Northern Saw-whet Owl
(Aegolius acadicus)

Brad Pitt has been partnering with Fort Peck, MT's Sioux and Assiniboine nation tribes to build 20 super green homes for residents whose income levels are at or below 60 percent the area's mean income, with a percentage of the homes reserved for seniors and disabled veterans.

A Gathering of People, Wind and Water brought the best of South Dakota’s Native musicians and artwork together at Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota.

Ninety-two 2014 Navajo high school graduates have been honored with the Navajo Nation's top academic achievement award, the Chief Manuelito Scholarship.

We, at Canku Ota, try to stay away from controversy. However, there are times when we feel that it's important to share with you. Stealing culture is wrong, no matter who's culture one is stealing from.

State of Montana improves attitude toward Indian education.

The State of Montana is about five years younger than the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The State was even younger than my Grandmother, Motse’eoo’e (Sweet Medicine Woman) or in English Rosa Turkey Legs Littlebear.

Lauren Thornton is a rarity among Native Americans.

On May 18, Thornton, the daughter of Gayle Andrews, a former spokeswoman for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a tribe member, graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a medical degree. Her father, Harold Thornton, is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.

Dan Snyder has been forced to circle the wagons in his greedy defense of the controversial Washington Redskins trademark. And few outside of Cleveland would be surprised, or dismayed, if the Indians' overtly racist logo - the toothy Chief Wahoo - soon vanished.

The supporters of these anachronistic sporting symbols see them as worthy, innocent, and long-standing traditions. But to believe that, you've got to overlook the disturbing history from which they arose.

Values and integrity have always been respected by traditional Native peoples, but when colonization forced its way onto this land, dishonesty and treachery took a terrible toll. Even many mainstream Americans are tired of it, but still don't understand where they went wrong. Here's a sample of things mainstream America needs to understand — add your own in the comments.

Out of the 500 treaties signed between tribes and the United States, none have ever been fully honored. History proves that at the time of contact, Native nations couldn't even imagine such dishonesty.

This week, NAYA youths Quin Clark, Blackfoot & Cherokee, Logan Chapman, Seneca Cayuga, Lesly Vera, Mexican Indigenous, and Davineekaht White Elk, Ute & Blackfoot, four student representatives from Portland's Native community traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in a youth leadership development program. The students had a chance to meet elected leaders, tour historic sites, visit colleges in the D.C. area, and attend sessions on a variety of topics related to governance and youth empowerment.

Last March the Mille Lacs Band Niigaan Youth program was approached by Chris Nayquonabe, the Onamia Public School Indian Education Coordinator. The Niigaan Youth Program services K-12 for both public and tribal schools. They provide after-school help during the year, and continue to aid students throughout the summer. Chris Nayquonabe and Byron Ninham, the Niigaan program director, had planned to use the Immersion grounds in Rutledge for a summer camp, and started to work on a schedule. The camp took place July 15-17 at the Mille Lacs Anishinaabe Izhitwaawin Immersion grounds.

Holly Wyatt is surrounded by a dozen middle and high school students, all Chukchansi tribal members, with their eyes glued to the screen of a tablet, smartphone or computer. She doesn't see mere students — she sees the next generation of Chukchansi speakers.

It's been 40 years since Wyatt has spoken her native Chukchansi language. Now, she is ready to teach younger generations the words her grandmother taught her.

Puget Sound is one of the iconic wonders of the world and defines who we are, not only as tribes, but all residents of Western Washington.

This great body of water was still being formed by receding glaciers when the tribes arrived, and we have lived off her abundant natural resources ever since. Over thousands of years our beautiful and unique inland sea has become a complex ecosystem, supporting not only an abundance of sea life, but also mixing with freshwater resources at the mouths of our great rivers, providing a consistent and plentiful food source for us humans.

Much confusion surrounds Indigenous foods. "Before 1492, tomatoes, potatoes, wild rice, salmon, pumpkins, peanuts, bison, chocolate, vanilla, blueberries and corn, among other foods, were unknown in Europe, Africa and Asia. Today, we think of tomatoes as an Italian staple, of potatoes as quintessentially Irish or northern European, and even of peanuts as native to Africa. But Native American farmers cultivated and developed these foods over hundreds of generations, long before Europeans exported them throughout the world," explains Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian Institution, in the foreword for The Mitsitam Café Cookbook: Recipes from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian by executive chef Richard Hetzler.

Hetty Dutra is no ordinary 71 year old. This summer the adventurous ‘golden age’ Californian is riding the entire Nez Perce Trail solo with just her two horses for company. For the second time.

She set off on her second epic adventure from Wallowa Lake on the 31st of May, 2014 with little fanfare. She expects to average around 13 miles a day. If all goes to plan she will complete the 1,170 mile trail in early September. She intends to go past the official end of the trail at Bear Paw, Montana, and follow the route of the handful of Nez Perce who managed to slip away and cross the Canadian Boarder before Chief Joseph’s famous surrender.

After many years, the Spirit Hawk Canoe Club, called the Suquamish Canoe Club in previous years, has been re-established. Suquamish youth and adults are training and traveling; representing at war canoe races throughout Washington State and Canada.

"I've always wanted our canoe club to return and be more active. And, this year, it has finally worked out. It is happening," said Barb Santos, coach of the Spirit Hawk Canoe Club.

Close to 200 people gathered on the Pine Ridge Reservation on the clear, cool morning of July 9 to attend the dedication ceremony for the new veterans cemetery. The new Akicita Owicahe Lakota Freedom Cemetery will enable Lakota families to practice cultural burial traditions close to home. In the past, most veterans were buried in Sturgis, near Bear Butte—a two-hour drive from Pine Ridge. Some families are considering reinterring their relatives back to the reservation, which could cost up to copy,500, said Jennifer Irving, assistant to the tribal president.