Tribal police agencies struggle to attract, maintain officers, panel told
WASHINGTON - A Navajo Nation official told a Senate panel this week that the tribe’s police department lacks the resources to attract and retain officers, a problem that experts say is faced by tribal police departments across the country.
‘We are still here’: Tribes reclaiming out-of-state ancestral homelands
Tribes that were forcibly resettled to Oklahoma are increasingly buying back or being gifted back property in their ancestral homelands - from Alabama to Michigan to Kansas - either to build economic sustainability or manage cultural preservation sites.
Oklahoma, tribal tempers flare as Supreme Court hears sovereignty case
WASHINGTON – An attorney for the state of Oklahoma told Supreme Court justices Wednesday that "thousands of crimes" have gone unprosecuted in the two years since the court removed state jurisdiction over many crimes in a large part of eastern Oklahoma.
Oklahoma tribes strike back at critics ahead of Supreme Court arguments
WASHINGTON - Oklahoma’s Five Tribes are pushing back against critics of tribal sovereignty, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case Wednesday that could solidify the impact of its 2020 ruling that recognized reservations over nearly half of Oklahoma.
Two Arizona tribal leaders make case for critically needed water projects
WASHINGTON – Leaders of two Arizona tribes asked lawmakers Wednesday to support funding for development of critical water infrastructure and to OK a bill that would let tribal water be sold to others in the drought-stricken state.
Arizona ranks high on states with offensive place names eyed for change
WASHINGTON - Arizona could be a primary target when federal officials meet with tribes next week to talk about possible new names for places that currently contain a slur against Native American women.
Experts target obesity, diet, exercise to combat high cholesterol in youth
PHOENIX – With childhood obesity levels on the rise in the U.S., more experts are looking at how to prevent high cholesterol in youth to help avoid serious health problems later in life.
Arizona lawmakers consider Medicaid expansion for postpartum care
PHOENIX – Advocates are pushing Arizona lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage for women after they give birth to help improve maternal health outcomes and combat rising pregnancy-related deaths.
Oklahoma, tribes clash over jurisdiction after Supreme Court’s McGirt decision
The Supreme Court’s 2020 McGirt decision has Oklahoma and its 39 tribes negotiating over the re-establishment of reservations in the state. Western states are watching, but most have a long-established framework on issues of criminal jurisdiction.
Expanded Buy Indian Act expected to provide economic boost to tribal enterprises
WASHINGTON – An update and expansion of the 112-year-old Buy Indian Act reduces red tape in procuring contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, expands access to capital for tribes and increases opportunities for Native business promotion.
Teletherapy expanded during the pandemic, but is it effective for behavioral health?
PHOENIX – Telehealth has been a widely used resource during the pandemic, but some experts continue to weigh the pros and cons of treating certain conditions from a distance – specifically mental illness and substance use.
Supreme Court to hear Indian Child Welfare Act case involving Navajo child
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act filed by a white Texas couple that was almost denied the chance to adopt a Native American boy who was set to be placed with a Navajo family.
