The Daily Spark

A bill proposing a legislative study of oil and chemical spill risks on highways within the Fort Berthold Reservation failed to pass the North Dakota House, but Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Mandaree, says she remains dedicated to raising awareness. House Bill 1611 aimed to assess environmental and health risks through collaboration with tribal and state agencies. Despite its 62-24 defeat, Finley-DeVille emphasized the need for site-specific data to guide future policy.

Pastor Duane Fox was honored for over 40 years of service to the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation during a community Easter dinner Wednesday at the Ralph Wells Community Center. Fox, a former police officer and founding member of the White Shield Spirit Riders, received a warbonnet, satin star quilts and an award from MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox. The event, hosted by Councilman Fred Fox, also featured announcements of new bikes for White Shield students and tribal interest in a potential woolly mammoth project.

Native American artist Monte Yellow Bird Sr., also known as Black Pinto Horse, will speak at Cloud County Community College’s Cook Series on Thursday, April 24. The event, titled “If You're Going to Shine, Shine Brightly,” begins at 7 p.m. at Cook Theatre and is free and open to the public. Yellow Bird, known for work blending Indigenous heritage and fine arts, is a descendant of Bears Teeth, Iron Bear, Strikes Enemy and Sitting Bear.

The Trump administration has cut at least $1.6 million in federal grants for Native American boarding school research projects, ending efforts to preserve and share stories of survivors. According to the Associated Press, the National Endowment for the Humanities cited a shift in agency priorities. Impacted projects include a $282,000 grant to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, which had been digitizing records used by families to trace relatives.

The Youth Empowerment Project’s Springfield chapter awarded $10,000 to six nonprofits for youth-focused education and community service programs.

Recipients include the American Indian Center of Springfield, which received $2,025 to enhance its Youth Drum Group Program, a cultural initiative promoting Powwow drumming. Other grants support mental health, crisis support, food security, employment training and domestic violence education.

YEP is supported by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and includes students from three area high schools.

Northwestern University’s seventh annual Indigenous research symposium, hosted by the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, highlighted community-driven scholarship and language revitalization projects led by Native scholars across the U.S. The event honored 100 years since the Indian Citizenship Act with the theme “Indigenous Futures: 100 years back, 100 years forward.”

Projects included Zapotec language workshops in Los Angeles and Ojibwe wild rice research in Minnesota. Speakers emphasized data sovereignty, mentorship and Indigenous self-determination in research.

The University of North Dakota will hold its 53rd annual Time Out Wacipi Powwow on April 25–26 at the Alerus Center. The free, public event celebrates Indigenous culture with dancing, singing and a traditional feed on Saturday at 5 p.m. Hosted by the Indigenous Student Center, the powwow is part of Time Out Week, featuring talks, art, and community events.

For full schedule and visitor info, visit: University of North Dakota

The Cocopah Indian Tribe is launching a 400-acre restoration project in Arizona’s Colorado River floodplain, aiming to remove invasive species and replant native vegetation. With support from the National Audubon Society and federal funding, the project will restore access to traditional gathering spaces and reconnect youth to the river’s cultural significance. Vice Chairman Neil White said the effort is “going to empower us to get back to our traditional ways.”

Twelve students from Department of Defense Education Activity schools are suing the Department of Defense, claiming their First Amendment rights were violated by recent book bans and curriculum changes. The federal suit, filed April 15 in Virginia, follows executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump in January 2025. Removed materials reportedly include content on Native American history, slavery, gender identity, and AP Psychology. The ACLU of Virginia and ACLU of Kentucky represent the students.

A new travel guide invites visitors to explore tribal history along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Created by the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association in collaboration with the National Park Service, the guide highlights Indigenous communities in Arizona and California, emphasizing resilience and cultural heritage. It features contributions from 11 tribes in Arizona and 49 federally recognized tribes in California. The guide includes maps, traditional place names, and details on museums and cultural centers.

North Dakota has partnered with five tribal nations to revise textbooks on Native American history, aiming to replace materials that have been in use for over 30 years. The updated curriculum will be available for the upcoming school year in state-owned schools. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that Native American perspectives are accurately represented in educational resources. The revised textbooks will provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of Native history and culture.

Two Blackfeet Nation members, State Sen. Susan Webber and rancher Jonathan St. Goddard, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging tariffs imposed on Canada under the Trump administration. The plaintiffs argue that the tariffs violate the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress, not the president, the power to regulate commerce, and infringe on Native American treaty rights, specifically the Jay Treaty of 1794. The lawsuit, filed in Montana federal district court, also targets several executive orders expanding emergency declarations.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured tribal communities in Arizona and New Mexico last week, emphasizing his focus on chronic disease prevention. However, the CDC’s Healthy Tribes program—an initiative integrating traditional Native medicine and foods—has seen major staff cuts. According to tribal leaders and health advocates, the layoffs jeopardize tribal health services and may violate federal trust responsibilities. Kennedy did not publicly address the program during his visits.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 1237 in a 71–40 vote, advancing legislation that would ban Native American names, mascots and imagery in public K-12 schools. If enacted, about 90 schools would be required to retire such mascots by July 1, 2026. Schools may keep current materials until 2030 if they commit to a transition plan. Exceptions apply with written consent from federally recognized tribes and educational partnerships. The bill now heads to the state Senate.

Michael Collins, a North Texas welder known for creating memorial crosses for victims of violent crime, is building his largest cross yet—standing over 25 feet tall—in honor of Emily, a recent homicide victim. Collins, who previously crafted crosses for the victims of the Uvalde school shooting, told CBS News Texas the project is deeply personal and aims to bring awareness to violent crime.

Children of the Setting Sun, an Indigenous-led nonprofit, will host the Wake Up, Stand Up rally on April 22 in downtown Bellingham as part of its Earth Day launch. The event highlights environmental stewardship and intergenerational healing rooted in Native teachings. Speakers include tribal leaders, artists and activists from across the Pacific Northwest. Music, food and educational booths are planned. The rally precedes the 2026 opening of the organization’s new headquarters, Setting Sun Circle.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong visited the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, marking the first joint visit by both state leaders to the reservation in a decade. According to Rhoden, the governors met with Chairwoman Janet Alkire and tribal council members to discuss education, economic development, water permits and federal funding. The visit included a school tour and student engagement. Rhoden emphasized his commitment to working with all nine tribal nations in South Dakota.

Workers have recovered 29,400 gallons of crude oil following a spill along the Keystone Pipeline near Fort Ransom, North Dakota. The spill, which released an estimated 147,000 gallons of oil, occurred Tuesday. The pipeline remains shut down as South Bow investigates the cause and works with regulatory agencies to ensure the area is safe. The shutdown may impact fuel supplies, particularly in the Midwest, with potential price increases expected. Cleanup efforts are ongoing with over 200 workers on-site.

Colossal Biosciences has revived the extinct dire wolf using ancient DNA and gray wolf genes, and is consulting with tribal nations, including the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, to find culturally appropriate homes for the animals. The dire wolf, extinct for over 10,000 years, shares 99.5% of its DNA with the gray wolf, which holds deep cultural and spiritual significance to tribes like the Ojibwe. The company plans no wild release but aims to honor tribal traditions in future reintroductions.