space where an officer was standing. In the video, the truck pulls into the parking space, stops short, and moves forward again. The officer was interacting with an unhoused community member. According to reporting by the Rapid City Journal, he was stopped for jaywalking. Nobody was struck by the vehicle, but the state contends this was an effort to intimidate the officer and put him in fear of bodily harm. Tilsen's defense hinged on his organization’s effort to do “community care.” In other words, watching police – ensuring officers are operating in line with laws and community members know their rights during police interactions. For this, Tilsen faced over 25 years in prison for what he contends was a human mistake. In a press release following the mistrial, Tilsen writes, “I'm grateful for everyone who stood with me through the latest iteration of this lengthy legal battle – the support of my family, lawyers, spiritual leaders, medicine people, and community means everything to me. The fight is not over.” At this time, it is unclear if the state will seek another trial against Tilsen. Screenshot Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out has issued a proclamation banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and associated border patrol agents from entering the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It is in response to ICE activities and recent shootings in Minneapolis, Minn. The proclamation states U.S. Border Patrol is assisting ICE in “unlawful conduct” against Native people in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Minnesota tribes, including the Red Lake Nation and Mille Lacs Band, are closing tribal government operations Friday, as part of a nationwide strike. “ICE Out – no work, no school, no shopping” is in protest of the ICE presence in Minneapolis. C.J. Keene contributed to this story. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling

There was a hung jury in Rapid City, S.D. Wednesday in a case against Nick Tilsen, the founder and CEO of the Native-led organization NDN Collective. After three days of hearings, a mistrial was declared. Tilsen is accused of assaulting a police officer in 2022. He is facing charges for aggravated and simple assault on a law enforcement officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer – which could lead to a sentence of up to 26 years in prison. In a statement, Tilsen said he's grateful for everyone who stood with him, adding the fight’s not over. The state has 45 days to notify the judge of intentions to retry the case. Parts of an opioid overdose reversal kit including Naloxone. The state distributed 45,000 naloxone kits in 2024, with fentanyl test strips, in an effort to reduce opioid overdose deaths. (Photo: Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) The rate of Alaskans dying from drug overdoses declined by 5% in 2024 compared to the year before, including a decline for Indigenous Alaskans, according to a recent state report. That's a welcome reduction after the state saw its highest number of overdose deaths on record in 2023. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra reports. The U.S. has seen significant declines in overdose death rates over the past two years – and now Alaska could be seeing the start of a similar reduction, according to experts. Theresa Welton is a manager for Alaska's Office of substance misuse and addiction prevention. She says the decline is good news for the state, even though the state's reduction is much smaller than the national one. “I think we’re on the right track.” And she says the decline is likely partly due to state efforts. The report notes the state distributed 45,000 naloxone kits in 2024, with fentanyl test strips. The state has mobile crisis teams in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Juneau. And Alaska has expanded access to medication assisted treatment, recovery housing, and therapeutic courts. But Welton says there's more work to do and it will require a collaborative effort among the state, tribal organizations, and local communities. “Even nationally, everybody is trying to look for that magic fix to start decreasing these deaths, and I think it’s just a combination of supporting communities to address these issues at a community level and emphasizing prevention.” She says it is expensive to build treatment facilities, so increasing access to buprenorphine and other medications for substance use disorders could help prevent overdose deaths. She says Alaska struggles with having enough resources to provide treatment for substance use disorders, partly because of geography which means rural residents must travel for treatment. According to the report, fentanyl is Alaska's deadliest drug. It contributed to more than 70% of overdose deaths in 2024. But Welton says it's crucial to note that many of the overdoses with fentanyl also included one or more other substances. The U.S. Mint released its 2026 Native American $1 Coin featuring Polly Cooper. The Oneida Indian Nation says she is an Oneida heroine, recognized for bringing food and supplies to her homelands in Upstate New York to Army troops at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. The tribe says recognizing Cooper and the tribe as allies is timely as the U.S. prepares to observe the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The coin depicts Polly Copper with General George Washington as she holds a basket of corn. Cooper stayed at the camp through the winter, and taught soldiers how to prepare corn, and cooked for them in harsh conditions to help ensure their survival. Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter says the Oneida people became “America's First Allies” on some of the bloodiest battlefields of the Revolutionary War. According to the tribe, Nation Members continue the legacy of military service, serving in every major American conflict since then. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Thursday, January 29, 2026 — The Menu: Federal food guidelines, seals and treaty rights, and buffalo for city dwellers

From an Iñupiaq Wordle game to a new language immersion program, a wave of efforts to revitalize Iñupiaq language has been sweeping across northern Alaska. Last month, one Utqiaġvik artist received a Rasmuson award to create an Iñupiaq language workbook for kids. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA has more. Alaina Bankston has loved making art since she was a child. Now that she has a child of her own, she wants to use her art to help him learn the Iñupiaq language. Bankston is an Utqiaġvik artist who recently received a Rasmuson award to create a workbook that will do just that. She will spend a year designing and illustrating a primer for children that teaches the Iñupiaq alphabet and numbers. Bankston says her four-year-old son Qalayauq was her inspiration for the project. “It all kind of started with creating for him and being able to use those resources.” Bankston says she is still on her own language learning journey. She practices speaking with elders and uses dictionaries and the Rosetta Stone app. But Bankston says children learn differently than adults, and she wanted to create educational materials that catered to the youngest learners. “You start kindergarten, you have the whole workbook, you’re learning the alphabet, the numbers, the colors, and we have all that in English. But I’m like, what if we had that in Iñupiaq?” Bankston says some resources for learning Iñupiaq are available through the North Slope Borough School District, but she says regular parents might not have access to them. “It’s really born out of necessity. I’m sure there are resources out there … but they’re not something you could just go pick up at a store or buy online.” Bankston's project is just one example of the language revitalization efforts in the region. Two years ago, the school district restarted its Iñupiaq immersion program, and a few years before that, Alaska Native linguists created a digital Iñupiaq dictionary. And when the popular puzzle game Wordle took off across the country, local linguists and enthusiasts created an Iñupiaq version. “I think we’ve been making big strides recently … with the history of it, it’s definitely a dying language, but I think it’s important we keep it alive.” Bankston says everyone can do their part to preserve the language, and the workbook is one such step for her. Arizona Poet Laureate Laura Tohe (Diné) reads her poetry at the state Capitol on January 14, 2026. (Courtesy Arizona Capitol TV) A former Navajo Nation poet laureate has been named by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) as the state's second-ever state poet. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. Laura Tohe has dedicated her life to Indigenous literature, but doesn't want that identity to dominate her tenure. “I don't want people to think that again, you know, I'm just shifting from Navajo Nation to Arizona as a Navajo poet.” And part of her pledge is to help bring poetry to rural communities. While most living on the Navajo Nation have no choice but to haul essentials like water, coal, and wood from far away – for Tohe growing up, it was books. “I did…” Born in Fort Defiance, Ariz., Tohe remembers taking long road trips with her mother to the closest library across state lines in New Mexico. “We did make it to Gallup, and I got a library card. She wanted to make sure I had access.” The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is holding a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C., focusing on Native children. The hearing will examine the draft Native Children's Commission Implementation Act, which focuses on improving justice and safety outcomes for Native children. It includes Tribal-federal coordination on public safety, juvenile justice, and victim services. The hearing will be streamed live on the committee's website. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Wednesday, January 28, 2026 – Remembering visionary Indigenous journalist Dan David

Photo: A crowd congregates in Mesa, Ariz. where a roadside memorial remembering slain San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike was taken down nearly a year after she disappeared. (Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) It was one year ago, on January 27, 2025, that San Carlos Apache teenager Emily Pike went missing from a Mesa, Ariz. group home. Her dismembered remains were discovered a month later in garbage bags more than 100 miles away. No arrests have been made, nor suspects named. Earlier this month, a memorial in Mesa marking where Emily was last seen alive got taken down. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, it's the latest rallying cry for justice in the 14-year-old girl's unsolved murder. “Who are we here for?” “Emily Pike.” “Then say her name.” “Emily Pike.” At the corner of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, dozens of demonstrators met on a recent Saturday as cars drove by honking their horns. “Justice for who?” “Emily Pike.” “Justice for who?” “Emily Pike.” “Who do we love?” “Emily Pike.” “Who do we love?” “Emily Pike.” This is where Emily was last seen alive. Since her disappearance, a chain-link fence hugging the edge of a 28,000-square-foot vacant lot has become home to a roadside memorial for the slain Apache teen. And it just kept on growing as more shared her story. Visitors from near and far have flocked to this bustling intersection, adorned with flowers, stuffed animals, a banner of Emily's face, and lots of red ribbons – each markers of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) movement. That was, until someone suddenly took everything down earlier this month. No matter who did it, Jolene Shorty is still upset. “Look what you guys did. You took down her stuff. There is a respectful way. There is a traditional way to let things go. This is not the way.” For Shorty, she says this is the second tragedy to happen there. “But what I see here my people, what I see here my tribal nations, I see a clean slate, a clean slate to start over. … In a way, they almost helped us. We're going to come back and put up more stuff. We're going to honor them the way we're supposed to.” Delvina Charley (Diné) thinks taking down those mementos adds insult to injury. “This is the respect that we got … we're pushed to the side that our voices meant nothing, that she meant nothing. If this was a different privileged girl, it would have been handled differently.” Since the items were taken down, Emily's family has been in talks with the city of Mesa on planting a tree and placing a bench at Fitch Park – just a few blocks from her last known location. They're also in discussions with the Arizona Department of Transportation about putting up a highway sign honoring Emily at milepost 277 along US 60 near Globe – where her remains were found in the Tonto National Forest. “This girl lost her life thinking nobody cared.” Jared Marquez is San Carlos Apache and treasurer of the Turtle Island Women Warriors. “I've been there, being a 13-year-old kid, never talking to my parents, running around on the reservation, you know, nobody ever truly caring. And it's hard to think what this girl went through – a lot of us could have been through.” As for the investigation into Emily's murder, KJZZ asked the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit, and the lead agency, Gila County Sheriff's Office, for the status but did not receive any updates. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) are hosting a webinar titled “Know Your Rights,” followed by a Q&A on Wednesday. NARF will provide practical guidance for Tribal citizens on interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The organizations say it is in response to growing concerns from across Indian Country. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – The concern over rising American imperialism to Indigenous people abroad and at home

Tribes are among those expressing condolences to the family of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot over the weekend by federal agents in Minneapolis. Tribes are also raising concerns for their citizens in the Twin Cities as the Trump administration's immigration actions continue in Minnesota. In a statement, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe offered condolences and said it is standing in solidarity with its Band members and other Minneapolis residents. Tribal leaders are urging their members to carry tribal IDs and report any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interactions to the tribe, as leaders meet with federal, state, and local officials. The Sprit Lake Nation, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Rose Bud Sioux Tribe, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe issued a joint statement saying they stand in solidarity with communities in Minnesota, and expressed condolences to the family of Pretti. The tribes say recent federal actions in Minnesota include the taking of a Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate member, but they did not provide additional information. The tribes say leaders are in contact with federal agencies and are urging tribal citizens to prioritize safety. The First Mesa Elementary School was built on the site of the Polacca Day School on the Hopi reservation. (Courtesy First Mesa Elementary School / Facebook) A teacher who was convicted of sexually abusing Hopi boys for nearly a decade was recently denied parole after the tribe and the U.S. attorney for Arizona penned a letter opposing his release. John Boone was hired as a teacher in 1979 at a Hopi school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1987, the FBI found photos and videotapes of 142 nude boys at his home, and Boone was sentenced to life in prison. “His name is still widely known on the reservation, even though it's been close to 40 years. We still continue to suffer to this day.” That's Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama. “Unfortunately, we've lost some either to suicide or alcohol or substance abuse. Nothing will ever make up for what was done. It's an open wound that will never go away.” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine has watched the case closely – even sending a letter to the U.S. Parole Commission in tandem with Hopi leadership. “And with the understanding that federal special trust responsibility doesn't end at the sentencing.” Courchaine also credits his tribal liaison Kiyoko Patterson (Navajo) and pays close attention. “She really stays on this for us.” The US agreed to pay $13 million to 58 victims. He says Boone broke the tribe's trust. “That creates a generational impact … But you've heard it from Attorney General [Pam] Bondi, you've heard it from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, that this Department of Justice has to be ensuring sex offenders and those who prey on children are held accountable and prevented from reoffending at all.” Jaylynn Hicks sits on an old stretch of road at the badlands near Killdeer, N.D., on Thursday, October 16, 2025. (Photo: Chuck Miner) For the first time in 40 years, a Native person is wearing the crown as Miss Rodeo North Dakota. Brian Bull of Buffalo's Fire has the story. 24-year-old Jaylynn Hicks of Dunn Center scored highest in the categories of horsemanship, appearance, and personality. She competed twice before, but persevered and will now travel the rodeo circuit across the country. Hicks is one-quarter French Canadian Chippewa, of the Turtle Mountain Band. The last known Native rodeo queens were Janet Voight in 1986, and Audrey Hall, in 1954. Both were with the Three Affiliated Tribes Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. Hicks says she's happy to continue this representation. “I love the fact that Native American culture has such a heavy influence on the Western industry. Whether you want to look at the horsemanship, the jewelry with we see such a huge influence.  The leatherwork, the fringe we wear on our jackets. That's all from Native American culture.” Hicks was declared Miss Rodeo North Dakota last year, and was formally coronated earlier this month. Besides educating people about rodeo culture and the Western industry, Hicks will also promote awareness of Angelman syndrome, a genetic condition that affects her niece, Sissy. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Monday, January 26, 2026 – Federal officials take aim at tribal government contracts

A bipartisan bill signed into law last year is now giving Native Americans residing in Arizona the option to update their state-issued identification to show their tribal affiliation. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, it comes at a time when Indigenous peoples are being swept up in immigration raids – including Peter Yazzie (Navajo), who was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Phoenix metro area. This new marker is akin to getting an organ donor or veteran insignia on any form of ID, including a driver license. To do so, applicants need to prove that they're enrolled in a tribe by submitting a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB), and so far, the Arizona Department of Transportation has gotten more than 1,600 requests for the designation. That idea of streamlining legal documents came from State Rep. Myron Tsosie (Navajo/D-AZ). “Instead of having to dig out all your cards to show that you are Native American.” And had nothing to do with ICE. “That wasn't the purpose, but I'm hearing from constituents saying that I feel safer now.” And it's something Thomas Cody, executive director of the Navajo Nation's Division for Child and Family Services, is encouraging his Diné urban relatives to seek out. “It's unfortunate that we have to have an ID that we're Native Americans. We shouldn't but I'm glad the state of Arizona, Gov. [Katie] Hobbs is taking an extra step.” His deputy director Sonlatsa Jim thinks this service is much-needed – not just for Navajos living in the Grand Canyon State. “Because we are the largest Native American tribe, you'll find a Navajo tribal member anywhere in the United States.” That's why Tsosie is working with neighboring Utah and New Mexico state lawmakers to adopt his legislation aiming to help cover more of Indian Country, including the rest of his sprawling 27,000-square-mile reservation. The federal government is reviewing the business program that benefits Alaska Native corporations and tribes. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports. In a video posted on X January 16, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said his department will review the 8(a) Business Development Program. That program falls under the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) and supports businesses owned by socially disadvantaged individuals or tribes including Alaska Native Corporations. We are taking a sledgehammer to the oldest DEI program in the federal government—the 8(a) program. pic.twitter.com/c9iH8gcqG7 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) January 16, 2026 Sec. Hegseth said in the video that the 8(a) program promotes the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) framework and race-based contracting. In the 8(a) program, the federal government sets aside contracting opportunities for disadvantaged small businesses. Tribal entities can have multiple companies in the program, while individuals can only have one. Alaska Native Corporations rely heavily on federal contracts often received through the 8(a) program. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis shows that it is their primary source of revenue. And most of those contracts come from the U.S. Department of Defense. Quinton Carroll is the executive director of the Native American Contractors Association, and originally from Utqiagvik. “Native participation in the 8(a) program is not a DEI initiative.” Carroll says the program “fulfills longstanding federal trust and treaty obligations to tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations.” Hegseth ordered a line-by-line review of sole-source 8(a) contracts that are over $20 million. He said in the social media video that the department will get rid of contracts that do not make the country's military more lethal. Hegseth also said the department will make sure that the businesses getting a contract are the ones actually doing the work. He claimed that often small businesses receive the contract, take a fee, and pass it to a giant consulting firm. However, Carroll says Native federal contractors have been partners of the Department of Defense. He added that Native contractors also support the elimination of fraud and waste within the program. The 8(a) program has faced scrutiny from other directions as well. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April, directing rewriting of federal contracting regulations. The SBA and Treasury department have been both investigating the program as well. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Friday, January 23, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: “Special Places, Sacred Circles” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is pulling out all the stops to block a Safari Club International proposal to reform the federal subsistence board. As KNBA's Rhonda McBride reports, AFN says it is a direct threat to the Alaska Native subsistence way of life. Last year, Safari Club International, a sport hunting and fishing group, petitioned two Trump cabinet members for the review. It asked Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to address what it calls “federal overreach” in subsistence management. In mid-December, the Interior Department granted the request and announced a 60-day review, called a “scoping process”. During this period, it will consider the Safari Club's recommendations, which includes a proposal to limit the size of the federal subsistence board to only the heads of five federal agencies. AFN President Ben Mallott says this would eliminate public seats, including three held by tribal representatives. “We've been working for that for a very long time, so we are concerned that any rollback in public member seats would just weaken our voices. And so for us, that is a major threat.” The petition also seeks to change the make-up of Regional Advisory Councils, the volunteers who recommend policies to the Federal Subsistence Board. The Safari Club says sport and commercial hunters and fishers are not adequately represented on these councils. But beyond changing the leadership structure of subsistence management, the Safari Club calls on federal agency heads, when setting regulations, to defer to state managers – a move that opponents say would undermine the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), legislation Congress passed 45 years ago to protect Alaska's rural subsistence lifestyle. The Safari Club says it is stepping in to protect the state's rights, because federal managers have repeatedly overstepped the bounds of ANILCA. John Sturgeon, a leading advocate for the Alaska Safari Club says, says this is a fight about fish and game management, not about the rights of rural Alaskans to subsist. “We have no problem with subsistence. We support it, so it's kind of a perceived conflict. We just think the state of Alaska should be in charge of subsistence.” The problem is, the state's constitution does not allow for a rural subsistence priority, which federal law mandates. Public comment on the Safari Club proposals closes on February 13. The campus of Spokane Falls Community College. (Photo: T85cr1ft19m1n / Wikimedia) Indigenous-knowledge focused centers are on their way to Spokane Falls Community College and the Spokane Community College campus on the Spokane reservation in Washington. As Steve Jackson reports, a grant from Avista Utilities is providing the seed money. Indigenous Healing Environments Across Lifeways (I-HEAL) centers will hold workshops on skills and concepts related to sustainability of water, land, animals, and climate. They will also include studies related to using plants for food and medicine. Spokane Colleges Tribal Relations Director Naomi Bender says she will seek out Indigenous presenters from tribes in the region, but she says instructors will be careful in what they present. “Traditional knowledge of plants and medicines, for example, was illegal in the U.S. And to this day, we're very careful about what's shared and what's not because people want to monetize and they want to harm what knowledge they gain at times.” Bender says both Indigenous and non-Native students will be welcome at the I-HEAL centers. She anticipates they will begin holding workshops in about a year. (Courtesy IAIA) Congress recently approved more than $13 million in federal funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, N.M. for Fiscal Year 2026. This comes after the Trump administration's proposal to eliminate IAIA's federal appropriation. The funding maintains the institute's current funding level to support academic programs, student services, and general operations. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Thursday, January 22, 2026 – A tribal mining development agreement: a path forward or a one-time anomaly?

Maleeka “Mollie” Boone, a Navajo girl who'd gone missing in the community of Coalmine near Tuba City, Ariz. marks the second time an alert system has been used in search of a Native American since its implementation last year. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, that search is now over. The FBI Phoenix Field Office confirmed that Boone's body was found on Friday following a multiagency search that included law enforcement authorities from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, and Flagstaff Police Department. “To learn that this search has ended in loss is a pain beyond words.” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren took to social media to share his condolences – not just for Maleeka, but also 3-year-old Karson Apodaca, who was killed during a Christmas parade. “In just the past few weeks, with the tragedy in Kayenta and now this heartbreaking news from Coalmine, our Nation has endured tremendous pain. These moments remind us just how sacred our children are and how deeply connected every life is within our Navajo community. May we honor Maleeka's spirit by cherishing and protecting every child across the Navajo Nation.” The investigation into Maleeka's death is being handled by the FBI and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jonathan Juárez (@pueblobaddie) On the opening day of the New Mexico legislative session Tuesday, a protest was held at the state capitol in Santa Fe. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) spoke to Indigenous people at the event. Hundreds of New Mexicans rallied and marched up the steps towards the Roundhouse. Oglala Sioux Nation member John Swift Bird led the march with other Native drummers. “The energy always, always gets to the people. People have always resonated to the singing and to the energy of it.” He's been advocating back and forth between New Mexico and South Dakota ever since the 2016 protests in Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Longtime activist Elder Kathy Sanchez (San Ildefonso Pueblo) gave a blessing and told attendees to not give up. “Every thing that is brought forth in a good way will survive, because all of us are not giving up on each other.” Siihasin Hope from the Mescalero Apache and Diné Nations is an advocate for the Southwest Solidarity Network and Revolutionary 2 Spirit Collective. Hope is advocating for land and water protections and says  it's important for Indigenous people to understand and exercise their rights. “It’s the only reason that we have them, is because people before us, our ancestors before us, have fought for us to be here. Have fought for us to have the right to, you know, live.” She wants lawmakers and the governor to continue upholding tribal consultation on Native issues and says she and other advocates will continue to fight for tribal rights. Photograph and MMIP activist Amanda Freeman stands before two portraits on January 14, 2026. (Photo: Brian Bull / KLCC) The founder of a Missing and Murdered Indigenous People organization is sharing the faces of those affected by the crisis. KLCC's Brian Bull (Nez Perce) reports on a new exhibition in Salem, Oreg. Amanda Freeman founded Ampkwa Advocacy and has displayed nearly three dozen photos of Native people who have lost a relative or have suffered domestic violence or addiction. It's titled, “Ampkwa: munk lush nsayka shawash tilixam”, which means “Healing our Indigenous relatives.” Red hand prints and a long red trailing dress adorn the walls and wrap around each portrait. Freeman says she wants visitors to leave with one impression. “I would like them to remember that we're not disposable. And actually leave with the mindset of, “Let me share this information because I had no idea. Because any awareness is good awareness.” A reception and artist's talk will be held January 28. The exhibit runs through February 6 at the Gretchen Schuette Art Gallery at Chemeketa Community College. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Wednesday, January 21, 2026 – Native activists prepare for ongoing resistance and documentation as federal crackdowns expand

Tribal leaders are among those raising concerns about the stability of local mental health and substance abuse services. That’s after a temporary major cut in federal funding last week, as Chuck Quirmbach reports. The White House announced roughly $2 billion in cuts to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The government said the money no longer aligned with President Donald Trump’s public health agenda. Then, about 24 hours later, and without explanation, the grants were restored. The HoChunk Nation is one of about 2,000 organizations that would have lost funding. HoChunk President Jon Greendeer says last week’s cuts, had they held, would have been on top of other reductions announced a year ago, that were only partly restored. “Those never came back on line completely. Especially those who work closely with the program.” Greendeer says the Indian Health Service has also lost staff nationwide. He says the uncertainty not only harms Indigenous communities, which he calls America’s most vulnerable populations. “It is dealing with the most vulnerable populations within a vulnerable population. We are working on mental health issues, we are working with addiction, domestic abuse and all the, you know, social determinants of health.” Greendeer says overall, the HoChunk Nation is providing a good level of services, but only after greater partnering with the state of Wisconsin and some nearby counties. The question for some organizations is whether the Trump administration will try again sometime to make major cuts in federal dollars. (Courtesy Sitting Bull College) Indigenous students and families are concerned about rising costs as the U.S. Department of Education resumes wage garnishment for federal student loans in default. The Mountain West News Bureau's Daniel Spaulding has more. The Department of Education started to send notices to borrowers whose loans have gone unpaid for more than nine months. Employers can withhold up to 15% of disposable income without a court order. This policy may hit Indigenous communities especially hard. Higher education analysts say that about 40% of Native borrowers default on their federal loans, and many carry balances longer after graduation than other groups. Nez Perce tribal member Sienna Reuben, who graduated from the University of Idaho in 2021, says wage garnishment adds another financial burden to Native families already stretched thin. “I feel like student loans obviously come last because are you eating them? Are they feeding you? Are they housing you? Are they doing any of this stuff?” Reuben also says that Indigenous alumni often have the additional responsibility of supporting family members. The Ketchikan Indian Community is one of over a dozen tribal governments that have signed onto the new alliance. (Photo: Michael Fanelli/KRBD) More than a dozen tribal governments have formed the Alliance of Sovereign Tribes of Southeast Alaska. KRBD’s Hunter Morrison reports. The new partnership promotes a unified approach to addressing regional tribal concerns while acknowledging each tribe's individual differences. Gloria Burns is the president of the Ketchikan Indian Community. She says the new partnership has already improved communication between the region's tribes. “And as we communicate, we're going to partner with each other, and when we partner with each other, then we're creating real movement and change with each other.” Albert Smith is the mayor of the Metlakatla Indian Community, the only reservation in Alaska. He says there has not been an established partnership of Southeast Alaska tribes in more than 20 years. “The importance is just tribes helping tribes, working together for a common goal of the betterment of our region, and Indigenous peoples of our region.” Other tribal governments in the alliance include the Craig Tribal Association, the Organized Village of Kake, and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – Tribes see increasing urgency to confront flooding threat

Photo: Dr. Jennifer Pierce with an Anchorage Fire Department vehicle on January 9, 2026. Pierce and the vehicle are part of a new program that will offer addiction treatment to those who overdose. (Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) Alaska is launching pilot programs in Anchorage and Juneau to offer addiction treatment in mobile care units. Emergency responders will give people medication to help them survive after an overdose. Indigenous Alaskans die of overdose at about three times the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's health reporter Rachel Cassandra has more. Dr. Jennifer Pierce shows off a new SUV for the Anchorage fire department's pilot program. “We want people to see us as a beacon of help.” Pierce has a simple mission: to treat Anchorage residents who overdose and connect them with care afterwards. For the first time in a mobile unit in Alaska, responders can give patients the medication buprenorphine, which reduces withdrawals and can get patients on the road to recovery. “We don’t want people to fall through the cracks.” Narcan, or naloxone, is used to reverse overdoses, but it puts people into withdrawal. And research shows that offering that second medication, buprenorphine, makes it more likely patients will enter long-term recovery. But Pierce says even if people don't continue treatment, the medication reduces the risk of a second overdose in the days immediately following – a dangerous window, according to research. She hopes the program saves lives. “Even if it’s just one life. Right? We’re saving lives out there and preventing individuals, maybe from overdosing the next day or overdosing again later and dying.” Pierce visited successful programs in Texas and Washington for ideas and best practices to replicate in Alaska. Dr. Quigley Peterson says he's also seen the healing benefits of buprenorphine. He's an emergency room physician heading Juneau's mobile pilot program. He says he's confident it will do well partly because he's seen how helpful the medication can be in the emergency room. “We have something that can help engage people, that’s super safe and it’s cheap, and that it works.” He says they'll collect data over the year to see what happens to patients after they're given buprenorphine for an overdose. His hope is that it reduces emergency room visits and calls for emergency medical care. If the pilots are successful, Peterson's goal is to inspire similar programs in more communities across Alaska. Three-year-old Karson Apodaca. (Courtesy Sayetsitty Family / GoFundMe) A Navajo man was facing the tribe's criminal justice system after allegedly driving drunk and killing a three-year-old boy at a Christmas parade on the reservation. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, U.S. authorities are now stepping in to prosecute him in federal court. 67-year-old Stanley Begay Jr. was charged with vehicular manslaughter and could have faced up to a year in prison and a $500,000 fine.  Now a grand jury in Arizona is handing him three counts, including second-degree murder, stemming from the death of three-year-old Karson Apodoca. Begay was taken into federal custody by FBI agents last week. The agency's Phoenix Field Office is seeking photos and videos from that incident that can be used in the case against Begay, who has been assigned a Flagstaff attorney. Dignity of Earth and Sky is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, S.D. (Courtesy SDPB) Following the 2026 State of the Tribes address in South Dakota, Gov. Larry Rhoden (R-SD) met with over 50 dignitaries from eight of the state’s nine tribes. SDPB’s C.J. Keene reports. Gov. Rhoden says he left the private meeting feeling optimistic about the future of state-tribal relations. “There were things that we were palms up with them as far as some of the concerns, some of the areas we disagreed on. We agreed to disagree, and we had more conversation. As we walked out of the room, we had built a relationship, and I think that we'll continue to build on that. It was a product of open, honest conversation.” State-tribal relations effectively collapsed during the administration of former Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), who was at one point banned from every single reservation in the state. That came following tribal sovereignty disputes during the pandemic and Gov. Noem commenting that Native children “had no hope”. @nativevoiceoneRosebud Sioux Tribe President Kathleen Wooden Knife delivered South Dakota’s annual State of the Tribes address to lawmakers. The tribal leader discussed working with the state government on health care and law enforcement during her speech Wednesday, as South Dakota Searchlight's Meghan O'Brien reports in the latest edition of National Native News with Antonia Gonzales. https://www.nativenews.net/thursday-january-15-2026 Video courtesy SDPB Network♬ original sound – Native Voice One Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Monday, January 19, 2026 – Maintaining Martin Luther King, Jr's vision for civil rights

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in China for the first visit by a Canadian leader in almost a decade. Already, he's signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Beijing that could result in more Canadian oil, natural gas, and clear energy exported to China. But as Dan Karpenchuk reports, before he left, PM Carney made a stop over in British Columbia to talk with Coastal First Nations about his plans for energy exports. The meeting was held in Prince Rupert, and on the agenda – Ottawa's major projects. The Coastal First Nations, made up of nine First Nations, try to ensure that they have a say in how resources and waters are managed.  They also work to protect the Great Bear Rainforest and the British Columbia (BC) coastline. And they have strongly opposed the idea  of a new pipeline or the end of a ban on the moratorium on oil tankers. Both are major components of Ottawa's plans to diversity Canada's trade in energy, and move away from dependency on U.S. trade, especially now in the era of uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump. But Coastal First Nations remain opposed to any new pipeline to the BC coast. Carney played down expectations, saying that the meeting was more about dialogue to explore ways they could work together, but the coastal chiefs are not budging on their opposition, according to the group's president, Maily Slett. “We reiterated that there is no technology that can clean up an oil spill at sea. And that it would take just one spill to destroy our way of life. We shared our reliance on a healthy and intact ocean and our determination to protect the ocean and the ecosystem that we rely upon.” Without their support, Carney's government appears to be in a lose-lose situation. Coastal chiefs say they will use every tool available to stop construction if Ottawa pushes ahead with a North Coast pipeline. The St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral choir performs hymns during a Christmas celebration on January 7 at the Yagheli Shesh Qenq’a Anchorage Native Primary Care Center. (Photo: Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) The holidays may be over, but Alaskans across the state recently celebrated Russian Orthodox Christmas and New Year. Celebrations often include hymns, feasts, and a tradition called Starring, or Slaviq. One celebration in Anchorage brought together people who could not celebrate the holiday with their families or in church. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA was there and has the story. Singers in kuspuks and head scarfs chant Christmas hymns in English, Yup’ik, Russian, and Church Slavonic. Next to them, three young men spin sparkling pinwheel-shaped stars on wooden poles, each with an Orthodox icon of a Nativity scene in the center. The group is gathered for a Russian Christmas celebration hosted by the Alaska Native Medical Center at their primary care clinic. The singers are from St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral choir in Anchorage, though most of them are originally from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Alaska Orthodox Archbishop Alexei was a part of the opening of Slaviq, a custom he says originated in the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe. “This wonderful, beautiful tradition that has been in Alaska for over 100 years.” Okalena Patricia Lekanoff-Gregory is from Unalaska and grew up singing hymns in Aleut and Russian. Her family always gathered around Slaviq to decorate stars for the celebration. Now she makes them herself. Gregory says she wants to pass down the tradition to the next generation. “It’s our history. It’s been going, coming over from Ukraine, from Russia, and and still being sung today. To me, it’s powerful.” The best part of the night for Gregory is having a big feast, sometimes until two in the morning. And she loves it when the songs make people move. She remembers one song from her childhood, similar to @Joy to the World@, that shifted between fast and slow tempo. “You could see the people kind of dance or move to it. You're not supposed to dance in church, right? But this song, they always did. All the elders, you can see them tapping their feet, and their head bop. I miss that.” Gregory says she was happy to attend Slaviq at the primary care center, to bring comfort and healing to patients. After the performance, the group crossed the street from the primary care center and continued the procession at the patient housing. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling