July 18, 2025
The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a confirmation hearing Thursday afternoon to consider the nomination of William “Billy” Kirkland (Navajo) as the 15th Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Currents
The Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP) has opened applications for its 2025 round of funding through the Liberated Capital Indigenous Earth Fund (IEF), adding another $1 million to the $4.3 million already invested since the fund launched in 2021.
From Our Partners
On Friday, September 19, 2025, California Indian Nations College (CINC) will host its 3rd Annual Fire Gala at Agua Caliente Resort in Rancho Mirage. The Fire Gala is CINC’s signature fundraising event with all proceeds going directly to the College, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
BRIMLEY, Mich.— On June 5, Bay Mills Community College officially received approval from the Michigan Board of Nursing to launch a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate program. The approval marks the return of LPN education to the BMCC main campus and responds to the growing need for qualified nursing professionals across the Eastern Upper Peninsula. This milestone reinstates a nursing education pathway that was last offered by BMCC in 1999.
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association adds five new categories to the Excellence in Indigenous Tourism Awards to be held on October 29, 2025 in Choctaw, Mississippi at the 27th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference
Opinion
Guest Opinion. The most secure biological laboratory for the most dangerous pathogens may have been the scene of a federal biological crime.
Guest Opinion. Preserving and promoting our Cherokee culture is a multifaceted mission rooted in carrying forward our most important Cherokee values as we grow stronger as a nation.
Sovereignty
What can be viewed as a temporary victory for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and other North Dakota tribes, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday granted a temporary reprieve to the tribes, blocking a federal appeals court decision that could significantly weaken enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.
The U.S. Department of the Interior on Wednesday announced the transfer of nearly 28,000 acres of land to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., under Section 12(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). With this conveyance, NANA’s total land entitlement now exceeds 713,000 acres, representing 96% completion of its entitlement. This milestone supports efforts to fulfill ANCSA obligations.
Education
Earlier this week, the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee (HEHSC) of the 25th Navajo Nation Council voted to advance Legislation No. 0169-25, sponsored by Council Delegate Dr. Andy Nez, which seeks to provide $30 million in recurring annual funding for tribal colleges and scholarships.
Navajo Technical University (NTU) has officially launched its new Microcredentials–Construction Trades program through its Construction Technology department. This accelerated course condenses 16 weeks of hands-on construction training into just 9 weeks, providing students with a fast-tracked path to industry-ready skills.
Arts & Entertainment
The 2025 Native American Music Awards (NAMMAs) took place yesterday, in Niagara Falls, NY, celebrating the best in Native music this year and showcasing a range of Indigenous artists across traditional and contemporary genres.
Stacey Thunder (Red Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) is a multifaceted Native woman who wears many hats—mother, attorney, actress, and producer. Her journey from legal counsel to media figure is one marked by deep cultural connection, a passion for storytelling, and a commitment to uplifting Indigenous voices.
Health
Environment
U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), have introduced the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act, a bill aimed at significantly improving access to clean water in Tribal communities through major investments in water infrastructure.
The Tonawanda Seneca Nation and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit today in New York State Supreme Court, challenging two resolutions approved by the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) related to the proposed construction of a large-scale data center at the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in Alabama, NY.