The Daily Spark
Quick Stories, Must Reads

Polly Cooper honored on 2026 Native American $1 coin

Small sparks from Indian Country, built to catch fire | Concise summaries of the most important news
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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
Missing Youth
Runaway children in the Dakotas account for majority of missing Indigenous persons reports
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
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
Safety & Justice
Justice
Native leaders in North Dakota urge use of tribal IDs, denounce ICE tactics
Justice
Minneapolis Native community gathers in prayer after intense week of ICE activity
Security
FBI investigating two weekend murders on North Dakota reservations
Community Organizing
Minneapolis Indigenous community organizes around ICE activity
Regulation
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
Exclusive
‘How do I have an ICE hold, when I’m Native American?’
Northern Plains
Heritage
Crow tribe considers enrollment reset
Theater
‘BlueJay’s Canoe’ tackles Native life during pandemic and wildfires
State Capitol
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
MMIP
Montana billboards demand justice for MMIP cases
Criminal Justice
South Dakota legislators to consider prison proposal
Sport
United Tribes Legends Softball Hall of Fame welcomes three players and two teams
Native Issues
Heritage
Beyond the red suit: How Native Santas are reclaiming holiday representation
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
MMIP
Two boys missing from residential facility
Cultural Revival
MHA Nation filmmaker wins award for short documentary
Native Nations
Housing
Standing Rock woman’s personal history inspires her to help others
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
Entertainment
30 years after ‘Northern Exposure,’ Elaine Miles adopts a new role: community advocate
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
Opinion
Opinion
Imposed Rule
Tribal citizens stuck with an act, an IRA constitution they didn’t support
Stories you might have missed
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
Alert Gaps
Implementation of North Dakota’s Feather Alert system causes confusion
MMIP
Remains found during search for Isaac Hunt
MMIP Response
North Dakota MMIP Task Force holds first meeting
Stolen Children
Nearly forgotten: The Puyallup boy buried 2,700 miles from home
Podcast
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