Native Americans

Elk Raise Tensions Between Tribes And Farmers In Washington's Skagit Valley

7:55am January 18, 2020

by Eilís O'Neill

In Washington state's Skagit Valley, a conflict is unfolding between Native Americans and farmers. Elk are making a comeback there. Local tribes are thrilled, but the agriculture industry is not.

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Eagle Village resident Jolene Neiss says it's important to make each room feel like the resident's home with decorations, knickknacks and family photos.

National

Seattle Shelter Focuses On Native Peoples Experiencing Homelessness

9:33am December 30, 2019

by Casey Martin

Organizers hope potential residents are more comfortable coming to a facility that attends to their specific cultural needs.

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Geri Hongeva (left), who voiced C-3PO in the Navajo translation of A New Hope; artist Duane Koyawena (center); and engineer Joe Mastroianni with Hopi R2 at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.

'The Force Is With Our People' Connects Indigenous Culture To A Galaxy Far Away

5:46am December 18, 2019

by Ryan Heinsius

The Rise of Skywalker speaks to the historical experiences of many in the Indigenous community. An exhibit by Native artists attempts to shed light on those connections.

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Attorney General William Barr speaks with Myrna DuMontier (left) and Charmel Gillin (right), councilwomen with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on Friday on the Flathead Reservation in Pablo, Mont.

National

Barr Announces Plan To Address Crisis Of Missing And Murdered Native Americans

7:55pm November 22, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

Studies find that Native Americans, especially women, are victims of disproportionate levels of violence, and state and federal databases inadequately track the crisis.

Darlene Yazzie typically hauls water from a windmill 5 miles from her house for her sheep. Officials tell her it's unsafe for humans but OK for livestock.

Many Native Americans Can't Get Clean Water, Report Finds

12:59pm November 18, 2019

by Laurel Morales

A new report from DigDeep and the U.S. Water Alliance found race is the strongest predictor of water and sanitation access. This has implications for public health.

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A teacher hangs up a brightly colored paper turkey painted by her students in 2007 in Corpus, Christi, Texas.

Education

Teachers, Tell Us How You Teach Thanksgiving

6:25am November 01, 2019

by Samantha Balaban

In many places, students dress up as Pilgrims and Indians to learn the familiar story of the first Thanksgiving. If you're a teacher in the United States, how are you teaching Thanksgiving this year?

Neda Billie says she's so excited to turn the lights on in her home on the Navajo Nation. About 10% of Navajos on the reservation live without electricity, and as much as 40% have to haul their water and use outhouses.

For Many Navajos, Getting Hooked Up To The Power Grid Can Be Life-Changing

1:24pm May 29, 2019

by Laurel Morales

Utility crews from around the U.S. are volunteering their time to install power to homes on the Navajo Nation, where many people live without light, running water and Internet.

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'The Pioneers' Dives Deep Into Lives Of Northwest Territory Settlers

7:40am May 08, 2019

by Michael Schaub

Like David McCullough's other books, this one succeeds because of the author's strength as a storyteller; it reads like a novel and is packed with information drawn from painstaking research.

Carolyn DeFord poses with the missing persons poster for her mother, Leona Kinsey, who went missing in October 1999.

Arts

'It Surfaces With The Same Rawness': A Daughter Remembers Her Mother's Disappearance

5:10am March 29, 2019

Carolyn DeFord, a member of the Puyallup tribe, was 26 when her mother suddenly vanished. At StoryCorps, she remembers what life has been like having never learned what happened.

The view of the Grand Canyon from the top floor of Desert View Watchtower on the southeastern rim. Eleven tribes have traditional ties to the Grand Canyon.

National

Overcoming A 'Long, Bitter Relationship,' Grand Canyon And Tribes Mark Centennial

8:02am February 24, 2019

by Laurel Morales

When the Grand Canyon became a national park 100 years ago, native tribes who lived in the canyon were pushed aside. Now the park service is working with them to design a new cultural heritage site.