The Daily Spark

A group of Apache women is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after federal forest land in Arizona was transferred to Resolution Copper for a planned mining project, according to the Associated Press. The transfer was completed after an appeals court denied requests by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmentalists to block the move, ruling their legal claims likely would not succeed and lifting an emergency injunction.

The land includes Oak Flat, known to the San Carlos Apache people as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, which is used for religious ceremonies, prayer and gathering medicinal plants. The court acknowledged the transfer will fundamentally alter the land and lead to the destruction of sacred sites but stated that Congress authorized the exchange. Apache Stronghold and other plaintiffs have opposed the project for years as Resolution Copper and federal officials say it will support domestic mineral production.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community released findings from a first-of-its-kind report examining how technology and digital media use affect the well-being of Native youth in Minnesota. According to MPR News, about 90% of respondents said that addressing technology use is more important than other issues facing Native youth and that its impact — particularly on physical and mental health — is overwhelmingly negative.

The research, conducted by LiveMore ScreenLess and funded through IndigeFit Kids, surveyed 242 adults who work with Native youth across 42 Minnesota counties, according to MPR News. Respondents cited limited culturally relevant resources, competing classroom demands and rapid technological change as barriers. Ashley Cornforth, SMSC secretary-treasurer and co-chair of IndigeFit Kids, said the findings will help guide culturally meaningful strategies to support Native youth well-being

Native elders are sharing cultural knowledge with youth through the Brave Heart Society in Lake Andes, South Dakota, where grandmothers are working to pass traditions to the next generation, according to KELOLAND News. Director Faith Spotted Eagle said the effort reflects a resurgence of cultural practices that have remained within communities.

Students and adults gathered for the Waterlily Storytelling Institute to learn from elders about identity and tradition. Cheyenne Waters of Pine Ridge said the experience supports healing and helps youth understand their roots. The Brave Heart Society, founded in 1994 by grandmothers on the Yankton Reservation, also offers language and art classes, coming-of-age ceremonies and summer field schools focused on traditional ecological knowledge, according to KELOLAND News.

Applications are now open for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, a new designation recognizing higher education institutions that center sustainability and climate action in their mission and impact, according to the University of Colorado Boulder.

The classification is led by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. Institutions must submit an intent to apply by July 17, 2026, with final applications due Dec. 4, 2026, according to the University of Colorado Boulder.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.colorado.edu/sustainability/carnegie-elective-classification-sustainability

Leaders from Virginia’s federally recognized tribal nations discussed sovereignty, education and environmental concerns during a March 14 panel at the University of Virginia, according to The Cavalier Daily.

The event featured representatives from the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Nansemond, Pamunkey, Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi tribes. Panelists emphasized the importance of sovereignty and described limits tied to federal funding. Kerry Canaday of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe said federal oversight affects how tribes manage resources. Leaders also raised concerns about a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permit affecting tribal lands and said tribes were not consulted. Panelists also highlighted efforts through the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium to expand Native representation in K-12 education and support tribal students.

The San Antonio Spurs will host Native American Heritage Night on April 6 during their game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Frost Bank Center, according to KENS 5.

The event will feature live performances, cultural storytelling and in-game tributes honoring Native American heritage. The Spurs are partnering with American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, the Lindy Waters III Foundation and Nike N7 to support the event. Activities will include a pregame land acknowledgment, cultural performances and opportunities to learn about Native history and organizations. A $5,000 grant will be presented to community leaders, along with tributes recognizing contributions to Native communities. Spurs player Lindy Waters III told KENS 5, “Events like this honor our ancestors and create visibility for our people.”

A Oneida Nation program is using Indigenous foods to address health disparities and reconnect community members to traditional foodways, according to PBS Wisconsin and ICT.

Ukwakhwa, which means “our foods” in the Oneida language, operates a “From Seed to Table” initiative supported by a $250,000 grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program. The program subsidizes meals prepared by Indigenous chefs and offers workshops using foods grown on the reservation. Stephen Webster, director of farm and culinary operations, said the initiative has provided 1,393 meals through its hot lunch program and additional meals through meal preparation classes. Eldon Powless, an Oneida chef, said he incorporates locally sourced ingredients such as wild rice, beans and corn into dishes. Webster said the effort blends traditional knowledge with modern cooking to expand diets and improve community wellness

Urban Indigenous voters in Illinois cited affordable housing, access to resources and stronger engagement from elected officials as key issues in the state’s primary election, according to ICT.

In Chicago, home to a large share of the state’s Indigenous population, voters said they want candidates who understand Indigenous issues and communicate with urban Native communities. Andrew Johnson, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and member of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, said voters are seeking better access to funding and enforcement of laws such as the Indian Child Welfare Act. Pamela Silas, Menominee and Oneida, said affordable housing remains a top concern.

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa marked the return of three land parcels totaling nearly 90 acres during a ceremony and community luncheon Monday, according to MPR News. Tribal officials said it is the largest return of Grand Portage land in recent history. The acquisition was funded by a $1.2 million grant from the Duluth-based Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, allowing the band to purchase the land from a related family trust. Chairman Robert Deschampe signed a proclamation declaring March 16, 2026, “Land Return Day.”

According to reporting by MPR News, the returned land includes 80 acres within the reservation, Francis Island in the Susie Islands on Lake Superior and a five-acre parcel known as Paradise Beach. Foundation officials said the grant followed a review of how the family’s wealth was tied to historic land acquisitions involving Grand Portage land. Tribal leaders said the return contributes to ongoing efforts to restore land lost through allotment policies.

An art exhibit titled “Flora and Fowl: A Folk Art Perspective on the Northern Plains” by Molly McLain and Dakota Wind Goodhouse is on display through April 2 at Bismarck State College, according to event details.

A gallery reception was held March 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gannon Gallery in Skogen Hall 214. The exhibit features watercolor birds of the Northern Plains, rosemaling-inspired folk art and mosaics of native plants. The display highlights themes of land, heritage and open spaces. The Gannon Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Exhibit C Gallery will present “Tied to Memory: Ribbons as Art, Adornment and Identity” from March 6 through June 29, 2026, according to an official announcement from the gallery. The exhibition explores the role of ribbons in First American art, culture and personal storytelling.

The exhibit includes ribbon skirts, traditional garments, paintings and mixed-media works that show how ribbons function as symbols of identity, resilience and memory. Ten First American artists representing multiple tribal Nations are featured, including Emma Alcazar, Amber Duboise-Shepherd, Elaine Emmons, Melissa Freeman, Kristin Gentry, Jessica Harjo, Jennifer Hicks, Natalie Miller, Traci Renbarger and Renelle White Buffalo, according to the gallery.

3 Feathers, a Native-owned quilt company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, uses humor and social media trends to market its products, according to ICT. Founder Benjamin Leedom, Northern Cheyenne and Santee Dakota, and Samantha Pourier, Oglala Lakota, create short videos using trending audio and skits to promote the business. The company began expanding its online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic by using Facebook livestreams and giveaways to reach customers after in-person sales declined.

According to ICT, the business specializes in handmade star quilts and produces about seven quilts per day with fewer than 10 employees. Social media efforts have increased visibility and sales, particularly during livestreams. Leedom said the company also focuses on community giving, including fundraising efforts tied to quilt giveaways. The business recently opened a storefront in Rapid City and plans a grand opening in April.

Federal officials and Santa Ana Pueblo leaders announced plans Friday to build a $251 million Indian Health Service outpatient clinic on Pueblo land west of Albuquerque, according to Source NM. The 235,000-square-foot facility is expected to serve Indigenous patients from nearby pueblos including Zia, Jemez and Sandia, as well as residents in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Officials said the clinic will offer services such as dental, optometry, dialysis and diabetes care, along with culturally relevant healing practices, and is expected to employ more than 500 people.

According to Source NM, the project has been on a federal priority list since 1993. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has committed $22 million for planning, with construction expected to begin in 2027. HHS officials said the project is part of a broader backlog of Indian Health Service infrastructure needs totaling about $8 billion.

Youth leaders dismantled a Dakota prayer camp at the sacred site Mni Owe Sni in south Minneapolis on Saturday, according to MPR News. The camp, which had stood for more than a month, was taken down after several days of interrupted prayer. Two remaining white canvas tipis were removed by youth leaders Joe Crow Shoe, Allen Michael Owen and Nina Bergland, with support from volunteers following the close of prayer ceremonies.

According to MPR News, two additional tipis had blown down during windstorms late the previous week. The camp was established Feb. 9 across from the Whipple Federal Building in protest of recent federal immigration operations in Minnesota. Youth leaders agreed to close the camp after a March 8 discussion with Lakota elder Arvol Looking Horse. The site is co-managed by the National Park Service and four Dakota tribal nations and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.

A judge sentenced Gregory Edward Landers, 55, to seven years in prison this month for the 2022 killing of Acey Morrison, a 30-year-old transgender woman and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, according to South Dakota Searchlight. Landers pleaded guilty in November 2024 to second-degree manslaughter. In exchange, prosecutors dropped first-degree manslaughter and a weapons charge and agreed to seek no more than 10 years with three years suspended. Landers has already served about two years in jail and could be eligible for parole within a few years.

Landers had argued self-defense, but Judge Heidi Linngren ruled in 2024 that evidence did not support that claim, allowing the case to proceed. Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel said inconsistencies in Landers’s account contributed to the decision to charge the case. Morrison’s family told South Dakota Searchlight the sentence offers limited closure as they continue to seek justice in the 2023 killing of Daniel Freeman, Morrison’s relative, which remains unresolved.

Colorado lawmakers are urging federal officials to review law enforcement staffing on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation following a rise in violent crime, according to reporting by KSUT. U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct a 90-day needs assessment and explain why the reservation has one BIA-assigned officer despite reports that 10 officers were previously assigned.

According to KSUT, the reservation spans nearly 600,000 acres and includes the community of Towaoc, Colorado, and White Mesa, Utah. Tribal leaders and lawmakers say the limited staffing comes as the community faces increased gun violence, domestic violence and stabbings. In January, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council enacted a nightly curfew across the reservation in an effort to reduce violence while policing resources remain limited. Lawmakers said they will continue pressing federal officials for additional law enforcement support.

Anishinaabe songwriter Keith Secola and Cayuga actor and musician Gary Farmer recently spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about touring northern Minnesota together as part of the Ancestral Fire Music Tour. The tour began March 12 and includes performances in Virginia, Bemidji and Grand Rapids before concluding March 15 with a show in south Minneapolis.

Secola, a member of the Native Music Hall of Fame, and Farmer, known for acting roles including Nobody in the 1995 film “Dead Man” and Uncle Brownie in the television series “Reservation Dogs,” are performing contemporary Native blues, rock and traditional music during the tour. Farmer said he is performing with guitarist Jaime Bird Yellowhorse of the Navajo and Pueblo peoples, while Secola discussed his recent album Ranger, recorded with a group of musicians rooted in northern Minnesota. The artists described the tour as a way to bring people together through music and shared cultural expression.

Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case defended the department’s handling of a serial killer investigation featured in the documentary series “Lost Women of Alaska,” which examines the case of Brian Steven Smith, who was arrested in 2019 and convicted of torturing and killing two Alaska Native women, according to reporting by the Alaska Beacon. In the series, victims’ families and advocates question how Anchorage detectives handled the case and broader investigations involving missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Case rejected claims in the series that Anchorage provides an environment where perpetrators can target women and said the department has implemented policy changes, increased enforcement and expanded technology use to improve investigations. According to the Alaska Beacon, the Anchorage Police Department reported 39 active cases of missing adults as of March 10. Case said the department is also working to establish a victim advocate position within the homicide unit to improve communication with families of victims.

The New Mexico Department of Justice’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force met March 13 at Acoma Pueblo to discuss funding and support efforts addressing cases involving missing Indigenous people. During the meeting, Kayla Benally spoke about the disappearance of her father, Aaron Mark Bradley, a 68-year-old citizen of the Navajo Nation who was last seen Sept. 6 at a convenience store in Shonto, Arizona, according to reporting by New Mexico In Depth.

State lawmakers approved funding during this year’s legislative session for efforts related to the crisis, including appropriations to the Office of the Medical Investigator for testing human remains and the Crime Victims Reparation Commission, Rep. Charlotte Little, D-Albuquerque from San Felipe Pueblo, said during the meeting. According to New Mexico In Depth, the state budget also extends the task force’s ability to use the remaining $200,000 previously allocated for its operations while members work on funding recommendations and updates to the state’s response plan.