Podcasts about mille lacs band

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 9:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA • LIVESTREAM: youtu.be/-LNDKvPcgG0 Witnesses Panel one Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Michael Fairbanks Chairman, White Earth Nation Virgil Wind Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Grant Johnson [Note: did not appear in person] Tribal Council President, Prairie Island Indian Community Panel two Bruce Savage Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Austin Lowes Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Winnay Wemigwase Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians John Johnson President, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Panel three Jason Schlender Executive Administrator, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Whitney Gravelle [Note: did not appear in person] President, Bay Mills Indian Community/Board Member, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Aja DeCoteau Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Panel four Ashton Picard Vice-Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe Donna Thompson Chairwoman, Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Chief Allan Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Panel five and seven Stacy Shepherd [Note: Did not appear in person] Executive Officer of Member Services, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Dr. Toni Tsatoke-Mule Executive Director, Kiowa Education Agency, Kiowa Tribe Kristina Andrew Third Chief, Curyung Tribal Council Vivian Korthuis Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village Council Presidents Panel six Brian Harris [Note: did not appear in person] Chief, Catawba Nation Panel seven [Note: See panel five] Panel eight Duane Clarke Chairman, The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona Derrick W. Leslie Tribal Education Department Director, White Mountain Apache Tribe Duane Jackson Jr. Council Member, Gila River Indian Community More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2026/03/16/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-morning-session-2/

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

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 team from the Canadian military has arrived at a northern Manitoba First Nation, which is dealing with a severe water crisis. One of the reserve's water treatment plants has been out of commission for two weeks after a power outage. More from Dan Karpenchuk. The power was out for days after a line that ran between two islands on the Nelson River broke. Although power was restored after a couple of days, the outage resulted in frozen water systems, sewer backups, electrical issues, and burst pipes. About 4,400 residents were displaced after the reserve declared a state of emergency. Pimicikamak is more than 300 miles north of Winnipeg. Chief David Monias says a seven member military team from the Joint Operational Support Group, based in Kingston, Ontario, have arrived and will provide technical assistance and support related to critical infrastructure. “The army with their engineers and their logistics people are gonna be taking a look … they're doing a site tour of the water plant right now.  Take notes and identify what needs to be fixed and assess how it needs to be fixed and what resources are required to fix it.” Monias adds that nearly every one of the 1,300 homes in the community will need some kind of repairs. And Band councillor Shirley Robinson says having so many people forced out of their homes in mid-winter is taking an emotional toll. “They really want to go home and there's a feeling of displacement that feeling of isolation, that feeling of they can't be with their community.” Monias says a second military team is due to arrive on Wednesday. Meanwhile plumbers and other skilled workers from outside the province are also on their way to Pimicikamak to help with water and electrical issues. And Monias says a US company has reached out about sending a portable water plant to the First Nation. It's not the first time Pimicikamak residents were forced to leave their reserve, many were sent south twice because of wild fires. Indigenous peoples across the U.S. have been swept up in the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, an Arizona tribe is taking steps to safeguard its tribal members. “Thank you for calling the Hualapai Tribe's message line where we encourage you to report any encounters with ICE agents.” The Hualapai Tribe near Kingman has set up a hotline. VOICEMAIL: “Please leave your name and contact information as well as the date, location and a brief description of the incident. All information received will be checked and documented by tribal administration.” Hualapai Chairman Duane Clarke is urging members to remain calm and always carry their tribal ID cards with them. His administration is also pledging to aid its 2,300 members in verifying their identity should they be held by federal authorities. This comes in the aftermath of a fatal shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minn., which is also where four members from a South Dakota tribe have been detained. A number of tribes in the Twin Cities this week are issuing tribal IDs to their citizens. Tribal leaders have been raising concerns about the safety of their citizens in the area following last week's shooting. They are encouraging their citizens to carry identification, including tribal IDs. White Earth Nation, Red Lake Nation, Bois Forte Band, Mille Lacs Band, and Leech Lake Band are among tribes holding ID events at their urban offices. Leaders of Native organizations and grassroots groups have been responding to the shooting with community safety plans, as members of the Native community have been reporting interactions with ICE. A community prayer and gathering was held Sunday and organizers are hosting “know your rights” events this week. 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 14, 2026 – A new tax law change means hundreds of millions of dollars more per year for tribes

This week, how the newly established Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force is making decisions about state-wide foraging rules, plus a conversation with Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe representatives about the newly named Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.----- Producers: Xan Holston & Travis Zimmerman Editing: Britt AamodtEditorial support: Emily Krumberger Anchor: Marie Rock Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media. instagram.com/ampersradio/instagram.com/mnnativenews/ Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/ This show is made possible by community support. Due to cuts in federal funding, the community radio you love is at risk. Your support is needed now more than ever. Donate now to power the community programs you love: ampers.org/fund

For the last six months, Samuel Moose has been working as the director of tribal government relations with Essentia Health. It's a new role for the health care system that primarily operates in a rural area that includes 19 tribal nations. It's been a busy six months in the world of health care with cuts to Medicaid funding and hospital closures in greater Minnesota. Moose, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, checked in with MPR News host Nina Moini about how it's going.

This week, results from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Water Over Nickel survey. Plus, how Tribal Broadband Bootcamp is supporting Minnesotan tribal internet access.-----Executive Producer: Emma Needham Script editing: Emily Krumberger Anchor: Marie Rock Producers: Emma Needham and CJ Younger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

The Minnesota-based footwear brand Minnetonka Moccasin has been around since 1946, but it made its mark in the shoe industry by appropriating Native footwear and designs. Since issuing a public apology in 2021 for decades of profiting from Native culture, the company has been working to reconcile with Native American tribes. Their newest initiative is the Minnetonka Reclamation Collaborative, which brings together Native artists to redesign the company's appropriated designs, create new products and reclaim cultural narratives. It launched at the beginning of the month.For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with reconciliation advisor Adrienne Benjamin, who leads the effort and is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Kelly Applegate, Commissioner for Natural Resources with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, talks about the Water Over Nickel Campaign, the proposed Tamarack mine, and a recent survey regarding public perception of water

On this week's show, we revisit our conversation from June 2022 with Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), a spiritual advisor, storyteller, activist, wisdom keeper, and revered elder. Mary Lyons is the founder of the Minnesota Coalition on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and serves as a counselor for the women's sobriety group, which she also co-founded, called Women of Wellbriety International. Mary's inspiring book, Wisdom Lessons: Spirited Guidance from an Ojibwe Great-Grandmother, was published in 2018, and delivers love and advice through stories and perspectives grounded in traditional Indigenous values. Find Mary Lyons' book here: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/wisdom-lessons Chi Miigwech to Mary Lyons for generously sharing traditional teachings, your wise approach to healing, and life-changing spiritual guidance.  Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.  Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Grand Casino Arena announced as new name for the home of the WildGrand Casino will be the new naming rights sponsor for Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, which operates the venue, announced on Monday.The name change to Grand Casino Arena will take effect Sept. 3, and the naming rights partnership with Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley — both owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe — will last through 2039.Self Driving CarsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tribal nations and native communities across North America are consistently one of the highest-risk population groups for a range of health and safety issues, including fire incidents and casualties. And yet, developing and implementing community risk reduction programs in native communities can be daunting, especially for non-native fire departments that don't understand native traditions, sensitivities, or histories.  Our guest today, Monte Fronk, has been the lone fire safety expert in his native American tribe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, for over 30 years. On today's podcast, I talk to Monte about his job, the challenges of poverty, generational trauma, and mistrust among native communities, and how he is working to turn the tide in his community one program and one conversation at a time.  Links:  Read the NFPA Journal Perspectives article featuring Monte Fronk Learn about Fronk's upcoming presentation at the NFPA Conference & Expo Check out new Summer 2025 issue of NFPA Journal

Today's episode is all about the best breakfast topping, the sap that slaps…maple syrup! If you've ever had maple syrup on your pancakes or waffles, you have the Native people of what's now called North America to thank for that. Native people have been making maple syrup for hundreds, if not thousands of years.Tag along with Joy and cohost Marvin as they explain how syrup is made. Minnesota Public Radio reporter Chandra Colvin also drops by to share how Native communities continue this centuries-old syrup tradition. Plus, you won't want to miss a new First Things First, so stick around!Featured Experts:Chandra Colvin is a reporter for Native News at Minnesota Public Radio. She's also a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. You can find more of her work here.Forest Hunt is a plant scientist with the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute. They are a direct descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota.Shirley Boyd and Bette Sam are elders in the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Vanessa Weyaus is a member of the Lynx clan of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Her name in Ojibwe translates as The Shining Light in the Sky Woman. Vanessa spent years in addiction, eventually living on the streets and running from the law. When she tired of it all, she turned herself in during a routine traffic stop. She was offered treatment, but chose to serve her prison sentence instead and has now been clean and sober for more than six years. Her recovery date is January 8, 2019. She now works as a substance use disorder counselor for the tribe.Many thanks to the Minnesota State Arts Board and the arts and cultural heritage fund for supporting this work.John Noltner is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Patrick Kruse is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a descendant of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. He lives and works along the shore of Mille Lacs Lake and has been creating birchbark art since the late ‘80s.  As a young adult, he says his mother had a dream where he worked with birchbark.  “My mom, kind of, not scolded, but warned me of the cultural significance of birchbark and not to be wasting it, because it's sacred,” he said.  He creates wall hangings and baskets, with scenes and images of nature. Kruse has even made birchbark cradles with colorful Ojibwe floral designs. Kruse says birchbark has always been used to tell stories. A prominent figure in several of his pieces is the Thunderbird, a spiritual figure in Ojibwe culture. He depicts the Thunderbird, using birchbark of various tones, surrounded by florals to show the changing of seasons. “When Native Americans hear the first thunder and lightning coming, they understand that it's the change of season — spring, flowers and rain. So, everything, instead of frozen ground, frozen tundra, everything starts growing,” Kruse said.  Melissa Fowler is a birchbark artist from the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She began working with birchbark 14 years ago after becoming more involved in learning cultural traditions.  She fears that working with birchbark could become a lost artform someday.  Fowler has created elaborate pieces, including contemporary ones. She hopes to inspire younger people with pieces, such as earrings and a crossbody handbag. “I know that we don't preserve our food in it [birchbark] anymore but maybe wearing it as an adornment is something that really excites people and makes people feel good about themselves as a way to push that forward into our contemporary society,” Fowler said.  Kruse shares those sentiments. He says he doesn't know many other people who work with birchbark. Alongside his work as an artist, he shares the knowledge of birchbark with those wanting to learn. “I'm trying to teach a better way about the birch and the forest, the water and the rice, different things I promote them things because it's important,” Kruse said. “I'm not going to be here, but these children, and the children's children are going to be here.” According to Fowler, the Ojibwe word for birchbark is “wiigwaas.” She says the wiigwaas and birch tree are referred to as the tree of life, an important part of the survival of Ojibwe people.  “We would use birchbark on a daily basis, from gathering to preserving our food and water, our canoes, our shelter.  We'd use it for medicine. We'd even use it to record our teachings and stories on birchbark scrolls,” she said.   Not a single piece of bark goes to waste either. Kruse says he uses leftover pieces to create smaller artworks or to make baskets.  “I learned that even the most smallest birchbark can be used to make a nice little piece of art,” Kruse said. “So, we try not to waste nothing.” He says learning about culture and participating in traditional crafts gives people strength.  “It brings hope, and it gives you better strength, because you're actually doing some work in whether it's small, big, medium." Fowler currently has an exhibit at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids, titled, “Endazhi-Dabendaagoziyaan - The Place Where I Belong.” She says her artwork will be at the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center in Duluth in August.  Kruse's artworks are featured in various collections and locations, including but not limited to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the Science Museum of Minnesota and Minnesota Historical Society in downtown St. Paul and the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia.  

House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 1:30 PM Location: Capitol Complex, 2008 RHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA WITNESSES Panel one Jeffrey Stiffarm President Fort Belknap Indian Community Harlan Baker Chairman Chippewa Cree Tribe Business Committee and Rocky Boy Health Center Ryan Rusche Citizen Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Panel two Carole Lankford Councilwoman Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation Gene Small President Northern Cheyenne Tribe Panel three Bruce Savage Chairman Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Darrell Seki Sr. Chairman Red Lake Band Chippewa Indians Leonard Fineday Secretary Treasurer Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Virgil Wind Chief Executive Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Panel four J. Conrad “JC” Seneca President Seneca Nation Wena Supernaw Business Committee Chair Quapaw Nation Jeff Wacoche Chief United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Panel five Ken Ahmann Tribal Utility Authority Director Colusa Indian Community Council Jose Simon III Chairman Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians Panel six Josh Cook Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians Lester “Shine” Nieto Chairman Tule River Indian Tribe of California James Naranjo Governor Pueblo of Santa Clara More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2025/02/24/video-american-indian-and-alaska-native-public-witness-hearing-day-1-afternoon-session/

Kelly Applegate, Commissioner for Natural Resources with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, talks about the Water Over Nickel Campaign, and about a newly proposed nickel mine near Tamarack, Minnesota

In Navajo origin stories, the turkey is a hero. He gathers up all the seeds from the third world and brings them to the fourth world we live in today. Many other tribes revere turkeys and make use of their feathers. Anishinaabe journalist Leah Lemm documents her own cultural reconnection by gathering wild rice, or manoomin, in her home reservation in Minnesota for the first time. Salmon are coming back to the tributaries of the Klamath River in California for the first time in a century after tribes helped bring about the largest dam removal project in history. And a Diné entrepreneur creates an unlikely fusion of traditional flavors and the increasingly popular boba drink craze. Those are the topics all on The Menu, our regular feature on Indigenous food stories and news. GUESTS Kenneth Brink (Karuk), vice chairman of the Karuk Tribe Sheldon Blackhorse (Diné), cultural advisor, actor, and math tutor Kevin Wilson (Diné), owner of Native Boba Tea Co. Leah Lemm (citizen of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)

Leah Lemm, a citizen of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, explores the history and significance of manoomin, or wild rice, a food sacred to her people.Leah has spent her career making radio, making music and helping tell stories. She's a mom and spouse who lives in the north woods of Minnesota.Leah practices her culture in many ways. She's been slowly learning Ojibwemowin, the Ojibwe language. She helps share Native stories in her work as an MPR News editor who leads our Native News team. She stays active and attends community events. And every couple of years she harvests maple sap for syrup.But aside from cooking her famous Ojibwe fried rice, Leah didn't feel connected to the significance of manoomin — a sacred plant revered for its sustenance and deep connection to Indigenous identity and heritage. So, she set out with a film crew to connect with her cultural roots through the tradition of wild rice harvesting.Join her on her journey as she shares moments from the film, “Finding Manoomin: A Search for the Spirit of Wild Rice.” Finding Manoomin

We expect to hear in the next day who will be Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. Minnesota Gov. Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly are top contenders. We spoke to three reporters who know each of these lawmakers.Do you know anyone with COVID right now? Dr. Jon Hallberg shared some advice for navigating the recent uptick in infections.Suni Lee is bringing home three medals from the Paris Olympics. We recapped her remarkable comeback.We visited a parcel of land recently restored to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Minnesota Fringe Fest is bringing offbeat theater to venues across the Twin Cities — we heard about a horror comedy from the height of the 1990s Beanie Baby craze.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Wondering Too” by the Penny Peaches.

 This week, two examples in Minnesota that support the larger “Land Back” movement across Indian Country, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's new Chief Executive, urban Native-led organizations celebrate during a collaborative open house, and a new tribally operated recreational marijuana dispensary now open in Minnesota.  

There's controversy over the upcoming graduation ceremony for Hinckley-Finlayson High School. On Monday, the school board announced the Native American Student Association will no longer have the opportunity to play the Ojibwe Honor Song with its drum group at graduation next Friday. More than 40 students walked out of class Wednesday in protest. They say that their culture is being silenced, even as Native American students make up about a quarter of the student body. Students say they'll continue walkouts and silent protests until graduation day. The district superintendent said in a statement that the reason is to ensure that graduation focuses on graduating students rather than extracurricular student activities. Melanie Benjamin Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe chief executive joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with perspective on the situation.

Brandon Baity is Anishinaabe and a descendant of the White Earth Nation. He grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN and currently lives in Moorhead, MN with his 3 children, partner, and mother-in-law. He graduated with a degree in social work from the College of Saint Scholastica in 2013. After graduation he worked as a youth mental health practitioner, school social worker, program coordinator for youth suspended from school, and a program manager for youth experiencing homelessness. He was a founding board member and is the current Executive Director of the Indigenous Association in Fargo, ND.  In today's episode, Brandon shares the inspiring story behind the foundation of the Indigenous Association, delving into the deep-seated motivation driving its mission. We explore the pivotal moments of his journey from his involvement on a plethora of boards and planning committees, to his profound realization of the importance of cultural connection in leadership work. Discover what fuels Brandon's dedication to empowering community and learn how the Indigenous Association provides a platform for healing, art, community connection, and cultural revitalization. Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour radio program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community. Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.https://minnesotanativenews.org/ https://www.indgns.org/ 

Counter Stories cofounder and cohost Donald Eubanks unexpectedly passed away in March. He was laid to rest next to his mother in the traditional Ojibwe way on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians reservation. On April 13, 2024, the Counter Stories crew was honored to cohost a Celebration of Life event in the Twin Cities. Today, we bring you some of the stories shared at the event. 

Bryce Premo is a Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe citizen and brother of Native Lights hosts Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Bryce on the cusp of an exciting transition in his career. With a bachelor's degree in social work almost under his belt and poised to pursue a master's degree in the same field, Bryce shares his journey with us. He is member of the Social Work Honors Society, and a board member as a student representative with the National Association of Social Workers. In March 2024 Bryce was awarded student of the year from the NASW-MN (National Association of Social Workers).  In today's episode, Bryce delves into his current focus on decolonizing Euro-centric approaches within the social work industry. He discusses his research and studies aimed at reshaping tools and methodologies to better serve not only American Indian communities but other marginalized groups worldwide. His insights shed light on the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in social service practices, paving the way for a more equitable and effective approach to community care. Stepping away from his role as a youth worker, Bryce has gained invaluable experience in various social service positions. With a vision for positive change and a commitment to serving diverse communities, Bryce's journey exemplifies the protentional impacts of dedicated individuals in shaping the future of the social work industry. 

Meet Eldayshun Big Bear, known in the Minnesota hip-hop community as Day Dayz. He's a 22-year-old emerging hip-hop artist from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's reservation. On Wednesday, he dropped a new video for the song in partnership with the Dream Warriors Collective, a non-profit working to support and amplify Indigenous artists across the country. Day Dayz joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the collaboration, what led him to a music career, and his new album coming out this summer.