- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, on Saturday condemned the Trump administration over the disastrous Oval Office meeting it held Friday with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Her condemnation including her saying, "“I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin."
During the meeting, President Trump and Vice President Vance criticized Zelensky, claiming he failed to show gratitude for U.S. security assistance, despite the Ukrainian leader expressing appreciation in an early February post on X, praising the new administration's commitment to peace in Eastern Europe.
The confrontation was broadcast live from the Oval Office.
“I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world,” the Alaskan wrote in a Saturday afternoon post to X.
Sen. Murkowski, who has shown her independence from her fellow Republican senators, warned that abandoning Ukraine in its defense of Russian aggression could pose dire consequences.
“This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine,” Murkowski said. “It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine.”
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Confirmation Hearing for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Nominee William “Billy” Kirkland to be Held on Wednesday
Miccosukee Tribe Joins Lawsuit Against State of Florida & Federal Government Over "Alligator Alcatraz"
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
