- Details
- By Native StoryLab
For many Native Americans, the call to serve runs deeper than duty; it’s a continuation of a warrior tradition that stretches back generations. On this week’s Native Bidaské, airing Friday, November 14, host Levi Rickert sits down with James Craig III, a veteran and tribal council member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, whose story bridges the frontlines of global conflict and the heart of tribal leadership at home.
Craig’s journey began with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served with distinction before transitioning into intelligence operations. But even after leaving the battlefield, he says, the mission didn’t end. For Craig, service evolved from defending the nation abroad to strengthening his tribal nation at home.
Beyond his work as a veteran advocate, Craig now serves his tribe as a council member, where he applies the same discipline and leadership he learned in the military to tribal governance. He emphasized that leadership, in both arenas, comes down to responsibility, showing up for the people, and ensuring the next generation has opportunities to thrive.
Through his story, James Craig III reminds us that the warrior’s path doesn’t end with service—it transforms. Whether on the battlefield or in the council chambers, the call to protect, lead, and heal remains the same.
👉 Join us for this conversation on Native Bidaské
Date: Friday, November 14th, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT / 10:00 a.m. MT / 9:00 a.m. PT
Streaming on: Facebook, YouTube, and the Native News Online website
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.
The 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