Lac La Biche, Alb.-On January 12, the doors opened for Keywatin Discipleship Centre (KDC) in Lac La Biche, Alberta. The eight-week, on-site program, designed especially for Indigenous people, will offer Bible classes, including an overview of the Bible, ministry opportunities, activities, and life skills training. Students will also receive "mentoring and help working through past problems to come to a place of healing from Jesus and growing in the Lord," says Lori Ward, one...
Langdon, Alb.—Intertribal Life Ministries is thrilled to announce that Council Fire devotionals are now available in podcast form, and www.councilfire365.org went live on January 1, 2026. A new podcast is published daily, not only online, but also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and anywhere podcasts are presented. You will find links on www.councilfire365.org. Over the past two years, more than 30,000 printed copies of Council Fire daily devotionals, written exclusively by...
Washington, D. C.-In mid-December, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced at the meeting of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) two final pro-growth and deregulatory tax regulations that support the prosperity of Tribal businesses and families and recognize the sovereignty of Tribal governments. The first rule implements the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014, which confirms that Tribes may provide assistance...
Intertribal Life Ministries is a faith-supported ministry and totally depends on the Lord to see the people of Indigenous North America restored through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to have sufficient resources needed to carry on the work. Only through the prayers and gifts of God's people can this ministry continue and expand. In 2025, because of the faithfulness of the Lord and His people, we were able to be involved in working alongside communities to: ...
Ottawa, Ont.-The Canadian government is presenting a new plan of more than $35.5 billion to support Indigenous children. The reform would prevent child maltreatment, keep children connected to their families and culture, and ensure that services for children are culturally based and community led. The initiative, led by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and presented to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, offers First Nations regional deals for community-driven...
Washington, D.C.-The U.S. Marshals Service will be permitted to partner with tribal law enforcement in cases involving missing indigenous children under legislation proposed by two senators who represent states with numerous tribes. The efforts of Senators Markwayne Mullin (R, Oklahoma) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D, Nevada) were applauded by LaRenda Morgan, who helped lead the effort that led to passage in Oklahoma of "Ida's Law," named for her cousin Ida Beard, who went...
Washington, D.C.-Two of the state's largest tribes are hoping that new lawsuits, aimed at holding social media companies accountable, will help address mental health issues sweeping youth across their reservations. The lawsuits, filed this fall in the U.S. Northern District Court of California by the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations against Meta Platforms and a host of other social media companies, come amid alarming statistics. In 2022, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives...
Wounded Knee, S.D.—In mid-December, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, was signed into law. "It has been almost 135 years to the day of the tragedy that unfolded at Wounded Knee and [now], the president signed my bill into law to preserve the land where hundreds of lives were lost," said U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), who sponsored the bill. "I am grateful the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes will be able to hold this land in...
If you're attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Todd at director@intertriballife.org. Jan 23-25: Every Story Matters Testimony Conference, Garden Hill, Man. Feb 6-7: Manitoba Missionfest, Winnipeg, Man. March 13-15: Every Story Matters Testimony Conference, Sioux Lookout, Ont. April 10-12: Easter Gospel Outreach, Mînî Thnî, Alb. May 14-17: Native Youth Conference, Camp Nakamun, Busby,...
Swanton, Vt.-The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs has announced that an American Abenaki curriculum is now available for Vermont educators. This curriculum has been designed by the four Abenaki communities in Vermont. Commission Vice Chair Jeff Benay, who also chairs the American Abenaki Curriculum Planning Committee, told reporter Pat Bradley and WAMC Northeast Public Radio that the idea of creating a curriculum focused on the state-recognized tribe has taken...
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Many people are not living for today. That includes me, at times. The enemy would love for us to live either in the past or in the future. It is so easy to live in the past, and we could be living with much regret . . . "If I only I had done it this way, if only I hadn't done that." You can be so busy thinking about what you did or didn't...
1. Prepare. While the Council Fire daily devotional is printed in a handy size that you can carry and read anywhere, we suggest you make it part of a special time with the Lord. If at all possible, it’s good to choose the same time each day so you can get into a routine (it only takes three weeks to develop a habit!). Try to choose a time when you will not face as many interruptions, and take steps to limit distractions (like turning off your phone or television for a while). Gather your materials—your Council Fire...
Recently, Intertribal Life Ministries and Northern Canada Evangelical Mission partnered to create a new, expanded edition of Maskipiton: Peace Chief. Maskipiton is an encouraging true story about a great Indigenous leader who chose peace over war when he decided to follow the Creator God and begin a relationship with His son, Jesus. With nearly three dozen illustrations, this story is not only for younger people, it is encouraging for readers of all ages. We've included an...
I was raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in Eagle Butte, S.D. area. My parents were ranchers, my grandparents were ranchers, and I grew up in the lifestyle of ranching and rodeo. I learned how to ride when I was very young. When I was born, my mother bought me a saddle, so I grew up on horseback; I grew up with stories of the Old West, and enjoyed life in the country. I'm the oldest of eight children, and Mom worked very hard to make ends meet when we were kids....
Have you ever become filled with anxiety because you knew you were running out of something? Maybe your battery power on your phone was low during an awesome concert, and you didn't have any way to charge your phone so you could take pictures of your favorite entertainer. Or have you ever been low on bread, eggs, or milk, knowing that funds wouldn't be coming in for another couple of weeks? Or maybe you have a deadline for a certain type of work you have been hired to do, and...
When I think of everything that I've been through in my 57 years on this earth, it sometimes overwhelms me. At other times, I feel like a warrior for surviving all these years. Through the ups and downs and all of the hairpin turns. There were seasons when I felt that I was in complete rebellion with our Creator. There were seasons when, just like the gospel song, "Trust and Obey," says, "When we walk with Lord in the light of his words, what a glory he sheds on our way." As...
Ingredients For the salad: 4 sprigs fresh thyme 1½ cups whole wild rice 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 1 cup cooked black beans (if using dried beans, 1/3 cup dried yields 1 cup cooked) 2 bunches (about 8 cups) kale 1 cup baby tomatoes or ground cherries, rinsed and halved ½ cup grated pecorino Romano cheese or parmesan cheese For the dressing: Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice) 1 tablespoon fresh grated lemon zest ¼ cup extra virgin olive...
Langdon, Alb.-On December 5–6, Intertribal Life Ministries participated in a Christmas Outreach at the Chief Goodstoney Rodeo Centre in Mînî Thnî, a First Nations settlement in the Stoney Nakoda reserve in Alberta. Organized by Kenny Hunter, Duane Wesley, Olivia Daniels, Intertribal Life Ministries, Belinda Simeon, and Muriel Labelle, the event featured speakers, music, and testimonies. Gospel musicians Ian and Tanya Lavalee, Vanessa Beaudry, Amos Badger, Ernie Kematch...
