The Daily Spark

The Justice Department has launched Operation Not Forgotten, deploying 60 FBI personnel to 10 field offices to investigate violent crimes in Indian Country. The effort, the most extensive national FBI surge to date, will focus on cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people. The FBI will work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement to process forensic evidence and prosecute offenders.

Tribal nations are coming together to search for Renzo Bull Head, a 20-year-old United Tribes Technical College student who disappeared March 16 near Mandan. Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and MHA Nation have mobilized resources and volunteers to assist. Bull Head is one of 17 missing Indigenous people in North Dakota, highlighting the ongoing MMIR crisis.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Mandan Police.

The Trump administration’s rollback of federal protections for national parks could have lasting impacts on Tribal Nations, which have longstanding cultural and legal ties to these lands. Many national parks sit on ancestral homelands, and treaties affirm Tribal rights to protect sacred sites and natural resources. Funding cuts to Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and other key positions threaten these protections, raising concerns over sovereignty and consultation rights.

The Village of Hobart, Wisconsin, is asking a federal judge to overturn a decision allowing nearly 500 acres to be held in trust for the Oneida Nation. The village claims the process is biased because the tribe helps fund Bureau of Indian Affairs employees who handle land applications. The dispute, dating back to 2007, centers on tax exemptions and local control over tribal lands. The case is ongoing.

CVS Pharmacy is asking a Rhode Island federal judge to dismiss most of the U.S. Department of Justice’s claims that it knowingly filled invalid opioid prescriptions. The company argues the government failed to prove its pharmacists knew the prescriptions were unlawful. The lawsuit, unsealed in December, alleges CVS dispensed opioids in excessive amounts despite red flags. CVS maintains it has programs to block questionable prescriptions and says the government lacked evidence. The case is ongoing.

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior after the agency rescinded its gambling eligibility for a $700 million casino project in Vallejo, Calif. The tribe argues the DOI's action violates due process and federal law, citing years of approvals. The DOI says it is reviewing additional evidence after other tribes challenged the project. The case is now before a D.C. federal judge.

Native American Jump Start has launched an ambassador program, featuring nine individuals, including former grant recipients, to raise awareness about educational grants for Native students. The ambassadors will work with Native student centers to promote leadership development and higher education opportunities. With funding from private donations, the program supports up to 100 microgrants annually. The fall grant application period opened on April 1.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze $5 million in grants for Indigenous food sovereignty programs is raising concerns over the federal government’s trust responsibilities. Programs like Buffalo Nations Food Sovereignty in Montana, which support local food systems and sustainability, have been severely impacted. Legal experts argue that this funding freeze may violate treaty agreements designed to protect Indigenous resources. Tribes are calling for action, with some filing lawsuits against the government for breaching its obligations to provide essential resources like food.

This April, the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center highlights the alarming rates of sexual violence faced by Native women during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Native women are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual violence than other women in the U.S., with most perpetrators being non-Native. Throughout SAAM, NIWRC shares resources, educates on prevention, and uplifts survivors’ voices. By supporting grassroots advocacy, Native-led efforts, and healing, we can address this crisis and protect future generations.

For more, follow NIWRC on social media and visit their SAAM page for resources.

Recent executive orders issued by President Trump could significantly impact Native American students in Minnesota. The orders, which focus on expanding school choice and dismantling the Department of Education, may divert public funds from Bureau of Indian Education schools and hinder access to resources for students in both tribal and rural schools. Tribal leaders have expressed concerns about the lack of consultation and the potential disruption to culturally-based education. These changes could affect over 500 Native students attending BIE schools in Minnesota alone.

Nine University of Illinois Chicago students spent their spring break in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, working on service projects with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. They helped archive historical documents, supported elders by delivering firewood, and assisted with a Habitat for Humanity home build. The program, part of UIC’s Alternative Spring Break, aimed to deepen students’ understanding of Indigenous history and culture.

Faced with climate change threats, young Alaska Native women are leading efforts to protect their homelands. From opposing the Ambler Road project to fighting for sustainable fisheries, their work honors their ancestors and safeguards future generations. Their activism blends Indigenous knowledge with modern science and policy, ensuring that the land, water, and traditions remain intact.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture argues that it is not required to restore climate change-focused web pages removed from its site, stating that government websites should align with the current administration’s priorities. Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, are suing, claiming the deletions violate federal law and harm farmers and researchers. The case raises questions about public access to climate data and government transparency.

The Trump administration is urging a California federal judge to reject Washington state’s request to expand an injunction preventing federal agencies from firing probationary employees. The administration argues that Washington lacks legal standing and has not shown irreparable harm. The lawsuit, brought by unions and advocacy groups, challenges the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s handling of federal worker layoffs.

CTIA, a major wireless trade association, is urging the Federal Communications Commission to remove National Environmental Policy Act requirements for certain wireless infrastructure projects. The group argues that current regulations create costly delays, hindering broadband expansion. The FCC is now seeking public comments on the proposal.

North Dakota’s health agencies are scrambling after losing about $3.2 million in federal funding for substance abuse treatment and mental health programs. The cuts come after grants from the COVID-19 pandemic were rescinded by the federal government. With 42 grantees statewide affected, health providers are now seeking alternative funding sources to continue offering critical services. Local officials, including those from Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, are working to minimize disruptions and find sustainable solutions.

The family of Renzo Bull Head testified before North Dakota lawmakers in support of HB 1535, which would establish a "Feather Alert" system to rapidly notify the public about missing Indigenous individuals. With Indigenous people disproportionately affected by disappearances, advocates stress the system could save lives by improving communication between law enforcement and tribal communities. The bill is currently under consideration in the state legislature.

Leonard Peltier (Ojibwe/Lakota), 80, recently participated in a wet plate photography session with Bismarck-based artist Shane Balkowitsch. Peltier, granted clemency by President Joe Biden, returned to Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in February after nearly 50 years of incarceration. The session, held at Sky Dance Casino & Resort, was facilitated by NDN Collective’s Holly Cook Macarro. One of the portraits, titled Clemency, was selected for the Library of Congress collection.

Yukon Minister of Education Jeanie McLean marked National Indigenous Languages Day by highlighting efforts to preserve Yukon First Nations languages in Canada. The territorial government invests $1.19 million annually in the Yukon Native Language Centre to support language learning and preservation. Programs in Yukon schools allow students to earn credits for learning their language from Elders and Knowledge Keepers. McLean encouraged all Yukoners to support Indigenous language efforts.