The Daily Spark

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation has established the Three Affiliated Tribes National Park, 2,100 acres of rugged Badlands. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox told the Associated Press that the park aims to preserve culturally significant lands and support the economy through tourism in addition to providing recreational opportunities, such as canoeing, kayaking and viewing wildlife. Park Superintendent Ethan White Calfe said officials are planning to restore native prairie and soil. The park, which held a soft opening in September, currently allows only foot traffic by free online permits, with 10 miles of trails expected by the end of summer, according to Parks and Reserve Program Director Mary Fredericks.

The University of Oklahoma’s Native American Studies Department will host a retirement celebration Thursday for Cherokee language instructor Christine Armer, according to a department press release. Armer has taught the Cherokee language at OU for 20 years.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. in Dale Hall Tower, Room 906. It will feature Cherokee language speakers, a language roundtable with Q&A and reflections from Armer. Raised in a Cherokee-speaking community in Muldrow, Oklahoma, Armer did not speak English until grade school. She later collaborated with Cherokee linguist Durbin Feeling and earned a degree in elementary education from Northeastern State University in 2005. She was recruited to OU to create and teach Cherokee language courses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accepting applications for its Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which aims to reduce youth substance abuse through local coalitions, according to an April 24 report by Youth Today.

The program provides up to $125,000 in funding to eligible organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations. Grants support efforts to build collaboration among public and private agencies and address risk factors that contribute to youth substance use. Applications are due by May 5, 2025.

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana broke ground Wednesday on its new Ceremonial Center, a facility tribal leaders say will serve as a hub for cultural gatherings, language preservation and community events, according to Native News Online.

Chairman Gerald Gray said the center will create a space for future generations to continue the stories of their ancestors. Located on Stuckey Road alongside the Tribe’s Miijim Program, the center will include a meeting hall for 200 people, outdoor gathering spaces and a kitchen for community luncheons. The site will also anchor an upcoming 18-acre tribal housing development. Construction is scheduled for completion in early 2026. The Tribe has partnered with Dick Anderson Construction to build the facility, which Vice Chairman Clarence Sivertsen called “a gift to future generations of Little Shell citizens.”

A federal judge has ordered the United States to pay North Dakota nearly $28 million for law enforcement and other costs linked to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016 and early 2017, according to an April 23 joint release by Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Attorney General Drew Wrigley.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that the state proved its claims of negligence, gross negligence, civil trespass and public nuisance. Traynor cited failures by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stating the agency gave the impression that it had issued a Special Use Permit for protestors when it had not. The ruling noted that protests resulted in harm to the state, including damaged property and extensive cleanup of 10 million pounds of debris.

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona voiced support for President Trump’s proposal to build affordable public housing on federal lands, according to an April 24 report by The Hill. In a letter to federal officials, Gallego commended the formation of the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing and called for a “balanced approach” that includes environmental stewardship and respect for tribal sovereignty.

The task force, established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Interior Department in March, aims to identify underused federal lands and streamline their development for residential use. Gallego requested transparency on the task force’s membership, meeting notes and plans for coordination with rural and tribal communities.

Twelve Native and Indigenous actors will perform staged readings of five 10-minute plays during the Native American Short Play Festival in Littleton, Colorado, according to Colorado Community Media. The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 26 and 2 p.m. April 27 at the Littleton United Methodist Church.

Presented in partnership with Celebration of Native Arts, the festival features works by Native American and Native Hawaiian playwrights exploring themes of grief, legacy, tradition, empowerment and family. All five plays were originally performed by Native Voices Theater Company at the Autry Museum of the American West. Actor Teddy McCollough of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians said the festival is a way to reclaim narratives and ensure Native stories are told with truth and nuance.

Tribal Nations will play a key role in shaping the agenda at Fiber Connect 2025, according to a Business Wire announcement by the Fiber Broadband Association. The event, scheduled for June 1–4 in Nashville, will include sessions focused on Tribal digital sovereignty, broadband deployment challenges, and innovation on tribal lands. The FBA’s Tribal Broadband Roundtable curated the programming to highlight best practices and policy discussions.

“Fiber broadband is enabling tribes to transform economic opportunities—creating jobs, improving quality of life, sharing our rich culture, and preserving our traditions and languages,” said Robert Griffin, Tribal Broadband Director for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Tribal attendees will have exclusive access to a networking lounge. Regional discussions will continue at a follow-up event in Scottsdale on October 16.

The Native American Rights Fund’s Tribal Water Institute has launched The Headwaters Report, a free online legal resource aimed at helping tribal nations protect their water rights. According to staff attorney Daniel Cordalis, tribes often spend thousands of dollars a month for access to similar legal updates through third-party firms. This new tool provides guidance on tribal water law, tracks court and congressional developments, and highlights emerging water issues. Cordalis emphasized that the goal is to eliminate financial barriers and strengthen tribal sovereignty, particularly in the western U.S., where drought, wildfires, and population growth are placing increasing strain on water resources.

This story was originally reported by the Mountain West News Bureau.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed Senate Bill 2241 into law, creating a framework for public charter schools in North Dakota. The bill, introduced by Sen. Michelle Axtman, passed with bipartisan support and takes effect on August 1, 2025. Charter schools will be part of the state’s public education system and must meet state academic and graduation requirements. The law ensures these schools are open to all North Dakota students, regardless of location or previous academic performance. According to a statement from the Governor's Office, the bill aims to expand school choice and improve student outcomes.

The Marguerite Casey Foundation has committed $130 million in grants for 2025, significantly increasing its annual donations. The Seattle-based foundation aims to support nonprofits impacted by policy changes, particularly federal funding cuts and efforts to limit the independence of civil society organizations. According to Carmen Rojas, president and CEO of the foundation, the funding will help fill gaps in information and organizing efforts. The foundation’s donations will support both existing and new grantees, with a particular focus on journalism organizations, according to an Associated Press report.

Indigenous-led organizations in Minnesota are planning a birth center focused on Native culture and traditions to improve maternal health outcomes, according to The Imprint. The Birth Justice Collaborative—a partnership of African American- and Indigenous-led nonprofits—plans to submit its proposal to Minnesota lawmakers by the end of the year. Services will include medical care, cultural teachings, and access to traditional medicines, with guidance from elders and spiritual leaders. Ruth Buffalo, CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, is among the organizers. Community feedback is shaping services to reduce fear and trauma around pregnancy and childbirth, said Antony Stately, president of the Native American Community Clinic. Funding may come from state sources and Medicaid reimbursements. The effort aims to reclaim child-rearing practices common before federal policies separated Indigenous families.

Chef Sean Sherman is expanding the Indigenous Food Lab to Bozeman, partnering with Montana State University to support schools, hospitals and communities through culturally rooted food systems, according to NonStop Local. The nonprofit, which began in Minneapolis, highlights more than 60 Indigenous producers and includes a production kitchen making tortillas from Native American heirloom corn.

Sherman told NonStop Local that Montana’s tribal diversity makes it an ideal space for expansion and emphasized the importance of food sovereignty, allowing tribes to control their food systems and health. The Bozeman launch includes a public talk at the Ellen Theatre and a pop-up dinner at the Gallatin Food Bank showcasing Indigenous cuisine.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has pocket vetoed Senate Bill 13, which would have created a five-year pilot program for state-tribal compact schools in New Mexico. The bill, introduced by Sen. Benny Shendo Jr. of Jemez Pueblo, passed unanimously in both chambers but failed to receive the governor’s signature by the April 11 deadline.

According to a spokesperson for the governor’s office, the decision was due to concerns about the bill exempting schools from accountability requirements without a clear implementation plan. The proposed legislation would have allowed up to five compact schools to operate outside of standard state curriculum and evaluation rules. Shendo told Source NM he plans to work with the Public Education Department and the governor’s office to revise the bill for the 2026 legislative session.

The Future Inspired Native American Leaders Youth Council will host its annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous People awareness walk on May 3 at the Phoenix Indian Center. Participants are encouraged to wear red and bring posters, signs or images of loved ones, according to the event announcement. A poster-making station will be available on-site.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by speakers from 9 to 10 a.m. The one-mile walk will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Free MMIP T-shirts will be distributed to early registrants on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8 a.m. For more information, call 602-264-6768 or email YouthPrograms@PhxIndCenter.org.

In Hooper Bay, Alaska, environmental changes, including warming temperatures, flooding, and thawing permafrost, have made survival increasingly difficult for its 1,400 residents. A recent FRONTLINE documentary highlights the potential relocation of the Native Village of Paimiut due to severe coastal erosion and rising sea levels. The loss of sea ice, once a protective barrier, exacerbates the problem. Many residents, like Agatha Napoleon, fear the erosion will soon force them to leave their ancestral lands. For more information, watch Alaska’s Vanishing Native Villages on PBS starting April 22, 2025.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed new legislation to strengthen oversight of sober living homes after a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme targeted Native Americans seeking treatment. The law mandates stricter licensing, annual inspections, and timely reporting of deaths or overdoses. Advocates, including Navajo Nation lawmaker Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, expressed concerns that the bill doesn't address the root causes of the fraud, including unlicensed facilities. The law aims to improve transparency and accountability in the state's behavioral health services.

Fort Lewis College has appointed Dr. Heather Shotton as its first Indigenous president, effective July 1. Shotton, a citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne, was unanimously selected by the board of trustees. She brings more than 20 years of experience in education leadership and student advocacy. Fort Lewis, a former Indian boarding school, currently enrolls a student body that is 40% Native American and Alaska Native.

Montana State University’s Buffalo Nations Food System Initiative has received a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to advance Indigenous food sovereignty efforts in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. The funding will support the Buffalo Nations Foodways project, which focuses on intergenerational knowledge sharing, cultural revitalization, and education in tribal communities. Students from tribal nations will lead food sovereignty efforts in their home communities, supported by educational fellowships and a new Indigenous Foods Lab in Bozeman.