Independent News from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Native Life

Native Issues

Explore in-depth reporting on key issues impacting Native nations, such as tribal sovereignty, education, resource management, missing and murdered Indigenous people, healthcare, cultural preservation, housing, economic development, and the freedom of the press.

Reproductive Rights

Birth control, IVF protection needed in face of attacks, North Dakota bill sponsor says

Jeff Beach / North Dakota Monitor

Healing Journey

New Road Map Guides Brain Health in Native Communities

Buffalo’s Fire

Dearth of women in top higher ed leadership in North Dakota causes concern

Currently only one woman in a position of leadership among 11 institutions

Michael Standaert / North Dakota News Cooperative

Crisis Response

North Dakota bills address MMIP crisis with interagency task force, new ‘Feather Alert’

Rep. Jayme Davis: ‘We need to have everybody at the table and have the resources’

Bismarck, North Dakota

Unprecedented TribalEcon Summit features trade history, vendors in North Dakota capital

Cherokee CEO: ‘How are you going to keep evolving your infrastructure, your bandwidth and your capacity?

Sovereignty

Tribal Opposition

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Push Back Against Lumbee Fairness Act

The House passed H.R. 1101, granting federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe, but the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and other tribal organizations are urging the Senate to block the bill, citing concerns over its impact on tribal sovereignty and recognition standards.

Buffalo’s Fire

Education

Indigenous Education

Native students, national lab engineers collaborate in ASPIRE Summer Academy’s paid internships

‘It’s about creating solutions to the world’s problems’

Indigenous Education

Tribes take content lead in updated Tribal curriculum guides for North Dakota schools, debut around corner

The Department of Public Instruction extends revision deadline for guidebooks to ensure accurate, up-to-date content

Native Narratives

The radical act of sharing Native literature

NDN Girls Books Club is more than a big pink truck full of free books.

Heather Hansman / High Country News

Professional Growth

From the classroom to campus leadership: Brett Williamson named UTTC dean of instruction

Marine-turned-journalist-turned-instructor brings diverse experience to new role

Tribal College Movement

‘Honoring Our Past’: North Dakota Tribal College System celebrates 30 years of empowering Indigenous education

North Dakota tribal colleges transform from ‘no money at all' to economic force

Land & Water

Resources for Native peoples in the Los Angeles wildfires

The Chickasaw Foundation in Oklahoma said it will help affected Chickasaw citizens.

Dakota Access Pipeline

Judge denies Greenpeace request to investigate mailer critical of DAPL protests

Pro-fossil fuel mailer raised concerns in Dakota Access Pipeline case

Mary Steurer / North Dakota Monitor

Environmental Impact

Peyote threatened by psychedelic renaissance

Native use of the sacred cactus under threat from over harvesting by advocates of peyote decriminalization, as well as agriculture, housing and wind farm developments

Deepa Bharath and Jessie Wardarski / Associated Press VIA ICT

Watershed Defense

Black Hills gold mining ban protects land, water, Sioux Nation ‘church’

Interior Department safeguards sacred waters for 20 years; tribes seek broader security for area watersheds

Tracy L. Barnett

Dakota Access Pipeline

Pipeline owner joins lawsuit over Dakota Access Pipeline

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe wants a federal court to order that the pipeline be shut down

Mary Steurer / North Dakota Monitor

Oil & Gas

Next secretary of the Interior should elevate allotted landowner rights

Will Burgum prioritize the interests of all tribes and Indian people, or will his policies favor wealthy oil-rich tribes and perpetuate the exploitation of individual Allottee landowners?

Oil industry forecasts modest production from Bakken-Three Forks shale, spotlight on technology to spur development

North Dakota’s annual petroleum gathering welcomes new regulator, not regulations

Murdered & Missing Indigenous People

Buffalo’s Fire Awards

Report for America announces 100+ newsroom partners and the opening of new corps member applications

Selections include 66 local newsroom partners and corps member positions, 35 accelerator program participants, with expanded photojournalist and education reporter opportunities still to be announced

Report for America

Red Ribbon Skirt Society uplifts families facing MMIP crisis

Founder Lily Mendoza earns Bush Fellowship to ‘find healing in Lakota lifeways’

Audio narrative

Jurisdictional Maze: North Dakota families frustrated with lack of communication in MMIP Cases

Families seek clarity amidst bureaucratic hurdles in search for missing loved ones

Alicia Hegland-Thorpe

Health & Wellness

Cultural Considerations

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Scientific Report Provides Historic Inclusion of Indigenous Nutritional Needs

Buffalo’s Fire

State looks to boost access for youth with severe mental health challenges

Two programs piloted to address gaps, break down silos

Michael Standaert / North Dakota News Cooperative

Hospital feels the rush during the fires

All hands on deck at Tioga Medical Clinic

James C. Falcon / Williston Herald

Spirit Lake Nation commodity food program turns to tribal buffalo herd for meat

Advocates want lawmakers to extend Farm Bill self-determination pilot project

Center for Indigenous Research launches Great Plains Hub

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine created a new research hub in South Dakota

Amelia Schafer / Rapid City Journal + ICT

Cultural Preservation

Language Milestone

Diné bizaad becomes official language of Navajo Nation

‘We are identified by our Diné name, our clan, our language.’

The Navajo Nation Dr. Buu Nygren

Standing Rock to sue to gain Lakota language materials

The Lakota Language Consortium has a long, sordid past with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and particular one of its citizens

Amelia Schafer / ICT + Rapid City Journal

UNESCO Media Forum

Spotted Bear Moderates UNESCO Panel on Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Media

The Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance founder leads a discussion with international media leaders on empowering Indigenous communities in media

Buffalo’s Fire

Cultural Preservation

Intertribal tourism alliance holds free Native American Heritage Month Celebration this weekend in North Dakota capital

‘The message is that we as tribal people belong here and we're still here’

Indigenous education director seeks to build relationships with parents, emphasizes mental health

Cimarosti wants Native students in the district to feel loved and heard

Economic Development

Inaugural Tribal Econ Summit tackles financial growth on Northern Plains

Inaugural Tribal Econ Summit to tackle financial growth, collaboration for Indigenous communities in Northern Plains

Economic development

Native Tourism Alliance to support entrepreneurs

'I believe that it is an act of sovereignty for a tribe to take control of their cultural history by telling their own story. And what better way to do that than tourism with people from your local community to even internationally?'

Jackie Hendry / South Dakota News Watch VIA ICT

Award-winning Native star quilt maker opens storefront

A grand opening celebration is planned for later this year for the new South Dakota shop

Amelia Schafer / Rapid City Journal + ICT

Paving the way for Indigenous women leaders

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan uses her platform to create a world where Native women of the future can expand their leadership positions

Samantha Wurm / ICT