If approved on Thursday, the funding will support a program that reaches 55,000 Nevadans and was at risk of temporary closure due to the federal shutdown.

UNR President Brian Sandoval met with Nevada Native leaders last week to discuss repatriation efforts.

The legislation prioritized by Native leaders that cleared the lawmaking session include measures that waive fees at Nevada colleges and universities for Native students; prohibit racially discriminatory language or imagery in schools; and provide environmental protection for sacred sites, among others.

This week's Indy Environment newsletter looks at a legislative effort to protect a unique population of Rocky Mountain juniper trees in an area known as Bahsahwahbee, or "the sacred water valley" in Shoshone. For Indigenous communities, the area means everything.

Fueled by a renewed sense of agency after the Dakota access pipeline protests and recent electoral victories, Native leaders say they're preparing to make a stand in the 2020 election — starting with Nevada's Democratic presidential caucus in February.