Indigenous Rights
Searching for Savanna
She was young. She was pregnant. She was one of thousands of Native women who go missing every year. Now her disappearance could help others to be found.
Scientists Voice Their Support for Native Hawaiians Protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope
With the hashtag #ScientistsforMaunaKea, scientists are sharing their opposition to the construction of the $1.4 billion telescope on sacred land.
Can Economic Pressure Curb Jair Bolsonaro's Anti-Indigenous Agenda?
An impending trade deal with the E.U. has instigated further pushback from non-governmental organizations and local activists against any deal with the Brazilian government.
'We Are Resisting to Exist': Indigenous Women in Brazil Are Fighting for Their Rights and Their Lives
The far-right government of President Jair Bolsonaro has instituted new policies that put indigenous land rights and health services under threat.
The Supreme Court Upheld Treaty Rights for the Crow Nation
Amid continued standoffs between tribes and states over treaties signed before statehood was achieved, the ruling is a victory for Native rights.
'Nature Is Always Speaking': Proposed Dams Threaten Indigenous People and Wildlife in Central America
More than 400 dams are currently proposed for Central America's rivers, but thanks largely to a feisty indigenous resistance—as well as a non-profit—they are still yet to be built.
A Landmark Lawsuit Sets New Precedent for Indigenous Land Rights in the Amazon
The Waorani community in Ecuador won a historic ruling that may create a new guide for other indigenous communities looking to protect their lands from oil interests.
How Drones and GPS Are Helping Indigenous People in Ecuador Save the Amazon
Maps, long used by colonizers to dispossess native peoples, are becoming a tool for indigenous people to reclaim sovereignty over their lands.
How a Border Wall Would Separate Indigenous Communities
Tens of thousands of people belonging to U.S. Native tribes live in the Mexican states and routinely cross the border to participate in cultural events.
Brazil's Bolsonaro Government Wants to Circumvent the Constitution to Allow Mining on Indigenous Lands
The Brazilian minister of mines and energy stated that Brazil would open its indigenous territories to mining interests without the consent of the affected population.
The Worsening Housing Crisis Plaguing Canada's First Nations Population
First Nations reserves residents are often forced to live in arduous conditions due to a system that prevents them from owning land or getting a mortgage.
An Indigenous Critique of the Green New Deal
Nishnaabeg scholar Leanne Betasamosake Simpson explains why "green growth" isn't enough to save the planet.
Vatican Discussion About Amazon Conservation Raises Anger of Brazil's Right-Wing Government
President Jair Bolsonaro appears to consider the topics to be discussed in the upcoming Synod, including climate change and indigenous peoples, to be part of a leftist agenda.
Inside One Native Tribe's Decades-Long Fight for Recognition
Thanks to federal neglect and one Republican senator, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians has been denied land and essential government services.
Our Best Social Justice Stories of 2018
They're not all sad—many are stories of persistence, problem-solving, and triumph in the face of adversity.
Photos: An 18-Hour Odyssey to Vote in Brazil
Brazilians are registered in their local municipalities, so they must return to those locations on election day—even if it takes them nearly a full day to do so.
Inside the Water Rights Battle Between the Mexican Government and the Mazahua
The State of Mexico is a nexus for a dispute between the government and the women-led activists of one of the country's largest indigenous groups.
These Brazilians Traveled 18 Hours on a Riverboat to Vote. I Went With Them.
Far from the urban hubs of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, thousands of poor Brazilians must travel hours by boat just to vote.
In the Desert Southwest, Young Leaders Are Reimagining What a Climate Conference Can Be
A dispatch from the fourth annual youth-led Uplift Climate Conference in New Mexico.
Violence and Persecution of Indigenous Protesters Is on the Rise
A new report from the United Nations finds that there has been a sharp increase of instances of physical violence and legal prosecution against indigenous peoples in countries across the globe.
'They Won't Be Able to Eat Their Money': A Dispatch From the 'Rise for Climate' March
Pacific Standard spoke with Amazonian activists, grandmothers, and small children at Saturday's march in San Francisco.
Viewfinder: Celebrating Indigenous Communities in Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi child lights a candle to mark International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples in Dhaka on August 8th, 2018.
The Larger Implications of a Supreme Court Case About Indigenous Fishing Rights
One case about replacing culverts in Washington state could end up influencing larger decisions about native rights in places like Bears Ears and Standing Rock.
The Edit, Episode #2: A Conversation About the Theft of Religious Items From Indigenous Communities
On the latest episode of Pacific Standard's podcast about how our stories are made, award-winning journalist Kathleen Sharp discusses her feature story on the Hopi community.