Native American Issues / Public News Service

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)

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

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)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

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…

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)

Monday, December 2, 2024

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 …

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)

Monday, December 2, 2024

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…

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…

Just under 14% of South Dakota kids are American Indian or Alaska Native, but make up more than 62% of children in the state's foster care system, according to the National Indian Child Welfare Association. (Adobe Stock)

Remembering older kids in foster care on National Adoption Day

This coming Saturday is National Adoption Day and it is a good time to think about children who are older or have special needs and face more difficul…

Some wins, but more needed for Native artists in WY

A great way to observe National Native American Heritage Month is to support Native artists but some in Wyoming said there are barriers to their expos…

Built in 1953 and outlasting its original lifespan, Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline transports 22 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily across 645 miles of terrain through Michigan and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Controversial Line 5 project faces more legal action in WI

A legal challenge is expected since the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has granted key permit approvals to a Canadian energy company to rer…

According to MSCI, 97% of nickel, 89% of copper, 79% of lithium and 68% of cobalt supplies in the U.S. are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Federal agendas aside, tribes have a lot to offer in 'energy evolution'

President-elect Donald Trump's agenda for "energy dominance" could majorly impact leaders in the sector, including the state of Wyoming and the …

A bill making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives would create a truth and healing commission to address ongoing harms to Native American families linked to the federal children's boarding-school program. (Adobe Stock)

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing

President Joe Biden's recent apology on behalf of the federal government for harms done to generations of Native American children and their families …

Over the course of U.S. history, fewer than 30 Native Americans have served in Congress. (Adobe Stock)

Overcoming odds in boosting Native representation in elected offices

As Americans head to the polls this Election Day, researchers noted there are a record number of Indigenous candidates seeking public office around …

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative registered nearly 160,000 new voters for the Nov. 5 election, which represents the largest grassroots voter registration program in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's voting system affects BIPOC communities

Ohio voters are facing significant challenges at the ballot box, with some groups expressing concerns over voter roll purges and gerrymandering …

The Klamath River was once home to the third largest salmon run on the West Coast. (Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Adobe Stock)

After 100 years, salmon return to Upper Klamath River

Wild Chinook salmon have returned to the Upper Klamath River less than two months after the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history to remove …

Even with the rise of social media and email blasts, traditional

ND tribal outreach leaders crank up the amps, messaging to voters

Political rallies and large-scale "get out the vote" events might conjure images of a packed arena in a major city but in states like North Dakota…

Community leaders in a recent Progress Michigan webinar said if the GOP's Project 2025 is implemented, it could have a devastating effect on Michigan farms, rural schools and the state's Indigenous tribes. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders fear GOP 2025 plans would harm people in rural Michigan

Groups from across Michigan are sounding the alarm on the effect Republican-backed policies would have on people in rural parts of the state…

Adults and youth get ready to play double ball during the first annual Indigenous Dakota Games event in Lake Traverse Reservation. (Dustina Gill)

Sharing traditional games with Dakota youth

By LaVerne Whitebear for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News…

The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree National Park is home to more than 50 species which are threatened, endangered, sensitive or otherwise of concern. (Adobe Stock)

CA Tribes call for national monuments at world biodiversity conference

This week, more than 100 Californians are in Cali, Columbia, for the 16th United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity. Tribes, policymakers …

According to legal assistance groups, there are no Native Americans serving in the North Dakota state Senate for the first time in three decades. They blame political boundaries updated by the Legislature in 2021, resulting in a lawsuit and a new court-ordered map. (Adobe Stock)

Court activity resumes in ND tribal redistricting case

Oral arguments were heard this week in a legal fight over redistricting outcomes for North Dakota tribal lands. About a year ago, North Dakota was …

To qualify for in-state tuition through the Native American Tuition Advantage Program, MSU students must meet at least one of several criteria, including providing a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, a photocopy of a Tribal ID, and a letter of Tribal Certification or proof of citizenship. (Jorge Ferreiro/Adobe Stock)

Michigan State expands access, affordability for Indigenous students

Michigan State University has launched a new program to expand educational opportunities for Native American students across the country. The Native …

Adrian Sinclair is the plant manager at the 1839 Cherokee Meat Co. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. (Ben Felder/Investigate Midwest)

OK tribes' meat processing plants reverse historic ag consolidation

By Ben Felder for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Oklahoma News Service reporting for the Investigate Midwest-Solutions Jo…

Candice Griego, the new director of Tribal Relations for Roadrunner Food Bank, wants to help New Mexico's Indigenous communities develop food sovereignty. (Courtesy Roadrunner Food Bank)

NM food bank goes the distance to reach Indigenous communities

A New Mexico food bank has expanded outreach to the state's Indigenous communities by hiring a Director of Tribal Relations. Candice Griego will …

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, securing Native Americans' right to vote in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal leaders mark Indigenous Peoples Day urging Native vote

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, and tribal leaders are using the occasion to call on people in Indian Country to vote in the upcoming election…

Eric Greenlee, a student from Georgia Tech, installs water-level sensors in lakes at Lac du Flambeau to help monitor wild rice beds. (Photo courtesy Naomi Blinick)

Culture, conservation thrive as Great Lakes Tribes bring back wild rice

By Spoorthy Raman for Mongabay.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

Winnebago adults and children husking corn during the 2024 Indian Corn Harvest. (Photo courtesy Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Ho-Chunk Farms revitalize, preserve tribal culture with Indian Corn Project

Ho-Chunk Farms' annual Indian Corn Harvest is reviving and preserving this tradition for the northeast Nebraska tribe. Corn from a Winnebago family's …

Lt. Gov. Penny Flanagan, DFL-Minn., could become the first Native American woman to serve as governor if the Harris-Walz ticket wins the White House. (Office of the Governor)

Early voting begins in AZ, as candidates court 'powerful' Native vote

It is the first day of early voting in Arizona and both presidential hopefuls will be making their cases to voters. Gov. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.…

To date, the Bureau of Land Management has permitted clean-energy projects on public lands adding 29 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power more than 12 million homes, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)

BLM’s proposed Western Solar Plan leaves room for wildlife

A new federal proposal details which public lands across the West would be open to solar development. Wildlife advocates are glad to see that some - …

Many residents of Montana's seven Indigenous tribes live several hours from the nearest polling place. Advocates are pushing back on efforts to limit remote ballot collection efforts on tribal lands. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous groups fight limiting remote ballot collection

Montana's Indigenous population is pushing back against efforts to limit ballot collection on tribal lands. Many members of the state's seven tribes …

The New England Fishery Management Council is developing new management strategies for important forage fish stock off the Massachusetts coast, with the goal of improving river herring conservation. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

River herring loss in MA part of greater forage stock decline

Members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head are asking federal regulators to help restore the river herring, a forage fish they said is vital to the …

Life expectancy among American Indians and Alaskan Natives is more than five years shorter than the national average. (unm.edu)

Public health officials lack data in treating Native American communities

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public …

In Madison, Wis., the Indigenous Language Table meets weekly to practice their skills and support each other. (Photo courtesy of Laura Red Eagle)

Building an Indigenous language learning community in Wisconsin

By Robert Bordeaux for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Co…

Connie Brushbreaker, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, said she had to wait four months for the Indian Health Service to pay for an MRI and surgery she needed. Begging for funding

Gaps persist in Indian Health Service 'Referred Care' program

By Arielle Zionts and Katheryn Houghton for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the KF…

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act provides lump-sum compensation for illnesses contracted by people working in the uranium industry or exposed to above-ground nuclear tests. (Courtesy Nuclear Threat Initiative)

New Mexico tribal representatives in D.C. to support radiation exposure compensation

A 2,000-mile bus trip has not deterred representatives from Southwest tribes from traveling to Washington, D.C., this week to support expansion of …

Western Native Voice's 'Snag Dat Vote' is designed to make sure every Indigenous voter is prepared and energized to cast their ballot. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous group travels Montana to 'get out the vote'

Montana's largest Indigenous rights group is hosting a series of events around the state to empower Native voters as the election draws closer…

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana opened a recycling collection operation in 2023 after receiving a $565,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Coushatta Tribe works to overcome obstacles to recycling program

By Taylar Dawn Stagner for Grist.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Louisiana News Connection, reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Climate change harms Indigenous people's health. While it causes some health conditions, it is also worsening chronic illnesses to which they are prone. (Adobe Stock)

EPA awards climate grant to CT tribal nation

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has been awarded a grant to cut climate pollution. It is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate …

According to the Native American Rights Fund, there are 4.7 million Native Americans eligible to vote. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As summer fades, ND organizers feel good about tribal members voting

New findings looking at Native American participation in elections show a mixed bag of news but North Dakota outreach leaders said they are coming off…

In 2022, there was a 1,700% increase in hard clams in Shinnecock Bay and more than 110 acres of seagrass was regrown. (Adobe Stock)

NY Indigenous women use seaweed to conserve shellfish

By Alexandra Talty, Pulitzer fellow, for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions …

Liquefied gas export terminals have zeroed in on the Texas Coast for a major expansion of the industry. (AA+W/Adobe Stock)

Climate activists along TX coast want LNG ban

Climate and environmental activists along the Texas Coast are celebrating after receiving favorable news from an insurance company covering liquefied …

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 Arizona State University Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty is designed to provide tribal nations with the resources they need to build proactive digital platforms. (ASU)

New ASU program to help tribal governments develop digital sovereignty

Historic inequities have left many tribal nations behind the rest of the country but a new Arizona State University program is designed to launch them…

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is among 17 national forests managed under the Northwest Forest Plan. (heidi/Adobe Stock)

Committee makes recommendations in updated NW Forest Plan

The U.S. Forest Service is considering changes to modernize the Northwest Forest Plan. While it was hailed as a success when it was created 30 years …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - December 4, 2024

2024Talks - December 4, 2024

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Native American/Indigenous

Research finds 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

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

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

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

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

Remembering older kids in foster care on National Adoption Day

Some wins, but more needed for Native artists in WY

Controversial Line 5 project faces more legal action in WI

Federal agendas aside, tribes have a lot to offer in 'energy evolution'

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing

Overcoming odds in boosting Native representation in elected offices

Ohio's voting system affects BIPOC communities

After 100 years, salmon return to Upper Klamath River

ND tribal outreach leaders crank up the amps, messaging to voters

Leaders fear GOP 2025 plans would harm people in rural Michigan

Sharing traditional games with Dakota youth

CA Tribes call for national monuments at world biodiversity conference

Court activity resumes in ND tribal redistricting case

Michigan State expands access, affordability for Indigenous students

OK tribes' meat processing plants reverse historic ag consolidation

NM food bank goes the distance to reach Indigenous communities

Tribal leaders mark Indigenous Peoples Day urging Native vote

Culture, conservation thrive as Great Lakes Tribes bring back wild rice

Ho-Chunk Farms revitalize, preserve tribal culture with Indian Corn Project

Early voting begins in AZ, as candidates court 'powerful' Native vote

BLM’s proposed Western Solar Plan leaves room for wildlife

Indigenous groups fight limiting remote ballot collection

River herring loss in MA part of greater forage stock decline

Public health officials lack data in treating Native American communities

Building an Indigenous language learning community in Wisconsin

Gaps persist in Indian Health Service 'Referred Care' program

New Mexico tribal representatives in D.C. to support radiation exposure compensation

Indigenous group travels Montana to 'get out the vote'

Coushatta Tribe works to overcome obstacles to recycling program

EPA awards climate grant to CT tribal nation

As summer fades, ND organizers feel good about tribal members voting

NY Indigenous women use seaweed to conserve shellfish

Climate activists along TX coast want LNG ban

SD police academy grads newly schooled on Indian Country

Group proposes changes, encourages use of Indigenous SD education standards

New ASU program to help tribal governments develop digital sovereignty

Committee makes recommendations in updated NW Forest Plan