The Daily Spark

Dozens of Ohio residents gathered in Cleveland for the second annual Tribal Nations Day, founded by Honduras native Alejandro Meza to highlight Indigenous cultures and traditions of Turtle Island and Abya Yala Island, according to Spectrum News 1.

Meza said the event aims to “rebrand Thanksgiving” by honoring Indigenous history and resilience. Attendees participated in cocoa and hapé ceremonies, viewed multimedia art and sampled traditional foods such as frybread tacos. Co-host Ajha “Yona” Dean-Phillips, who is of Afro-Indigenous heritage, shared artwork reflecting Native identity and said the event helps preserve cultural history.

Meza said the celebration invites people of all backgrounds to support Indigenous communities year-round through learning, art and contributions.

According to a release from the Chickasaw Nation, a new monument in Paestum, Italy, honors 50 First American tribes whose members served in the 45th Infantry Division during World War II.

The 10-foot-tall obelisk, marked with the division’s Thunderbird symbol, stands among other memorials to Allied units that landed in southern Italy in September 1943. The monument includes a map of the division’s route through Italy, France and Germany as part of the new Thunderbird Trail.

Oklahoma State University professor David D’Andrea, the trail’s historical adviser, said the project records where the 45th passed, from Sicily to Germany. Maj. Gen. Brad Bowlin of the 36th Infantry Division said in a message that the monument honors both Allied soldiers and the “resilience and spirit of the Italian people.”

Louisiana State Police confirmed its gaming division is investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, according to reporting by Louisiana Illuminator. The inquiry involves former tribal chairman Jonathan Cernek and former casino employees Todd Stewart and Paula Corliss.

An independent audit and internal documents allege Cernek used a casino credit card without tribal approval to build and furnish his personal home. Cernek resigned as chairman in August 2024. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs have also reviewed the casino’s finances, according to Louisiana Illuminator.

Separately, local and tribal police are investigating a gunshot fired late Sunday into the home of current Chairman David Sickey. No injuries were reported, but the tribe reported that a bullet entered the bedroom of Sickey’s child, who was asleep at the time.

Citizens of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate who’ve suffered flood or wind damage from last June’s storms have until Dec. 6 to apply for FEMA relief.

The heavy storms hit the Lake Traverse Reservation June 12-16, and renters and homeowners are encouraged to visit FEMA at the Flood Assistance Center at the tribal headquarters building at 12554 BIA Hwy. 711, Agency Village, between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

According to reporting by Keloland News, the IRS will offer tax relief for those affected by the June storms as well.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is asking hunters to stay alert for signs of missing people during the firearm opener, according to KSTP. The department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office said hunters often explore remote areas that others rarely visit, offering a chance to spot potential evidence.

“Families across Minnesota are waiting for answers,” Ana Negrete, community planner with the office, was quoted as saying. “Even the smallest of clues can bring closure and healing to a family who has carried the pain of an empty seat at the dinner table for far too long.”

Officials advised hunters not to touch any items or remains they find, to photograph them if possible, mark the location and report it to law enforcement.

The disappearance of 14-year-old Neveah Alessandro Campos from Glendale, Arizona, did not trigger a statewide Turquoise Alert, prompting renewed questions about the state’s new missing person system, according to Arizona Luminaria.

Campos, who is Navajo and Latino, was reported missing Nov. 1 after leaving a family member’s home. Despite her high-risk status and hospital-issued safety plan, Glendale police said her case did not meet the criteria for an alert. Her mother, Ashley Alessandro, said she received no contact from investigators until Nov. 6.

Officials with the Arizona Department of Public Safety said runaway cases “without articulable danger or suspicious circumstances” do not qualify for Turquoise Alerts. Advocates and families of missing Indigenous children have criticized the system, saying it fails to respond with urgency. Campos was reunited with relatives Nov. 8 after social services located her, Arizona Luminaria reported.

The Walker River Paiute Tribe in Nevada lost a $20 million federal grant meant to fund water, energy and housing projects after the Environmental Protection Agency terminated the award earlier this year, according to Nevada Current.

The EPA’s Community Change Grant was part of a $2.8 billion program created under the Inflation Reduction Act to help tribes and local governments address climate impacts. The funding ended May 1 when EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin canceled more than 780 environmental-justice grants under a presidential executive order eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Tribal Chair Melanie McFalls said the loss halted key climate-resilience plans, including weatherizing homes and expanding water infrastructure. Despite setbacks, the tribe has continued smaller water and food-security projects with limited funds, Nevada Current reported.

Five South Dakota tribes are asking Congress to restore funding for a tribal data repository project led by the Native BioData Consortium in Eagle Butte, according to reporting by South Dakota Searchlight.

The lab was the primary recipient of a $7 million federal grant for the Data for Indigenous Implementations, Interventions, and Innovations Tribal Data Repository project, funded by the National Institutes of Health. The funding ended in March after the agency halted COVID-19 research.

In letters to U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, tribal leaders called the cut “collateral damage in a blanket cut to all COVID-19 research” and said the repository would protect tribal communities in future health crises. Consortium director Joseph Yracheta told South Dakota Searchlight the project would allow tribes to store and share genetic data securely and on their own terms.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.