OTTAWA, Ont.—In late February, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced that the federal government is committing $1.55 billion to renew Jordan's Principle until March 31, 2027. This investment is an increase from the $1.03 billion budgeted for the current fiscal year and is designed to protect uninterrupted access to essential supports for children. "Children are at the heart of who we are as First Nations. Jordan's Principle must work...
WASHINGTON, D.C—The Department of the Interior recently announced that the Bureau of Indian Education reached its highest graduation rate in its history, reflecting sustained reforms and accountability measures. Student graduation rates at Bureau of Indian Education-funded high schools increased from 51 percent in 2015 to 79 percent in 2025. These gains surpass pre-pandemic levels and continue despite national declines in student outcomes following the COVID–19 pandemic....
ADA, Okla.—Fitness trainers will tell you motivation is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome in a workout regime. To provide inspiration and get people walking, the Chickasaw Nation developed the AYA Walk application. As users reach walking milestones, 15 virtual Chickasaw walking partners drawn from both history and fiction share stories of the tribe's history, culture and language. "History, culture and storytelling are embedded in the app in various ways. The main...
YELLOWKNIFE, N.T.—At the end of February, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Rebecca Alty, joined the North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) to celebrate an important milestone in reconciliation. The North Slave Métis Alliance represents members whose ancestry stems from the historic Métis collective of the Great Slave Lake region. On December 17, 2025, Minister Alty recognized that the North Slave Métis Alliance has Aboriginal rights, as affirmed under section 35...
Calgary, Alb.—Intertribal Life Ministries has announced plans to host a Dessert Night fundraiser on May 2 at Abundant Life Church, 3343 49 St. SW in Calgary, Alb. This Dessert Night Fundraiser will offer a plethora of desserts, music, fellowship, and testimonies. The event will feature inspiration from Frank and Lori Ward who work with Kikino Bible Church, and Becky Kew, who is an Intertribal Life newspaper distributor and has shared Jesus with Native American communities...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.—Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) has expanded into utility infrastructure through a minority investment in Front Line Power Construction, marking the tribally owned company's first direct entry into the sector. Tulsa, Okla.-based CNB partnered with Ariel Alternatives to acquire the Texas-based electrical contractor. Ariel Alternatives is the majority owner, with CNB serving as a strategic minority co-investor. Terms were not disclosed. Truist Securities...
DARTMOUTH, N.S.—Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty recently announced the addition of over 7 hectares (17.35 acres) to Millbrook First Nation through the Addition to Reserve process. This addition will open new opportunities for Millbrook First Nation: opportunities to plan, to grow, and to invest in the future. "This is a momentous occasion for our community. We have been working for a number of years on...
HELENA, Mont.—In Montana, state higher education officials have changed the eligibility requirements for Montana's American Indian Tuition Waiver. The undergraduate tuition waiver has been available to Montana resident students who have at least one-fourth degree Native American blood or are enrolled in a tribe based in Montana. However, starting July 1, 2026, blood quantum will no longer count toward eligibility. Montana residency, tribal enrollment, or certification and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Department of the Interior today affirmed its commitment to tribal sovereignty by adding the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to the official list of federally recognized tribes, formalizing the tribe's government-to-government relationship with the United States and carrying out federal recognition enacted into law in December 2025. "Federal recognition is about respect, accountability and self-determination," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum....
TORONTO, Ont.—The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Regulatory Coordination that strengthens collaboration and alignment in their respective regulatory roles in the Northwest Territories, in partnership with Indigenous governments and organizations. Under the agreement, the two departments reaffirm their commitment to working together and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a new partnership between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education to prepare Native students for careers in wildland firefighting, strengthening the workforce while creating clear school-to-career pathways for tribal youth. Through the Native Youth Firefighter Training Program, high school and post-secondary students receive hands-on instruction, mentorship and technical training that...
OKMULGEE, Okla.—The College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) and Southern Nazarene University (SNU) are forming a partnership to help CMN graduates who earn their associate's degree move ahead to earn their bachelor's degree. Discussions for the partnership began through both colleges being part of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium. "This articulation agreement is to benefit the graduates. It gives them an opportunity and ability to move into that bachelor's degree...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Department of the Interior recently released a new Strategic Direction for the Bureau of Indian Education, establishing a performance-driven roadmap to improve student outcomes, strengthen Native language and culture and enhance operational effectiveness across Bureau-funded schools. The Strategic Direction reinforces tribal sovereignty and local control by prioritizing flexible, community-driven approaches rather than one-size-fits-all...
Rilla Unger, a member of the Intertribal Life Ministries team, was a picture of faithfulness-writing letters to her treasured, incarcerated friends until she could hold a pen no more, shortly before her death in February. She may have been 97 years old, but she was still committed to the outreach she started so many years earlier. Rilla served as a volunteer for ILM since the late 1980s, when founder George McPeek couldn't keep up with the onslaught of correspondence, many of...
I'm from Isleta Pueblo, just south of Albuquerque, and one of the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico. I lived in Isleta all my life. I was born, raised, and grew up there. My parents raised us, loved us, and cared for us. I was raised by a wonderful mom named Prudence. She was such a beautiful lady-tiny, always singing, always happy, and always cooking for us, making us fresh tortillas, fried potatoes, beans, and chili, red or green. Those were good times. I had two brothers and three...
As long as I remember, music was always in our house. Dad had a mandolin, ukulele, piano, harmonica, fiddle, and always a guitar! I sure remember that, but when I think back on the kind of guitars he had, I recall them as being kind of rough and not exactly great instruments; he just didn't have a lot of dollars available back then. He had a beat-up SS Stewart (with a warped neck) until 1970, when he got a Pan 12-string (I learned on that one!). Somewhere in the late 1970's,...
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 We heard a story recently of a missionary living up in northern Canada. One cold winter night, he went out to the trapline on his ski-doo with a friend. After finishing up, he dropped his friend off at his home and started back to his own home. He drove in what he thought was the right direction for his way home. But after a short while, he...
January 1, 2026 marked the launch of the Council Fire podcast. With 1638 downloads in the past 60 days, we have been hearing story after story coming in from listeners, letting us know how they have been encouraged by it. Read what a few have to say: Peter writes, “I have lived as a Christian all my life. Always read or heard devotionals. Council Fire is special! Simple, inspiring and addictive! Thank you, Council Fire creators.” Gary called us to say, “I was on my way...
Ingredients 2 cups sweet winter squash, cooked and puréed 2 cups sunflower seeds, finely ground 1 ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup avocado or sunflower oil 2 teaspoons salt 2 ½ -3 cups gluten-free flour** ¾ cup chokecherry or other seasonal jam 1/2-1 cup sunflower seeds or sesame seeds for rolling Directions Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl. Incrementally mix in...
