Greetings, relatives:
As we head to June and summer, we must look back at what happened in a busy May in Indigenous news.
We start with a national writers strike that includes Indigenous TV shows, films and could go on long past May. It’s going to be a long hot summer for the striking writers of television and films. Diné writer Sierra Ornelas is among those who have been on the picket line. Sandra Hale Schulman has MORE.
Indigenous musician Link Wray — considered the godfather of punk, hard rock and heavy metal — will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Miles Morrisseau has the details HERE.
Richard Arlin Walker shares a look at traditional canoe journeys. Coast Salish and First Nation canoes have been ceremonially reawakened in the Pacific Northwest in preparation for a return to the ancestral marine highways and celebratory cultural gatherings. READ MORE.
Our Mountain Bureau has been busy. JoVonne Wagner explains what happened in the Montana Legislature session that ended on May 3. The Indigenous legislators had goals this session, some were realized, others were altered. READ MORE.
ICT lost an extraordinary person and incredible colleague this month in Lisa Ellwood. Her role as press pool manager and formerly an opinion editor was crucial, and her passion for the work and mission showed each day. Lisa’s “distinctive voice” also played a huge role in the newscasts opening.
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
Insuring an Arctic homeland: Gwich’in Steering Committee lobbies insurance and investment companies to prevent oil and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Tiptoeing around the debt: Budget deal is not perfect; saves tough decisions for another day.
Deficit fight risks clean energy jobs: Indigenous clean energy job count: 37,987 and counting.
Shoni Schimmel to plead guilty in domestic violence case: The former WNBA star will plead guilty at a sentencing hearing in August. Her sentence is unclear, but a similar case shows one potential outcome.
Augustine Band rebounds with business ventures: With just 20 citizens, the tribe now owns a casino, restaurant and organic farm. And more plans are in the works.
Missing documents in 1978 murder case: Douglas Stankewitz is hoping to win his release after 45 years in San Quentin for a murder he says he didn’t commit.
Writer, journalist, longtime ICT employee Lisa J. Ellwood dies at 57: Ellwood, an advocate of disability rights and MMIW awareness has died after a battle with cancer.
Writers strike hits home for Indigenous TV shows, films: Native writers among those walking the picket lines amid demands for better working conditions and pay.
‘Significant disruptions’ if US defaults: A dozen years ago the solution was the ‘sequester’ of already appropriated funds – an action that hit Indian Country hard.
‘Historic day for Indigenous peoples’: Indigenous leaders from Canada meet with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace before his coronation.
Left out of Truth and Reconciliation: Survivors of a residential school in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, located in northern Canada, headed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to bring international attention to their class action lawsuit.
Land acknowledgement mural unveiled at university: ‘What’s the point of acknowledging such an important part of our university’s history and New Mexico’s history if it’s not going to be proudly on display.’
Road to Thacker Pass continues to be blocked: Land defenders have blocked the road leading to the construction site at Thacker Pass in Nevada.
Powering Indigenous energy (fast & fair): There are more than 200 projects that one study cited as ‘land grabbing’ and harmful to Indigenous peoples.
Beyond NAGPRA: Guiding ancestral objects home: Private collectors are now trying to repatriate items of cultural, historic, traditional importance to their place of origin.
Supreme Court hears case involving Ojibwe tribe: The high court appears to be confused on why tribes were not listed in bankruptcy code.
Oklahoma governor vetoes bill allowing graduation regalia: Tribal leaders, civil rights advocates urge legislature to override the veto.
Final COVID-19 restrictions lifted on Navajo Nation: The largest tribe in the southwest was one of the first to enact some of the strictest COVID-19 health mandates in the country, the new administration has quickly been lifting them.
MOUNTAIN BUREAU
Looking back on Montana Indigenous caucus 2023 session: The Indigenous legislators had goals this session, some were realized, others were altered.
Montana MMIP bill amended, heading to governor: The bill would extend the state’s MMIP program for 10 years, despite slashing funding, which could be renewed in 2025.
Montana TikTok ban brings questions about digital sovereignty: The state’s governor signed the bill banning the social media app on Wednesday. Opponents say they plan to challenge the law in court.
University of Montana to have Native commencement speaker: Along with giving the ceremonial speech, Mandy Smoker Broaddus will also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Montana governor signs Indigenous caucus bills into law: Among a slew of bills signed by Greg Gianforte last week include instating the Montana ICWA program.
ALASKA BUREAU
Alaska Federation of Natives see two withdrawals: Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and Tanana Chiefs Conference separately announced withdrawals from AFN on Monday.
Farewell Alaska writer Richard Perry: ‘A humble and generous person, gifted writer and a doer.’
National panel praises Alaska tribal health system successes: ‘Thankfully in Alaska, incredible tribal leaders came together and said, ‘enough.’
Can tribes win alone? Advocating for tribal nations at the state and national level is ‘a multi-layered chess game’ that the Alaska Federation of Natives and National Congress of American Indians face each day.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BUREAU
Washington state expands dental therapist program: American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest oral health disparities in the country.
A journey of healing: The Native and Strong Lifeline provides mental health support to Native people in crisis across Washington state.
Traditional canoes return to the waters of the Pacific Northwest: ‘Intertribal Canoe Journey’ and ‘Gathering of the Eagles’ are back this year.
‘The aunties are coming’: At a bootcamp aimed at cultivating leadership among Indigenous women, the goal is community and connection.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Wild life’ of pioneering artist told in new documentary film: Crow painter Earl Biss helped shape contemporary Native art for decades.
Native entrepreneur wants to fill healthy food business gap: ‘I just wanted to create food that is not hurting Native people and not hurting the earth.’
Black Belt Eagle Scout: ‘Note-shredding guitar hero’: Indigenous musician Katherine Paul is captivating audiences on tour for new album.
Two Indigenous wins for Pulitzer Prize: This year’s winners include a First Nations podcaster who focused on her father’s boarding school experience.
INDIGENOUS A&E: High fashion, beyond ‘Prey’ and a Native playwright on Broadway.
Record number of Indigenous members elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Centuries-old organization honors influential leaders in a wide range of fields.
A 90-foot long painting honors Indigenous women: ‘It’s so different to be in a place or to do a show where they’re like ‘wow these women are really cool’ and they can kind of relate.’
Musician Link Wray ‘rumbles’ into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Shawnee guitarist influenced generations of rockers with his slash-and-burn style.
‘Every single dance … I think of a community’: From jingle dress to fancy shawl, ‘it takes a lot of strength and endurance to be a powwow dancer.’
INDIGENOUS A&E: LAND art, First Nation music and traditional baskets.
SPORTS
Indigenous hockey players close in on Stanley Cup finals: The final four teams left in the NHL playoffs include two with First Nations talent.
Hockey: Indigenous players move on to second round of playoffs: Brandon Montour and the Florida Panthers slay the Beast of the East to advance.
Mohawk hockey star reaches Stanley Cup Final: Brandon Montour’s Florida Panthers are headed to the final for the first time in 27 years.
Cree hockey player wins international gold medal: Ethan Bear brings one home with Team Canada in IIHF championship.
Native tennis tournament serves up cultural celebrations with sports: National championship returns to Oklahoma over the Memorial Day weekend for yearly event.
HOCKEY: Zach Whitecloud and Knights clinch Western Conference title: Two Indigenous players will face off in Stanley Cup finals starting June 3.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS NEWS
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Making headway against oppression, destruction and environmental degradation.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Public health, women’s issues take center stage.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Protests, reforms and Aboriginal art.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Coffee, anyone? Treats, threats and preservation.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Will wildfires return to Argentina’s Indigenous communities?
WATCH: ICT NEWSCASTS
Dentistry challenges in Indian Country: The first Alaska Native congressional representative reflects on her first 100 days. A look at dentistry and disparities. Plus, a half-century ago, Indigenous women shaped public policy and remain active today.
Empowering future generations: Congratulations to the class of 2023. We meet one Native grad who is earning his sixth degree in five years — an attorney from NARF tells us about students and their rights to wear traditional regalia at graduation. Plus, we check in with NCAI’s Youth Commission co-president on upcoming initiatives.
Extraordinary talent throughout Indian Country: On the weekend edition of the ICT Newscast, extraordinary Indigenous talent has many forms. The Gathering of Nations is much more than a powwow. Native fashion takes off, Native Sounds on the radio, and elders hit the nets. And remembering missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Children’s television features Native stories: From Spirit Rangers to Sesame Street, our youth see themselves. A visit to the Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. The legacy of a Ponca leader is recognized on a postage stamp. And a history museum owns its past to make changes in the future.
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