• Your Dashboard
  • Features
  • Public Lands
  • Indigenous Affairs
  • Water
  • Climate Change
  • Arts & Culture
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Donate Now
  • The Magazine
  • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Place a Classified Ad
    • Display Ad Info
  • Your Dashboard
  • Features
  • Public Lands
  • Indigenous Affairs
  • Water
  • Climate Change
  • Arts & Culture
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Donate Now
  • The Magazine
  • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Place a Classified Ad
    • Display Ad Info
Skip to content
High Country News

High Country News

A nonprofit independent magazine of unblinking journalism that shines a light on all of the complexities of the West.

Support

Read more Western reporting

Sign up to receive High Country News’ email newsletters and get on-the-ground reporting and investigations delivered to your inbox each week.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Welcome to High Country News

HCN has covered the lands, wildlife and communities of the Western U.S. for more than 50 years. Get to know the West better by signing up to receive HCN’s on-the-ground reporting and investigations in your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Tristan Ahtone

New Mexico State University, as seen in an aerial view, is a land-grant school founded in 1888.
Posted inArticles

Stolen Indigenous land is the foundation of the land-grant university system. Climate change is its legacy.

by Tristan Ahtone, Robert Lee, Amanda Tachine, An Garagiola, Audrianna Goodwin, Maria Parazo Rose and Clayton Aldern February 7, 2024February 7, 2024

Extractive industries are filling public university coffers on stolen land.

Posted inArticles

Following 14,000-gallon fuel spill, Pacific representatives call for U.N. investigation

by Tristan Ahtone April 29, 2022January 24, 2024

Indigenous youth caucus calls for demilitarization of Hawai‘i.

Posted inArticles

The land-grant universities still profiting off Indigenous homelands

by Kalen Goodluck, Tristan Ahtone and Robert Lee August 18, 2020January 24, 2024

There are at least 16 land-grant universities making money from the expropriated Indigenous lands they retained from the Morrill Act.

Posted inArticles

Land-grant universities should acknowledge their debt to Indigenous people

by Tristan Ahtone and Robert Lee May 8, 2020January 24, 2024

Many of the nation’s universities were created with stolen wealth.

Posted inApril 1, 2020: Land-Grab Universities

Land-grab universities

by Robert Lee and Tristan Ahtone March 30, 2020January 24, 2024

Expropriated Indigenous land is the foundation of the land-grant university system.

Posted inApril 1, 2020: Land-Grab Universities

Lost and found: The story of land-grant universities

by Tristan Ahtone March 30, 2020January 24, 2024

Mythology is powerful, but so is journalism.

Posted inDecember 9, 2019: Crossing to Safety

Where does ‘the West’ begin?

by Tristan Ahtone December 17, 2019January 24, 2024

When it comes to the myths and images of the West, Fort Worth, Texas, has created a cottage industry.

Posted inOctober 14, 2019: Severed Ties

Reexamine history in the service of justice

by Tristan Ahtone October 14, 2019January 24, 2024

Understanding our shared histories can help us think critically about accountability in the West.

Posted inAugust 19, 2019: 2068: The Speculative Journalism Issue

Climate criminals

by Tristan Ahtone August 19, 2019January 24, 2024

In 2068, as the world’s last climate change deniers are brought to justice, those tasked with going after them face a final challenge: retirement.

Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return

The subversive nature of Indigenous art

by Tristan Ahtone July 21, 2019January 24, 2024

These are the stories other non-Native outlets don’t dare to touch.

Posted inArticles

Characters on the margins: An interview with Sydney Freeland

by Tristan Ahtone June 10, 2019January 24, 2024

Navajo director Sydney Freeland shares the story behind a career spent celebrating the lives of outsiders and underdogs.

Posted inApril 29, 2019: A History of Violence

Question the myths that shape America

by Tristan Ahtone April 29, 2019January 24, 2024

And remember that what your teachers told you is likely wrong.

Posted inArticles

When conservation provides a cover for anti-Indigenous sentiments

by Tristan Ahtone February 20, 2019January 24, 2024

A nation of laws cannot exist on stolen land.

Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls

Journalism is rooted in Indigenous communities

by Tristan Ahtone February 4, 2019January 24, 2024

From codices to calendars, storytelling has been part of Indigenous life since time immemorial.

Posted inArticles

Denver cop with tattoo resembling militia group logo killed tribal citizen in 2015

by Anna V. Smith and Tristan Ahtone December 15, 2018January 24, 2024

Officer Michael Traudt says he is not a member of the Three Percenters.

Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news

Indigenous comics push back against hackneyed stereotypes

by Tristan Ahtone December 4, 2018January 24, 2024

The ‘noble savage’ in comics is dead. Long live the Dakwäkãda Warriors.

Posted inArticles

National Congress of American Indians roiled by claims of harassment and misconduct

by Tristan Ahtone October 18, 2018January 24, 2024

Indian Country’s most prominent advocacy group will meet this month amid massive staff departures and calls for investigations.

Posted inArticles

Native-owned financial institutions battle credit deserts

by Tristan Ahtone October 16, 2018January 24, 2024

In rural areas without access to banking, tribal enterprises are helping fill gaps.

Posted inArticles

Journalism is less diverse than Hollywood — and Congress

by Tristan Ahtone July 27, 2018January 24, 2024

Stop enabling news organizations that shun inclusive coverage.

Posted inArticles

How to disrupt negative narratives in Indian Country

by Tristan Ahtone June 29, 2018January 24, 2024

A study finds that Indigenous people face continued discrimination and invisibility.

Posts pagination

1 2 Older posts

Support nonprofit news

High Country News relies on donations as well as subscription fees to produce independent reporting on the West. Help continue the legacy of reader-supported journalism by making a tax-deductible contribution today.

Make a contribution

Find out more about how we use your contributions in our annual reports and filings.

Subscribe to High Country News

Get access to on-the-ground reporting from across the West and support continued coverage of our region.

Read more Western reporting

Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from High Country News for the best on-the-ground reporting from across the region.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Most popular stories

  • Bringing black abalone back from the brink
  • Horse girls: The wild and fearless
  • A veteran transforms a legacy of violence into a campaign for restoration
  • The Indian education of Charles Sams
  • The possibilities of climate grief

Featured Stories

The Indian education of Charles Sams

The Indian education of Charles Sams

The possibilities of climate grief

The possibilities of climate grief

These states use stolen Indigenous land to fund prisons

These states use stolen Indigenous land to fund prisons

The West in Perspective

AI on public lands and Biden’s environmental legacy

by Jonathan Thompson

We must protect our sacred lands

by Clark Tenakhongva

Pay wildland firefighters a living wage

by Riley Yuan

About High Country News

  • Our history
  • How to support HCN
  • Submissions

Know the West.

Get 2 free issues ↓

119 Grand Avenue
PO Box 1090
Paonia, CO 81428
(970) 527-4898

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS Feed
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Pitch us a story
  • Fellowships
  • Education
  • Get email newsletters
  • Support our work
  • Advertise
  • Syndication
  • Subscriber services
Get 2 free issues ↓
Magazine cover: January 11, 2024: The Creatures in Our Midst

Sign up for a free trial of High Country News. Learn what’s happening across the West today and see if becoming a subscriber is for you.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

© 2025 High Country News. All rights reserved Powered by Newspack