“Seconds count any time an Arizonan goes missing, a fact that our Native communities know all too well.” story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“We didn’t lose anyone. We did not lose any structures. We won.” story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“We’re only five people strong as officials and staff — but with the volunteers, that has allowed us to account for who is going to handle the food distribution and care packages.” story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“A lot of families are going to receive their sheep back better than they brought them in.” story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Hundreds have been evacuated as a wildfire near the Navajo Nation capital grows to nearly 10,000 acres. The fire is 0% contained. Wind and dry conditions are a major factor in its spread. Multiple communities within the fire areas are under evacuation orders. azmirror.com/2025/07/01/h...

April Ignacio asked the room of Tohono O’odham police officers who was familiar with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. Just 3 of the 15 officers raised their hands. story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“As Native peoples, we don’t see our precious resources as dollar bills. We are caretakers of these lands, with a responsibility to protect and manage them sustainably for generations to come.” story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“Let’s do a purification. I’ll purify your soul in the fiery pits of hell. Demons, take this pedophile and make him suffer,” the murdered Navajo medicine man was told in the church play story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“Two Spirit existed before colonization and the Stonewall Riot. My ancestors were here before the colonizers." story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

The Arizona Mirror and @diinsilversmith.bsky.social took home three awards in the Indigenous Journalists Association’s annual journalism contest

Six professors call for removal of an assistant vice provost they say is harming Indigenous community story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“He made sure that the well-being of the students was always at the forefront and this decision doesn’t reflect that.” Story by @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Indigenous students at UofA have expressed safety concerns regarding leadership in the Office of Native American Initiatives for months. Now, NAI will oversee the cultural center, which offered students a safe space, and the university has fired the center's director. azmirror.com/2025/06/05/u...

In his dissent, Neil Gorsuch called the decision a "grave mistake" as a copper mine threatens to create massive crater on a sacred Apache site story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“ We are here because the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people demands our full attention and collaboration,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs. “It demands action and it demands solutions.” Story by @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

After a month off from reporting due to the demands of a PhD program and the necessary exams, I am back at work this week. So, what did I miss?

Delegates accused Nygren of "mocking" collaboration after he skipped Monday's session despite a subpoena story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

By summer, Arizona will be launching a Missing Endangered Persons alert, something MMIP advocates have been seeking for years story via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“This crime must not go unsolved. Emily was murdered in a cruel, depraved and heinous act and the perpetrator(s) must be held accountable.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Arizona lawmakers: Removing Hayes and Piestewa stories contradicts tribal sovereignty via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“I can’t help but think, what if this law was in place early? Would Emily be alive today? We must act.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“Not only is this nonsensical, but it dishonors all Native American veterans and their families who have given so much to protect this country.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“I have three daughters. I am fighting for them.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

One of the greatest achievements in my journalism career was profiling five Navajo Code Talkers in 2019. Now, only two remain. When one of these last living Navajo Code Talkers states that their contributions have nothing to do with DEI, people need to listen. azmirror.com/2025/03/19/m...

The Department of Defense deleted websites for Navajo Code Talkers and an Iwo Jima flag raiser under Trump's order banning anything that remotely looks like DEI via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Emily Pike's death sparks calls for justice as community places hundreds of red handprints in memorial via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

I've been working on a story about Sonya and Meggie Cywink. Sonya was killed in 1994 & for the last several years, her sister Meggie Cywink has taken on the task of trying to solve her sister's murder - tracking down leads, interviewing people & piecing together the mystery of her sister's death.

“Tribal communities across the country will not let Emily’s name be forgotten. Let her memory be a call to action.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Tribal nations and leaders throughout Arizona honored U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died Thursday, as a warrior for Indigenous communities via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“People doubted that three tribes could unite. This dispute was imposed on us, but with something as vital as water at stake, we came together — not for ourselves, but for our children.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“It is unclear how Phoenix’s Western Regional office was selected for closure and whether the repercussions of this decision have been fully considered.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

IJA mourns the loss of founder Mary Polanco (Jicarilla Apache), a fierce advocate for Indigenous journalism. - tinyurl.com/4k58f32m

Next in our Growing Indigenous Storytellers Fellowship speaker series: Duncan McCue, award-winning broadcaster, educator & author of 'Decolonizing Journalism': A Guide to Reporting in Indigenous Communities'! 📅 Thu, Mar 13, 1-1:45pm CT 🔗 Register: zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The tragic death of San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike has resonated with many across Indian Country & has put out calls of action to raise awareness about the ongoing MMIW crisis. Her family said in the midst of tragedy & sorrow, something good should come out of this. azmirror.com/2025/03/07/s...

Tribal leaders told Congress that Trump's "chainsaw approach" to government cuts will disproportionately harm Indian Country via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Anyone wanna do a panel? 😁

This is an excellent opportunity for an Indigenous journalist looking to gain some newsroom experience.

"ICE’s law enforcement tactics reflect an abdication of U.S. trust and treaty responsibility with Tribal nations and their citizens and cannot stand." via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

“This was a blatant disregard for others impacted by the hauling activity, which could have been avoided by allowing our voice to be heard.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Two weeks after the Navajo Nation and Energy Fuels announced their uranium haul agreement, two trucks from the Pinyon Plain Mine passed through Navajo land, marking the beginning of the daily truck hauls. #NavajoNation #Arizona #Uranium #Indigenous #NativeAmerican azmirror.com/2025/02/14/w...

Another story in the series. It covers the stretch of the uranium haul route through Utah, which includes the Ute Mountain Ute Tribes community in White Mesa. They are located 5 miles south of the uranium mill, where the uranium from the Pinyon Plain Mine is transported azmirror.com/2025/01/30/t...

BREAKING: After nearly six months of negotiations, the Navajo Nation and Energy Fuels, Inc. announced that they had reached an agreement for the transportation of uranium ore across Navajo land. azmirror.com/briefs/navaj...

“These are gonna die,” Dianna Sue Uqualla said of the vegetation around Red Butte Mountain, a sacred site for the Havasupai Tribe because 3 miles north sits Pinyon Plain Mine, where uranium ore is being extracted and prepared for transport along a route near the mountain azmirror.com/2025/01/28/t...

Because of congressional inaction, the program expired last summer. That means no new claims can be filed. via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

Tribal members gather outside the chamber to pray for victims of uranium exposure. They call on Navajo leaders to advocate for Congress to extend & expand RECA. Last week, bipartisan legislation was introduced again in Congress to amend RECA. Dinétah is home to downwinders & former uranium miners.

I drove the route that uranium ore will travel from the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon to the country's only operating uranium mill near Blanding, Utah. This is the first story in the series about that route and the communities the uranium will travel through. azmirror.com/2025/01/27/u...

My 17-year-old, 6-foot Navajo son got his city bus pass. He's excited to use it. I was excited for him until I had to tell him why he needed to carry his CIB in his wallet. "Reports of Navajo people being detained in immigration sweeps sparks concern from tribal leaders" azmirror.com/2025/01/24/r...

The Tohono O’odham Nation signed a co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for federal lands with deep cultural and religious ties for the tribal nation via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social

The lawsuit claims that the state’s failure to respond to the fraud caused the sober living crisis and allowed the harm to “grow, spread, and flourish at unprecedented catastrophic levels.” via @diinsilversmith.bsky.social