What’s at stake for Native communities: Lawmakers, education and local news
North Dakota lawmakers are making key decisions, Mandaree Schools face significant funding changes and Bismarck Documenters are reshaping how we engage with local stories. Stay informed.
North Dakota lawmakers to review key bills impacting Native American communities
Bills on healthcare, education, criminal justice and tribal tourism will be discussed in upcoming legislative sessions that could affect Native populations.
By Buffalo’s Fire Staff
North Dakota lawmakers are reviewing several bills this week that could impact Native American communities, low-income children and individuals with disabilities.
Mandaree School District faces changes to federal funding policy
The March meeting gathered input on how proposed changes to federal education funding may affect BIE students and their cultural ties to school programs.
By Buffalo’s Fire Staff
On January 23, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that could alter how Indigenous students access education funding. The order proposes allowing Bureau of Indian Education students to use federal funds for private, faith-based or public charter schools, expanding choices for families but raising concerns about the potential impacts on Native communities.
Bismarck Documenters to host in-person and virtual orientation sessions
Bismarck Documenters, powered by Buffalo’s Fire, is excited to announce our first of-the-year in-person orientation this Thursday, March 20, from 3:30-5 p.m., on the UTTC campus in the Skills Center computer lab (in the round building). We are also offering a virtual orientation option on Saturday, March 22, from 11 am-1 pm.
We are a people-powered newsroom, training residents to attend under-reported public meetings and publish the results. Come learn about the Documenters Program with other civically-minded community members and become eligible to begin documenting community meetings in your area. Sign up for either orientation option by visiting documenters.org, creating a profile and choosing the right option for you! Please reach out to Daniela Aki (daniela@imfreedomalliance.org) for questions.
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: