The Daily Spark

NCAI committee advances resolutions to protect Native priorities

Leaders advanced measures to protect Native businesses, public media and development programs amid federal uncertainty.

On Day 2 of the NCAI Mid Year Conference, the Economic, Finance, & Community Development Committee took up resolutions aimed at safeguarding Native priorities in federal funding and procurement. All were referred to subcommittee after receiving strong support.

Among the speakers were leaders from Vision Maker Media and Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, who emphasized how upcoming funding cuts could devastate Native rural radio. Committee members also backed resolutions calling for the preservation of the “Rule of Two” in federal contracting, sustained investment in the Native CDFI Assistance Program and the reinstatement of FEMA’s BRIC program to support infrastructure resilience.

Tribal leaders rally to protect Native health programs

At the NCAI Health Subcommittee meeting, delegates passed six resolutions aimed at safeguarding tribal healthcare funding and representation

Amid looming budget cuts and federal restructuring, Native health experts and legal advocates worked line by line to finalize and pass six key health resolutions on Monday at the NCAI Mid Year Conference. The measures were adopted with unanimous support in a session that blended urgency with deep policy expertise.

The resolutions call for preserving Indian Health Service funding, protecting Medicaid access for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and elevating the IHS director to Assistant Secretary status within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Leaders also pushed back on proposed cuts to critical HHS programs and reaffirmed the need for tribal consultation in agency reforms.

Resolution targets cuts to NPR, PBS and the elimination of CPB

A resolution discussed Monday at the National Congress of American Indians calls on Congress to reject proposed funding cuts to NPR and PBS and to oppose the elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The cuts were introduced with an executive order by President Trump on May 1 and the proposal to eliminate the CPB is included in the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. Among the news organizations that receive funding through the CPB are Vision Maker Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications and Koahnic Broadcast Corporation.

The resolution states that PIC, based in Honolulu, “ensures a multiplicity of programs and people stories from Native Hawaiians for public television.”

It also notes that “since 1976, VMM has supported up to 15 professional film productions for PBS annually, primarily with CPB funding, generating hundreds of jobs and a return of three times its federal funding in rural and Native communities’ economies.”

KBC, a Native media company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska with an office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, produces Native content, “including award-winning national Native programs, Native America Calling and National Native News.”

Ellison warns of democracy backslide under Trump administration

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a June 4 interview that states serve as a sovereign bulwark against federal power grabs, according to the Minnesota Reformer. Ellison said he and other Democratic attorneys general prepared for President Donald Trump’s second term by studying Project 2025 and organizing legal responses in advance. After the Office of Management and Budget froze distribution of certain federal funds, the group filed suit the next day. The attorneys general have filed more than two dozen lawsuits in five months. Ellison criticized recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and warned, “We are a whisper away from Jim Crow.” Despite this, he expressed optimism that even conservative justices may resist executive overreach.

North Dakota tribes call for respect, autonomy amid federal cuts

Tribal leaders from North Dakota’s five tribal nations voiced concerns about federal funding cuts and called for greater respect and collaboration from state lawmakers during the seventh annual Government-to-Government Conference, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Chairman Jamie Azure criticized state legislators’ remarks on the tribe’s Grand Forks casino project as insulting and urged the Legislature to shift its mindset. Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire highlighted a co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and ongoing energy infrastructure efforts. Spirit Lake Nation Chairperson Lonna Jackson-Street advocated for reinstating the motor vehicle tax exemption for off-reservation members and addressed economic losses due to electronic pull tabs. Gov. Kelly Armstrong praised a new state law establishing a task force to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.

Montana extends ICWA protections through 2029 with scaled-back bill

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law on May 12 extending the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act until June 2029, according to Montana Free Press and ICT. Sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, the bill aimed to continue protections for Native children and their families in adoption and foster care cases. Earlier versions of the bill included cultural compact requirements, which were removed due to state cost concerns. The amended version, which transformed the 27-page bill to a two-page document, passed the House Human Services Committee unanimously. After the amendment passed, a new fiscal note estimated the policy would cost nothing. Windy Boy said the final bill was “probably the best we could do this session” and intends to reintroduce expanded protections in a future session.

‘Tiwahe’ statue unveiled to honor boarding school survivors and victims

A new statue unveiled in Rapid City, South Dakota, stands as a memorial to survivors and victims of the federal Indian boarding school era, according to reporting by ICT. The seven-foot-tall sculpture, called “Tiwahe” (which means “family” in Lakota), depicts a Lakota family surrounding a young boy in a boarding school uniform. Created by the group Remembering the Children, non-Native artist Dale Lamphere and Oglala Lakota apprentice Derek Santos, the statue sits on the former grounds of the Rapid City Indian School, where researchers identified 50 children who died. The statue is part of a broader memorial effort that includes a plaza, walking trail and cultural installations planned for public access beginning Sept. 27. Amy Sazue, executive director of Remembering the Children, said the project helps bring visibility to a long-hidden part of U.S. history.

North Dakota to launch Feather Alert for missing Indigenous people

North Dakota law enforcement will add new alerts to its emergency system starting Aug. 1, including the Feather Alert for missing Indigenous people and the Missing, Endangered Persons Alert for adults aged 18 to 65, according to the North Dakota Monitor. The updates were announced during the Government-to-Government Conference on June 5 in Bismarck.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Jenna Clawson Huibregtse said that Feather Alert emergency phone notifications will only be used in abduction cases. Websites, social media, billboards and media releases will be used in cases that don’t involve abduction or threats of bodily harm. House Bill 1535, sponsored by state Rep. Jayme Davis, created the alerts and was signed into law by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on May 2.

Native finance leaders push for better data

Speakers at NCAI warn that gaps in tribal finance data limit access to capital and weaken policy leverage

A panel at NCAI’s Mid Year Convention highlighted how stronger economic data can help tribal nations support sovereignty, unlock capital and influence policy.

Phil Gover, senior project manager and policy fellow at the Center for Indian Country Development, warned that tribal economic invisibility limits access to funding and clouds policymaking. “U.S. policymakers don’t have enough data to make sense of tribal finance,” he said.

Cory Blankenship, executive director of the Native American Finance Officers Association, said that telling the full story of tribal economies requires reliable data — the kind that shows both unmet needs and Native-driven innovation.

Amber Schulz-Oliver, executive director of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation, framed data as a powerful tool of self-determination: “Data is one method for tribes to tell our stories—as individual nations and collectively.”

Panelists:

• Cory Blankenship (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Native American Finance Officers Association
• Amber Schulz-Oliver (Celilo/Yakama), Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation
• Phil Gover (Northern and Southern Paiute, Pawnee, and Comanche Nations), Center for Indian Country Development

The National Congress of American Indians begins at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Buffalo's Fire and Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance are on the ground to cover the event

The works of the National Congress of American Indians 2025 are officially open at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Buffalo’s Fire and the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance are on the ground, ready to cover the event. Among the core discussions on the opening day: efforts to address violence against Native women, strategies to close tribal finance data gaps through intertribal cooperation and priorities in Native education policy.

Devils Lake officials say city’s drinking water is safe despite Spirit Lake concerns

Following public concern over drinking water safety, Devils Lake officials confirmed the city’s water supply is safe to drink, according to reporting by Devils Lake Journal. City engineer Mike Grafsgaard said the city uses the Spiritwood Aquifer, while Spirit Lake Nation uses the Warwick Aquifer, and the wells are located miles apart.

Grafsgaard said Devils Lake switched to the Spiritwood Aquifer years ago and deeded the former well field to Spirit Lake Nation. He noted the city cannot provide water through the old pipeline due to dam-related removals. He also said the city water department monitors mineral levels closely and that iron and manganese removal is a common practice. Grafsgaard has been in contact with R.J. Yankton from Spirit Lake Water Resources and offered assistance, stating, “We’re willing to help our neighbors in whatever way is practical.”

MHA Nation and 91st Missile Wing strengthen ties at cultural exchange event

The 91st Missile Wing hosted leaders from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation at Missile Alert Facility H-01 near New Town on May 27, according to Minot Daily News. The visit included a facility tour, cultural dialogue and a photo display honoring MHA heritage.

MHA Chairman Mark Fox led the delegation, joined by Director of Veterans Affairs Robert Hunter Sr., Director of Tourism Keira Fox and representatives from Task Force 21. The event highlighted the longstanding alliance between the MHA Nation and Minot Air Force Base. Col. James Schlabach, 91st Missile Wing commander, said the photo display “serves as a bridge between our military personnel and the MHA Nation.” Fox emphasized the historic nation-to-nation relationship, saying, “We will protect and support each other.”

Trump administration proposes 90% cut to tribal college funding

The Trump administration has proposed a nearly 90% reduction in funding for tribal colleges and universities, a move that could force most to close, according to reporting by ProPublica. The Department of the Interior’s 2026 budget request slashes funding for postsecondary tribal programs from more than $182 million to just over $22 million, impacting all 37 tribal colleges.

Ahniwake Rose, president and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, said the proposed cuts would be unsustainable. “The numbers that are being proposed would close the tribal colleges,” Rose told ProPublica. The Bureau of Indian Education and Department of the Interior declined to comment. Congress, which has final budget authority, passed a 1978 law committing to fund tribal colleges, but appropriations have fallen short. Tribal leaders said the cuts violate treaty obligations and would rob Native students of opportunity.

Rice students preserve Indigenous stories through oral history archive

Students at Rice University have launched an oral history archive to preserve Native stories in Texas, according to Rice News. The initiative, in collaboration with the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP),, has gathered more than 50 hours of interviews since the fall of 2024 through the university’s Houston Action Research Teams program.

The archive, “Living Memory: An Oral History Project to Strengthen Native Sovereignty in Texas,” includes testimonies on cultural, financial, linguistic, and spiritual topics. The student-led effort aims to support sovereignty and community resilience and will be housed at Rice’s Fondren Library. Lipan Apache leader and founder of TTBP, Lucille Contreras, said the project helps ensure that Indigenous stories are not “just remembered”, but recognized.”

Funding cuts stall boarding school digitization project

About 75,000 pages of Indian boarding school records are locked in digital storage following federal budget cuts that halted the National Indian Boarding School Digital Archive project, according to Montana Free Press. The National Endowment for the Humanities rescinded $282,000 of a $500,000 grant after the Trump administration implemented cuts, leading to staff layoffs, canceled partnerships, and a suspended archive initiative.

The digitized letters include emotional exchanges between children and families, including a 1954 letter from Thomas Wall asking Chemawa Indian School to send his daughter, Irene Wall, home. Fallon Carey, digital archives manager at the coalition, said the records “can’t be touched until we get new funding.” Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians, called the funding cuts “a betrayal.” Tribal leaders say the cuts disrupt the healing process for boarding school survivors and keep the general public from learning the truth.

American Indian Caucus celebrates legislative victories in Montana

Members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus say the 2025 legislative session marked a historic high for advancing their priorities, according to a story co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT. Rep. Tyson Running Wolf called it “the most productive American Indian Caucus I’ve ever been part of,” during an April meeting. The group successfully advanced multiple bills, including one establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a state holiday and extending the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act.

Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy passed seven of 11 bills and will serve as Senate dean next session. Caucus members also helped defeat legislation that threatened treaty rights and pushed for more tribal consultation in health policymaking. An amendment was made to the state budget bill, however, funding and decisions will depend on the state health department. Rep. Donavon Hawk said there is “a lot more to do,” especially around consultation.

Six tribal programs advance in Honoring Nations 2025 awards process

Six tribal programs have been selected for the site visit round of the 2025 Honoring Nations awards, according to a May 29 announcement from the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development. Chosen from 101 applicants, the programs include Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, Iron Horse Industrial Park, Jicarilla Apache Nation’s Water Sharing Agreement, Sche’lang’en Village Transformational Wrap-Around Program and the Taos Pueblo Priority Process.

The site visits will take place this summer. Awards will be presented at the National Congress of American Indians’ conference in November 2025. Honoring Nations evaluates tribal governance initiatives for their effectiveness, cultural relevance and impact on sovereignty.

Education Department says Native history not considered DEI

A recent letter from the U.S. Department of Education affirms that American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian history is not considered diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or critical race theory (CRT), according to reporting by Inside Higher Ed. In the letter, Hayley B. Sanon, principal deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, acknowledged the “unique political and legal relationship with federally recognized Indian Tribes.”

The letter was sent in April in response to concerns from the National Indian Education Association, which sought assurance that teaching Native history would not violate a Trump executive order aimed at eliminating “discriminatory equity ideology.” Twyla Baker, president of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, said she was hopeful but cautious. Tribal college leaders said they want to see policy and funding reflect the department’s message.

Job Corps students told to leave campus by Wednesday

Students at the Quentin N. Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot, North Dakota, were informed that they must leave campus by Wednesday, June 4, according to a student who spoke with KMOT-TV. The student said campus leadership had gathered students in the cafeteria to deliver the message and noted that while staff are working to help students return home, limited time and funds may prevent some from reaching their final destinations.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced last week that all contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide will be paused by June 30 due to a $140 million deficit and safety concerns. Burdick Job Corps staff said Friday they were still waiting on guidance from contractors and could not confirm the June 4 deadline as of Monday. North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn called the nationwide pause “unconscionable” and urged the state’s congressional delegation to intervene.

Indigenous students protest changes to Native affairs program at University of Arizona

Indigenous students at the University of Arizona are protesting changes to Native American Student Affairs, including the firing of its director and a shift in the office's structure. According to AZCentral, about 30 Native students from different tribes sent a letter on May 25 to university leaders and the Arizona Board of Regents, calling the changes a “betrayal” of the university’s commitment to Native students.

Two days later, the university announced the student affairs program would move under the Office of Native American Initiatives. On May 27, director Julian Juan was fired. In an Instagram video, Juan said he was dismissed after asking an administrator to leave a student event in April for safety reasons. A university spokesperson told The Arizona Republic that the changes are intended to “increase collaboration and strengthen support for Native students.”