The Daily Spark
Small sparks from Indian Country, built to catch fire
Trump approves emergency declaration for Montana storm and flood response
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Montana to support response efforts related to severe storms and flooding that began Dec. 10 and are continuing, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency press release. The declaration authorizes FEMA to coordinate federal disaster relief to address threats to life, property, public health and safety.
According to the release, the declaration applies to Lincoln and Sanders counties and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources needed to alleviate emergency impacts. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be funded at 75% federal cost share under the public assistance program. Edwin J. Martin was named federal coordinating officer for response operations. Additional designations may be made if requested by the state following further damage assessments, according to the release.
Jury rules for NDN Collective in civil rights case against Grand Gateway owner
A federal jury ruled in favor of NDN Collective and individual plaintiffs in a civil rights lawsuit against the Retsel Corporation, owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel, according to a press release issued by NDN Collective on Friday. The jury awarded NDN Collective $1 in damages for unlawful and discriminatory actions, an amount the organization requested.
“This case was never about money for NDN Collective,” Valeriah Big Eagle, director of He Sapa Initiatives at NDN Collective, said in the statement. She said the verdict reflects longstanding concerns about discrimination faced by Native people in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nick Tilsen, founder and CEO of NDN Collective, said the case was brought on behalf of ancestors, future generations and community members impacted by racism. The lawsuit was filed in March 2022 against Retsel Corporation, according to the release.
Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council calls for repeal of 1872 Mining Act, protection of He Sápa
The Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council adopted a resolution calling for repeal of the General Mining Act of 1872 and permanent protection of He Sápa, also known as the Black Hills, during the Oceti Sakowin Treaty Conference on Dec. 17 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“He Sápa is not for sale. It is not a resource colony,” Phil Two Eagle, CEO of Peta Omniciye Inc., said in the statement. According to the resolution, the Mining Act was enacted without the consent of Indigenous Nations and has enabled mineral extraction on Oceti Sakowin treaty lands in violation of the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868. The council stated that mining under the law has damaged sacred sites, water systems and ecosystems within He Sápa. Two Eagle said that He Sápa is a sacred place guaranteed by treaty and that laws imposed without consent lack legitimacy on treaty lands.
The resolution calls for full repeal of the Mining Act, an end to mining permits and claims within Oceti Sakowin treaty territory, and a new legal framework based on treaty compliance, Indigenous consent and environmental protection.
Oklahoma AG says governor directive on tribal hunting rights violates federal law
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a Dec. 18 legal opinion that a recent directive by Gov. Kevin Stitt instructing law enforcement to arrest and charge Native Americans for exercising hunting and fishing rights is unlawful, according to KSWO. Drummond said federal law prohibits the state from prosecuting tribal members who hunt and fish on their own reservations.
In the legal opinion, Drummond cited federal law and a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that state wildlife laws cannot be enforced where tribes have established comprehensive wildlife management programs. He called the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s enforcement policy unlawful, wasteful and harmful to the state’s relationship with tribal nations. The opinion states that tribal citizens should not be deprived of long-held rights while litigation proceeds. The legal opinion is binding unless overturned by a court, according to the attorney general’s office.
Senate panel advances bill expanding tribal lease authority
According to Tribal Business News, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday approved legislation that would give all federally recognized tribes authority to issue 99-year leases on trust lands. The Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025 would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955.
According to Tribal Business News, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who co-sponsored the measure with Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said the bill would let tribes self-regulate leasing and better secure financing for infrastructure and economic development projects. The panel also received testimony on four tribal-specific bills addressing lease authority, jurisdictional barriers and land transfers affecting the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
Army Corps recommends Dakota Access Pipeline continue operating with added conditions
According to the North Dakota Monitor, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday released a long-awaited environmental impact statement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, recommending the pipeline continue operating with additional conditions at its Missouri River crossing in North Dakota. The Corps identified granting the easement under Lake Oahe with added safeguards as its preferred alternative.
According to the study, the conditions would include enhanced leak detection, groundwater monitoring, surface water sampling and a requirement for an alternate water supply if an oil spill affects Lake Oahe. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said in a Friday statement that the environmental impact statement “does not remedy” its concerns related to pipeline safety or tribal sovereignty. The recommendation is not final until a 30-day waiting period required under the National Environmental Policy Act ends Jan. 20, after which the Corps may issue a record of decision.
Senate unanimously passes bill updating Native tourism law
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation on Dec. 16 to update the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, according to a press release from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill was authored by Sen. Brian Schatz, vice chairman of the committee, and updates the original NATIVE Act signed into law in 2016. The changes are intended to strengthen the program and make it easier for Native communities to access federal tourism resources.
According to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the NATIVE Act requires federal agencies with tourism assets to include tribes and Native organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning. The law also provides American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities with access to technical assistance and resources to develop cultural and recreational tourism infrastructure, support economic development and create jobs. Schatz said the updates are aimed at helping Native communities share their own stories and expand economic opportunities.
Ute Tribe alleges state interference in bid to buy Tabby Mountain land
The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation alleges a top Utah lawmaker interfered with its effort to buy back ancestral land in eastern Utah, according to Utah News Dispatch. The tribe sued the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration and multiple state officials, saying its nearly $47 million bid for the 28,500-acre Tabby Mountain property was the highest legitimate offer and was rejected due to racial discrimination. The agency ultimately decided in 2019 not to sell the land.
An amended lawsuit filed in November names Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz and alleges he worked with other officials to block the sale and retaliate against the tribe through new legislation. Schultz declined to comment on the lawsuit but said in a joint statement that claims presented are inaccurate, according to Utah News Dispatch. The suit seeks a court order compelling the sale and punitive damages.
Blackfeet sisters develop horse-based mental health program after brother’s death
Two Blackfeet sisters are creating a horse-based mental health program on the Blackfeet Reservation after their brother, Wyatt Mad Plume, died by suicide at age 29, according to Montana Free Press. Lynn Mad Plume, who holds a doctorate in Indigenous health, and her sister Erika Mad Plume, a clinical social worker and addiction counselor candidate, are blending equine-assisted activities with clinical counseling to offer a free alternative to talk therapy through their nonprofit, Two Powers Land Collective.
According to Montana Free Press, the sisters say the program is designed to reach community members, particularly men and youth, who may resist traditional therapy. The effort comes amid persistently high suicide rates in tribal communities in Montana. The program has served dozens of children and adults since April and recently received grant funding to continue operations. The sisters said their goal is to support emotional regulation, cultural connection and long-term mental health in their community.
Energy Transfer seeks to block Greenpeace lawsuit filed in Netherlands
Energy Transfer asked the North Dakota Supreme Court on Dec. 18 to halt a lawsuit Greenpeace International filed against the company in the Netherlands while related litigation continues in North Dakota, according to the North Dakota Monitor. The request stems from an ongoing case in Southwest Judicial District Court, where Energy Transfer accuses Greenpeace International and two other Greenpeace entities of conspiring to use unlawful tactics to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
According to the North Dakota Monitor, Greenpeace International denies the allegations and says the North Dakota lawsuit is intended to punish the organization for opposing the pipeline. Greenpeace International filed its Dutch lawsuit in February under a European Union directive aimed at addressing frivolous lawsuits, seeking monetary damages and alleging harm from Energy Transfer’s litigation. Judge James Gion denied Energy Transfer’s request to suspend the foreign case, finding the legal claims different. The state Supreme Court took the matter under advisement, according to the North Dakota Monitor.
Poetry reading set for Dec. 19 in Rapid City
Poet Anpo Jensen will host a reading today in Rapid City, South Dakota. Jensen is the author of “Hero Dreams Shine,” a collection of poetry about “a Lakota girl navigating the challenges of engineering school,” according to Jensen’s website. The reading will feature poetry centered on dreams, courage and global inspiration. The event is open to the public and will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. at Aqua & Acre Market, 614 St. Joseph St.
A book signing with Jensen is scheduled for Dec. 20. Additional information about the event and the book is available through the @herodreamsshine account and on Jensen’s website, anpojensen.com.
Tribal nations seek new funding paths after federal clean energy cuts
According to Utility Dive, tribal nations pursuing clean energy projects are exploring alternative financing after the Trump administration rescinded federal grants tied to the Inflation Reduction Act, including the Solar for All program that had earmarked more than $500 million for tribal solar development. The Tribal Renewable Energy Coalition, which received more than $135 million in now-canceled funding, plans to use its existing project plans while seeking loans and philanthropy, Utility Dive reported.
Cody Two Bears, CEO of Indigenized Energy, was quoted as saying tribes now have “things teed up” to pursue new dollars. Chéri Smith, CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, said lost federal funding has made large-scale projects harder to finance but that opportunities remain. Clara Pratte, founder of Navajo Power, said there is investor interest but that markets need better understanding of how tribes work, according to Utility Dive.
Red Lake Nation signs cannabis cooperative agreement with Minnesota
The Bemidji Pioneer reports that Red Lake Nation has signed a cannabis cooperative agreement with the state of Minnesota. The agreement outlines how the state and Red Lake Nation will address public health and safety related to adult-use cannabis while supporting the tribe’s sovereignty, cultural identity and heritage, according to a press release.
Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Eric Taubel said the agreement creates a pathway for state-licensed cannabis businesses to partner with Red Lake Nation. Red Lake Nation Chair Darrell Seki Sr. said in the release that the tribe aims to produce cannabis products verified through consistent testing. Red Lake’s NativeCare dispensary was the first in Minnesota to sell legal adult-use cannabis after legalization took effect in August 2023, according to the release.
Chippewa Cree gain path to elect county commissioner
According to the Daily Montanan, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation will have the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to the Chouteau County Board of Commissioners following a settlement approved by the U.S. District Court of Montana. The settlement resolves a Voting Rights Act lawsuit alleging the county’s at-large election system diluted Native voting strength and denied representation for more than a decade.
The agreement places the reservation within Chouteau County’s District 1, which will elect a commissioner through a single-member district election, according to a news release from the ACLU of Montana. Chippewa Cree Tribe Chairman Harlan Gopher Baker said the settlement gives the tribe a long-missing voice in county politics. The first election under the new district is scheduled for June 2026, according to the proposed consent decree.
Lumbee Tribe secures federal recognition through defense bill
The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina secured federal recognition Wednesday after Congress approved legislation as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, according to the Associated Press. The state-recognized tribe has sought federal recognition for generations, and previous stand-alone legislation had stalled in Congress. The measure passed the Senate Wednesday afternoon and now awaits the president’s signature.
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery celebrated the vote alongside tribal members in North Carolina and in Washington, D.C. “We have been second-class Natives and we will never be that again,” Lowery was quoted as saying. Federal recognition will allow the tribe to access federal resources, including Indian Health Service programs, and to place land into trust.
Half of South Dakota inmates return to prison, higher rates among Native Americans
South Dakota Searchlight reports that half of the people released from South Dakota prisons return within three years, according to the Department of Corrections’ 2025 annual report. The report shows the state’s recidivism rate is the highest in at least eight years and seven percentage points higher than last year. Among Native Americans released from prison, 59% return within three years, the highest rate of any racial group. Native Americans make up 39% of the state’s prison population, including 35% of incarcerated men and 61% of incarcerated women. The recidivism rate among Native American women is 66%, according to the report.
Department officials presented the data Wednesday to the South Dakota Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force in Pierre. Task force members approved 11 recommendations for the Department of Corrections, including restoring evening prison volunteers, designating the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate parole program as a flagship model and piloting a tribal cultural liaison position. State Rep. Kadyn Wittman said the figures show the state is “not appropriately supporting the Indigenous population.”
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.