Laurel Morales
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The spill of heavy metals into the Animas River has contaminated water for hundreds of farmers in the Navajo Nation downstream, bringing up memories of past environmental disasters.
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While the Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, it didn't affect American Indian tribes. The 566 tribes in the U.S. are sovereign, and only 10 have legalized gay marriage.
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One report shows that state courts are twice as likely to incarcerate Native teens for minor crimes like truancy and alcohol use. Another, that alternatives like treatment programs are more effective.
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Teens living on reservations often face a daunting array of hurdles. To help them cope, Navajo sibling musicians Clayson and Jeneda Benally are working to inspire students to write songs of their own.
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Native Americans have some of the highest substance abuse rates compared to other ethnic groups. Alcohol and meth are the drugs of choice. Now, cartels are taking advantage of lax police enforcement.
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Starting this month across the country, Native American tribes are now allowed to prosecute crimes against women in their own courts, even if the perpetrator is not Native American. Three tribes have been piloting ways to honor both the tribal and federal legal systems.
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Some tribes are trying to set up growing operations after the Justice Department announced it would back off enforcement. Others worry about the potential for substance abuse.
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For decades, residents of the Navajo Nation's Smith Lake community have had to make their water stretch; a mission trucks it in monthly from 50 miles away. But soon, they'll be getting their own well.
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Developers and the Navajo Nation are negotiating to bring a tourist complex — and jobs — to the edge of the Grand Canyon. But some Native Americans say the project would tread on sacred land.
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The father of one of the 19 firefighters who died a year ago in the Yarnell Hill Fire wants to create shelters that better shield against direct flames.
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There's an estimated 350 bison living in Grand Canyon National Park. The herd has grown too big and is overgrazing park land, draining already low water resources and trampling archaeological sites.
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The National Park Service says that an 89-year-old Navajo elder will be the last to live at Wupatki National Monument. Stella Peshlakai Smith's family faces eviction when she dies.