The Daily Spark

Native American adults reported higher rates of long COVID than the overall U.S. population, according to survey findings highlighted by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after an initial COVID-19 infection.

The survey found that 40% of Native American and Alaska Natives respondents reported having long COVID, compared with 30% of U.S. adults overall. According to CIDRAP, the findings were based on data from the California Health Interview Survey from 2021-2023. Researchers said the results underscore disparities in the burden of long COVID among Native American communities.

The Bureau of Land Management is investigating vandalism at six Native American rock art sites in Wyoming's Bighorn Basin, according to a June 4 statement from the bureau. Officials said people scratched names and phrases onto and around petroglyphs, fired bullets at multiple sites and lit a bonfire beneath one rock art panel, causing discoloration, cracking and the loss of rock fragments, according to reporting by Wyoming Public Media. The sites are protected under the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

The damage is considered irreversible, according to the Bureau of Land Management. “This intentional damage takes away future generations’ ability to view this part of our human history and to study these sites,” Karina Black, an archaeologist with the agency’s Cody Field Office, was quoted as saying. The Bureau of Land Management said the sites are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and is asking anyone with information about the vandalism to contact its Cody Field Office.

Leaders from Great Plains tribes questioned federal officials about a growing backlog of Indian probate cases and staffing shortages during an April meeting in Rapid City convened by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association. Bureau of Indian Affairs Great Plains Regional Director Olivia Steve said the agency estimates there are between 54,000 and 55,000 outstanding probate cases nationwide, according to reporting by Native Sun News Today. Steve said the Department of the Interior created a mobile Indian Affairs Probate Strike Team. She reported that a regional team at the Fort Berthold Agency helped close 335 probate cases in about three months.

Tribal leaders said staffing shortages continue to slow progress. Former Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier said Pine Ridge had only three staff members assigned to more than 1,500 probate cases. Leaders also raised concerns about access to local BIA offices, records management and proposed cuts to Indian child welfare and social services programs. According to the Native Sun News Today reporting, tribal officials called for permanent staffing solutions and greater consultation as the Interior Department works to address the backlog.

Canada's Senate has approved the “Combatting Hate Act” but rejected an amendment that would have made it a criminal offense to promote hatred against Indigenous Peoples by condoning, denying or downplaying the Indian residential school system, according to reporting by ICT. The amendment was introduced by Sen. Nancy Karetak-Lindell of Nunavut, an Inuk senator and residential school survivor. ICT reported that Karetak-Lindell told senators June 3 that the amendment had previously been approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights by a 7-1 vote. She said the proposal would address what she described as a gap in Canada's Criminal Code and questioned why Indigenous Peoples were not included alongside other groups protected by targeted hate provisions.

According to the ICT reporting, Sen. Pierre Moreau, the government's representative in the Senate, opposed the amendment, saying there had been no consultation on addressing residential school denialism. Following the vote, Indigenous leaders and survivor advocates criticized the decision. ICT reported that Laura Arndt of the Survivors Secretariat, an organization that documents the history of one of Canada’s largest residential schools, said she shut down comments on its social media platforms after receiving a surge of denialist and hateful messages. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak also expressed disappointment. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

The Minnesota Historical Society has opened a new exhibit at the visitor center at Jeffers Petroglyphs, a site in southwestern Minnesota known for thousands of ancient rock carvings. According to reporting by MPR News, the exhibit features contemporary Native perspectives alongside information about the petroglyphs, some of which are believed to be more than 7,000 years old. The updated visitor center is part of an effort to introduce a new generation of visitors to the site’s cultural and historical significance. 

Jeffers Petroglyphs contains thousands of sacred rock carvings created by the ancestors of today’s Native peoples, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. The site includes interactive exhibits focused on Native American culture and prairie ecology, as well as guided tours of the carvings. MPR News reported that the exhibit combines archaeological interpretation with contemporary Native voices to help visitors better understand the meaning and legacy of the carvings.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is launching a webinar series to help food retailers prepare for new restrictions on purchases made with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. According to an agency announcement, the first webinar will be held on Thursday, with additional sessions scheduled through Oct. 27. The training will provide information about the new requirements, the foods affected by the restrictions and guidance on compliance requirements. 

North Dakota's waiver, which takes effect in September, will prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to purchase items including soft drinks, energy drinks, candy and certain sweetened food products, according to state officials. About 600 retailers that accept SNAP benefits will need to update their point-of-sale systems to ensure restricted items cannot be purchased with SNAP funds.

Fourteen Native candidates are on the ballot in June 9 primary elections in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina, according to reporting by ICT. In Maine, candidates are running as tribal leaders continue efforts to advance legislation related to tribal sovereignty. ICT reported that three Native candidates are seeking state and federal offices in Maine, and four  candidates are competing in Nevada races. Two additional Nevada candidates advanced directly to the general election after their primaries were canceled.

Seven Native candidates are running for local and state offices in North Dakota, including candidates from the MHA Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In South Carolina, Fawn Pedalino of the Natchez-Kusso Tribe advanced to the general election as the sole Republican candidate in her race. ICT also reported that leaders of the Catawba Nation raised concerns about the lack of a polling place on tribal lands.

KFYR reports that 4 Bears Casino & Lodge’s $100 million building expansion is nearing completion. The expansion will include additional gaming rooms, a fine-dining steakhouse, a sports bar, a ballroom venue, a spa and a fitness center. The building will also house 90 guest rooms, a gift shop and a hair and nail salon. KFYR reports that the spa and guest rooms are not yet complete but could be finished later this summer. Once the project is completed, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge will have 265 rooms.

Bill Anoatubby announced his retirement Monday after serving more than four decades in leadership roles with the Chickasaw Nation, according to reporting from KFOR News. According to the Chickasaw Nation, Anoatubby began working for the tribe in 1975 as health services director and was elected as the nation’s first lieutenant governor in 1979. He was first elected governor in 1987.

Anoatubby said his decision came after “much thought and prayer” and that it was time to transition leadership to the next generation, according to the KFOR reporting. His resignation takes effect June 26. Following the announcement, Oklahoma leaders, including Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Senator James Lankford, praised Anoatubby’s leadership and contributions to the Chickasaw Nation and the state. State Chamber of Oklahoma President and CEO Chad Warmington also commended Anoatubby’s role in strengthening economic growth, cultural preservation and partnerships across Oklahoma.

A large-scale restoration project in Oregon’s McKenzie River watershed is using a process known as Stage 0 to reconnect streams with their floodplains and create a wetland habitat for fish and other species. According to reporting by High Country News, the approach involves reshaping valley floors, removing levees and distributing large wood across floodplains to encourage streams to spread into multiple channels.

The effort includes work at Quartz Creek and other sites in the watershed. Supporters say the projects could improve water quality and strengthen ecosystem resilience, while critics have raised questions about long-term outcomes and potential risks. Researchers and restoration practitioners say continued monitoring will be needed to evaluate the approach over time.

A totem pole carving program at Cedar Creek Corrections Center is helping incarcerated Indigenous people reconnect with cultural practices while learning traditional carving skills. The program was established through a partnership between the correctional facility, the Indigenous nonprofit Unkitawa and incarcerated carver Albert “Al” Smith, who is Suquamish, Shoshone-Bannock and Pima, according to Underscore Native and ICT. 

The program was celebrated March 2 with a totem pole awakening ceremony at the facility. Smith, who has been carving for nearly five decades, mentors other incarcerated Native men through the carving process. Jeremy Garretson, Northern Arapaho and reentry director at Unkitawa, said the program is likely the first of its kind in a correctional facility. Organizers are exploring similar programs at other correctional facilities in Washington state.

More than 300 people attended the Great Council State Park Heritage Festival on June 6 in Xenia, Ohio, according to reporting by WYSO. The event, hosted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, brought together citizens and leaders from Ohio's historic tribes to share their heritage with the public. 

Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Chief Glenna Wallace spoke about her efforts to strengthen connections between Shawnee citizens and their Ohio homelands, according to WYSO. Carol Butler, historic preservation director for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, told attendees that Shawnee people continue to maintain their traditions and cultures. Butler said she hopes to expand educational outreach about tribal history and contemporary Native communities through future work with schools, colleges and local organizations.

The Karuk Tribe and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians issued a joint statement saying a new bill that passed the California State Assembly marks “a significant step toward aligning California water policy with Tribal rights, stewardship, and justice.” 

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, would establish state policy recognizing water-related inequities caused by state-sanctioned acts of termination, removal and assimilation of California Native American tribes. Agencies including the State Water Resources Control Board, regional water quality control boards and the Natural Resources Agency would have to consider the policy when developing regulations, permits and grant criteria. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

The bill, according to its supporters, would also expand consultation with tribes during certain water rights investigations. Karuk Tribe Chairman Russell "Buster" Attebery said California tribes lost access to water, traditional foods and cultural resources under the state's water rights system. The legislation would require specified state agencies to incorporate tribal consultation and other measures related to tribal water uses, water projects and water policy decisions.

A new study found that walleye in Mille Lacs Lake consistently return to the same spawning locations each year, according to reporting by MPR News. Researchers with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tracked about 70 adult walleye from 2019 through 2021 using acoustic transmitters and found that 96% of detected fish returned to the same spawning areas annually. The study identified three key spawning sites characterized by sand or gravel bottoms and strong wind and wave action.

According to the study, the most important spawning areas were located along largely undeveloped shorelines. Researchers said shoreline alterations, including vegetation removal, erosion and runoff from fertilizers, can reduce spawning success. Kelly Applegate, natural resources commissioner for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, said the findings will help support the sustainable management of walleye, or ogaawag in Ojibwe.

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College reported record-high student retention and persistence rates, according to data released by the college. The college's fall 2024 to fall 2025 retention rate reached 69.6%, the highest level since tracking began in 2011. The rate measures the percentage of students who return to NHSC the following fall. The college also reported a fall 2025 to spring 2026 persistence rate of 78.3%, meaning nearly four out of five degree- and certificate-seeking students continued their studies into the spring semester.

NHSC President Twyla Baker attributed the gains to student support efforts and partnerships with nonprofits Achieving the Dream and the American Indian College Fund. The college reported that full-time students achieved an 82% persistence rate during the fall 2025 semester.

The People of the Sun Summit will take place Sept. 16-18 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, to mark the 10th  anniversary of the #noDAPL movement and highlight renewable energy development in tribal communities, according to reporting from ICT. The event is hosted by Indigenized Energy, a nonprofit organization founded by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe citizen Cody Two Bears. Organizers said the summit will focus on energy sovereignty, renewable energy funding and strategies for advancing tribal energy projects.

According to ICT, the event comes as tribes face uncertainty over renewable energy funding. Organizers said proceeds from the summit will support Indigenized Energy's work assisting tribal nations with renewable energy projects. The gathering will also include discussions, networking opportunities and an awards ceremony recognizing Indigenous energy leaders.  The event will include a concert featuring Mumford & Sons and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, as well as appearances by actors Mark Ruffalo and Shailene Woodley.

California Indian Nations College, a tribal college in Palm Desert, has received an eight-year accreditation, according to reporting by CalMatters. College leaders said the accreditation allows the institution to offer associate degrees independently, qualify for federal grants and contracts, distribute federal financial aid and make it easier for students to transfer credits. The college, founded in 2018, has served 517 students and reported that 59% of its 2024 graduates transferred to another college or university.

According to the CalMatters reporting, two bills introduced in the California Legislature would further support tribal higher education. One would add tribal colleges to the state's definition of public higher education, while the other would create transfer pathways between accredited tribal colleges and public higher education systems. College President Celeste Townsend said the accreditation and proposed legislation could help strengthen educational opportunities for Native students and support future funding efforts.

The Red Lake Nation has returned a single-engine airplane to Roseau pilot Darrin Smedsmo and dropped all charges related to the aircraft's emergency landing on reservation land in October 2025, according to reporting from MPR News. The plane was removed from Red Lake Nation lands on June 3, more than seven months after tribal police impounded it following the landing. In a June 1 letter to Smedsmo's attorney, Chief Prosecutor Ogema Neadeau wrote that prosecutors decided not to pursue trespass or related charges and that returning the aircraft was "fair and equitable."

Tribal police cited Smedsmo under a 1978 resolution that prohibits aircraft from flying below 20,000 feet over Red Lake Nation lands, according to MPR News. The tribe said the case prompted discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration about airspace concerns and led to updated flight protocols for air ambulance and firefighting services. Red Lake Nation General Legal Counsel Joe Plumer told MPR News that both sides are focused on moving forward following the resolution.

A new monument is being built near Kulm, North Dakota, to honor Native Americans killed during the 1863 massacre at Whitestone Hill, according to reporting by KX News. The State Historical Society began planning the project in June 2023, consulting with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, descendants of Indigenous survivors and a seven-member committee of elders and descendants. The committee selected architectural firm Quintus 3D to design the monument after reviewing proposals.

According to the KX News reporting, construction will take place in four phases. The first phase, which includes the foundation and supporting infrastructure, is expected to be completed by August. Future phases will add vertical artwork panels, stone benches and tree plantings. The North Dakota Legislature authorized $250,000 for the project in 2023. A monument honoring U.S. soldiers who died at Whitestone Hill was erected at the site in 1909.