The Daily Spark

Heinrich reintroduces bill to expand tribal buffalo herds

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., reintroduced bipartisan legislation intended to strengthen federal support for tribal buffalo herds, according to SourceNM. Co-sponsored with U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., the Indian Buffalo Management Act would direct the Department of the Interior to work with tribes to develop, protect and grow buffalo herds nationwide and authorize up to $14 million annually for those efforts.

The InterTribal Buffalo Council endorsed the legislation, according to SourceNM. Council leaders, including Delbert Chisholm of Taos Pueblo, said in a statement that helping tribes reestablish buffalo herds “will be thoroughly welcomed by Tribes and Indian people across the country.” Versions of the bill have passed one chamber of Congress in recent years but not both, according to SourceNM.

Mni Sota Fund receives $7M Bush Foundation grant to expand Native wealth building

Mni Sota Fund received a $7 million Community Innovation grant from the Bush Foundation to support wealth building in Native American communities in Minnesota, according to MPR News. The Minneapolis-based Community Development Financial Institution said the grant advances its $18 million capital campaign and will expand lending, financial education and homeownership support.

Andrea Reese, interim executive director of Mni Sota Fund, said the organization takes a holistic approach to financial well-being rooted in Indigenous values, according to MPR News. Of the new funding, Reese said about $4 million will increase lending for entrepreneurs, small businesses and credit building, with plans to expand statewide through partnerships in Bemidji and Duluth. Another $3 million will support staffing to grow financial literacy and home buyer education programs.

Bush Foundation grantmaking director Eileen Briggs said in a news release that the foundation supports Native-led organizations that build systems responsive to their communities.

CDC panel vote raises concerns over newborn hepatitis B protection in AlaskaCDC panel vote raises concerns over newborn hepatitis B protection in Alaska

A federal vaccine advisory panel voted to drop a longstanding recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns, a change that could affect protections credited with sharply reducing the disease among Alaska Native children, according to the Alaska Beacon. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, voted to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for infants younger than 2 months only if their mothers are infected or at risk. Current federal guidelines have recommended a dose at birth since 1991.

Hepatitis B was once widespread in Western Alaska, where Alaska Native children experienced high rates of liver cancer linked to the virus, Dr. Brian McMahon of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium said, according to the Alaska Beacon. McMahon said decades of screening and vaccination eliminated new symptomatic cases among Alaska Native children. He told the committee that universal newborn vaccination has been critical to preventing transmission. Alaska Native tribal health organizations plan to continue vaccinating newborns regardless of federal policy, McMahon said, according to the Alaska Beacon.

NM Environmental Law Center calls for greater access to Project Jupiter air permit review

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center urged the New Mexico Environment Department to make air permit applications for Project Jupiter accessible to the public and to extend opportunities for public participation, according to a letter submitted to the department’s Air Quality Bureau. The nonprofit said large portions of the applications submitted by Acoma, LLC for two proposed microgrid power plants in Santa Teresa are redacted, limiting the public’s ability to review and comment.

The law center requested broader notice of the applications in English and Spanish and asked the department to extend the standard 30-day public comment period by an additional 30 days. It also called for any public hearing to be held no earlier than 90 days after the department releases its analysis and to take place in Santa Teresa. Staff attorney Kacey Hovden said impacted residents must be able to access documents and participate meaningfully in the permitting process. Senior staff attorney Maslyn Locke said accessible hearings require complete information, adequate review time and language access.

State report shows Native children make up more than 70% of South Dakota foster care

Native American children accounted for more than 70% of children in South Dakota’s foster care system at the end of fiscal year 2025, according to South Dakota Searchlight. The outlet reported that the state Department of Social Services’ annual Child Protection Services report lists 1,201 Native American children among 1,709 children in foster care statewide. White children made up 23% of the foster care population while representing about 70% of the state’s overall population, according to the report.

About 32% of children were placed in kinship care with relatives or close family friends, up from 30% the previous year, according to South Dakota Searchlight’s review of the data. The department reported 793 registered foster homes during the fiscal year, the lowest number since 2020. Ninety-three homes, or nearly 12%, were Native American. Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff said in an emailed statement to South Dakota Searchlight that kinship care is “a priority,” citing new licensing standards implemented in June to reduce barriers for families.

Ninth Circuit rules tribal officials lack immunity under PACT Act

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that tribal officials cannot claim tribal sovereign immunity or qualified immunity in lawsuits brought under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, according to a legal analysis published by JD Supra. In State ex rel. Bonta v. Del Rosa, the court held that California may pursue enforcement claims against individual officers of the Alturas Indian Rancheria Tribe for alleged failures to remit cigarette taxes required under federal law.

The case arose from a 2023 lawsuit against Azuma Corporation, a tribally owned cigarette manufacturer and distributor, and three tribal business committee members who managed tobacco operations. While claims against the company were dismissed based on sovereign immunity, the courts allowed claims against the individual officials to proceed. According to JD Supra, the Ninth Circuit found that the PACT Act permits injunctive relief against tribal officials and that qualified immunity does not apply when a state seeks to enforce federal and state laws.

Ojibwe community members recognized for cultural and youth leadership

Two Native community members are among seven Minnesotans awarded the 2025 Virginia McKnight Binger Heart of Community Honor, according to MPR News. The award recognizes individuals across the state who have made a significant impact on Minnesota communities.

Joshua Jones of Red Lake Nation was selected as the northwest region recipient for his work in youth programming. According to MPR News, Jones is a hydrologist with the Red Lake Nation Department of Natural Resources and leads internship and outdoor work programs that provide paid experience while connecting youth to Ojibwe culture. Wanetta Thompson of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe was named the central region recipient for her work through Bear Paws Cultural Art. MPR News reported that her organization offers free art workshops focused on cultural revitalization, community healing and engagement between Native and non-Native participants. Both were honored at an award ceremony held by the McKnight Foundation in late November.

NDN Collective launches ‘Feed the People’ campaign to address SNAP disruption

NDN Collective has launched the “Feed the People” campaign to support Indigenous families affected by the disruption of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Oceti Sakowin. According to NDN Collective, the campaign seeks immediate funding to purchase and distribute bison meat boxes, combining food relief with cultural revitalization grounded in reciprocity and respect for the animal.

According to NDN Collective, the effort will prioritize those most impacted by the SNAP crisis, including elders, children and people with accessibility needs. Meat will be sourced from tribally managed or Native-led bison herds to strengthen Indigenous food sovereignty. The organization said the goal is to provide direct food relief while reinforcing traditional food systems and community health in Rapid City, South Dakota, and surrounding rural areas.

California State University adoptsy policy to return Native remains, cultural items

The California State University system has adopted a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act policy requiring the return of human remains and cultural items held across its campuses, according to the Long Beach Current.

The policy sets systemwide standards for repatriation and consultation with tribal nations and acknowledges the harm caused by withholding ancestors and sacred belongings. Twenty-one CSU campuses currently hold Native remains or cultural items. Each campus must hire a full-time repatriation coordinator, report regularly to the Chancellor’s Office and Legislature and consult with tribes on reburial options.

Prairie Band Potawatomi faces backlash over ICE detention center contract

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is facing criticism from other Native Americans after a tribally owned company signed a nearly $30 million contract to help design immigration detention centers, according to the Associated Press. The contract, awarded in October to KPB Services LLC, a newly formed business affiliate, was made without competitive bidding. The The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Prairie Band LLC fired economic development officials involved in the deal last week.

Amid growing outrage, tribal leaders said they are seeking to end the agreement. “We know our Indian reservations were the government’s first attempts at detention centers,” Tribal Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick said in a video message, adding, “We must ask ourselves why we would ever participate in something that mirrors the harm and trauma once done to our people.”

The contract’s disclosure comes as federal scrutiny increases over tribal partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Dickinson College to build Jim Thorpe Center for the Futures of Native Peoples

More than 150 people gathered Nov. 8 at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for a ground blessing at the future site of the Jim Thorpe Center for the Futures of Native Peoples, according to ICT. The center will be constructed in 2026 with a $20 million gift from alumnus and philanthropist Samuel G. Rose.

The new facility will include ceremonial spaces, classrooms and an art gallery featuring Indigenous works. Amanda Cheromiah, Kawaika/Laguna Pueblo, executive director of the center, said it was designed as “a place for us to gather and heal.” The center honors Sac and Fox Olympian Jim Thorpe, a Carlisle Indian Industrial School alumnus.

Native All-American football game showcases talent and leadership

Seventy Native American high school seniors representing 48 tribal nations, 21 states and Canada played Sunday in the fourth annual Native All-American football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, according to MPR News.

The event, hosted by the Native American Athletic Foundation, featured Team Ta’tanka and Team Wa’ya. Former NFL player Ahman Green coached Team Ta’tanka and former NFL player Levi Horn coached Team Wa’ya.

Mike Andrews, a founding member of the foundation, said the game provides visibility for athletes who often lack access to recruiting networks. “Hopefully, there’s a college scout that’s looking for a top-notch student athlete who happens to be Native,” Andrews told MPR News.

Montana restores tribal relations manager position at state health department

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has reinstated its tribal relations manager position after eliminating the role in 2023, according to the Montana Free Press.

Heidi DeRoche, formerly a programs officer within the department’s Office of American Indian Health, now serves in the role. Misty Kuhl, director of the governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, was quoted as telling legislators during a State-Tribal Relations Committee meeting that DeRoche will bring “a breath of fresh air” and help unify the office.

The position was previously cut, prompting criticism from tribal leaders who said it was essential to communication and consultation between the state and tribes. DeRoche said she has been in the role for two weeks and now reports directly to department Director Charlie Brereton, marking a structural change since the resignation of former Office of American Indian Health Director Stephanie Iron Shooter.

Congress passes bill to protect Wounded Knee Massacre site

The U.S. Senate has approved legislation to protect a portion of the Wounded Knee Massacre site on the Pine Ridge Reservation, according to the North Dakota Monitor. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds with Majority Leader John Thune as a cosponsor, now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson introduced the measure in the House, where it passed in January.

The legislation would place 40 acres at the site in restricted-fee status, preventing its sale, taxation or lease without approval from Congress and the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, which jointly purchased the land three years ago.

Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out was quoted as saying the measure promotes “tribal self-determination” and protects the sacred site “in perpetuity.”

Volunteers needed in search for missing Navajo elder

Aaron Bradley was last seen Sept. 6 in Shonto, Arizona

Volunteers are needed in a search Dec. 13 for Navajo elder Aaron Bradley, who was last seen in Shonto, Arizona on Sept. 6. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Sinclair Gas Station in Red Mesa, Arizona, at 10 a.m. to search along Highway 160.

Bradley has been known to hitchhike in the area, as well as in Bluff, Utah.

Anyone with information related to his disappearance can contact Kayenta Police at 928-697-5600. A candlelight vigil for Bradley will be held Dec. 27 at the Shonto Chapter House. More information can be found on the Facebook page “Help Find Aaron Mark Bradley.”

The Intertribal Agriculture Council celebrates collaboration as it closes its 2025 annual conference

Leaders and advocates focused on food sovereignty, financing, and buffalo restoration to drive progress

Tribal producers, leaders and advocates gathered in Las Vegas this week at the 2025 Intertribal Agriculture Council Annual Conference, one of the most important networking events in tribal agriculture. Speakers stressed the importance of topics such as agriculture financing, buffalo restoration, food sovereignty and land back.

IAC Executive Director Kari Jo Lawrence closed the three-day conference on Thursday, Dec. 11, encouraging attendees to stay connected and to use the knowledge they gained to advance their communities. She said their greatest strength is collaboration.

Cherokee officials announce new mobile dictionary app

The app includes translations of more than 6,000 Cherokee words, with plans to quadruple entries

This week, Cherokee families can download a new app designed to help them learn, practice and preserve their traditional language.

Tribal news outlet Andadisgoi reports that Cherokee leaders and language speakers unveiled the Cherokee Language Dictionary app, with representatives of Kiwa Digital Ltd.

The mobile app packs translations of more than 6,000 Cherokee words, as well as audio recordings, grammar notes and phonetics.

“Every Cherokee family, no matter where they live, can now carry this resource in their pocket,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. was quoted as having said at an event in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. “This app represents our sovereignty, our knowledge, and our commitment to keeping the Cherokee language strong for generations to come.”

Kiwa Digital Ltd. specializes in language and dictionary app creation, with a focus on endangered Indigenous languages. The Cherokee Language Dictionary App is available for iPhone and Android phones.

“Our goal is to get at least 25,000 to 50,000 words on the app in order to have a more comprehensive overview of the language,” said Howard Paden, executive director of the Cherokee Language Department.

Native family services organization to open two new wellness centers

The California based organization provides resources for youth mental health and substance abuse

Two Feathers Native American Family Services, a California-based organization, will open two new wellness centers in 2026, according to reporting by The Imprint. The centers, which will be in Northern California, aim to provide services for mental health and substance abuse for Indigenous children.

The organization has provided services since 2002, with the goal of preventing local Indigenous children from entering foster care. Rooted in tribal culture, the organization addresses youth violence, addiction and suicide through family counseling and traditional teachings.

“I have a lot of the same or similar lived experiences as the youth we work with,” executive director Virgil Moorehead Jr. told The Imprint. “I’ve always had that mindset of helping others and wanting to prevent things I went through.”

Kansas tribe fires senior staff over $30M ICE contract

Contract doesn’t align with Native values, states Prairie Band LLC and Tribal Council

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Prairie Band LLC fired several senior staff members over a multimillion dollar contract with the Department of Homeland Security, according to KSNT. The Prairie Band LLC was meant to “perform due diligence and concept designs” for ICE detention centers. The firings took place after a KSNT report on the contract.

In a Dec. 9 press release, the Prairie Band LLC and Tribal Council said the contract does not align with their values as a sovereign Nation, and in response, they terminated senior members of the LLC’s leadership team: “As a Nation, we take seriously our responsibility to ensure all future engagements align clearly with our values and mission.”

Demand for elderberries skyrockets

The path to commercialization for the traditional Native food has been hampered by federal budget cuts

A berry prized by Native people for its sacred and medicinal attributes is being explored as a commercial commodity.

Civil Eats reports that demand for elderberries has skyrocketed, with farmers, entrepreneurs and Indigenous non-profits working to develop a market. Part of the berry’s appeal is that it has adapted to hotter and drier climates, which can help farmers diversify their crops with a more drought-tolerant product. But according to Civil Eats, “Blue elderberry is functionally still a wild plant, without the consistency that comes from research and development.”

Federal budget cuts have hampered research into elderberries. The Elderberry Project, spearheaded by the Santa Barbara nonprofit White Buffalo Land Trust, wanted to explore the potential of a traditional food that Indigenous communities cultivated for more than 10,000 years. But in April, a sudden cut to the project’s $4.6 million grant from the USDA’s Partnerships in Climate Smart Commodities Program put the brakes to those efforts.

Civil Eats reports that the USDA is reviewing existing projects based on new criteria while continuing funding for qualifying projects under a new name, the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative.

Elderberries have been used in products ranging from syrup to hand creams.