News from the Northern Plains

Native Life

Native Issues

Reporting on the issues that shape Native life — from tribal sovereignty and education to healthcare, housing, and economic development.

Politics, History

Native officials denounce Trump’s Little Bighorn revisionism

The historic battlefield has been directed to remove signage sharing Native perspective on Custer’s Last Stand

Sovereignty

Historic Preservation

Legislation signed to protect Wounded Knee memorial site

Darren Thompson

Reporters’ Notebook: The year that was

Buffalo’s Fire

What a Southern Arizona tribe can teach others about tribal water rights

Gabrielle Nelson

Federal Recognition

Lumbee Tribe to receive federal recognition after 70 years of state distinction

Darren Thompson

Government to government relations

Oglala Sioux Tribe denounces Defense Department’s refusal to revoke soldiers’ Wounded Knee medals

MHA citizens seek accountability in a suit against their Tribal Business Council

Erin Hoover Barnett

More in Sovereignty

Education

Making cough syrup, building houses: Standing Rock students learn through community engagement

Gabrielle Nelson

White Earth tribal administrator gets boost from Bush Fellowship

UTTC food sovereignty coordinator restores campus medicine wheel

Gabrielle Nelson

North Dakota tribes Indigenize latest school textbooks

Couple with Bismarck roots seeds endowment for UTTC students with $100,000 donation

Erin Hoover Barnett

Leadership Growth

Educator John Little advocates for more Natives in higher ed

More in Education

Land & Water

Food sovereignty

UTTC student raises $12k in food drive for North Dakota and Montana

Gabrielle Nelson

‘We need involvement’: Indigenous leaders demand change at COP30

Gabrielle Nelson

Environmental Stewardship

‘Good fire’ at Chaa-lamali: Young Natives practice cultural burn

UTTC Tribal Summit: Cody Two Bears urges tribal nations to unite for sovereignty

Gabrielle Nelson

Lake Stewardship

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

UTTC agriculture students connect with Native roots

Gabrielle Nelson

More in Land & Water

Murdered & Missing Indigenous Peoples

Runaway children in the Dakotas account for majority of missing Indigenous persons reports

Q&A: Kimberly Lining on what it takes to be a volunteer for an MMIP organization

MMIP Christmas tree shines brightly at North Dakota State Capitol

D’Angelo Hunt pleads not guilty to murdering his older brother Isaac Hunt

D’Angelo Hunt indicted for voluntary manslaughter of ‘J.M.P.’ — initials match missing partner Jemini Posey

Six year anniversary of Standing Rock unsolved murder

More in Murdered & Missing Indigenous Peoples

Health & Wellness

‘BlueJay’s Canoe’ tackles Native life during pandemic and wildfires

Healing Journey

Conference addresses gender-based violence in Native communities

Congress and USDA have yet to act on year-old recommendations that could alleviate food insecurity among tribes

More in Health & Wellness

Cultural Preservation

Whale’s tragic demise brings two worlds together

Crow tribe considers enrollment reset

James Giago DaviesNative Sun News Today

Traditional foods

Why you should Indigenize your holiday meals — and recipes to help you do it

Gabrielle Nelson

Beyond the red suit: How Native Santas are reclaiming holiday representation

Sesquicentennial

Tribes plan to ‘rock’ the Little Bighorn Battlefield during 150th commemoration

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Cultural Revival

MHA Nation filmmaker wins award for short documentary

Gabrielle Nelson

More in Cultural Preservation

Housing

Standing Rock woman’s personal history inspires her to help others

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians celebrate grand opening of affordable housing development

More in Housing

Economic Development

Community Vision

North Dakota Native-led nonprofit eyes massive cultural center project in Bismarck

Peyton HaugNorth Dakota Monitor

UTTC International Powwow flexes its cultural and economic muscle

Creative Wealth

Bush fellow to explore culturally attuned investment strategies for fellow creatives

More in Economic Development

Press Freedom

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

More in Press Freedom