Native America Calling

During the nomination hearings for Department of Interior Secretary a year ago, Deb Haaland was labeled a “radical” by some of her conservative opponents. At the same time, Indigenous people looked to the Laguna Pueblo citizen as a long overdue symbol of Native representation at the highest levels of federal government. Now that she has […]

Native Americans are less likely to have reliable access to adequate wastewater systems than any other population in the country. Not only is that a health threat for individual Native people, it also poses significant environmental concerns. Tribes with resources can develop sophisticated treatment networks. Some individuals are able to maintain home treatment systems. There are many others who fall through the cracks. But there is hope on the horizon with new infrastructure money and recognition that addressing the wastewater gap is necessary.

The FBI is seeking leads into those responsible for spray painting graffiti over petroglyphs on Bureau of Land Management land near Santa Fe. In January, vandals destroyed rock art in Texas’ Big Bend National Park dating back thousands of years. They’re the latest in an ongoing stream of vandalism on sacred and important Native treasures around the country. We explore what drives people to disrespect irreplaceable Native items and what can be done to prevent it.

New Mexico is the latest state to allow recreational cannabis sales to the public, setting up a potential new revenue stream for that state’s tribes. The trouble is, New Mexico tribes are in a precarious limbo between the new state law, and the federal government, which considers cannabis an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance. We check in with tribes on the possibility of new economic development and hear from others that are veterans of the business.

Modern medicine relies heavily on pharmaceutical remedies for many mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. But there is some evidence that traditional ceremony and cultural connections can also provide a measure of healing. There is hope that adherence to traditional methods might be part of a regimen to improve the outsized representation of Native people for outcomes such as suicide and substance abuse. They may even be linked to improving some physical health maladies.

The percentage of Americans wearing face masks as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is the lowest it’s been in two years. At the same time, a new subvariant of the virus is the likely cause behind a new surge in infections. While the vast majority of cities and states have dropped mask mandates in public places, many tribes remain wary and continue with safety measures beyond what their surrounding states have. We get updates on the second booster, BA.2 and long COVID, along with other updates on the evolving pandemic.

Spring often fuels the impulse to plant seeds in the ground and create a garden. Veteran Native gardeners have taken steps throughout the winter to prepare for the start of the growing season. There’s room at the vegetable patch for gardeners of all levels. And traditional knowledge has guidance on the right methods for your region.

Building effective systems where people live and work takes planning. And the Colonial-based planning methods that grew from a viewpoint of dispossessing Native people might not be the best starting point for sustainable and evolving Native places. We take a look at Indigenous community planning ideas and discuss the importance of including Indigenous voices and […]

A new program offers low-income people help paying their water bills. The federal Low Income Water Assistance Program has more than a billion dollars available to help keep people’s water utility from getting shut off. The money also could go toward helping individuals fix critical household water problems. We learn more about the program and […]

Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) has been in federal prison for 45 years for his role in the 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. There is mounting momentum by the ailing 77-year-old Peltier’s supporters, calling for President Joe Biden to grant him clemency. Peltier has reportedly said […]