fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

Don't miss out on an engaging dialogue as Levi Rickert, founder, publisher, and editor of Native News Online, sits down for an interview with Charlene Sleeper, Founder of MMIP Billings LLC, on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Crisis on this week's Native Bidaské on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 12 noon - EDT.

Charlene Sleeper, known as "Axpe Hisshe Bia" or "Red Eagle Fan Woman," is a Badé/Two Spirit Crow, Southern Cheyenne & Arapahoe, and Chippewa-Cree from Montana. She belongs to the Child of the Ties the Bundle clan and participates in the Crow Sundance ceremony. Charlene is a Montana-based activist, artist, poet, and advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). She owns MMIP Billings L.L.C., which offers consulting services, community education opportunities, and advocacy for various Indigenous issues.

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 

MMIP Billings is a Native woman-developed and owned organization dedicated to bridging the cross-cultural gap and raising awareness about the movement. MMIP Billings L.L.C. offers consulting on various Indigenous issues impacting Indian Country.

May 5, 2024, is Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Awareness Day. The National MMIP Awareness Day was established by Northern Cheyenne Malinda Harris and Rose Harris to honor MMIP Victim Hannah Harris. The MMIP Crisis is an inter-tribal issue that impacts many tribal nations on Turtle Island.

Tune into Native Bidaské LIVE this Friday, May 3rd at Noon ET on Native News Online's Facebook, X (Twitter), or //www.youtube.com/@NativeNewsOnline/streams" style="text-decoration: none;">YouTube channel to be inspired.

More Stories Like This

Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. Briefs
US Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Navajo Nation Declares 2025 Drought Emergency
Republican Nevada Governor Vetoes Bill to Recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?

Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting. 

Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.

Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.

Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today. 

About The Author
Native News Online Staff
Author: Native News Online StaffEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at [email protected].

June 05, 2025 Levi Rickert
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
June 07, 2025 Native News Online Staff Currents 1168
The Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management (CEM) unanimously approved Resolution No. 25-005, officially declaring a State of Emergency in response to worsening drought conditions across the Nation. All six commissioners voted in favor of the resolution.
Opinion
June 06, 2025 Wendy Red Star Opinion 667
Guest Essay. In early April of last year, I made a special trip to Washington, D.C., from Portland, Oregon, to research the archives pertaining to my community, the Apsáalooke. I was specifically looking for information on the last chief of the Crow Nation, Chief Plenty Coups. I was not only delighted to find information on him in print, books, newspapers and glass plate negatives, but I also discovered a wealth of material on my tribe.
June 05, 2025 Judith LeBlanc Opinion 616
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.
Sovereignty
June 06, 2025 Native News Online Staff Sovereignty 915
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).
June 04, 2025 Native News Online Staff Sovereignty 504
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
June 05, 2025 Levi Rickert Education 3059
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.
June 04, 2025 Native News Online Staff Education 1652
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
June 04, 2025 Kaili Berg Arts & Entertainment 3089
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.
June 03, 2025 Chickasaw Nation Media Arts & Entertainment 1253
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
June 04, 2025 Native News Online Staff Environment 1107
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.
May 24, 2025 Native News Online Staff Environment 2353
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.