The Daily Spark

The Phoenix VA Medical Center has removed the flags of Arizona’s 22 tribal nations under a new Department of Veterans Affairs policy that limits flag displays at VA facilities. The flags were delivered to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for preservation. Tribal leaders and lawmakers have criticized the move, calling it disrespectful to Native veterans, who serve in the U.S. military at five times the national average. Some are urging the VA to reconsider.

Aaniiih Nakoda College will be featured in an upcoming episode of The College Tour on Amazon Prime, premiering May 27, 2025. The episode highlights ANC’s efforts to blend Indigenous knowledge with Western education, including language immersion and environmental studies. Students and alumni share how the college empowers them to strengthen their community on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

📅 Watch a preview: Here

#AaniiihNakodaCollege #TheCollegeTour #IndigenousEducation

The Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen Band, along with their attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, have filed to intervene in a federal court dispute over tribal jurisdiction in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Freedmen, descendants of those once enslaved by the Muscogee Creek Nation, argue they face similar traffic citations as tribal citizens but lack protections under the 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling. They seek to ensure their rights are recognized and protected. The case continues amid ongoing settlement talks between the Muscogee Creek Nation and the city of Tulsa.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, criticized an executive order by President Donald Trump to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, calling it a "betrayal" of the federal government's commitment to Native American students. Schatz warned the move would slash essential funding for Native students, including special education services, language programs, and college financial aid. The order could also destabilize rural schools and tribal colleges. Tribal nations and Native students are currently suing the administration, seeking to block federal workforce reductions that have already affected Bureau of Indian Education schools.

The Trump administration has announced plans to prioritize clarifying which water bodies are covered under the Clean Water Act’s Waters of the U.S. rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers are seeking public input on two key aspects: defining "relatively permanent" waters and establishing what constitutes a "continuous surface connection" between wetlands and jurisdictional waters. The review comes after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA, which set new standards for WOTUS.

The Pentagon reinstated online materials honoring Navajo Code Talkers and other Native veterans after their removal sparked criticism from tribal leaders. The pages were taken down amid a broader federal purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content. Officials say the Code Talker history was mistakenly erased. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren welcomed the correction, emphasizing the need to protect Native military legacies.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed SB 163 into law, ensuring Native American students in New Mexico can wear traditional regalia at school ceremonies, including graduations. The law, which took effect immediately, prevents public schools from banning culturally significant items for students from federally recognized tribes. The legislation follows a 2024 incident in which a Lakota student’s beaded cap with an eagle plume was confiscated. Officials say the new law affirms Indigenous students’ rights to honor their heritage.

Michigan tribes, state officials, and researchers have developed a plan to restore manoomin, also known as wild rice, which has declined due to colonization, pollution, and climate change. The Michigan Wild Rice Initiative’s 122-page stewardship plan aims to protect the aquatic grain, integrating Indigenous knowledge with conservation strategies. The effort follows Michigan’s 2023 recognition of manoomin as the state’s native grain.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) criticized former President Donald Trump’s plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, warning it would violate federal trust responsibilities and harm Native students. More than 92% of Native students attend public schools, which rely on federal funding for special education, language programs, and school operations. Tribal colleges could also face severe cuts. Schatz called the proposal a “betrayal of a sacred federal promise.”

A North Dakota jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay more than $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. The lawsuit alleged Greenpeace spread false claims about the pipeline, contributing to protests, vandalism, and financial losses. Greenpeace argues the case is a strategic attack on free speech and is pursuing an anti-SLAPP lawsuit in the Netherlands. The verdict comes years after mass protests near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

The Mandan Police Department is seeking assistance in locating 20-year-old Renzo Bullhead, who has been missing since March 16, 2025. Renzo was last seen walking east on the railroad bridge connecting Mandan and Bismarck around 8 p.m. Sunday. Surveillance footage shows him entering the bridge from the east side, but it does not show him exiting the east side or returning to the west side.

Renzo is described as having black hair, brown eyes, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a puffy black jacket, white and black checkered sweatpants, and white and red Jordan basketball shoes.

Search efforts have expanded, with additional resources like watercraft and drones. Due to limited staff on Friday, the search headquarters will be moved to United Tribes Technical College, Building #15, with a briefing at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 21. Volunteers are encouraged to gather for prayer and instructions.

Community members are urged to help with the search. Anyone with information regarding Renzo’s whereabouts should contact the Mandan Police Department at (701) 667-3250. Your volunteer help is important in these expanded efforts.

The U.S. Senate has introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, a groundbreaking proposal to secure reliable water access for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The settlement will guarantee over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, ensure water infrastructure, and provide economic opportunities for these tribes. Backed by Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, the bill aims to end decades of litigation, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and secure clean water for future generations.

The recent discovery of Sahela Sangrait's body has drawn attention to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW) in South Dakota. Sangrait, missing since August 2024, was found near Hill City. This tragic case underscores the disproportionate violence faced by Native communities across the U.S., including the Black Hills. Organizations like the Red Ribbon Skirt Society, founded by Lily Mendoza, are working to raise awareness, support families, and push for continued conversations to address this crisis.

On March 19, 2025, Native America Calling highlighted the ongoing challenges Native students face in higher education under the Trump Administration. New policies are pressuring colleges and universities to dismantle scholarship programs, recruitment efforts, and academic initiatives that support Native students, with schools risking federal funding losses and investigations. At least 50 institutions are under scrutiny for practices deemed "race exclusionary." Advocates from organizations like the American Indian College Fund and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium are discussing responses to these changes and the impact on Native education.

The 25th Navajo Nation Council has expressed disappointment over the White House’s recent decision to remove references to the Navajo Code Talkers from U.S. military websites. This action follows Executive Orders aimed at limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Speaker Crystalyne Curley condemned the removal, stressing the critical role the Code Talkers played in securing victory in WWII. The Council is engaging with the administration to clarify the decision and ensure the legacy of the Code Talkers remains honored in military history.

A Maryland artist, Jasmine Battle, was sentenced to 24 months of probation and fined $2,500 for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Battle misrepresented herself as a Cherokee artist between 2013 and 2020, selling dreamcatchers as authentic Cherokee creations. An investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed she was not enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. Agents also seized feathers from protected birds during a federal search. The case highlights ongoing efforts to protect Native artists from counterfeit claims.

Chairman Thomas Fowler of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin delivered the 21st annual State of the Tribes address at the Wisconsin State Capitol, highlighting public health, education, and sovereignty. He emphasized harm reduction, clean water access, medical marijuana legalization, and increased mental health resources. The Wisconsin Assembly passed three bills, including protections for tribal regalia at graduation and improved reporting on Native language and cultural education programs.

The Eighth Circuit has denied the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s request for a rehearing on its law enforcement jurisdiction case. The court upheld a ruling that a 2023 Minnesota law grants the tribe full authority over its reservation, affirming an 1855 treaty. Mille Lacs County officials had challenged the tribe’s jurisdiction, but the court ruled their appeal moot. The dispute has lasted nearly a decade.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently removed a key report on missing Indigenous youth, hindering progress on addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis. The Not Invisible Act Commission’s 212-page report, which outlined protections for Indigenous foster youth and other at-risk populations, included recommendations for federal agencies to improve tracking and response efforts. Despite setbacks, leaders like Ruth Buffalo of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center remain committed to pushing for accountability and action. The community continues advocating for law enforcement resources, data collection, and victim support.