The Daily Spark

The Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is asking a federal court for $1.5 million in attorney fees after a yearslong legal battle with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Michigan-based tribe argues the government caused unnecessary delays in finalizing a rule allowing denied tribes to reapply for federal recognition. A judge previously ruled in the tribe’s favor, calling the DOI’s restrictions “arbitrary and capricious.” The case continues.

Oklahoma officials are pushing back against civil rights groups seeking documents related to House Bill 1775, which limits how race and gender topics are taught in public schools. The state argues the request is overly broad and includes privileged materials. Advocacy groups, including the ACLU, say the law unlawfully restricts free speech and disproportionately affects students and educators of color. A federal judge previously blocked parts of the law. The case is ongoing.

A team of attorneys, activists, and academics will monitor the upcoming trial between Energy Transfer and Greenpeace to evaluate whether proceedings meet human rights standards. Energy Transfer, the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline, accuses Greenpeace of defamation and inciting criminal behavior during the 2016-2017 protests. Greenpeace argues the lawsuit is an attempt to silence advocacy. Concerns over jury bias, transparency, and public access have been raised ahead of the Feb. 24 trial in Mandan, North Dakota.

Thanks to a multi-state effort led by the Tanka Fund, the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, and The Nature Conservancy, over 2,300 bison have been returned to Indigenous communities since 2020. This effort aims to revitalize the bison population, which once roamed the Great Plains in the millions before near extinction. These organizations are restoring bison not only for ecological conservation but also for cultural, spiritual, and economic benefits. Tanka Fund Executive Director Dawn Sherman emphasized the significance of the bison's return to Native communities, noting its role in food sovereignty, health, and community development.

The federal government has requested a pause in the lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 methane waste rule, following President Trump’s executive order aimed at boosting energy production. The rule, which aims to reduce methane leaks and flaring, has been blocked by a preliminary injunction from a North Dakota federal judge. North Dakota, Montana, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming argue that the rule oversteps federal authority and could harm state revenues, while the Interior Department maintains the rule modernizes outdated regulations. In addition, Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, issued an order to rescind the rule. The case is currently on hold as the court decides whether to pause the lawsuit.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is calling on lawmakers to shield Indigenous tribes from potential funding cuts under President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. She warns that confusion over these policies could disrupt federal funding for critical tribal services, including healthcare, education, and economic development. Murkowski met with Trump’s budget director, urging him to reaffirm the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to tribes. The National Congress of American Indians has also raised concerns over funding freezes and their impact on tribal sovereignty.

The U.S. Forest Service urged a Ninth Circuit panel to uphold its Twisp Restoration Project, a 24,000-acre forest management plan in Washington’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The North Cascades Conservation Council argues the agency violated environmental laws by failing to reopen public comment after a 2021 wildfire altered the project’s scope. Federal officials contend the plan remains consistent with its original goals. Judges questioned whether post-fire changes warranted further review. A ruling is pending.

The Trump administration is moving to overturn Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, a 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent that limits the president’s ability to fire officials from independent agencies without cause. Acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah Harris confirmed the administration’s legal challenge, citing concerns over executive authority. If successful, the move could reshape federal governance, impacting agencies like the FTC and NLRB. Legal experts say the conservative-leaning Supreme Court may be open to the shift.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fired 388 probationary employees and canceled $60 million in contracts tied to diversity, equity, and environmental justice initiatives. The moves align with President Donald Trump’s executive orders to eliminate such programs. Critics, including union representatives, warn the cuts could slow efforts to protect public health, particularly in the Great Lakes region. Additional layoffs and funding reductions may follow.

Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes may soon be able to license up to five cannabis dispensaries each outside of their reservation lands under proposed state compacts. The agreements, part of a 2023 law signed by Gov. Tim Walz, aim to strengthen tribal economic sovereignty and create a regulated market. Five tribes currently operate cannabis businesses, with the Prairie Island Indian Community recently announcing a large cultivation site. Licensing applications open Feb. 18.

Sacred Pipe Resource Center will host a Galentine's Day celebration tonight at the Ramada Hotel in the Judicial Room from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature entertainment by Elvis impersonator Lloyd Aron Douglas, a buffet dinner starting at 6:30 p.m., and a bachelor and bachelorette silent auction to support Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Outreach.

Preregistration is required. All are welcome.

Nevada Assemblywoman Shea Backus has introduced Assembly Bill 144 to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday of October, aligning with national observances. The bill is aimed at honoring Indigenous communities and their cultural contributions to Nevada. While some worry it might diminish Columbus Day, supporters argue the two holidays can coexist. Advocacy groups, like Make the Road Nevada, view the bill as an opportunity to rectify the erasure of Indigenous history.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has launched an Indigenous food sovereignty curriculum for youth in 14 First Nations. Designed by educator Shy-Anne Bartlett, the curriculum incorporates traditional harvesting practices, seasonal foods, and cultural teachings. Available online, it includes resources such as videos in Anishinaabemowin, aiming to deepen children’s understanding of Indigenous food systems and improve their mental well-being.

"Four Women in Red," a new play by Chickasaw Nation’s Laura Shamas, addresses the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Opening on February 14 in Burbank, the play tells the story of four women mourning the loss of their loved ones, whose cases often go unsolved. Director Jeanette Harrison, an Onondaga Nation member, emphasizes the need for authentic Native representation in media. The play aims to raise awareness and spark action to address the systemic issues contributing to this ongoing crisis.

A proposed bill in Alaska would allow Native tribes to run public schools through education compacts, increasing tribal sovereignty over education. The initiative aims to close achievement gaps for Native students by integrating culturally relevant, place-based learning. Five tribes, including Tlingit and Haida, are part of a pilot program under the plan. If passed, the bill would provide state funding and autonomy for tribes to hire teachers and design curriculum.

A California man has been convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, and violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act for selling counterfeit jewelry falsely attributed to renowned Hopi jeweler Charles Loloma. Prosecutors say Robert Haack sold fake pieces on eBay, defrauding buyers of over $400,000. Investigators found engraving tools, practice signatures, and unfinished jewelry in his home. Haack faces up to 20 years in prison for harming Native artists and the authenticity of Indigenous art.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program is helping Tribal Nations combat food insecurity, which affects 1 in 4 Native Americans. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have used CACFP for over 30 years, integrating traditional foods like Chinook salmon and huckleberries into meals for children. Leaders urge more tribes to participate, citing the program’s role in nutrition and cultural preservation.

Wells Fargo told a Florida jury it properly managed a multibillion-dollar trust for the Seminole Tribe, rejecting claims it mismanaged investments and secretly raised fees. Plaintiffs allege the bank overcharged minors by $818 million, while Wells Fargo argues it followed the tribe’s request for a low-risk “keep-it-safe” trust. The trial will examine whether the bank’s investment approach and fee structure violated financial obligations.

A federal judge ruled against the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in its effort to reclaim federally managed land in Utah. The tribe argued that an 1880 law entitled it to ownership, but the court sided with the U.S. government, stating the tribe had ceded its land earlier. The ruling reinforces federal control over the disputed area, impacting the tribe’s claims to ancestral lands.