The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously approved Senate Bill 1723: the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies. The legislation, which is cosponsored by 28 U.S. Senators, passed out of committee last month. That comes as the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition continues its work to bring awareness to the cause. ICT’s Shirley Sneve has this interview with organization’s CEO Deborah Parker.

2023 has been a groundbreaking, and exciting, year for sports. From the hockey world to basketball — and even professional cycling, Indigenous athletes have made history. ICT’s McKenzie Allen-Charmley has all of the latest with the co-founder of ndnsports.com Brent Cahwee.

Here at ICT, we are continuing to grow and hire new staff members. We recently hired a deputy managing editor, which is a new position at ICT. Kevin Abourezk is a Rosebud Sioux citizen with over two decades of experience in journalism, covering higher education and Indigenous affairs.

  • In South Dakota, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate are continuing the work of re-establishing the boundaries of its territory. Currently, those borderlines do not show up on any official map in South Dakota. A 1975 Supreme Court decision erased the lines — but not the Oyate. Nation leadership say its 107,000 acres of land are still intact, even if it is not recognized. Tribal citizen and state Representative Tamara Saint John has already drafted a bill for the 2024 session to recognize the boundaries.
  • We turn now to Abenaki territory, in present-day Vermont, where a new $12.6 million Native art museum is being planned. The Shelburne Museum announced the nearly 10,000 square foot building in May. This space is set to house more than 500 pieces of Indigenous art from more than 80 tribal nations. The facility will also hold 200 masterworks recently gifted to the museum with the state-recognized Abenaki nations consulting on the project.
  • We turn now to Canada, where a special concert is aiming to reconnect Indigenous youth with their language and culture. APTN’s Tina House has more.

Today’s newscast was created with work from:

Shirley Sneve, Ponca/Sicangu Lakota, is vice president of broadcasting for the ICT Newscast. Follow her on Twitter @rosebudshirley. She is based in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Aliyah Chavez, Kewa Pueblo, is the anchor of the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @aliyahjchavez.

R. Vincent Moniz, Jr., NuÉta, is the senior producer of the award winning ICT Newscast. Have a great story? Pitch it to vincent@ictnews.org.

McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Dena’ina Athabascan, is a producer of the ICT Newscast. Instagram: @mallencharmley.

Paris Wise, Zia and Laguna Pueblos, is a producer for the ICT Newscast. Email: paris@ictnews.org.

Stewart Huntington is a producer for the ICT Newscast.

Quindrea Yazzie, Diné, is a video production editor for the ICT Newscast. Email: qyazzie@ictnews.org . Yazzie is based in Phoenix.

Daniel Herrera Carbajal is a video editor for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @daniulherrrera

Pauly Denetclaw, Diné, is a political correspondent for ICT. Email her at pauly@ictnews.org

Pacey Smith Garcia, Ute, is a production assistant for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @paceyjournalist.

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