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.

Legislative proposal would transfer a Minnesota state forest to the White Earth Nation
State Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, and Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, introduced a bill in February that proposes transferring state-owned land within the 160,000-acre White Earth State Forest to the tribe by 2029.
Cannabis growing facility is now under construction on Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tribal lands
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has entered Minnesota’s cannabis growing industry. Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, the corporate entity owned by the band, will operate the growing facility that’s estimated to open in the fall of 2024.
Red Lake chair doubles down on return of tribal lands, including Upper Red Lake
Red Lake Chair Darrell Seki used the annual state of the band address to outline plans to return Upper Red Lake, forestry land and possibly even land in North Dakota to tribal control
U.S. Navy names ship in honor of Master Chief James D. Fairbanks, White Earth Nation citizen
The U.S. Navy is honoring the life and service of a White Earth Nation citizen, dedicating a ship in his name. Chief Master James D. Fairbanks (1952-2011) joins a small group of prominent Native American leaders for whom T-ATS Naval ships are named.
Indian courts can't prosecute non-Indian drug suspects. Tribes say it's a problem
As the fentanyl crisis ravages Native American communities, some of their leaders want Indian police and courts to go after non-tribal dealers. But they can't without getting permission from Congress.
U of M and the Fond du Lac Band outline a return of homelands to the tribe
Progress has been made in discussions between the U of M and the Fond du Lac Band about returning land where the Cloquet Forestry Center sits back to the tribe. A listening session revealed what’s on people’s minds. 
Events, marches held across Minnesota to remember missing and murdered Indigenous loved ones
The annual event comes as the state’s new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office works to make reward money and other resources available to help find missing loved ones.