Indigenous People

Stone ruins of Native American kivas in archaeological site at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

BLM could allow oil leases near sacred New Mexico Indigenous sites

The Bureau of Land Management is considering removing protections from roughly 336,000 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

July 29, 2026 - Newsweek

Skyline of Richmond, British Columbia with water in the foreground.

Court Favors First Nations in Landmark Metro Vancouver Land Claim

The longest trial in Canadian history ended with the BC Supreme Court awarding rights to a 750-hectare parcel in Richmond to First Nations groups.

August 19, 2025 - Global News

Oil pumpjack in a field at sunset.

The Osage Nation’s Effort to Clean Up Abandoned Oil Wells

The Osage Nation is leading a complex and long-term initiative to identify, plug, and remediate thousands of orphaned oil wells on its reservation, protecting land, water, and community health for future generations.

July 30, 2025 - Osage News

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

April 29, 2025 - Minnesota Reformer

Green roadside sign with white text reading "Entering Nez Perce Indian Reservation" against grassy field and blue sky.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship

In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.

April 2, 2025 - The Conversation

General Store and Post Office in Saint Michael North Dakota on the Spirit Lake Reservation.

Spirit Lake Nation Reclaims 680 Acres After Century-Long Effort

After decades of advocacy, the Spirit Lake Nation successfully reclaimed 680 acres of its original treaty land from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marking a significant step toward healing and future development.

March 6, 2025 - ICT

Adult holding young child facing away from camera looking at wind turbines sillhouetted against the sunset.

Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition

The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.

March 5, 2025 - USC Today

Informational plaque in front of paved walkway next to tall green trees in Black Hawk State Historic Site, Illinois.

Supporting Indigenous Land Reclamation Through Design

Harvard students collaborated with the Sac and Fox Nation to develop strategies for reclaiming and co-managing ancestral lands in Illinois, supporting Indigenous sovereignty through design, cultural storytelling, and economic planning.

March 4, 2025 - Harvard GSD

Native American ruins at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in winter with snow.

BLM Approves Controversial Oil and Gas Leases on Navajo Land

The parcels are located near a sensitive archaeological site, but some Indigenous leaders approve of the move, which will bring in millions in revenue.

February 13, 2025 - High Country News

Chuckwalla lizard sitting on volcanic rock.

Biden Approves Two New National Monuments in California

The Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments will protect natural resources and sites of cultural significance for California native tribes.

January 7, 2025 - Associated Press

Oil drilling rig on plain in the Midwest.

Extraction on Tribal Lands Contributes to State Coffers

A recent investigation reveals that profits from oil, grazing, and other uses on state-managed tribal lands are funding off-reservation public institutions.

September 20, 2024 - High Country News

Dirt trail with wood railings through grove of tall California coastal redwood trees.

California Native Tribe to Co-Manage National Park Land

A historic agreement returns 125 acres — a fraction of the tribe’s historic lands — that will be used to build a cultural center and park facilities.

March 21, 2024 - The Guardian

Ice fishing tents surrounded by fence in Safe Outdoor Space for unhoused people in parking lot in Denver, Colorado.

An Affordable Housing Model for Indigenous Americans

Indigenous people make up a disproportionately high percentage of the unhoused population, but many programs designed to assist them don’t reach those most in need.

March 1, 2024 - High Country News

National Guard troops clearing storm debris in Newtok, Alaska

Federal Grants Aid Native Relocation, but Will They Be Enough?

Increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, many Native Alaskan and other indigenous communities will have to relocate—and soon.

January 26, 2023 - High Country News

Shishmaref

Coastal Tribes Facing Numerous Existential Threats From Climate Change

From Alaska to Washington, climate change is real, and it’s here now, for indigenous tribes.

May 2, 2022 - Crosscut

National Parks

Exploring the Outdoors in a Socially and Environmentally Responsible Manner

To travel ethically, visitors to national parks need to be more mindful and better understand the history of the parks and their impacts on these spaces and surrounding communities.

September 22, 2021 - The Guardian

Swinomish Channel Washington

Indigenous Peoples Lead Fight Against Climate Change

Tribal communities are preparing for climate impacts by drawing on their deep understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural environment.

March 1, 2020 - Yale Environment 360

DAPL Protests

Land Use Planning for and by Indigenous People

A new book examines the potential for coexistence between indigenous people and the post-development ethos of 21st century planning practice. Canada and Australia provide the case studies, but surely U.S. planners should also heed these lessons.

November 24, 2016 - The Guardian

Wampanoag Indians Fight Windmill Farm

The giant Cape Wind turbine farm project has overcome significant opposition, but now two Massachusetts tribes are attempting to block its construction, claiming cultural and religious issues.

March 27, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

'They Want to Make a Dam, and Now They Know They Shouldn't'

A group of Indians from the Amazon attacked a government engineer at a recent meeting where he was discussing a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Xingu River that could displace 15,000 indigenous people and destroy traditional fishing grounds.

May 23, 2008 - Associated Press via National Geographic

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.