The Daily Spark
Quick Stories, Must Reads

AG Nessel launches criminal investigation into Native boarding schools

Small sparks from Indian Country, built to catch fire | Concise summaries of the most important news
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Heritage
Beyond the red suit: How Native Santas are reclaiming holiday representation
By blending tribal regalia with holiday tradition, Indigenous veterans in Oregon are creating a safe, inclusive space where children see themselves in the magic of Christmas.
Estimated reading time: 6 min readBrian Bull
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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.
Sovereignty, Community, Press Freedom.
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The Daily Spark
Quick stories, must reads
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
Northern Plains
State Capitol
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
Criminal Justice
South Dakota legislators to consider prison proposal
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
Eagle Butte
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe elder accused of threatening lives of federal officers
Law Enforcement
Spirit Lake Nation responds to misconduct allegations at sheriff’s office, calls out ‘urgent need’ for responsive law enforcement
Native Issues
Regulation
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
Food sovereignty
UTTC student raises $12k in food drive for North Dakota and Montana
MMIP
Two boys missing from residential facility
MMIP
Montana billboards demand justice for MMIP cases
Cultural Revival
MHA Nation filmmaker wins award for short documentary
Housing
Standing Rock woman’s personal history inspires her to help others
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
Sovereignty
MHA Nation decriminalizes medical marijuana
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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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
Exclusive
‘How do I have an ICE hold, when I’m Native American?’
MMIP Response
North Dakota MMIP Task Force holds first meeting
Stolen Children
Nearly forgotten: The Puyallup boy buried 2,700 miles from home
Climate Action
‘We need involvement’: Indigenous leaders demand change at COP30
Podcast
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