Greetings, relatives:
The fall season was packed with news.
We start with a historic deal with the U.S. Army. Native ceremonies and sovereignty will guide the return of ancestors buried at the Carlisle school. Read more.
Supporters of Leonard Peltier held a rally outside the White House on Sept. 12, Peltier’s 79th birthday. Leonard’s daughter, Kathy Peltier, attended the rally in Washington to demand freedom for her father. Read more.
“Reservation Dogs” has ended with its third season. The final episode aired the last Wednesday of the month. Details here.
In Montana, a near weeklong gathering took place for healing, celebrating and reconnecting with a focus on celebrating Two-Spirit people. ICT was there. Read more.
Crow Creek tribal citizens are patrolling the streets in South Dakota citing a lack of federal law enforcement. ICT was there. Read more.
Hip-hop turns 50 in 2023. ICT looked at some of the Indigenous artists across the nation who have been impacted. Check the entertainment section below for artist profiles.
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
A final journey home from Carlisle: Two students return to their homelands more than 100 years after leaving for boarding school.
Walking in their ancestors’ footsteps: Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma citizens return to Nebraska to renew ties to the lands their ancestors left behind.
Tribes strike historic deal with Army over repatriations: Native ceremonies and sovereignty will guide the return of ancestors buried at the Carlisle school.
Orange Shirt Day: Canada faces rise in residential school denialism: Hate speech and confrontations are growing over the truth about missing children, graves and genocide.
Handful of states keep universal free student meals: Options for reservation schools include USDA programs.
Nicole Horseherder wins honor protecting Black Mesa water: Heinz Award for the Environment includes a $250,000 unrestricted grant.
Looking ahead on COVID-19 vaccines in Native communities: It’s also the first fall and winter virus season where vaccines are available for the three viruses responsible for most hospitalizations – COVID-19, RSV and flu.
Another Carlisle grave is misidentified: Remains believed to be that of a Puyallup boy who died in 1896 turned out to be an unidentified young woman.
Native health program celebrates first four graduates: Indigenous leaders, professors up their game in one-of-a-kind medical Ph.d. program.
Indigenous artists, culture bearers recognized with cash awards: ‘Ancient art form brings meaning to the present, tradition into the future.’
From the battlefield to the stage: Former Navy SEAL takes up acting and seeks to give back to Native people.
Coquille Tribe forged partnership with Jimmy Buffett over shared values: Tribal chair says Margaritaville hotel brought ‘spirit of the potlatch’ to tribal enterprise in Oregon.
Indigenous nonprofit advances in creating a marine sanctuary: The Northern Chumash Tribal Council began the work to create the sanctuary in central California a decade ago.
Tribes expand with new casino ventures: Indian gaming emerges from the pandemic with ‘historic revenue.’
A ‘champion for tribes,’ former governor Bill Richardson dies: Richardson will be remembered for many accomplishments as an elected official, including his impact on Native people.
WASHINGTON DC BUREAU
Government shutdowns deeply impact tribal nations: Impending government shutdown could lead to tribal furloughs and a halt to federal contracts, grants and funding.
Water talks in the Senate: Three different committees will discuss water this week and bring in Indigenous leaders to testify.
‘I just want to free my dad,’ Leonard Peltier: 35 arrested at the Free Leonard Peltier 79th Birthday Action in Washington.
WATCH: ‘Let Leonard (Peltier) go home’: Hundreds gathered in front of the White House to demand that President Joe Biden grant clemency to Leonard Peltier.
NDN Collective prepares for DC rally: A South Dakota Native nonprofit is headed to Washington D.C. to protest the 47-year incarceration of Leonard Peltier.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BUREAU
Are land trusts part of the Land Back movement?: Land trusts in Oregon are beginning to transform from their white-led roots, toward models based on Indigenous values and leadership.
‘We must take care of the water’: Infrastructure law sets aside $278 million in federal funds for water projects in Native communities.
Prison powwow’s message: ‘You are not forgotten’: The Washington Corrections Center for Women Sisterhood Powwow brought imprisoned women together with family and friends for a day of celebration.
ALASKA BUREAU
Proposed atomic experiment set off Alaska land claims movement: Edward Teller: If your mountain is not in the right place, drop us a card.
Alaska medical center cleared for Medicaid/Medicare reimbursements: The decision resolves regulatory issues raised earlier this year.
MOUNTAIN BUREAU
Colorado mountain renamed Mount Blue Sky: The mountain was previously named after former territorial governor, John Evans, who authorized the Sand Creek Massacre.
Blackfeet man named Montana Teacher of the Year: Kevin Kicking Woman, a Blackfeet language and cultural teacher at Browning High School, will go on to compete in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ground blessing marks Pine Ridge’s first stand-alone museum: The Maȟpíya Lúta Heritage Center will house, art, language and other elements of Lakota culture.
Pete Buttigieg meets with tribes to discuss transportation issues: The bipartisan infrastructure law aims to provide millions in funding to tribal nations.
IHS operations to continue in face of shutdown: Impact of a possible government shutdown and streamlining of IHS among topics discussed at annual Tribal Advisory Committee meeting.
Tribe takes law into its own hands: Crow Creek tribal citizens start patrolling the streets, citing a lack of federal law enforcement.
‘This is medicine.’ Montana Two-Spirit Society host gathering: A near weeklong gathering has space for healing, celebrating and reconnecting with a focus on celebrating Two-Spirit people as well as allies and members of the LGBTQ+ communities.
Photo essay: Montana Two-Spirit celebration: Taking a visual look at the annual celebration.
ENTERTAINMENT
Cherokee Nation launches broad expansion into film industry: The tribe aims to become a media production hub for the film and television industry with a new studio and original productions.
‘Reservation Dogs’ goes out with community: Acclaimed series ends after 3 seasons but stay tuned.
INDIGENOUS A&E: Striking new photos, feathered gowns and film premieres.
An Indigenous wing in hip-hop’s mansion: As the world celebrates 50 years of rap music and its unstoppable culture, incredible Indigenous hip-hop artists reflect on humble beginnings and the path ahead.
Memoir tackles author’s Oklahoma childhood: Indigenous writer Eddie Chuculate’s latest book shares his perspective from Oklahoma childhood.
Tlingit artist James Johnson connects past with present: James Johnson explores the roles of Tlingit artists in keeping traditions alive, post-colonial assimilation.
Litefoot reflects on the impact of hip-hop: ‘Seeing the way hip-hop was being used by other communities made me realize my talents could be put to use to express myself and create more awareness about the struggles we face as Indigenous people.’
Native rap artist builds bridges with his music: Frank Waln says hip-hop gives a platform for sharing life perspectives, good, bad and ugly.
Diné author’s story collection weaves heritage, identity: Stacie Denetsosie’s new book illustrates power of storytelling to reshape past narratives and embrace the Diné tradition.
INDIGENOUS A&E: Stories in sculpture, museum fashion and First Nations music.
Miracle Spotted Bear is stuck in between: The Oglala Lakota student-athlete found time to release her debut album.
Bob Barker’s legacy stretched in, out of Indian Country: The longtime game show host, one of TV’s ‘most iconic stars,’ was from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and left an everlasting impact to many who watched him on the ‘The Price is Right.’
Def-I has gone blue: The Diné performer has been rapping, making beats and breakdancing since middle school. He dropped his latest album ‘Blue Hour’ in August.
A play about family … and a boarding school’s future: Conversation with Mary Kathryn Nagle and Jonodev Chaudhuri.
INDIGENOUS A&E: Native guitars rock Nashville.
SPORTS
From the Navajo Nation to the Balkans: Analyss Benally is an example of Native basketball talent relocating to far-away countries to keep their basketball dream alive.
First Native pro golfer gains new recognition after 100 years: Shinnecock/Montauk golfer Oscar Bunn will be honored with a new portrait in the national USGA Golf Museum.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS NEWS
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Mining protests, unmarked graves and human rights abuses
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Book ban targets ethnic Mongolians.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Report calls for halt to ‘genocide’ tourism.
GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Focusing the world’s attention on injustice.
WATCH: ICT NEWSCASTS
Where art meets the ancestors: We speak with artist John Isaiah Pepion about his ledger art. Tamara St. John talks about the six year effort to bring Native ceremonies to the Army’s repatriation process. ‘This Indian Kid’ is a new book for young readers.
Movements for the future: A Washington D.C. rally is calling for the release of Leonard Peltier. We take a deeper look into the debate surrounding the potential name change of a national forest in Ohio. The chief of the Cherokee Nation plans his second term in office.
Advocacy across Indian Country: An official from FEMA discusses extreme weather events affecting tribal nations. We meet the Iñupiaq woman using data to fight for Missing and Murdered Alaska Natives. And, Nick Tilsen gives us an update on Leonard Peltier.
Indigenous identity and artificial intelligence in Hollywood: A look at Hollywood and Indigenous identity in films and the disruption coming from Artificial Intelligence. A recap of the Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival. A musician takes the stage in more ways than one.
Health checks on Indian Country: What you need to know about the new COVID-19 vaccines from a leading expert at the Indian Health Service. Meet one of the experts behind the nation’s most up-to-date and complete database on Indian Boarding Schools. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia create unique challenges for Native American caregivers.
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