Greetings, relatives:
Plenty of news this month. Perhaps the biggest news was out of Washington where the Supreme Court dealt with federal Indian policy on multiple occasions.
The first, the high court sided with the Indian Child Welfare Act. The decision represents a major victory for tribes across the nation.
The Supreme Court went against federal Indian law in the other two cases it heard. The court ruled that tribes are like any other state or government and cannot use sovereign immunity in Bankruptcy Court. The high court also rejected the Navajo Nation’s water rights trust claim.
In a big move for New Mexico’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, issued a public land order to protect the sacred place.
The Stanley Cup has an Indigenous touch. First Nations hockey star Zach Whitecloud helped lead the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup championship. White Cloud is from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
Be sure to watch our daily newscast, “ICT Newscast with Aliyah Chavez.” Replays of each show can be found there.
Here are ICT stories you should read up on and share in your network.
NEWS
EPA proposes mercury limits from iron ore processing: Agency is accepting public comments through June 29 on proposed regulations that supporters say would help protect the environment.
Navajo Nation lawmaker introduces bill to legalize gay marriage: The legislation, which will allow a five-day public comment period, would remove a tribal ban on same-sex marriage.
Overdose prevention: ‘Take care of each other’: Pioneering Afro-Taino leader in New York wins Time 100 recognition for overdose prevention centers.
This time it’s different? The rush to mine Indigenous lands: The Aspen Institute: The mining industry has a long history of failing to respect community interests, breaking agreements, destroying sacred sites, and forcing displacements. Indigenous communities have been ‘disproportionately impacted.’
Summer solstice, a time for Indigenous traditional knowledge: A Minnesota-based organization is hosting a first-time Facebook live event to encourage the traditional knowledge education for Indigenous people on the deeper meaning of the summer solstice and seasons.
Growing the Indigenous news hub: The organization continues to branch out and further its mission of telling Indigenous stories.
Cherokee Nation leader reelected overwhelmingly: The largest Indigenous nation overwhelmingly supported incumbent Chuck Hoskin Jr. and his running mate Deputy Chief Bryan Warner to lead the nation for another four years.
10-mile radius of Chaco region to be protected: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s announcement comes after more than a year of public and tribal comments, consultations.
2023 Indigenous Pride Month events: A variety of events throughout the United States celebrate the month and spotlight Indigenous people in the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
New MMIP program to strengthen investigative efforts: The Department of Justice announced a new regional outreach program dedicated to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis along with 10 assigned assistant attorney and coordinator positions.
Denied for wearing beaded graduation cap: Despite new Illinois bill waiting to be signed into law, Indigenous student unable to wear cultural clothing to graduation.
WASHINGTON DC BUREAU
Supreme Court rejects Navajo Nation’s water rights trust claim: Arizona v. Navajo Nation is the final federal Indian law case to be ruled on by the high court this term.
Supreme Court: Tribal sovereign immunity doesn’t extend to bankruptcy court: The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians had argued that its sovereign immunity protected the tribe from being sued in Bankruptcy Court.
Boarding school investigation bill headed to Senate: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs received more than 100 written comments from tribes, Native communities, organizations and individuals that were used to update the bill.
Supreme Court affirms ICWA: ‘The bottom line is that we reject all of petitioners’ challenges to the statute, some on the merits and others for lack of standing.’
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BUREAU
Two more tribes make historic co-management agreements: Four tribes in Oregon can now issue their own hunting and fishing licenses for their citizens under the agreements, based on harvest limits informed by tribal values.
Native American Youth and Family Center leader steps down: During nearly seven years there, Paul Lumley built the Native American Youth and Family Center into an economically powerful organization and more than doubled the affordable housing properties it runs.
Former Washington state Sen. John McCoy dies at 79: Tulalip Tribes citizen used education and negotiation to win support for bills.
The long road to access to Willamette Falls: Four Oregon tribes are working with the state’s electric company to plan public access at the second largest falls in the United States, which has been inaccessible since industrialists dammed the falls and lined the river with paper mills 150 years ago.
Farmers market hosts a destination for the community: Portland’s Cully Farmers Market, hosted by the Native American Youth and Family Center, runs every Thursday this summer, highlighting about a dozen Indigenous vendors.
Shake up in Portland’s Tribal Relations Office: Laura John’s mission was to make Indigenous voices heard at City Hall. On Monday, Miranda Mishan, who has worked with John for two years, took over the role.
Celebrating joy at NAYA’s queer prom: The Native American Youth and Family Center invited students from all over Portland to show up. ‘Anyone a part of the queer spectrum is welcomed and not only welcomed, but celebrated.’
Snoqualmie implements a first of its kind land protection tax: The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe hopes to preserve the Snoqualmie Falls and other ancestral sites for future generations through a new 2 percent land protection tax. Leaders say it’s a model for other tribes working to reclaim their ancestral lands.
ALASKA BUREAU
Two Alaska villages join lawsuit against Donlin Gold Mine: ‘The mine’s toxic waste… will need to be treated in perpetuity. That’s not an easy pill to swallow.’
Billions for internet access streaming to Indian Country: ‘It’s certainly a hundred billion dollars more funding than we’ve ever had before.’
Iñupiaq artist Joseph ‘Joe’ Senungetuk has died: He will be remembered as an artist, educator, mentor, and activist.
Southern Tutchone, Tlingit dance festival a Yukon hit: ‘It’s just a place to come meet with family, friends, get into culture, singing, dancing.’
MOUNTAIN BUREAU
‘A proud day to be Lakota’: Pine Ridge hosts first Victory Day celebration: The Oglala Lakota Nation kicked off its inaugural Greasy Grass Victory Day on June 25.
Montana Two Spirit Society moves forward with pride: The organization hosted educational events amid a statewide flurry of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.
New summit uplifts rural, Indigenous voices to empower: The event allowed for over 250 participants to create conversations on breaking borders, strategizing and addressing issues their communities face.
Regaining the land and the white bison: Among the plans the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have in story for its newly regained bison refuge is securing a home for the long lost Big Medicine.
Indigenizing artificial intelligence and programming: The Lakota AI Camp is combining culture and artificial intelligence to help preserve and teach Lakota language for generations to come.
CANADA
Canada’s UNDRIP plan draws mixed reactions from Indigenous leaders: Proposal draws sharp criticism from some chiefs as ‘repealing the Indian Act.’
The first Indigenous Solidarity Day in Canada: Reporter’s notebook: Reflecting on the historic day that started Canada’s official, unofficial holiday.
Wildfires threaten Indigenous communities: 17 First Nations are affected by the wildfires and 13 First Nations have evacuated.
Canada’s first female national chief ousted over Zoom: RoseAnne Archibald loses latest fight in what one critic called an ‘embarrassing coup.’
ENTERTAINMENT
INDIGENOUS A&E: Low riders, kernels of knowledge and a bronze ‘Sovereign.’
‘Gone Native’ goes for laughs: Spirit animals, anyone? TV comedy writer Joey Clift uses animated humor to teach in new Comedy Central series.
INDIGENOUS A&E: Native theater, a soccer doc and artistic fellowships.
Kiowa, Mohawk film curator: Indigenous films increasing every year: Sundance Indigenous director Adam Piron on film, festivals, and a big gift.
Dakota digital artist receives Knight Foundation Fellowship: Marlena Myles uses technology to tell traditional stories.
From Osage Nation to Cannes Film Festival: Once-in-a-lifetime trip includes Martin Scorsese, Tim Cook, France, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ premiere and much more.
‘Bones of Crows’: Epic film about Canada’s residential schools opens nationwide: Writer/director/producer Marie Clements’ film is a story of resilience and resistance.
Chef takes Indigenous flavors to ‘Great American Recipe’: Maria Given’s Native foods will face a multicultural menu on the PBS show’s new season.
New Academy Award ‘inclusion’ standards draw praise from Native filmmakers: New rules kick in requiring diversity for a film to be eligible as Best Picture starting in 2024.
Bringing alterNative fashion to Rapid City: Garbage Tale Vintage is bringing sustainable, upcycled fashion to Rapid City and preparing for a showcase at Native Pop on July 7.
Taos Pueblo couple create short film for Metallica: New heavy metal video features dark, Indigenous animation.
SPORTS
Men’s Haudenosaunee Nationals seek first world championship: The team won the bronze medal in the last two iterations of the World Championship.
TRIBE Athletics flexes basketball muscle in desert: Almost 240 Native basketball teams made their way to the Phoenix Valley for 3 days of competition.
Zach Whitecloud, Vegas Golden Knights win Stanley Cup: The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba celebrated Whitecloud’s success with a watch party and fireworks.
New children’s book tells untold Native baseball story: Author Traci Sorell and illustrator Arigon Starr bring the 1911 World Series to life.
Mohawk takes on Dakota for hockey’s greatest prize: Brandon Montour of the Six Nations of the Grand River vs, Zach Whitecloud of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
Stanley Cup Notebook: A golden cup: Vegas Golden Knights win series 4 games to 1 over Florida Panthers.
Haudenosaunee Nationals have eye on world championship: The men’s lacrosse team is in southern California for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS NEWS
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Inuit pride, UN warnings and shared Indigenous knowledge.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Will a Brazilian court intervene in land disputes?
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: A new ‘Indigenous Guard’ fights back in Peru.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Making their voices heard.
WATCH: ICT NEWSCASTS
Land back in Alaska: A new film focuses on the drama around pipelines. And it’s land back for a small Alaska Native Community. Plus, surf’s up! A Native Hawaiian is honored for his work in preserving the culture of the sport.
Indigenous traditions change with the generations: Traditional roles in Native American cultures have included Two-Spirit people in a significant way. An Oglala Lakota poetry program gives voice to youth. And Alyssa London welcomes Indigenous women in a new TV special.
Summer brings opportunities for youth: Young leaders gather in Dakota Territory. The Oglala Lakota open a new artspace. The Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community welcomes youth baseball players. Montana mourns the loss of a young relative.
Leaders from Cherokee and Navajo nations speak out: Leaders from the two largest tribes in the country discuss issues of sovereignty and public policy. Tensions mount at Chaco Canyon over resource development. The Indian Child Welfare Act is personal for an Oklahoma family, and a Dakota man who changed the genre of American Indian art.
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