The Daily Spark

For decades, U.S. tribes have struggled to access critical health data needed to protect their communities. Despite being sovereign nations, they often face roadblocks when requesting health statistics from state and federal agencies. Advocates say data sovereignty is essential for addressing health disparities, from disease outbreaks to chronic conditions.

Some states, like Washington, have begun to share data with tribes, but many still refuse, citing privacy concerns. Without this information, tribal leaders argue, they can't properly allocate resources or track the impact of health interventions.

As some colleges cancel Indigenous graduation ceremonies, Native scholarship organizations are ensuring students’ cultures remain celebrated. Native Forward Scholars Fund, alongside the American Indian College Fund, AISES, and Cobell Scholarships, is hosting a virtual graduation regalia walk. Native graduates are invited to share photos and videos showcasing their moccasins, ribbon skirts, beadwork, and other cultural regalia. This online event highlights the strength, resilience, and achievements of Native students.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is demanding an investigation into Arizona’s state-licensed group homes after the death of 14-year-old Emily Pike. Pike, who ran away from the Sacred Journey group home in January, was found unalived weeks later. The tribe says at least 30 children have fled the same facility in recent years and is urging lawmakers to strengthen protections for Native youth in state care. A $75,000 reward is being offered for information.

As the Supreme Court reviews the constitutionality of the FCC’s telecom subsidy program, House Republicans signal readiness for legislative action. If justices rule against the current funding structure, Congress may enact a short-term fix to maintain subsidies for rural broadband, low-income phone services, and school connectivity. The long-term debate may expand funding responsibilities to tech companies. A ruling is expected by June.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act, which would create Georgia’s first national park. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Raphael Warnock (D) and Jon Ossoff (D), along with Reps. Austin Scott (R) and Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D), would expand protections for the ancestral lands and burial mounds of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. If passed, it would also establish the first national park co-managed by a removed tribe.

The Koi Nation of Northern California is asking a federal court to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the Interior Department’s decision to take 70 acres into trust for its proposed casino and hotel project. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria argue the project threatens their ancestral land and cultural artifacts. The lawsuits have been consolidated as FIGR seeks to reverse the land trust decision.

More than 300 local leaders are urging Congress and the Trump administration to reject proposals to sell public lands and reduce national monuments. In a letter to federal officials, the leaders emphasized the economic, environmental, and cultural importance of these lands, including Indigenous sacred sites. The letter warns against weakened protections, increased fossil fuel development, and threats to the Antiquities Act.

A divided Ninth Circuit panel has denied the Trump administration’s request to stay an injunction requiring the reinstatement of about 16,000 probationary federal employees across six agencies. The court found the administration unlikely to succeed in its argument that the firings were not directed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The case includes advocacy groups such as Vote Vets Action Fund, which argued the mass terminations disrupted government services. The administration is seeking an emergency stay from the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump revoked a 2023 executive order that expanded tribal sovereignty and increased Native American access to federal funding. The order, signed by President Joe Biden, aimed to streamline funding for tribal projects, including emergency response, broadband, and environmental initiatives. The impact of Trump’s decision remains unclear, but tribal leaders are monitoring the situation. The revocation was part of a broader rollback of Biden-era policies.

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the Federal Communications Commission's management of the Universal Service Fund, a program that collects approximately $9 billion annually to expand phone and internet services in rural and low-income areas. The case questions whether Congress improperly delegated legislative power to the FCC, potentially violating the nondelegation doctrine. ​

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate more than 15,000 probationary federal employees fired in February, after finding the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked authority for the mass terminations. However, advocates say the administration has not complied, instead placing workers on administrative leave. The ruling affects employees at agencies including the Department of the Interior and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The coalition pushing for compliance is urging further legal action.

Former President Donald Trump has pardoned Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, who was convicted in a $60 million bond fraud scheme involving the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Archer was sentenced in 2020 for his role in misappropriating funds meant for tribal development. Trump said Archer was "treated very unfairly." The Oglala Sioux Tribe has not yet responded to the decision.

The Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, also known as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, have submitted plans for a $2 billion casino-resort project on 23 acres of land south of the Las Vegas Strip. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox has worked with architecture firm Steelman Partners to develop the proposal, which includes a 15,000-20,000 seat event center. The tribe has acquired multiple properties in the area since 2020. While some tribal members question the project’s focus, officials remain cautiously optimistic about its potential.

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is calling for the establishment of a “Violent Crime Reduction Commission” to tackle the growing violence on reservations. In a recent letter, Rounds urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to form a cross-jurisdictional commission to address the severe crime rates, which are up to five times higher than the national average in some tribal areas. Tribal leaders support the commission, believing it will enable better resource deployment and cooperation between federal and tribal law enforcement.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is taking steps to solve Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases with the launch of “Operation Spirit Return.” The initiative partners with Othram, a Texas-based company using genetic genealogy to identify remains. In January, Othram helped identify Michelle Elbow Shield, missing since September 2023 from the Pine Ridge Reservation. While advocates, like Gina Jackson, welcome the effort, she stresses that larger systemic changes are necessary to protect Native people. The BIA is investigating 15 unsolved cases across tribal lands.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will open “Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe” this fall, marking the first major retrospective of the acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist. The exhibition, featuring 50 works, will explore Lowe’s career and themes of cultural traditions, memory, and human connections to place. The show runs from Oct. 24 through January 2027 in Washington, D.C. A companion catalog will also be released, offering deeper insight into his work.

Utah officials are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit by the Ute Indian Tribe, which alleges a discriminatory bidding scheme prevented it from purchasing land near its reservation. The state argues the tribe’s claims are barred by federal law. A judge previously ruled that the tribe could sue a former state official over potential bias in the auction process. The lawsuit alleges officials conspired to block the tribe’s bid.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether challenges to the EPA’s biofuel and ozone regulations should be decided by regional circuit courts or the D.C. Circuit. The cases involve small refiners disputing biofuel waiver denials and states contesting ozone air quality plan rejections. Justices questioned whether bundling multiple rulings makes them nationally applicable. A decision could impact how future environmental disputes are handled.

California Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas, has introduced a bill to cap internet prices for low-income households, similar to a New York law that withstood legal challenges. The proposal follows the shutdown of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which had subsidized broadband costs for millions, including those on tribal lands. While telecom groups and state Republicans oppose the measure, digital equity advocates argue it will help struggling families stay connected.