'These are our lives'
The Indian Health Service is one of the few areas where massive cuts aren't being made. But Indian Country isn't celebrating. The federal agency charged with providing care to more than 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives is facing new setbacks in the Donald Trump era. Tune in to learn more about the new budget.
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Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-New Mexico) discusses efforts to protect sacred sites with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin) voices concerns about the Bureau of Indian Affairs at a hearing on June 12, 2025.
Native people who have relied on paper checks for their tax returns or Social Security payments are being forced to make a change.
The movement to protect sacred sites is once again drawing attention as the Trump administration pushes to open more federal lands to development.
We’ve prioritized inclusivity and equity in health care by creating space where individuals and families impacted by rare diseases feel seen, heard and supported.
The American people gave their Representatives a mandate when they overwhelmingly voted for change.
“We’re going to fight this until our last breath,” Vanessa Nosie of the Apache Stronghold said of efforts to protect sacred Oak Flat.
Learn about the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act Introduced in the 119th Congress.
President Donald Trump is expected to rescind the designation of two national monuments supported by tribes in California.
The House Committee on Natural Resource hears from Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on June 12, 2025.
A new lawsuit alleges the U.S. owes $23.3 billion for the mismanagement of tribal trust funds during the Indian boarding school era.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds a hearing on legislatiion affecting tribal lands and tribal health.
Native people experiencing homelessness are impacted by ongoing efforts to shut down encampments in urban areas.
Bill Tripp from the Karuk Tribe testifies in support of H.R.3444, the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California) speaks in support of H.R.3444, the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act.
The House Subcommittee on Federal Lands holds a hearing on June 10, 2025.
The House Committee on Appropriations holds a budget hearing for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The U.S. military is being used against protesters, a situation wll known to Native activists.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs is taking testimony on tribal lands and health legislation.
In what is becoming an annual occurrence, fires across Canada are putting First Nations at risk.
Lawmakers are siding with tribes when it comes to the budget for the Indian Health Service.
Job Corps changes many lives for the better, and Talking Leaves is the gold standard.
Grant opportunities, cybersecurity tips and more from your friends at NAFOA.
At least two tribal relocation efforts foreshadow what can go wrong when even small communities are forced to contend with the increasing threats posed by climate change.
It’s the end of an era for a mainstay of Native arts and culture in the nation’s capital.
it’s time to check on the status of Native Pride amid pushback on the national level.
The House Committee on Appropriations holds a hearing on the Indian Health Service budget.
Key programs at the Indian Health Service are seeing flat funding under a budget proposal that eliminates a major tribal priority.
Republican lawmakers are pushing back against drastic cuts to Indian Country programs like law enforcement and school construction.
For nearly two centuries, Cherokee Nation has upheld a vision of justice anchored in accountability and self-determination.
Uplifting voices and opportunities from our community.
Indian law professor Matthew Fletcher has a collection of short stories and author David A. Robertson discusses weekly ways to reconcile in his new book.
The long-running movement to protect Oak Flat from a massive copper mine is gaining renewed attention following a stinging rebuke from a key member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The National Museum of the American Indian hosted a Memorial Day event in honor of Native service members.
The Chinook Nation is back to the drawing board after a federal recognition bill was changed without the support of the tribe.
As summer kicks off, this week’s newsletter features free virtual resources to help students stay active learners by exploring economic and personal finance topics.
Tribal colleges, libraries, museums and programs like heating assistance for elders are among those feeling the pain in the Donald Trump era.
With each Cherokee child we uplift, we write a new chapter of success and goodness for our people.
More than 42,000 Natives served in the military during the Vietnam War, the vast majority as volunteers.
The House Committee on Appropriations hosts a budget hearing for the Department of the Interior on May 20, 2025. Listen to Secretary Doug Burgum's testimony.
Seneca Nation President J. Conrad “JC” Seneca welcomes New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to tribal territory on May 20, 2025.
The Cherokee Nation is among the many tribes working to build a strong system of support for foster children and foster parents.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is fighting to stop the transfer of sacred Oak Flat to mining companies.
The National Museum of the American Indian is recognizing the contributions of Native veterans for an event on Memorial Day.
The Seneca Nation is hosting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for a historic visit and apology.
We affirm our collective belief that no Cherokee should go hungry — not now, not ever.
Dani Medina thought she was dying. A rare genetic disorder and a severe case of COVID-19 left her rapidly declining.
Your weekly updates to help you lead, learn, and grow in Tribal finance.
Natalie Benally is a dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, writer, actor and community/language advocate from the Navajo Nation.
Despite pledges from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., programs serving Indian Country are in line for cuts and reductions.
A tool to boost housing, business, and other community development projects on tribal land is in President Trump’s crosshairs.
Despite lacking a formal relationship with the U.S. government, the Lumbee Tribe depends on federal funds that are now being threatened by President Trump.
Every child, every woman, and every citizen of our tribe should know that their nation will fight for them, protect them, and honor their lives.
NAFOA looks out for our community — help us grow by forwarding this newsletter!
Indigenous leaders are forcefully denouncing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for the idea of separating from Canada.
After a decade-long fight between Republican lawmakers and members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus, the state of Montana will now recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.
President Donald Trump has promised to stop crossings along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Ojibwe journalist Mary Annette Pember puts her own family’s boarding school experiences on display in her new book.
For Navajo small business owner Natasha John, the road to owning a coffee shop has been long.
More than 20 states recognize Native students’ right to express their cultural heritage at graduation ceremonies. But not everyone is on board.
As the state of New York works to eliminate school mascots with Native names and imagery, they have run into a powerful adversary.
Public media — including tribal radio stations and Native programming — is under threat.
I will never stop advocating for our rights and ensuring the promises made to the Cherokee people are kept.
NAFOA had a record-breaking turnout at its 43rd Annual Conference!
May 5 is recognized as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.
Exhibitions in the United States and Canada highlight the works of contemporary and up-and-coming Native artists.
President Donald Trump took office with a promise to help the Lumbee Tribe with its quest for federal recognition. What happens next?
The PBS program “Frontline” examines the financial, cultural, and human toll of climate change on Native people in Alaska.
One of the last remaining power plants in Arizona that uses coal has been granted an exemption from strict pollution standards.
Tribes that rely on the Colorado River — and the complex set of rules that govern it — are worried as the Donald Trump administration takes actions affecting their access to water.
Water truly is life, and in Cherokee Nation, we will continue to honor that truth for future generations.
See you next week at the #NAFOA2025 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expediting permits for Line 5, an oil pipeline opposed by tribes in the Great Lakes region.
It’s National Poetry Month, so join Native America Calling to dive into new and recent publications by Indigenous poets, including Elise Pacshen (Osage) and m.s. RedCherries (Northern Cheyenne).
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum got a first-hand look at the oldest known Native ancestral footprints during a visit to White Sands National Park.
There is still no single database that provides accurate numbers or data related to missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Homeland blends culture, music, fashion and community through hands-on workshops and cross-brand collaborations.
Nearly four decades into the era of Indian gaming, some tribes are still facing roadblocks at the state level.
New Mexico is set to become the fourth state to create an alert system meant to help find Native Americans who have gone missing.
Walking up to the podium during a committee hearing at the Montana State Capitol, Marsha Small told lawmakers: “I feel like I’ve been here forever.”
Although the Navajo Nation has reached an agreement regarding transportation of uranium through the reservation, many tribal members remain concerned it won’t protect them from the harms of contamination.
The Trump administration just scrapped an agreement aimed at addressing disparities involving Native students in South Dakota.
President Donald Trump’s order to scrub anything “divisive” from the Smithsonian to shield Americans from “woke” propaganda has – at least temporarily – had the opposite effect.
Honey bees, butterflies, and even small vertebrates like bats and birds are important to agriculture and are indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
Tahrohon Wayne “T.W.” Shannon, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, has joined the administration of Republican President Donald Trump.
The days of the federal government treating us like wards in the areas of food sovereignty and food security are over.
The 36th annual ASU powwow was more than a celebration of song and dance, it was a space where generations of people gathered to invigorate shared culture, tell traditional stories and teach lessons and prayers that have survived for millennia.
Make your vote count at NAFOA’s upcoming conference.
At least one tribal library will have to close and many others will reduce services as the Trump administration cancels grants already promised by the federal government.
Pueblo people are known for their complex, multi-level dwellings that date back centuries and continue to influence architectural design today.
Tribal leaders are working proactively to both influence decisions at the federal level and to prepare for inevitable changes.
From millions of dollars in canceled grants to vacancies at the Indian Health Service, tribes are dealing with big changes at the federal level.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is overseeing unprecedented cuts, drawing widespread concerns about adverse affects for Native people.
Our population, cultural depth, community development and economy show steady, strategic growth.
A new lawsuit claims citizens of the Blackfeet Nation are “losing economic opportunities and business” due to tariffs imposed on Canada.
Philanthropy becomes even more important during times of financial uncertainty and government austerity.
City officials, HIV/AIDS activists and health care providers gathered for the unveiling of a new mural at The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness in Phoenix, Arizona.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds an oversight hearing titled “Examining 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in Indian Country.”
It’s been 50 years since the passage of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. What’s next for tribal self-governance?
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds an oversight hearing titled “Examining 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in Indian Country.”
Mariah Gladstone and Alana Yazzie are embracing Native foods that have sustained Native communities for generations.
Join playwright Larissa Fasthorse and the creators of a Navajo children’s puppet show to learn more about Native creativity.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds an oversight hearing on Native programs at the Department of Education. Watch the testimony.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds an oversight hearing on Native programs at the Department of Education. Listen to the testimony.
Indigenous business leaders everywhere will have to adjust to the uncertain effects of President Donald Trump’s aggressive new series of tariffs.
Indian educators and advocates are testifying about the impacts of closing the Department of Education.
During a three-month period in 2024, 15 Indigenous people died either in custody or from direct interactions with police in Canada.
The vast majority of Native students attend schools funded through the Department of Education, the cabinet agency that President Donald Trump wants to shut down.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is taking a look at programs at the Department of Education that serve Native students.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs is holding a field hearing to mark the 50th anniversary of the self-determination era.
Friends, family, community members and dignitaries honored the life of Raúl Grijalva, who championed Native causes during his 12 terms in the U.S. Congress.
An archive of Indigenous punk history is taking shape in California.
The Cherokee Nation is proud to be a matrilineal society where the strength of women is central to our identity.
The #NAFOA2025 conference is coming up soon!
From restored hunting and fishing rights for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to a new Native-run restaurant, find out what’s on The Menu with Native America Calling.
For the first time in decades, tribes in the Pacific Northwest will be able to forage for wild huckleberries in a national forest without competition from commercial companies.
The Department of the Interior has just one Senate-confirmed leader in office.
“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The Department of Health and Human Services is eliminating 20,000 full-time employees, according to a fact sheet.
Significant changes are in development at the Social Security Administration. What does that mean for Native elders?
Another regulatory action has made it over the finish line at the Bureau of Indian Affairs amid a government-wide freeze ordered by President Donald Trump.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs is going on the road to mark the 50th anniversary of the self-determination era.
Arizona ranks third for the highest number of cases of missing Indigenous people.
Shadow Devereaux — also known as Foreshadow — is the first artist to participate in a new fund in Montana.
Long COVID affects as many as 23 million Americans, including many Native people.
The unpredictable availability of salmon and other fish is putting additional pressures on the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives.
Service is not just a program — it’s a way of life for the Cherokee people.
“This is not just an administrative change – it’s an attack on the fundamental right of Native students to a quality education that reflects their identity, history, and sovereignty,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro.
NAFOA is only a month away from the 43rd annual conference in New Orleans!
Native Hawaiian writer Norma Kawelokū Wong tells us our current reality is “drifting haphazardly in the riptide of collapse.”
“Our membership has been listening carefully to the conversations around sports betting legislation in Oklahoma,” said Matthew L. Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association.
“One of the federal government’s core trust and treaty responsibilities to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives is to provide education,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
“Great Plains reservation communities are continuing to deal with a public safety crisis,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Public Law 280 continues to be the source of unresolved law enforcement and public safety issues in Indian Country.
Potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid are causing uncertainty as Republicans, encouraged by President Donald Trump, push for drastic changes.
What’s on your Native Playlist? Tune in for new music from Morgan Toney, Tanaya Winder and The Reztones.
Regulatory activity has ground to a halt at the Bureau of Indian Affairs but one pro-tribal action has made it over the finish line in the era of Donald Trump.
Prominent Native figures in U.S. military history have been erased from the Department of Defense’s website thanks to Donald Trump.
As Congress mulls potentially massive cuts to Medicaid, health centers that serve Native communities are bracing for catastrophe.
Raúl Grijalva was known as a champion of tribal issues as a leader on the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Tune in to hear about the contributions of Athabascan elder Katie John, Chickasaw aviator Eula Pearl Carter Scott and other notable Native women.
“You’re not only erasing Navajo culture but you’re also eliminating Navajo code,” said Peter MacDonald, 96, one of the few surviving Navajo Code Talkers.
“The Navajo Code Talkers’ legacy is not just a story of Native American resilience but a defining chapter in American history,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr.
The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act addresses the water rights of the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
Programs that help Native students succeed are already shutting down thanks to the Donald Trump administration.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum discusses his views on Indian education on February 12, 2025.
Members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus say they have been able to advance priority bills in the state legislature.
The 49th annual American Indian Council Powwow at Montana State University takes place March 28-29, 2025.
What started as an annual event to help Native small business owners has grown into a launchpad for Navajo entrepreneurs.
The Indigenous Peoples Coalition celebrated the release of activist Leonard Peltier from federal prison.
Two Ojibwe authors, Marcie Rendon and Dennis Staples, are exploring Native worlds.
The Donald Trump administration is facing a major test of its commitment to Indian Country with a lawsuit challenging the firings of government employees at two tribal colleges.
“This land transfer is a significant step toward strengthening tribal sovereignty and empowering the Spirit Lake Nation to use its trust lands for economic growth and community well-being,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
We are in the midst of the largest period of housing investment in the history of the Cherokee Nation.
Subscribe to NAFOA and stay informed every week.
Two Native high school students are among the recent winners of one of the most prestigious science research competitions.
The Cherokee Nation has invested heavily in fighting the opioid epidemic.
American Indians and Alaska Natives have the second highest rate of skin cancer in the United States.
At least two employees who protect Indian art lost their jobs due to President Donald Trump’s cuts in the federal government.
Tribal and state public health efforts are credited with reducing the suicide rate among Native people in New Mexico.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is moving quickly to advance Indian Country legislation amid a dramatically changed political environment.
The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is taking aim at the BIA, the IHS and even the NIGC.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a business meeting to consider pending legislation on March 5, 2025. Watch the meeting.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a business meeting to consider pending legislation on March 5, 2025. Listen to the meeting.
Efforts continue at all levels to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives.
Indian Country is taking yet another hit as President Trump tries to reduce the size of the federal government despite the trust and treaty obligations owed to tribes and their communities.
After years of progress, Native trans relatives are facing a major rollback of favorable laws and policies.
The 176th anniversary of the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities is coming with major challenges for Indian Country.
Walter Murillo, the CEO of Native Health in Arizona, and Dr. Linda Son-Stone, the CEO of First Nations Community HealthSource, are guests of Democratic lawmakers at a joint session of Congress.
“This tells the community we are here, we are here for you,” said Sheila Lopez, the founder of the Arizona Two Spirit Powwow.
The Dark Winds crime series is coming back. And the acclaimed Sugarcane is streaming. What else is on your Native screening list?
A whopping 26 bills are on the agenda as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs advances pending legislation.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs learns about Native community priorities for the 119th Congress. Watch the hearing.
The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds a hearing on Bureau of Indian Education schools. Listen to the testimony.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hears about Native community priorities for the 119th Congress. Listen to the testimony.
Julian Brave NoiseCat made history at the 2025 Oscars as the first Native filmmaker to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Cherokee engagement is especially important in times of transition.
The agenda for NAFOA’s 43rd Annual Conference is live! Register for the upcoming meeting.
A program serving Native students in science, technology and medicine is ending as a result of President Donald Trump’s directives.
The vast majority of Native students attend public schools. What happens if the Department of Education is eliminated?
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on February 27, 2025. Listen to the final session of testimony.
Federal staff layoffs, spending freezes and other orders from the Donald Trump administration jeopardize food pathways for tribes and federal grants and loans for Native farmers.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the morning of February 26, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the afternoon of February 26, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
Compensation for college athletics is changing fast. How are Native students affected?
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the morning of February 25, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the afternoon of February 25, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds an oversight hearing on Indian trust reform on February 25, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
Overdose deaths have dropped significantly — except among Native people and other people of color.
Haskell Indian Nations University lost nearly a quarter of its staff in President Donald Trump mass terminations.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs is holding its second hearing of the 119th Congress, focusing on the federal government’s management of Indian trust assets.
We are strengthening our ability to fight cancer and bringing hope to Cherokee families.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the morning of February 25, 2025.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the afternoon of February 25, 2025.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the morning of February 26, 2025.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on the afternoon of February 26, 2025.
The House Committee on Appropriations hears from American Indian and Alaska Native witnesses on February 27, 2025.
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Repatriation advocates have had some recent progress in both policy and practice when it comes to getting important items returned to tribes.
Indian Country is returning to the nation’s capital to hold the federal government accountable — a difficult task in a new political landscape.
Words are inadequate to express the sense of betrayal and loss Haskell faculty feel regarding the so-called ‘efficiency’ firings across our campus.
Amid widespread terminations of its employees, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is trying to put the focus back on a critical issue facing tribes and their communities.
Non-profits and state governments continue to fight the Donald Trump administration in court over a freeze in federal funds.
What keeps Native people moving? Learn about the flutes, harps and other instruments in Native music.
From flu season to cuts at the Indian Health Service, tune in to get a gauge of the current threats to the health of Native people.
After spending nearly 50 years behind bars, American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier is finally free.
As Leonard Peltier is set to be released from federal prison, Native activists are reflecting on nearly five decades of work to win his freedom.
By the end of 2026, we will have invested $4 million into supporting the Cherokee artist community.
NAFOA has your latest news on tribal finance and economic development.
There’s more Valentine’s Day than flowers and chocolates in heart-shaped boxes.
The National Congress of American Indians continued its executive council winter session in Washington, D.C.
A traditional violin maker, a regalia maker, and basket weavers are the recipients of the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award.
The National Congress of American Indians opened its executive council winter session in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
As tribal leaders gather in the nation’s capital, a key partner is missing from their efforts to hold the federal government accountable for its trust and treaty obligations.
Catch up with the State of Indian Nations, delivered by National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro.
Listen to the 2025 State of Indian Nations, delivered by National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro.
The nation’s oldest and largest tribal advocacy group is shaping its strategy for carrying a unified voice to a fractured government and divided public.
We take all challenges to treaty rights and tribal sovereignty seriously.
The Kansas City football team will once again mock Native culture at the Super Bowl.
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs holds a legislative hearing on February 5, 2025. Listen to the testimony.
Tatanka Means maintains a busy schedule as a stand-up comedian, all while portraying serious roles on television and movie screens.
Watch a special presentation during the first meeting of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on February 5, 2025.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts an organizational business meeting on February 5, 2025.
A citizen of the Navajo Nation is being tapped to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs though it’s not the person who was publicly lobbying for the job.
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