The Daily Spark

Standing Rock and Spirit Lake issue guidance amid ICE concerns

Leaders from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Spirit Lake Tribe have issued public statements addressing community concerns related to recent activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a Jan. 9 statement, Sitting Bear said his office has received reports of First Nations people being racially targeted, assaulted or detained by ICE and urged tribal members to carry tribal identification or proof of citizenship. He stated that Standing Rock is a sovereign nation and that any ICE presence or activity on tribal lands “is not authorized, not welcome, and will be addressed.”

The Spirit Lake Tribal Council released separate community guidance for members and families, particularly those traveling or living off the reservation. The guidance advises members to carry tribal identification, remain calm during encounters with federal officers and rely on official tribal communications for updates. According to the council, the guidance is informational and does not constitute legal advice.

Trump veto blocks Miccosukee land transfer in Everglades

President Donald Trump vetoed legislation that would have transferred 30 acres of land in the Florida Everglades to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, halting a bipartisan effort approved by Congress in December. According to Mother Jones, House Republicans failed to override the veto, one of only two issued by Trump since taking office. The bill, known as the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, would have clarified land status and returned acreage long used by the tribe. In his veto message, Trump cited the tribe’s opposition to federal immigration policy, including a lawsuit challenging construction of an immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” Tribal leaders said the measure followed years of bipartisan work to support Miccosukee residents and protect the land.

Tohono O’odham Nation receives $622,637 housing grant for veterans

The Tohono O’odham Kiki Housing Authority has received $622,637 in federal funding to expand housing support for Native American veterans on the Tohono O’odham Nation, according to a statement from Rep. Adelita Grijalva. The funding will be used to provide rental assistance to about 20 Native American veterans.

Grijalva said the grant is intended to address ongoing housing challenges faced by Native American veterans and to support housing stability on the reservation. She said she plans to continue advocating for federal resources to support tribal communities and Native veterans.

Strong Hearts Native Helpline plans Alaska-specific service

A national helpline for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service, according to information published by the Alaska Beacon. Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, anonymous and confidential support for people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. The helpline is currently staffed by American Indian advocates, but none are Alaska Native, said Rachel Carr-Shunk, the organization’s deputy executive officer.

Carr-Shunk told Alaska Beacon the organization expects to launch the Alaska-specific service within the next calendar year after building partnerships and resources in the state. Strong Hearts has hired Anchorage-based Minnie Sneddy of Hooper Bay to help identify regional needs and develop a database of Alaska resources. Sneddy said many survivors face limited local support and fear consequences for seeking help. Although there are not yet Alaska Native advocates staffing the helpline, Alaskans can still call the helpline, 1-844-762-8483, to speak with an American Indian advocate.

Man sentenced to 46 years in Washington serial rape case

A man who presented himself as a Native American activist was sentenced Wednesday to 46 years in prison for drugging and raping women, a case that has prompted calls for changes to Washington state law, according to the Associated Press.

Redwolf Pope, 49, was convicted in Washington state of multiple counts related to assaults that occurred in 2016 and 2017, the AP reported. Prosecutors said Pope recorded videos of women who appeared unconscious while he raped them and used a hidden camera in his bathroom to film women showering, according to court documents cited by the AP.

Pope represented himself during his September trial and cross-examined one of his accusers, prompting survivors to urge lawmakers to revise the Crime Victim Bill of Rights, according to the AP. The jury found him guilty on Sept. 3, 2025.

New buildings and businesses in Lodge Grass reflect recovery efforts, report says

In Lodge Grass, a town of about 500 people on the Crow Indian Reservation, new buildings and businesses are emerging amid long-standing impacts of meth addiction, according to Montana Free Press. An estimated 60% of residents 14 and older struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, the report says, citing a local survey contracted by the Mountain Shadow Association, a Native-led nonprofit.

The town has torn down more than two dozen abandoned buildings in recent years, the report says. A day care center opened in October 2024, replacing an abandoned home that had tested positive for traces of meth, the nonprofit’s director said in the story. The Mountain Shadow Association is developing Kaala’s Village, a planned campus that would include a therapeutic foster home and housing for families working toward sobriety, the report says.

Local leaders told Montana Free Press the projects are visible steps in community recovery efforts.

Community plans candlelight vigil, walk to remember Emily Pike

January marks one year since Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, was reported missing. Her body was discovered on Feb. 14. According to an event announcement shared on Facebook, community members are organizing two public gatherings to honor her memory and support her family.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m. Organizers said the vigil will be a time for reflection and prayer. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles, signs, prayers and their voices, according to the post.

A Community Walk for Emily is planned for Saturday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m., starting at Mesa Drive and McKellips Road in Mesa, Arizona. Organizers said the walk is intended to show that Pike is not forgotten and that her name continues to be spoken. The event is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring their voices, drums and footsteps, according to the announcement.

Yurok attorney to discuss Klamath River restoration memoir in AshlandYurok attorney to discuss Klamath River restoration memoir in Ashland

Amy Bowers Cordalis, an attorney in Ashland, Oregon, and a member of the Yurok Tribe, will discuss her memoir “The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life” at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Ashland Public Library, according to Ashland.news. Cordalis served as general counsel for the Yurok Tribe and played a central legal role in the removal of all four Klamath River dams in 2024.

According to Ashland.news, Cordalis’s book chronicles her family’s decades-long legal fight to restore the Klamath River and protect Yurok fishing and water rights. She said the event is intended to bring community members together to recognize the river restoration effort. The talk is free and open to the public and will be followed by a book signing, according to the publication.

FHLBank Topeka awards $33.9 million in affordable housing grants

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka awarded a record $33.9 million in Affordable Housing Program grants for 2025 to support 31 housing projects across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, according to StreetInsider. The funding is expected to support 1,764 very low, low, and moderate income households through rental and owner-occupied housing projects.

According to StreetInsider, Kansas received $16.4 million to support 809 housing units, Colorado received $7.3 million for 416 units, Nebraska received $5.9 million for 331 units and Oklahoma received $4.3 million for 208 units. The grants are awarded through partnerships with FHLBank Topeka member financial institutions and represent 10% of the bank’s prior-year earnings.

StreetInsider reported that FHLBank Topeka also committed additional housing and community development funding in 2025, including $5 million through its Native American Housing Initiatives Grants Program and $22.6 million through its TurnKey Program.

Memorial for Emily Pike removed as homicide remains unsolved

A memorial honoring 14-year-old Emily Pike was removed from an intersection in Mesa, Arizona, where it had stood for months following the discovery of her remains, according to CrimeOnline. The memorial was located near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, close to where Pike was last seen alive. City of Mesa officials said they were not involved in removing the memorial, according to the report.

CrimeOnline reported that the property owner removed the memorial because it was placed without permission and stored the items for retrieval. Supporters returned to the site Jan. 2 and replaced some items, saying the memorial helps keep attention on the unsolved case. Pike’s remains were found in February, though some have never been recovered. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $75,000 for information leading to an arrest, with additional rewards announced by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and the San Carlos Apache Tribe, according to CrimeOnline.

Chickasaw Nation leader highlights housing as pillar of sovereignty

Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said expanding access to affordable housing is central to tribal sovereignty and self-determination, according to Chickasaw Times. Anoatubby made the remarks at the National American Indian Housing Council’s 2025 Legal Symposium held Nov. 17–20 in Durant, Oklahoma. He said housing programs reflect a tribe’s ability to govern, manage resources and plan for the future.

Anoatubby outlined Chickasaw Nation initiatives that include home construction, down-payment and closing-cost assistance, home improvement grants, accessibility modifications for elders and housing counseling, according to Chickasaw Times. He said the Nation has provided housing since the 1960s and expanded programs following the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. Anoatubby also cited Chickasaw Community Bank’s role in supporting homeownership through partnerships with tribes, housing authorities and federal partners, according to Chickasaw Times.

Denver plans begin for first American Indian Cultural Embassy

Planning is underway in Denver for what organizers say would be the first American Indian Cultural Embassy in the United States, according to CBS Colorado. Funding for the project was approved by voters through the Vibrant Denver Bond measure. City officials are considering First Creek Open Space in northeast Denver as a potential site.

Rick Williams, president of People of the Sacred Land, said the vision is to create a welcoming place for Native people who were historically displaced from Colorado. Denver City Council member Stacie Gilmore said $20 million from the bond will support design and construction, with goals that include cultural preservation, economic development and education, according to CBS Colorado.

The concept for the embassy emerged from recommendations by the Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission, a group of American Indian leaders studying Native history in Colorado. City officials said planning is in early stages and will involve ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities.

Tribes press for role in post-2026 Colorado River management

Tribes across the West say future agreements governing the Colorado River must include tribal input and recognize tribes’ intent to develop their water rights, according to reporting by Nevada Current. Tribal leaders said they have worked with states to conserve water and help stabilize reservoirs such as Lakes Powell and Mead during recent droughts. Representatives from dozens of tribes raised those issues at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference in December.

Mike Natchees of the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee told Nevada Current that tribes with senior water rights face ongoing challenges when water flows downstream without infrastructure or compensation. He said the impacts of potential water cuts on Upper Basin tribes have not been fully addressed. Western states have until Feb. 14 to reach a new water-sharing agreement before current rules expire at the end of 2026.

Tribal leaders cited recent conservation agreements and water-sharing partnerships as examples of tribes contributing to long-term river management, according to Nevada Current.

UTTC engineering program promotes STEM careers to Native youth

The engineering department at United Tribes Technical College is working with students to promote science, technology, engineering and math to Native youth through hands-on STEM kits, according to KFYR-TV. The effort aims to spark interest in STEM careers by delivering activity kits to schools, with a focus on reservation communities.

Engineering Department Chair Alexa Azure said the goal is to introduce STEM as an accessible and engaging option for young students. “Get kits out in the communities, promote STEM, you know, let kids know that STEM is an option that they can go into and to learn about, and that it’s fun,” Azure told KFYR-TV.

Pre-engineering student Dustin DeLorme said participating in the project was meaningful, especially when delivering kits to the school he once attended. The project was developed through a collaboration between two internship programs and includes activities such as slime-making and craft-based engineering projects.

Native entrepreneurs contribute to North Dakota business growth

Native American entrepreneurs are playing a growing role in North Dakota’s expanding small business economy, according to reporting by KFYR-TV. In an interview with the station, Lisa Young Bear, owner of The Fringe boutique in Bismarck, said Native-owned businesses benefit from strong community support as the Native population and entrepreneurial activity continue to grow.

Young Bear said Sacred Pipe Resource Center supported her business through workshops, counseling and technical assistance but challenges remain, including limited access to grants and resources and difficulties reaching customers beyond the Native community. Young Bear said Native customers make up most of her clientele and added that operating costs remain high. She said she plans to expand her e-commerce platform to reach a broader audience.

South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance gains funding to expand tribal tourism

The South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance has received a $175,000 J.M. Kaplan Innovation Prize to expand its efforts to connect visitors with tribally led tourism experiences across the state, according to South Dakota Searchlight. The nonprofit, formed in 2019, works with tribal nations to train tour guides, develop itineraries and build tourism infrastructure in Native communities.

Executive Director Rhea Waldman said the alliance aims to help meet visitor interest in Native experiences while ensuring tribes define how their stories are shared, according to South Dakota Searchlight. Board member Sarah Kills In Water said the funding will help strengthen partnerships with South Dakota’s nine tribal nations, which are spread across large geographic areas.

The unrestricted grant will also support travel and outreach that are difficult to cover through traditional funding, Waldman said. Alliance leaders said the award will expand the organization’s reach and support long-term growth of tribally driven tourism.

Tahltan Nation approves payments tied to Eskay Creek mine

Members of the Tahltan Nation voted earlier this month to approve an agreement with Skeena Resources to advance the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine in northwest British Columbia, according to Northern Journal. The deal includes an upfront payment of $7,250 to each Tahltan citizen and guarantees benefits valued at more than $1 billion over the life of the mine, largely through cash, contracts and wages, Tahltan officials said. More than 77% of voters supported the agreement, according to the Tahltan Central Government.

The mine is located above the Unuk River, which flows into Southeast Alaska near Ketchikan, raising concerns among some downstream residents and Alaska Native leaders, according to Northern Journal. Tahltan President Kerry Carlick said the agreement embeds the Nation in environmental governance. Critics within the community cited transparency and environmental risks tied to open-pit mining and waste storage. Payments are expected to be distributed in 2026.

Northern Cheyenne buffalo facility installs off-grid solar and storage system

A remote buffalo caretaking facility on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation near Ashland, Montana, has installed a fully off-grid solar and battery system to power its operations and replace a diesel generator, according to Solar Builder Magazine. The system includes 36 kilowatts of solar and 57.6 kilowatt-hours of battery storage, providing electricity to a culturally significant site with no grid access, according to the publication.

The project was developed and installed by Freedom Forever in collaboration with Indigenized Energy, a Native-led nonprofit focused on advancing tribal energy sovereignty. Solar Builder Magazine reported that Jinko Solar donated some of the equipment and materials used on the project.

The new system will allow the facility to expand operations and potentially double the size of its buffalo herd, according to Brandon Small, manager of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation buffalo facility. Small said the increased capacity could also allow the program to increase annual harvests donated back to the community.

Official search ends for missing elder in northeast Oregon

Umatilla Tribal Police: Wesley Dixon Jones case ‘functionally inactive’

Three months after his last known sighting, 71-year-old Wesley Dixon Jones remains missing. In a Jan. 6 press release, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation said its police force has “depleted all its leads” and will no longer conduct searches.

Between Oct. 6 and Dec. 3, searches involved the Jones family, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, FBI and the MMIW Search & Hope Alliance. Aerial and underwater drones, cadaver dogs and underwater AI/sonar devices complemented search efforts on foot and horseback.

UTPD Detective William Morris said investigators will continue to follow up on any new leads, and that he’s unaware of any searches planned by Jones’s family or organizations. If no further action can be taken, there’s a chance Jones could be designated a cold case.

“An open investigation and an active investigation are not exactly the same thing,” Morris was quoted as saying. “I can’t say the investigation is closed because we haven’t discovered the truth, so it’s open but functionally inactive.”

Jones is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 140 lbs. He has brown eyes and long black hair and was last seen wearing a black and red Tiger Scott jacket, black shirt, black sweatpants and boots. A relative said he had a Shakespeare fishing rod with him.

Morris encourages anyone with tips or new leads to call the UTPD at 541-278-0550.

Winter Jam powwow set for Jan. 24 in Bismarck

The Winter Jam Powwow is scheduled for Jan. 24, at the Bismarck Event Center’s main arena in Bismarck, North Dakota, according to event information released by Native Inc. Grand entries are set for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

The event will feature a singing contest with prize money of $5,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place and $3,000 for third place. Dance competitions are planned across age groups and categories, including Golden Age, adult, teen and junior divisions, with prize amounts ranging from $100 to $300. The powwow will be emceed by Whitney Rencounter, with Rusty Gillette as arena director, Chaske LeBlanc as head judge and Frank Jamerson on sound, according to the event listing.

Craft and food vendor spaces are also available, with registration information provided through a QR code on the event flyer.