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By federal law, tribal law enforcement officers may attend a state training program or the Indian Police Academy in New Mexico. This year is the first tribal-specific training has been included in South Dakota's program. (Adobe Stock)

SD police academy grads newly schooled on Indian Country

South Dakota's police training program included a new course this year, one specific to tribal communities. A class of 20 graduated yesterday from …

Group proposes changes, encourages use of Indigenous SD education standards

A team of educators and supporters recently proposed changes to South Dakota's framework for Indigenous education, making the lessons more accessible …

The Biden administration's recent $15 million commitment to its Investing in America agenda is expected to grow Indian Youth Services Corps partnerships by 30%, according to the Department of the Interior. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous-led public service program in SD secures more funding

The Department of the Interior is disbursing $7 million to offices throughout the country for Indigenous-led conservation projects. The Indian …

According to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report, 18% of people on Tribal lands did not have access to broadband internet, compared to only 4% in non-Tribal areas. (Adobe Stock)

‘Tension, confusion’ around broadband access in Indian Country

Some federal incentives to bring internet access to Indian Country neglected to require tribal participation, according to a new report. The Federal …

Kids are invited to paint skateboards during the festival, one of many events at RedCan that complements the murals painted by visiting artists. (Cheyenne River Youth Project)

Youth 'Graffiti Jam' hits 10th year on Cheyenne River Reservation

By Kate Mothes for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servi…

More than 30 tribal nations are represented at the University of South Dakota, according to the institution. (Wikimedia Commons)

USD threats to fire staff part of larger trend

The University of South Dakota threatened to fire staff members in what some see as an ongoing attack on academic freedom, according to reporting in …

The U.S. government recognized the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The Black Hills Forest Reserve was established in 1897 and transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. (R. Blauert, Wikimedia Commons)

Black Hills Visitor Center under new joint tribal, federal oversight

The Black Hills National Forest is one of the latest federal lands to enter a co-stewardship agreement with local tribal nations-a management model en…

Two South Dakota drought resiliency projects will supply about 130 homes with high-quality drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

New federal funds earmarked for SD rural water projects

Some rural South Dakotans struggle to get good drinking water but the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded two local communities with grants to …

Recent statewide figures look promising, but homelessness in South Dakota has risen more than 120% since 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Adobe Stock)

Sioux Falls programs address rising homeless population

Homelessness in South Dakota may be down overall, but the state's urban areas are an exception. New programs in Sioux Falls aim to address it…

In a 2018 survey by the Native American Voting Rights Coalition, 32% of respondents not registered to vote in South Dakota said long distances to travel for registration were prohibitive. (Adobe Stock)

Ballot dropbox ban a barrier in SD primary

South Dakota's June 4 primary will be the first national election here since ballot dropboxes were banned in 2023. It is one of 12 states to ban …

During what is known as the Medicaid post-pandemic

Report: SD Medicaid expansion enrollment remains low

Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state wh…

South Dakota's Thunder Valley Development Corporation is recruiting teens and young adults to help mentor children on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The organization's summer leadership academy also gives local youth a chance to learn critical thinking skills. (Photo courtesy of Thunder Valley)

Some SD Native American youth get a helping hand from peers

November is Native American Heritage Month, and a South Dakota organization is working to help establish leadership skills for Indigenous youth…

Civic engagement groups like Common Cause say greater transparency and education about redistricting could spur more public interest, including how shifts in the political boundaries impact how much funding a community receives from state Legislatures, like the one in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakota gets 'C-plus' grade for redistricting

A non-partisan political group is out with state-by-state grades for recent redistricting efforts, including South Dakota. Common Cause gives South …

An upcoming event in South Dakota, centered around food sovereignty, aims to help Native American chefs, community leaders and others share traditional and modern ideas about expanding food systems. (Adobe Stock)

SD Summit: Creating More Pathways for Indigenous Food Sovereignty

As food-sovereignty efforts continue among Native American tribes, a South Dakota organization is bringing together stakeholders for a key …

South Dakota's Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is trying to reclaim and restore historical elements of the Lakota language. Organizers said data sovereignty will play a big role in ensuring younger generations in the region have access to the teachings. (Photo courtesy TVCDC)

Data Sovereignty Movement for Native Populations Reaches SD

Around the U.S., there are efforts among tribal nations to reclaim stolen land from colonization and preserve language history, and a South Dakota …

Several groups representing Native American college students say the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to largely remove affirmative action from college admissions is

SCOTUS Ruling on College Admissions Felt by Tribal Education Leaders

Advocates for underrepresented college students continue to assess the fallout from last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision dealing with affirmative …

Going back generations, many Indigenous cultures developed strong ties with bison and relied upon them for sustenance, shelter, and cultural and religious practices. (Adobe Stock)

In SD, Bison Restoration Part Of Food Sovereignty for Natives

South Dakota is home to one of the nation's largest American Indian reservations, and the area is part of a movement among tribal nations to take …

With road access cut off, certain Native American tribes in South Dakota were forced to try to survive the recent blizzard with dwindling access to food, water, medicine and firewood. (Adobe Stock)

SD Tribes Hindered by Limited Resources During Brutal Storm

Conditions may have improved, but Native American tribes in South Dakota say they're still reeling from the recent blizzard that left many stranded …

Kelsey Scott, left, operates DX Beef in South Dakota. Scott is a fourth-generation Native American farmer who practices regenerative agriculture. (Jennifer Zeller)

Decolonizing Regenerative Cattle Ranching

By Ray Levy Uyeda for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Over the past year, several polls have indicated a majority of South Dakotans support Medicaid expansion. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Health Expert Discusses Medicaid Expansion in SD

In less than a week, South Dakota will learn whether voters support expanding Medicaid, where a researcher said approval would especially help tribal …

Oglala Lakota College is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy olc.edu)

Tribal Colleges: Strong Voter Turnout Helps SD Campuses

South Dakota is home to three tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong …

In a recent lawsuit, a federal judge found nearly 10 examples in which the State of South Dakota had made it difficult for Native Americans to register to vote. (Adobe Stock)

Following Settlement with Tribes, SD Phases In Voting-Access Reforms

This election season, South Dakota is starting to implement voting-access reforms in light of a recent settlement with Native American tribes…

Around 72% of survey participants in a new college affordability study for Indigenous students reported running out of money at least once in the last six months. (Adobe Stock)

New Study Details College Cost Barriers for Indigenous Students

The biggest obstacle facing Indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a collaborative study by the National Native …

A new Indigenous academy in South Dakota, geared for younger students, says it wants the kids to have a deep sense of belonging, higher engagement and motivation. (Adobe Stock)

New SD Tribal Academy Readies for Fall Start

Organizers behind a new Indigenous school in western South Dakota hope they can give young Native American students a more optimal learning environmen…

South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation has its own Public Safety Department to uphold tribal and federal law. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Decision Prompts Concerns about Tribal Sovereignty

Tribal advocates are closely analyzing the potential impact of a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with state investigations of certain crimes on …

While some tribal governments, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority, have been able to accelerate internet accessibility, service affordability is still a barrier for tribal members. (Adobe Stock)

Closing Tribal Connection Gap: SD Reservations Get Internet Funds

Native American communities say the pandemic severely limited their ability to communicate with the rest of the world and each other, largely because …

In states like South Dakota, Native American tribes have been trying to restore populations of endangered species like the black-footed ferret. (Adobe Stock)

Giving Tribes More Support to Maintain Wildlife Habitat

Native American tribes manage millions of acres of wildlife habitat but face inequities in securing conservation funds. A bill in Congress would …

Around 24% of rural Americans use a post office box, making it a little harder for them to get free COVID tests sent to them directly. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal, Rural Communities Face Barriers for Free COVID Tests

Households across America are receiving free COVID tests sent by mail after the federal government rolled out the option last month. But in states …

This is one the new homes in the Simply Smiles Children's Village on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The specialized homes provide culturally specific foster care to Indigenous children. (Simply Smiles)

New SD Project Builds Foster Homes in Tribal Communities

LA PLANT, S.D. -- South Dakota has struggled to establish a network of foster parents in tribal communities, but solutions are in play, including a …

The ACLU says it's possible legal action could be taken against South Dakota leaders over their handling of Native American references in updating social studies standards. (Adobe Stock)

Legal Question Hangs Over SD Social-Studies Process

PIERRE, S.D. -- A new framework is moving forward for updating social-studies standards in South Dakota schools, and as the process took shape…

In addition to abuse and neglect, a new study says economically disadvantaged children have a risk of premature death that is 1.9 times higher than other socioeconomic groups. (Adobe Stock)

Study Underscores SD Efforts to Minimize Impact of Child Abuse

PIERRE, S.D. -- A new study links premature deaths in adulthood with people who experience abuse as children, and South Dakota groups say it …

State leaders say proposed changes to South Dakota's social studies standards have resulted in an overwhelming response from the public. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Delay, Tribal Opponents of SD School Standards Won't Let Up

PIERRE, S.D. - While South Dakota hits the reset button on updating social studies standards for schools, tribal groups opposed to the plans say …

Plaintiffs in a lawsuit say despite an initial court filing last year, the State of South Dakota has yet to correct their concerns about voter-registration obstacles for Native Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Over SD Native American Voter Registration Continues

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- In Congress, efforts are underway to boost the voting rights of Native Americans. It coincides with an ongoing lawsuit in South …

A young girl holds the name of an Indigenous teen tied to a former Native American boarding school in Rapid City. (SiouxSanLands)

SD Tribal Land Swap Continues Amid Boarding School Discoveries

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- This week, Rapid City residents get updates on a land-transfer project involving the Native American community. The work …

Advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls say they're grateful for new state-level and federal policies, but fear a lack of local resources will keep putting more people in danger. (Adobe Stock)

New Awareness Week for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Advocates are stepping up awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) and girls, but even with efforts in South …

In addition to her historic role in President Joe Biden's Cabinet, Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., made history in being one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018. (House.gov)

Haaland's Confirmation Cheered by SD Tribal Leader

LOWER BRULE, S.D. -- The U.S. government now has its first Native American serving in a Cabinet leadership post. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., was …

Advocates for boosting voter access in South Dakota were hoping an online registration system would pass in the current legislative session. But so far, only a watered-down version has advanced. (Adobe Stock)

Changes to Online Voter Registration Plan for SD Criticized

PIERRE, S.D. -- The South Dakota Senate could soon consider a bill concerning online voter registration, but the measure is a far cry from what …

Environmental and tribal groups say the Keystone XL is concerning because plans involved carrying oil from tar sands, the production of which is carbon intensive. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Leaders Encouraged by Keystone Cancellation, Want More Action

PIERRE, S.D. -- Shortly after taking office Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed several orders, including one that revokes the presidential permit …

Leslie Crow is a Lead Teacher at Okreek School within the Todd County School District. The school is located on South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation. (Photo courtesy of Moses Mitchell)

SD Teacher: Schools Need More Native American History

ROSEBUD, S.D. -- The "one-sided" version of Thanksgiving often taught in public schools has long frustrated Native Americans, especially as it occurs …

Mirroring a national trend, South Dakota has seen a significant increase in recent years in the number of kids not covered by health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakota Sees Dramatic Spike in Uninsured Children

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Despite a pre-pandemic period of economic stability, the number of South Dakota children lacking health coverage spiked between 2…

Congress has advanced a bill aimed to enhance safety for Indigenous women. According to one study provided by the Justice Department, murder rates of Native American women in some territories are 10 times higher than the national average for all races. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aimed at Protecting Indigenous Women Gives Natives Hope

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- Native American groups hope the president will sign a measure designed to help law enforcement get a handle on a public safety …

In addition to federal delays, South Dakota's governor has been questioned over whether she was too slow to ramp up state outreach efforts for the 2020 census. (Adobe Stock)

SD Census Workers Scramble to Count All Residents

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- From shifting workers to different states to offering them overtime incentives, the U.S. Census Bureau is doing everything it …

Rapid City has seen longstanding tensions between Native American communities and the white population over 1,200 acres of land that once belonged to an Indian boarding school. Various groups and Native American leaders say the land was stolen from tribes and paved the way for unlawful use. (Adobe Stock)

Mending Fences: SD Church Provides Space for Indigenous Students

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- Many South Dakota schools returned to in-person learning this fall. But that's not an easy decision for all families during the …

While most public schools in South Dakota will provide in-person learning this fall, many schools on Native American reservations have opted for distance learning. (Adobe Stock)

Hard Decisions for Native American Educators on Reopening Schools

LOWER BRULE, S.D. -- Native American educators say they're in a tough bind in preparing for classes this fall. Their communities are more vulnerable …

Outside of government relief assistance, many Native American tribes, including the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, are appealing for online donations to help with their response to COVID-19. (Rosebud Tribe)

Spending Rules for Relief Funds Put Tribes in Tough Spot

ROSEBUD, S.D. -- Native American tribes are in a difficult situation in putting COVID relief money to use. The aid came several months after the …

The land on which Mount Rushmore is located was taken from the Lakota Sioux by the U.S. government in the 1800s. (Adobe Stock)

Historical Pain Behind Mount Rushmore Renewed in 2020

KEYSTONE, S.D. -- President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally at Mount Rushmore later this week for Independence Day. But a number of Native …

According to the CDC, South Dakota had a fertility rate of 73.6 in 2018, the highest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

SD's Birth Rate Underscores Calls to Count All Kids in Census

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- A common theme for the 2020 census is making sure all young children are counted. That's been an issue in previous counts…

George Floyd murals, such as this one in Milwaukee, have surfaced across the globe following protests over his killing by Minneapolis police. (Graham Kilmer)

Seeking Racial Justice through Artistic Expression

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- From middle America to Europe, murals have popped up in honor of George Floyd amid the renewed fight for racial justice…

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SD: Native American/Indigenous