Will Historic Standing Rock Talks Change U.S.-Tribe Relationships?
The Department of Justice promised to consider nationwide reform in how the U.S. treats tribal land. Legal experts consider what, exactly, that might look like.
YES! Article archive
Democracy
Climate Justice Meets Racism: This Moment at Standing Rock Was Decades in the Making
North Dakota’s militarized response to activists opposing the Dakota Access pipeline—and the Standing Rock Sioux’s fierce resolve—reflect the area's particular racial divides.
Tribes Redraw Land Boundaries—With GPS and a Small Fleet of Drones
From the Standing Rock Sioux to the Wounaan in Panama, indigenous communities are staking claims to traditional territories even when they no longer possess ownership rights.
At Standing Rock, a Sense of Purpose: “This Is How We Should Be Living”
Protecting the water and sacred sites brought people here. The experience of being here is changing lives.
The Big Difference at Standing Rock Is Native Leadership All Around
Dallas Goldtooth, a veteran organizer of the Keystone XL fight, is amazed at the historic support from tribes at Standing Rock—even tribes that rely on resource extraction.
Obama Pipeline Plot Twist Is Not a Victory—And Could Erase the Struggle
The illusion of victory is a dangerous thing. We could undo what we have built at Standing Rock, this unprecedented act of Native American collective resistance.
For Thousands at Standing Rock, a Shocking Day After So Much Waiting
After the pipeline decisions, many at the protest site wonder whether future generations will look back on this as a turning point in U.S.-tribal history.
If Real Change Starts at the Bottom, Why Is the Green Party Focused on the White House?
Campaigns are a tactic, like protests and boycotts, and the trick is to use them wisely, not to prove how good you are.
Has Arizona Found a Solution to Gerrymandering?
Sixteen years ago, Arizona stripped state lawmakers of the right to draw electoral districts. Many lawsuits later, democracy is stronger—in some ways.
In Photos: Northwest Canoe Tribes Arrive at Historic Gathering at Standing Rock
Celebration and solidarity as hundreds of tribes unite behind the Standing Rock Sioux’s opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline.
Feds Step In, and the Big Win May Be for All Tribes Facing Pipelines
The Department of Justice promised “meaningful tribal input” on pipeline decisions and the protection of tribal lands, resources, and treaty rights.
How Obama Can Keep the Standing Rock Sioux Standoff From Turning Bloody
The Nixon White House managed three Indian occupations. There are lessons for President Obama there—if he would just pay attention.
Threat of Salmon Extinction Turns Small Tribe Into Climate Researchers
As glaciers disappear, fish are expected to follow. But the Nooksack tribe of Washington state has a plan to keep nearby rivers and streams cool.
In This Food Desert, Kids Learn to Farm Veggies—Out of the Back of a Truck
For the past year, the Food Literacy Project in Louisville, Kentucky, has sent its garden-on-wheels to local food deserts, connecting people to healthy eating and changing the lives of young people.
My Brush With Terrorism Helped Me Find My Courage
Sometimes it seems that the world is responding to violence only with violence, but there are other possibilities.
Why the Founder of Standing Rock Sioux Camp Can’t Forget the Whitestone Massacre
We must remember we are part of a larger story. We are still here. We are still fighting for our lives on our own land.
A Test of U.S. Climate Leadership Will Be How We Treat the Standing Rock Sioux
Can we trust Clinton-Kaine promises of an energy future “where no one is left out or left behind”?
Meet the Farmworker Who Helped Win Rent Control in California’s Wine Country
When Gervacio Pena Lopez migrated to Sonoma County 30 years ago, he just wanted to find work to support his family. Since then, he has won victories for domestic and day laborers.
Dear Politicians, Here’s What You’d See at the Standing Rock Sioux Blockade
Most importantly, they would see the serious purpose for the people here at Camp Sacred Stone, one that’s not going away without a successful resolution.
Why We Need Tiny Colleges
Could smaller—and cheaper—schools produce more thoughtful, engaged, and compassionate human beings?
Call for Submissions: Science for the Public Good
Send us your ideas by Sept 25.
3 Reasons the Standing Rock Sioux Can Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline
For starters, this protest is about a competing idea for the future of the planet—and waves of people will show up to make that point.
Voting Rights Victories Piling Up
“The Federal District and Appeals Courts are willing to do what the Supreme Court wouldn’t do, which is acknowledge the reality that racial discrimination in voting persists today.”
“Equal Play, Equal Pay”: Female Athletes Play for Respect in Rio
The U.S. national women’s soccer team has won far more championships than the U.S. men’s team. So why are they paid less?
The Surprise Weapon in Detroit’s Battle Against Gentrification
The Illuminate Literacy project encourages neighborhood youth to hold onto their identities and histories by expressing themselves in words.
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