The Daily Spark

Greenpeace filed a lawsuit against Energy Transfer, alleging intimidation tactics used during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The environmental group claims the company used legal threats to silence dissent and suppress free speech. The case highlights concerns over strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), which aim to deter individuals and organizations from protesting or speaking out. Native communities, heavily impacted by the pipeline, continue to face challenges regarding the protection of land and water resources.

At the 30th annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day in Arizona, tribal leaders, including Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma, gathered to discuss critical issues such as Native water rights, economic development, and cultural preservation. Leaders highlighted the importance of inter-tribal collaboration, with a focus on business development, renewable resources, and environmental cleanup projects. They also addressed challenges like the closure of the Navajo Generating Station and uranium contamination concerns.

Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation Chairman Mark Fox commended Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for exempting tribal nations from President Trump’s order cutting DEI programs. Fox said the move reflects Burgum’s respect for tribal sovereignty and treaty obligations. Many tribal leaders had expressed concerns about federal commitments under the new administration, but the exemption has offered reassurance. The debate over treaty and trust responsibilities continues as executive orders reshape federal policies.

Native organizations are raising concerns that recent executive orders and federal funding freezes under the Trump administration could harm tribal communities and violate U.S. treaty obligations. A late January Office of Management and Budget memo temporarily halted federal payments, sparking alarm over impacts on tribal law enforcement, health care, and education. While the freeze was rescinded, uncertainty remains. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has urged the administration to protect tribal funding.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is urging a federal court to reject efforts to dismiss its lawsuit seeking to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline's operations, arguing federal law requires an easement for pipelines on public land. The tribe contends the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has failed to enforce key environmental regulations. Republican-led states intervening in the case argue the lawsuit threatens national energy security. A decision is pending.

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced her campaign for New Mexico governor, aiming to become the first Native American woman to hold the position. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, pledged to tackle housing costs, crime, and education. She previously made history as the first Native cabinet secretary and has championed Indigenous rights, land protections, and the Federal Indian Boarding School initiative. The election is set for November 2026.

The Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee will hold a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 13, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Bismarck Public Schools Administration Building at 128 Soo Line Rd on the second floor. The meeting will cover the Memorandum of Understanding, Strategic Plan and Indigenous Governance training model. Committee members will also begin planning for graduation honors, eighth-grade recognition and review the impacts of federal grants.

American Student Assistance and Roadtrip Nation have teamed up to offer innovative career exploration tools for middle and high school students. The initiative includes the "Explore Your Interests Roadtrip," where three young adults will embark on a national road trip to meet role models and mentors. In addition, an AI-powered digital experience will give students personalized career exploration through Roadtrip Nation’s extensive interview archive, empowering them to connect with diverse stories and explore potential paths.

Cutcha Risling Baldy and Kaitlin Reed, co-directors of the Rou Dalagurr: Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute at Cal Poly Humboldt, have received the 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. The award recognizes their work in promoting food sovereignty, land justice, and Indigenous science. Through their efforts, including the creation of California’s first Food Sovereignty Lab, they are revitalizing traditional food systems and empowering future generations of Indigenous leaders.

Two New Mexico lawmakers, Sen. Angel Charley and Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta, have introduced a bill to create a “Turquoise Alert” system for missing Indigenous people. The proposed system would send statewide alerts similar to Amber Alerts, aiming to address the high number of missing Native Americans in the state. With 198 Native Americans currently missing in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, the bill seeks to provide timely help within the crucial first 48 hours of a disappearance.

Native American activists continue to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs’ name and associated practices, which they argue perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Indigenous peoples. Critics argue that these symbols, like the Tomahawk Chop and fan rituals, are rooted in cultural appropriation rather than respectful representations. Despite efforts to retire the team’s mascot and ban certain fan behaviors, the Chiefs have yet to change their name. Protests and advocacy groups, including Not In Our Honor, are calling for further change.

Cody Two Bears, founder of Indigenized Energy, is leading efforts to achieve energy sovereignty for Native communities through renewable energy. By launching a 300-kilowatt solar farm in his hometown of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and forming the Northern Plains Tribal Coalition, Two Bears is helping tribes reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels. His work highlights the importance of energy independence for Indigenous peoples, offering solutions to both high energy costs and environmental challenges.

Pope Francis emphasized that defending the rights of Indigenous peoples is crucial for justice and a sustainable future. In a message to the Seventh Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, he highlighted the importance of land, water, and food as life essentials, not commodities. The event, hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, focused on Indigenous self-determination and food sovereignty. Pope Francis called for preserving Indigenous culture, valuing their contributions, and ensuring a better world for future generations.

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens will host Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass, an exhibition showcasing how Native American and Indigenous Pacific-Rim artists have transformed glass art. Running from Feb. 8 to May 18, 2025, the exhibit features over 100 works blending cultural traditions with contemporary techniques. A special artist panel, Tapas & Talk: Looking Closely, will be held on Feb. 19.

A Florida federal judge granted the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request to intervene in a proposed class action against gaming vendor Seminole Hard Rock Digital. The lawsuit alleges misleading sports-betting ads, but the judge ruled the vendor cannot fully represent the tribe’s interests, which include sovereign immunity and gaming rights. The tribe seeks to dismiss the case, arguing it cannot be sued due to its legal status. The case remains ongoing.

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria told a federal judge that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s report on monitoring another tribe’s casino project is incomplete and fails to protect their cultural sites. The tribe argues the Koi Nation’s planned casino in Sonoma County is within their ancestral territory and was approved without proper consultation. A judge previously denied their request to block the land transfer but left the door open for future challenges.

A new report by the ACLU and Human Rights Watch argues that the federal government violated Indigenous rights by approving the Thacker Pass lithium mine in northern Nevada without securing tribal consent. At least six tribes have ties to the site, which holds cultural and historical significance, including a massacre site from 1865. The report calls for halting construction until all affected tribes provide free, prior and informed consent.

A Boston federal judge has extended a hold on former President Donald Trump’s federal worker buyout program, known as the Fork Directive, as unions challenge its legality. The plan, which offers months of pay to employees who resign, has drawn criticism from unions representing over 800,000 federal workers. They argue it violates federal law and could destabilize agencies like the Veterans Administration. The case remains under advisement.

Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, were on a flight that crashed off Alaska’s western coast. The two were traveling to service a water plant in Unalakleet when the Cessna Caravan lost communication and went down near Nome. Both were recognized for their commitment to improving health and infrastructure in rural communities. Recovery efforts are underway, with weather complicating the search.