Funding Boost
Aug 11, 2025

NPS awards $1 million to Turtle Mountain Band for playground and picnic projects


August 11, 2025

The National Park Service awarded $1 million to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to build five playground and picnic areas expected to be completed by the end of 2029, according to InForum. The funds will be allocated through the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department via the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is primarily financed by federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue.

Since 1965, the National Park Service has provided more than 45,000 LWCF grants supporting local park projects and expanding outdoor recreation access. The 2019 John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act reauthorized the fund and ensures states receive at least 40% of its funding, InForum reported.

We provide the independent reporting that non-Native, extractive outlets often overlook. We give our communities the context and the facts they need to make informed decisions.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government decision-making for everyone who cares about transparency about Native issues. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise. Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact.