A deep dive into dentalium, plus stories on sovereignty and cultural revitalization
From the trade routes of dentalium shells to a tribe reclaiming its name, this week we explore identity, legacy and Indigenous rights
For the love of Dentalium
Harvested in the Pacific and traded inland, dentalium shells served Native Americans as valuable currency, status symbols and sacred items for millennia, a tradition that persists.
UN forum pushes governments to act on Indigenous rights
Governments worldwide are being urged to fully implement a 2007 declaration that protects Indigenous Peoples’ rights to land, governance and cultural autonomy
By Buffalo’s Fire
The 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) opened April 21 at the United Nations headquarters, with leaders calling for urgent action to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
Yuhaaviatam reclaims its ancestral name
In a powerful step toward cultural revitalization, the San Manuel Tribe honors its deep connection to the land and heritage
By Buffalo’s Fire
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has officially reclaimed its ancestral name, the tribe recently announced on its website. It is now known as Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.Â
🌟 Community Callout 🌟
Help us create a respectful guide to powwow etiquette
Buffalo’s Fire is putting together a community-informed explainer on powwow etiquette. Whether you attend as a dancer, singer, family member, vendor or guest, we want to hear from you. Powwows are powerful cultural gatherings, and we believe the best way to help others respect them is by lifting up voices from across our Native communities.
We’re inviting you to share your insight, experience or advice to help shape this guide:
🪶 What are some common mistakes or misunderstandings you see at powwows?
🪶 What’s a powwow moment or tradition you wish people respected or understood more deeply?
Let’s work together to keep these spaces welcoming, respectful and grounded in tradition.
The Daily Spark – quick, must-read micro stories to start your day
Our Daily Spark feature delivers 8 to 10 news summaries each morning to give you a quick overview of current events in Indian Country. The format prioritizes brevity, providing key updates in short, digestible summaries. This makes it a valuable resource for quickly grasping important developments on a broad range of issues affecting Indigenous communities.
Here are some of the stories you may have missed this week:
Lovely roundup! Great articles!