The Daily Spark

There is an ongoing impact of fraudulent sober living homes in Arizona that targeted Indigenous people for financial exploitation. Thousands were harmed, with victims experiencing abuse, addiction, homelessness, and even death. The fraud exploited government healthcare benefits, and despite warnings as early as 2019, state officials failed to act until 2023. A class-action lawsuit alleges negligence by state agencies for allowing the crisis to worsen. Advocates like Reva Stewart continue to push for accountability and support victims through outreach and initiatives. Arizona officials, including Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, have since introduced reforms, launched investigations, and allocated funds to tribal nations and nonprofits for recovery efforts. However, advocates argue more must be done to address the harm and provide justice for victims.

Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has announced new cash rewards to support investigations into missing persons cases statewide. The program seeks to generate new leads and bring justice to affected families. Officials hope this initiative will aid cases involving marginalized communities.

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have secured the return of approximately 2,000 acres at the base of Table Rock in Oregon. This land will be dedicated to restoration, preservation, and cultural practices, including the gathering of first foods. The tribe's focus is on revitalizing traditional uses of the land to strengthen cultural connections and community well-being.

The Ohio History Connection is collaborating with 45 tribes to repatriate over 7,000 Native American remains and funerary objects. The remains, some dating back centuries, were removed from Ohio’s tribes and stored at the museum. This repatriation effort follows updates to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which mandates the return of such items. Tribal leaders emphasize the urgency, with Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe stressing the need to “unite those human remains with Mother Earth.”

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is prioritizing collaboration with the state’s 22 tribal nations as the new legislative year begins. Tribal lands cover 28% of Arizona, and Indigenous people make up 6% of the population. Hobbs, a vocal advocate since her time as Secretary of State, aims to ensure tribes have a seat at the table on key issues like water rights, infrastructure, and voting access.

She pledged to build relationships based on mutual respect and highlighted tribal contributions to state policy.

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will begin issuing citations for trespassing amid a dispute over unauthorized use of Annie Sun Lane, Center Sugarbush Lane, East Ross Allen Lake Road, and Else Lake Lane. The Tribal Council stated this decision upholds sovereignty and enforces laws protecting the Reservation.

Despite efforts to negotiate agreements with the Town of Lac du Flambeau, limited progress has left the Tribe with no choice but to take action.

In slew of revoking existing executive orders, President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 withdrew Executive Order 14049 of October 11, 2021 (White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities).

Researchers are collaborating with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, museums, and universities to revolutionize paleontology through advanced technologies like 3D scanning and AI. These innovations allow for non-invasive fossil analysis, safeguarding fragile artifacts while honoring cultural stewardship values. This partnership empowers Native communities, including Standing Rock, to preserve ancestral history while contributing to global scientific discoveries.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a petition by Montana's Secretary of State to reverse a state court ruling that two voting laws hindered Native American voters. These laws, related to absentee voting hours and registration deadlines, were ruled unconstitutional by the Montana Supreme Court. The decision marks a key win for Native American advocacy groups and tribal nations.

​​The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is requesting public comments on whether the U.S. should join an international treaty requiring patent applicants to disclose when inventions use Indigenous traditional knowledge or genetic resources, such as medicinal plants. The treaty, adopted in May by the World Intellectual Property Organization, aims to prevent erroneous patents on non-novel inventions. Business groups, including PhRMA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have raised concerns about compliance challenges and potential impacts on innovation.

Comments due: March 18, 2025

Public hearing: April 29, 2025

Researchers in North Dakota have begun digitizing records from a Native American boarding school, aiming to preserve and make the documents more accessible. The project, which includes enrollment logs, letters, and photographs, is part of an effort to illuminate the impacts of the boarding school system on Indigenous communities. This initiative is also seen as a step toward healing and supporting educational efforts for future generations.

John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), has spent over five decades asserting and defending the critical rights of Indigenous peoples. In a recent appearance on SideBar, Echohawk discussed NARF’s work in areas such as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and the protection of natural resources. Under his leadership, NARF has impacted tens of thousands of Native Americans, achieving victories in voting rights, religious freedom, and land protection. Echohawk has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious 2023 Thurgood Marshall Award.

Young artists from the Pueblo of Taos are dedicated to preserving their heritage through music, dance, and literature. The Aspen Song Kids, named after their great-great-grandfather, practice daily, speaking Tiwa and performing traditional arts. Their recently published book, The Sacred Spiral, shares cultural stories through paintings and has been presented to tribes across the U.S. The group has traveled widely, including to the Pacific Northwest, to raise awareness about Taos Pueblo traditions. They also continue to perform and engage with their elders, with plans for a second book of poems.

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is pushing for a new complaint in its ongoing legal battle over a sacred burial ground in Alabama. The tribe alleges that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, along with other parties, desecrated the Hickory Ground site by removing the remains of 57 ancestors for a casino project. The dispute has drawn national attention due to the site's historical significance and its place on the National Register of Historic Places. The Muscogee are seeking to halt the casino's operation and restore the site.

Republican Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) and Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) have introduced the Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act to transfer the power to designate national monuments from the president to Congress. The bill targets the Antiquities Act of 1906, which has been used to protect landmarks such as Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Chuckwalla, and Sáttítla Highlands. Environmental and tribal groups warn this change could jeopardize protections for sacred and historic sites.

A coalition of Louisiana-led states—Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi—and fossil fuel groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Gulf Energy Alliance, have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration. They are challenging memos that ban new oil and gas leasing across 625 million acres of federal waters, citing economic harm and constitutional overreach.

Demonstrators gathered to call for Leonard Peltier's release in the center of Milan, Italy, on January 15, 2025. Several human rights organizations and prominent Italian intellectuals joined the Milan-based Comitato di Solidarietà con Leonard Peltier (Justice for Leonard Peltier Committee), which has long advocated for his freedom. More than 50 people chanted outside the U.S. Consulate, urging President Joe Biden to grant Peltier a pardon.

Tribal nations and environmental organizations are pushing back against Michigan’s approval of a tunnel project for the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. The groups argue that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) failed to consider the potential climate change impacts and alternatives to the project. They contend the approval overlooks the environmental risks, including possible oil spills, and ignores the concerns of Indigenous communities whose lands and waters could be affected. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the Michigan Court of Appeals reviewing the case.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has reinstated a lawsuit filed by a Native American employee alleging race and sex discrimination by a university. The plaintiff claims she was terminated after reporting discriminatory treatment. The appellate court's decision overturns a lower court ruling that had dismissed the case, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing discrimination within academic institutions and highlights the importance of legal avenues for individuals seeking redress.