2020 Tribal Government Stories
Dr. Alicia Mousseau is the first out person on the Oglala Sioux Tribe's executive council (LGBTQ Nation) 12/31/20
Cherokee Nation takes steps to close gaps on McGirt issues (Washington Times Herald) 12/20/20
Colorado River Indian Tribes elect tribal leaders (Indianz) 12/7/20
Navajo Nation lawmakers consider extending junk food tax (Ravalli Republic) 11/30/20
Little Shell elections draw record breaking turnout, incumbents reelected (Montana Public Radio) 11/17/20
More results from tribal elections (Indian Country Today) 11/9/20
Women will be majority of Northern Cheyenne council following election (Billings Gazette) 11/5/20
COVID-19 restrictions put tribal sovereignty to the test (Montana Public Radio) 10/30/20
National Park Service grant awarded to Gun Lake Tribe (Indianz) 10/26/20
Cherokee Nation launches $25M in new construction, remodels as part of COVID-19 response plan (Indian Country News) 9/10/20
Navajo Nation statement on the execution of Lezmond Charles Mitchell (Indian Country Today) 8/27/20
Navajo Nation president approves $475 million in CARES Act funding to provide immediate COVID-19 relief funding for water projects, power line projects, and more (Indian Country Today) 8/19/20
Tribal courts in a pandemic mode (Indian Country Today) 8/18/20
Cherokee sovereignty commission established (Siloam Springs Herald Leader) 8/16/20
Kiowa tribal leadership as budget election nears (The Lawton Constitution) 8/14/20
Navajo Nation president asks for leniency for federal death row inmate (Arizona Public Media) 8/11/20
Navajo Nation Council focuses on extension to 50-year Quadrilateral Agreement expiration date to allow for renegotiation (Indian Country Today) 8/11/20
Turtle Mountain could be first North Dakota tribe to recognize same-sex marriage (Fargo Forum) 8/5/20
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Executive Order establishes "Mvskoke Reservation Protection Commission" (Turtle Talk) 7/30/20
Delegates support chapter government operations, proclamation for Diné Pride Week (Farmington Daily Times) 7/24/20
Tribal courts should abolish cash bail (High Country News) 7/15/20
Munsee tribe celebrates treaty signing anniversary (Ottawa Herald) 7/13/20
Blackfeet Nation elects new council members (Flathead Beacon) 7/8/20
Wooten reelected chairman of the Samish Indian Nation (Go Skagit) 7/3/20
Speaker Seth Damon signs Navajo Nation Diné Pride Week proclamation to recognize equality progress (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 6/30/20
Tlingit and Haida talks tribal courts at weekly luncheon (Juneau Empire) 6/26/20
Why I removed Confederate monuments from the Cherokee Capitol Grounds (Tulsa World - Skiatook Journal) 6/17/20
Official statement on social justice (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) 6/17/20
Navajo Nation sues over hemp growing operation in New Mexico (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 6/16/20
Confederate monuments removed from Cherokee capital square (Public Radio Tulsa) 6/14/20
Navajo leaders lay out plan to spend relief funds, shield elderly from 'this monster' (Indian Country Today) 6/10/20
Tribal court to hear argument on non-resident voting rights amidst COVID-19 (Minot Daily News) 6/3/20
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes identify priorities for spending $13.7 million in COVID-19 relief funds (Idaho State Journal) 6/2/20
UKB extends closure, service limits to June 11 (Tahlequah Daily Press) 5/31/20
Tribal Council modifies budget after getting part of $8B package (Tahlequah Daily Press) 5/29/20
Tribal leaders share relief funding challenges (Indian Country Today) 5/28/20
Tribal leaders oppose consultations with the U.S. during the pandemic (High Country News) 5/27/20
A new resource for tribal officials (MSU Extension Tribal Education) 5/22/20
Red Lake Nation approves medical cannabis (Indian Country Today) 5/21/20
Navajo Nation extends emergency declaration until June 7 (Indian Country Today) 5/13/20
'It's really scary for us': Oglala Sioux Tribe orders lockdown after COVID-19 hits reservation (Indianz) 5/12/20
Chickasaw Nation tribal election filing period opens June 1 (The Ada News) 5/12/20
Small tribes seal borders, push testing to keep out virus (PBS) 5/9/20
In contrast to Wyoming, Wind River Tribes counter COVID-19 with aggressive measures (Wyoming Public Media) 5/7/20
BIA steps on tribal sovereignty (Indianz) 5/7/20
Warm Springs Reservation mandates masks, quarantine during coronavirus outbreak (The Oregonian) 5/6/20
Michigan tribes losing police, health budgets as coronavirus shuts casinos (Bridge Magazine) 4/27/20
Navajo Nation requests relief groups follow curfew orders (Turtle Talk) 4/27/20
South Dakota reservations establish travel ban to limit COVID-19 exposure (The Collegian) 4/24/20
Choctaw Nation sues insurance company for COVID-19 losses (Indian Country Today) 4/24/20
Navajo Nation sues US Treasury for COVID-19 funds (Albuquerque Journal) 4/23/20
Navajo Nation extends virus restrictions till mid-May (Albuquerque Journal) 4/22/20
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's crisis within a crisis (The Harvard Crimson) 4/17/20
COVID relief funds must go to tribal governments. Fairly. (Turtle Talk) 4/12/20
Navajo Nation Council tables bill to postpone election due to coronavirus concerns (Farmington Daily Times) 4/10/20
Casino closures in Indian Country hit core tribal services (High Country News) 4/10/20
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Tribes battle coronavirus, much like state and federal government (The Oklahoman) 3/29/20
Sault Tribe to grant emergency money to employees from $5.5 million fund (The Sault News) 3/27/20
Reunification for healing: First of its kind (Indianz) 3/17/20
Navajo Nation announces partial government closure (The Durango Herald) 3/17/20
Tribes in Michigan struggle with decision to shut down casinos for coronavirus (Interlochen Public Radio) 3/15/20
'We're going to practice our sovereign rights': Oglala Sioux Tribe enters new era with cannabis vote (Indianz) 3/11/20
Cherokee, Chickasaw programs semifinalists for Honoring Nations award (Tahlequah Daily Press) 3/11/20
Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe' (Indian Country Today) 3/3/20
Sovereignty...and free press (Indian Country Today) 2/24/20
NCAI president: Tribal sovereignty still threatened from 'every corner' (Arizona Public Media) 2/11/20
Aaron Payment seeks re-election as leader of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe (Indianz) 2/10/20
Why tribal chiefs are worried about Maine's response to a new sovereignty push (Bangor Daily News) 2/3/20
Navajo Nation purchases sand and gravel pit in Indian Wells (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 1/28/20
Cherokees discuess grave preservation, hunting compact (Tahlequah Daily Press) 1/14/20
Navajo Nation aims for a Department of Medical Examiners (The Salt Lake Tribune) 1/6/20
New Muscogee (Creek) Nation leaders take office (Public Radio Tulsa) 1/6/20
