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.

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Fort Peck Tribes ban discussions with data center developers

The vote comes amid mounting data center opposition in Montana, and as developers nationwide target tribal land for building

Nora Mabie, Montana Free Press

Federal Government

Crow Tribe coal swap clears Senate committee

Tom Lutey, Montana Free Press

Reflecting on the cycle of life: Family photos transport mourners to a bygone era

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Buffalo’s Fire built an interactive map to track missing Indigenous people, and we need community help

By Pier Paolo Bozzano

Federal Government

Crow Tribe coal swap clears Senate committee

Land exchange benefitting Signal Peak Energy moves forward over Senate Democrats’ concerns

Tom Lutey, Montana Free Press

The Signal Peak Mine, located in the Bull Mountains west of Billings, is Montana’s only underground coal mine

Reflecting on the cycle of life: Family photos transport mourners to a bygone era

Spotted Bear matriarch begins journey to the earth lodge villages

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Buffalo’s Fire built an interactive map to track missing Indigenous people, and we need community help

Vital information is often buried, hard to find. We’re asking our communities to send us tips and corrections

By Pier Paolo Bozzano

ShineThe Shine series explores limitations and solutions to government transparency in Indian Country.

Sovereignty

Billy Kirkland

Tribal leaders call for sovereignty as federal support wavers

Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor

Indian Country needs media pillar for a just society

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Experts discuss tribal sovereignty’s role in the growing hemp and cannabis industry

By Darren Thompson

Proposed agriculture funding bill impacts more than 80,000 Native producers

By Gabrielle Nelson

MHA Nation appeals court upholds $250M withdrawal from People’s Fund

By Erin Hoover Barnett

Bheri Rose Hallam gives Senator Lisa Murkowski a Mandan name

Action & Policy

Multiple tribal organizations join MHA Nation in honoring two members of Congress

By Darren Thompson

Other stories in Sovereignty

Education

South Dakota universities’ Native American enrollment rises to pre-pandemic level

Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight

Tribal Education

Cutting tribal college funding a threat to learning culture, self-determination, graduates say

Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor

Native administrators rail against Trump’s proposed elimination of funds for TCUs

Legislators plan to learn about Native American health care, emergency services, disability care

Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight

AIHEC conference honors TCU students with awards for art, sports, academics

By Gabrielle Nelson

‘Our future does not hinge on the limbs of federal decision making,’ keynote speaker tells AIHEC crowd

By Darren Thompson

Other stories in Education

Land & Water

The Klamath Tribes couldn’t get federal dollars for salmon. Then the Yurok stepped in

B. 'Toastie' Oaster, High Country News

All nine South Dakota tribes back effort to develop Black Hills land-return legislation

Black Hills uranium exploration permit hearing postponed to May

Meghan O'Brien, South Dakota Searchlight

Environmental stewardship

U.S. Forest Service and 11 tribes sign historic agreement to co-manage sacred area in South Dakota

South Dakota passes ‘Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens,’ fails to consult with tribes

By Darren Thompson

Drilling project moves forward in the heart of the Black Hills

By Gabrielle Nelson

Other stories in Land & Water

Oil & Gas

Energy Development

MHA Nation charts path to self-sufficiency by leveraging natural gas, data centers

Jacob Orledge, North Dakota Monitor

Report details wide disparity between Native American and white health in South Dakota

Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight

Greenpeace seeks new trial, claiming jury pool biased in case over Dakota Access Pipeline

Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor

Other stories in Oil & Gas

Safety & Justice

Safety & Justice

Federal agencies and tribe partner to clear Pine Ridge Reservation’s ballistics testing backlog

John Hult, North Dakota Monitor

For Ethan One Feather, safety and security at 150th commemoration of Little Bighorn battle is top priority

Camp Grafton

Tribal law enforcement academy, requested by South Dakota, will be located in North Dakota

John Hult, North Dakota Searchlight

On national day of awareness, MMIP crisis takes center stage

Tribal elder convicted of threatening federal employee receives probation

Standing Rock boy airlifted to hospital, student athletes charged with assault

Other stories in Safety & Justice

Murdered & Missing Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous violence survivors see fewer services after federal cuts

By Nada Hassanein

LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit MMIP advocates push for inclusion

A year without answers: Renzo Bullhead’s family encourages those with information to come forward

Daughter’s concern for father grows after 11 months without contact

‘Beyond frustrating’: Family claims they weren't properly notified about 16-year-old’s disappearance

Samantha Houle

Granddaughter searches for missing grandfather nearly 50 years after disappearance

Other stories in Murdered & Missing Indigenous Peoples

Health & Wellness

Survey finds Medicaid patients report more barriers during pregnancy

Auditor’s Office claws back $37.3M in wrongful billing targeting Montana’s Native communities

Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan

Brandy Toft

A Superfund site in Minnesota is spreading, disrupting a tribe’s way of life

By Gabrielle Nelson

Other stories in Health & Wellness

Cultural Preservation

Real Bird Reenactment on June 27, 2026

Bringing Little Bighorn to life

By Maria Hawkins

Roosevelt Drones

Conservation contradiction

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library: The irony of this celebration 'could not be sharper’

By Grace Hansen

Language Access

South Dakota governor signs Helen’s Law, requiring language translations in official state proceedings

By Darren Thompson

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DOJ opinion sparks new debate about legal protections for peyote

By Darren Thompson

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Politics, History

Native officials denounce Trump’s Little Bighorn revisionism

Cultural Resilience

For Two Spirits and Native LGBTQ+ people enduring a second Trump administration, the powwow must go on

Other stories in Cultural Preservation

Housing

Affordable Housing

Little Shell housing project gets approval from Great Falls officials

Matt Hudson, Montana Free Press

Angela 5_hd

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

Other stories in Housing

Economic Development

More than $21 million in federal money to support tribal highway and road projects

Minnesota’s first Indigenous-owned lab opens for business

By Darren Thompson

Other stories in Economic Development

Politics

US Supreme Court sends North Dakota tribal redistricting case back for review

Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor

Federal Politics

Trump dumps Noem, taps Mullin to be next DHS Secretary

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Native Leadership

Native political organizer and activist running for South Dakota governor

By Gabrielle Nelson

Other stories in Politics

Press Freedom

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear and David Stoeffler

Buffalo’s Fire celebrates 10 years

By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Tribal radio stations signal need for editorial independence

Other stories in Press Freedom