Native American Issues / Public News Service

Data show of all U.S. college undergraduates in 2021, 107,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native, a 40% drop since 2010. But some advocates said the numbers are off because of poor data collection.(Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Former grant recipients now ambassadors for Native education opportunities

The Jackson-based group Native American Jump Start has been providing grants to Native students, interns and young workers for decades and this year…

There were more than 5,700 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls reported in 2016 in the U.S. Fewer than 200 were logged in the Department of Justice database. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Alarming violence rates continue against Indigenous women

Indigenous people have made great contributions to the state of Wisconsin yet the alarming rates of violence against them remains a public health cris…

Chuckwalla National Monument is one of two created in mid-January by President Joe Biden, just before he left office. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Two CA national monuments in peril as feds announce plan to rescind them

Two new national monuments in California are in jeopardy after the White House announced a plan to revoke them and then appeared to retreat. On …

The Montana Food Bank Network distributed food through 330 partner organizations in 2024, including food pantries, schools, senior centers and more, according to the organization's impact report. (West Rose Media/Adobe Stock)

MT food bank, neighbors collaborate to improve food access for tribal nations

Food bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Montana, to launch the 104 Degrees West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

The Food Bank of Wyoming served people across 97,903 square miles and in all 23 counties in 2024, according to the organization's impact report. (Adobe Stock)

Four-state collaborative seeks to improve food access in Native nations

Food-bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Wyoming, to launch the 104° West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

There are more than 500,000 buffalo in North America today, but nearly all of those are livestock, in commercial herds and owned by private landowners. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the …

Started in 2019, the Tribal Foundational Public Health Service is designed to foster a more equitable, prevention-focused public health system for tribes. (jokekung/Adobe Stock)

Cuts looming for WA tribal public-health funding

Washington state's Tribal Foundational Public Health Service is the first dedicated funding for tribes to advance public health initiatives. In Gov…

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the uninsured rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives under age 65 decreased 12 percentage points since passage of the Affordable Care Act, from 32.4% in 2010 to 19.9% in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment is over, but tribal members can still get health coverage

Open enrollment for health insurance from the online marketplace is over, but Wyoming experts are reminding tribal members that they qualify to …

The State of Montana first passed its Indian Child Welfare Act in 2023, decades after a federal version was enacted by Congress in 1978. A bill to expand Montana's law advanced from the state Senate to the House on Tuesday. (Wikimedia Commons)

MT Senate bills on Native education, child welfare advance to House

Three Montana bills regarding Native rights and culture advanced from the Senate to the House this week, despite some previous setbacks. Bills to …

Indigenous people are incarcerated at a rate four times higher than white people.(Framestock/Adobe Stock)

WA legislators weigh voting rights for incarcerated people

More than 14,000 incarcerated people in Washington are not able to vote and two bills in Olympia aim to change it. One bill would make voting more …

Native people have higher death rates at most ages, but particularly at younger ages, according to the National Indian Council on Aging. (Adobe Stock)

NV program to bridge insurance gaps for Native Americans needs more 'buy-in'

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Nevada News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public New…

Sun Bear Industries coordinates and manages renewable energy projects, connecting tribal governments with contractors specializing in renewable energy. (Adobe Stock)

WI tribal nations working toward energy autonomy

By Robert Chappell for Madison 365.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Madison 365-Public News Ser…

Medicaid is the single largest health insurer for children in New Mexico. (MonaMäkelä/AdobeStock)

GOP budget eyes Medicaid cuts, a significant impact for Native communities

A preliminary federal budget unveiled by Republicans this week includes cuts to Medicaid, which a recent study reveals would disproportionately …

Montana ranks ninth in the country for the ratio of non-elderly adults in rural areas that rely on Medicaid coverage, at 22.2%, according to a January report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Native communities would see big impacts from proposed Medicaid cuts

A January report shows that in rural counties home to large numbers of American Indians, including in Montana, people are more likely to rely on …

Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations during an international conference. (Joy Fera/Adobe Stock)

NV lawmaker proposes new date for Indigenous Peoples Day

Nevada's only sitting Indigenous legislator has introduced a bill to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day on what she calls the "correct day," the second…

About 38 percent of Oregon Native students went on to college in 2024, which is higher than the national average, but still the lowest of all racial/ethnic groups. (Tasneem H/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR needs to do more to get Native Americans into higher ed

Institutions need to do more to close the higher education graduation gap for Native Americans, according to a new report. The report notes at just …

The American Federation of Teachers says schools must be safe havens, welcoming places of learning and free from racism, discrimination and the threat of deportation. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

School districts across Texas are grappling with ways to keep migrant children safe and engaged in class now that the Trump administration has made it…

More than 54,000 Native American people have no home access to electricity, according to a 2023 report from the Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit brings light to tribal lands in Arizona

By Yessenia Funes for Atmos.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News …

In 2024, at least 10 states enacted 19 restrictive voting laws, according to the Brennan Center for Justice and 21 states enacted 32 expansive ones. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court declines Montana voting rights case

The nation's highest court has declined to hear a case about Montana voting laws which would have disproportionately affected Native people. Last …

Enbridge's Line 5 can transport 540,000 barrels per day of petroleum liquids. (Dean Pennala/Adobe Stock)

New report: Enbridge’s Line 5 plan costly, flawed

ADDITION: Comments by Enbridge, received after deadline, have been added. (10:10 a.m. MST, Jan. 22, 2025) A new report says Enbridge's plan to build …

Enbridge's Line 5 runs from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, passing through northern Michigan. (Michael Carni/Adobe Stock)

Tribes, environmental groups challenge Line 5 tunnel in appeals court

This week, four tribal nations and environmental groups urged the Michigan Court of Appeals to overturn the state's approval of Enbridge's Line 5 …

High water flows brought young sockeye quickly to the ocean, contributing to the record number of fish passing through the Bonneville Dam last summer, 92,000 more than the previous record. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Resisting industry on the Columbia in 2025

Oregon salmon populations had some significant wins in 2024, including a record number of sockeye salmon passing through the Columbia River's …

Along South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation, Sicangu Co. members Mayce Low Dog and Karen Moore harvest local plants. (Photo courtesy of Grace Hussain)

For SD tribe, food sovereignty means eating climate-friendly

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Sentient/Just and Climate-Friendly Food…

The new Chuckwalla National Monument is part of the Biden Administration's commitment to preserve 30% of the nation's land and waters by the year 2030. (Bureau of Land Management)

Tribes applaud as Biden announces two new national monuments in CA

The White House announced two new national monuments in California on Tuesday, one just east of Palm Springs and the other near Shasta Lake. A …

In South Dakota, 68% of missing persons are Native Americans even though they only make up 9% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Resource gaps cloud efforts on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In South Dakota, the push to secure justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women remains …

Among the bills to be introduced in Montana's 2025 legislative session is one which would officially recognize Indigenous People's Day across the state. (Hanna Tor/Adobe Stock)

Native health care, voting rights top issues to watch during MT's 2025 legislative session

Montana's 69th legislative session begins today and advocates for the state's Native population will be at the Capitol, tracking bills ranging from …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported New Hampshire is home to more than 3,000 U.S. Postal Service workers, who earn an average hourly wage of $27.08. (Adobe Stock)

NH rural towns face proposed postal delays in 2025

The Postmaster General has proposed reduced delivery days and other changes starting next year which could particularly affect rural New Hampshire…

According to the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the average age of Indian Health Service facilities is over 37 years and the maintenance backlog was about $515 million in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

SD’s Native population sees 'double whammy' of health barriers

Funding for the Indian Health Service has increased over the past decade but the agency remains underfunded, which affects both the health and …

The Kootenai River runs 485 miles is one of the major tributaries of the Columbia River. (JOAN/Adobe Stock)

Coming: Cross-border cleanup plan for Columbia River headwaters

Governing bodies in the U.S. and Canada are taking steps to address mining pollution affecting the headwaters of the Columbia River. Coal mining …

The Kootenai River runs through the northern part of the Idaho panhandle. (Gregory Johnston/Adobe Stock)

Idaho's role in Canadian mining pollution cleanup

Cross-border governing bodies, including the state of Idaho, are taking steps to address mining pollution coming from Canada. Coal mining pollution …

Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is currently routed as close as 11 feet to a riverbank caused by flooding and erosion. (Bad River: A Story of Defiance)

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

American martens require very specific living parameters and are hyper sensitive to any changes in their habitat. (Adobe Stock)

WI receives federal funds to recover state’s only endangered mammal

The federal Department of the Interior has awarded the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission more than $800,000 for recovery efforts for Ame…

Oak and prairie habitats are prioritized in the Oregon Conservation Strategy. (CameraCraft/Adobe Stock)

Restoring oak and prairie habitat in Willamette Valley

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and its partners have received a $4.5 million grant from the federal America the Beautiful Challenge progra…

Publications before 2020 will become part of the dashboard starting next semester. (Adobe Stock)

Arizona State University tool offers useful medical insight affecting Indigenous communities

Arizona State University has developed a new tool that they hope will help researchers analyze connections between illnesses and health determinants w…

Researchers said common barriers faced by Native American children include lack of culturally relevant curriculum in their educational settings. A Minnesota grant program helps community organizations expand such teachings within their tribal areas. (Adobe Stock)

Five years in, MN program creates improved pathways for Native kids

Five years ago, Minnesota established a program to bolster well-being metrics for children of color and young Native American kids. Today, fund …

New guidance in Washington state is meant to ensure health insurers are complying with federal and state laws on Native Americans' health plans. (doidam10/Adobe Stock)

WA insurance commissioner helps tribal members access heath care

The state of Washington is helping Native Americans access health care after decades of barriers. Health insurers have made it difficult for tribal …

From 2010 to 2020, the American Indian and Alaska Native in combination population increased by 160%, according to the US Census. (Adobe Stock)

The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among AZ Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

There are 574 federally-recognized Indian tribes, bands, nations, rancherias, communities and Native villages in the United States, according to the University of Nevada-Reno. (Adobe Stock)

Research finds 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

For many Native youths, their culture is at the core of their identity, according to the Center for Native American Youth. (Adobe Stock)

Florida's Native youth: Overlooked voices call for change, inclusion

Native youths in Florida are calling for change as a new report from the Center for Native American Youth highlighted persistent challenges they face…

Only 6% of Native young people living in cities feel represented by state and national decisionmakers, according to the Center for Native American Youth, compared to 18% of those living on reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

According to the Center for Native American Youth, in each Native community, culture transfer is a multifaceted process influenced by tribal histories, traumas, resilience, cultural preservation and revitalization efforts. (Adobe Stock)

VA's Native youths call for representation, support amid systemic challenges

In Virginia, Native youths often encounter systemic barriers, including a lack of representation in school curricula. A recent report by the Center …

Some 65% of Native youth report access to college readiness programs, yet many say they lack adequate funding to support their transition to higher education, according to the Center for Native American Youth. (Adobe Stock)

Native youth survey reveals shift toward 'Indigenous' over 'American Indian'

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

According to the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, one in 40 Native American and Alaska Native babies born in the Great Plains region in 2022 had a syphilis infection. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal leaders call syphilis outbreak 'public health emergency'

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the KFF Health News…

A new report from the Aspen Institute looked at Native American youth attitudes toward culture, resource access, mental health and civic engagement. (Center for Native American Youth)<br />

New survey shows a shift toward 'Indigenous' over 'American Indian'

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

Ava Bruneau plays Ginebig: The Snake Game, a game of chance. Players roll or toss

Game time: Reviving the Ojibwe way with dice, cards

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

South Dakota was the first state to rename

Wounded Knee Medal of Honor review process expected to slow under Trump

The idea of revoking military medals awarded to soldiers at the Wounded Knee Massacre has gained traction recently, but some expect that to stop …

The U.S. International Joint Commission was asked in March 2024 to address the effects of transboundary water pollution in the Kootenai River Watershed, and should make its decisions by March 2026. (Adobe Stock)

Montana joins tribes to target Canadian mining pollution

Montana has joined a coalition of Indigenous groups working to address Canadian coal mining pollution in the state's Kootenai River. The …

The nonprofit FracTracker Alliance has created an online map that shows the proximity of CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states to ecologically vulnerable areas and Indigenous lands. (Adobe Stock)

'FracTracker' maps pipeline effects on Indigenous land

A nonprofit group that tracks oil and gas development has created an interactive map to show how close CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states come to en…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - April 2, 2025

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Native American/Indigenous

Former grant recipients now ambassadors for Native education opportunities

Alarming violence rates continue against Indigenous women

Two CA national monuments in peril as feds announce plan to rescind them

MT food bank, neighbors collaborate to improve food access for tribal nations

Four-state collaborative seeks to improve food access in Native nations

Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

Cuts looming for WA tribal public-health funding

Open enrollment is over, but tribal members can still get health coverage

MT Senate bills on Native education, child welfare advance to House

WA legislators weigh voting rights for incarcerated people

NV program to bridge insurance gaps for Native Americans needs more 'buy-in'

WI tribal nations working toward energy autonomy

GOP budget eyes Medicaid cuts, a significant impact for Native communities

Report: Native communities would see big impacts from proposed Medicaid cuts

NV lawmaker proposes new date for Indigenous Peoples Day

Report: OR needs to do more to get Native Americans into higher ed

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

Nonprofit brings light to tribal lands in Arizona

U.S. Supreme Court declines Montana voting rights case

New report: Enbridge’s Line 5 plan costly, flawed

Tribes, environmental groups challenge Line 5 tunnel in appeals court

Resisting industry on the Columbia in 2025

For SD tribe, food sovereignty means eating climate-friendly

Tribes applaud as Biden announces two new national monuments in CA

Resource gaps cloud efforts on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women

Native health care, voting rights top issues to watch during MT's 2025 legislative session

NH rural towns face proposed postal delays in 2025

SD’s Native population sees 'double whammy' of health barriers

Coming: Cross-border cleanup plan for Columbia River headwaters

Idaho's role in Canadian mining pollution cleanup

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

WI receives federal funds to recover state’s only endangered mammal

Restoring oak and prairie habitat in Willamette Valley

Arizona State University tool offers useful medical insight affecting Indigenous communities

Five years in, MN program creates improved pathways for Native kids

WA insurance commissioner helps tribal members access heath care

The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among AZ Native youth

Research finds 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

Florida's Native youth: Overlooked voices call for change, inclusion

Survey: The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

VA's Native youths call for representation, support amid systemic challenges

Native youth survey reveals shift toward 'Indigenous' over 'American Indian'

Tribal leaders call syphilis outbreak 'public health emergency'

New survey shows a shift toward 'Indigenous' over 'American Indian'

Game time: Reviving the Ojibwe way with dice, cards

Wounded Knee Medal of Honor review process expected to slow under Trump

Montana joins tribes to target Canadian mining pollution

'FracTracker' maps pipeline effects on Indigenous land