Author

Shondiin Silversmith

Shondiin Silversmith

Shondiin Silversmith is an award-winning Native journalist based on the Navajo Nation. Silversmith has covered Indigenous communities for more than 10 years, and covers Arizona's 22 federally recognized sovereign tribal nations, as well as national and international Indigenous issues.

Arizona AG partners with Tribal Council to create training program on human trafficking

By: - March 20, 2023

As a way to address the unique challenges Indigenous communities face concerning human trafficking, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has entered into a partnership with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) to launch a first-of-its-kind Train the Trainer program. The program is geared toward developing a curriculum to create awareness and prevention resources on […]

Gallego sponsors BADGES Act to improve tribal law enforcement

By: - March 13, 2023

Several U.S. House representatives introduced the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, a bipartisan bill that hopes to strengthen tribal law enforcement and increase public safety across Indian Country. “For years, the federal government has failed to provide tribal communities the resources needed to adequately ensure public safety and […]

Hobbs signs executive order establishing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force

By: - March 9, 2023

For the first time in history, an Arizona governor signed an executive order to officially establish a task force focused on addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis.  “For too long, our state has ignored tribal leaders’ pleas for help addressing the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. Hobbs […]

$116M available for locally led conservation projects proposed by tribes, states

By: - March 6, 2023

In an effort to fund locally led landscape-scale conservation and restoration projects, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced grant funding opportunities available through the 2023 America the Beautiful Challenge.  “Through the America the Beautiful Challenge, we are catalyzing investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to pursue locally led, collaborative and inclusive approaches to […]

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples field hearing comes to AZ in May

By: - March 3, 2023

As part of the U.S. departments of the Interior and Justice’s work to combat the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP), the Not Invisible Act Commission will be hosting its first round of field hearing sessions this spring.  The hearings allow commission members to hear directly from Indigenous communities impacted by the MMIP […]

Tribal leaders support federal legislation aimed at helping Indigenous families and children

By: - February 20, 2023

A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives geared toward helping Indigenous children and families by providing tribal nations with the tools and resources they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect. These resources would be provided through the Native American Child Protection Act, […]

Four AZ artists featured in ‘Origins: An NFL Collection’ merchandise

By: - February 13, 2023

The National Football League this year brought back their Origins: An NFL Collection featuring Arizona-based design brands Ashley Macias, Elias Jade Not Afraid, Manor, and OXDX. “The collection is a grassroots merchandise collaboration program to celebrate the cultural richness of NFL event host cities and the design talent sprouting from those communities,” according to the […]

‘Heartbeat of the Super Bowl’: Indigenous artist showcases massive mural downtown

By: - February 10, 2023

The radiant colors of pink, orange and purple showcasing artwork unique to Arizona’s 22 tribal nations can not be missed on Washington Street in downtown Phoenix, as a massive mural greets spectators in honor of the Super Bowl. “This 95,000-square-foot mural is the heartbeat of (the) Super Bowl,” said Daphine Wood, director of events for […]

Department of Interior funds 5 tribal water rights settlements in Arizona

By: - February 10, 2023

Several tribal nations will start seeing some funding as part of their water rights settlements, as the U.S. Department of the Interior has allocated nearly $580 million to start fulfilling Indian water rights claims.  “Water is a sacred resource, and water rights are crucial to ensuring the health, safety, and empowerment of Tribal communities,” Secretary […]

NAU commits $10M grant to implement initiatives focused on success of Indigenous students

By: - February 3, 2023

Northern Arizona University has committed funding to implement several new initiatives across campus to help Indigenous students, promote traditional knowledge and establish partnerships with tribal entities. The Seven Generations Signature Initiative (7GSI) will present seven strategic priorities for the next several years, NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera told the Arizona Mirror.  Rivera added that […]

San Carlos Apache Tribe receives funding to address contaminated environmental sites

By: - January 30, 2023

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is set to receive more than $166,000 in funding to help it address contaminated brownfield sites that threaten environmental and public health of the tribe. The funding comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law passed last year, and was inserted into the legislation by Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema […]

The Navajo Nation has lifted its mask mandate, fully reopening to the public

By: - January 23, 2023

Almost three years after it was instituted to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Navajo Nation has lifted its mask mandate, making mask use optional in public spaces and businesses for the general public. By removing the mask mandate, the Navajo Nation is now considered fully reopened to the general public. “It’s time for the […]