The Daily Spark

Alaska Native villages face relocation due to climate change

In Hooper Bay, Alaska, environmental changes, including warming temperatures, flooding, and thawing permafrost, have made survival increasingly difficult for its 1,400 residents. A recent FRONTLINE documentary highlights the potential relocation of the Native Village of Paimiut due to severe coastal erosion and rising sea levels. The loss of sea ice, once a protective barrier, exacerbates the problem. Many residents, like Agatha Napoleon, fear the erosion will soon force them to leave their ancestral lands. For more information, watch Alaska’s Vanishing Native Villages on PBS starting April 22, 2025.

Arizona expands sober living home oversight following Medicaid fraud

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed new legislation to strengthen oversight of sober living homes after a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme targeted Native Americans seeking treatment. The law mandates stricter licensing, annual inspections, and timely reporting of deaths or overdoses. Advocates, including Navajo Nation lawmaker Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, expressed concerns that the bill doesn't address the root causes of the fraud, including unlicensed facilities. The law aims to improve transparency and accountability in the state's behavioral health services.

Fort Lewis names first Indigenous president

Fort Lewis College has appointed Dr. Heather Shotton as its first Indigenous president, effective July 1. Shotton, a citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne, was unanimously selected by the board of trustees. She brings more than 20 years of experience in education leadership and student advocacy. Fort Lewis, a former Indian boarding school, currently enrolls a student body that is 40% Native American and Alaska Native.

Montana State project awarded $500K to support Indigenous foodways

Montana State University’s Buffalo Nations Food System Initiative has received a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to advance Indigenous food sovereignty efforts in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. The funding will support the Buffalo Nations Foodways project, which focuses on intergenerational knowledge sharing, cultural revitalization, and education in tribal communities. Students from tribal nations will lead food sovereignty efforts in their home communities, supported by educational fellowships and a new Indigenous Foods Lab in Bozeman.

Native plants root new Penn State building in tradition

Landscaping at Penn State’s new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building highlights Indigenous traditions through the intentional use of native plants. University staff collaborated with anthropology faculty and the Indigenous Faculty Staff Alliance to incorporate plants historically used by the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, and other nations. The design features six areas, including a Sweetgrass Prairie and the Great Tree of Peace, honoring the Haudenosaunee confederacy. According to project leaders, the effort blends sustainability with cultural recognition.

Native coalition challenges Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on budget cuts to Indian Country

A coalition of top Native advocacy organizations has sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to oppose President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget. The budget would slash $1.2 billion from Indian Affairs, including $100 million from the Office of Justice Services. “Federal savings should not come at the expense of Tribal Nations,” the letter states. The coalition cites chronic underfunding, with only 13% of public safety needs currently met.

Oregon bill would outline process for tribes to regain legal authority

Oregon lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1011, which would create a formal process for federally recognized tribes to request jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters on tribal land. The bill responds to a 1950s-era federal law that granted six states—including Oregon—jurisdiction over tribal reservations, a move tribes have long said infringes on sovereignty.

Attorney Brent Leonhard of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation discussed the bill’s potential impact on OPB’s “Think Out Loud.”

Treaty with the Pawnee, 1857, now on view in D.C.

The Treaty with the Pawnee, 1857, is now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian as part of its “Nation to Nation” exhibition. Installed in partnership with the National Archives, the treaty is one of more than 370 ratified agreements between the U.S. and Native nations. The unveiling included Pawnee Nation leaders and museum director Cynthia Chavez Lamar. Treaties are rotated due to preservation needs.

NAFC brings urban Indigenous issues to U.N. forum

The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is participating in the 24th session of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held April 21–25. The Canadian delegation includes leaders from over 100 Friendship Centres, the Indigenous Youth Council, and provincial associations.

The NAFC will host a side event titled Living UNDRIP: Indigenous Rights in Urban Spaces to highlight how the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples applies in urban areas.

Arkansas expands tribal law enforcement collaboration

A new law signed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders enhances law enforcement cooperation between Tribal, state, and local agencies. Senate Bill 510 authorizes cross-deputization agreements, allowing officers to work across jurisdictions for faster, more coordinated public safety responses.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton called the law “a huge step forward,” while Rep. Zack Gramlich, who authored the bill and is a Choctaw Nation member, praised its impact on Fort Smith and beyond. Fort Smith Mayor George McGill added, “We’re removing barriers to timely, effective public safety responses.”

The Choctaw Nation already has 75+ similar partnerships in Oklahoma and continues expanding its Lighthorse Police force.

Tribal insurance partnership backs healthier Native communities

Professional golfer Notah Begay III has teamed up with AMERIND to promote stronger, safer Tribal communities through culturally grounded insurance solutions. As the only 100% Tribally owned insurance carrier in the U.S., AMERIND offers tailored coverage to Tribal governments, enterprises and workers. Their partnership supports Native youth through the Notah Begay III Foundation, which promotes active lifestyles and wellbeing.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians advances cultural tourism projects

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians is moving forward with major tourism infrastructure projects designed to boost local economies and honor Native heritage. Funded by a $1.5 million state grant and other tribal and partner contributions, the projects include a traditional roundhouse west of Belcourt, a veterans memorial park in Dunseith, and a 170-foot powwow arbor at Chief Little Shell Heritage Park. Completion is planned by summer 2026, ahead of an international Indigenous peace conference at the International Peace Garden.

Mascot ban moves to Illinois Senate

A bill banning Native American-themed school mascots and logos in Illinois is advancing to the state Senate. The legislation, passed by the House, affects about 90 school districts and allows existing materials to be used until 2030. Schools must update facilities bearing banned imagery during future renovations. Supporters cite mental health concerns raised by the American Psychological Association. Critics call the bill costly and politically motivated.

Tribes push back on fast-tracked Line 5 pipeline

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is fast-tracking the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel project under a Trump-era executive order declaring a national energy emergency. Tribes in at least three states, including the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, oppose the project, citing environmental risks to the Great Lakes. The Corps will host a virtual public hearing May 13–14 to gather testimony on potential violations of tribal water quality standards.

Nonprofits strategize in response to potential White House backlash

As the White House signals potential executive orders targeting nonprofits, organizations across the U.S. are preparing a unified response. According to NPR, the orders could allow the government to audit nonprofits, particularly those involved in immigrant legal services and environmental work, and possibly seize their assets. Nonprofits are already mobilizing, with 11,000 representatives from across the sector meeting virtually to discuss strategies, including legal preparedness. While the White House denies any immediate plans for such orders, nonprofits remain concerned.

Tribes in Columbia River Basin work to protect lamprey populations

Tribes in the Columbia River Basin are actively working to preserve Pacific Lamprey, a vital traditional food source. Climate change and dams have severely impacted lamprey populations, but conservation efforts, including translocation and improving dam passage, are showing positive results. Kanim Moses-Conner, Lamprey Technician for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, has been a vocal advocate for the species for over 16 years. He emphasizes the need for community education to support these efforts.

Trump administration moves to approve mining at sacred Oak Flat

The Trump administration announced plans to approve the land transfer for the Resolution Copper mine, which would destroy Oak Flat, a sacred site for the Western Apache. This decision comes as three lawsuits challenging the project remain unresolved in the courts. Oak Flat, located in Arizona, is integral to Apache religious practices. Environmentalists and tribal leaders argue the mine will cause irreparable harm to the land, water, and culture. The Supreme Court's decision on whether to hear the religious freedom case could impact the future of the project.

Judge orders Trump admin to clarify mass federal firings

A U.S. judge has ordered the Trump administration to issue written statements to thousands of probationary federal workers fired en masse in February, clarifying they were not terminated for poor performance.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup called the performance claims “a false pretense” and gave agencies until May 8 to comply. The order follows a lawsuit challenging the Office of Personnel Management’s authority in the firings.

Escondido hosts first Indigenous Culture & Art Festival

The city of Escondido and the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians hosted the first Indigenous Culture & Art Festival on Saturday at Grape Day Park. The event showcased Indigenous food, art, and performances, honoring the region’s Kumeyaay heritage.

Organizers, including the Native Youth Foundation, emphasized youth empowerment through culture and the arts. The San Pasqual Band contributed $10,000 toward the event, with nearly $62,000 approved by the City Council.

Fort Berthold spill study bill fails, but lawmaker vows action

A bill proposing a legislative study of oil and chemical spill risks on highways within the Fort Berthold Reservation failed to pass the North Dakota House, but Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Mandaree, says she remains dedicated to raising awareness. House Bill 1611 aimed to assess environmental and health risks through collaboration with tribal and state agencies. Despite its 62-24 defeat, Finley-DeVille emphasized the need for site-specific data to guide future policy.