Native News

The Native News Project is a new initiative from MPR News.

Stay informed with the latest news about local and national Native American communities, highlighting stories and issues important to Native American communities in Minnesota and beyond.

Our coverage includes cultural events, policy updates, community stories and more to provide a platform for Native voices, perspectives and important news.

Out to Lunch: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan sees reflection, even on the hard moments, as a gift
In a new series, Minnesota Now is sitting down for a meal with people from news and culture to get to know them better. First, we go to Owamni with DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Marc-André Fleury’s Native American Heritage night hockey mask now on display at history center
A customized goalie mask worn by Wild player Marc-André Fleury in 2023 for Native American Heritage night was purchased by the Minnesota Historical Society last year. The mask was designed by Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor and is now on display.
Deb Haaland made history as Interior secretary. Now she’s running for governor of New Mexico
Deb Haaland, who championed conservation and clean energy during her tenure as Interior secretary, is running for the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico, the nation's No. 2 oil production state.
Trump calls on the federal government to recognize North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe
President Trump made good on a campaign promise to ask the Department of the Interior to recognize the Lumbee people of North Carolina — a tribe whose Native identity has long been called into question.
Indigenous historian: Peltier commutation a victory, 50 years too late
Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier will no longer spend the rest of his life in prison. Nick Estes, a Minnesotan and historian, explains the tensions that led to his conviction and what his release means for communities across the nation.
‘A champion’: Man who covered Leonard Peltier’s trial praises his release from prison
In one of his final acts, former President Joe Biden sent Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier home to complete his life sentence. Although it is not a pardon, many in the Indigenous community are celebrating what they see as win for Native American activism.
Group looks to protect wild rice for future generations by recognizing its rights under state law
A campaign launching this year asks the state of Minnesota to recognize legal rights for wild rice, as the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the 1855 Treaty Authority have done.