Around the U.S., there are efforts among tribal nations to reclaim stolen land from colonization and preserve language history, and a South Dakota organization is part of a movement to empower communities with data. The Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is embracing what s known as data sovereignty. Dallas Nelson, Lakota language and education director for the group, is helping to lead efforts to develop a system to preserve key information for communities within the Pine Ridge Reservation. .
A college grant program for tribal students in Oregon received an extension in this year s budget. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant was funded with $24 million. It covers costs for members of the state s nine federally recognized tribes to attend college in Oregon. .
Tribal advocates are cheering a U.S. Supreme Court decision Thursday which allows a landmark law dealing with child welfare cases to stand. It follows a tense period of worry and planning in states like North Dakota. .
A North Dakota Senate committee heard a bill last week which would enshrine protections for Native American children who have to be placed in foster or adoptive
A federal law gives preference for foster care and adoption of Native American children to extended family and other tribal members, but the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the statute.