The Daily Spark

A federal judge in Phoenix has rejected a plea agreement that would have allowed a man accused in the 2021 disappearance of Ella Mae Begay to avoid additional prison time, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Preston Henry Tolth, 26, will face trial on charges of carjacking and assault. A trial date has not been set.

Under the agreement, Tolth would have been released after serving three years in exchange for pleading guilty to a single robbery count. Begay, 62, disappeared from Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Family members opposed the deal during court testimony, urging accountability and answers. A prosecutor said the case was weakened after a judge ruled Tolth’s confession inadmissible, according to the Associated Press. Tolth has not publicly commented.

The Washington Commanders’ new alternate logo featuring a spear has drawn criticism from Native American organizations and some Native leaders, according to a USA TODAY Sports report. The team introduced the design April 15 on social media as part of an alternate uniform, while keeping the “W” as its primary logo. The Association on American Indian Affairs called the decision “disappointing and inappropriate,” and the National Congress of American Indians said the imagery carries a harmful message. 

Others supported the design. Becky Clayton-Anderson, president of the Native American Guardians Association, said the group was pleased to see Native imagery included in the logo. But critics including Suzan Harjo, Not In Our Honor, Marcus Briggs-Cloud and researcher Stephanie Fryberg said the symbol revives harmful stereotypes tied to the franchise’s former identity, according to the report. Commanders president Mark Clouse said the team plans to continue using the spear in uniforms and merchandise.

The Missing and Murdered Diné Relative Task Force held its annual Sexual Assault Awareness Walk on April 20 in Window Rock, Arizona, bringing together survivors, families, advocates and community leaders, according to a release shared on the 25th Navajo Nation Council Facebook page. The event aimed to raise awareness about the impacts of sexual assault and highlight resources available to survivors.

Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, chair of the task force, was quoted as saying, “This walk is a message to our relatives that they are not alone. We see you, we stand with you, and we are here to support you every step of the way.” Speaker Crystalyne Curley and other advocates emphasized community education, prevention and coordinated responses to violence, including connections to missing and murdered Indigenous people, according to the release.

On April 20, NDN Collective announced the launch of the LANDBACK Action Network, a new organizing and resource network aimed at strengthening the LandBack movement, according to an NDN Collective news release. The group said the network will connect Indigenous people, organizations, grassroots groups, tribal nations, multiracial movement organizations, organizers and allies working to return land to Indigenous stewardship. The network also launched a new public storytelling platform at landback.org, according to the release. 

Nick Tilsen, founder and CEO of NDN Collective, said the network will connect Indigenous people across Turtle Island, Oceania and beyond while supporting land-based practices such as food sovereignty, cultural and spiritual reconnection and ecological restoration. Nicole Yanes, membership manager at NDN Collective, said the network is intended to build collective power and support organizers during state violence, climate disasters and displacement, according to the release.

The Bureau of Reclamation announced $6.3 million in funding for 10 tribal water projects, including a wastewater system and lagoon construction project for the Spirit Lake Tribe, according to an April 16 release. The funding comes through Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program, which supports federally recognized tribes in managing, developing and protecting water resources.

“These projects speak to the needs that remain in these communities,” Acting Commissioner Scott Cameron was quoted as saying. “Many of the projects selected focus on the important work of ensuring communities have safe drinking water and sanitation.” According to the agency, funded projects include drinking water system installation and rehabilitation, well installation, wastewater and lagoon construction, water quality testing and workforce development. The Spirit Lake project will receive $1 million for the Crow Hill wastewater system and lagoon construction, according to the release.

The California Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the city of Poway over the discovery of Native American human remains and cultural artifacts at a housing development site, according to Courthouse News Service. The suit alleges the city failed to follow environmental review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act after multiple remains and more than 8,000 artifacts were uncovered. 

According to the report, the site includes a burial area associated with the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. California Attorney General Rob Bonta was quoted as saying the discovery warrants “appropriate caution and respect.” The tribe also filed a separate lawsuit seeking consideration of impacts to cultural and religious resources. The city said it has complied with applicable laws and remains willing to work with stakeholders.

The Makah Tribe is preparing to resume its traditional whale hunt while a federal permit decision remains pending, according to KNKX Public Radio. Tribal leaders said the permit application, submitted more than a year ago to the marine fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has not received a response. 

The tribe submitted a request this winter to amend the application to begin hunting in July. Christopher Martinez, chief of staff for the Makah Tribal Council, said the delay has been frustrating after years of compliance with federal requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Members of the Makah Whaling Commission said crews are actively training and preparing, and they identified the pending permit approval as the primary obstacle to resuming the hunt.

A motion to end Siletz Valley School’s current charter agreement failed April 14 during a Lincoln County School District board meeting, allowing the K-12 charter school to remain open, according to reporting by Underscore Native News and ICT. The vote did not pass due to a lack of quorum after one member was absent and another recused herself, leaving three members to vote. Of those, two supported ending the charter while one opposed it. 

Siletz Valley School Acting Superintendent Debra Barnes told students the school would stay open but emphasized continued work ahead. According to Underscore Native News and ICT, the school has been out of compliance with its charter agreement in multiple areas since 2023. School leaders and board members said they are committed to addressing attendance, academic performance and operational requirements to meet compliance standards.

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the Trump administration’s energy approach during a House Appropriations hearing April 20, as Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about support for oil and gas over renewable energy, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Burgum said the administration aimed to ease regulations on fossil fuel production.

The hearing also focused on the administration’s proposed $16 billion Interior Department budget, which would keep funding near current levels following a nearly 12% reduction from fiscal year 2025, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Lawmakers raised concerns about a $757 million cut to National Park Service operations and a proposed $437 million, or roughly 32%, reduction to the Bureau of Indian Education. Members of both parties called for tribal consultation as oversight of some education programs shifts to Interior. Officials said 16 staff positions and associated funding would transfer from the Department of Education to the Bureau of Indian Education.

The Far North Fashion Show, part of the Arctic Encounter Summit, showcased Indigenous designers from across Alaska on April 15 at the Anchorage Museum, according to reporting by Alaska Beacon. Now in its seventh year, the event featured designs representing Inupiaq, Athabascan, Tlingit, Yup’ik and Aleut cultures. Organizers said the show is a highlight for attendees, with founder Rachel Kallander noting the work behind the event.

Designs reflected cultural traditions and messages, including pieces inspired by animals such as caribou and whales, according to Alaska Beacon. Some garments also incorporated red handprints symbolizing missing and murdered Indigenous people. Models performed on a catwalk with music and lighting, and some included traditional dance movements during their presentations.

The American Indigenous Tourism Conference will take place Oct 19-22 at Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Washington, hosted by The Tulalip Tribes, according to conference materials . The event marks the 28th anniversary of the national conference, which is focused on growing tourism in Indigenous communities. Organizers said the theme, “Indigenous Tourism is Sovereignty in Action,” highlights how Native Nations use tourism to support economic development, protect homelands and uphold cultural identity.

More than 300 attendees are expected to participate in networking, keynote sessions and industry discussions, according to the conference description. Registration is now open. Attendees who register by the early bird deadline of June 30 will be entered into a drawing for one overnight stay at the Tulalip Resort Casino during the conference, with one winner selected. Organizers said the event aims to support Indigenous-led tourism and strengthen long-term economic opportunities for Native communities.

Leaders from the Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians met April 20 during the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York to advance a renewed Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation, according to a joint statement. The declaration, signed March 24, outlines shared commitments to Indigenous rights, well-being and self-determination across the Canada–United States border. Discussions focused on Indigenous free trade, border mobility and the removal of tariffs on trade, including medicines and cultural items tied to Indigenous health.

“Today’s meeting reflects the strength of our renewed kinship and our shared responsibility to act together on behalf of our Nations,” NCAI President Mark Macarro was quoted as saying. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the work aims to support economies, mobility and rights. Youth leaders also led discussions on mental wellness, addictions and health, according to the statement.

Ten years after Prince’s death, Bob Blake reflected on how working security for the musician shaped his life and career. In an interview with MPR News, Blake, a citizen of the Red Lake Nation, said he began working for Prince in his early 20s after being recruited by a cousin. He said the experience taught him professional skills, including how to communicate with attorneys and promoters.

Blake worked for Prince for about six years and said the experience influenced his future path. According to MPR News, Blake now runs a solar energy company and serves as executive director of a clean-energy nonprofit. He said Prince’s support of environmental activist Van Jones helped connect him to his first renewable energy job.

The U.S. Army officially named its next-generation assault aircraft the MV-75 Cheyenne II on April 15 during the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, according to Military.com. Members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes attended the announcement, according to the Army. 

The aircraft, built by Bell Textron and previously known as the V-280 Valor, is set to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk as the Army’s primary assault helicopter, according to Military.com. Col. Jeffrey Poquette was quoted as saying in an Army release that the service was “honored to have the Cheyenne tribes’ approval to use their name.” Bell has started assembling the first six test aircraft in Wichita, Kansas.

A mobile exhibit called the Breathing Healing Bus will travel across Colorado to share Indigenous history and culture as the state marks its 150th anniversary and the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, according to ICT. Organizers said the bus was created by Native artists, activists and historians and grew in part from the 2023 report by the Native-led Truth, Restoration and Education Commission. 

The exhibit combines youth artwork, multimedia storytelling and guided reflection to present Native perspectives often left out of official histories, according to ICT. Organizers said the project aims to address difficult parts of Colorado’s past while promoting healing. The bus is scheduled to begin stops across Colorado in late spring, with its first official visits planned for the weekend of May 9 on the two Ute reservations in southwest Colorado.

Indigenous matriarchs and their role in community leadership and care were the focus of a recent session at the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, according to Native Sun News Today. The event, sponsored by the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board’s Tribal Opioid Response Program, featured speaker Lily Mendoza, founder of the Red Ribbon Skirt Society, who discussed the evolving role of Indigenous women in sustaining families and communities. 

Mendoza described matriarchs as central figures who maintain family connections, preserve culture and support communities during crises, according to Native Sun News Today. She also emphasized the importance of documenting family histories and strengthening cultural teachings. The session included about 30 attendees in person and online and highlighted the role of women in areas including education, health and environmental stewardship.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidates David Costello and Graham Platner discussed tribal sovereignty and education during a forum hosted by the Wabanaki Alliance on April 16 at Indian Island, home of the Penobscot Nation, according to The Maine Campus. The event included questions on environmental justice, regulation and legislative approaches affecting Wabanaki nations. 

Both candidates said gaps remain in education about Indigenous history and issues. Costello said the federal government should invest more in public education and emphasized teaching Indigenous history at an early age. Platner said political engagement among young people is key to meaningful change. The forum also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships between tribal nations and institutions, including agreements between the Penobscot Nation and the University of Maine, according to The Maine Campus.

Hundreds gathered April 17-18 at the Alerus Center for the 54th annual Time Out Wacipi Powwow, according to the Grand Forks Herald. The event, held at the venue for the second consecutive year, brought attendees from across the state to celebrate American Indian culture through dance and community activities.

The wacipi, which means powwow in the Lakota/Dakota language, featured dance competitions, a food truck and a shared community meal on opening day, according to the Grand Forks Herald. The event included participants from tribal communities across the region and continued through Saturday with additional festivities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $1 billion in housing grants to American Indian tribes, including nearly $30 million for tribes in North Dakota, according to KFYR-TV. The funding comes through the Indian Housing Block Grant program, which supports affordable housing development, modernization and related services. 

North Dakota recipients include the Spirit Lake Tribe with about $4.1 million, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe with about $7.5 million, the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold with about $5.1 million and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians with about $12.9 million. The agency states the program is the largest source of federal housing assistance for tribal communities.