ALL REPORTING

Tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest leverage sovereignty and experience to fight the pandemic.

The Constitution of the Choctaw Nation bars enrollment for the descendants of enslaved Black people. Chief Gary Batton says enrollment is based on ‘a federal construct that has fueled division and racism.’

COVID-19 created a need for more internet access. On reservations, barriers remain to high-speed broadband.

Earlier this year, 17 members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation went on trial for violating COVID-19 restrictions. In court, they argued that they had a right to practice their traditions. Pandemic restrictions have made it harder for many Native Americans to maintain contact with their culture, some leaders say.

The COVID-19 pandemic and mismatched databases confound efforts to address failures investigating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Wednesday is a national day of action.

Oregon tribes are reintroducing a species that creates important habitat for First Foods. But the Beaver State’s laws don’t work in the animal’s favor.

The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has hit Indian Country particularly hard. Entrepreneurs are turning to small, local lending institutions in a region that’s often outside the reach of traditional banks.

As employment by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation drives an economic engine, tribal members and reservation residents lack access to traditional banking. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services is trying to bridge that gap.

Once leery of federal health initiatives, Native Americans embrace COVID-19 vaccines as a way to protect communities and families.

Members of Congress are threatening to hold up housing funds for tribes. To the chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, it’s infringing on tribal sovereignty. For those seeking citizenship, it’s a chance to change a ‘system of hidden anti-Black racism.’

If Rep. Deb Haaland is appointed by Congress, she will oversee the Department of Interior, managing “the earth, mountains, forests, rivers—and Indians”, a federal agency that has upended life for Native Americans for decades.

Incomplete data show academic slippage as many K-12 students learned from home. The push is now on to return to the classroom — safely.

The novel coronavirus outbreak is making it harder for Native Americans to fish along the Columbia River. Depleted salmon runs and the federal government’s failure to improve fishing sites had already impacted culturally and economically important harvests.

Teachers in the Central Oregon school district have gotten creative and put extra energy into engaging their students online.

The small, high-desert district, one of the few to host in-person classes, has a 94% attendance rate.

At Banks High School, teachers employ a variety of strategies to ensure that students don’t log in and then tune out.

In Oregon, few academic benchmarks are being kept at the state level, and even fewer being shared. But the data that is available indicates that many students are regularly missing classes, particularly at the upper grades and that many high schoolers are failing at least one class.

As high school students juggle responsibilities of a job or child care, one school district experiments with evening tutoring.

Based on a couple key indicators, students of color are lagging behind white students during distance learning, although the disparity seems smaller in rural districts.

Estacada school officials branch out to connect with students in rural Clackamas County.

Relief money provided by the CARES Act must be spent by Dec. 30. With Congress fighting over additional stimulus, Oregon tribal governments are left wondering how they’ll provide services next year.

The COVID-19 pandemic shuttered facilities at Portland’s Native American Youth and Family Center. Now the organization is finding ways to offer services remotely, including getting food to families who are at a high risk of going hungry.

And why I'm lucky

The two middle-aged white men shared a common backstory: Both were raised in the rural Pacific Northwest and found a sense of greater purpose and belonging on opposite sides of radical politics. Then both ended up dead.

“I’ve been emailing my fourth grader’s teacher saying, ‘Hey, we’re lost.’ But it’s after-hours, so he can’t really help me.”

A look at events that led up to the Columbus Day proclamation that arose from racist attitudes and how Native Americans face similar racist demons. 

Local law enforcement officers deputized as U.S. Marshals have given conflicting accounts of the shooting. Witnesses say they heard no warning before the agents shot Michael Reinoehl dead, an outcome President Trump termed “retribution.’’

Federal regulators have given a Canadian oil company the power to seize property from Oregon landowners for a gas pipeline that will help … Canada.

For Native American high school graduates, COVID-19 has derailed plans—but not resolve.

The Census has long failed to accurately tally populations in Indian Country. COVID-19 is hampering attempts to fix that.

In response to COVID-19, the state closed its classrooms in spring and will keep kids at home to start the new school year.

Jefferson County school officials are working to ensure recent graduation rate gains don’t falter with a shift to distance learning.

Officials at the Central Oregon school district say a focus on individual student needs has helped almost everyone, particularly Latinos and Native Americans.

On the Warm Springs Reservation, residents have been without clean drinking water for three summers in a row. Where is the fix?

Native American activists see purpose with Black Lives Matter.

With the arrival of militarized federal officers, questions arise among the local protest community.

The Native American experience with COVID-19 is only the latest chapter in a centuries-long tragedy.

In the midst of a pandemic, tribes adapt in their preparation for fire season.

While their home islands drown, Micronesians living in Oregon struggle to save their heritage.

Pandemic has forced the cancellation of events everywhere. But in Indian Country, not congregating comes with added cost—and risk.

Courts are experimenting with novel approaches to gang activity. Can they be applied to right-wing extremists?

Casino closings affect thousands of Oregon jobs.

Native American dancing celebrates life at a distance

Coronavirus numbers for Native Americans begin to climb.

Collaboration and multiple partnerships built “Our Place” to change the financial bottom line.

Former right-wing radicals are leading efforts to counter violent extremists. But do they work?

Patriot Prayer leaders insist they’re not racists, but they continue to draw praise from white supremacists

How Joey Gibson, and those who orbit around Patriot Prayer, have found meaning (and thrills) in violent right-wing extremism

Observers at 2018 rally watched as right, left squared off