The Daily Spark

The Association on American Indian Affairs appointed three Native women leaders to its Board of Directors: Jamie Gomez, Lycia Ortega, and Makalika Nāholowaʻa. Each brings decades of experience in advocacy, law, and communications. Their leadership will support the Association’s mission to protect sovereignty, preserve culture, and empower Native communities. The new members will be fully appointed at the Association's 103rd Annual Membership meeting in December 2025.

Advocates from the Southern Ute Reservation say more work is needed to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) crisis in southern Colorado. A recent prayer walk honored victims and highlighted ongoing challenges, including lack of law enforcement trust and underreported cases. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reports 38 open MMIR cases, with 27 classified as cold case homicides. Grassroots activists continue to push for awareness and action to bring justice to Indigenous families.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 956 people on Sunday as part of a nationwide immigration enforcement operation, according to federal officials. The arrests come amid growing concerns from Indigenous leaders about Native citizens being mistakenly detained during raids. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has urged tribal members to carry identification, including a Certificate of Indian Blood, to verify their status. Advocacy groups are providing resources for those affected.

The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia has officially taken ownership of 870 acres of ancestral homeland along the Rappahannock River. The land, donated to The Nature Conservancy in the 1970s, will now be permanently stewarded by the tribe with a conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Tribal leaders say the land will help preserve cultural traditions for future generations. The Patawomeck Tribe, recognized by Virginia in 2010, continues efforts to secure federal recognition.

Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe), CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, has been reappointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board for a second two-year term. The board provides recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce on policies affecting the travel industry. Rupert, a longtime advocate for Indigenous tourism, continues to elevate Native voices in the $15.7 billion Indigenous hospitality sector.

Some Navajo Nation members in northern Arizona are concerned about potential detentions by federal immigration authorities amid increased deportation efforts. While there have been no confirmed cases of tribal members being detained, President Buu Nygren urges members to carry photo IDs and report any incidents to a hotline set up by his office. Many on the reservation lack certain forms of identification, prompting increased efforts to issue tribal IDs. ICE has stated it does not target individuals based on skin color or ethnicity.

Following a temporary block on President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship, Native tribes have issued statements. The Shoshone-Paiute, Shoshone-Bannock, and Coeur d'Alene Tribes reaffirm their sovereignty and constitutional rights. The tribes emphasize their long-standing presence on the land and commitment to protecting their people. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes cited the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, while the Coeur d'Alene Tribe reminded that they will remain steadfast in their fight for what is rightfully theirs.

The Office of Management and Budget has ordered federal agencies to temporarily halt all financial assistance programs, affecting billions in funding for tribal nations. The pause, effective Jan. 28, impacts grants and loans across multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service. Tribal leaders and advocates warn the freeze could disrupt essential services. A coalition of nonprofits has filed a lawsuit challenging the order.

Broadband advocates are raising concerns over a White House directive that could freeze funding for programs supporting rural and underserved communities, including tribal nations. The Office of Management and Budget’s memo initially paused grant disbursements, potentially impacting the Universal Service Fund, which helps fund internet access for schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the order, but uncertainty remains.

The operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline has asked a federal judge to pause the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s lawsuit seeking to shut down the pipeline until the court first rules on competing motions for summary judgment. Dakota Access LLC argues that delaying further briefing would conserve court and party resources. The tribe opposes the request, saying simultaneous consideration of all motions is more practical. The case continues in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Newly appointed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie stated there is no need to change the approval process for gas infrastructure projects, despite recent court rulings criticizing FERC’s environmental reviews. This decision follows a D.C. Circuit ruling that vacated approval for a major pipeline expansion. While previous FERC leadership prioritized environmental justice, Christie signaled a shift away from those policies. Tribes and Native communities impacted by pipeline projects may see fewer federal reviews of climate and environmental concerns.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state of California are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, arguing that state sovereign immunity bars the tribe’s claims over gaming compact negotiations. The tribe alleges the state failed to negotiate in good faith under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. A 2022 Ninth Circuit ruling previously limited California’s ability to include non-gaming provisions in compacts.

A federal judge dismissed the Arizona Legislature’s lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument, ruling lawmakers lacked standing to sue. The court noted uranium mining restrictions were already in place since 2012. Several tribes, including the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and Havasupai Tribe, supported the monument’s creation to protect sacred sites. They sought to join the lawsuit but were denied, as the court ruled the federal government already represented their interests.

The Siletz Tribe has received a $1.56 million grant to reintroduce sea otters to the Oregon and Northern California coasts. The funding, part of the America the Beautiful Challenge, aims to restore a species crucial to local ecosystems and tribal culture. Sea otters play a vital role in maintaining kelp forests and controlling invasive species. The project involves multiple tribes and partners, with sea otters expected to be relocated from healthier populations.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is now accepting applications from historic congregations seeking funding for preservation projects. The program, supported by the Lilly Endowment and Gerry Charitable Trust, offers financial support to restore sacred sites with cultural, architectural, or historical significance. Applications are due by March 3, 2025. Projects should adhere to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The fund encourages submissions that highlight underrepresented communities, including Native Americans.

For full details, visit National Fund website here: https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp17438-national-fund-for-sacred-places-invites-applications-from-historic-congregations.

More than 540 buffalo have been returned to their ancestral lands in a nationwide, Indigenous-led movement, involving over a dozen tribes and organizations like the InterTribal Buffalo Council and The Nature Conservancy. This initiative aims to restore buffalo populations, benefiting ecological systems, food sovereignty, and Native cultural practices. The return of buffalo symbolizes a journey of healing and partnership for Indigenous communities across the U.S..

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing Doug Burgum, nominated Secretary of the Interior, to devise a plan for extending federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. The Lumbee Tribe has sought recognition for over a century, but the process has faced legal and legislative challenges. While the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lumbee Fairness Act in December 2024, the bill did not advance in the Senate. The tribe continues to push for federal acknowledgment through legislation or a legal process.

Larry Rhoden was sworn in as South Dakota’s governor on Saturday after the resignation of Kristi Noem, who moved to Washington, D.C., to become U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Tribes in the state are hopeful for a fresh start with Rhoden, who previously served as lieutenant governor under Noem. Tensions between South Dakota’s tribes and Noem’s administration were marked by controversial statements and actions, but tribal leaders, like Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire, are optimistic that Rhoden’s leadership may foster better cooperation and relations.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against two Oklahoma district attorneys, accusing them of prosecuting Native American citizens outside their jurisdiction. According to the lawsuit, the district attorneys violated the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling, which limits prosecution of crimes committed by tribal citizens to tribal or federal authorities. The Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Choctaw tribes condemned the actions, citing a threat to tribal sovereignty and public safety.