EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Indigenous Peoples' Day

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we’re exploring how Indigenous communities contribute to science, conservation, health research, and much more.

Tsimané and Moseten peoples of lowland Bolivia demonstrate an intriguing case of epidemiological resilience

University of California - Santa Barbara
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Despite widespread COVID-19 infection in the Tsimané and Moseten populations of Bolivia, the mortality rate in these remote Indigenous groups was the lowest ever recorded for any population or region.

Journal: Social Science & Medicine

12-Aug-2026

Indigenous land restitution empowers communities, but environmental gains require extra support

University of California - Santa Barbara
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Charting a better future will require redressing the problems of the past. That’s one reason that many countries have begun to return dispossessed land to Indigenous peoples.

Journal: Nature Sustainability

12-Aug-2026

UBC-developed ‘wood foam’ enters production as Indigenous-led pilot plant opens in Vancouver

University of British Columbia

A landmark partnership between the Wet’suwet’en Nation and UBC is pioneering a made-in-B.C. solution to the global plastic crisis, turning local forestry waste into biodegradable foam packaging.

Funder: Natural Resources Canada, B.C. Ministry of Forests, B.C. Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, Forestry Innovation Investment, Mitacs

11-Aug-2026

Virtual culturally grounded interventions for substance use in urban American Indian and Alaska Native emerging adults

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About the Study: In this randomized clinical trial of 2 virtual culturally grounded interventions for substance use, virtual recruitment and intervention successfully reached urban American Indian or Alaska Native emerging adults with decreased access to resources. Both groups reduced consequences and cannabis use; however, only TACUNA participants reported decreases in quantity of alcohol and cannabis use and time spent around peers using cannabis and heroin and greater decreases in anxiety. These findings emphasize the role of bringing American Indian and Alaska Native emerging adults together to discuss ways to reduce alcohol and other drug use and socially connect with their tribal communities in the urban environment in a virtual setting.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

10-Aug-2026

How do you say “ollie” in Ojibwe? Anishinaabe-language magazine creates 300 new words

Simon Fraser University

The first issue of a new Anishinaabe language magazine crushes major language obstacles as it leans into skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing to revitalize Indigenous language. Asab (pronounced AH-sub) is believed to be the first magazine in North America published exclusively in a single Indigenous language. But with no known Anishinaabe words for terms like “kickflip”, “boned out” or “goofy stance,” the editorial team turned to first speakers to create hundreds of never-before-spoken Ojibwe words.

7-Aug-2026

IIT Gandhinagar research paves the way for Indigenous high-strength aluminium alloys for defence, aerospace, and strategic sector applications

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar

Researchers at IIT Gandhinagar have developed a computationally designed, copper- and zinc-free high-strength aluminium alloy with superior strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and good ductility. The research, led by Prof Amit Arora and PhD scholar Mr Sagar Kumar Deb, has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and is progressing towards industrial-scale validation. The work has earned international recognition through the prestigious Larry Kaufman Scholarship 2026 awarded to Mr Deb by CALPHAD Inc and has the potential to strengthen India's self-reliance in advanced engineering materials under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

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