State of Indian Nations
The National Congress of American Indians is returning to Washington, D.C., for its executive council winter session. It's the first time NCAI has hosted an in-person winter session since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event begins with President Fawn Sharp delivering the State of Indian Nations. Tune in!
Here's Your Headlines:
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts a listening session on updating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
Twitter is one of the social media outlets that help individuals connect with each other — but is it worth it for Native users?
More than 800 tribal leaders and finance professional in Indian Country are in the nation’s capital for NAFOA’s 41st annual conference.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is seeking input on proposed updates to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
The case is one of the simplest the justices will hear this year, because it involves no constitutional questions and, in truth, only the interpretation of a single phrase of a single statutory provision.
The growth and prosperity of Cherokee Nation are an example of history repeating itself.
The National American Indian Housing Council, the largest inter-tribal housing organization, is welcoming Chelsea E. Fish as its new executive director.
Public schools in New York will no longer be allowed to use mascots, symbols or depictions of Native people.
Tribes across the nation are exploring new economic development opportunities in places where cannabis is no longer prohibited by state law.
A Republican lawmaker who was unable to derail Deb Haaland’s historic rise to Secretary of the Interior had somewhat of a meltdown as he came face-to-face with the Native woman trailblazer.
The Genoa Indian Industrial School was one of the largest Indian boarding schools, drawing students from 40 tribal nations for half a century.
ICT, the news publication formerly known as Indian Country Today, will no longer be posting new content on Twitter.
As Americans debate gun restrictions amid the mass shooting epidemic, a bill in Congress would make it easier for tribal citizens to acquire guns using only their tribal ID.
Tribal nations are opposing new South Dakota social studies standards that exclude them from history in the state.
Efforts to strengthen the Indian Arts and Crafts Act are drawing widespread attention as tribes seek a major — and controversial — change to a law designed to protect Native artists from frauds.
Access to telemedicine is a lifeline for many Cherokees, and we must protect it to keep up the fight against the opioid crisis.
The Quapaw Nation will be electing a new chairman following the resignation of Joseph T. Byrd from the tribe’s top executive post.
Researchers and environmental advocates don’t know much yet about mining minerals off the bottom of the ocean floor but the race is on for development.
President Joe Biden is welcoming a new Native adviser to the White House, the third of his administration.
Forty years of federal recognition and the Narragansett people are still fighting for what’s rightfully ours.
After removal from their home and an arduous and deadly forced march, the Muscogee Nation arrived in Oklahoma with little more than a promise that they could revive and rebuild.
A new study confirms many tribes’ oral histories that Native people utilized horses long before Europeans entered the picture.
The White Earth Nation says it is developing an ethics code after hearing a “litany of concerns” about a prominent figure who has benefited from the tribe’s name for more than three decades.
For too many generations, citizens of tribal nations around the country, including Cherokee Nation citizens, saw their language, their culture and their artistic expression suppressed and eroded by policies of the United States.
NAFOA stays on top of the news so you always start your week informed and ready.
A proposed gold mine in southwest Alaska has been promising riches for investors and Alaska Native workers alike.
From growing hemp to fighting pipelines, Winona LaDuke has launched a large number of organizations, businesses and initiatives. Here’s a look at some of her environmental efforts.
Disgraced environmental figure Winona LaDuke and her inner circle are striking a defiant tone as the organization she has led for 30 years seeks to recover from a $750,000 verdict in a sexual harassment and retaliation case.
A Native man from Canada who dedicated his life to economic development in Indigenous communities was killed in Las Vegas, Nevada.
One of Indian Country’s most prominent environmental activists has been ordered to pay $750,000 to a former employee after being found liable for sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.
The Catholic Church formally repudiated a religious doctrine that was used to justify the theft of lands from indigenous peoples in North America.
The Cherokee Nation is distancing itself from a prominent Hollywood filmmaker, confirming Heather Rae isn’t a tribal citizen and hasn’t benefited from production incentives on the reservation.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is hosting a roundtable to hear about Native priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill.
The Native American Journalists Association announced changes in leadership following the resignation of the board president.
Ben Shelly, a former president of the Navajo Nation, passed away following a long illness.
Tribal leaders are calling on the Biden administration to re-examine its commitment to the nation-to-nation relationship following “shocking” arguments in a closely-watched U.S. Supreme Court case.
The highest court in the land is once again taking up a case that will determine whether the United States lives up to its promises to tribal nations.
Efforts to strengthen and improve the Indian Arts and Crafts Act are coming amid criminal cases and renewed claims to Native identities.
A high school basketball team from a small reservation made it to the Nebraska state championships for only the second time in the community’s history.
It took more than two years but a self-proclaimed Native Republican wore his “best Trump tie” to court and finally admitted he committed a crime during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
A merchant who sells works by Native artists is under fire for derogatory and offensive comments to Native dancers.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs convenes for a business meeting on February 15, 2023.
As Leonard Peltier enters his 48th year behind bars, his supporters and legal advocates are renewing the push to have him released through whatever means.
Private and public lands are slowly being returned to the care of Native peoples across the country.
The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.423, the Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act, on February 6, 2023.
The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.548, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, on February 6, 2023.
“Decades worth of legislation designed to protect women are being overturned by judges appointed by conservative politicians with an agenda that does not align with the vast majority of Americans,” said CEO Lori Jump of StrongHearts Native Helpline.
British explorer James Cook’s colonial exploits were often at odds with the Indigenous peoples of the places he visited.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 575,273 COVID-19 cases through February 10, 2023.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 2,373,711 COVID-19 vaccines administered as of February 12, 2023.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is getting back to work after what the legislative panel’s bipartisan leadership said was an extremely productive session.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is donating $600,000 over two years to support the Tribal Supreme Court Project.
At the Cherokee Nation, we are especially mindful that without food sovereignty, all other aspects of our sovereignty will be at risk.
Uplifting voices and opportunities from our community members and partners.
“I want a day that acknowledges the rich cultural heritage of all Indigenous people in our state,” said Montana Sen. Shane Morigeau, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Inspired by vibrant orange-and-purple sunsets and local tribes, Native artists and brands were able to put their work on display at an NFL pop-up shop.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with the Shoalwater Bay Tribe to restore the Shoalwater Bay Dune before the first major storm of the season.
As President’s Day approaches, let’s discuss how Joe Biden’s term so far resonates with Indian Country.
Today on Native America Calling, let’s survey the good and bad about the Super Bowl.
It’s the time of year to start calculating your taxable income and looking over any receipts you have collected in a shoebox.
The 118th Congress is finally underway and Indian Country bills are among the first to advance in a new political atmosphere on Capitol Hill.
For over two decades, the opioid epidemic has plagued the Cherokee Nation Reservation. It has affected every facet of our tribe and society.
StrongHearts Native Helpline is working to uplift the voices of survivors by recognizing the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.
Our “5 Things” Newsletter gives you the info you need to start your week well!
As the sturgeon spearfishing season gets underway, Native America Calling looks at the ecological status of sturgeons, traditional harvest methods and tribal efforts to protect them.
Organizers of the Sundance Film Festival say this year’s line-up is among the strongest in terms of number and scope of Indigenous works.
Get the latest recommendations on gratuity and explore the stereotype that Native customers are bad tippers.
A key Congressional committee is finally getting to work, with Republicans pursuing a new agenda for Indian Country and beyond.
MTFP and ICT have hired JoVonne Wagner, Blackfeet, to increase coverage of the Montana Legislature’s American Indian Caucus.
Today on Native America Calling, get the back story on the land-into-trust process and what it means for Alaska Natives.
An overwhelming majority of Jewish voters in New York’s 3rd Congressional District – 94% – think George Santos should resign from Congress over a web of lies about his background.
Rep. Ruben Gallego has launched long-anticipated challenge to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a first-term lawmaker who recently left the Democratic Party.
As a father and grandfather, I know personally how valuable it is for youth to have a positive and safe environment to learn and grow.
In Arizona, 22 federally recognized tribes inhabit nearly every region of the state. But Hia-Ced O’odham isn’t one of them.
NAFOA stays on top of the news so you always start your week informed and ready.
Join Native America Calling and get some tips from Native exercise experts about making the most of your regimen and keeping your motivation going.
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation will continue to enforce its mask mandate at all reservation health care locations in Arizona.
President Joe Biden is threatening to veto a Republican bill that removes a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care providers.
What’s on The Menu? Join host Andi Murphy for news about the James Beard Award nominations and more.
A lithium mine in Nevada is considered an environmental and cultural affront to tribal nations.
Indian Country is gearing up for another round of big cases at the nation’s highest court, with water rights and tribal sovereignty on the line.
The research on the over-representation of Native people behind bars is long and vast.
Whether it’s new construction, refurbished existing buildings, improved water or better roads, we are investing in what the Cherokee people have asked for.
Michael Hoenig, the longest-serving general counsel at the National Indian Gaming Commission, is departing on January 27, 2023.
A tribal hunter was accidentally shot in connection with a bison hunt on the northern border of Yellowstone National Park in Montana.
NAFOA looks out for our community — help us grow by forwarding this newsletter!
The usage of artificial intelligence is raising questions about copyright protections for Native creatives and concerns about appropriation.
Salt River Project has partnered with a private renewable energy company to open its largest solar plant in Arizona.
Oklahoma City Indian Clinic has achieved Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Full Plus recognition for a diabetes prevention program.
Alligators are traditional touchstones and an important source of food for Southern and Southeastern tribes.
Native America Calling looks at the continuing verbal, legal, and legislative affronts to tribal sovereignty based on outdated, stereotypical and uninformed perspectives.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 569,750 COVID-19 cases through January 18, 2023.
Leaders of the Seneca Nation are speaking out after the governor of New York vetoed a bill that would have protected burial grounds across the state.
In 1958, members of the Lumbee Tribe showed up in force to stop a KKK rally in North Carolina.
The Cherokee language is a bedrock of our strength as a tribe.
Uplifting voices and opportunities from our community members and partners.
Join Jana Schmieding (Mniconjou and Sicangu Lakota) for a conversation about her life and career in entertainment.
About 100,000 mines have been abandoned in Arizona, according to the state inspector, leaving behind huge amounts of toxic waste.
Native educators have a keen eye for guiding how schools teach students about Native history and culture.
The creators of the new Avatar sequel continue what they see as a science fiction account of colonialism and Indigenous resistance. But it’s getting plenty of push-back from Native audiences.
Tribes in California want a say in what happens to the remains of P-22, a famous mountain lion.
A dauntless advocate of Indigenous justice walked on with the passing of indomitable Water Protector and fearless Warrior Joye Braun.
The federal government issued translations on official documents to help Native people following destructive storms in Alaska. The trouble is, the text is indecipherable.
A non-Native collector who claims to know a secret tribal language is selling items that supposedly came from Little Bighorn and other battles. Some have doubts.
Native-owned galleries and organizations are working to ensure Native artists get full value for their works.
Sadly, there is a great deal of domestic violence in our modern society, and the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee society are not immune.
Your latest news on tribal finance and economic development.
Native fraternities and sororities began in the mid-1990s and offer a chance for Native students to connect with each other and draw support from shared cultural values.
Please join Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer for the final COVID-19 update of their administration.
The Navajo Nation reported 141 new COVID-19 cases and three coronavirus related deaths between December 24, 2022, and January 4, 2023.
Indigenous wrestlers comprise only a small faction of the wrestling world, but they are making names for themselves.
The Black Hills Indian Artist Market once again brought art, music, fashion and food to He Sapa.
An investigative report in New Mexico finds Native students are expelled at a far greater rate than their white counterparts.
After years of work, tribes finally achieved a historic first for the Indian Health Service. But Republicans are already ripping apart the funding agreement.
Lakota citizens met to discuss the return of items taken from their ancestors during the Wounded Knee Massacre of December 1890.
Thousands of migrants, many of whom are seeking asylum as they escape violence, extreme poverty, and oppression, are stopped at the U.S. border.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 565,910 COVID-19 cases through January 2, 2023.
The 118th Congress began in a most unusual fashion as Republicans descended into what one Democrat derided as “chaos” in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A Republican candidate’s lies about his education, employment and even his ethnic background take him all the way to the U.S. Congress.
We’re hitting the ground running this new year!
Speak with Native wellness experts and motivational speakers about bridging divisions and avoiding the traps that drive wedges between us.
In New Mexico, Native students are expelled far more often than any other group and at least four times as often as white students.
A Republican aide with political aspirations questioned whether members of tribes living on reservations should be able to vote in state elections.
Stickball is the older, rougher cousin of lacrosse, developed many centuries ago as both a game and a training exercise.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 564,617 COVID-19 cases through December 27, 2022.
The Navajo Nation reported 152 new COVID-19 cases and two coronavirus related deaths between December 22-28, 2022.
A good government makes life better for its people and for future generations.
And with that, the 2022 season is over. Thank you for a great year.
2022 was a strong year for feature films, documentaries and shorts produced by Native filmmakers, as well as those that relied on Native talent or focused on Native issues.
The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing 561,287 COVID-19 cases through December 14, 2022.
The Native village of Newtok in Alaska is losing its battle with climate change.
With one negative ruling on the books and a potentially devastating one on the way, tribal leaders continue to look to the Biden administration to address the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The 45th annual Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City, South Dakota, is underway.
People headed to a Native basketball, educational and cultural tournament were shocked to learn that some hotels were charging more than $2,000 a night.
The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity warns Indigenous priorities may not be heard or heeded at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is holding a business meeting as the 117th Congress enters its final stretch.
From individual Cherokee families to the whole Cherokee Nation, keeping children safe is our most essential responsibility.
An area sacred to the Blackfeet Nation remains under threat from energy development after a federal judge’s ruling.
This holiday season, remember to #BuyNative!
Native America Calling checks in with Native experts about both progress and setbacks when it comes to public acceptance.
On a sunny afternoon in October, young people gathered for the grand opening of a new skate park on the Omaha Reservation.
Cedar is an important part of many tribal cultures.
The Navajo Nation reported 355 new COVID-19 cases and eight coronavirus related deaths between December 2–8, 2022.
The Embassy of Tribal Nations, the home of the National Congress of American Indians, is on the market.
ICYMI: Catch up on some interesting and engaging topics that are important to Native people.
A growing number of Native writers are turning to self-publishing — and there’s a number of supportive organizations and independent publishers that can help.
Please join Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer for a COVID-19 and monkeypox update.
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