The Daily Spark

The long-running legal battle between Energy Transfer and Greenpeace over the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) enters its final stage today with closing arguments. The $300 million lawsuit claims Greenpeace incited violence and defamation during the 2016 protests, leading to a five-month delay in pipeline construction and financial losses for Energy Transfer. Greenpeace maintains it only relayed truthful information and did not promote unlawful acts. The case also involves disputes over the definition of tribal land and sacred sites. The jury will begin deliberations soon.

On March 14, 2025, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act to help Native Americans purchase homes on tribal lands. The bill seeks to reduce bureaucracy by creating strict timelines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process mortgage applications, addressing delays that have hindered homeownership. The bill is endorsed by the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition and cosponsored by Representatives Ryan Zinke, Tom Cole, and Joe Neguse.

A bill to extend Utah’s Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force failed to pass before the legislative session ended, but Rep. Angela Romero remains committed to reintroducing it in 2026. The task force, established in 2020, has worked to improve collaboration between law enforcement and tribal officials to address the disproportionate violence against Indigenous people.

The National Museum of the American Indian is showcasing “Making a Statement,” an exhibit featuring custom Gucci gowns worn by Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone. The gowns incorporate porcupine quillwork, an Indigenous art form dating back over 1,400 years, created by Ironhorse Quillwork. Organizers say the exhibit demonstrates that Native fashion has a place on red carpets and runways today. The exhibit runs through March 26.

The Trump administration has revoked an executive order aimed at strengthening tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Executive Order 14112, signed by President Joe Biden in 2023, sought to streamline federal funding and reduce barriers for the 574 federally recognized tribes. Former Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said the rollback increases federal interference in tribal affairs. The move is part of a broader effort by Trump to rescind Biden-era policies.

An Arizona bill that would activate the Emergency Alert System when an Indigenous person goes missing has reached the state Senate after passing unanimously in the House. HB2281 would allow law enforcement to request alerts for missing persons of any age under suspicious circumstances, similar to Amber and Silver Alerts. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Teresa Martinez, said the goal is to address the disproportionately high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis requested the legislation, which now awaits further debate in the Senate.

A federal judge has ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service lawfully relied on older environmental impact statements when setting groundfish harvest limits for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, rejecting a challenge from two Alaskan tribal organizations.

The Association of Village Council Presidents and Tanana Chiefs Conference argued that NMFS failed to account for climate-driven ecosystem changes in its 2024-2025 harvest rule. They sought to force the agency to update its environmental review, citing declining salmon populations and shifts in marine productivity.

U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason denied their request, ruling that NMFS properly considered updated data and was not required to reassess the environmental impact unless new conditions significantly altered previous findings. The decision allows the current harvest specifications, which authorize fishing for billions of pounds of fish, to stand.

The case is Association of Village Council Presidents et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al., U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

Native leaders are disputing President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States. While the order does not directly affect Native communities, many see it as a continuation of historical efforts to suppress Indigenous languages. Tribes across the U.S. continue to work toward preserving their languages, using tools like mobile apps and immersion programs. The Navajo Nation has reaffirmed Diné Bizaad as its official language, highlighting the importance of language in maintaining cultural identity.

The Páah Áama Paddle Club has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the First Nations Development Institute to support Native youth participating in the Paddle Tribal Waters program. This initiative will involve the first-ever descent of the newly undammed Klamath River, set for June 12–July 12, 2025. The grant will fund skill-building, leadership training, and cultural celebrations, empowering Indigenous youth to become advocates for healthy rivers. The event also marks a significant milestone in the fight for the Klamath’s restoration.

Lynette St. Clair, a Shoshone language advocate from Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was named to USA Today's Women of the Year list for her work in revitalizing the Shoshone language and culture. St. Clair has spent over three decades developing resources and programs to teach the language to younger generations, ensuring its survival. Her efforts include creating educational materials and establishing cultural programming for the community. St. Clair continues her advocacy through mentoring and consulting, aiming to see the Shoshone language spoken again in public spaces.

Native Voices Rising, a collaboration between Native Americans in Philanthropy and Common Counsel Foundation, has received a $7.5 million commitment from Magic Cabinet. This funding will strengthen NVR's ability to support Native-led nonprofits nationwide. Over the next five years, the partnership will enhance community-driven grantmaking approaches that prioritize Native leadership, with a focus on providing flexible funding and addressing critical needs in Native communities. The initiative aims to bridge resource gaps and empower organizations led by and for Native peoples.

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.