Friday, January 30, 2026

Photo: The Wind River Family and Community Health Care clinic in Riverton, Wyo. would have been impacted by the proposed cuts in tribal Medicaid funding. (Hannah Habermann / Wyoming Public Media) State lawmakers in Wyoming backtracked this week on what many – including some lawmakers – believed was a big proposed cut to tribal Medicaid funding. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann reports. Earlier this month, the Joint Appropriations Committee voted to deny a $58 million request from the Wyoming Department of Health for federal funding for tribal Medicaid reimbursements. The move was met with pushback and protest, but this week, State Rep. John Bear (R-WY) told the Tribal Relations Committee those funds will come through. “ I just wanna make it really clear that the funding was never, ever in jeopardy. These are accounting issues that we’re trying to work through.” Bear is the co-chair of the Joint Appropriations Committee. He originally voted for the cut, but this week said there was a workaround with what’s called a B-11, which he hadn’t mentioned in the original meeting. “Then they get the reimbursement after the activity is taken care of for the tribal member.” Now, Bear says the committee will authorize the funding for the Department of Health before the session starts, but at current reimbursement rates, that will be more like $41 million, rather than $58 million. Nick Tilsen. (Photo: Brooke Anderson @movementphotographer) The trial of Native advocate Nick Tilsen ended in a hung jury this week in Rapid City, S.D. Tilsen is still indicted and the state has the option to drop the charges or press forward, as South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene reports. Tilsen is the president and CEO of NDN Collective, a Rapid City-based Indigenous advocacy nonprofit. It is known for projects which advance Native living conditions and its protests of President Donald Trump’s attendance at Mount Rushmore. For this case, he is charged with alternative charges of aggravated assault or simple assault against law enforcement. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading to a mistrial. Both charges are felonies and Tilsen also faced a misdemeanor obstruction charge. The next steps are in the hands of the state. The Pennington County State’s Attorneys office could drop the charges or push for a new trial. The incident in question dates to June 11, 2022. On that day, footage shows Tilsen pulling into a parking space where an officer was standing. In the video, the truck pulls into the parking space, stops short, and moves forward again. The officer was interacting with an unhoused community member. According to reporting by the Rapid City Journal, he was stopped for jaywalking. Nobody was struck by the vehicle, but the state contends this was an effort to intimidate the officer and put him in fear of bodily harm. Tilsen’s defense hinged on his organization’s effort to do “community care.” In other words, watching police – ensuring officers are operating in line with laws and community members know their rights during police interactions. For this, Tilsen faced over 25 years in prison for what he contends was a human mistake. In a press release following the mistrial, Tilsen writes, “I’m grateful for everyone who stood with me through the latest iteration of this lengthy legal battle – the support of my family, lawyers, spiritual leaders, medicine people, and community means everything to me. The fight is not over.” At this time, it is unclear if the state will seek another trial against Tilsen. Screenshot Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out has issued a proclamation banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and associated border patrol agents from entering the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It is in response to ICE activities and recent shootings in Minneapolis, Minn. The proclamation states U.S. Border Patrol is assisting ICE in “unlawful conduct” against Native people in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Minnesota tribes, including the Red Lake Nation and Mille Lacs Band, are closing tribal government operations Friday, as part of a nationwide strike. “ICE Out – no work, no school, no shopping” is in protest of the ICE presence in Minneapolis. C.J. Keene contributed to this story.   Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling