Independent News from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Opinion

Imposed Rule

Tribal citizens stuck with an act, an IRA constitution they didn’t support

Todd Hall

Movement Resilience

Despite major foundation cuts, NDN Collective vows to ‘double down’

Citing socio-political instability, social justice group reduces staff, programming

Brian Bull

Buffalo’s Fire and Prairie Public Radio are linking up for live coverage of the UTTC International Powwow.

Look for us at the powwow grounds in Bismarck, North Dakota, Sept. 5-7.

Heritage Remembered

Lost in the flood: MHA Interpretive Center honors Elbowoods in new exhibit

Instead of burying the trauma, ‘we want people to talk through it’

Gabrielle Nelson

Justice Rising

MMIP activists hold late summer walk in Oregon to spread awareness

Event is first for newly-christened organization

Brian Bull

Final Step

Look in the mirror: Powwow community reflects on ‘the Last Dance’ for Gathering of Nations

Another powwow likely to take its place

Gabrielle Nelson

Live Coverage

Buffalo’s Fire and Prairie Public partnering at UTTC International Powwow

Erin Hoover Barnett

Opinion

Tribal Sovereignty

Supreme Court should uphold sovereign status for Native nations in Voting Rights Act case

Todd Hall

Explainer

Powwow etiquette: A respectful visitor’s guide

Teresa Trumbly Lamsam, Ph.D.

Twin Buttes Powwow in North Dakota celebrates every child as a champion

Special Feature

For the love of dentalium

Harvested in the Pacific and traded inland, dentalium shells served Indigenous peoples as valuable currency, status symbols, and sacred items for millennia, a tradition that persists. Read our coverage.

Sovereignty, Community, Press Freedom.
Get the Buffalo's Fire Newsletter.

The Daily Spark

Quick stories, must reads

Bismarck-Mandan

Crisis Response

North Dakota Legislature passes law aimed at tackling MMIP crisis

Alix Dobler

Northern Plains

Eagle Butte

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe elder accused of threatening lives of federal officers

Jolan Kruse

Heritage

UTTC agriculture students connect with Native roots

Law Enforcement

Spirit Lake Nation responds to misconduct allegations at sheriff’s office, calls out ‘urgent need’ for responsive law enforcement

Sovereignty

MHA Nation decriminalizes medical marijuana

Opioid Aid

16 North Dakota organizations receive $8 million in opioid grants

MMIP

What caused a splash in the Missouri River the night Renzo Bullhead disappeared?

Safe Aging

North Dakota ranked No. 2 for aging in place in national study

Native Issues

Lake Stewardship

Native nations push through funding uncertainties to keep protecting the Great Lakes

Kadin Mills

Creative Wealth

Bush fellow to explore culturally attuned investment strategies for fellow creatives

Emergency Preparedness

Red Thread Network provides a template for what to do if a loved one goes missing

Media journey

Dispatch from the IJA conference: As event winds down, president reflects on ‘full-circle’ moment

Truth Told

Emmy Award goes to animated documentary honoring MMIP

Powwow

Standing Rock holds its first Red Dress Special

Opinion

Identity check

In ID we trust: Reflections on self-preservation in an age of deportations

Native Nations

Water Celebration

Community and candy: Fort Yates holds Long Soldier Parade

Gabrielle Nelson

Cultural Revival

Standing Rock nonprofit connects people with Native traditions

Elder Celebration

MHA Nation elders gather for summer luncheon

Dakota Access Pipeline

Federal government appealing $28M award to North Dakota for pipeline protest costs

Opinion

Youth Pride

Twin Buttes Powwow in North Dakota celebrates every child as a champion

Pipeline Concerns

Public hearing set for proposed pipeline in Mountrail and Ward counties

Arts & Culture

Interview

Catching up with Gary Farmer on Route 66

Brian Bull

Audio

A Nez Perce elder’s remembrance of Nagasaki resonates to this day

Hollywood vs Heritage

Best Native American movies, series — the ones worth watching

Indigenous Cinema

How ‘Dark Winds’ delivers

Heritage

The journey of dentalium: Tracing ancient trade routes along the Upper Missouri

Heritage

Dentalium journey with artist Tipiziwin Tolman: from necessity to cultural icon

Heritage

Revitalizing ancestral art forms: Holly Young draws inspiration from family and community

Opinion

Opinion

Justice Delivered

June 30, heirs’ deadline to file for allotment land royalties

Talli Nauman

Opinion

Community Uprising

Cheyenne River Sioux families walk to draw attention to allegations of mistreatment at the jail

Opinion

MMIP

Why Buffalo’s Fire was red for one day

Opinion

Heritage

Harvesting Connection: Dentalium and the two ‘Indian’ worlds

Opinion

Elders first

When is being ‘elder’ more than just being ‘older’?

Opinion

Cultural Preservation

A look inside the Denver March Powwow

Opinion

Due Credit

Buffalo’s Fire’s news-sharing campaign: When republishing a story avoid the ‘copycat’ syndrome

Stories you might have missed

IJA 2025

Dispatch from the IJA conference: ‘We shall remain’

Healing Journey

Conference addresses gender-based violence in Native communities

Leadership Growth

Educator John Little advocates for more Natives in higher ed

Standing Rock woman dedicated to bringing home missing Indigenous people

Funding Slashed

Trump administration delivers blow to Native media

First food

Ready the skunk cabbage, it’s the great camas bake-off

Language revival

Language efforts in MHA Nation are strong but limited by few first speakers

Podcast