February 28, 2026
Native youth die by suicide at rates 91% higher than the general population. Tribal communities are turning to culturally centered treatment — combining ceremony, traditional practices and mental health care — to address a crisis rooted in generations of historical trauma.
Currents
ZUNI, N.M. — Intergenerational relationships remain one of the strongest protective factors for Zuni youth. Recognizing the need to create space for young people and their families to learn, reflect and grow together, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project will host a Family Engagement Night (FEN) on March 5 and free spring break programming March 16-20 for youth ages 6 to 18.
From Our Partners
Inside the Detroit Institute of Arts’ (DIA) Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation exhibition , visitors move through a gallery alive with material, memory, and motion—woven baskets, quillwork, jewelry, photographs, and mixed-media works speaking to one another across time and practice. Within this collective space, Kelly Church’s black ash basketry rises with quiet authority, grounding the room in generations of Anishinaabe knowledge and responsibility.
Opinion
Guest Opinion. The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program serves as a central tool for Tribal economic development, yet public commentary has revealed significant misunderstandings about why Tribal Nations participate in federal contracting and how they operate within the program. Tribal eligibility for 8(a) is grounded in their political status as sovereign governments, not in race or DEI policy. This distinction has been recognized for generations, by the Constitution, treaties, federal statutes, regulatory frameworks, and landmark Supreme Court decisions such as Morton v. Mancari , which affirms that programs benefiting Tribes reflect political relationships, not racial classifications.
Guest Opinion. A proposed federal policy change could have profound health consequences — especially for Tribal and rural communities. The proposal from the U.S. Department of Education, which is open for public comment until March 2nd, would exclude public health and nursing from a new definition of “professional degree programs,” and could potentially affect eligibility for scholarships and financial aid.
Sovereignty
The Navajo Council's Health, Education and Human Services Committee on Monday approved Legislation No. 0195-24, amending the Navajo Nation Child Support Guidelines for the first time since 1996.
On Monday, the Resources and Development Committee (RDC) approved Legislation 0012-26, authorizing $84 million in Síhasin Funds for the Navajo Nation Transportation Improvement Project and adopting its Expenditure Plan.
Education
Three years ago, Denella Belin was not looking to become her own boss. A Navajo chef from Tuba City, Arizona, she had what many would consider strong job security.
The Ichigo Foundation has awarded the American Indian College Fund a $100,000 grant to support the Wounspe E’cetkiya O’takuye Piya A’yazunta Pi (Reconnecting Relatives to Education) Program over the next two years. As one of the College Fund’s pre-college adult education pathways, the program assists American Indians who have experienced involvement with the justice system by providing the resources and support needed to complete their high school equivalency (HSE)—an important first step toward expanded educational and career opportunities. This new funding will help grow and strengthen the program’s impact.
Arts & Entertainment
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts announced the return of SWAIA Native Fashion Week, scheduled for May 8–9, 2026, at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe .
Moses Wiseman spoke his Yup’ik language before he learned English. As a college freshman, he entered the field of Alaska Native language revitalization with a bit of an inherited purpose.
Health
Environment
The Arctic Village Council, the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government and the Venetie Village Council submitted comments Tuesday to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service citing major deficiencies in the agency’s assessment of a proposed 20-year right-of-way that would allow the Kaktovik Iñupiat Corp. to annually construct a snow road through parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Rappahannock Tribe has filed an appeal challenging a state-issued permit that allows Caroline County to withdraw up to 9 million gallons of water per day from the Rappahannock River and transfer it to the Mattaponi River.