Native News

The Native News Project is a new initiative from MPR News.

Stay informed with the latest news about local and national Native American communities, highlighting stories and issues important to Native American communities in Minnesota and beyond.

Our coverage includes cultural events, policy updates, community stories and more to provide a platform for Native voices, perspectives and important news.

State’s 1st legal cannabis dispensary celebrates anniversary, seeks new ways to reach customers
Last August, Red Lake Nation opened NativeCare, a seed-to-sale cannabis operation. The state’s first cannabis dispensary has hired new leadership and will embark on a campaign to educate customers about the benefits of cannabis.
This Minneapolis Indigenous Design Camp for teens is the first of its kind in the U.S.
Indigenous teens are participating in the first U.S. Indigenous Design Camp, where they craft architectural models and explore careers in architecture to address the underrepresentation of Native Americans in the field.
For some authors, finding their book on a “banned” list can feel almost like an accolade, putting them right there with classics like “The Bluest Eye” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” But the reality is, most banned books never get the kind of recognition or readership that the most famous ones do.
Third annual Anishinaabe Arts Festival offers community engagement — and food 
More than 50 artists are expected at the third annual Anishinaabe Arts Festival in Bemidji this weekend. The organizers promise art works ranging from traditional to modern, food and a lot of socializing.
Safeguarding the heartbeat: Native Americans in Upper Midwest protect their drumming tradition
When a small-town Minnesota high school banned its Native American drum group from performing at graduation, the hurt reverberated across Indigenous communities in the Upper Midwest.
This is one of the oldest games in North America. You’ve likely never heard of it
Indigenous peoples have been playing stickball for centuries. It’s perhaps the oldest game in North America, and every summer since 1975, teams have competed in Mississippi to become champion.