The Daily Spark

On March 6, hundreds of people gathered outside Encounter AZ church in Mesa for a vigil honoring Emily Pike, a 14-year-old San Carlos Apache teen who was murdered in February. Emily was last seen on January 27 before her remains were found in a remote area. The vigil aimed to raise awareness about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis, a cause now deeply personal for her family. Supporters held signs reading "Justice for Emily Pike" and "No More Stolen Sisters." The investigation is ongoing with federal, state, and tribal law enforcement involvement.

The Yakama Nation announced the early termination of its lease agreement with the General Services Agency, ending a five-year contract two years ahead of schedule due to federal budget cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency. The lease, valued at $533,985, provided office space for 85 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employees at the Yakama Nation's Toppenish, Wash., headquarters. Although the termination notice did not specify a reason, the DOGE website lists it as a savings. The lease was originally scheduled to end in October 2027 but will now terminate on September 25, 2025. The BIA has stated it will continue to provide services to the tribe despite the lease changes.

Three Native American tribes and five students have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of violating its obligations to tribes by cutting jobs at Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. The suit claims that layoffs at Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute led to unsafe conditions, canceled classes, delayed financial aid, and staff shortages. The tribes allege that they were not consulted prior to the cuts, which affected security, maintenance, and educational staff. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal agencies have urged a D.C. federal judge to deny two tribes' request to block a proposed casino-hotel complex on trust land in Shasta County, California. The Wintu Tribe and Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, alongside a local nonprofit, argue the project threatens culturally significant land, including historical Wintu villages and a massacre site. The agencies contend the tribes' complaint, filed seven months after the land was taken into trust, is untimely and lacks sufficient grounds. A decision is pending in the U.S. District Court.

Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are urging the federal government to halt the closure of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Western Regional Office in Phoenix, which serves 53 tribes. The senators criticized the lack of transparency in the decision, citing potential harm to essential services, including economic development and water system improvements. More than 25 BIA offices nationwide face closure as part of broader federal spending cuts.

Elbowoods Memorial Health Center is offering free colorectal cancer screenings across the Fort Berthold Reservation from March 13 to March 28. Marilyn Yellow Bird, director of public health, stresses the importance of early detection as colorectal cancer often goes unnoticed in its early stages. The screenings are available to everyone, including those outside the reservation. Locations and dates include:

• March 13: Parshall
• March 14: New Town
• March 15: White Shield
• March 18: Mandaree
• March 19: Twin Buttes
• March 28: Bismarck at the Good Road MHA Nation satellite office

Screenings are non-invasive, and colonoscopies may be recommended based on initial results.

A shooting in Spirit Lake Nation left two people deceased and one in critical condition. Law enforcement arrested the suspect after a brief shelter-in-place order. The names of the victims and suspect have not been released. The tribe has expressed condolences and called for respect for the grieving families. For support, Spirit Lake Behavioral Health can be reached at 701-766-1613.

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in North Dakota has grown from a small office in 2020 to a 24/7 disaster response hub. The facility coordinates large-scale emergencies, including woodland fires and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP). The center focuses on communication, collaboration, and resourcefulness, offering training and response capabilities for local, state, and tribal agencies. The MHA Nation’s EOC is a model for tribal nations building resilience in disaster management.

The North Dakota Supreme Court has denied Greenpeace’s request to move a $300 million defamation trial brought by Energy Transfer out of Morton County. The environmental group argued that a local jury could not be impartial due to its connection to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Energy Transfer accuses Greenpeace of defamation and inciting unlawful protests near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The trial, set for five weeks, will determine whether Greenpeace is liable for damages related to the 2016-2017 demonstrations. ​​

A coalition of business associations is challenging federal water quality standards in Washington state, arguing the rules should be repealed. Several Native American tribes, including the Quinault Indian Nation and Puyallup Tribe, support the regulations, citing treaty-protected fishing rights and environmental protections. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defends the standards, saying they protect public health. The case, filed in D.C. federal court, could impact water policies nationwide.

Several tribal water rights settlement bills are advancing to the U.S. Senate, aiming to fund critical infrastructure projects and secure long-term water access for Indigenous communities. The legislation includes settlements for the Navajo Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, and the Crow Tribe, among others. Lawmakers emphasize that these measures will uphold federal trust responsibilities and provide sustainable water management for tribes.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to release withheld federal funds to states, ruling that an executive order freezing grants and payments violates the separation of powers. The injunction, sought by 22 states and Washington, D.C., prevents further funding delays affecting essential services like health care and law enforcement. The decision comes amid legal challenges and impeachment threats against the judge.

The Golden History Museum in Colorado will host the Indigenous Connections Summit on March 19-20, bringing together tribal representatives, museums, and public art agencies to strengthen partnerships and improve Native representation. The event precedes the Denver March Powwow and includes the public opening of “This is Native Art,” an exhibit featuring works by 35 Native artists.

The General Services Administration plans to close 25 Bureau of Indian Affairs offices—more than a quarter of BIA locations nationwide—including three in Arizona. The closures could reduce access to critical services like law enforcement, housing, and economic development for tribes. Lawmakers warn the move will further strain already underfunded BIA programs. The Phoenix BIA regional office, serving 53 tribes, is set to close by August 31.

The U.S. Army will recover the remains of 19 Indigenous children buried at the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, honoring requests from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The children, who died between 1880 and 1910, will be reburied in locations chosen by their families. The move follows ongoing efforts to address the legacy of federally funded Indian boarding schools, where thousands of Native children endured forced assimilation.

Native American rights groups are urging a federal appellate rules committee to recognize tribal nations as sovereign governments in court proceedings. The Native American Rights Fund, National Congress of American Indians, and Northern Plains Indian Law Center are calling for federally recognized tribes to be exempt from seeking court approval to file amicus briefs—just like states and the federal government. Advocates say the current disparity limits tribes' ability to weigh in on cases that affect their rights.

In a video deposition played during a trial involving Energy Transfer and Greenpeace, Lakota activist Nick Tilsen stated that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), not Greenpeace. Tilsen emphasized the tribe's sovereignty and its role in organizing the protests, which included representatives from over 300 Native nations. He clarified that Greenpeace's role was limited to providing support, such as supplies and nonviolent training, after being invited by Standing Rock organizers. Greenpeace denies allegations of orchestrating violent actions. The trial, now in its second week, is expected to continue for several more weeks.

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, along with four other groups, are seeking to join a federal lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park’s bison management plan. The State of Montana is challenging the plan, arguing that it increases the risk of brucellosis transmission to cattle. The tribes contend that Montana’s efforts undermine their treaty hunting rights and limit food sovereignty. They emphasize the park’s progress in disease management, such as vaccination programs and herd monitoring, and the positive impact on bison transfer to tribal lands.

The California Board of State and Community Corrections has awarded a $2 million grant to a coalition of San Diego County tribes and the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation. The funds will address the high rates of violence and disappearances disproportionately affecting Native American communities. Recipients include the Jamul Indian Village, Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, and Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. The three-year initiative will support awareness campaigns, training, and stronger law enforcement partnerships.