It's getting worse, and Amazon needs to clamp down. If you search Plains Cree on Amazon the second hit is by an author named Duygu Mengioğlu. If she exists she is a Turkish author and translator. She has books in a zillion different languages claiming to teach you how to speak and write them. It's all clearly AI!

For nêhiyawêwin, Plains Cree, everyone sort of knows everyone when it comes to the expert language teachers who publish books. It is basically unheard of to have someone NOT connected to that language teaching community to come up with a legitimate resource. It's not like Spanish or Italian where millions upon millions of people learn and then teach it. I make this point because to the average person, it might seem prejudicial to assume someone can't learn the language and then publish a book about it.... but that literally just doesn't happen without running into the folks already doing the work.

Check her list for your language. And report it as AI if you can. Amazon clearly is going to let this crap continue to be published and it's inaccurate, it's appropriative and predatory, and downright deceptive.

Anna discusses Ojibwe ties to her land, and how they shape her culture and way of life. “Being Indigenous strongly centers connections to our lands, but I don’t feel that as a Jew. There have been a lot of diasporas. I can’t speak for other Jews, but I do not see my Judaism reflected in Israel, and I don’t feel connected to it as a homeland. My grandmother didn’t claim Poland and Poland didn’t claim her. I wish I had the feeling I have about the area around Bad River for the places where my Jewish family grew up.”

Isabella emphasizes the importance of recognizing Judaism as a cultural marker. “Judaism isn’t just a religion—it is culture and family. My culture and family is also about Navajo language and community. I don’t have to choose—I can make things work for me in the ways I need to, and take care of all parts of me. My parents always encouraged me to take part in ceremonies and learn the language...It’s sweet to see the way they treat each others’ cultures and honor both for me.”

Like other multicultural Jews, this is what Native Jews want the larger Jewish community to understand—that they are not “divided” between two cultures but expanded by them. There is no one “correct” way to be Jewish. Native Jews are complete and beautifully diverse.

A video about the superfund site in Cass lake Minnesota on the Leech Lake Reservation.

Hunterbrook analyzed 13 years of Minnesota death records (2011–2024, MN Department of Health individual-level data). Their analysis found:

Life expectancy in Cass Lake is 17 years shorter than the Minnesota average 

Half of Cass Lake residents die before age 65, versus roughly one in five statewide

Among communities adjacent to other Superfund sites across Minnesota, Cass Lake residents die youngest

(I guess this also could’ve been put under the “Education” flair too.)

Hi everyone, I hope my intentions come across as respectful and sincere. I didn’t know where else to ask, so I thought it’d be best to come here. If my wording comes off as inappropriate or I come off as weird, please correct me and educate me so I am aware of it.

I’m a non-indigenous 16 y/o girl from the states, and I’ve had an interest in Indigenous cultures and communities from Turtle Island since grade 7 after a rather more in depth history lesson at school. I took it upon myself to rather hear stories of history from indigenous people directly to get a better understanding through indigenous perspective, which basically started it all. Regardless of who I’m learning about and being mindful of the history, I’ve always been open minded to different cultures and communities, while respect of other people has always been something ingrained within me since I am also a POC (Sinti-Romani or “Gypsy” as gadze refer to us as, and Caribbean). So I understand the pain racism carries, but not through the lens of other marginalized people.

Despite living in a state with a smaller indigenous population (Eastern Coast, which is pretty vague but I’m being vague so I don’t give out too much personal information, just in case mods take this down since I am a minor), I’ve always tried my best to get involved in some way. Whether it be attending pow wows, supporting indigenous businesses, donating to the MMIW/MMIR/MMIP causes, or informing myself about how indigenous people are still impacted by the effects of colonialism today / ongoing issues. I’ve always been extremely (truthfully overly) worried of being insensitive or unaware about something, which sometimes stops me from asking questions, (which also) ultimately stops me from learning more or making connections. This in itself can become an issue and that’s what I don’t want it to be.

How do I become a better ally without being overly nervous all the time? I worry being scared also gives off the wrong idea to people about me that I’m weird or iffy, when I honestly just don’t want to seem ignorant or do more damage towards a community that has already been hurt for so long. What are other ways I can show my support for causes or for communities?

I really hope this doesn’t make me seem I’m trying to be a “savior“ of some sort. I care deeply for advocating and bringing awareness to a lot of things while learning and being apart of beautiful opportunities and creating great connections with people. But the last thing I want to do is cause harm.

Thank you to anyone who answers, hope you are having a great day/afternoon/night! 🩵

hi all! every christmas i try to make homemade, meaningful gifts for my loved ones. things that can be used and won't collect dust when interest is lost/holidays have passed. this year i'm making simmer pot bags and homemade candles, among a few other homemade goodies!

i want to attempt to make a sweetgrass scented candle. i know sweetgrass yields very little natural oil, so there isn't really anyone distributing sweetgrass essential oil. though i have seen may selling sweetgrass scented candles. i'm on a budget though and am hoping to make a big batch for my loved ones instead of spending $15+ a person. my wallet won't survive that </3

i was wondering if any other candle or soap makers out there in indian country know of any scent combos that yield at least a similar scent? hope this is okay to ask here, my apologies if it isn't! miigwech for any and all help !

The National Congress of American Indians has PASSED the Press Freedom Resolution (PSC-26-058), introduced by the Native Media Freedom Alliance (NMFA), the publisher of Buffalo's Fire, at their annual conference. This year’s NCAI annual conference was held Oct. 19–23 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Hello!

Can you share any Paiute/Shoshoni/Native owned in Nevada & California Etsy/online/in-person shops please? Really want to support local but Etsy removed the filtering option to filter by state and I’m having a hard time finding shops here in Nevada. California is welcome too, please! Thank you so much 🙂‍↕️

Koona Wobe Records is owned and operated by The Fort Bidwell Gidutikad Paiute Tribe.
“Wood Board” is the english translation and we are currently integrating a language preservation studio in our community building. Our founder and artist on the roster, Casey Litter is a member of the tribe and dedicates his time to sharing stories and songs from his group Tso Apa along with his reservation skateboarding tours that are focused on youth and learning. We are super excited for the new records and artists that will be coming by and making great things. Check out our store w/ more products and records TBA.

https://koonawoberecords.company.site/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAVL2odleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWURD2A1HAljLhHGBXh--sekKAxMHvjXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp0H17BXT4R0n91P86BWRZrN9XVZ18tz8aRZmYJSIMPb2wVqOOv05bfhtus3j_aem_oiRj22kBVTR2QbfDM0HKBw

I’m trying to be a home owner. No one in my family (other than grandparents) has bought a house, much less used the loan. Does anyone have any native homeownership advice or know how to get the loan? I live in a high income area and would like to stay here. There isn’t housing on my tribes reservation.

Before the mining, the i10 and cattle sales, what was the high plane desert like? Any lore? the land west of petrified forest in Arizona, east of Holbrook but I like their stories too.

A creepy short film. It is great.

In an old travel diary, I'd written down a conversation I'd overheard. It was at the Death Valley Indian Community tribal center, where I'd stopped to buy an Indian taco.

Standing in line to order my food, I was behind two Shoshone women from another, related band visiting the park (I don't recall which band). They were talking to the Timbisha woman behind the counter.

The older visitor mentioned seeing a coyote walking into the village and said it was bad luck. The Timbisha woman agreed, saying it was a warning.

Is it that the coyote was trying to warn the people, as a friend to them? Or is the coyote bringing the trouble? Or something else?

Hello, my name is Lily and I am white. I am trying to learn about Indigenous/Indian/Native American cultures and history. I am seeking out any documentaries or movies you would suggest I watch to better understand anything about Indigenous/indian/native american people; culture, stories, values, traditions/practices, relationship with the land, and especially the impacts of european colonizers. Of course, I would definitely prefer that the films are created and directed by Native people featuring native actors.

Honestly I'm just trying to educate myself overall, so if there are other resources you'd suggest I use, or specific events or concepts you'd suggest I look into outside of film, please let me know!

Thank you, anyone who responds, I really appreciate it!

Hestum? The dictionary I found finally arrived! I immediately took it to our cultural department to make copies for preservation, but once they return it I’ll be studying so hard! There are different dialects, but knowing history they probably lumped it all into one book. I hope that doesn’t cause any issues though. I think my biggest problem may be the pronunciation keys, so I may need to find a teacher.