The Daily Spark

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the nonprofit group Apache Stronghold over the proposed Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, which would destroy Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site used for ceremonies, according to a report by NBC News. The nonprofit group argued the project violates tribal members’ religious rights under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Resolution Copper, a joint venture of Rio Tinto and BHP, said it has held “extensive consultation” with tribes and will continue dialogue. Wendsler Nosie Sr., a member of Apache Stronghold, issued a statement saying the fight would continue and urging Congress to intervene.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented, with Gorsuch calling the decision a “grievous mistake.” The case centers on a 2014 law transferring federal land to Resolution Copper for mining development.

North Dakota Health and Human Services confirmed two measles cases in Grand Forks County, marking the first cases in that area and the third county affected in the state. The Grand Forks cases are linked to international travel. Since May 2, the state has recorded 21 confirmed cases, including four in Cass County, two in Williams County, and one hospitalization. All cases involve unvaccinated individuals.

Due to community transmission in Williams County, HHS advises early MMR vaccination for residents and travelers there. No community spread has been found in Cass or Grand Forks counties, so early vaccination is not currently recommended. Molly Howell, immunization director at HHS, stressed that unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles should stay home for 21 days and monitor symptoms. Vaccination records and more information are available at hhs.nd.gov/measles.

Arizona tribal leaders and state officials gathered May 21 to witness Gov. Katie Hobbs ceremonially sign House Bill 2281, also known as Emily’s Law, according to the Arizona Mirror. The law establishes the Turquoise Alert System to issue statewide alerts for missing Indigenous or endangered persons under age 65 who do not qualify for Amber or Silver Alerts.

The law honors 14-year-old Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache girl who was found dead earlier this year. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said the system closes jurisdictional and age-related gaps and encourages collaboration between tribal, state and local law enforcement. The Department of Public Safety will oversee the system, which can be implemented immediately when the law takes effect later this year. Arizona is the fifth state to enact such an alert system.

Registration is now open for the seventh Government-to-Government (G2G) Conference, set for June 4-5 at the Bismarck Event Center, according to the North Dakota Office of the Governor.

The free two-day event is open to the public and aims to strengthen partnerships among tribal, state, federal and private sector leaders. It includes breakout sessions on regional issues and speakers from tribal nations, state government and federal agencies. Gov. Kelly Armstrong is scheduled to deliver welcome remarks on June 4. The conference is hosted by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission and focuses on collaboration with the state’s five federally recognized tribal nations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an emergency directive in April to accelerate logging across nearly 60 percent of the Black Hills National Forest, citing wildfire risk as a justification for increased timber production. According to reporting by Grist, the directive follows a March executive order mandating an “immediate expansion” of timber output and allows the Forest Service to bypass some environmental review processes.

NDN Collective, a national Indigenous-rights nonprofit, and other groups criticized the directive, saying it threatens endangered species, reduces carbon storage and violates a 2024 memorandum of understanding with eight Oceti Sakowin Oyate tribal nations. Taylor Gunhammer, an Oglala Lakota Nation member and local organizer with NDN Collective, called the directive “a U-turn” from tribal agreements on forest stewardship.

President Donald Trump’s recent executive order directing the Department of the Interior to create a pathway for federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has raised concerns among tribal leaders about bypassing established procedures. According to NBC News, the order follows campaign promises to support the Lumbees’ long-standing efforts for federal recognition.

Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Chief Brad KillsCrow of the Delaware Tribe of Indians criticized the move for circumventing the Office of Federal Acknowledgment, which has recognized over 500 tribes through a formal process since 1978. “Don’t try to take a back door,” KillsCrow said. Hicks emphasized the need for a “diligent process,” urging that recognition not become a political tool.

The Administration for Children and Families is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Head Start program, which has provided early learning, health and nutrition, and family support to more than 40 million children and families since 1965. “I am committed to protecting the promise of Head Start,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noting the program was created by his uncle.

According to Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison, the program continues to evolve to meet modern needs. Head Start currently reaches about 750,000 children annually, including many in rural and tribal communities. It also supports parents through job training, housing assistance and opportunities to shape the program through classroom volunteering and policy councils.

Chickasaw artist Gary Maytubby will showcase handcrafted traditional weapons at the 12th annual Artesian Arts Festival in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on June 7. Maytubby, a retired Chickasaw Telephone Company employee, draws on ancestral knowledge and family teachings to create war clubs, bows, arrows, knives and more using traditional methods and materials.

According to the Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office, Maytubby began learning weapon-making from his uncles at age 7 and returned to the art in retirement. He researches Chickasaw history to ensure authenticity in his work, including crafting arrows with flint-knapped “Chickasaw points” and river cane shafts. Maytubby will enter the festival’s juried competition with a war club and display a range of pieces for public viewing and purchase.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong unintentionally vetoed $35 million allocated for housing programs in North Dakota due to a staff markup error, according to a Thursday statement from his office. The error occurred in Senate Bill 2014, which funds the North Dakota Industrial Commission, and removed $25 million for housing projects and $10 million for homelessness initiatives. Armstrong said he meant to veto a $150,000 grant for a Native American-focused homelessness liaison and that nearby language was mistakenly crossed out.

During a Thursday Industrial Commission meeting, Armstrong said he supports the Housing Incentive Fund and is consulting Legislative Council and lawmakers to avoid a special session. Legislative Council Director John Bjornson said a special session, which would cost about $65,000 per day, may be the only legal remedy. Lawmakers could also consider a new bill to restore funding.

A coalition opposing a multi-state carbon dioxide pipeline said the U.S. House removed language from the budget reconciliation bill that would have allowed federal regulators to override state laws restricting pipeline approvals, according to reporting by South Dakota Searchlight.

South Dakota passed a law this year banning eminent domain for carbon pipelines. The $9 billion Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would transport ethanol-plant carbon emissions to a sequestration site in North Dakota, requires eminent domain and has faced two permit rejections from South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission.

Opponents remain concerned about a “fast-track” provision that would let pipeline operators pay $10 million for expedited federal environmental reviews, although that review is not required for the Summit pipeline, South Dakota Searchlight reported.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed new measles cases, bringing the state’s total to 17. Of the 17 total cases, 13 are in Williams County and four are in Cass County. All individuals are unvaccinated, according to the department. Stay current on measles cases and exposure locations in North Dakota at hhs.nd.gov/measles.

A proposed graphite drilling project near Pe’ Sla in the Black Hills has prompted opposition from tribal leaders and Indigenous groups, according to reporting by ICT. Pete Lien & Sons, a Rapid City-based mining company, submitted a request to the U.S. Forest Service to conduct exploratory drilling about half a mile north of Pe’ Sla, a sacred site for the Oceti Sakowin. The project area lies on U.S. Forest Service land and is currently undergoing environmental review.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe formally opposed the project in a letter sent to the Forest Service May 16, citing cultural concerns and potential disruption to ceremonies held at the site. Pe’ Sla was placed into federal Indian trust status in 2016 following a land purchase by several Sioux tribes. The surrounding Black Hills region remains subject to mining claims and development proposals under Forest Service jurisdiction. Public comment on the project closed May 16.

Organizers of the 2026 Railroads in Native America Forum are seeking Native American artists and tribal representatives to help shape the upcoming event in Sacramento. According to the Railroads in Native America Steering Committee, artists affiliated with a Native American tribe may submit original artwork to serve as the Forum’s visual identity. The submission deadline is May 31, 2025.

The committee is also inviting Native nations with homelands in the Sacramento area to act as “Host Tribes” by joining planning efforts, sharing community history and promoting the event. Host Tribes are not required to provide funding. Those interested in joining the steering committee may email rrnativeamerica@gmail.com.

A prayer gathering for Renzo Bullhead and his family will be held at 7 p.m. on May 21 at the Bismarck train bridge in North Dakota. Bullhead went missing from the bridge in March. Mothers are asked to bring medicines, rattles, drums and songs to join in prayer.

For those unable to attend, organizers encourage lighting sage or sweet grass and offering a prayer at 7 p.m. to unite the community in support.

San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike, who went missing from a Mesa, Arizona, group home in January, was found murdered near Globe on Feb. 14, according to the Arizona Mirror. Her mother, Stephanie Dosela, learned of her daughter’s death after seeing photos of human remains on social media, highlighting communication failures among tribal, county and state agencies.

During a May 14 Arizona legislative hearing, officials and family members discussed gaps in sexual assault response, missing person protocols and jurisdictional challenges tied to tribal sovereignty. The San Carlos Apache Tribe is calling for improved information sharing and immediate missing child status for group home runaways. A new state law, dubbed “Emily’s Law,” creates a Turquoise Alert for missing Native people.

White Earth Tribal and Community College is finalizing plans for Earth Summit 2025, set for May 28-29 on its campus, according to a May 19 report by Lakes Area Radio. The summit expands on the 2024 White Earth Water Summit blending of Ojibwe culture with contemporary science.

Speakers include Peg Furshong from CURE, who will discuss the impact of AI and cryptocurrency on water, and James Vukelich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe author, who will talk about The Seven Grandfather Teachings and the relationship to Earth. Researchers from the University of Minnesota will present recent data on the White Earth Indian Reservation’s watersheds. The Nature Conservancy will highlight regional initiatives. Attendees can participate in Ojibwe lacrosse or “Yogachigede,” yoga with an Ojibwe twist.

The National Indian Health Board, in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will hold an Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian program training June 3-4 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The training helps programs improve access to Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace, according to an announcement by the National Indian Health Board. It is recommended for benefits coordinators, billing and coding professionals, business office staff and patient registration staff. Trainings are also scheduled for July 9-10 in Flagstaff, Arizona, with virtual options planned later. Questions can be directed to Kristen Bitsuie at kbitsuie@nihb.org.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a contract to Televeda, a community engagement platform, to pilot and expand the Hero’s Story Project, according to a Business Wire release. The culturally tailored suicide prevention program targets American Indian and Alaska Native veterans in Arizona and New Mexico, focusing on rural frontier communities.

The program combines traditional healing practices like talking circles and storytelling with evidence-based peer support. Special attention will support women veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma. Televeda plans to formalize partnerships with tribal governments and veteran service organizations while expanding program evaluation to improve effectiveness.

“We are deeply grateful to the VA, our tribal and community partners, and the veterans who have helped shape this important work,” said Mayank Mishra, co-founder of Televeda. The project is part of the VA’s Mission Daybreak initiative.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed House Bill 1612, establishing the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at the University of North Dakota. According to UND, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences will establish the center in partnership with its School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Student Health Services and University Counseling Center.

The center is mandated to support mental health and assist with Federal Aviation Administration medical certification for pilots and aviation professionals across the state. The legislation includes up to $250,000 in one-time funding. More than two dozen individuals, including UND administrators and industry experts, testified in support of the bill. UND officials say the center will expand access to specialized medical care and address barriers that discourage pilots from seeking mental health support.