The Daily Spark
Quick Stories, Must Reads

Protesters gather at North Dakota Capitol following ICE shooting in Minneapolis

Small sparks from Indian Country, built to catch fire | Concise summaries of the most important news
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Justice
Native leaders in North Dakota urge use of tribal IDs, denounce ICE tactics
At least five Native people have been reportedly detained in Minneapolis by immigration authorities
Estimated reading time: 3 min readMary SteurerNorth Dakota Monitor
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Special Feature

For the love of dentalium

Harvested in the Pacific and traded inland, dentalium shells served Indigenous peoples as valuable currency, status symbols, and sacred items for millennia, a tradition that persists. Read our coverage.
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The Daily Spark
Quick stories, must reads
Murdered & Missing Indigenous Peoples
MMIP
Q&A: Kimberly Lining on what it takes to be a volunteer for an MMIP organization
Missing
MMIP Christmas tree shines brightly at North Dakota State Capitol
MMIP
D’Angelo Hunt pleads not guilty to murdering his older brother Isaac Hunt
MMIP
D’Angelo Hunt indicted for voluntary manslaughter of ‘J.M.P.’ — initials match missing partner Jemini Posey
MMIP
Six year anniversary of Standing Rock unsolved murder
MMIP
Two boys missing from residential facility
Powwow
Traditional Practices
What is a memorial at a powwow?
Powwow Eats
Powwow food vendors essential to savoring the experience
Video Etiquette
Powwow dos and don’ts
In the circle
For powwow vendors, art runs deeper than business
Chemistry
Buffalo’s Fire and Prairie Public Radio link for live coverage at UTTC powwow
In the circle
Thousands gather for start of 55th annual UTTC International Powwow
Land & Water
Food sovereignty
UTTC student raises $12k in food drive for North Dakota and Montana
Climate Action
‘We need involvement’: Indigenous leaders demand change at COP30
Environmental Stewardship
‘Good fire’ at Chaa-lamali: Young Natives practice cultural burn
Live Coverage
UTTC Tribal Summit: Cody Two Bears urges tribal nations to unite for sovereignty
Lake Stewardship
Native nations push through funding uncertainties to keep protecting the Great Lakes
Safety & Justice
Exclusive
‘How do I have an ICE hold, when I’m Native American?’
Stolen Children
Nearly forgotten: The Puyallup boy buried 2,700 miles from home
Justice Denied
Native community calls for return of MMIP report
Criminal Justice
South Dakota legislators to consider prison proposal
Northern Plains
State Capitol
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
Sport
United Tribes Legends Softball Hall of Fame welcomes three players and two teams
Drums & Dreams
UTTC International Powwow flexes its cultural and economic muscle
MMIP
Montana billboards demand justice for MMIP cases
Eagle Butte
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe elder accused of threatening lives of federal officers
Native Issues
Sesquicentennial
Tribes plan to ‘rock’ the Little Bighorn Battlefield during 150th commemoration
Federal Recognition
Lumbee Tribe to receive federal recognition after 70 years of state distinction
Cultural Fashion
Recent Native gatherings in Alaska brim with ‘big auntie’ energy
Cultural Revival
MHA Nation filmmaker wins award for short documentary
Housing
Standing Rock woman’s personal history inspires her to help others
Alert Gaps
Implementation of North Dakota’s Feather Alert system causes confusion
Native Nations
Food Security
North Dakota counties most harmed by SNAP cuts are those on reservations
Self-reliance
Spirit Lake’s Incident Command Team is a model for tribal emergency response
Tribal leadership
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe swears in new leaders
Youth Action
Making cough syrup, building houses: Standing Rock students learn through community engagement
Fund Control
MHA citizens seek accountability in a suit against their Tribal Business Council
Arts, Culture & Sports
Audio Interview
Reflections on Graham Greene
Community Voices
Why is Native American Heritage Month important?
Cultural Revival
‘I’m bringing my heritage out onto the runway’
Little people, ghost cars, vengeful spirits: the Indigenous supernatural crosses past and present
Video
Tipi of Terror: Buffalo’s Fire staff share spooky Native stories
Leadership
Native filmmaker aims to create global network of Indigenous storytellers
Opinion
Opinion
Imposed Rule
Tribal citizens stuck with an act, an IRA constitution they didn’t support
Opinion
Tribal Sovereignty
Supreme Court should uphold sovereign status for Native nations in Voting Rights Act case
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Traditional foods
Why you should Indigenize your holiday meals — and recipes to help you do it
Treaty Rights
Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council calls for repeal of 1872 Mining Act, protection of He Sápa
Update
Services restored after crypto-mining attempt
MMIP
Remains found during search for Isaac Hunt
MMIP Response
North Dakota MMIP Task Force holds first meeting
Community Vision
North Dakota Native-led nonprofit eyes massive cultural center project in Bismarck
Explainer
How search and rescue technology helps find missing people — and its role in MMIP cases
Podcast
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