State, tribal leaders condemn use of force against border protesters

WASHINGTON - Tohono O'odham and congressional officials are condemning the "utterly shameful" use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a small group of people during a peaceful border wall protest Monday near Ajo.


Goodbye, Columbus?: Arizona celebrates first Indigenous Peoples’ Day

WASHINGTON - After years of advocacy by tribal groups, Arizona on Monday celebrated its first Indigenous Peoples' Day, but the proclamation designating the day was just for this year and it still shared the calendar with Columbus Day.


Bill pressures CDC to give Native Americans better access to federal health data

PHOENIX – A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran of Arizona reaffirms that Native Americans are entitled to federal health data, which could help them in the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribal officials say it addresses a long-standing issue.


UArizona and partners work to increase colorectal cancer screenings among American Indians

PHOENIX - Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Native Americans, but various groups are working to change that.


Hopi leader: Congress must act to save ‘life changing’ diabetes program

WASHINGTON - A "life-changing" diabetes program for Native Americans will expire Dec. 11 if Congress doesn't take action, a move that Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma said it is "critical" for tribes across the nation, including his.


Feds cite safety for Quitobaquito closing; critics see other motives

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service cited public safety concerns for its decision this week to prohibit access to a sacred Tohono O'odham site, a move that comes amid rising tensions between border wall protestors and federal agents.


Navajo drives unite two goals: COVID-19 relief and upping census participation

The Navajo Nation is holding relief drives across the reservation to gather COVID relief supplies and signing residents up for the census.


Action on missing, murdered women legislation caps years of advocacy

WASHINGTON - Native American advocates and families have worked for years to draw attention to Indian Country's epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The federal government finally passed legislation that could help do something about it.


With clock ticking – and state lagging – Census court fight continues

WASHINGTON - A see-saw legal battle over the 2020 Census continued Friday, with the government pushing to end the count in just five days while local governments, including two Arizona tribes, hoped to extend it to Oct. 31.


‘Baby-Friendly’ hospitals tackle health disparities by encouraging Native mothers to breastfeed

A hospital on the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona is one of several overseen by the Indian Health Service that aims to encourage more Native American women to breastfeed.


Sinema pushes Wolf on damage from border wall; Wolf cites security

WASHINGTON - Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema confronted the acting head of Homeland Security Wednesday over border wall construction she said has ignored the needs of local communities and bypassed environmental assessment reports.


From showdown to stalemate, Pascua Yaqui voting site feud continues

WASHINGTON - What was a showdown between the Pascua Yaqui tribe, the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the county's recorder has now turned into a stalemate after the board voted to OK an emergency voting site on tribal land and the recorder refused.