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Bill would return herds to ancestral Native lands
A bipartisan bill pending in Congress would pay to relocate some of the 20,500 buffalo from public lands across the West and Midwest to reservation lands. Buffalo are so iconic, Congress designated them as the national mammal in 2016. Native American oral histories estimate that 30 to 60 million once roamed the plains.
Chippewa Ojibwe artist creates safe space for empowerment, exploration of stories
‘Waiting for Beds’ exhibit now on display in Duluth. When Moira Villiard creates art, she aims high. For one recent project, the epic Chief Buffalo murals in downtown Duluth, she involved more than 500 artists and community members in its creation. They came from all over to wield a brush in tribute to the leader who, 170 years ago, organized a historic meeting in Washington, D.C. while in his 90s. Chief Buffalo helped preserve the Ojibwe homelands.
Minnesota horse racing regulatory board adds Native leaders
Two newly named members of the Minnesota Racing Commission that oversee the state’s horse tracks have deep ties to tribes that have large casino operations. Two newly named members of the Minnesota Racing Commission that oversee the state’s horse tracks have deep ties to Native American tribes that have large casino operations. It’s the latest volley in a long-running dispute over the extent of legal gambling in Minnesota.
Educational support goes a long way with Native students
Programs that engage with Indigenous students and recognize their abilities can help them succeed in school. Josie Green returned home to South Dakota 10 years ago with a mission — to engage students in her community through teaching. Teaching wasn’t something the Oglala Lakota woman had anticipated pursuing. She...
Civil rights investigation finds Rapid City Area Schools ‘discriminated’ against Native students
School district signs agreement to close the gap with Native students with more staff and advisory committee. A federal civil rights investigation of Rapid City Area Schools found significant differences in the way Native and non-Native students are treated, citing discrepancies in the way they are disciplined and in their access to advanced placement courses.
Emergencies in Lakota territory highlight the importance of a presidential decree to reform investment in tribal nations
White Horse, OST tribal treasurer says White House decree 'could be more effective’. As President Joe Biden seeks reelection in 2024, Northern Plains Native Program specialists question his actions on their behalf. His decree on reforming funding for tribal nations addresses the need to strengthen sovereignty. Yet, experience with federal treaty rights obstructions prompts concerns in Indian Country about the decree’s effectiveness in upholding financial obligations.
Some think Legacy Fund could be a more effective, innovative tool
Next legislature and governor could provide further direction. From zero to $10.5 billion-plus in a decade-and-a-half. The state’s Legacy Fund, originally constructed as a “rainy day” fund to help provide a revenue source to cover state expenses after oil and gas revenue disappears, has morphed into a much larger beast: a sovereign wealth fund.
Indigenous world leader shares insights on three decades of treaty rights work, global advocacy
International Indian Treaty Council Executive Director Andrea Carmen on treaties, climate change and Indigenous rights. On Friday, as the International Indian Treaty Council begins the proceedings of its 50th Anniversary Treaty Conference at Standing Rock, Buffalo’s Fire reporter Alicia Hegland-Thorpe shares an in-depth interview with IITC Executive Director Andrea Carmen. Alicia caught up with Andrea at the end of February when she was visiting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, laying the groundwork for the meeting from June 21-24 in Wakpala, S.D. Carmen discusses the organization’s challenges and legacy during her 32 years as executive director.
Bismarck Juneteenth celebration calls for liberation, acknowledgment of Black history
Organizers push for North Dakota to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday. Working for human liberation is a demanding calling that requires mutual support, spoken word artist Frederick Edward Jr. told a captivated audience during the second Juneteenth celebration at General Sibley Park and Campground in Bismarck. “So when you’re...
Access to health care limited in rural and reservation areas
SISSETON, S.D. – All it took in spring 2024 was two small, unrelated medical service interruptions to put women’s health at risk and expose the fragility of the health care system in rural and reservation communities across South Dakota. First, the local public hospital in Sisseton, the Coteau...
International Treaty Conference returns to Oceti Sakowin for 50th Anniversary
Council celebrates half a century “Defending our Treaty Rights to Food, Water and Health, so that our Peoples will Live”. Fifty years ago nearly 100 sovereign nations from around the world came together to form an alliance that would unite Indigenous Peoples in their struggles for human and treaty rights, self-determination, food sovereignty, environmental health and justice. This gathering was the first conference of the International Indigenous Treaty Council.
Second Annual Bismarck Juneteenth Celebration set for General Sibley Park
Event to highlight “Resilience Rising, Embracing History, Shaping Futures”. As Juneteenth celebrations across the country mark the anniversary of African Americans’ emancipation from enslavement, Bismarck is gearing up for an evening of food, live music, and family fun. Wednesday’s event in General Sibley Park will mark the city’s second annual Juneteenth celebration.
Bismarck Public Schools opens discussion about curriculum with Indigenous parents, asks for input
Indigenous Education Department continues to work towards inclusivity, community engagement, stronger curriculum. Indigenous parents met with Bismarck Public Schools staff in a lively give-and-take at the Hughes Educational Center organized by the district to receive input and discuss how the school could better serve Native students. The main goal of...
Yellowstone bison plan calls for larger population
The National Park Service is finalizing plans to increase bison numbers in Yellowstone National Park and transfer some bison to tribes. Yellowstone National Park is on the verge of finalizing new management plans for bison in the park that will likely aim to keep the total population around where it has been over the past decade and prioritize utilizing a program to transfer bison to Native American tribes and more tribal hunting to manage the population.
Freshly graduated Standing Rock Sioux citizen assumes reservation school principal duties
Tyson Maxon tackles daunting odds because ‘Native kids can do just as well as any other kids’. The new elementary principal at Cannon Ball aims to elevate students’ academic skills from their rank on North Dakota’s bottom rung. Tyson Maxon recently began his career in education administration at the 99% Native American public grade school on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
‘The Avengers’ Lakota dub hits Disney+
Project members share their on-set experiences and their hopes for Lakota youth. Eric Jens Sr. remembers watching the first “Iron Man” movie with his son, immediately feeling captivated by the bold, eccentric character. “We watched the first one, the second one and the third one,” Jens, a language...
Sacred Pipe Resource Center observes centennial of Indian Citizenship Act, urges Native voting
‘Having to give up your Native identity to be an American citizen was wrong’. A federal official spoke a hundred years ago at a Standing Rock Sioux Reservation ceremony to announce the passage of a law recognizing Native Americans’ new right to vote. “You have shot your last arrow. That means that you are no longer to live the life of an Indian. You are from this day forward to live the life of the white man.”
Legislative primary races to watch
Today’s primary election includes many races with conservative Republicans trying to unseat lawmakers they view as too moderate. But in District 8, stretching from north of Bismarck to South Dakota, Reps. Brandon Prichard and SuAnn Olson are being challenged by more moderates. Prichard and Olson were endorsed at their...
The Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee reinstates former chairperson, proceeds with removal of term limits
Members of the IPAC and Bismarck Public Schools take steps forward together. The Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee is proceeding with amending its bylaws and working with Bismarck Public Schools to begin a new chapter in their collaboration. During a meeting on June 6, Billi Jo Beheler was unanimously reinstated as...
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. Welcome to Buffalo’s Fire Alicia Hegland-Thorpe’s audio narrative on the search for two missing people on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota. She recently traveled to the reservation and spoke with family members, grassroots organizers, as well as tribal team search leaders. She also includes a Department of Justice response on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives crisis in Native America.
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