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January 20, 2025, marks the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“On this day of coinciding significance, during a time of perpetual American strife and division, let today serve as both a marker and reminder. Let this be another moment when we decide to be better, void of moral turpitude and hate, but rather filled with the kindness, love, and reverence we should express for one another as children of our Creator. As our shared journey continues, as the days ahead arrive at our doorsteps, let us lead with courage and call upon the teachings we have been blessed with to elicit profound conviction, reflecting the values we should all share in common as part of our greater American community and as fellow human beings,” said USET/USET SPF Executive Director Kitcki A. Carroll.

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This is a day that honors the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. A Baptist minister who advocated the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation. It's a day not just for quiet reflection but a resounding call to action. For the days ahead, and every day, we offer you with some thoughts for reflection:

CONTINUE
A poem by Maya Angelou (excerpt below)

My wish for you is that you…Continue

To be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your act of kindness…Continue

To dare to love deeply and risk everything for the good thing…Continue

And by doing so, you and your work will be able to continue…Eternally

The Hill We Climb
A poem by Amanda Gorman (excerpt below)

The norms and notions of what 'just' is isn’t always justice

If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s birthright

When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.

Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions

At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.

Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.

This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.

We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.

Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.

Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.

Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.

Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher