Native voices demand inclusion and accountability
Indigenous leaders are pressing for global climate action and technology is aiding MMIP searches in this week's stories. Plus, Bismarck Documenters provides opportunities for civic engagement
‘We need involvement’: Indigenous leaders demand change at COP30
Indigenous participation may be highest in the climate conference’s history
Thousands of Indigenous representatives from around the world are gathering in Belém, Brazil, this week for COP30, the 30th annual United Nations climate summit. COP30 leaders hope Indigenous participation will be the highest in conference history.
How search and rescue technology helps find missing people — and its role in MMIP cases
Missing persons searches use drones, sonar and scent tracking dogs
By Jolan Kruse
Volunteers stomp through muddy sandbanks, their fluorescent vests shining brightly as boats armed with sonar zip along the Missouri River. Dogs bark in the distance. Drones fly overhead. Local police officers, MMIP organizations and tribal citizens gather and then disperse, checking 40 miles of river, shores and land with hopes of finding Renzo Bullhead, the United Tribes Technical College student who disappeared on March 16.
CTUIR elder remains missing after three-day search
Efforts to find Wesley Dixon Jones entailed new technology; coordinator plans to search again before weather worsens
By Brian Bull
Wesley Dixon Jones, a 71-year-old citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, remains unaccounted for after a three-day search for him over Halloween weekend. Before Jones disappeared, camera footage captured him riding in the passenger seat of a gray Ford Escape on Oct. 5, at 3:15 p.m., near the town of Mission, Oregon. A woman was driving the vehicle.
Join the conversation: Bismarck Documenters host meet-and-greet at UTTC
By Daniela Aki
Bismarck Documenters will once again be on the United Tribes Technical College campus for a meet and greet Thursday, Nov. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by the Student Union room on the upper level of the James Henry Gymnasium to learn about our program and how you can participate in local government while earning money. A free meal will be served.
Following the meet and greet, on Saturday, Nov. 15, we’ll have an orientation at our downtown office, 122 N. 4th St. in Bismarck, from 3 to 4:15 p.m. There will also be a way to attend virtually.
The Documenters program trains and pays members of the public to take notes at public meetings. Attendees will learn about their rights and responsibilities in public meetings, as well as the value of information gathering and sharing to strengthen communities. Visit documenters.org to create a profile and click on the Bismarck Workshops tab to register for the virtual orientation option or just come to the office and register with us.
Contact Daniela, daniela@imfreedomalliance.org, or Castle Fox, castle@imfreedomalliance.org, for more information.
Civic tip of the week:
Roll up your sleeves. Join a neighborhood clean-up, food drive or volunteer crew. Civic engagement isn’t just meetings — it’s mutual care.
The Daily Spark – quick, must-read micro stories to start your day
Our Daily Spark feature delivers news summaries each day 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: