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Thank you for your donation and support of our Indigenous-led newsroom. I launched Native News Online in Feb. 2011 with the belief that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. We have grown over the years, but our goal has always been to make sure that the news on our website is free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers.  

That’s why we want to say thank you for your financial support. Your gift will allow us to continue publishing stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. With your help, we’re will continue producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices for years to come.  

If you know of others who would appreciate our approach to Native journalism, please feel free to share our site or encourage them to sign up for our free enewsletter, Native News Today

And please, feel free to contact me if you would like to share your opinion about what you're reading in Native News Online or if you know of stories in Indian Country that ought to be told.  The best way to reach me is at my email ([email protected]) or my mobile phone (616-299-7542).  

We appreciate your support. 

Megwetch,

Levi Rickert

Founder/Publisher

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About The Author
Levi Rickert
Author: Levi RickertEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Levi "Calm Before the Storm" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at [email protected].

April 06, 2025 Levi Rickert
The Houston Cougars men’s basketball team, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson, are heading to the NCAA’s men’s basketball championship game on Monday night. The Cougars beat Duke Blue Devils 70-67 on Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas.
Currents
April 06, 2025 Native News Online Staff Currents 1720
WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Legislation to Promote Tribal Forest Management Passes Out of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee announced that their Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act passed out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The legislation now heads to the Senate Floor for consideration. "Tribes are incredibly important stewards of our natural resources, and we need to ensure that we’re working with Tribes like Tesuque Pueblo and The Mescalero Apache Tribe that have extensive expertise in forest management, wildfire prevention, and watershed restoration on their ancestral lands. I'm pleased our legislation to help scale Tribal-led and effective forestry practices across Indian Country is one step closer to Senate passage," said Heinrich. The 2004 Tribal Forest Protection Act was intended to protect Tribal forest lands and resources from various threats, including wildfires, by allowing Tribes to enter into agreements with the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and carry out forest management activities on federal lands that are “bordering or adjacent to” lands under Tribal jurisdiction. In practical terms, the “bordering or adjacent to” requirement has proven to be too restrictive. This requirement does not adequately capture the sites, features, cultural landscapes, sacred places or objects with cultural value to Tribes that may be located on federal land that does not border Tribal land. The Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act corrects the oversight and expands the original language to enable Tribes to help restore important areas within their ancestral lands, even if their modern lands are not nearby. The legislation promotes Tribal forest management activities — including cultural burning, thinning, and restoration projects to enhance forest health and resilience. Through these sustainable forest management practices, economic development and new jobs can be created within Tribal communities. The full text of the bill is here . {loadmoduleid 686} Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy Update The most recent FCC open meeting was on March 27, 2025. At the meeting, the Commission took action on the following items: Steps to Improve Next Generation 911 In its continuing effort to protect public safety and national security, the FCC proposed rules to ensure the reliability, interoperability, and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG 911) networks. All across the country, legacy 911 technology is being replaced by NG911, which can support text, video and data that help local authorities better respond to emergency assistance. The proposed rules are intended to ease the transition while also ensuring that no critical public safety network vulnerabilities are inadvertently created. The proposed rules will also help facilitate sharing of critical emergency information with state and local officials and help them more easily address reliability and interoperability concerns within their respective jurisdictions. Comments due: May 13, 2025; Reply Comments due: June 12, 2025. >>> Read More Here Strengthen 911 Location Accuracy Rules In another public safety related item, the FCC also proposed action to help first responders better locate wireless 911 callers. Expanding on prior work on location accuracy, this further inquiry seeks to ensure that first responders receive accurate and actionable information that will enable first responders to quickly and precisely locate individuals in emergencies to reduce response times and save lives. Comments due: April 28, 2025; Reply Comments due: May 28, 2025. >>> Read More Here FCC Explores GPS Alternatives Continuing its efforts to protect national security, the FCC launched a broad inquiry into possible alternatives to GPS that provide “position, navigation, and timing” (PNT) data. PNT is critical to a host of military, public safety, agricultural and commercial activities – including many facets of modern American life. GPS is everywhere, and in the absence of alternatives, can be vulnerable to serious security and public safety related disruptions. The FCC’s inquiry is intended to build a robust record on what actions it can take to strengthen GPS and promote other PNT technologies, “including FCC rule changes, public-private partnerships, testbeds, Innovation Zones, and more.” Comments due: April 28, 2025; Reply Comments due: May 13, 2025. >>> Read More Here
Opinion
April 06, 2025 Chuck Hoskin Jr Opinion 670
Guest Opinion. Cherokee Nation is on the rise. Our population, cultural depth, community development and economy show steady, strategic growth.
April 01, 2025 Levi Rickert Opinion 6503
Opinion. At the height of the 2024 presidential election, candidates at the top of the Republican ticket spread a false claim that Haitian immigrants in a small Ohio town were stealing and eating residents’ pets.
Sovereignty
April 03, 2025 Native News Online Staff Sovereignty 989
The National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education (Fund) is currently accepting applications in order to further the mission of expanding access to Native language instruction for students enrolled in Bureua of Indian Education (BIE) schools. Under its Native Language Immersion Grant program, the fund is awarding $6.5 milliion projects that instruct Native students to learn their language.
March 27, 2025 Native News Online Staff Sovereignty 2199
The Cherokee Nation Language Department is offering a series of free Cherokee language courses available both on the Cherokee Nation Reservation and in at-large communities. Classes will require either in-person participation or a blend of virtual and in-person attendance.
Education
April 04, 2025 Neely Bardwell Education 2749
The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday held an oversight hearing to discuss Native American education and the potential impact of the shuttering of the Department of Education (DOE).
March 28, 2025 Native News Online Staff Education 3652
The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee of the 25th Navajo Nation Council on Thursday unanimously passed Legislation No. 0028-25, calling on the U.S. government to uphold its trust and treaty obligations by consulting with the Navajo Nation before implementing policies or executive actions that impact tribal education.
Arts & Entertainment
April 03, 2025 Kaili Berg Arts & Entertainment 1482
A new cultural attraction planned for downtown Juneau will eventually house one of the most widely toured exhibits by a Native American artist.
March 31, 2025 Kaili Berg Arts & Entertainment 2101
A major exhibition showcasing the depth and power of contemporary Native beadwork is opening April 12 at the Eiteljorg Museum located in Indianapolis.
Health
Environment
March 31, 2025 Neely Bardwell Environment 15894
Six Michigan Tribes have withdrawn their cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) after learning that Enbridge’s massive oil tunnel project may receive expedited approval.
March 26, 2025 Neely Bardwell Environment 1846
A bill that would guarantee bodies of water legal rights to protect against destruction has been introduced into the New York State Assembly recently.