The Daily Spark

The Bureau of Indian Education has signed a memorandum of agreement with Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Services to expand programs for American Indian and Alaska Native students, according to an official statement from the Bureau of Indian Education. The partnership aims to strengthen existing Boys & Girls Clubs near BIE-funded schools and dormitories and establish new clubs focused on academic achievement, character development and healthy lifestyles.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America will provide culturally relevant training for BIE school staff, while BIE will work with local administrators to integrate club programming into schools and provide space for activities, according to the statement. The agreement builds on BGCA Native Services’ work supporting nearly 250 clubs serving about 120,000 Native youth across 29 states since 1992. BIE supports more than 400,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students through early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary programs, according to the statement.

The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office in South Dakota has dropped all remaining charges against NDN Collective Founder and CEO Nick Tilsen following a mistrial earlier this year, according to reporting by Native Sun News Today. 

Tilsen’s trial ended Jan. 29 when a 12-person jury deliberated for six hours without reaching a unanimous verdict, according to Native Sun News Today. He had faced charges including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, obstructing law enforcement and simple assault on a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors will not seek a retrial and the case is closed, according to Native Sun News Today.

A new travel guide by the American Indigenous Tourism Association aims to highlight Indigenous nations along Route 66 as the highway approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, according to reporting by ICT. The guide, American Indians and Route 66, was developed in partnership with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and focuses on the route’s connections to ancestral Indigenous trade routes across the homelands of more than 25 tribal nations.

More than half of the 2,448-mile route passes through Indian Country, Sherry Rupert, chief executive officer of the American Indigenous Tourism Association, told ICT. The guide includes information on tribal nations, cultural sites and visitor etiquette, and was produced in consultation with tribes. It also features digital tools, including an interactive map and trip-planning resources to help travelers identify Indigenous-owned businesses and cultural experiences along the route, according to ICT.

The Wabanaki Nations reached an agreement with Maine Gov. Janet Mills on amended bills that narrow earlier proposals aimed at expanding tribal sovereignty, according to Maine Morning Star. The measures include additional tax exemptions for tribal members and the creation of a task force to assess tribal access to federal laws. The changes come after broader efforts to restore self-governance were set aside, with the issue expected to continue under the next administration.

The Wabanaki Nations — the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mi’kmaq Nation — supported the amended versions while noting they do not address long-term sovereignty goals, according to Maine Morning Star. The tax proposal would expand income and sales tax exemptions, while the task force will study how tribes can access federal laws. Tribal leaders said the measures provide incremental progress but leave broader recognition of sovereignty unresolved.

A group of Apache women is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after federal forest land in Arizona was transferred to Resolution Copper for a planned mining project, according to the Associated Press. The transfer was completed after an appeals court denied requests by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmentalists to block the move, ruling their legal claims likely would not succeed and lifting an emergency injunction.

The land includes Oak Flat, known to the San Carlos Apache people as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, which is used for religious ceremonies, prayer and gathering medicinal plants. The court acknowledged the transfer will fundamentally alter the land and lead to the destruction of sacred sites but stated that Congress authorized the exchange. Apache Stronghold and other plaintiffs have opposed the project for years as Resolution Copper and federal officials say it will support domestic mineral production.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community released findings from a first-of-its-kind report examining how technology and digital media use affect the well-being of Native youth in Minnesota. According to MPR News, about 90% of respondents said that addressing technology use is more important than other issues facing Native youth and that its impact — particularly on physical and mental health — is overwhelmingly negative.

The research, conducted by LiveMore ScreenLess and funded through IndigeFit Kids, surveyed 242 adults who work with Native youth across 42 Minnesota counties, according to MPR News. Respondents cited limited culturally relevant resources, competing classroom demands and rapid technological change as barriers. Ashley Cornforth, SMSC secretary-treasurer and co-chair of IndigeFit Kids, said the findings will help guide culturally meaningful strategies to support Native youth well-being

Native elders are sharing cultural knowledge with youth through the Brave Heart Society in Lake Andes, South Dakota, where grandmothers are working to pass traditions to the next generation, according to KELOLAND News. Director Faith Spotted Eagle said the effort reflects a resurgence of cultural practices that have remained within communities.

Students and adults gathered for the Waterlily Storytelling Institute to learn from elders about identity and tradition. Cheyenne Waters of Pine Ridge said the experience supports healing and helps youth understand their roots. The Brave Heart Society, founded in 1994 by grandmothers on the Yankton Reservation, also offers language and art classes, coming-of-age ceremonies and summer field schools focused on traditional ecological knowledge, according to KELOLAND News.

Applications are now open for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, a new designation recognizing higher education institutions that center sustainability and climate action in their mission and impact, according to the University of Colorado Boulder.

The classification is led by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. Institutions must submit an intent to apply by July 17, 2026, with final applications due Dec. 4, 2026, according to the University of Colorado Boulder.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.colorado.edu/sustainability/carnegie-elective-classification-sustainability

Leaders from Virginia’s federally recognized tribal nations discussed sovereignty, education and environmental concerns during a March 14 panel at the University of Virginia, according to The Cavalier Daily.

The event featured representatives from the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Nansemond, Pamunkey, Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi tribes. Panelists emphasized the importance of sovereignty and described limits tied to federal funding. Kerry Canaday of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe said federal oversight affects how tribes manage resources. Leaders also raised concerns about a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permit affecting tribal lands and said tribes were not consulted. Panelists also highlighted efforts through the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium to expand Native representation in K-12 education and support tribal students.

The San Antonio Spurs will host Native American Heritage Night on April 6 during their game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Frost Bank Center, according to KENS 5.

The event will feature live performances, cultural storytelling and in-game tributes honoring Native American heritage. The Spurs are partnering with American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, the Lindy Waters III Foundation and Nike N7 to support the event. Activities will include a pregame land acknowledgment, cultural performances and opportunities to learn about Native history and organizations. A $5,000 grant will be presented to community leaders, along with tributes recognizing contributions to Native communities. Spurs player Lindy Waters III told KENS 5, “Events like this honor our ancestors and create visibility for our people.”

A Oneida Nation program is using Indigenous foods to address health disparities and reconnect community members to traditional foodways, according to PBS Wisconsin and ICT.

Ukwakhwa, which means “our foods” in the Oneida language, operates a “From Seed to Table” initiative supported by a $250,000 grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program. The program subsidizes meals prepared by Indigenous chefs and offers workshops using foods grown on the reservation. Stephen Webster, director of farm and culinary operations, said the initiative has provided 1,393 meals through its hot lunch program and additional meals through meal preparation classes. Eldon Powless, an Oneida chef, said he incorporates locally sourced ingredients such as wild rice, beans and corn into dishes. Webster said the effort blends traditional knowledge with modern cooking to expand diets and improve community wellness

Urban Indigenous voters in Illinois cited affordable housing, access to resources and stronger engagement from elected officials as key issues in the state’s primary election, according to ICT.

In Chicago, home to a large share of the state’s Indigenous population, voters said they want candidates who understand Indigenous issues and communicate with urban Native communities. Andrew Johnson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and member of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, said voters are seeking better access to funding and enforcement of laws such as the Indian Child Welfare Act. Pamela Silas, Menominee and Oneida, said affordable housing remains a top concern.

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa marked the return of three land parcels totaling nearly 90 acres during a ceremony and community luncheon Monday, according to MPR News. Tribal officials said it is the largest return of Grand Portage land in recent history. The acquisition was funded by a $1.2 million grant from the Duluth-based Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, allowing the band to purchase the land from a related family trust. Chairman Robert Deschampe signed a proclamation declaring March 16, 2026, “Land Return Day.”

According to reporting by MPR News, the returned land includes 80 acres within the reservation, Francis Island in the Susie Islands on Lake Superior and a five-acre parcel known as Paradise Beach. Foundation officials said the grant followed a review of how the family’s wealth was tied to historic land acquisitions involving Grand Portage land. Tribal leaders said the return contributes to ongoing efforts to restore land lost through allotment policies.

An art exhibit titled “Flora and Fowl: A Folk Art Perspective on the Northern Plains” by Molly McLain and Dakota Wind Goodhouse is on display through April 2 at Bismarck State College, according to event details.

A gallery reception was held March 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gannon Gallery in Skogen Hall 214. The exhibit features watercolor birds of the Northern Plains, rosemaling-inspired folk art and mosaics of native plants. The display highlights themes of land, heritage and open spaces. The Gannon Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Exhibit C Gallery will present “Tied to Memory: Ribbons as Art, Adornment and Identity” from March 6 through June 29, 2026, according to an official announcement from the gallery. The exhibition explores the role of ribbons in First American art, culture and personal storytelling.

The exhibit includes ribbon skirts, traditional garments, paintings and mixed-media works that show how ribbons function as symbols of identity, resilience and memory. Ten First American artists representing multiple tribal Nations are featured, including Emma Alcazar, Amber Duboise-Shepherd, Elaine Emmons, Melissa Freeman, Kristin Gentry, Jessica Harjo, Jennifer Hicks, Natalie Miller, Traci Renbarger and Renelle White Buffalo, according to the gallery.

3 Feathers, a Native-owned quilt company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, uses humor and social media trends to market its products, according to ICT. Founder Benjamin Leedom, Northern Cheyenne and Santee Dakota, and Samantha Pourier, Oglala Lakota, create short videos using trending audio and skits to promote the business. The company began expanding its online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic by using Facebook livestreams and giveaways to reach customers after in-person sales declined.

According to ICT, the business specializes in handmade star quilts and produces about seven quilts per day with fewer than 10 employees. Social media efforts have increased visibility and sales, particularly during livestreams. Leedom said the company also focuses on community giving, including fundraising efforts tied to quilt giveaways. The business recently opened a storefront in Rapid City and plans a grand opening in April.

Federal officials and Santa Ana Pueblo leaders announced plans Friday to build a $251 million Indian Health Service outpatient clinic on Pueblo land west of Albuquerque, according to Source NM. The 235,000-square-foot facility is expected to serve Indigenous patients from nearby pueblos including Zia, Jemez and Sandia, as well as residents in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Officials said the clinic will offer services such as dental, optometry, dialysis and diabetes care, along with culturally relevant healing practices, and is expected to employ more than 500 people.

According to Source NM, the project has been on a federal priority list since 1993. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has committed $22 million for planning, with construction expected to begin in 2027. HHS officials said the project is part of a broader backlog of Indian Health Service infrastructure needs totaling about $8 billion.

Youth leaders dismantled a Dakota prayer camp at the sacred site Mni Owe Sni in south Minneapolis on Saturday, according to MPR News. The camp, which had stood for more than a month, was taken down after several days of interrupted prayer. Two remaining white canvas tipis were removed by youth leaders Joe Crow Shoe, Allen Michael Owen and Nina Bergland, with support from volunteers following the close of prayer ceremonies.

According to MPR News, two additional tipis had blown down during windstorms late the previous week. The camp was established Feb. 9 across from the Whipple Federal Building in protest of recent federal immigration operations in Minnesota. Youth leaders agreed to close the camp after a March 8 discussion with Lakota elder Arvol Looking Horse. The site is co-managed by the National Park Service and four Dakota tribal nations and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.

A judge sentenced Gregory Edward Landers, 55, to seven years in prison this month for the 2022 killing of Acey Morrison, a 30-year-old transgender woman and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, according to South Dakota Searchlight. Landers pleaded guilty in November 2024 to second-degree manslaughter. In exchange, prosecutors dropped first-degree manslaughter and a weapons charge and agreed to seek no more than 10 years with three years suspended. Landers has already served about two years in jail and could be eligible for parole within a few years.

Landers had argued self-defense, but Judge Heidi Linngren ruled in 2024 that evidence did not support that claim, allowing the case to proceed. Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel said inconsistencies in Landers’s account contributed to the decision to charge the case. Morrison’s family told South Dakota Searchlight the sentence offers limited closure as they continue to seek justice in the 2023 killing of Daniel Freeman, Morrison’s relative, which remains unresolved.