News from the Northern Plains

Buffalo's Fire Sections

Spirit Lake Tribe

Tribal council news, community initiatives, and stories from the Spirit Lake Dakota people.

Register for the free Buffalo's Fire Newsletter.

No body, no crime? How prosecutors prove murder when a victim is missing

While proving a homicide without remains can be a challenge, conviction rates are high

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

Two boys missing from residential facility

Remains found during search for Isaac Hunt

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

Spirit Lake citizen Jemini Madeline Posey had tried ending their relationship before she disappeared

hunt_hd

Two boys missing from residential facility

Police and family looking for Angel Mendez and Zayne LaFountain

two_boys

Remains found during search for Isaac Hunt

Identification not yet made

North Dakota counties most harmed by SNAP cuts are those on reservations

Native organizations and food banks are stepping in to compensate

By Gabrielle Nelson

Governmental Affairs

Prolonged federal government shutdown spurs tribes to declare states of emergency

The Spirit Lake Tribe and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe say several key programs will be affected

20161129-FNS-DH-0030

Spirit Lake's Incident Command Team is a model for tribal emergency response

'Nobody is coming to save us but us': After Isaac Hunt and Jemini Posey went missing, the Spirit Lake Tribe built its own 40-expert response team, creating an alert system and saving lives

Facetune_01-10-2025-22-04-32

Families still searching for missing Spirit Lake citizens

Jemini Posey and Isaac Hunt were reported missing in early 2024

Law Enforcement

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

Benson County Deputy Chief Travis Carlson faces 13 charges. The sheriff and two others resign

Benson County Deputy Chief Travis Carlson

$849 million for Western water projects announced by Biden administration

North Dakota to receive more than $32 million toward projects for 4 tribal communities

Chase WoodRuff, North Dakota Monitor

Colorado-River-Blue-Mesa-Reservoir

Tribes, state argue redistricting case to federal appeals court

Redistricting-078

Spirit Lake Nation commodity food program turns to tribal buffalo herd for meat

bison meat

'Be that changemaker': USDA consultation with tribal leaders follows congressional testimony

FDPIRhearings_graphics

‘Gross negligence’: Shortages in USDA food aid for Native Americans blasted in Congress

USDAFoodAid

U.S. Senators push USDA to rectify shortages at tribal food assistance programs

Clients of food program

Tribal food assistance program in shambles after USDA warehouse consolidation

Federal commodity foods program

Community Leader to Community Healer: The unconventional path of Bush Fellow Arlene Krulish

By Buffalo's Fire

Bush Fellow Arlene Krulish