Laurel Morales

The Navajo and Hopi tribes produce about 300 million pounds of waste a year. And there are few places to dump it, let alone recycle. The tribes do not have landfills — only overflowing waste transfer stations — so there are hundreds of illegal dump sites. One Hopi man is trying to change that.

The spill of heavy metals into the Animas River has contaminated water for hundreds of farmers in the Navajo Nation downstream, bringing up memories of past environmental disasters.

While the Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, it didn't affect American Indian tribes. The 566 tribes in the U.S. are sovereign, and only 10 have legalized gay marriage.

One report shows that state courts are twice as likely to incarcerate Native teens for minor crimes like truancy and alcohol use. Another, that alternatives like treatment programs are more effective.

Teens living on reservations often face a daunting array of hurdles. To help them cope, Navajo sibling musicians Clayson and Jeneda Benally are working to inspire students to write songs of their own.

A U.S. Geological Survey researcher says she's worried about the Navajo because drought, combined with increasing temperatures, are making it harder for them to live in the harsh conditions.

Native Americans have some of the highest substance abuse rates compared to other ethnic groups. Alcohol and meth are the drugs of choice. Now, cartels are taking advantage of lax police enforcement.

The Navajo Nation started taxing junk food and soda. No other tribe has passed such a law. But half of the tribe is unemployed and say they can't afford expensive food.

Starting this month across the country, Native American tribes are now allowed to prosecute crimes against women in their own courts, even if the perpetrator is not Native American. Three tribes have been piloting ways to honor both the tribal and federal legal systems.

Some tribes are trying to set up growing operations after the Justice Department announced it would back off enforcement. Others worry about the potential for substance abuse.