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.

KU researcher's new work focuses on ‘Indigenous fire sovereignty’

University of Kansas

Scholar finds evidence from far-flung global regions about benefits of Indigenous fire sovereignty. Melinda Adams applying her knowledge to the land in cooperation with tribe in Kansas.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

31-Oct-2025

High symbolism, high stakes mark historic 1st meeting of new biodiversity body dedicated to elevating the role and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities

UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Reports and Proceedings

Amid a mix of celebration and caution, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity made important progress and decisions on the operation and governance of a new Subsidiary Body dedicated to elevating the role and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities

27-Oct-2025

Montreal homelessness services for 2SLGBTQ+ adults are inadequate, researchers find

McGill University

“Homelessness services are very binary, and often those who are non-binary are completely excluded,” said Jayne Malenfant, Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education. “There are currently insufficient services in the homelessness or housing sector for diverse 2SLGTBTQ+ people. For Two-Spirit or other Indigenous queer people, these services are non-existent.”

Journal: Journal of Homosexuality

21-Oct-2025

Not hunters but collectors: the bone that challenges the ‘humans wiped out Australian megafauna’ theory

University of New South Wales
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New technology has shown the incision marks likely made by humans on the fossilised bone of an ancient kangaroo were in fact made after the bone was fossilised, not while the animal was alive.

Journal: Royal Society Open Science

21-Oct-2025

‘Mob want to see mob’: First Nations clinics a priority for many young Indigenous Australians

University of Queensland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cultural connection and positive healthcare experiences are of high value to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians when deciding to access healthcare. Cultural connection and positive healthcare experiences are of high value to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians when deciding to access healthcare.

Journal: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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

Latest News Releases

KU researcher's new work focuses on ‘Indigenous fire sovereignty’

High symbolism, high stakes mark historic 1st meeting of new biodiversity body dedicated to elevating the role and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities

Montreal homelessness services for 2SLGBTQ+ adults are inadequate, researchers find

Not hunters but collectors: the bone that challenges the ‘humans wiped out Australian megafauna’ theory

‘Mob want to see mob’: First Nations clinics a priority for many young Indigenous Australians

Native American stereotypes, as seen by Native Americans