The Daily Spark

Spiritg Lake community mourns loss of Danica “Tynee” White

Family asks for donations to assist with funeral expenses

The multijurisdictional search for Danice “Tynee” White, a Spirit Lake citizen, has come to a close after her remains were recovered during a water search Nov. 6. Vicki Alberts, public information officer for the tribe, told Buffalo’s Fire no foul play is suspected.

Alberts said more details will be released at a later time to allow family members time to process this tragedy.

Chairwoman Lonna Jackson-Street commented on the heartbreaking discovery in a press release: “Our hearts are heavy with this news. Danica was a vibrant young woman with her whole life ahead of her. We ask everyone to keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy as they grieve.”

A fund has been set up to assist the family with funeral expenses. Donations can be made at Gate City Bank in Devils Lake, North Dakota, under the account title “Benefit of Danica Tynee White.” Contributions are accepted in person or through the mail.

Indian Health Service engineer honored for federal leadership

Melissa de Vera, a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, received the 2025 Arthur S. Flemming Award for her work with the Indian Health Service, according to MPR News. De Vera serves as assistant director of operations for the agency’s Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction in Bemidji, Minnesota.

MPR News reported that de Vera was recognized for leadership that helped IHS deliver $3.5 billion in sanitation projects funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She led recruitment efforts through partnerships with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to fill vacant engineering positions serving tribal communities.

Bismarck Documenters to host meet and greet at UTTC

Bismarck Documenters will host a meet and greet Thursday, Nov. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the United Tribes Technical College campus in the Student Union room, according to program organizers.

Attendees can learn about the program’s recent coverage, the importance of documenting public meetings, and opportunities to get involved. The event includes time to share experiences, ask questions and connect with community members. A free meal will be provided.

For more information, contact Daniela Aki at daniela@imfreedomalliance.org or Castle Fox at castle@imfreedomalliance.org.

Visa fee hike could strain North Dakota schools, universities and hospitals

School superintendents across North Dakota are warning that a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions could prevent them from hiring international teachers, according to the North Dakota News Cooperative. The Trump administration implemented the fee in late September, targeting large technology companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Apple. The change does not affect current H-1B holders.

Marc Bluestone, superintendent at New Town Public School District, said the increase would be “devastating” for his district, which has brought in 42 teachers on H-1B visas over the past five years. Penny Morin, superintendent at Tate Topa Tribal School in Fort Totten, said her Bureau of Indian Education school was notified it would receive a waiver. Educators at other schools, universities and hospitals expressed concern that the policy could limit their ability to fill critical positions.

New children’s book revisits Standing Rock through a young girl’s eyes

Indigenous journalist and author Rae Rose has released a children’s book, according to ICT. “The Sacred Stone Camp” follows a young girl guided by her unci, LaDonna, as water protectors gather to defend the land and water from the “black snake.” The book is illustrated by Aly McKnight, a Shoshone-Bannock artist known for her watercolor work.

Rose said she wrote the story in tribute to her late friend and relative, activist LaDonna BraveBull Allard, founder of the original Sacred Stone Camp, the protest camp set up along the route of the Dakota Access Pipeline. She said the story aims to show hope and highlight community strength. Rose plans to begin her book tour at Allard’s grave, saying, “She’s the first person I want to share this with.”

Tribal leaders urge state to support Medicaid waiver for addiction treatment

Tribal leaders are calling on North Dakota lawmakers to support a Medicaid waiver that would allow larger treatment centers to receive reimbursement for substance use care, according to the North Dakota Monitor. The request came during a State and Tribal Relations Committee meeting where Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Chair Mark Fox and Good Road Recovery Center Director Jasten Schock described the state’s lack of an Institution for Mental Diseases waiver as a major obstacle.

Fox said the regulation limits treatment to 16 patients at a time and forces the tribe to send members to other states for care. State Sen. Tim Mathern said he plans to draft a bill to create a state version of the waiver. The proposal will be discussed at the committee’s next meeting.

Search expands for missing Spirit Lake citizen Danica White

The search for Danica “Tynee” White, a 20-year-old Spirit Lake citizen missing since Nov. 1, has expanded to include 22 federal, state and tribal agencies, according to a Nov. 5 press release from the Spirit Lake Tribe. Search teams have covered about 15,000 acres with support from MHA Emergency Operations, Turtle Mountain Search and Rescue and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

“We are deeply grateful for the tremendous support from our partners and volunteers,” Spirit Lake Chairwoman Lonna Jackson-Street said in the release. “This collaborative effort highlights the strength of our community during this challenging time.”

The tribe said it does not believe White is in immediate danger but continues to urge anyone with information to contact the Fort Totten Police Department at 701-766-4231. A benefit account accepting donations has been established at Gate City Bank in Devils Lake under “Benefit of Danica Tynee White.”

Reports of ICE in Rapid City

Native community advised to have identification and safety plan

A Nov. 4 Facebook post by International Indigenous Youth Council claims ICE has detained a Lakota person in Rapid City, South Dakota. The post advises the public to “take caution” after reports of ICE activity near the civic center.

The post reports ICE is allegedly targeting Native unhoused people in Rapid City. The ICE agents are described as two men driving a black SUV wearing a bulletproof vest that says “ICE.” The post claims they are checking social security numbers.

The council reminds the Native community to make sure they have their tribal ID and/or a passport and safety plan. “Protect yourselves and each other,” the post reads.

Native housing grants boost 16 tribal-led projects

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka announced its 2025 Native American Housing Initiatives Grants Program awarded $5 million to 16 tribal-led housing and community development projects, according to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. The third year of the program builds on eight awards in 2023 and 12 in 2024.

Awardees include the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority in Clinton, Oklahoma; the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Nebraska and Kansas in Reserve, Kansas; the Iowa Tribe Housing Authority in White Cloud, Kansas; and the Wichita Housing Authority in Anadarko, Oklahoma, each receiving $500,000. The funds will support affordable-housing construction, home rehabilitation, tiny homes for veterans and other targeted initiatives.

Army Corps approves Enbridge pipeline reroute near Bad River reservation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved Enbridge Energy’s plan to reroute a section of its Line 5 oil pipeline around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation, according to the Associated Press and ICT. The 41-mile reroute would replace 12 miles of existing pipeline that cross tribal land.

The Bad River Band and environmental groups oppose the project, arguing it threatens waterways and extends fossil fuel dependence. Enbridge called the federal approval “a major project milestone.” Rob Lee, staff attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, said the decision violates the Clean Water Act. A decision in the state permit challenge is expected later this year. Construction remains on hold until those permits are resolved, Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said.

Native-led groups plan large cultural center in Bismarck

The Native American Development Center and Native Inc. are planning a $27 million to $35 million cultural center in Bismarck, according to the North Dakota Monitor. The 11-acre site would include three acres of affordable housing and feature a gym, auditorium, sweat lodge, healing center and cafeteria, as well as classrooms and art galleries.

Executive Director Lorraine Davis said the center would focus on traditional Indigenous healing, recovery and prevention programs. “It’s all a part of our healing,” she was quoted as saying. Davis added that the project would also support workforce development and business opportunities. State Rep. Dawson Holle, chair of the State and Tribal Relations Committee, said the proposal has bipartisan support and may be discussed during the next legislative session. Davis said the goal is to complete the project within five years.

MHA Nation greenhouse project nears completion of first phase

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s Native Green Grow Greenhouse, or NG2, is nearing completion of its first phase, according to KFYR. The two-hectare facility in Parshall, North Dakota, is scheduled to open Nov. 26.

Chairman Mark Fox told the Minot City Council that the greenhouse could produce nearly two million pounds of food annually. The operation will capture flared gas from oil wells and convert it into energy to grow crops year-round. Fox said he hopes to see NG2 produce, such as strawberries, cucumbers and lettuce, in local grocery stores. He also reported progress in energy development, including increasing crude storage capacity to five million barrels and plans to sell liquid natural gas to foreign markets.

MHA Emergency Operations Center activates response to food shortages amid shutdown

According to KFYR, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the tribe’s response to food access issues caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The center said it will prioritize households on the Fort Berthold Reservation that rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, including off-reservation enrolled members. The tribe also announced a food distribution event on Nov. 10 at the former Jason’s Super Foods in New Town, North Dakota, where the Great Plains Food Bank will distribute 40,000 pounds of nonperishable food to community members in need.

Minnesota signs cannabis agreement with third tribal nation

According to reporting by MPR News, Minnesota officials have signed a cannabis agreement with a third tribal nation, expanding partnerships that allow tribal governments to regulate and sell marijuana on their lands. The agreement with Prairie Island Indian Community is part of the state’s effort to coordinate with tribes as Minnesota’s recreational cannabis market continues to develop.

Under similar compacts, tribal nations operate dispensaries and oversee their own cannabis regulations, with revenues supporting health care, education and community programs. The state has previously reached agreements with the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation.

Trump administration to partially fund SNAP after court rulings

After two judges ordered the government to continue the nation’s largest food aid program during the federal shutdown, the Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for November, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will use $4.65 billion from an emergency fund, enough to cover about half of normal benefits.

The agency had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1. The program serves about one in eight Americans and costs more than $8 billion per month. Officials said it could take weeks for states to distribute reduced benefits. The administration also added $450 million to the Women, Infants, and Children program to help low-income mothers buy food. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urged the USDA to fully fund SNAP, calling partial payments “unacceptable.”

Native food expo highlights resilience amid federal funding cuts

According to Underscore Native News, Indigenous food producers gathered in Seattle Oct.1-3 for the inaugural Native Grown and Gathered Food Expo, organized by Tahoma Peak Solutions. The event drew more than 500 attendees, including farmers, chefs and youth from regional tribes, to share food, culture and connections centered on the theme “feeding the future.”

Organizers Valerie Segrest and Nora Frank-Buckner said the expo aimed to strengthen Indigenous food systems, but future gatherings remain uncertain following federal budget cuts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture revoked funding for programs supporting local and tribal food producers, including those relied on by Yakama Nation Farms. Segrest said the cuts eliminated about $700,000 in planned support for small Native farms, adding that future events may depend on restoring that funding.

Displaced students from Western Alaska resume classes across the state

Hundreds of students displaced by Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska have re-enrolled in schools across Alaska, according to the Alaska Beacon. State education officials estimate about 100 students have enrolled in Bethel and 140 in Anchorage, while others have joined schools in Fairbanks, Kenai, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and other rural areas.

Alaska Department of Education Commissioner Deena Bishop said Anchorage schools are coordinating with state, tribal and nonprofit partners to provide transportation, meals and language assistance for predominantly Yup’ik families. Lower Kuskokwim School District Superintendent Andrew “Hannibal” Anderson said districts are working to keep displaced students and teachers together. Schools in several affected communities continue to serve as shelters and recovery hubs as the state applies for federal and disaster relief funding.

White Earth Nation expands bison herd in northwest Minnesota

The White Earth Nation’s Bison Program has expanded its herd with the arrival of 45 new bison, including yearlings, mature cows and cow-calf pairs, according to MPR News. The additions bring the total herd to 55 bison across two prairies near Naytahwaush and Mahnomen.

Bison foreman Jack Heisler said the animals were received through the InterTribal Buffalo Council, which partners with more than 80 tribes to restore bison to tribal lands. Sixteen of the new bison will support a harvest operation near Mahnomen beginning next spring. Heisler said the goal is to provide a healthy protein source to the community through schools, elder meal programs and ceremonies.

Food Sovereignty and Security Coordinator Nicole LaFrinier said the program also connects cultural and spiritual traditions by teaching traditional harvesting and promoting locally sourced foods.

North Dakota tribes prepare for food and fuel shortages amid federal shutdown

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa have enacted emergency plans to address disruptions to federal food and fuel programs during the ongoing government shutdown, according to the North Dakota Monitor.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa announced more than $1 million in local aid, including $500,000 each for food vouchers and fuel assistance, as well as funds for senior meals, a community soup kitchen and student nutrition programs. Spirit Lake Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe also declared emergencies.

Standing Rock Chair Steve Sitting Bear criticized the shutdown as a violation of federal treaty obligations. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong said the state allocated $1.5 million to the Great Plains Food Bank and the Women, Infants and Children Program to support tribes through November.

Survey examines brain injuries in Native survivors of violence

Researchers at the Urban Indian Health Institute have launched a national survey to measure the prevalence of brain injuries among Native women who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence, according to Stateline.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, the institute’s director and a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, said many Native women show symptoms of traumatic brain injury as a direct result of abuse. She said the new survey aims to document the scope of the problem and guide clinical care, awareness efforts and resource allocation.

The study, developed in partnership with Native Hawaiian advocates, is the first Indigenous-led survey of its kind. Nikki Cristobal, policy and research specialist for Pouhana ʻO Nā Wāhine, said health care providers need more training to recognize brain injuries in survivors of violence.