2020 Tribal Government Stories


Dr. Alicia Mousseau is the first out person on the Oglala Sioux Tribe's executive council (LGBTQ Nation) 12/31/20

Cherokee Nation takes steps to close gaps on McGirt issues (Washington Times Herald) 12/20/20

Colorado River Indian Tribes elect tribal leaders (Indianz) 12/7/20

Navajo Nation lawmakers consider extending junk food tax (Ravalli Republic) 11/30/20

Little Shell elections draw record breaking turnout, incumbents reelected (Montana Public Radio) 11/17/20

More results from tribal elections (Indian Country Today) 11/9/20

Women will be majority of Northern Cheyenne council following election (Billings Gazette) 11/5/20

COVID-19 restrictions put tribal sovereignty to the test (Montana Public Radio) 10/30/20

National Park Service grant awarded to Gun Lake Tribe (Indianz) 10/26/20

Cherokee Nation launches $25M in new construction, remodels as part of COVID-19 response plan (Indian Country News) 9/10/20

Navajo Nation statement on the execution of Lezmond Charles Mitchell (Indian Country Today) 8/27/20

Navajo Nation president approves $475 million in CARES Act funding to provide immediate COVID-19 relief funding for water projects, power line projects, and more (Indian Country Today) 8/19/20

Tribal courts in a pandemic mode (Indian Country Today) 8/18/20

Cherokee sovereignty commission established (Siloam Springs Herald Leader) 8/16/20

Kiowa tribal leadership as budget election nears (The Lawton Constitution) 8/14/20

Navajo Nation president asks for leniency for federal death row inmate (Arizona Public Media) 8/11/20

Navajo Nation Council focuses on extension to 50-year Quadrilateral Agreement expiration date to allow for renegotiation (Indian Country Today) 8/11/20

Turtle Mountain could be first North Dakota tribe to recognize same-sex marriage (Fargo Forum) 8/5/20

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Executive Order establishes "Mvskoke Reservation Protection Commission" (Turtle Talk) 7/30/20

Delegates support chapter government operations, proclamation for Diné Pride Week (Farmington Daily Times) 7/24/20

Tribal courts should abolish cash bail (High Country News) 7/15/20

Munsee tribe celebrates treaty signing anniversary (Ottawa Herald) 7/13/20

Blackfeet Nation elects new council members (Flathead Beacon) 7/8/20

Wooten reelected chairman of the Samish Indian Nation (Go Skagit) 7/3/20

Speaker Seth Damon signs Navajo Nation Diné Pride Week proclamation to recognize equality progress (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 6/30/20

Tlingit and Haida talks tribal courts at weekly luncheon (Juneau Empire) 6/26/20

Why I removed Confederate monuments from the Cherokee Capitol Grounds (Tulsa World - Skiatook Journal) 6/17/20

Official statement on social justice (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) 6/17/20

Navajo Nation sues over hemp growing operation in New Mexico (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 6/16/20

Confederate monuments removed from Cherokee capital square (Public Radio Tulsa) 6/14/20

Navajo leaders lay out plan to spend relief funds, shield elderly from 'this monster' (Indian Country Today) 6/10/20

Tribal court to hear argument on non-resident voting rights amidst COVID-19 (Minot Daily News) 6/3/20

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes identify priorities for spending $13.7 million in COVID-19 relief funds (Idaho State Journal) 6/2/20

UKB extends closure, service limits to June 11 (Tahlequah Daily Press) 5/31/20

Tribal Council modifies budget after getting part of $8B package (Tahlequah Daily Press) 5/29/20

Tribal leaders share relief funding challenges (Indian Country Today) 5/28/20

Tribal leaders oppose consultations with the U.S. during the pandemic (High Country News) 5/27/20

A new resource for tribal officials (MSU Extension Tribal Education) 5/22/20

Red Lake Nation approves medical cannabis (Indian Country Today) 5/21/20

Navajo Nation extends emergency declaration until June 7 (Indian Country Today) 5/13/20

'It's really scary for us': Oglala Sioux Tribe orders lockdown after COVID-19 hits reservation (Indianz) 5/12/20

Chickasaw Nation tribal election filing period opens June 1 (The Ada News) 5/12/20

Small tribes seal borders, push testing to keep out virus (PBS) 5/9/20

In contrast to Wyoming, Wind River Tribes counter COVID-19 with aggressive measures (Wyoming Public Media) 5/7/20

BIA steps on tribal sovereignty (Indianz) 5/7/20

Warm Springs Reservation mandates masks, quarantine during coronavirus outbreak (The Oregonian) 5/6/20

Michigan tribes losing police, health budgets as coronavirus shuts casinos (Bridge Magazine) 4/27/20

Navajo Nation requests relief groups follow curfew orders (Turtle Talk) 4/27/20

South Dakota reservations establish travel ban to limit COVID-19 exposure (The Collegian) 4/24/20

Choctaw Nation sues insurance company for COVID-19 losses (Indian Country Today) 4/24/20

Navajo Nation sues US Treasury for COVID-19 funds (Albuquerque Journal) 4/23/20

Navajo Nation extends virus restrictions till mid-May (Albuquerque Journal) 4/22/20

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's crisis within a crisis (The Harvard Crimson) 4/17/20

COVID relief funds must go to tribal governments. Fairly. (Turtle Talk) 4/12/20

Navajo Nation Council tables bill to postpone election due to coronavirus concerns (Farmington Daily Times) 4/10/20

Casino closures in Indian Country hit core tribal services (High Country News) 4/10/20

Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Tribes battle coronavirus, much like state and federal government (The Oklahoman) 3/29/20

Sault Tribe to grant emergency money to employees from $5.5 million fund (The Sault News) 3/27/20

Reunification for healing: First of its kind (Indianz) 3/17/20

Navajo Nation announces partial government closure (The Durango Herald) 3/17/20

Tribes in Michigan struggle with decision to shut down casinos for coronavirus (Interlochen Public Radio) 3/15/20

'We're going to practice our sovereign rights': Oglala Sioux Tribe enters new era with cannabis vote (Indianz) 3/11/20

Cherokee, Chickasaw programs semifinalists for Honoring Nations award (Tahlequah Daily Press) 3/11/20

Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe' (Indian Country Today) 3/3/20

Sovereignty...and free press (Indian Country Today) 2/24/20

NCAI president: Tribal sovereignty still threatened from 'every corner' (Arizona Public Media) 2/11/20

Aaron Payment seeks re-election as leader of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe (Indianz) 2/10/20

Why tribal chiefs are worried about Maine's response to a new sovereignty push (Bangor Daily News) 2/3/20

Navajo Nation purchases sand and gravel pit in Indian Wells (Navajo-Hopi Observer) 1/28/20

Cherokees discuess grave preservation, hunting compact (Tahlequah Daily Press) 1/14/20

Navajo Nation aims for a Department of Medical Examiners (The Salt Lake Tribune) 1/6/20

New Muscogee (Creek) Nation leaders take office (Public Radio Tulsa) 1/6/20


Articles are arranged from most recent (December) to least recent (January) for this particular year and topic.


Links to full text news articles and other outside sources may not remain persistent or operational over time. Original links as well as the title, source, and date information that was current at the time of publication remain in the Archives for the Indian Law Bulletins to aid in research. Contact us for help locating a resource if needed.


Visit the Archives for the Indian Law Bulletins to see news stories from previous years.


Indian Law Bulletins are a current awareness service of the National Indian Law Library. The purpose of the Indian Law Bulletins is to provide succinct and timely information about new developments in Indian Law. See the About page for more information.

Search News Articles in the Indian Law Bulletins:

Basic Search Help
Operators and More Search Help