The Daily Spark

Residents in western Alaska are sharing images and updates after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and severe flooding to coastal villages on Oct. 12, according to the Alaska Beacon. The storm, with gusts reaching up to 107 mph, caused extensive damage in the Kuskokwim Delta and Bering Sea communities, according to local residents.

“Several houses floated miles inland — some with people still inside,” Jacqui Lang of Kipnuk wrote on Facebook. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 51 residents from Kwigillingok and Kipnuk, where one woman was killed, two people remain missing and more than 1,000 were displaced. Emergency crews are working to restore power, repair runways and evacuate residents to Bethel as floodwaters recede, according to the Alaska Beacon.

The Navajo Nation is strengthening its education system through tribally led curricula, language revitalization and higher education initiatives, according to The Daily Yonder. The Navajo Nation Council allocated $172,500 for a Navajo government textbook to be written entirely by Navajo scholars and published in both English and Navajo.

Wendy Greyeyes, a professor of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico, said the initiative gives Navajo authors the opportunity to shape their own history. Rose Graham, director of the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance, said the textbook will help students deepen their cultural understanding and foster pride in their identity.

At Navajo Technical University the Diné Studies Ph.D. program has reached record-high enrollment, with faculty noting the program embeds language, history and cultural perspective throughout its curriculum.

The Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee is establishing the Creek Heritage Center on 4.5 acres of the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve in West Pensacola, Florida, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The center will feature a Learning Grove around a historic oak tree, offering outdoor educational programs, guided tours and hands-on experiences in nature. A greenhouse on site will grow spartina, a critical sea grass used in shoreline restoration projects, addressing local shortages of the plant.

Chief Dan “Sky Horse” Helms said the center will focus on environmental conservation and recreational opportunities, complementing the tribe’s 97-acre Cultural Center in Milton, which highlights history and culture. County support includes arborist services and integration with the Jones Creek Trail and Boardwalk. Grants from Impact 100 and the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program are funding the project, which will also employ youth through the Oyster Corps conservation program.

Wabanaki women on the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians reservation in Maine are participating in self-defense workshops organized by Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, according to Maine Public. The classes, led by MiMi Tarshus and Clara Porter of Prevention, Action, Change, teach participants to recognize threats, de-escalate situations and strike attackers effectively. The program focuses on Indigenous women and two-spirit people, addressing the disproportionate rates of violence against Native women.

Crisis response manager Lena Newell said the workshops also provide support for families affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women. Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis noted that recent federal restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as budget cuts to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, may hinder efforts to combat violence. Participants, including Barbara Haynes and her granddaughter, said the training empowers them to protect themselves and challenge cycles of violence in their communities.

The University of Mary has received a $1.74 million federal grant to support Native American graduate students, according to a university statement. The funding, provided by the Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education, covers master’s degrees in school administration, special education and social work, as well as K-12 administration credentials, at no cost for eligible students.

The grant will provide $500,000 annually for the first three years and $120,000 annually for the final two years. Applicants must be tribal descendants or enrolled members of a tribe, meet admissions standards and commit to working in North Dakota schools where at least 11% of students are Native American. The University of Mary’s Native American Education Leadership Program has received five federal grants since 2016, totaling more than $7.1 million, and has supported over 120 Native American scholars, the university said.

North Dakota Native Vote will hold a candidate training online on Oct. 16 and 17, offering two half-day sessions from 12-4 p.m. The sessions will cover campaign strategy, public speaking, storytelling, understanding systems of power and ways to support other campaigns, according to an announcement by the organization.

The training aims to encourage more Native Americans to run for office and serve in elected roles in North Dakota and beyond. Robert Bird Horse, a Hunkpapa Lakota from Standing Rock, will lead the sessions. Nicole Donaghy, executive director of North Dakota Native Vote, said the program is designed to be accessible and to promote leadership and representation for the state’s Native communities. Registration is available online at bit.ly/NDNV2025.

The University of South Dakota will celebrate Native Heritage Day on Nov. 1 as its football team hosts the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, according to USD Athletics. USD’s Coyotes will wear custom helmet decals designed by Sadie Red Wing (Spirit Lake Dakota) featuring the word Sungmanitu, Lakota for Coyote, and symbols representing the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires.

Red Wing said the design highlights balance, abundance and strength, while John Little, director of Native Recruitment & Alumni Engagement, emphasized the importance of Native representation. Players, including defensive tackle Kainen White (Cherokee), said the helmet inspires pride and encourages recognition of Native culture. USD Native Student Services will also host a morning admissions program and honor Native alumni, students and staff during the game.

A volunteer-organized “No Kings” rally will take place Oct. 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck, according to event organizers. The demonstration is part of a nationwide movement that describes itself as peaceful and committed to nonviolent action.

Organizers said the “No Kings” events call attention to opposition against dictatorship and emphasize democratic values. Participants are encouraged to de-escalate potential confrontations and to act lawfully during the event. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are not allowed at the rally, organizers said.

Montana marked its first official observance of Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 13, joining more than a dozen states and at least 200 cities that officially recognize the holiday, according to Montana Free Press.

The observance follows the passage of Senate Bill 224 earlier this year. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law in the spring, establishing the day as a state holiday alongside Columbus Day.

State Sen. Shane Morigeau, who sponsored the bill, told the Montana Free Press the holiday represents respect and empowerment for Indigenous youth. Marsha Small, cofounder of Indigenous Peoples Day Montana, said the day is meant to foster unity and healing. “This isn’t a political stunt,” Small was quoted as saying. “This is about communities working together for a better horizon.”

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on the second Monday of October to honor the cultures and histories of Native American people. This year, the day falls on Oct. 13, according to National Today. The observance encourages reflection on tribal roots and the experiences that have shaped Indigenous communities.

The first recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day began in 1989 when South Dakota became the first state to adopt the holiday. Today, 14 states and the District of Columbia celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. More than 130 cities across the country also recognize the holiday, which highlights Indigenous contributions, resilience, and sustainable ways of life.

Oct. 10 marks the five-year anniversary of Savanna’s Act. The act is named after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, the 22-year-old Fargo mother who was murdered by her neighbors in 2017.

Greywind was a citizen of Spirit Lake Nation. Her case caught national attention, with Native advocates calling out the need for awareness and policies to address MMIP.

The act was signed into law in 2020 with the goal of improving the federal response to MMIP. Both of North Dakota’s senators, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, co-sponsored the act. The act required the Department of Justice to establish new guidelines in MMIP training, engagement with tribal leaders and data entry. The bill also authorizes the Department of Justice to provide MMIP grants to tribal and state governments.

“Savanna’s Act was born out of heartbreak, but also out of strength,” Spirit Lake Nation Chairwoman Lonna Jackson-Street said in a press release. “Five years later, we continue to honor Savanna’s memory by putting action behind our words. “Here at Spirit Lake, her legacy is alive in the systems we’re building, the families we stand beside, and the voices we refuse to let fade into silence.”

Michigan State University’s Native American Institute partnered with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential to publish an updated Native American Resource Guide, according to MSU’s Office of University Outreach and Engagement. The guide is designed to improve access to tribal and Indigenous services and opportunities across Michigan.

Melissa Kiesewetter, Tribal liaison for MiLEAP, said the guide supports Native students and families by connecting them with educational resources, scholarships and community programs. Kevin Leonard, director of the Native American Institute, said the collaboration ensures tribal nations and community members can access needed supports. The 2025 edition of the guide, which was last published in 2016, is available both online and in print and includes updated information and artwork from Native artists in Michigan.

The North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, founded in 2016, is gaining international attention for promoting Native-led tourism across the state, according to KXNET. The organization represents all five of North Dakota’s tribal nations and partners with North Dakota Tourism to coordinate cultural tours for domestic and international visitors.

The alliance’s unified support and funding from each tribal nation has helped it expand and serve as a national model for tribal tourism development. The alliance also plays a key role in hosting events such as the International Roundup, which brings tour companies from abroad to North Dakota.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has responded to a press release from the 25th Navajo Nation Council that accuses his administration of defunding missing persons services to pay for travel and operations. Nygren called the statement “misinformation” in a post on the Office of the President Vice President website, saying his administration allocated $4.7 million for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives programs for fiscal year 2026 — the largest amount in Navajo Nation history.

The release states the Four Corners K-9 Search and Rescue program will receive $20,000 of a planned $250,000 initial funding. Nygren said some funds were redirected to maintain executive branch operations and that travel spending supports community visits, food distribution and emergency response efforts. “Numbers don’t lie, and neither do the results,” Nygren said.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is on track to become the first tribal nation to fully transition its school bus fleet to electric by the end of 2025, according to the World Resources Institute. The move follows the deployment of the tribe’s first electric school bus in 2022 and is part of a growing effort among tribal nations and Native communities to reduce emissions and improve student health.

As of July, more than 400 electric school buses operate in 70 Native school districts nationwide. Communities including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine, Red Lake Nation in Minnesota and Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma have adopted the technology, citing cost savings, cleaner air and cultural integration as key benefits.

A new picture book, “The Sacred Stone Camp,” tells the story of LaDonna BraveBull Allard, tribal historian for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who founded the Sacred Stone Camp in 2016, according to The Seattle Times. Written by Seattle author Rae Rose and illustrated by Aly McKnight, the book recounts how Allard and her husband, Miles, organized the camp along the Cannonball River in North Dakota as part of the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Rose said she wanted to highlight Allard’s legacy and her philosophy of generosity, protection of sacred lands and advocacy for her people. The book also explores Lakota prophecies, the meaning of “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ” and the broader message of environmental stewardship and unity.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe held its 2025 Inauguration for newly elected Chairman Steve Sitting Bear and several council members at the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Friends, family, tribal members and government officials also honored retiring Chairwoman Janet Alkire, the tribe’s first enrolled woman to hold the position of chair, along with other outgoing council members and past tribal leaders.

Alkire told Buffalo’s Fire she never thought she’d step into the role of chairwoman four years ago, but “the Creator put her there” to serve with truth and compassion. She said she’s now ready to retire, and thinks the tribe’s future is in good hands with Chairman Sitting Bear.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation received a $249,262 federal grant to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, according to KXNET. The Nation is one of only two tribal nations selected for the 2025 USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

The $200 million federal initiative supports 58 projects across 22 states and two tribal nations to improve wildfire preparedness, build capacity and strengthen fire management. The MHA Nation’s plan will focus on fuel management, community readiness and interagency coordination, led by the tribe’s Emergency Operations Center. A project coordinator and wildfire planning contractor will oversee the five-year effort, which follows the October 2024 Bear Den Fire that burned 13,000 acres in northwest North Dakota. The grant proposal was developed by retired Fire Management Officer Mare Baker.

The Indigenous musical “Bear Grease” is playing to sold-out audiences on a Canadian tour following a successful off-Broadway run in New York City, according to ICT. The show, created by Crystle Lightning and rapper MC RedCloud, reimagines the 1978 movie “Grease” with Indigenous music, humor and storytelling.

Lightning told the audience at Winnipeg’s Burton Cummings Theatre that the cast worked hard to bring Indigenous representation to the stage. “We’re the first Indigenous musical to have our own playbill,” Lightning was quoted as saying. “We had a dream, we had a goal, and we chased after it.” RedCloud said the all-Indigenous cast honors elders who “paved the way” and reflects how far Indigenous performers have come since the 1950s and 1960s.