June 05, 2025
The Trump administration is proposing a drastic reduction in funding for tribal colleges and universities—nearly a 90% cut—that could force most, if not all, of these institutions to shut down.
Currents
During the quarterly meeting of the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), held June 2–3 at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Oregon, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton successfully passed legislation urging continued support for Othram’s forensic DNA services. The legislation encourages collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) through its Operation Spirit Return initiative.
Opinion
Guest Opinion. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a pristine wilderness, and it is sacred land. Since time immemorial, it has sustained the Gwich’in people, who call the coastal plain “Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit” -- the Sacred Place Where Life Begins . It’s also home to the Iñupiat, whose culture, health, and subsistence depend on the balance of this fragile ecosystem.
Opinion. T he Trump administration released new details about its 2026 budget, which includes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Budget in Brief. As with past budgets, this document was rolled out with the usual talking points: commitment to tribal sovereignty, honoring federal trust obligations, and improving health outcomes for Native people.
Sovereignty
The Yurok Tribe, California's largest federally recognized tribal nation, was given 73 square miles of land -- or 47,097 acres -- along the eastern side of the lower Klamath River on Thursday. The land exchange is being called the argest single “land back” deal in California history. The land deal was announced by the Tribe, the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and the California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC).
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), and Desert Water Agency (DWA) have reached a landmark agreement resolving two long-standing water rights lawsuits. The settlement marks a significant step toward long-term water management stability and increased reliability for residents across the Coachella Valley.
Education
The Trump administration is proposing a drastic reduction in funding for tribal colleges and universities—nearly a 90% cut—that could force most, if not all, of these institutions to shut down.
A recent study from Utah State University highlights the importance of relationship-building and incorporating local cultural knowledge when designing climate change education tailored for Indigenous learners.
Arts & Entertainment
Actor Jonathan Joss (Comanche/White Mountain Apache) was fatally shot near his former home in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, June 1. Best known for voicing John Redcorn in the animated series King of the Hill and for his role as Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation, Joss had stopped to check his mail. He was 59.
Join the Chickasaw Cultural Center for a day of family fun and cultural celebration during the Toompalli' (Summer) Festival and Inki' (Father) Day Celebration, taking place Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Health
Environment
The U.S. Department of the Interior today announced the availability of more than $119 million in fiscal year 2025 grant funding to support the reclamation of abandoned coal mines across the country. These Abandoned Mine Land (AML) fee-based grants, authorized under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and administered by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), will support 24 coal-producing states and two tribal programs in restoring former mine sites.
The Osage Minerals Council proudly announces the final dismissal of the Hayes II litigation, ending nearly a decade-long legal battle that posed a serious threat to oil and gas production within the Osage Mineral Estate. Originally filed in 2016, the case challenged the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of two mineral leases. On May 5, 2025, the Federal District Court issued a judgment officially dismissing the case.