FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “I’m going to start crying again.” As word was just starting to get around about their brother’s upcoming release from prison, Sheila Peltier was on the phone with her sister in Fargo. “Never been so happy in my whole life you know because my brothers, my big brothers, coming home,” said, Betty Ann Peltier Solano. Leonard…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — The North Dakota House has rejected a resolution to designate the Winchester Model 1876 as the state firearm. The vote came after an emotional speech by a Native American House member. It had been passed by the Senate, and the House Political Subdivisions Committee recommended it pass on a 9 to 5 vote. Supporters said that…
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Local, state and federal officials must do more to ensure Native Americans facing persistent, longstanding and deep-rooted barriers to voting have equal access to ballots, a White House report released Thursday said. Native Americans and Alaska Natives vote at lower rates than the national average but have been a key constituency in tight races and states with…
FARGO (KVRR) – Native American tribes have reached opioid settlements worth over a half-billion dollars with Johnson & Johnson and three distributors. A federal court filing describes $590 million in settlements with the New Jersey-based company along with distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. Some tribes were hit particularly hard by an overdose and addiction crisis that was linked to…
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota will offer free or reduced tuition to many Native American students attending its five campuses starting next fall. The cost waiver program had previously been offered only at the Morris campus, but now will be expanded to all five campuses, to also include Duluth, Rochester, Crookston and the Twin Cities. Incoming freshmen and tribal…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Public Schools is celebrating one high school’s name change. What was once known as Woodrow Wilson High school, is now known as Dakota High School. An opening ceremony celebrating the name change honors Native Americans. “This ceremony is about recognizing the roots of our name. We see North Dakota, we hear the term North Dakota…
WOUNDED KNEE CREEK, S.D. — Tuesday marks the 130th year since the Wounded Knee massacre. “At the time there was a movement with the ghost dance that was occurring sort of this evangelical effort by Native Americans that were praying for sort of relief from all that was happening,” Plains Art Museum Director of Native American Programs Joe Williams said….
FARGO, N.D. — As many families celebrate Thanksgiving, many bison statues in the FM area have been covered with signs that are against the holiday. This day for many Native Americans is the National Day of Mourning. For them, the day is a symbol of the actions taken by the pilgrims and other colonizers when they came to America. Some…
CAMP GRAFTON, N.D. – Federal, state and tribal officials join Senator John Hoeven for the opening of the new U.S Indian Police Academy Advanced Training Center in Camp Grafton. Senator Hoeven says more than 60 percent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement positions on reservations in the upper great plains states are vacant. He adds they need law…
MINNEAPOLIS – Native American communities say they have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith hosted a virtual roundtable with indigenous leaders across the state to address these concerns. The greatest problem they have had to deal with is the CARES act. Members of congress, including Smith, sought $20 billion in relief for tribal communities, but…
