A New Era: Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, has been tapped to lead the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country. What's on his agenda? And what are Republicans asking of him as the nation enters the Donald Trump era? Tune into Burgum's confirmation hearing to be Secretary of the Interior.
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Doug Burgum has yet to be confirmed as the new leader of the Department of the Interior but a contentious Indian Country issue has already been dumped on his desk.
What does it take to work in television news? Tune into Native America Calling to hear from Native professionals in the field.
Tune in to hear from the 2025 Champions for Change from the Center for Native American Youth.
With their party now in control of the U.S. Congress, Republicans are defending their record on Indian issues after Democrats sought changes to the rules on a key legislative committee.
Before taking office this week, President Donald Trump promised swift and decisive actions. How are Native people being affected?
As Indian Country celebrated the release of Leonard Peltier, the new occupant of the Oval Office began taking aim at some of the bedrock principles of the trust and treaty relationship.
The legislative panel with jurisdiction over Indian issues is meeting for the first time in the 119th Congress.
Alaska’s two Republican senators say Denali should always be known by its Native name.
U.S. presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect sacred and important tribal sites. The law is once again under attack with Donald Trump in office.
Native people in Arizona were targeted by scammers who promised health care and services that were never delivered.
“Indians have a great sense of humor,” the late Terry Ree once said. “We pretty much had to have that or we wouldn’t be here.”
The city of Nashville granted a request to change the name of Cumberland Park to Wasioto Park in honor of Indigenous history in Tennessee.
The ‘Navajos 4 Trump’ group was selected to participate in the inaugural presidential parade on January 20, 2025.
Leonard Peltier will spend the remainder of his prison sentence at home after an 11th-hour action by former President Joe Biden.
Get your latest news on tribal finance and economic development from NAFOA.
Read the text of the executive grant of clemency to Leonard Peltier, signed by President Joe Biden on January 19, 2025.
“Leonard Peltier’s freedom today is the result of 50 years of intergenerational resistance, organizing, and advocacy,” said Nick Tilsen.
“I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family,” said Deb Haaland, who was the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet.
“Our hearts are full for Leonard Peltier, his family, and all of Indian Country as he finally gets to go home after nearly 50 years behind bars,” said Judith LeBlanc.
Leaders of some of the largest tribal nations are optimistic and hopeful as Donald Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren addresses a tribal gathering on the eve of the U.S. presidential inauguration.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley addresses a tribal gathering on the eve of the U.S. presidential inauguration.
Every time a Cherokee finds success in business creation, they are generating wealth and stability for their community.
More than 3,100 Indian students died during the genocidal Indian boarding school era, according to an investigation by The Washington Post.
TikTok, the popular video sharing platform, might soon be disappearing from the United States following a decision from the nation’s highest court.
Ted Nolan’s home on the Garden River First Nation didn’t have electricity or running water. But it did have a hockey rink in the backyard.
Read the written statement of Doug Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, to be Secretary of the Interior.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to issue at least 100 executive orders on his first day in office. How will Indian Country be affected?
An award-winning government employee is leading the Office of Tribal Justice at the Department of Justice.
Gov. Kristi Noem used her State of the State address to say goodbye to South Dakota.
Wildfires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes in southern California. Tribes and urban Indian organizations are stepping up.
Indigenous Enterprise promotes and advances Indigenous culture through the power of powwow song and dance.
A newcomer is leading the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over Indian issues.
The Orthodox New Year in Alaska is a mix of seal meat, tea cakes, and Native and Slavonic languages.
The Republican-led Senate is busy with a slew of confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s nominees — including one of the most consequential for Indian Country.
Members of the U.S. Senate are busy with confirmation hearings for a number of president-elect Donald Trump’s nominees. Here’s the schedule.
This month we celebrate an important birthday: Our Speaker Services turns three.
Help rebuild communities and lives impacted by recent fires in southern California.
Ted Nolan’s home on the Garden River First Nation didn’t have electricity or running water. But it did have a hockey rink in the backyard.
Neal McCaleb dedicated his life to public service, a calling that led him to prominent positions in tribal, state and federal government.
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota) reintroduced a bill to protect 40 acres at the Wounded Knee Massacre site on behalf of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
The Department of Interior awarded grants to help tribal communities prepare for climate-related threats on their homelands.
When Ross Anderson was clocked at more than 154 miles per hour, he set an American speed skiing record that has yet to be broken nearly two decades later.
Tribes, the state and federal government must continue to work together for the benefit of their people, the leader of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said.
Senate Democrats say they haven’t received even basic information about Doug Burgum, who is seeking to lead the Department of the Interior.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade featured a performance by Indigenous Enterprise, an award-winning dance company based in Arizona.
Despite a lack of interest from the energy industry, Republicans from Alaska think president-elect Donald Trump will help them open Arctic lands to development.
Tribal nations and the federal government are working to address affordable housing and homelessness.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has a new chair for the 119th Congress now that Republicans are in control of the chamber.
Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate are vowing to move quickly on president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is resigning after nearly 10 years in office. What is his legacy among Indigenous peoples?
The Department of Justice is kicking off a series of consultation sessions to address a U.S. Supreme Court decision seen as detrimental to tribal sovereignty.
American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any racial or ethnic group.
Native patients aren’t liable for medical bills the Indian Health Service is supposed to pay. But federal law doesn’t stop the debt collectors.
Avoiding unnecessary debt and living within your means: How to build your own wealth.
The Senate Committee on Armed Forces has scheduled a January 14 confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth to serve as as Secretary of Defense.
Dr. Charles “Monty” Roessel served as president of Diné College on the Navajo Nation. He was 63 years old.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is starting off the new year with a new government-to-government agreement.
Here’s to 2025! NAFOA looks forward to advancing opportunities in Indian Country throughout the year.
Roselyn Tso spent just over two years as director of the Indian Health Service but her career at the agency spanned more than three decades.
The 119th Congress is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2025, with both chambers of the legislative branch of the U.S. government coming under Republican control.
The new year is good time to look forward to the promises and concerns that lie ahead.
What’s on The Menu? Join Native America Calling for the last food show of 2024, hosted by Andi Murphy.
With every word of Cherokee spoken or written, we reclaim another piece of what it means to be Cherokee.
Join Native America Calling for a look back on notable works by Indigenous authors in 2024.
Test your knowledge of Native history, current events and pop culture!
After a hiatus, horse riders resumed a tradition to remember the Dakota men hanged by the U.S. government in Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862.
Kiowa guitarist Jesse Ed Davis was in high demand as a session player and a touring musician. His legacy is finally being spotlighted.
Rebecca Jim was a school counselor when she witnessed Tar Creek in Oklahoma run orange with pollution.
Native America Calling runs down some of the standout Indigenous tracks from the past year. Tune in!
America honors the Constitution and our Treaties when it respects our Freedom as Native Nations.
Snow is on the ground and that means it’s story time in many Native communities.
The Osage Nation and the Cherokee Nation are among the tribes celebrating #LandBack victories.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) discusses Indian Country legislation on the floor of the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2024.
The U.S. House of Representatives debates S.5355, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act, on December 17, 2024.
The U.S. House of Representatives debates H.R.1101, the Lumbee Fairness Act, on December 17, 2024.
The U.S. House of Representatives considers S.3857, the Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act, on December 17, 2024.
President Biden’s apology for Indian boarding schools was among the top news stories of the year. What else matters to Native people in 2024?
Another Indian Country bill is up for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives as the 118th Congress comes to a close.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) lashes out against the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at a hearing on sports betting on December 17, 2024. Watch his remarks.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) lashes out against the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at a hearing on sports betting on December 17, 2024. Listen to the speech.
A focus on reducing chronic absenteeism among Native students is paying off for one Oklahoma tribe.
A controversial bill to extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe is moving forward on Capitol Hill amid ongoing opposition in Indian Country.
For many decades, the United States attempted to destroy the proud culture of Native nations.
Native patients in four states could now see government health coverage for some traditional healing practices.
It’s not too late to make your gift to Native youth count by donating to NAFOA.
After a period of colonial suppression, traditional kapa making is enjoying a sustained resurgence in Hawaii.
Another batch of Indian Country bills is making its way through the 118th Congress, with only about a week left for tribal nations to see success.
Native athletes are working hard to make their names known at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A bill to protect the Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia is making progress in Congress.
Tribal businesses and Native entrepreneurs are preparing for tariffs and other international trade shifts with Donald Trump in the White House.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland opens the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. Watch her speech.
Tribal leaders and federal officials participate in a panel titled “Investing In Indian Country” at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit.
Tribal leaders and federal officials participate in a panel titled “Strengthening the Nation-to-Nation Relationship” at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit.
"The Federal Indian boarding school system, which continued through the 1960s following practices first used at the Carlisle School, inflicted a legacy of individual, collective, and multi-generational trauma on Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community," President Joe Biden said.
“No single action by the federal government can adequately reconcile the trauma and ongoing harms from the federal Indian boarding school era,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.
“Today’s designation is an important step in acknowledging and holding ourselves accountable for the country’s complete history, no matter how dark or shameful the era,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona).
"Thank you, President Biden, for designating this national monument and acknowledging the harm caused by Indian boarding schools for more than 150 years," said Executive Director Jennifer Rokala.
“This is exactly what the Antiquities Act is for: Recognizing our history and reaffirming our core values as Americans,” said Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US.
Donald Trump focused on transgender issues during his successful presidential campaign. Where does that leave Indian Country?
“We are still here,” the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet said at the fourth and final White House Tribal Nations Summit of the Joe Biden era.
President Joe Biden is establishing a national monument at the site of one of the most infamous Indian boarding schools.
Respect for Tribal Nations is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies for Indian Country, the White House said.
This season, in the spirit of Gadugi, give what you can to Cherokee Nation At-Large Mutual Assistance Inc.
Don’t forget to register for the Department of the Treasury tribal consultations.
The disproportionately high number of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women inspired Haley Omeasoo to launch a research lab.
It’s that time again for the White House Tribal Nations Summit. Will this one be the last?
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) calls for the release of imprisoned American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.
Paul Begay, Anne Curley, Ella Mae Begay and Everett Charley are the names of just a handful of people who have gone missing on the Navajo Nation.
Historian and clan leader Mike Aak’wtaatseen Hoyt designed a logo for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree featuring the Tlingit language.
Local officials are still trying to get the state of Montana to pay for law enforcement costs on the Flathead Reservation.
Tribes and tribal businesses are among the entities facing growing security threats.
The U.S. Senate considers S.5355, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act, on December 3, 2024.
Tickets are on sale this week for a concert in honor of Jesse Ed Davis, a Native guitarist who was one of most talented and in-demand musicians of the 1960s and 1970s.
Patients are being welcomed to new $177 million Sage Memorial Hospital, a health facility located on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation.
The Oneida Indian Nation has reclaimed the remains of seven ancestors who were being held by the Peabody Museum in Massachusetts.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians announced $1 million in grants to support recovery, conservation, and wildfire prevention efforts throughout California.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has donated $150,000 to the oldest and largest finance organization in Indian Country.
Native business owners and Native entrepreneurs offer an alternative during the holiday buying rush with unique products and services.
With just a few weeks left in his term, President Joe Biden is hosting his final White House Tribal Nations Summit.
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona) cites efforts to honor tribal sovereignty as among his most important achievements.
Native women leaders testify about the crisis of missing and murdered relatives on November 20, 2024.
Federal government officials testify about the crisis of missing and murdered relatives on November 20, 2024.
The House Committee on Appropriations holds a hearing titled “Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women” on November 20, 2024.
Arizona State Museum is still not in compliance with NAGPRA, more than three decades after repatriation became the law.
The proposed Maah Daah Hey National Monument would protect sacred lands in North Dakota.
Local officials have billed the state of Montana nearly $1 million this year to help cover the cost of law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation.
Residents of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are mostly Yup’ik, and the rural region is known for high rates of respiratory disease.
The Canadian government apologized to the Inuit people of Nunavik for the mass killing of sled dogs in Quebec.
Despite grants and numerous programs to help mitigate the issue, cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women continue at relatively high rates.
Native land surveyors are bringing a unique understanding of the land to their work and for the future.
Louise Erdrich’s latest novel draws its name from a river flowing through Ojibwe territory.
A logo depicting Blackfeet Chief Two Guns White Calf could be revived by the Washington professional football team.
What’s on The Menu? Navajo origin stories, wild rice, salmon runs and more!
As COVID-19 is expected to surge this winter, communities across the Southwest face rising hospitalizations and new, resilient variants.
In a viral video, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke performed a haka on the floor of New Zealand’s Parliament and tore apart a bill that would weaken Māori political rights.
With time quickly running out in the 118th Congress, a leading Democratic lawmaker is laying down the law when it comes to advancing Indian Country’s legislative interests.
Tribal governments have struggled, fought, and bled for centuries to exist and maintain our cultures.
Chairman Frank White Clay of the Crow Tribe testifies in support of H.R.8952, the Crow Revenue Act, on November 19, 2024.
A bill aimed at benefiting the Crow Tribe dominated discussion at a hearing in Washington, D.C. on November 19, 2024.
There has never been a better time to unleash the potential of Cherokee families.
Tune into Native America Calling to talk with Native educators about the work they’re doing to bring accuracy and balance to classrooms during the Thanksgiving season.
Stay up to date by subscribing to the NAFOA calendar.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) is blocking a bill that would protect the Wounded Knee massacre site in South Dakota. Watch the full debate from the floor of the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Senate considers Indian Country legislation on November 21, 2024. Listen to what happened next.
As he marks 50 years in journalism, Mark Trahant is stepping down from his leadership role at ICT, formerly known as Indian Country Today.
Donald Trump’s election as president and the Republican takeover of Congress are already having impacts on Indian Country’s agenda.
Members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs advance the nomination of Patrice Kunesh to lead the National Indian Gaming Commission on November 20, 2024. Watch the rare recorded roll call.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs convenes for a business meeting on November 20, 2024. Watch the video.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs convenes for a business meeting on November 20, 2024. Listen to the meeting.
A Medicaid scam in Arizona swept up thousands of Native people and sought reimbursement for care they never received.
"Working for Alaska as a member of our federal delegation has been the honor of my life," the outgoing Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) said.
The National Congress of American Indians, IllumiNative, the Native American Rights Fund and Native Organizers Alliance are the latest to address a controversial exit poll.
A new film shares the story of a Navajo father who refused to send his daughter back to the boarding school she ran away from.
With votes still being counted at home, Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) is back to work, advancing the interests of Native people on Capitol Hill.
If he lives up to his word, president-elect Donald Trump’s first day in the Oval Office will be a big one.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) is among the combat veterans and Democrats expressing deep skepticism at Donald Trump’s choice of a Defense secretary with no national security experience.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is getting back to work as the 118th Congress comes to a close.
The Crow Tribe is returning to Capitol Hill to seek passage of a mineral development bill.
Until the Wounded Knee Massacre medals are rescinded, America’s Medals of Honor will always bear the stain of mass murder.
Progress for at-large Cherokee Nation citizens has been the result of decades of advocacy by various leaders and Cherokees at the grassroots level.
Don’t forget to join the consultations for the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act rule this week.
A high school teacher from the Navajo Nation is part of a science expedition in the Pacific Ocean.
More than two dozen people have been convicted and sentenced to prison for trafficking methamphetamine on reservation in Montana.
For the first time, Latino and Indigenous populations in California will have their health challenges and needs documented in a way that reflects and serves their communities.
Personal stories of pregnancy-related complications from Native women are the centerpiece of a new informational campaign.
Kiowa guitarist Jesse Ed Davis was in high demand as a session player and a touring musician. His legacy is finally being spotlighted.
According to the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, syphilis rates among Native people in its region soared by 1,865 percent from 2020 to 2022.
As anticipated, Kristi Noem of South Dakota plans to focus on border and immigration issues as a member of Donald Trump’s administration.
Mainstream media has often missed the mark or failed when it comes to reporting on Indigenous communities.
Tribes will share management of a new 4,500 square-mile marine sanctuary in southern California.
Donald Trump’s presidential cabinet is beginning to take shape, with an outgoing state governor who has repeatedly clashed with tribes potentially poised to join the administration.
Some of South Dakota’s reservations have long been considered Democratic strongholds. Is the picture changing?
“Especially for my Nez Perce people, I want to make them proud as much as possible,” said Xavier Guillory of Arizona State University.
This week we honor the Native veterans who have served.
Tensions are high in New Caledonia as the remote Pacific island nation’s Indigenous people are pushing for independence.
Cherokees deserve help, treatment and hope — especially those who’ve long felt unseen by the health care system due to their unique conditions.
Republican Eli Crane has won a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives after defeating Democratic challenger Jonathan Nez, a former president of the Navajo Nation.
“We are fighting for our rights and the water that is life for Oceti Sakowin tribes,” Chairwoman Janet Alkire said on Indigenous Peoples Day.
Cooking classes at the All Nations Health Center focus on meal prep and sovereignty.
The stories Holly Miowak Guise heard from elders inspired her to research and document the experience of Alaska Native veterans of World War II.
Donald Trump made mass deportations one of his signature campaign promises despite lack of national support for the controversial idea.
Concerns about legitimacy continue to be a significant source of contention within the nation’s largest inter-tribal organization.
The Tohono O’odham Nation is getting ready to welcome visitors to its fifth gaming facility in Arizona.
Native people have a long and rich tradition of producing artwork from behind bars.
A Republican in the White House isn’t the only big change Indian Country is facing as tribes seek to hold the U.S. government accountable for its trust and treaty responsibilities.
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