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A record number of Native Americans are running in the 2026 midterms
At least 355 Native American and Indigenous candidates ran or are running in local, state and federal primary and general elections this year — a record number.
The Silent Crisis: Suicide Among Native Americans Reflects Global Mental Health Emergency
Overview: World Suicide Prevention Day, observed annually on September 10, highlights the global toll of suicide while drawing attention to the disproportionately high rates experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native people. AI/AN communities face the highest suicide rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, with particularly alarming rates among males, […]
Mark Cruz to lead Indian Health Service amid staffing and infrastructure challenges
Senior Health and Human Services advisor Mark Cruz will now lead the U.S. agency that provides healthcare to some 2.8 million Native Americans.
US Senate confirms Mark Cruz to lead Indian Health Service
Senior Health and Human Services advisor Mark Cruz will now lead the U.S. agency that provides healthcare to some 2.8 million Native Americans.
SBA moves to revise 8(a) rules while preserving tribal, ANC eligibility
Details By Brian Edwards Native Contracting June 13, 2026 The U.S. Small Business Administration has proposed changes to its 8(a) Business Development Program that would eliminate race-based presumptions of social disadvantage for individually owned businesses while leaving eligibility standards unchanged for tribally owned enterprises, Alaska Native corporations and other Native entity-owned participants. In both the title and summary of the proposed rule published in the Federal Register, SBA emphasized that the changes only apply to individually owned firms and “do not impact entity-owned firms,” including tribes, Alaska Native corporation, Native Hawaiian organizations and community development corporations. The proposed rule, announced June 11, would require all individual applicants seeking admission to the 8(a) program to submit evidence demonstrating social disadvantage. Membership in a racial or ethnic group alone would no longer establish eligibility, according to the SBA. For Indian Country, the agency said eligibility standards for businesses owned by federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations and community development corporations would remain unchanged. The proposal comes after the Department of Defense reaffirmed that participation by tribes and Alaska Native corporations in the 8(a) program is based on their political status under federal law rather than diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In a May 28 letter to Alaska's Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey wrote that participation by federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native corporations in federal programs is “grounded in their political status as Native Americans, not DEI initiatives.” The SBA proposal follows a 2023 federal court ruling that found unconstitutional the program's rebuttable presumption that members of certain racial and ethnic groups were socially disadvantaged. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the proposed rule would establish a single standard for individually owned applicants by requiring evidence of social disadvantage. The 8(a) Business Development Program provides participating firms with business development assistance and access to federal set-aside and sole-source contracting opportunities. The program remains a major source of federal contracting revenue for tribal enterprises and Alaska Native corporations. Native-owned firms received $16.1 billion of the program's approximately $26 billion in federal contract awards during fiscal 2024, according to data previously reported by Tribal Business News. The proposal also arrives amid ongoing concerns from Native contractors about SBA administration of the program. In May, the Native American Contractors Association and 53 Native-owned businesses urged SBA to address delays in processing 8(a) applications, saying some reviews had stretched beyond regulatory deadlines and appeared to have stalled since August 2025. The proposed rule is open for public comment through July 13. The Federal Register notice does not reference tribal consultation or indicate whether SBA determined consultation was unnecessary because tribal eligibility standards are unchanged. The SBA has not announced when the proposed rule would take effect. The agency is expected to accept public comments before issuing a final rule.About The AuthorAuthor: Brian EdwardsBrian Edwards is associate publisher and associate editor of Tribal Business News and Native News Online. He is a longtime publisher, editor, business reporter and serial entrepreneur. Subscribe Today!Other Articles by this authorDefense Department reaffirms tribal, ANC eligibility in SBA 8(a) programTribal heritage projects eligible for up to $100K in federal funding through NPS programIHS launches tribal long-term care construction initiative with three projectsIḷisaġvik College acquires site for long-planned Utqiaġvik campus This article is available to paid digital subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
The Seneca Drums: The mystery science has yet to solve
There is a mystery underneath the Finger Lakes largest and deepest lake. It's one that has been resonating with generations as far back as the Native Americans
Sanford Health to hold Native Americans with Stethoscopes event
Sanford Health of Bemidji will host its annual Native Americans with Stethoscopes health care career exploration event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
Next on Native Bidaské: How U.S. Politics and Voting Rights Today Are Impacting Native Americans with Gwen Carr
In this episode of Native Bidaské, host Levi Rickert talks with political strategist Gwen Carr about how U.S. politics, voting rights, and elections are impacting Native Americans right now. They break down: Gwen shares her perspective as an Indigenous woman with more than 30 years in politics, including work in the Clinton administration, the DNC, […]
To help boost Indigenous enrollment in science majors, UMaine Machias is adding Native perspectives
The number of Native Americans enrolling in college has declined by 40% in the last decade and a half. The disparities are particularly noticeable in science and engineering, where Native American students are underrepresented at all higher education levels.
'First step of healing': Native Americans at Harvard bring ancient sport of stickball to campus
The Native American sport, in which players use two sticks to carry and toss a small ball, is considered one of the oldest team sports in the country. For those getting together to play on Harvard's campus, it's a connection to their ancestry.
Native Americans respond to Washington Commanders' new polarizing logo
Native Americans were largely critical about the Washington Commanders' "new alternate logo'' that features a spear embedded in a W.
Indian Health Service is digging out of decades-old construction backlog for medical buildings
The U.S. agency that provides healthcare to Native Americans has a facilities problem.
Indian Health Service chips away at construction backlog
The U.S. agency that provides healthcare to Native Americans has a facilities problem. Buildings in its inventory are decades-old, dilapidated and don't have enough space to care for a growing population.
End of enhanced Obamacare subsidies puts tribal health lifeline at risk
One estimates that 125,000 Native Americans will become uninsured in 2026 due to the higher costs.
Indian Health Service to phase out use of dental fillings containing mercury by 2027
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans and Alaska Natives has announced it will phase out the use of dental fillings containing mercury.
Indian Health Service to phase out use of dental fillings containing mercury by 2027
The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans will no longer treat tooth decay with dental fillings containing mercury.
Mental health advocate for California tribes dies in murder-suicide
Celinda Gonzales of the Yurok Tribe worked to prevent suicides among Native Americans after experiencing loss in her family. She "was a friend to many”.
Fraudulent health care scheme stopped in Montana
The Commissioner of Insurance helped stop a fraudulent multimillion dollar billing scheme by agents preying on Native Americans.