Wednesday, May 7, 2025

An advocate for protecting Native American lands says he has concerns about some Trump administration initiatives. Chuck Quirmbach of station WUWM reports. Keegan King (Pueblo of Acoma) is founder and CEO of the Native Land Institute, based in New Mexico. At a recent forum organized by the Society of Environmental Journalists, King told reporters that he’s worried about President Trump trying to fast-track development of energy production on public lands, including parts of the sacred Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico. King says tribal leaders are gearing up for a long battle. “It’s going to drain a lot of resources over the next four years. So, tribes, tribal leadership are already trying to look into legal defense funds, looking at potential public lands sell-offs, and what that means for adjacent public lands to reservation communities.” Trump talks of “unleashing American energy” and argues some development restrictions drive up energy costs, and weaken national security. Keegan King says he’s also worried about the status of some National Monuments. The Biden administration with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) expanded co-management with tribes. King urges white-led conservation groups to partner with more Indigenous ones to protect various sites, in some cases, letting the tribes lead the strategy. “All of these public lands, all of the places that we love, that you write about, are Indigenous lands at one point, and many of our tribes still go there for prayer, pilgrimage — also to recreate, to hunt, fish, like every other American.” The latest Trump federal budget proposal would reduce money for national parks, monuments, and historic sites by nearly 25% and turn some of those properties over to states. Sacred Mato Paha is now part of Bear Butte State Park in Meade County, S.D. (Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz, MD / Wikimedia) Lawmakers have moved to ban the interment of human remains at Bear Butte State Park in South Dakota. This ruling includes the spreading of ashes at the site. SDPB’s CJ Keene has more. The ban was previously instituted more than 20 years ago before being unceremoniously repealed in 2019. Bear Butte, also known as Mato Paha, is considered a sacred site to Indigenous people, and this ban was first put in place after consultation with tribal leaders. For those spiritual reasons, visitors are encouraged to respect the area before hiking. The mountain stands alone from the Black Hills proper near Sturgis, and the peak is about 4,500 feet above sea level. “Eagle Buffalo Star” by artist Rachel Berg hangs in the Oyate Health Center in South Dakota. (Courtesy OHC) A South Dakota clinic that serves Native Americans is hanging Indigenous art on its walls as a healing tool. Mike Moen reports. Rachel Olivia Berg is one of the artists. She has created artworks for companies in places such as hotel lobbies and jumped at the change to provide art at the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City after it put out a request. “What’s really nice about Oyate [Health Center] is art from our perspective, things we understand, things we relate to. It helps you feel like it’s your space.” The clinic-wide permanent collection includes more than 100 works of art spread throughout the center. The pieces focus on culture-specific healing, made by 50-some tribal citizens from the Great Plains area. Officials say having Indigenous symbolism throughout the campus has transformed the space, and what it means to heal inside it. Here’s Ashley Pouier, selection committee member and art museum curator. “Native people dissect that word ‘healing’ to being more of a spiritual health as well as physical and mental health.” The collection includes photography, paintings, and 3-D work. This story includes original reporting from Amy Felegy with Arts Midwest.   Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today.