By Kailash Muthukumar* 

My experience reading Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants felt less like reading a book and more like receiving an education in reciprocity. As a high school senior and a non-Indigenous ally deeply involved in policy and advocacy with organizations like the Association on American Indian Affairs (the Association) and the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS), this book did not just introduce me to Indigenous knowledge systems, it provided the essential ethical framework needed to approach federal Indian law, Native Nation sovereignty, and intergenerational  justice with the required humility. 

By: CC Hovie 
 
Every October, Halloween decorations line the shelves, costumes fill the racks, and horror movies flood our screens. But for Native Peoples, this season is another reminder of how our cultures—and even our Ancestors—are too often turned into backdrops for entertainment.  
 
From “Indian costumes” that reduce diverse Native Peoples to stereotypes, to haunted house attractions that use burial sites as props, this pattern is not harmless fun. It is dehumanization. It is appropriation. And it continues to cause real harm. ​

by Cassie Zielinski, citizen of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe and Office Manager with the Association on American Indian Affairs

Angeline Boulley returns with another captivating, emotionally charged novel in Sisters in the Wind, and the Association was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader’s copy. As someone who adored and appreciated Angeline’s previous works (and the Association featured Angeline as a keynote speaker for two Annual Repatriation Conferences), I can confidently say this novel delivers everything I have come to hope for and expect in her novels: gripping suspense, layered characters, and a powerful exploration of Native identity and justice.
 
Angeline’s newest title follows Lucy, a young woman who has been navigating the foster system since her father’s death five years ago. Along the way, she uncovers long-buried truths her father tried to hide, most notably, her Ojibwe heritage and a complicated family history. Lucy soon realizes that she may have relatives who could offer what the foster system never could: a true sense of home, safety, and belonging. Yet, the system remains a dangerous place for Lucy and her chosen family. The secrets she’s been running from continue to shadow her, threatening to steal the future she longs for, unless she finds the strength to confront them and reclaim her life on her own terms.

Native cultural heritage items and Ancestors have long been the target of theft and looting by collectors seeking to line their shelves or their pockets. These sensitive items are often referred to by collectors and dealers as “antiquities,” “artifacts,” or “art.” However, Native cultural heritage items are held communally by Native Nations and cannot be removed without consent at the time the item was originally taken. Those who claim rightful possession must be able to prove it under federal, state or Native Nation laws.

Domestic and international legal frameworks affirm that Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples have civil and human rights to manifest and practice their cultures without interference. The right to protect sacred cultural items is no different than the right to prevent someone from walking into a church or cemetery and looting it for personal gain. ​

By: CC Hovie 

​Tribal Museums are the primary experts of cultural heritage for their Nations. Moreover, these Native Nation-controlled institutions are vital expressions of cultural sovereignty: having control of the things that make us who we are as Native Peoples. They protect the unique cultures, histories, and lifeways of Native Nations through Native leadership, knowledge systems, and self-determination. The Association on American Indian Affairs uplifts this work annually through its celebration of Tribal Museums Day, a national event each December that promotes and raises awareness of these Native-led cultural institutions. ​

This article was published in Indian Affairs, Volume 195, Fall/Winter 2025 Journal. By: Kailash Muthukumar and Sky Ravenscroft

Today, Native Nations and their citizens face unique challenges in safeguarding their cultural heritage from exploitation and appropriation. Native Peoples hold distinct traditions and cultural expressions that are both rich and deeply significant. However, existing U.S. copyright laws, rooted in Western notions of individual ownership and originality, fail to adequately protect these cultural expressions. The result is a persistent and damaging pattern of cultural appropriation, where sacred designs, symbols, and knowledge are commercialized without consent, diminishing Indigenous rights and eroding cultural identity. Examining the legal gaps that leave Indigenous heritage vulnerable to exploitation, this article explores the urgent need for reform that upholds Indigenous sovereignty and preserves diverse Native cultural heritage.