The Daily Spark

A bill that would have allowed tribal citizens in New Mexico to request an optional Native American designation on state-issued identification cards failed to advance before the legislative session ended Feb. 19, according to reporting by New Mexico In Depth. Senators debated the House bill for about 30 minutes before Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth said they would move on to other legislation.

Supporters said the designation would have helped tribal citizens prove U.S. citizenship if questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. “We’ve had instances in other states where Native people have been arrested by ICE and scrambling to figure out how they can get out of it to prove that they’re Native American,” Sen. Benny Shendo, D-Jemez Pueblo, was quoted as saying on the Senate floor. Co-sponsor Sen. Angel Charley, D-Acoma, said the proposal was brought at constituents’ request.

Federal energy regulators last week approved a roughly $2 billion renewable energy project on a Yakama Nation sacred site overlooking the Columbia River in Klickitat County, according to reporting by The Columbian. The 40-year federal license allows the Goldendale Energy Storage Project to move toward construction, though opponents have 30 days to challenge the decision in court, according to Simone Anter, senior staff attorney at Columbia Riverkeeper. Erik Steimle, who is leading the project for Rye Development, said construction could begin in 2027.

Yakama leaders and environmental groups oppose the project, which would transform the hillside known as Pushpum into a pumped storage hydropower facility. Yakama Tribal Council Chairman Gerald Lewis called the approval “rewarding bad actors,” while Elaine Harvey, a member of the Yakama’s Kamíłpa Band, told The Columbian the project would cause “a total desecration of our sacred site.”

Oglala Lakota Telecommunications announced a $54.5 million investment to expand broadband access across the Pine Ridge Reservation, with construction scheduled to begin this spring and service launching in 2026, according to a company news release issued Feb. 23. The tribally owned provider said the expansion includes a $19.6 million NTIA Fixed Wireless Project supported by fiber optic backhaul and a $34.9 million Fiber-to-the-Home project funded through the USDA ReConnect Program.

The fiber project will serve Swett, Batesland, Denby, Wounded Knee, Manderson, Porcupine, Sharps Corner and the outskirts of Kyle, reaching about 4,137 people, 846 households, 13 businesses and nine community anchor institutions, according to the release. Petra Wilson, chairperson of the OLT Board of Directors, was quoted as saying the investment will “close the digital divide for nearly every unserved location on Pine Ridge.” Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring, with service offerings launching in 2026, according to Jeff Little, vice president of the western region of Palmetto Engineering and Consulting LLC.

A traveling photo exhibit highlighting Two Spirit people and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives opens Friday at the Carnegie Art Center in Mankato, Minnesota, before heading to Minneapolis in June, according to MPR News. “Two Spirit and MMIW/R Voices” marks its first showing outside the Bemidji area and features 25 photographs blending PRIDE flag colors with traditional Indigenous regalia and imagery associated with the MMIWR movement.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe member Arnold Dahl-Wooley, a lead organizer and model in the exhibit, told MPR the project aims to raise awareness about violence and misunderstanding faced by LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities. The exhibit runs in Mankato through March 7 and will be displayed in Loring Park in Minneapolis June 27-28.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department conducted a large-scale search this week in southern Oklahoma as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2013 disappearance of Molly Miller, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and Colt Haynes, according to an official announcement.

The search began Feb. 17 and covered more than 1,000 acres in Love County. On Feb. 18, teams working in an area between Oswalt Road, Pike Road and Long Hollow Road discovered two sets of human remains. The remains were collected by the FBI Evidence Response Team and the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for forensic examination and identification. Officials said the identities are unknown and it has not been determined whether the remains are connected to Miller and Haynes. The investigation remains active.

Tootsie’s Tea, an Indigenous-owned tea company founded by Lizz Tsosie-Stachura, is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar storefront just west of downtown Milwaukee in spring 2026, according to ICT.

Tsosie-Stachura, who is Diné and Lenca, created the business in December 2020 and has operated it online while selling at local Indigenous markets. She said the company’s name comes from a common mispronunciation of her maiden name, Tsosie. With a grant from Feeding America, she purchased equipment to craft her own blends.

Tsosie-Stachura said she sources ingredients from Indigenous foragers when possible, including suppliers on the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservations. She said 15% of profits will go back into the Milwaukee community and that the storefront will include space for community gatherings.

The Idaho Council on Indian Affairs voted Wednesday to draft a letter urging state budget writers to protect Medicaid funding, including Medicaid expansion, and exempt Native American tribal members from cuts, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.

Michael Steele, a policy analyst for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, told the council the federal government reimburses 100% of Medicaid service costs for tribal members. “The past year that I’ve worked for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of Medicaid,” Steele was quoted as saying. He said 54% of tribal members living on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation are enrolled in Medicaid and Medicaid funding represents 82% of the Tribal Health and Human Services budget.

The council voted unanimously to draft the letter. Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, said he would want to see the letter before adding his name.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning tariffs imposed by the Trump administration could aid a lawsuit filed by Blackfeet Nation tribal members challenging similar tariffs, according to the Daily Montanan.

Attorney Monica Tranel, representing state Sen. Susan Webber, Jonathan St. Goddard, Rhonda Mountain Chief and David Mountain Chief, was quoted as saying the high court’s 6-3 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump “helps our argument because it was a very clear delineation of the separation of powers.” The Supreme Court found that Congress alone holds the power to tax and that the administration was not justified in invoking the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to impose tariffs.

The plaintiffs sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the United States of America and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, arguing the tariffs against Canada violate treaty rights and exceed presidential authority, according to the Daily Montanan. The federal government has asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal and uphold the transfer of the case to the Court of International Trade.

Members of the Wyoming Department of Education’s Native Education Cabinet raised concerns about the implementation of the Indian Education for All Act during a recent meeting of the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on Tribal Relations, according to County 10. The 2017 law requires the department to ensure American Indian history, culture and contributions are included in state social studies standards and to provide resources to school districts.

According to a WDE report presented last month, the agency created an online repository with 22 resources, including nine tied to Wyoming’s tribes. Only 18 of 48 school districts responded to a survey about the materials. Cabinet members Scotty Ratliff and Veronica Miller cited concerns about outreach, communication and the impact of a 2025 state law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The WDE updated a Dec. 15 memo to clarify an exemption for federally recognized tribes, according to Chief Communications Officer Linda Finnerty.

Investigation Discovery is releasing a true crime show about murdered Indigenous women in Alaska. The show, titled “Lost Women of Alaska,” will debut on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. CST. According to Us Weekly, It follows the stories of two Native women who were murdered and the investigation that led to the arrest of their killer.

The show will be produced by Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer. The show is part of the “Lost Women” franchise, which raises awareness for crimes against women.

“Expanding the Lost Women franchise allows us to shine a light on cases involving underrepresented women,” Spencer was quoted as saying in a statement, “and “Lost Women of Alaska confronts the devastating intersection of race and systemic failures that perpetuate violence against Indigenous women.”

Métis hockey player Jocelyne Larocque earned her fourth Olympic medal after Canada fell 2-1 to the United States in overtime during the women’s gold-medal game Feb. 19 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, according to ICT. The silver medal adds to her two golds and one silver from prior Olympics, making her the most-decorated Indigenous Olympian from North America.

Larocque, who grew up in Sainte Anne, Manitoba, has represented Canada since 2008. She made her Olympic debut in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, where she won gold, according to ICT. She also won gold in 2022 in Beijing and silver in 2018 in Pyeongchang. In addition to her Olympic medals, Larocque has won four gold and five silver medals at world championships and received the Tom Longboat Award in 2018.

Red Lake Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. highlighted efforts to restore the tribe’s historic boundaries and addressed federal funding during the 2026 State of the Band Address on Feb. 20 at the Oshkiimaajitahdah Community Center in Redby, Minnesota, according to the Duluth News Tribune. Seki said reclaiming the eastern portion of Upper Red Lake remains a priority and that the tribe is urging the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office and the Office of Tribal Justice to resume work on a legal opinion related to the intended 1889 boundaries.

Seki also discussed funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education and Indian Health Service, describing recent levels as essentially flat, according to the Duluth News Tribune. Tribal Secretary Sam Strong spoke about unity and said he will not seek reelection. The tribal council also passed a Jan. 13 resolution requiring a court order for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to enter Red Lake Nation, the newspaper reported.

A group of traditional Northern Cheyenne Chiefs removed four tribal council members during a February meeting, according to Native Sun News. The officials targeted for removal were Tory Davies and Rueben Roundstone of the Busby District and Cory Spotted Elk and Wade Red Hat of the Lame Deer District. The chiefs reportedly acted because the council members missed too many meetings.

Native Sun News reported there has been no official notice of the action. Llevando “Cowboy” Fisher, a two-term former tribal president, and Lynwood Ewing, a former council member and tribal treasurer, verbally confirmed the removals to activist Amanda White Shirt, Native Sun News reported. President Gene Small did not provide an official comment, and council members removed from office were not present at a Feb. 17 council meeting.

More than 100 people attended a reception on Feb. 14 for “Minwaajimowinan — Good Stories” at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, according to MPR News. The exhibition features artwork spanning generations by members of the Ojibwe village of Naytahwaush. Guest curator and artist Kent Estey told MPR the show fulfills a longtime goal of displaying his family’s work, including baskets by his grandmother, Josephine Robinson, an Ojibwe black ash basket maker born in 1893.

Estey said Robinson attended boarding school and later Carlisle Indian Industrial School before returning to the White Earth Reservation. He said basketry “carried her through” life. The exhibition also includes eight families and a music showcase featuring Steve Turner and Doyle Turner. The show runs through March 28, according to MPR News.

Sitting Bull College will host a Career Fair from 1 to 3 p.m. CST on Thursday, April 2, at the SBC Science & Technology Building, 9299 Highway 24, Fort Yates, North Dakota, according to event materials. The fair will take place in Rooms 101 and 120.

Organizers are inviting employers to reserve free tables and booths to connect with students who are graduating and seeking employment. Stephanie Rusher is listed as the contact for the event (701-854-8041, stephanie.rusher@sittingbull.edu). Event materials state that space is limited and ask participating organizations to confirm attendance, indicate how many tables are needed and provide the names of representatives who plan to attend.

The Indigenous Freedom Movement will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Indigenous Association Building, 702 1st Ave. N., Fargo, North Dakota, according to event materials. The gathering is open to young Native Americans and non-Indigenous allies.

Organizers said Pancheros will cater the event and a Zoom link will be available for those who cannot attend in person. The meeting is described as an opportunity to focus on unity, sovereignty and action and to encourage Native leadership and political engagement. The event materials state the gathering centers on “truth, sovereignty, unity” and “power.”

North Dakota Native Vote said it is closely monitoring the SAVE Act, which would require American citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate, passport or identification that clearly indicates place of birth, according to a statement released Feb. 12. The organization said the bill passed the U.S. House and has not yet passed the Senate.

In the statement, North Dakota Native Vote said the requirement raises concerns for Native communities because most tribal IDs do not list birthplace and some tribal members may face barriers accessing official certificates. The group said there are “many reasons that this bill disenfranchises our communities and dampens our voices” and encouraged people to contact their senators and speak with tribal communities about the legislation. The statement was signed by Kendyl Harrison, deputy director of North Dakota Native Vote.

Federal grants supporting homeless services in North Dakota have been renewed, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Erin Prochnow, CEO of the YWCA that serves Cass County, credited Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., with helping to ensure that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding was extended after uncertainty about expirations in 2026. North Dakota agencies received $3.3 million in federal grants last year to assist people experiencing homelessness.

The funding supports about 1,600 beds statewide, including at the YWCA and Fraser Ltd. in Fargo, the Abused Adult Resource Center in Bismarck, the Grand Forks Housing Authority and the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center in Dickinson, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Prochnow said about 36% of families in the YWCA’s supportive housing program are Native American. Hoeven said the grants are secured for this year and he is working with HUD Secretary Scott Turner to provide more certainty in the future.

New Mexico lawmakers have approved a measure directing the state Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women to examine the history, scope and continuing impact of forced and coerced sterilizations of women of color by the Indian Health Service and other providers, according to The Associated Press. The findings are due to the governor by the end of 2027.

According to The Associated Press, in the 1970s the federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans sterilized thousands of women without their full and informed consent. A 1976 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found the Indian Health Service sterilized 3,406 women in four of its 12 service areas between 1973 and 1976. “It’s important for New Mexico to understand the atrocities that took place within the borders of our state,” state Sen. Linda Lopez, a sponsor of the legislation, was quoted as saying.