Through activism and storytelling, Indigenous voices rise up
In this week's stories, a community demands justice and protesters rally against the Trump administration. Plus, profiles of an Emmy-winning filmmaker and a food sovereignty power couple
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
Thousands peacefully protest
On Saturday, Oct. 18, more than 2,700 “No Kings” demonstrations took place across the United States, with an estimated 5.2-8.2 million people turning out to protest. In Bismarck, Indigenous organizations and individuals were among the thousands who gathered outside the North Dakota State Capitol. Many had the same message for the Trump administration and Congress: “Uphold the Constitution” and “Honor the treaties.”
Families still searching for missing Spirit Lake citizens
Jemini Posey and Isaac Hunt were reported missing in early 2024
On Oct. 11, in Fort Totten, North Dakota, dozens of Jemini Posey’s friends and family members stood in the chilly fall weather and released yellow balloons to celebrate her 23rd birthday. Yellow is one of Posey’s favorite colors, her sister, Jade Frier-Posey, said. Photographs of Posey, smiling, rested on a chair nearby, surrounded by sage.
Ruth and Juan De La Cruz encourage tribal members to grow and eat traditional produce
Ruth De La Cruz, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and descendant of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, grew up on a ranch on the Fort Berthold Reservation, tending to gardens and connecting with the land. Since childhood, she’s been involved with local food systems, but it wasn’t until she came back to the reservation after attending graduate school in Montana that she started working in the professional field of tribal food sovereignty.
Native filmmaker aims to create global network of Indigenous storytellers
Bush Fellow Leya Hale wants to expand authenticity in media arts
The Emmy-winning filmmaker and documentary producer Leya Hale has earned many accolades for her work in uplifting Native voices — including for the films “The People’s Protectors” and “Bring Her Home.” Yet the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and Diné Nations artist feels she could improve in one area: technical expertise.
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: