Native American Issues
Follow the latest Native American Issues news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
June 2, 2023, 9:42 PM

Biden orders 20-year ban on oil, gas drilling to protect tribal sites outside New Mexico's Chaco

The Biden administration is withdrawing hundreds of square miles in New Mexico from oil and gas production for the next 20 years on the outskirts of Chaco Culture National Historical Park that tribal communities consider sacred
June 2, 2023, 9:42 PM
Biden to enforce ban on oil, gas drilling to protect New Mexico tribal sites
June 2, 2023, 9:26 PM

Rights upheld, lawsuit revived against teacher accused of cutting Native American student's hair

An appeals court says an anti-discrimination lawsuit involving Native American hair can go to trial in New Mexico
June 2, 2023, 9:26 PM
Lawsuit revived against teacher accused of cutting Native American student's hair
May 16, 2023, 10:42 PM

Former tribal leader sentenced for taking bribes in North Dakota

A former government official of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation has been sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes from a contractor at Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota
May 16, 2023, 10:42 PM
Former tribal leader sentenced for taking bribes in North Dakota
1 month ago

Searching for missing Indigenous women, tribes and lawmakers seek to raise awareness

Hundreds of Native American tribal members held a vigil to commemorate the “Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.”
1 month ago
Searching for missing Indigenous women, tribes seek to raise awareness
1 month ago

North Dakota governor signs law protecting tribal adoptions

North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a law that protects tribal cultures by codifying the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into state law
1 month ago
2 months ago

New Mexico tribe keeps title to portion of national preserve

A Native American tribe has retained its title to a portion of a national preserve in northern New Mexico following a yearslong court battle against the federal government
2 months ago
New Mexico tribe keeps title to portion of national preserve
3 months ago

Biden faces dilemma in fight over large Alaska oil project

It could be economic lifeline for Indigenous communities but hurt environment.
3 months ago
3 months ago

Rights to 'Crying Indian' ad to go to Native American group

The anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire debuted in 1971.
3 months ago
4 months ago

Native American advocates protest Kansas City Chiefs name ahead of Super Bowl LVII

“There’s no respectful way to mascot us or belittle us and use us for profit,” said Amanda Blackhorse, founder of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots.
4 months ago
Native American advocates protest Kansas City Chiefs name ahead of Super Bowl LVII
4 months ago

'Everybody's tired': South Dakota tribe sues US over crime

Violent crimes across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota have increased in recent years
4 months ago
5 months ago

South Dakota tribe: Storm deaths 'could have been prevented'

December storms buried their reservation in snow and left them stranded.
5 months ago
5 months ago

Northern Arizona tribe to get federal aid for flood damage

President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration made by the Havasupai Tribe in northern Arizona, freeing up funds for flood damage as it prepares to re-open for tourists
5 months ago
6 months ago

Biden announces 'long overdue' investments in Indian Country

President Joe Biden said his administration is ushering in a "new era" as he spoke at the White House Tribal Nations Summit.
6 months ago
Biden announces 'long overdue' investments in Indian Country
6 months ago

Cherokees ask US to make good on promise: a seat in Congress

The country’s largest Native American tribe, the Cherokee Nation, wants the U.S. government to fulfill a near 200-year-old promise and seat a delegate to Congress.
6 months ago
Cherokees ask US to make good on promise: a seat in Congress
6 months ago

Native American model brings representation to fashion world

Quannah Chasinghorse is one of the most in-demand models and also advocates for Native American rights.
6 months ago
Native American model brings representation to fashion world
7 months ago

Indigenous groups keep pushing for justice for victims of boarding school abuses

Indigenous groups say there is more work to be done to rectify the pain caused by boarding schools that erased their culture.
7 months ago
Indigenous groups fight to preserve native language
7 months ago

Indigenous families seek justice for boarding school abuse as graves of children uncovered

Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children over the span of 150 years were taken from their families and made to live in U.S. boarding schools. Some never came home.
7 months ago
Native families seek justice for boarding school abuse as remains of children found
7 months ago

NY schools told to stop using Native American mascots

Schools in New York state are under orders to stop using Native American references in mascots, team names and logos by the end of the current school year
7 months ago
7 months ago

Kansas board recommends ending Native American mascots

The Kansas State Board of Education is recommending that school districts end the use of Native America mascots and branding
7 months ago
7 months ago

Native child welfare law faces major Supreme Court challenge

Law boosts Native American families in foster care, adoptions of Native children
7 months ago
7 months ago

Massachusetts museum returns sacred items to Sioux tribes

A small Massachusetts museum had about 150 items considered sacred by the Sioux.
7 months ago
7 months ago

High court to hear water dispute between Navajo, government

The Supreme Court will hear a water dispute involving the U.S. government and the Navajo Nation
7 months ago
7 months ago

Native American creators pave the way for more Indigenous stories, representation in Hollywood

Hollywood has seen a proliferation of authentic, Indigenous stories, ushering in a new age of Native American representation both on screen and behind the camera. 
7 months ago
Native American creators expand breadth of Indigenous Hollywood representation
8 months ago

Native American boarding school victims to speak of abuse

Victims of abusive, government-backed Native American boarding schools are expected to testify as U
8 months ago
8 months ago

California tribes will manage, protect state coastal areas

Five tribes on California's coast are moving forward in their efforts to protect marine ecosystems as part of the Tribal Marine Stewards Network
8 months ago
1 year ago

Report outlines federal 'abuse' of Native children at boarding schools

More than 500 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children died in federal Indigenous boarding schools across the country, a report finds.
1 year ago
Report outlines federal 'abuse' of Native children at boarding schools
1 year ago

Native Americans facing disenrollment fight to remain with tribe

After being disenrolled from the Nooksack tribe in 2016 after a former tribal chair questioned their ancestral lineage, the Rabang family fights to preserve their family history.
1 year ago
Native Americans facing disenrollment fight to remain with tribe
1 year ago

Sacred land returned to Native tribe in Virginia

Sacred land in Virginia will be returned to the Rappahannock Tribe. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland will be in attendance at the celebration.
1 year ago
Sacred land returned to Native tribe
2 years ago

Biden signs executive order to improve safety, justice for Native Americans

The president also announced new initiatives to protect tribal lands at the tribal nations summit.
2 years ago
Biden signs executive order to improve safety, justice for Native Americans
2 years ago

The jingle dress: The story behind a Native American dance and its power of spiritual healing

A Navajo photographer and his daughters took the "jingle dress" dance on a journey across the country to bring spiritual healing and bring attention to indigenous issues.
2 years ago
The story behind a Native American dance and its power of spiritual healing
2 years ago

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland runs Boston Marathon to mark Indigenous Peoples Day

"I run because my ancestors gave me this ability," Haaland wrote.
2 years ago
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland runs Boston Marathon to mark Indigenous Peoples Day
2 years ago

215 bodies discovered at former residential school for Indigenous children in Canada

A 2015 report said the schools were a component of "cultural genocide."
2 years ago
215 bodies discovered at former residential school for Indigenous children
2 years ago

Why Native American children have higher rates of disability

More than 3 million children in the U.S. had a disability in 2019.
2 years ago
Why Native American children have higher rates of disability
2 years ago

As Deb Haaland creates unit to investigate missing and murdered Native Americans, a look at why it's necessary

As Deb Haaland creates a unit to investigate missing and murdered Native Americans, a look at why it's necessary.
2 years ago
Deb Haaland to create unit to investigate missing and murdered Native Americans
2 years ago

For Native Americans, the fight against mascots is much bigger than sports

The changing names of the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins is a win for Native Americans, but there's still much more to be done, leaders say.
2 years ago
For Native Americans, the fight against mascots is much bigger than sports
2 years ago

Haaland makes history as Department of the Interior nominee

Haaland would be the first Native American to serve in the Cabinet if confirmed.
2 years ago
Haaland makes history as Department of the Interior nominee