The Daily Spark

Tribal nations in Michigan are partnering with the state to restore wild rice, known as manoomin, to lakes and streams across the region, according to MLive. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community have worked together for the past decade to sow thousands of pounds of wild rice seed. The effort has since expanded to include other tribal partners, including the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa.

Bay Mills fisheries biologist Frank Zomer said tribal communities are sourcing seeds and determining where restoration projects should take place. Despite federal funding cuts earlier this year, state and tribal officials continue their collaboration through the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative, which aims to protect manoomin and raise awareness of its ecological and cultural importance.

Turtle Mountain College in Belcourt, North Dakota, has received a $22 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, according to the Minot Daily News. The college announced the donation on Nov. 24, describing it as the largest private gift in its history. It follows an $8 million donation from Scott in 2020.

Wanda Parisien, president of Turtle Mountain College, said the contribution will strengthen the college’s mission and future. “We are profoundly grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this extraordinary commitment to our students and our mission,” Parisien was quoted as saying. She added that the funding will ensure financial stability and expand opportunities for students to thrive academically while honoring their heritage and traditions.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe continues efforts to restore food sovereignty and cultural traditions through programs that connect members to first foods such as salmon, steelhead, camas lily bulbs and huckleberries, according to The Reflector.

Tribal Chairman Bill Iyall said access to first foods remains a top priority and reflects the tribe’s commitment to sustainability and community well-being. The Fish Distribution Program, which has operated for more than 20 years, now ships filleted fish nationwide to tribal members. The Cowlitz community garden, established in 2019, distributes food and plant medicines to more than 375 Native households along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Iyall said the tribe’s preservation efforts extend beyond tribal members, benefiting the wider community and continuing the work to reclaim traditional hunting and fishing rights.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and Killdeer High School hosted their first assembly about Indigenous culture, according to Dakota News Network. MHA borders Killdeer, North Dakota, and the school district has about 85 Indigenous students.

Two history teachers at the school reached out to Jessica Howling Wolf to provide authentic cultural education for their students. Howling Wolf collaborated with the MHA Nation to organize an educational and immersive assembly, marking the first partnership of its kind between the neighboring communities.

Eight months after Renzo Bullhead went missing, trained volunteers with search dogs combed a previously off-limits area near Bismarck’s train bridge on Nov. 22, according to Valley News Live.

Ten volunteer ground searchers and certified dogs from Northstar Search & Rescue of Minnesota participated in the operation. Spirit Lake Tribe officials said the Northstar K9 team focused on water areas after receiving information suggesting Bullhead may have been dragged from the water.

The Bismarck Police Department was present during the search, and findings will be shared with Mandan police, Bismarck police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs MMIP Unit. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Vice Chairman Mike Faith said tribal officials helped coordinate the effort to ensure the search was conducted “legally and safely.”

Deidre “Roxy” Leaf, Bullhead’s mother, said she remains grateful for continued efforts and “will not stop fighting” for answers.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes of Arizona and California voted this month to recognize the Colorado River as a living being with the same legal rights as a person, according to KUNC. The resolution states that “there is no greater expression of sovereignty than protecting, stewarding, and securing for future generations what our Ancestors handed down to us.”

Chairwoman Amelia Flores said the designation gives the tribal council authority to include actions in future water transactions that support the river’s long-term health, such as habitat restoration and wetland development. The tribes hold the senior-most water rights in Arizona for Colorado River water, Flores said, adding that protection efforts must focus on what people can give back to the river, not only what it provides.

Holistic Health Group, Inc., operating as Suncrafted, has partnered with Tribal Fire, a cannabis delivery service based on Cape Cod, to launch the first licensed Native American cannabis brand on the East Coast, according to PR Newswire. The partnership aims to support members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts through the sale of cannabis products including flower, pre-rolls and vape cartridges.

Tribal Fire founder John Marcellino said the collaboration honors Wampanoag traditions while promoting sustainable cultivation practices. Suncrafted President Tim McNamara said the company’s natural production methods, such as using local cranberries, align with Tribal Fire’s focus on sustainability and cultural reverence. The products are currently available through Tribal Fire’s delivery service, with plans to expand to dispensaries statewide.

The FBI announced new arrests and convictions following Operation Not Forgotten, a nationwide effort to solve violent crimes in Indian Country. The Department of Justice said in a press release it deployed 64 personnel through field offices across 10 states, making 1,123 arrests, charging 1,260 suspects, recovering 304 weapons and identifying or finding 458 child victims.

The press release called the effort the “longest and most intense” FBI deployment in Indian Country history. The agency worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal law enforcement on more than 330 investigations, using tools such as ground-penetrating radar and underwater cameras.

Indigenous lactation advocates in Minnesota are helping Native parents navigate breastfeeding through culturally informed education and support. According to MPR News, lactation consultant Camila Valenzuela-Panza offers free home visits and classes at the Ain Dah Yung Center in St. Paul. Valenzuela-Panza, who is of Mapuche ancestry, said access to care is limited because insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants is low and outpatient appointments are difficult to schedule.

Valenzuela-Panza is part of the Indigenous Breastfeeding Coalition of Minnesota, led by Shashana Skippingday and Pearl Walker-Swaney. The coalition promotes breastfeeding as a traditional practice and provides resources for new parents. The Minnesota Department of Health reports that breastfeeding rates among Indigenous parents are among the lowest in the state, due in part to lack of support and access to prenatal education.

Eight months after Savannah Standing Bear went missing from the Parmelee community on the Rosebud Reservation, her family continues to search for answers. Standing Bear, 23, was last heard from on March 24, according to South Dakota Searchlight and ICT. Her mother, Gayla Smith, described Standing Bear as someone who helped others. Her father, Severt Standing Bear, told South Dakota Searchlight he has lost track of how many times he’s undertaken trips to search for her.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Savannah’s whereabouts and said it is working on the case with the FBI and Rosebud Sioux Department of Public Safety. Native Americans make up 60% of South Dakota’s current missing persons cases, according to the state’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse.

Tips can be submitted to the BIA at 833-560-2065 or by emailing OJS_MMU@bia.gov.

Shine Bright & Live, a Bismarck-based HIV nonprofit, will host Lights Across the Prairie on Dec. 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Hub, 321 S. First St. The free event will feature live music, speakers, educational booths, food and a silent auction, according to the organization.

Founded in 2024 by Jason Grueneich in honor of his late partner, Shine Bright & Live is North Dakota’s only HIV-focused nonprofit. The organization provides education and advocacy and operates Shine Out Loud, an HIV speakers bureau. In a press release from the organization, Grueneich was quoted as saying, “We want to create a space for more community, and a great way to start is with events like these.”

More information is available at ShineBrightandLive.org or by email at Director@shinebrightandlive.org.

Wabanaki leaders say recent developments have shown the benefits of increased tribal authority as Maine legislators prepare to revisit sovereignty proposals, according to Maine Morning Star. The Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mi’kmaq Nation are seeking changes to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which limits their self-governance.

Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis said tribal revenue gained through greater autonomy helped provide food assistance during the recent federal shutdown. Houlton Band Chief Clarissa Sabattis said sports betting revenue allowed the tribe to improve housing. Despite these gains, tribal leaders said disparities remain. Two bills sponsored by Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross will again be considered next session, one restoring Wabanaki access to federal laws and another enacting broader sovereignty reforms.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, during the Center for Indian Country Development’s 10th -anniversary and fifth annual Data Summit, tribal leaders and economists emphasized that economic data support Native nations in governing their own communities. The Oct. 8–9 event saw more than 250 in-person participants and over 1,500 online attendees.

Speakers such as Maranda Compton of the Delaware Tribe of Indians was quoted as saying, “Data is one of our sharpest and best tools to protect modern tribal sovereignty — starting with the sovereign nations themselves.” They discussed new tools including the Survey of Native Nations, which allows tribes to compare their revenue and expenditure data with those of other tribes and state or local governments.

The U.S. Department of Education is transferring 24 programs that serve Indian Country to the Department of the Interior, according to MPR. The move includes Native-specific programs such as Title VI, Native Language programming and tribal college initiatives.

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium said the changes will significantly affect the nation’s education system, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said it was not contacted before the restructuring. “This move reflects a troubling return to historical patterns of federal control over Native education,” Chairman Steven Sitting Bear said in a Nov. 21 statement.

The Indian Health Service has begun requiring approval for terms such as “immunizations” and “vaccines” in its public messaging, according to internal emails obtained by ProPublica. The messages show that agency officials now classify the terms as “medium-risk” and require clearance by public information officers before appearing in social media posts, pamphlets or presentations.

The shift follows changes in vaccine policy under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic. IHS clinicians told ProPublica the new restrictions have limited their ability to promote immunizations and respond to outbreaks on the Navajo Nation, where vaccination rates have historically been high. In a statement, an HHS spokesperson said the revisions were intended to support “shared decision-making” between patients and providers while maintaining “accurate, evidence-based information.”

Elena Rodriguez of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation has been named one of 12 student ambassadors for 2025-26 by the American Indian College Fund, according to the Minot Daily News.

Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates and is pursuing a master’s degree in geological engineering at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. The College Fund said she hopes the ambassador role will strengthen her presentation and public speaking skills to share the importance of tribal education and scholarships for Native youth.

Student ambassadors attend training in Denver focused on leadership development, public speaking and communication to raise awareness and understanding of American Indian and Alaska Native cultures throughout the year, according to the College Fund.

United Natives, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, is collaborating with the Arizona Cardinals on a ticket fundraiser for the team’s Nov. 23 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ICT.

A portion of every ticket sold through a link with United Natives will be donated to the organization to support youth mental health and community outreach. Founded by Dr. Crystal Lee, Navajo, the nonprofit began as a mentorship program in 2010 and expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide tele-mental health services in 26 states. Executive Director Tennalle John, Diné, said the group also hosts youth sports camps across Arizona.

John said the fundraiser could lead to a larger collaboration with the Cardinals, possibly a future Native American Heritage night. “This is more of a starting initiative that could grow into something much larger in the future,” Lee was quoted as saying.

Tribal public radio stations in South Dakota are receiving short-term federal support following the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, according to South Dakota Searchlight.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indigenous Connectivity and Technology announced award notices to KILI in Porcupine, KOYA in St. Francis and KDKO in Lake Andes. A funding award is also expected for KLND in McLaughlin, which serves the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River reservations. The $9.4 million in aid for 38 tribal stations follows a deal brokered by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds after Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in public media funding in July.

KILI manager Oitancan “Oi” Zephier said the station’s BIA award matches its prior funding level but does not solve long-term financial concerns. “We need new equipment,” Zephier was quoted as saying. “We need a new emergency alert system, and that’s going to cost us about $170,000 alone.”

North Dakota’s Indigenous community shared its culture through art, stories, music and dance during the North Dakota Native Heritage Showcase at the state Capitol in Bismarck on Friday, according to the North Dakota Monitor.

The event, part of Native American Heritage Month, featured vendor tables with handmade jewelry, paintings, books and other items. Brad Hawk, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, said the showcase highlights diverse Native cultures and local nonprofit groups. “It’s more than music. It’s more than regalia. We have different aspects of the culture in arts,” Hawk said.

United Tribes Technical College instructor Dakota Goodhouse played a traditional wooden flute and shared its history, while vendor Melanie Schwab of The Modern Sioux in Mandan displayed jewelry made from animal parts to honor ancestral practices.