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New Tool Maps Native Serving Healthcare
Healthcare systems serving Native American patients can now be searched in a single database developed by Indigenous Healthcare Advancements, a Nevada-based tribal healthcare management service. IHA a...
ENTERTAINMENT: Indigenous-Centered ‘Dark Winds’ Adds Depth to the Crime TV Genre
There are moments of both literal and emotional darkness, including night scenes and times of human turmoil and tragedy. But the series is usually sun-baked and starkly beautiful…
Why an Iowa history professor walked 370 miles across state
Learn about Iowa history, the 1835 Dragoon Expedition, and Indigenous stories in history professor Kevin Mason’s new book, "Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa."
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.
'Dances With Wolves' actor Nathan Chasing Horse gets life sentence for sexual assault
Nathan Chasing Horse, best known for 'Dances With Wolves,' gets life in prison a month after he was convicted of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
After Armed Struggle: Indigenous Politics from Latin America to India
When insurgency fades, what can take its place to defend communities from state power and mining corporations?
A New Big Database of DNA From Indigenous Americans Shakes Up Scientists' Theories About Human Settlement of South America
Genomic data provides evidence for a previously unknown wave of migration, with Indigenous groups living in central and southern Mexico spreading into South America and the Caribbean starting around 1,300 years ago
Building a massive dam between Alaska and Russia could prevent AMOC collapse, scientists say
Building a dam in the Bering Strait might preserve the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, but experts warn it could also threaten wildlife, Indigenous people and shipping — and could actually speed up its demise.
DNA study of nearly 200 Indigenous genomes reveals unknown Asian 'ghost' population contributed to American ancestry
New genetic results reveal a previously unknown wave of people settled in South America 1,300 years ago and that Indigenous Americans carry remnants of a "ghost lineage."
Indigenous health can’t be separated from environmental health, leaders tell UN
At Permanent Forum, leaders connect climate change, mining, and deforestation to mounting health crisis and demand coordinated approach to land rights.
Two New Mexico Indigenous chefs to appear Tuesday on Food Network's 'Chopped'
Two Indigenous New Mexico chefs who will be appearing on Chopped say they hope the program helps promote the Native food movement.
Indigenous Leadership for Health: Virtual Preparatory Webinar to UNPFII 2026
English - French - Portuguese - Spanish - Russian Indigenous Peoples have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. WHO invites you to join Indigenous Leadership for Health, a virtual preparatory webinar to the 25th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII 2026), to be held on Thursday, 16 April 2026, from 13:30 to 16:00 CEST, via Zoom. Interpretation will be available in English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.This event brings together Indigenous leaders working on health to help shape the forthcoming WHO Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples (GPoA). It is co-organized by WHO, the Government of Brazil, the Government of the Philippines, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.The webinar will be divided into two parts, each with a corresponding objective:Part I – Contents of the draft Global Plan of Action. Part I's objective is to provide an update on the process for development of the Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, to share important lessons learnt from previous work and inputs received thus far, and to invite participants to send written inputs to the Plan. The linkages to the health topics to be discussed at the forthcoming UNPFII will also be highlighted.Part II – Panel on Indigenous Leadership for Health. Part II's objective is to highlight Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, and community-driven approaches that contribute to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, through the sharing of select country and regional examples.Registration is free and open to all. Register hereWe encourage all Indigenous organizations, communities, partners, and individuals to join us and contribute to this important global process.
Alaska business plan competition awards Native entrepreneurs tackling rural service gaps
Alaska Growth Capital’s Alaska Marketplace competition awarded Indigenous entrepreneurs up to $20,000 to grow businesses addressing service gaps across rural Alaska.
North of North Creators to Receive WIE Canada Honors
The ‘North of North’ indigenous comedy creators and showrunners will receive the Breakthrough Award on May 28 in Toronto.
Braiding knowledge: how Indigenous expertise and western science are converging
Researchers are weaving Native practices with western methods to revive ecosystems and reclaim food sovereignty
Scientists Create Plant That Produces Ayahuasca, Shrooms, and Toad Psychedelics All At Once
The proof-of-concept system produces psilocybin, DMT, and other compounds in leaves of the tobacco plant, potentially easing pressure on wild species and preserving Indigenous traditions.
‘Marshals’: Kayce Channels Monica Dutton in Search for Missing Indigenous Girls
The spinoff references one of Monica Dutton's biggest 'Yellowstone' episodes.
‘Marshals’: Kayce Channels Monica Dutton in Search for Missing Indigenous Girls
The spinoff references one of Monica Dutton's biggest 'Yellowstone' episodes.
Treating Myths as Science
Indigenous “Ways of Knowing” have no place in British Columbia’s school science curriculum.
In the Fight to Defend the Amazon, This Indigenous Community’s Secret Weapon Is Science
In the copper-rich mountains of southeastern Ecuador, Shuar people are combining ancestral knowledge and modern science to protect their forest from a Canadian mining giant.
Politics of Indigenous peoples in the West
Indigenous communities increasingly influence energy, security and electoral dynamics across the Americas.
When Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Science Meet, Good Things Happen
Tribal leaders and climate coordinators are working together to protect lands and waterways
Indigenous knowledge confirms what scientists observe: Large birds are disappearing
Many Indigenous peoples and local communities live in close contact with nature and learn to identify the wildlife around them from an early age. New research published in the International Journal of Conservation draws on that knowledge to better understand a scientifically documented trend: large bird populations are shrinking. Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, an ethnobotanist with the […]
Traditional Pacific navigators bring the intricate science of
Organized by Sophia Perez, Indigenous Technologies Coordinator for the Berkeley Center for New Media, a weeklong series of public workshops beginning March 9 will feature master navigators teaching
Cancer Haunts Neighbors of Canada’s Oil Sands Wastelands
Though high rates of the disease persist among the nearby Indigenous communities, the Canadian government is weighing rules that may allow energy giants to release treated mining waste into the river system.
Traditional Pacific navigators bring the intricate science of wayfinding to the Bay Area
Organized by Sophia Perez, Indigenous Technology Coordinator for the Berkeley Center for New Media, a weeklong series of public workshops beginning March 9 will feature master navigators teaching everything from traditional canoe technology to ancient star-mapping.
10 Years of Building Business Dreams for Indigenous Women
Women travel from tribal communities across Arizona and the Southwest carrying business plans, lived experience and ambition. Project DreamCatcher is a free, culturally grounded business education pro...
10 years of building business dreams for Indigenous women
Three years ago, Denella Belin was not looking to become her own boss. A Navajo chef from Tuba City, Arizona, she had what many would consider strong job security.She was working as a sous chef at a tribal-owned casino in the Valley, a position she had spent years building toward. She had five children, more than a decade of kitchen experience and a steady paycheck. Entrepreneurship was not part of her plan.Then someone asked her a question she could not shake.
Cherokee Film to host industry panel at South by Southwest 2026
Cherokee Film is amplifying Native voices on one of the entertainment industry’s most influential stages by hosting a featured panel at South by Southwest 2026, focused on Indigenous storytelling, representation
Ujima Graduation Celebrates Black and Indigenous Business Training
Event commemorates months-long regime for established companies and startups to gain skill to support inclusive business practices and employment opportunities
Indigenous mental health leader in California dies in apparent murder-suicide
A 59-year-old Indigenous woman, a well-known mental health advocate in Northern California’s Humboldt County, was discovered dead in an apparent murder-suicide earlier this…
Meet the 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Advancing Research Grants for Indigenous Politics Recipients -
About the Advancing Research Grants for Indigenous Politics The APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grants provide support for research that examines political science phenomena affecting historically underserved communities and underrepresented groups and communities. In [...]
Business Students Help Panamanian Entrepreneurs
Northern Michigan University College of Business students participated in a January short-term study-abroad experience in Panama, where they worked alongside rural and Indigenous entrepreneurs to strengthen and grow local businesses.
He Built a Server to Protect Indigenous Health Data
Joseph Yracheta was in charge of a repository that compiled and protected tribal health data. Then its funding was cut.
He Built a Server to Protect Indigenous Health Data
Joseph Yracheta was in charge of a repository that compiled and protected tribal health data. Then its funding was cut.
Upcoming Woodburn Public Library exhibit explores Indigenous science
Looking to learn about Oregon’s earliest innovators? The Woodburn Public Library will host the traveling Native Innovation Exhibit from Friday, Jan. 16, through Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 280 Garfield St. […]
Upcoming Woodburn Public Library exhibit explores Indigenous science
Looking to learn about Oregon’s earliest innovators? The Woodburn Public Library will host the traveling Native Innovation Exhibit from Friday, Jan. 16, through Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 280 Garfield St. […]
Blending Science and Indigenous Knowledge to Tell an Estuary’s Story
A new study of nutrient levels in soil cores supports oral Indigenous history, informing future estuary restoration efforts.
Mahmood Mamdani’s 'Slow Poison' centers politics of belonging in postcolonial Uganda : NPR's Book of the Day
Mahmood Mamdani — a professor of government at Columbia University and the father of Zohran Mamdani, NYC’s next mayor — has spent decades researching colonialism and its effects on the African continent. His work is both political and personal, influenced by his own experience in Uganda as an exiled citizen deemed nonindigenous by colonial structures. In today’s episode, Mamdani talks to NPR’s Leila Fadel about his newest book, Slow Poison, an account of colonial legacy in Uganda, the rise of the country’s modern autocrats, and the politics of belonging that surround it all.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
The guardians of the meteorites of the Argentine Chaco
About 4,000 years ago, an intense shower of these objects fell in the north of the country, turning it into a reserve of great astronomical and spiritual value for the Indigenous Moqoit people
After centuries of conflict, Chile's Indigenous Mapuches fear a far-right political turn
PEDRO CAYUQUEO, Chile (AP) — The Mapuches, Chile’s biggest Indigenous group, have endured centuries of battle.
After centuries of conflict, Chile’s Indigenous Mapuches fear a far-right political chapter
The Mapuches have endured centuries of battle. They are Chile’s biggest Indigenous group who make up roughly 12% of the country's 19 million people.
Fossil science owes a debt to indigenous knowledge: Lesotho missionary’s notes tell the story
Long ago, people identified fossils in their environment and explained them within their own cultural framework. This was early citizen science.
Comanche Entertainment discusses impact of new Indigenous in-room programming
In addition to letting guests experience Indigenous and Native culture from the comfort of their hotel rooms, the partnership between Comanche Entertainment and First Nations Experience (FNX) is also shedding light on the rich history of Native American casinos in the United States.
The stark disparity in maternal health care for Indigenous women
Better care is possible for Indigenous women through culturally aware practices that rebuild trust and support new mothers fully.
Indigenous knowledge and science join forces to save the choro mussel in Chile
Huellelhue means “place for swimming” in Mapudungun. It’s also the name of one of the rivers that flow through the Lafken Mapu Lahual Multiple-Use Conservation Area, established in 2005 in southern Chile’s Los Lagos region. The name of this area is more than just a grouping of words, says Eduardo Vargas, president of the Nirehue […]