Antonia Gonzales

A Tucson, Ariz. resident is facing federal charges for allegedly excavating and trafficking archeological resources from the Gila River Indian Community. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 46-year-old Leo Reynoso stands accused of violating the Archeological Resources Protection Act. Prosecutors said Reynoso allegedly removed several artifacts from the community without authorization. This included jewelry, Indian Trader tokens, crucifixes, and buttons from archeological sites on tribal land. He also stands accused of selling these items without a permit. The archeological value of the items is estimated at $29,000, while the cost of repairing the archeological sites is estimated at $23,000. If convicted, Reynoso faces a $20,000 fine and could get up to two years in prison. U.S. soldiers at a burial for some of those who were killed at Wounded Knee, S.D. on January 1, 1891. December 29 will mark 135 years since the Wounded Knee Massacre. In part two of his story, KJZZ’s Gabriel Pietrorazio shares some Native re

Photo courtesy Cherokee Nation / Facebook In Tahlequah, Okla. this week, Cherokee language speakers and officials unveiled a Cherokee language dictionary app. They were joined by representatives of Kiwa Digital Limited, who developed the app based on a Cherokee dictionary 50 years ago, created by Native speaker Durbin Feeling. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior said the new app will allow every Cherokee family to carry the resource in their pockets, and represented the tribe’s sovereignty and knowledge, as well as their commitment to keep the Cherokee language strong for generations to come. “For the last five centuries, our language and our culture has been under assault, has been eroded, and that’s the story of Indigenous languages around the world. Many of which the languages that have been lost and that we will lose in the future. Many of which are a part of history books, about languages that once were.” Chief Hoskin said he expected the app to become more than a simple curiosity for tribal members, and

Photo: Josh Engle, manager and peer support specialist at True North Recovery in Wasilla, gives out cookies as part of homeless outreach efforts in Anchorage on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. (Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) For people experiencing addition, it can help to talk to someone who has been through recovery themselves. Peer support specialists offer a different kind of support from therapists or psychiatrists. And in Alaska, there are state certifications for peer support roles, including a special track for Indigenous people with lived experience in recovery. Alaska Public Media’s Rachel Cassandra has more on peer-to-peer care in the state. Josh Engle is bundled up on one of the first really cold days in October. He walks along a forest path to do outreach in an encampment in Anchorage. He approaches a man in a weathered coat. “How long you been out here on the streets?” “Too long. Yeah. Yeah.” Several tents and makeshift structures lean together. “You connected wi

Native actress Elaine Miles, known for her roles in TV’s “Northern Exposure” and the 1998 movie “Smoke Signals” has spent the last month contending with a run-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents – and the response to her sharing her story with local and national media. Brian Bull of Buffalo’s Fire reports. On November 3, Miles says she was at a bus stop in Redmond, Wash. preparing to do a Target run when several men in camo fatigues and tactical gear appeared. For 45 minutes, she says they deliberated over the legitimacy of her tribal ID, and if they were aware of her rights as a U.S. citizen. “I go, ‘Are you federal? Are you recognized as a federal officer? Do you have the warrant stating that you have right to stop me?’ And then they kept saying, ‘We don’t need a warrant.’ And I go, ‘Yes, you do.’” Miles said the men often looked confused at her assertions and finally left when another man called them back to a waiting SUV. In the following weeks as ICE activity continued aro

Photo courtesy Assembly of First Nations / Facebook More than sixty Indigenous artifacts have now been returned to Canada from the Vatican. As Dan Karpenchuk reports, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders were on hand at Montreal’s airport over the weekend to welcome them back. There were 62 items in large crates on board the plane that landed on Saturday morning. Many Native leaders as well as those involved in the repatriation efforts were on hand. Some bowed as the crates were lowered onto the tarmac, for most, the objects on board were more than simply artifacts. One of those present was the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “This is an important and emotional moment for many First Nations across this country. And I also hope it’ll be an important moment for all Canadians to consider the history and the future of this country. Reconciliation isn’t one stop here, reconciliation is every single day doing this work.” After many years of

  Canadian ministers address final day of AFN special chiefs meeting   'Native Highways' is back with a holiday special on FNX this Friday  

  Bush fellow from White Earth wants to level up with a law degree   Dene family shares its restoration of coming of age ceremony for girls  

  AFN rejects changes to oil tanker ban off BC after pipeline MOU   Young Navajo rodeo athletes take reins as next generation of cowboys  

  Master carvers restore house posts outside Totem Heritage Center   Two eagles blessed during Native wildlife celebration in Phoenix  

  Construction workshop trained those who will rebuild Kipnuk   Treuer, tribal judge and 2025 Bush fellow, seeks to Indigenize the bench  

  Storm evacuees in Anchorage hotels miss subsistence lifestyle   Human Rights for Kids report highlights trauma-to-prison pipeline  

  Thanksgiving holiday stirs mixed feelings across Indian Country   Gila River Indian Community residents get new market close to home  

  Curley motion to remove Nygren, Montoya may not have the votes   Pourier to use Bush Fellowship to boost investing in Native artists  

  Chaco protectors urge Burgum to visit park   Newborn support service expands into Northwest Arctic Borough  

  Bush Fellow head of USD Native recruitment and engagement   New study seeks proper care for DV victims with traumatic brain injuries   Hualapai tribe chooses this year's Christmas tree for Arizona Capitol  

  Removal of MMIP report on DOJ website questioned by advocates   NCAI Day 4: Native Hawaiian health care and Indigenous jazz & soul   Two eagles blessed during Native wildlife celebration in Arizona  

  Inside the Anchorage hotels sheltering those displaced by storm   100+ winter clothing items, $15k donated during NCAI convention drive  

  NM takes lead to investigate forced sterilization of women   Native vote, lifetime achievement awards take center stage at NCAI  

  Tribes comment on Trump plan for hydropower projects   Native youth gather for NCAI convention in Seattle this week   On this day in 1895, Nez Perce tribe opens up reservation to settlers  

  Native woman released from ICE custody after 'clerical error'   CRIT acknowledges Colorado River has same rights as tribal members   NCAI annual convention and marketplace kicks off in Seattle