Mark Trahant

is editor-at-large for . Trahant leads the Indigenous Economics Project, a comprehensive look at Indigenous economics, including market-based initiatives.聽Trahant is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and has written about American Indian and Alaska Native issues for more than three decades. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has held endowed chairs at the University of North Dakota and University of Alaska Anchorage, and has worked as a journalist since 1976. Trahant is a YES! contributing editor.

Articles By This Author

Environment

Russia鈥檚 Invasion of Ukraine Demonstrates Our Need to Break Away From Oil

We can鈥檛 let the war justify an expansion of our fossil fuel dependence.

Mark Trahant | Feb 28, 2022

Opinion | Social Justice

10 Indigenous People Whose Statues Should Replace Columbus鈥�

In a country of this size and diversity, it makes little sense to cling to statues that honor only a few, including historical figures unworthy of such acclaim.

Mark Trahant | Jun 11, 2020

Opinion | Environment

How Colonization of the Americas Killed 90 Percent of Their Indigenous People鈥攁nd Changed the Climate

A new study raises questions about climate change policy for the decades ahead.

Mark Trahant | Feb 13, 2019

Opinion | Environment

Indian Country Remembers the Trauma of Children Taken from Their Parents

As Congress prepares to debate separating families at the border, a look back at the U.S.鈥檚 past with the cruel practice.

Mark Trahant | Jun 18, 2018

Introduction: The Decolonize Issue

Mark Trahant, Shannan Lenke Stoll, Tracy Matsue Loeffelholz | May 2, 2018

Issues

The Disruption of White Supremacy

The white male-centric colonial system is incapable of the leadership we need, and Indigenous knowledge is essential for the innovation that will follow this disruption.

Mark Trahant | Feb 28, 2018

Social Justice

11 Disturbing Words From Trump鈥檚 State of the Union

The danger to our democracy is not the electoral college. Not gerrymandering. It鈥檚 a power imbalance that is old and structural.

Mark Trahant | Jan 31, 2018

Economy

How Much Does Climate Change Cost? Try $1.5 Trillion (and Counting)

Last year was record-breaking.

Mark Trahant | Jan 11, 2018

Social Justice

Yes, a Government Shutdown Might Be the Best Strategy

Democrats cannot back down from funding children鈥檚 health and protecting Dreamers. These issues are moral priorities.

Mark Trahant | Nov 27, 2017

Economy

7 Not-So-Subtle Messages Congress Is Sending With Its Tax Plans

The two tax bills define what鈥檚 important to a society. Or more to the point, who鈥檚 not important.

Mark Trahant | Nov 21, 2017

Environment

We Don鈥檛 Think of Californians as Climate Refugees Yet, But We Should

Texas. Florida. Puerto Rico. California. The growing climate disaster toll ought to raise questions about where humans can and should live.

Mark Trahant | Oct 24, 2017

Social Justice

How Alaska Tribes Solved Their Dental Health Crisis

Dental health therapy takes half the time it takes to train a dentist. And it does what good medicine should: improve public health.

Mark Trahant | Sep 1, 2017

Social Justice

Clues From History: Why Trump鈥檚 Presidency Is Over

Many state governments over the years have reached exactly this point of racial toxicity鈥攁nd crumbled.

Mark Trahant | Aug 16, 2017

Economy

Medicaid Survived the Health Care Battle鈥擭ow Let鈥檚 Give It to Everyone

We should ditch employer-provided insurance. Administrative costs for Medicaid are nearly half of the cost of private sector plans. Yes, half.

Mark Trahant | Jul 31, 2017

Social Justice

What鈥檚 Next for Health Care? Confused Congress Should Look to Indian Country

Indian Health Service is a great example of health care run and managed by the government. Let鈥檚 use it to figure out what works and what doesn鈥檛.

Mark Trahant | Jul 28, 2017

Economy

Nearly Half of Trump Supporters Want Republicans to Work with Democrats to Improve ACA

And the majority of the Senate wants to work together, find common ground, and move on. That鈥檚 called governing.

Mark Trahant | Jul 19, 2017

Democracy

Judge鈥檚 Ruling on Standing Rock a Second Chance for Justice

The federal court decision could start a new chapter in the DAPL saga, beginning with dropping prosecution of water protectors.

Mark Trahant | Jun 15, 2017

Democracy

Enough! Trump Has Abdicated on Climate鈥擭ow It鈥檚 Up to Us

I鈥檒l start with myself. And every time I give up something to reduce carbon emissions, I鈥檒l smile and think of President Trump.

Mark Trahant | Jun 1, 2017

Economy

Trump鈥檚 Budget Is Full of Contempt鈥攁nd Numbers That Don鈥檛 Add Up

Trillions of imaginary dollars run throughout the budget. Never mind 鈥渇ake news.鈥� This is fake government.

Mark Trahant | May 24, 2017

Economy

Don鈥檛 Let Trump Drama Distract You While Congress Dismantles Medicaid

I鈥檓 obsessed with what this Congress is doing to the funding for health care, especially Medicaid, which insures 62.3 million Americans.

Mark Trahant | May 22, 2017

Democracy

What Other Countries Know: Fairer Representation Makes a Stronger Democracy

France (and many of the world鈥檚 governments) has figured out that the only way to secure democracy is to require an electoral majority.

Mark Trahant | Apr 24, 2017

Democracy

How Special Elections Could Cost the Republicans

This week, Georgia heads to the polls. Last week, the GOP in Kansas barely earned a win.

Mark Trahant | Apr 17, 2017

Economy

Extractive Economy Jobs Are Not the Good Jobs Tribes Were Promised

After the construction phase of the Keystone XL, only 35 employees would be needed to operate the pipeline.

Mark Trahant | Apr 11, 2017

Economy

The Way Toward Single-Payer Health Care鈥擡ven With This Congress

It鈥檚 likely that the Trump-Ryan failure will push state legislatures to consider expanding Medicaid鈥攑utting even more people under the public insurance system.

Mark Trahant | Mar 28, 2017

Social Justice

Make-or-Break Moment for Health Care as GOP Scrambles for 216 Votes

Trump has gone to Congress to make his case for Paul Ryan鈥檚 plan, but polls show the Affordable Care Act is still more popular.

Mark Trahant | Mar 22, 2017

Economy

This Is the Real Success Story of the Affordable Care Act

Government-sponsored Medicaid and Medicare are efficient and reliable鈥攁nd already cover 36 percent of Americans.

Mark Trahant | Mar 14, 2017

Democracy

Water Is Life: The Story of Standing Rock Won鈥檛 Go Away

The Dakota Access pipeline is set and oil will flow. But this is not the only fight about water, and Standing Rock is only one chapter somewhere in the middle of a long story.

Mark Trahant | Feb 24, 2017

Social Justice

Pipeline Resistance Broadens: On the Day Dakota Access Oil Flows, Go One Day Without Oil

Let鈥檚 do what it takes to remind the companies, and the government itself, who鈥檚 really in charge of the economy.

Mark Trahant | Feb 12, 2017

Journalism and the First Amendment on Trial at Standing Rock

Reporter Jenni Monet has been charged with criminal trespassing and rioting, but the bigger story is about the failure of journalism institutions to rally.

Mark Trahant | Feb 7, 2017

Social Justice

Repealing Obamacare Requires Finding Something Better (Might I Suggest Single-Payer?)

Congress is already slowing down on the promise to end the Affordable Care Act, as the realities of a replacement sink in.

Mark Trahant | Jan 30, 2017

Social Justice

5 Ways Indian Country Can Resist Trump鈥檚 Chaos

North Dakota鈥檚 move to put states in charge of reservations is just one example of the possible nonsense to come. The Trump Era will require new strategies.

Mark Trahant | Jan 28, 2017

Democracy

Standing Rock Prepared Us for Trump鈥檚 Billionaires and Oil Giants

Continuing to shrink our oil consumption is one way to challenge the oil uber alles mentality of the Trump administration.

Mark Trahant | Dec 27, 2016

Social Justice

The Real Standing Rock Victory Is This: 鈥淚nevitable鈥� Is Not What It Used to Be

The whole pipeline fiasco was a more appropriate story for the 19th century instead of the 21st. Now, the timing is ideal for a new beginning: #HealNorthDakota

Mark Trahant | Dec 4, 2016

Democracy

Why the 鈥淩ule of Law鈥� Is a Powerful Idea for Standing Rock

Although the governor cites the rule of law in his eviction order, the Sioux have this: the Constitution鈥檚 Article 6, declaring 鈥渢reaties as the Supreme Law of the Land.鈥�

Mark Trahant | Nov 29, 2016

Social Justice

Suddenly Time鈥擜nd the Oil Market鈥擜re On the Side of the Standing Rock Sioux

This week鈥檚 new Army Corps decision and a fresh lawsuit could delay the Dakota Access pipleline more than makes economic sense.

Mark Trahant | Nov 17, 2016

Social Justice

The Injustice at Standing Rock Is an American Story

I'm angry. White people in Oregon are acquitted while Native people in North Dakota are attacked by riot police from five states. And our politicians are preoccupied.

Mark Trahant | Oct 28, 2016

Social Justice

How Far Will North Dakota Go to Get This Pipeline?

The militarized response is escalating, Dakota Access construction is accelerating. To be clear: North Dakota is acting as trustee for the company, using what it considers the powers of state to make this project so.

Mark Trahant | Oct 24, 2016

Democracy

A Realistic Look at What a Clinton Landslide Would Do

One hint at what鈥檚 to come is found in the data of early voting. And so far, it鈥檚 good news for Democrats鈥攅specially Native American candidates.

Mark Trahant | Oct 21, 2016

Democracy

What? Army Corps Suddenly Decides Coal Trains Won鈥檛 Harm Salmon-Filled Columbia River

The next Standing Rock is the Longview Millennium coal export facility. Water protectors know coal dust is like a pipeline accident that happens daily.

Mark Trahant | Oct 14, 2016

Democracy

Why Standing Rock Is a Test for Obama鈥擜nd All Climate Choices Ahead

Paris agreements take effect November 4, and the climate change math shows we need a managed decline of fossil fuels in the U.S. That means no Dakota Access pipeline.

Mark Trahant | Oct 6, 2016

Standing Rock Dakota Access Pipeline Guard Dogs

Democracy

The Big Lie Going Around About a Tribe, a Pipeline, And Too Much Federal Regulation

Those with something to gain from the Dakota Access pipeline want us to believe the energy company is an overburdened victim.

Mark Trahant | Sep 19, 2016

Democracy

How Obama Can Keep the Standing Rock Sioux Standoff From Turning Bloody

The Nixon White House managed three Indian occupations. There are lessons for President Obama there鈥攊f he would just pay attention.

Mark Trahant | Sep 8, 2016

Social Justice

A Test of U.S. Climate Leadership Will Be How We Treat the Standing Rock Sioux

Can we trust Clinton-Kaine promises of an energy future 鈥渨here no one is left out or left behind鈥�?

Mark Trahant | Sep 2, 2016

Democracy

Dear Politicians, Here鈥檚 What You鈥檇 See at the Standing Rock Sioux Blockade

Most importantly, they would see the serious purpose for the people here at Camp Sacred Stone, one that鈥檚 not going away without a successful resolution.

Mark Trahant | Aug 29, 2016