August 18, 2025
Opinion. America will celebrate its 250th anniversary of declaring independence from England next Independence Day, July 4, 2026.
Currents
ZUNI, NM — This month, 170 young athletes will take the field as the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project launches its annual Soccer and Flag Football Leagues. Beginning Monday, Sept. 8 and continuing through Sunday, Oct. 19, the leagues will bring together youth, families and 40 community coaches for two months of skill-building, teamwork and fun at Ho’n A:wan Park.
From Our Partners
Nestled in the heart of the American Southwest, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) is more than a cultural institution—it is a living testament to the depth, resilience, and diversity of Native peoples. Through its thoughtfully curated exhibitions and vibrant public programming, the Museum serves as both steward and storyteller, preserving the artistic and intellectual legacies of the Native Southwest while illuminating their relevance to our shared future.
Opinion
Guest Opinion. Native Americans have remarkably stood on the frontlines of the US military service, answering the call to defend the nation. Their contributions span every historic battle of the past century, from World Wars I and II to conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Today, these indigenous people make up about 1.7% of active-duty service members despite comprising only 1.4% of the general population. Meanwhile, more than 140,000 veterans currently reside nationwide, with American Indians and Alaska Natives having served in the Armed Forces at five times the national average—the highest per-capita participation of any demographic in the military. Tragically, like many of their comrades, these individuals were also exposed to environmental contaminants , such as asbestos, burn pits, Lewisite, Agent Orange, and radiation causing a myriad of serious illnesses.
Opinion. America will celebrate its 250th anniversary of declaring independence from England next Independence Day, July 4, 2026.
Sovereignty
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is pleased to announce a major legal victory as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Judge Gleason’s ruling in the Kuskokwim case, affirming that the Katie John decisions remain binding precedent. The court’s opinion, released this morning, confirms that when Congress enacted Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), it intended to create a rural subsistence fishing priority in navigable waters on federal lands—a principle established decades ago in the Katie John cases.
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) President Ben Mallott is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to hold a formal tribal consultation on its plans plans to reorganize the agency.
Education
When Jrianna began kindergarten at Oceti Sakowin Community Academy (OSCA) in 2022, her family was in the midst of deep grief. Her mother, Shena White Calf, remembers her daughter seeming lost—until she stepped into OSCA’s Lakota dual-immersion environment. In just a few months, that spark returned.
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is proud to share that the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts (Coe Center) will transfer ownership of its physical campus building—located at 1590 Pacheco Street B in Santa Fe, New Mexico—to IAIA during the week of December 15, 2025. This significant and forward-looking gift is part of the Coe Center’s Rehoming Program , a visionary initiative designed to ensure the long-term care and intentional use of its facilities and programming.
Arts & Entertainment
BYNG, Okla. — Hannah Wolfe, 13, won the 2025 Red Earth Youth Art contest, making this her second consecutive year bringing home the gold in the art competition.
Santa Fe Indian Market is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Best of Show, Best of Classification, and Special Awards.
Health
Environment
President Donald Trump took a strong stance on Tuesday on the ongoing Resolution Copper dispute, issuing pointed criticism of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals following its decision to temporarily halt the planned land transfer.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency injunction on Monday, temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s plan to transfer Oak Flat—a sacred and ecologically sensitive area in Arizona—to a private mining company. The decision comes as three separate lawsuits challenging the controversial land exchange continue to move through the courts.