The Daily Spark

Tribal leaders warn of Medicaid disruptions despite exemption from work rules

Tribal health leaders say Native American enrollees remain at risk of losing Medicaid coverage as states prepare to implement new federal work and eligibility requirements by 2027. Although the law signed this summer by President Donald Trump exempts Native Americans from the new rules, leaders point to problems during the “unwinding” of pandemic-era protections when many eligible people lost coverage because of paperwork issues, according to KFF Health News.

In Montana, Jonnell Wieder of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes said her daughter was cut off from Healthy Montana Kids when her renewal paperwork was delayed in 2024. It took six months for the child’s coverage to be restored. “Never did I talk to anybody,” Wieder said of repeated calls to the state health department. Advocates say similar procedural errors could affect Native families as states implement the new law.

Sacramento Native youth turn to powwow dance for healing and connection

At the 30th annual Sacramento Contest Powwow earlier this month, Sage Noelle Tellez Ortiz, a member of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, said jingle dress dancing has helped her cope with depression and anxiety. “When I started dancing more at powwow, it made such a positive change in my life,” Ortiz told the Sacramento Bee. “No matter what you’re going through, it’ll always be there to help you.”

According to the Sacramento Bee, Native youth in California experience higher suicide rates than other groups, and some are turning to traditional practices for support. Jingle dancing, which originated with the Ojibwe people, is viewed by many as a healing ceremony. Other Native youth, including Tehya Perkins of the Miwok Tribe of the El Dorado Rancheria, said powwow dancing provides a sense of safety, pride and cultural connection.

Vail settles free-speech lawsuit with Native American artist

According to CBS News Colorado, the Town of Vail has settled a lawsuit brought by Danielle SeeWalker, a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟota citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. SeeWalker alleged her First Amendment rights were violated when the town canceled her 2024 artist-in-residence position after objections to one of her past works comparing Palestinians in Gaza to Indigenous people in the U.S.

As part of the settlement, the Town of Vail agreed to fund a new art program for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged people, including Native people; host an annual powwow, free of rental and maintenance charges, organized by SeeWalker for five years; sponsor a non-public, interfaith community forum on Israel and Palestine, and provide annual cultural sensitivity training for its Arts and Public Places Department staff by an Indigenous-led organization. CBS News Colorado reported the town denied wrongdoing but said mediation led to a mutually acceptable solution.

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College awarded $250,000 for cybersecurity and research

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town will receive $250,000 from the National Science Foundation, according to KMOT-TV. The award comes through the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.

The college will use the funding to expand cybersecurity and research programs. KMOT-TV reported the grant is intended to help strengthen academic opportunities at the institution.

North Dakota and U.S. negotiate settlement over Dakota Access protest costs

The state of North Dakota and the U.S. government have entered settlement negotiations over costs tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Attorney General Drew Wrigley confirmed Friday that discussions have been underway for weeks. He declined to provide further details but said he appreciates that both sides are open to having a dialogue.

The meetings follow a federal judge’s spring judgment awarding North Dakota nearly $28 million in damages — a ruling that the executive branch is appealing — and a joint request by the state and the U.S. Department of Justice to pause the case, granted by the 8th Circuit on Aug. 11 with a status update due by Sept. 10.

Southern Ute Tribe denies agreement with ICE on detention center

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has denied reports that it agreed to allow a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center on its reservation, according to Native News Online. In a press conference Tuesday, Tribal leaders said no agreement exists and clarified that any future consideration would require Tribal Council approval.

The clarification followed a Washington Post article citing a planning document that listed the Tribe’s land as a potential facility site. Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told the Washington Post the document was created by ICE but is outdated and unapproved. The Tribe stated it was not notified or consulted before the information was released and emphasized its commitment to protecting its members and upholding sovereignty.

Oneida educator Dan Ninham inducted into Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Dan Ninham, Oneida, has been named one of 12 inaugural inductees to the Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame, according to ICT. He is the only Indigenous citizen in the first class of honorees, which also includes two Unsung Hero award recipients.

Ninham has dedicated his career to Native education and introducing Indigenous games into physical education. “Even though I was recognized, I think there’s so many other people involved with it as well… I often reference we, and there’s a number of people involved that I believe are the part of me representing them,” Ninham said.

The Minnesota Lacrosse Hall of Fame Foundation was established in June by President and Founder Mark Hellenack. The induction ceremony will be Sept. 14 in Minneapolis, following recognition at a Premier Lacrosse League playoff game Aug. 23.

South Dakota census data shows younger populations on reservations and near universities

Some South Dakota counties are getting younger while others continue to age, according to South Dakota News Watch. U.S. Census data shows the age group 15-19 is now the largest in the state, making up 6.9 percent of the population in 2024. Jared McEntaffer, CEO of the Dakota Institute, said higher birth rates in reservation counties are a major factor.

In Buffalo County, home to the Crow Creek Reservation, the most common age group shifted from 25-34 in 2010 to 10-14 in 2024.The 10-14 age group now represents 10.9 percent of the population. In Oglala Lakota County, part of the Pine Ridge Reservation, children ages 10-14 make up 10.8 percent of the population.

College towns also drive the trend toward a younger population. Clay County, home to the University of South Dakota, has 22.3 percent of its population in the 20-24 age group, among the youngest averages nationwide. Meanwhile, 17.3 percent of the state’s residents are 65 or older, according to South Dakota News Watch.

Signs on Native imprisonment at Castillo de San Marcos under review

The National Park Service has placed signage about Native imprisonment at Castillo de San Marcos under review, making the signage subject to removal following a March executive order by President Donald Trump, according to ICT. The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directs federal sites to emphasize patriotic messaging.

The signs, installed in 2022 in partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, document the imprisonment of Native people at the former Fort Marion. A park ranger confirmed in July that they are now under review, ICT reported. Chuck Sams, who served as National Park Service director from 2021 to 2025, said he is concerned the move reflects censorship. Michael Darrow, Tribal Historian for the Fort Sill Apache, said his tribe had not received official notice about possible removal. The review has no announced timeline.

UC Promises Return of Native American Remains by 2028

California universities are accelerating plans to repatriate Native American human remains and cultural items following criticism from a third state audit, according to KCRA. Tribal leaders and lawmakers said progress has been slow since the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act went into effect, requiring universities to return remains by 1995.

UC Provost Katherine Newman, speaking on behalf of UC President James Milliken, said the system has a plan to return the remains by 2028. “It gives me confidence we will meet this goal,” Newman was quoted as saying. Tribal leaders emphasized accountability and unity. “We should all come united around getting those remains back into the ground for proper reburial,” said James Ramos, chair of the Native American Affairs Committee.

Appeals court halts copper mine land swap in Arizona

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked the transfer of Oak Flat, an Arizona site slated for copper mining, to Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto and BHP, according to The Associated Press. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the injunction late Monday, halting the land exchange that was scheduled for Tuesday. The San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Stronghold and other plaintiffs argued the U.S. Forest Service did not fully review environmental risks, including dam breaches and pipeline failures.

Tribal leaders said Oak Flat, or Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, has been used for ceremonies and for gathering traditional plants for generations. Resolution Copper said the project underwent extensive federal review and would create thousands of jobs and generate $1 billion a year for Arizona’s economy.

MMIP task force for North Dakota in progress

An MMIP task force is currently in the works in North Dakota. House Bill 1199, requires the creation of a task force and is also responsible for the Feather Alert, which went live on May 1 after North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed the bill into law.

Lonnie Grabowska, director of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said the group is waiting for each North Dakota tribe to appoint members to the task force. The group can then meet to establish roles for the task force.

Their first meeting is likely to occur in early fall, Grabowska said.

Lumbee tribe urged to seek recognition through Congress

The Department of the Interior has told the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to continue pursuing federal recognition through Congress, according to The Assembly. Elizabeth Peace, a department spokesperson, was quoted as saying, “We anticipate the tribe will work with Congress on a path forward to be formally recognized.”

The Lumbee have been asking Congress for federal recognition for decades, according to The Assembly. The largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi with 55,000 members, the Lumbee have had state recognition since 1885 and partial federal recognition since 1956, which does not provide financial benefits afforded to fully recognized tribes. Tribal Chairman John Lowery said legislative action is “the only clear and concise way to amend the Lumbee Act of 1956.”

SBA offers low interest loans to New Mexico nonprofits and Mescalero Apache Tribe

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that private nonprofit organizations in Doña Ana, Lincoln and Otero counties, as well as the Mescalero Apache Tribe, are eligible for low interest federal disaster loans after severe storms, flooding and landslides beginning June 23.

Eligible nonprofits providing non-critical services, including community centers, schools, libraries and faith-based organizations, may apply for up to $2 million in loans to repair or replace damaged property and cover economic injury. “SBA loans help eligible private nonprofits cover both physical damage as well as economic injury after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, said in an SBA news release. Applications for physical damage loans are due Oct. 15 and economic injury loan applications are due May 18, 2026.

Tulsa agreement excludes Freedmen descendants from Muscogee Nation jurisdiction

An agreement between the Muscogee Nation and the City of Tulsa will allow most tribal citizens facing municipal charges to have their cases heard in tribal court, but it does not apply to Freedmen descendants, according to The Frontier. The June deal requires citizens to present a certified degree of Indian blood for their cases to be transferred.

Jason Salsman, a spokesperson for the Muscogee Nation, said the exclusion follows a federal standard that “requires Indian blood to be considered an Indian.” Tribal citizenship cards for Freedmen list zero blood quantum, leaving them under state jurisdiction. Michelle Brooks, spokesperson for Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, said the settlement “does not expressly include or exclude Freedmen” but follows federal court precedent. The provision affects cases like that of Marlon Drew, a Cherokee citizen of Freedmen descent, whose misdemeanor charges remain in Tulsa municipal court, according to The Frontier.

Army veterans plan 10,000-mile motorcycle challenge to support Native communities

Army veterans Randy Merrill and Brian Cassidy will ride nearly 10,000 miles in the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to raise $10,000 for the Association on American Indian Affairs, according to Native News Online. The pair are also fundraising another $10,000 to cover travel costs such as fuel, equipment and daily essentials.

Merrill and Cassidy said the journey is both a fundraiser and a path to healing. “PTSD and pain followed us home. But we refuse to be defined by the damage,” they wrote in a joint statement. Shannon O’Loughlin, CEO of the association and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, was quoted as saying the ride is “about healing, service, and standing in solidarity with Native Peoples.” Supporters can follow the riders and contribute at indian-affairs.org/hokaheymotorcyclechallenge, according to Native News Online.

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate host North Dakota officials for committee meeting

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate hosted members of the North Dakota Tribal and State Relations Committee on Aug. 19 at Dakota Magic Casino near Hankinson, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Chair J. Garret Renville told legislators, “Your presence here today demonstrates respect for our people.”

The meeting marked the committee’s first session of the 2025-27 interim and its first held on the Lake Traverse Reservation, said Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, the committee’s vice chair. Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, who chairs the committee, said the group “is setting the tone that we want to be in conversation with our tribal leaders.” Officials discussed gambling, health care and tourism. Gov. Kelly Armstrong also met separately with tribal leaders. The committee plans to visit each of the state’s five tribal nations, with the next meeting scheduled in September at Fort Berthold with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

Snoqualmie Tribe opens Harvest Kitchen and Greenhouse

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Harvest Kitchen and Greenhouse Classroom on the Tribal Administration Campus, according to Snoqualmie Valley Info. The facilities mark the second phase of the tribe’s childcare expansion project, following the 2023 opening of the Snoqualmie Child Development Center. Together, they will serve 54 children while advancing food sovereignty and cultural preservation. Treasurer Joshua Gabel said the project will help sustain Snoqualmie lifeways and practices for future generations.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, and King County Councilmember Sarah Perry were among the officials who attended. The facilities will host cultural programming, including cooking, weaving and nutrition classes, as well as Elder gatherings and seasonal events, according to Snoqualmie Valley Info.

Tribes expand sovereignty through health care self-governance

A growing number of tribes are taking control of health care systems previously operated by the Indian Health Service, according to The Daily Yonder. Jerilyn Church, chief executive officer of the Great Plains Tribal Leader’s Health Board, said the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, has expanded access, generated more revenue and incorporated cultural practices since the board assumed management in 2019. “Nobody loves our community and our relatives like we do,” Church said.

The Choctaw Nation also reported benefits from self-governance, saying it has expanded clinics and specialty services while modernizing its health system. “Tribal health program oversight has allowed Choctaw Nation to strategically determine the best usage of funds in order to maximize health outcomes of our tribal members,” said Todd Hallmark, executive director of health for the Choctaw Nation, and Melanie Fourkiller, director of self-governance, in a joint statement to The Daily Yonder.

Native candidate announces run for Illinois congressional seat

Anthony Tamez, 25, announced his candidacy for Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District earlier this month, according to ICT. Tamez, who is Key First Nation Oji-Cree/Saulteaux and Sicangu Lakota, currently serves on the Chicago Police District Council for District 17, a seat he won in 2023. He was the second Native person elected to office in Illinois.

If elected, Tamez, a Democrat, would become the first Gen Z Afro-Indigenous member of Congress. He said his campaign will prioritize cannabis equity, data privacy legislation, health equity and protections of Native sovereignty and treaty rights. Tamez’s official campaign launch is scheduled for Aug. 22, with the Democratic primary set for March 17, 2026, according to ICT.