The Daily Spark

According to a statement from the Navajo Nation, the tribe joined communities across the United States in recognizing Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery and honors the values of freedom, resilience, justice and equality. The statement noted that on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved African Americans were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

The Navajo Nation said Juneteenth honors the resilience and perseverance of those who endured slavery and recognizes generations who continued the fight for civil rights and equal opportunity. The statement said the tribe stands with its Naahiłii relatives in observing the day and emphasized the importance of remembering history and building communities rooted in respect, understanding and unity.

A commemoration program marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Rosebud Creek, known to the Cheyenne as the Battle Where the Girl Saved Her Brother, was held June 17 at the Rosebud Battlefield near Decker, Mont., according to Sheridan Media. The event included a presentation of the colors led by Northern Arapaho Warriors and Cpl. Billy Farris, a blessing by Northern Cheyenne citizen Donovan Taylor, and remarks from park officials and tribal leaders.

Dr. Leo K. Killsback, a Northern Cheyenne descendant of Chief Dull Knife and author of two books on Cheyenne history, described the significance of the battle and the actions of Buffalo Calf Trail Woman, who rescued her wounded brother during the fighting. According to the Sheridan Media reporting, the event concluded with a horseback reenactment of the rescue and a community feast attended by representatives of several tribes, the U.S. Army and the Kobold family, who once owned the land that is now a Montana state park.

Indigenous youth baseball players from across the Southwest and other regions gathered at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the four-day Na7ive Na7ions 16U National Baseball Tournament, according to Native News Online. Eleven teams are competing for a national title and a berth in the Babe Ruth World Series. The event also brings together families, tribal leaders, Native-owned businesses, artists and community organizations.

DJ Carrasco, founder and executive director of Na7ive Na7ions and a former Major League Baseball pitcher, said the tournament is about "representation, visibility, culture and creating opportunities that many Native youth have not had access to before." The organization also incorporates wellness and leadership development through its HomePlate initiative, and works to remove barriers for athletes from tribal and rural communities, according to Native News Online.

The Native Arts Program of the American Indian College Fund received a $2.4 million grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies to continue supporting tribal colleges and universities in developing Native arts curricula and offering community-based workshops. The Choin Cha Ha Poo Chew Chew Wha Von Nom: Beading Cultural Knowledge Together grant marks the program's fifth cycle and will provide three-year awards to up to six tribal colleges for curriculum development and up to 12 colleges for community grants.

Previous projects included seven Native arts courses developed at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota, and cultural preservation lessons at Iḷisaġvik College in Alaska. "Native arts programming, such as Beading Cultural Knowledge Together, is critical for uplifting the voices of our artists whose work combines wisdom and beauty as it helps to sustain our communities," American Indian College Fund President and CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull said.

Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Celeste Maloy's effort to overturn a 2025 management plan for Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument missed the deadline for expedited consideration under the Congressional Review Act, according to reporting from Utah News Dispatch. Lee and Maloy had proposed reversing the Biden-era plan for the 1.9 million-acre monument, arguing it imposed excessive restrictions. In a joint statement, the lawmakers said they are evaluating next steps and remain committed to "restoring our community's voice in the monument's future."

A coalition of Native American tribes said the proposal would have had "devastating effects for the monument and for our peoples." Autumn Gillard, coordinator for the Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition who is Southern Paiute, said the current plan established a framework for tribal co-stewardship, and protects cultural sites vulnerable to looting and vandalism. Future legislation would likely require 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster, according to Utah News Dispatch.

The Tohono O’odham Nation has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over plans to construct a border wall on the tribe’s lands, according to reporting from ICT. The suit was filed June 16 as DHS prepares to award construction contracts in the coming weeks. Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon M. Jose said Wednesday at a National Congress of American Indians event in Memphis, Tenn., that Customs and Border Protection does not have legal authority to take or use reservation land without permission.

About 62 miles of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s land border Mexico, according to the ICT reporting. More than 3,000 enrolled members live in the tribe’s ancestral lands in the Mexican state of Sonora, according to the nation. The tribe said construction of a border wall on its reservation would be illegal but that they will continue to support border security. Jose said the nation spends millions of dollars annually on border security and supports protecting both tribal citizens and the United States.

A federal judge in South Carolina ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully terminated the $2.8 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program, according to reporting by Nevada Current. U.S. District Judge Richard Mark Gergel wrote that the agency’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious and unlawful” and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling could affect a $20 million EPA grant rescinded from the Walker River Paiute Tribe in Nevada. The funding was intended to support a multi-year climate resiliency plan serving about 1,200 tribal members on the Walker River Reservation.

The grant would have improved water, energy and food infrastructure, weatherized 150 homes and supported a community resilience and food storage hub, according to Nevada Current’s reporting. The judge did not order the EPA to restore the program, but wrote that affected recipients could pursue monetary claims in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. An EPA spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the decision.

The Delaware House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 365, which would establish the state’s first Commission on Indigenous Affairs, according to Spotlight Delaware. The commission would advise lawmakers and Gov. Matt Meyer on issues affecting Native communities, including healthcare, social services, housing, employment and education. The nine-member commission would include representatives from the Lenape Tribe of Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, along with Indigenous residents from any tribe or nation living in the state.

Members would be appointed by Meyer from candidates recommended by the Lenape and Nanticoke tribes, according to the Spotlight Delaware reporting. House Bill 365 would provide $20,000 annually for three fiscal years to support startup and programming costs. The measure now awaits consideration in the Senate after advancing from the House on a unanimous vote.

A $25 million donation from William and Carolyn Franke and their family will create the Franke Medical Student Scholars Program at the University of Washington School of Medicine, according to ICT and Underscore Native News. The scholarship will help address physician shortages across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The program will provide scholarships for students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to practicing medicine in Indigenous and rural communities.

Most of the donation — $20 million — will cover half of tuition for about 30 students, while additional funding will support recruitment, retention and rural medical education programs. UW School of Medicine student Ty Running Fisher, a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation and a descendant of the Quinault Indian Nation, said the scholarship will help encourage more physicians to serve communities facing long wait times and persistent healthcare shortages.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Native artists, scholars and leaders are reflecting on a history marked by displacement, assimilation policies and tribal resilience. According to The Associated Press, museum exhibits featuring Lakota beadwork, Navajo weavings and contemporary Indigenous art are offering perspectives on how Native communities navigated changing political and cultural realities while preserving their identities.

Tribal scholars and cultural leaders said Native experiences remain central to understanding the nation's history. Aaron Carapella, who creates maps of Indigenous territories and is of Cherokee descent, said Native influences are embedded in "the fabric of what we call America." The Associated Press reported that exhibits at institutions including the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian also highlight military service, sovereignty and efforts to ensure Native youth continue sharing their cultures and histories.

All nine South Dakota tribes have passed resolutions supporting the development of legislation that would return federal lands in the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation, according to information released by organizers of the effort. Native Sun News reports that the proposal would establish a framework for returning and managing federal lands in the Black Hills. Organizers said it would not involve privately owned property or settle claims related to the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.

Supporters said the proposal seeks to protect sacred sites, preserve clean drinking water and prevent extractive activities in the region. "The Oceti Sakowin people are coming together to claim the land that is rightfully and legally owed to us," Madonna Thunder Hawk, a Cheyenne River Sioux elder, was quoted as saying. NDN Collective President Wizipan Garriott, a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, called the unified action by all nine tribes "historic" and said it marks "a significant milestone" toward improved land management and economic opportunity.

Descendants of Wounded Knee survivors say they will continue pressing to revoke Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers present at the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, despite the Defense Department's decision to uphold them, according to reporting from South Dakota Searchlight. The Senate Armed Services Committee directed the secretary of defense to provide the full report and unredacted materials from the Defense Department's review by Feb. 1, 2027.  The committee said that stakeholders raised concerns about the historical sources, experts and legal standards considered during the review.

"We are not going to quit," Violet Catches, a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe member and descendant of massacre survivors, was quoted as saying. Rosebud Sioux Tribe member OJ Semans said he plans to continue educating lawmakers about the massacre.

A nationwide survey of more than 3,800 people who gave birth in 2023 and 2024 found that Medicaid patients reported worse outcomes and greater barriers to care than those with private insurance, according to reporting from Stateline.  On the Listening to Mothers survey by the National Partnership for Women and Families, 25% of respondents said they were unable to receive prenatal care as early as they wanted, often because appointments were unavailable, providers delayed scheduling or they struggled to find clinics accepting Medicaid.

The survey also found that 43% of respondents said they received worse care because they felt their knowledge and experiences were not valued, while 40% said they felt unheard by providers. About 6% said discrimination contributed to those experiences, with race cited most often. According to the Stateline reporting, American Indian and Alaska Native respondents to the survey were the most likely to report a lack of respect for their culture.

Native American faiths would be grouped under "other" after the Department of Defense reduced its list of recognized religion codes from more than 200 to 31, according to reporting from ICT News.

The U.S. Department of Defense made the change after a memorandum was issued by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A. Colby and signed by Anthony Tata on May 20. Native American religion, previously listed as a distinct category used by military chaplains and for identification records, was among the faiths removed and grouped under "other."

A Department of Defense spokesperson directed ICT to a statement posted on the department's X account, which said service members "will not be limited to the list of 'Religious Affiliations Codes'" when selecting information for identification tags. Frances Dupris, a Sicangu Lakota and Northern Arapaho veteran who served 24 years in the Air Force, said the change places Native Americans "once again" in the "other" category.

Indigenous communities in World Cup host cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States are participating in events surrounding the tournament through performances, markets and cultural programming, according to reporting from ICT. The World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19, is being held in 16 cities across North America. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is serving as an official host-city supporter in Seattle and plans to host a Coastal Protocol on June 18 featuring traditional songs and dances from invited tribes.

According to ICT, Indigenous vendors and artists are also taking part in celebrations in Toronto and Vancouver. The Tkaronto Market in Toronto will feature Indigenous businesses and performances during the tournament, while Vancouver's National Indigenous celebrations include appearances by artists such as Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Crystal Shawanda, Elisapie and Blue Moon Marquee.

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians is partnering with OATI to manage a two-site solar and battery microgrid system designed to strengthen energy reliability and support tribal energy independence in Northern California, according to a June 16 announcement from OATI.

The project includes 4.5 megawatts of solar generation and 21 megawatt-hours of battery storage. According to the announcement, the microgrids are designed to provide renewable power, reduce peak energy demand and allow the tribal community to operate independently from the local utility grid during outages. The project, which broke ground in 2024, is supported by state and federal grants. Tribal leaders said the project is intended to support the development of an independent tribal-owned utility.

The United States is facing a shortage of Bicillin L-A, the only first-line medication recommended for pregnant women with syphilis to prevent transmission to their babies. According to reporting from Source NM, in South Dakota, nearly 90% of congenital syphilis cases reported between 2020 and 2023 involved Native American babies. 

The manufacturer, Pfizer, issued a voluntary recall of some lots of the injectable penicillin in July after finding particulate matter in certain batches. The FDA said supplies are not expected to return to normal until December 2027. The agency has allowed temporary imports of Lentocilin from Portugal.

Lack of sufficient treatment and timely testing contributes to 90% of congenital syphilis cases, according to a federal report. Indigenous infants have experienced the highest congenital syphilis rates in recent years, despite representing a much smaller share of the population. Congenital syphilis cases have more than tripled in recent years, with nearly 4,000 cases reported nationwide in 2024, according to the Source NM reporting. Health departments said they are prioritizing available supplies of Bicillin L-A for pregnant patients and newborns affected by the infection.

Ten United Nations officials are urging Russia to immediately release Indigenous climate advocate Daria Egereva and her colleague, Natalia Leongardt, who have been jailed for six months on terrorism charges. According to reporting from Grist, Egereva, who is Indigenous Selkup and co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, and Leongardt were arrested Dec. 17 after previously participating in the Aborigen Forum, an Indigenous advocacy network dissolved by Russian authorities two years ago. The two could face prison sentences of up to 20 years at a court hearing in Moscow on June 11.

In a letter made public last week, the U.N. officials said they believe the arrests may be reprisals for participation in U.N. processes and warned of a broader chilling effect on Indigenous advocacy. More than 100 organizations called for the women's release during April's U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City, according to reporting from Grist. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change also voted to extend Egereva's term as co-chair until her release.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon have received federal approval to expand access to FBI-maintained criminal history record information for background checks, according to a June 15 statement from the Department of Justice. The approval allows the tribe's Department of Education and Department of Children & Family Services to conduct background checks on employees, contractors and volunteers.

The approval marks the first time a tribally enacted law has met federal requirements to allow tribal governments to establish their own legal authorities for accessing criminal history information. The department said the change will support hiring processes and public safety efforts. CTUIR Board of Trustees Chair N. Kathryn Brigham said the expanded access will allow more thorough background checks and help create safer conditions for people, particularly children, who use tribal services.