The Daily Spark

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is urging a federal court to reject the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s request to amend its lawsuit over the Hickory Ground burial site in Alabama. The Poarch Band argues the new claims should have been raised earlier in the 12-year case. The Muscogee say the removal of 57 ancestors' remains for casino construction violated federal law. The case continues in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed 168 employees focused on environmental justice on indefinite administrative leave Thursday, citing compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity, and environmental justice programs. Critics, including union representatives, warn the move could severely impact pollution oversight in Indigenous and low-income communities. The EPA stated it is reviewing its organizational structure to align with statutory duties.

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) reintroduced the BADGES for Native Communities Act to enhance law enforcement resources in Tribal communities. The bill aims to improve officer recruitment, support missing persons cases, and provide tools to combat violence. The legislation also focuses on increasing Tribal access to national databases and providing wellness programs for law enforcement.

The First Peoples Fund has awarded the 2025 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award to five Indigenous artists, each receiving $50,000 in unrestricted funds. The honorees include Silver Galleto (Pomo), Terrill Goseyun (Apache), Janie Luster (Houma), Julia Marden (Wampanoag), Sonya Moody-Jurado (Siletz), and Lisa Morehead-Hillman (Karuk/Yurok). This prestigious award recognizes the dedication of these artists to preserving and advancing Indigenous cultural practices.

The Cherokee Nation’s Heirloom Seed Bank program will open on February 18 at 10 a.m., offering tribal citizens access to culturally significant seeds, including Cherokee White Eagle corn and traditional beans, squash, and native plants. This year, a draw system replaces the first-come, first-served model due to high demand. The application period runs until March 4 via the Gadugi portal. Councilwoman Dora Smith-Patzkowski also highlighted ongoing initiatives, including food distribution and housing development efforts.

Over 1,000 Kaiser Permanente staff and their families volunteered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to restore cultural sites across Hawaii. Projects included clearing invasive species, planting native plants, and preserving taro patches. On O‘ahu, volunteers worked at Kalaeloa Heritage Park and the He‘eia fishpond. On Maui, volunteers supported the Paeloko Learning Center, while those on Hawai‘i Island restored native dryland forests. The efforts honor Hawaiian culture, environmental preservation, and community health.

A coalition of Tribal organizations is calling on the administration to ensure recent executive actions do not undermine Tribal sovereignty or disrupt federal funding for essential programs. Concerns arose after federal directives initially froze funding for healthcare, education, and economic development programs serving Tribal communities. While the freeze has been lifted, questions remain about how agencies will implement policies moving forward. The coalition emphasizes that these funds are legal obligations, not discretionary spending.

The Wintu Tribe of Northern California and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians have sued federal agencies over a decision allowing Redding Rancheria to build a casino complex on 221 acres of culturally significant land. The tribes argue the approval process ignored environmental risks and the land’s historical importance, including pre-contact Wintu villages and a massacre site. The lawsuit alleges violations of multiple federal laws and a lack of consultation with affected tribes. A decision is pending.

The Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is urging a federal judge not to dismiss its case against the U.S. Department of the Interior, citing concerns that the Trump administration may delay or overturn a new rule impacting tribal recognition. The Michigan tribe, which has fought for federal recognition for years, argues the rule must be finalized to avoid further setbacks. A decision on the case is pending.

The state of Alaska is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Native Village of Eklutna over jurisdictional authority on Native allotments. The lawsuit challenges a federal opinion that granted Alaska tribes presumptive jurisdiction over 2.7 million acres, allowing the Eklutna tribe to open its Chin’an Gaming Hall in Anchorage. Tribal leaders say overturning the decision would cause financial harm. The Interior Department has not commented on the case.

Federal lawmakers are considering deep cuts to Medicaid, which experts say could have devastating effects on Indigenous communities. Medicaid provides critical funding for Indian Health Service and tribal healthcare facilities, covering 31% of Native Americans—nearly half of them children. Advocates warn that funding reductions could lead to staff layoffs, service cuts, and even facility closures, particularly in rural and urban Native communities. The National Council of Urban Indian Health urges tribal advocates to contact lawmakers to protect funding.

Republican lawmakers have reintroduced a resolution to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s methane emissions fee, a rule implemented under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The fee targets oil and gas companies emitting over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Supporters argue the rule curbs pollution, while opponents say it burdens energy producers. The challenge comes as 23 states and industry groups seek to overturn the rule in court.

MMIW 218 will host its annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Day of Remembrance walk on Feb. 14, starting at 11 a.m. from the Northwest Indian Community Development Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. The walk will end at Bemidji State’s Beaux Arts Ballroom, where a program will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear red and bring signs in honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.

Doug Burgum was sworn in as the 55th U.S. Secretary of the Interior on January 31, 2025. In his opening remarks, Burgum emphasized his commitment to strengthening tribal partnerships, citing his previous work with North Dakota’s five sovereign tribal nations. He pledged to enhance economic opportunities and improve quality of life for tribal communities through mutual respect and collaboration. Burgum also outlined his focus on energy dominance while balancing environmental sustainability and protecting public lands.

The FBI's special report, “Violence Against American Indian or Alaska Native Females, 2021-2023,” examines violent and sexual crimes against Native women, based on data from 2021 to 2023. The report reveals 25,817 incidents of violent crime and 8,575 sexual crime incidents. A significant number of victims were harmed by intimate partners. The report, which includes crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, and rape, underscores the need for more comprehensive data to protect Native women and children.

Full report HERE.

The University of Maryland has been awarded a $3.6 million Mellon Foundation grant to improve access to Indigenous archival records. The project, led by professors Diana Marsh and Shelbi Nahwilet Meissner, will develop tools and standards to make Indigenous collections more accessible and culturally respectful. Collaborating with Tribal organizations and the Social Networks and Archival Context Cooperative, the initiative seeks to repair harmful colonial-era practices in archival descriptions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior leaders have unveiled initiatives prioritizing U.S. energy production under President Trump’s energy dominance policy. The EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative” aims to reduce costs while ensuring clean air and water. Meanwhile, DOI Secretary Doug Burgum announced plans to expand domestic energy resources, including oil and gas leasing and critical mineral development. Critics argue these actions could harm wildlife and public lands.

A federal judge ruled that the White House Council on Environmental Quality does not have the authority to issue binding regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor, overturns Biden administration regulations and reverts to previous rules. The ruling highlights the need for Congress to formally grant CEQ the authority to issue such regulations.

The U.S. government and Osage Nation are opposing a bid by Enel Green Power North America to stay a $4.2 million judgment requiring the removal of 84 wind turbines from the Osage reservation. A federal judge ruled the company trespassed by using minerals without a lease. Enel argues for a narrower remedy, but the Osage Minerals Council seeks a $50 million bond if the stay is granted. The case is now before the Tenth Circuit.