The Daily Spark

Colorado's only share of the federal Colorado River Storage Project is expected to generate nearly 30% less electricity than its historical average this year as declining water levels reduce hydropower production, according to reporting from Colorado Newsline. The Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, which includes Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal dams on the Gunnison River, supplies power to municipalities, cooperatives, tribes and irrigation districts across the West. The Blue Mesa Reservoir will end the year at about 17% of its live storage capacity.

The decline comes as electricity demand grows, driven in part by new data centers, according to the Colorado Newsline reporting. The Western Area Power Administration has increasingly relied on more expensive replacement power as hydropower generation falls. Colorado Newsline also reported that some tribal utilities, including La Plata Electric Association, continue to receive hydropower allocations tied to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, though the cooperative said its diversified power portfolio limits its exposure to rising hydropower costs.

Minnesota's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives license plate program has generated nearly $500,000 to support cold case investigations during its first year, according to reporting from ICT. More than 6,000 people have registered for the specialty plates since the reward fund launched July 23, 2025. The proceeds fund rewards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for tips in missing and murdered Indigenous relatives cases through the state's MMIR Office. The plates require a minimum $25 contribution with each application and renewal.

The MMIR Office oversees both the license plate and reward fund programs. According to the ICT reporting, state Sen. Mary Kunesh said the program was created to provide a steady funding source for investigations, while state Rep. Heather Keeler said the red handprint on the plates reflects the belief among some tribes that red is the color the spirit world can see. The state's office of justice programs said that 732 Indigenous people were reported missing in Minnesota in 2025.

The Tulalip Tribes and the Washington State Department of Health signed a first-of-its-kind tribal data-sharing agreement in January 2025 that expands the tribe's access to state public health data, according to reporting from Pew. The agreement gives the Tulalip Tribes access to Department of Health datasets at the same level as other public health authorities, including the Washington Disease Reporting System, which tracks diseases such as influenza, measles, rabies and tetanus. 

The agreement affirms tribal data sovereignty by recognizing the authority of tribal nations to collect and manage their own public health data, according to the Pew reporting. The fact sheet says the agreement was shaped by years of advocacy and policy work led by tribes in Washington and identifies tribal leadership, trust-building and recognition of tribal sovereignty as key factors that can help other states improve public health data-sharing with tribal nations.

Tribal police departments in Washington hire officers fired by other law enforcement agencies at a rate disproportionately higher than their share of the state's policing workforce, according to an investigation by InvestigateWest and the Invisible Institute. The analysis found tribal police departments make up about 2.5% of Washington's law enforcement workforce but hired about 11% of fired officers who remained in law enforcement. The report attributes the trend to staffing shortages, hiring disadvantages and incomplete state misconduct records that can allow officers to move between agencies. 

Washington's Criminal Justice Training Commission continues to face a backlog of more than 1,500 certification cases, allowing some officers accused of misconduct to remain certified while investigations continue, according to the InvestigateWest reporting The investigation also found many tribal departments struggle to recruit and retain officers because larger agencies often offer higher pay, benefits and retirement options.

Environmental changes, including low snowfall and warming water temperatures, are affecting Pacific lamprey migration patterns, according to reporting by Underscore Native News and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission's 2025 Tribal Pacific Lamprey Restoration Plan for the Columbia River Basin. Mary Olney, a Yakama Nation harvester, said lamprey and other traditional foods arrived earlier this year at Willamette Falls, the only remaining lamprey harvest site. The restoration plan says fluctuating water levels, lower snowpack and changing water temperatures have altered migration patterns and reduced available habitat for lamprey and other native aquatic species.

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission officials said traditional ecological knowledge is helping inform scientific research because Pacific lamprey have historically been understudied, according to the Underscore Native News Reporting. Since 2003, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have petitioned to list lamprey under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously determined a listing was not warranted because of limited biological and population data.

Notah Begay III, a four-time PGA Tour winner and founder of the NB3 Foundation, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, according to a PGA Tour announcement reported by Reuters. The award recognizes a player who reflects the late Payne Stewart's values of character, charity and sportsmanship. Begay, identified as the only full-blooded Native American to compete on the PGA Tour, said the recognition provides another opportunity to support the communities he has represented and inspire future generations.

Begay founded the NB3 Foundation in 2005 to promote the health, development and physical activity of Native American children, according the Reuters reporting. He has also worked to expand access to golf for Native youth and currently serves as a Golf Channel analyst. Begay will be honored Aug. 25 during the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the 2026 TOUR Championship in Atlanta.

Rose High Bear's Elderberry Wisdom Farm in Salem, Oregon, is providing interns with hands-on training in traditional ecological knowledge through native plant cultivation, urban forestry and small business projects, according to reporting by Underscore Native News. High Bear, who is Alaska Native of Deg Hitʼan and Inupiat descent, founded the farm after leaving Wisdom of the Elders in 2018. The program partners with organizations including Chemeketa Community College and the University of Washington's Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. Interns gain experience growing native plants, producing elderberry products and learning Indigenous environmental stewardship. 

The farm's urban forestry work includes planting trees in low-income neighborhoods and developing apprenticeship programs, according to the Underscore Native News reporting. High Bear said a $749,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant supporting work with the City of Salem was temporarily frozen in 2025 before being restored with assistance from U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon. Another $350,000 grant for urban forestry projects involving Black, Indigenous and other youth of color was not restored. High Bear said the current grant expires in 2028 and the organization is seeking long-term support for its programs.

Mental health conditions were the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths among American Indian and Alaska Native women in 2022, accounting for 35.5% of cases, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report highlighted by The Imprint. The federal review found nearly 95% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Researchers also identified infection, cardiovascular conditions and hemorrhage as underlying causes. Discrimination contributed to more than 20% of cases, including delayed diagnoses and dismissed symptoms.

Experts told The Imprint that expanding culturally grounded maternal care and mental health support could improve outcomes for Native families. Andra Wilkinson, a senior research scientist at Child Trends, said prenatal and postpartum depression screening has improved but culturally responsive care remains limited. Spero Manson, director of the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, said untreated mental health conditions can affect a mother's ability to access preventive care and treatment.

Navajo Nation voters in Arizona cast ballots July 21 to decide which two presidential candidates will advance to the nation’s general election in November, according to reporting by ICT. The primary date was moved because of Arizona's state and county elections. Navajo citizens in New Mexico and Utah voted in June. Sixteen candidates are seeking the presidency, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.

Several voters told ICT they are looking for leadership focused on unity, economic development and accountability. Eleanor Joe said she wants a president who will address homesite leases, business development and mental health services. Rita James told ICT she hopes the next administration will bring "a vision and a leader with unity," while Michael Roy said he remained undecided and wanted to hear candidates' ideas before voting. Election results are expected to be certified after July 31.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of North Dakota filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Thunderhawk v. Kirchmeier, according to an ACLU of North Dakota announcement. The case challenges the government's decision to close a public road during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests near Standing Rock, preventing people from gathering to express opposition to the project. The brief argues that public roads, including rural highways, are traditional public forums protected under the First Amendment and  that courts have long recognized roads as places for public assembly and expression. The ACLU noted that roads have been used for demonstrations throughout U.S. history, including civil rights marches, anti-war protests and more recent demonstrations. The filing also argues that rural roads serve as important public gathering spaces in communities with few other places for people to assemble and discuss public issues.

The 25th Navajo Nation Council voted 14-5 on Monday to accept the 2026 Summer Session Speaker's Report, affirming the legislative branch's recent accomplishments and priorities, according to reporting from Native News Online. Presented by Speaker Crystalyne Curley, the report highlights investments in broadband infrastructure, transportation, youth leadership, Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives initiatives, water rights advocacy and federal land issues. Curley said the report reflects the council's commitment to addressing the priorities of the Navajo people while recognizing that significant work remains.

The report highlights the council's approval of a $244.6 million investment to expand broadband access to all 110 Navajo chapters and $120 million from the Síhasin Fund for transportation projects, according to the Native News Online reporting. It also outlines ongoing work by the Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council and the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, including development of a Tribal Community Response Plan, completion of a Navajo Nation MMDR database and expanded services for affected families.

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., and Pueblo of Acoma Gov. Charles Riley said they will oppose a Trump administration proposal to reduce or eliminate a 10-mile federal buffer protecting land around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, according to reporting from Source New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management announced a two-week public comment period on the proposal, which would either eliminate the buffer, reduce it to five miles or leave it unchanged. Public comments are due by July 29. 

Stansbury said the two-week comment period and lack of a public hearing do not provide adequate opportunity for public input, according to the Source New Mexico reporting. Aaron Sims, attorney for the Pueblo of Acoma and secretary of the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association, said the U.S. Department of the Interior has not fulfilled an agreement to jointly participate in a cultural resources study of the Chaco region. Riley said Chaco remains a living cultural and spiritual place for Pueblo communities and continues to be used for prayer and cultural practices.

A report released in March by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community found that educators and youth professionals identified loneliness and depression as leading concerns related to technology use among Native youth, according to reporting by MPR News. The first-of-its-kind study, conducted by Minnesota nonprofit LiveMore ScreenLess, surveyed 242 educators and youth professionals who primarily work with Native youth. About 90% of respondents said addressing technology and media use is more important than other issues facing Native youth today.

The report also found technology can strengthen cultural connections and relationships, according to the MPR reporting.  Clara Rebhan, a Cheyenne River Lakota student at Two Rivers High School, said following Indigenous creators on social media helps her feel connected to her heritage while also recognizing the importance of limiting screen time. Ashley Cornforth, secretary-treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and co-chair of IndigeFit Kids, said the goal is to help young people develop a healthy balance with technology rather than discourage its use.

Menominee community members launched a traditional dugout canoe on the Menominee River after a monthlong community effort to carve it from a 17-foot pine log, according to reporting from ICT. Led by Dawn M. Wilber and Wayne Swett, volunteers worked at the Chappee Webster Learning Center, burning, scraping, debarking and sanding the log into a canoe. Organizers said no one could remember the last time Menominee people paddled a traditional dugout canoe on the river.

Community members gathered for a water ceremony before the canoe's maiden voyage  according to the ICT reporting. Wilber said the canoe belongs to the community rather than any individual. Swett and Wilber’s group, The Protectors of the Menominee River, plan to use the canoe later this year to harvest wild rice.

The National Congress of American Indians is accepting applications for all NCAI Youth Commission officer positions, according to an announcement from the organization. Elections will take place during the 2026 NCAI Youth Convention, held in conjunction with the 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Palm Springs, California, from Oct. 18-22. The organization said the leadership positions provide Native youth an opportunity to represent and advocate for young people across Indian Country.

Applicants must be 18 to 24 years old, be an Individual Indian Member of NCAI and be a citizen of a tribal nation that holds NCAI Tribal Nation Membership, according to the NCAI announcement. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 21. Questions and application information are available through Alison Black, NCAI Youth Leadership & Training Coordinator.

Cheyenne Frontier Days officials, community partners and members of the public celebrated the opening of the Morning Star American Indian Village on Friday during the event's 130th anniversary, according to reporting from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. The new village replaces the former Native American Indian Village and includes a timber dance arbor, vendor spaces, educational signage and an herb garden featuring Native medicinal, food and utilitarian plants. 

Actor and Lakota citizen Mo Brings Plenty joined Cheyenne Frontier Days leaders for the ceremony, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reporting. State Rep. Ivan Posey, D-Fort Washakie, blessed the village with a traditional cedar-burning ceremony. Organizers said the open-air arbor and east-facing entrance were intentionally designed to reflect Native cultural traditions and symbolism.

A new Indian Growers' Market opened Saturday at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque to provide Native American farmers, producers, artisans and small business owners with a dedicated place to sell their products, according to reporting from KRQE. Organizers require vendors to be of Indigenous descent and provide proof of eligibility to participate. Vendors said the market's location near several Pueblo communities and its focus on Native businesses create new opportunities to reach customers beyond their home communities.

The inaugural market drew about 40 to 50 attendees. Vendors included Michael Garcia of Isleta Pueblo, who creates custom prints and 3D designs, and Chrishelda Rain Baca, whose business offers beverages and enchiladas made with locally grown crops from San Felipe, according to the KRQE reporting. Additional markets are scheduled for Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the same location.

Red Lake Nation voters elected Chairman Darrell G. Seki Sr. to a fourth term in this week's tribal election, according to reporting from MPR News. Official results released Thursday showed Seki received 54.9% of the vote in the runoff election, defeating former Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain, who received 45.1%. The election followed a late May general election in which Jourdain led Seki by 15 votes. Red Lake Nation holds leadership elections every four years, with polling locations in Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah and Minneapolis.

Voters also elected Eugene R. StandingCloud to represent the Ponemah district, Clem H. May Sr. to represent the Red Lake district and Lisa R. Beaulieu to represent the Little Rock district, according to the reporting from MPR News. The newly elected leaders will be sworn in at the next Red Lake Nation Tribal Council meeting.

The 65th annual World Eskimo Indian Olympics concluded Saturday after four days of competition and cultural activities celebrating traditional Arctic games, according to reporting from ICT. Athletes competed in events rooted in Indigenous hunting traditions that test strength, endurance, balance and agility. Organizers said the games also serve as a way to preserve and share Indigenous culture. Since the event began in 1961, similar competitions including the Arctic Winter Games, Native Youth Olympics and Avannaa Arctic Games have expanded opportunities for athletes. 

Competitors and organizers emphasized mentorship and community alongside competition, according to the ICT reporting. Nicole "Ikiituk" Johnson, lead official for the World Eskimo Indian Olympics, said the games connect athletic events with Indigenous storytelling, dance and traditional practices. The event also featured several world-record performances, including Leif Richards's record in the men's greased pole walk and Bernard Clark tying the men's one-hand reach world record.