The Wrap: A ceasefire call
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The Oglala Sioux Tribe is now one of a handful of Native nations in the United States to call for a ceasefire in Gaza after a resolution was presented to the council by the Oglala Lakota Chapter of the International Indigenous Youth Council.
The resolution, which passed 14-to-1, calls for state and federal representatives to advocate for fuel, water, food and supplies to be allowed into Gaza, to cease military aid to the Israeli government and for an immediate cease-fire.
“It was kind of nerve-wracking because of the lack of education on what’s going on over there. We didn’t know where our tribal leaders would be at,” said Mato White Plume, Oglala Lakota and a member of the Youth Council. “But they supported us using our voices and speaking out, which let us know that they understand.” READ MORE. — Amelia Schafer, ICT + Rapid City Journal
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Professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey have changed their rules over the years to improve the health and safety of athletes.
A hall of fame musher says it’s time for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to do the same.
Jeff King, a veteran of 30 Iditarods and a four-time race champion, told ICT on March 21 that the 1,000-mile race should “slow down” a bit, with dog teams taking a required additional 48 hours of rest. Mushers and dog teams are currently required to take an eight-hour rest at a Yukon River checkpoint, an eight-hour rest in White Mountain, and a 24-hour rest at any checkpoint of their choosing. READ MORE. — Richard Arlin Walker, Special for ICT
The queer and Native communities are questioning the recent ruling of suicide in the death of nonbinary teen Nex Benedict and the decision not to press charges against their attackers.
The Oklahoma medical examiner’s office has ruled 16-year-old Nex’s death a suicide, concluding the death was caused by a lethal combination of two drugs – the antidepressant Prozac and the allergy medicine, diphenhydramine, the key ingredient in Benadryl, according to a summary report of the findings.
The Owasso Police Department has said no charges are being filed by the Benedict family against the teens who attacked Nex during an altercation in a high school girl’s bathroom. Nex, who was of Choctaw descent, was conscious and talking after the Feb. 7 altercation, but was found unconscious the next day at home and died later at a hospital. READ MORE. — Felix Clary, ICT + Tulsa World
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In the days following the 96th Academy Awards, I, as executive editor, the first woman and youngest to be in this role, received interesting feedback. Why was all of our coverage about the Oscars?
Naturally, I questioned, “Why not?” My second thought was this person had to be part of very few pool of Native people not watching Lily Gladstone go up against Emma Stone for leading actress.
My next thought, “This feedback has to be from a Boomer.” It was. (No offense to Boomers, but we have different news consumption habits.)
The following week I received counter feedback. The reader, who was also older, said he enjoyed following our coverage of the Oscars, Lily Gladstone, and all around “Killers of the Flower Moon” as it felt similar to following Deb Haaland’s journey to the secretary of the Interior Department. READ MORE. — Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT
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On Monday’s ICT Newscast, a seventh generation weaver on the Indigenous in 2024 series. What it takes to become Miss Indian Arizona? See how a Montana organization is working to bring representation to Indigenous artists.
Watch:
Greetings, relatives:
March was a busy month at ICT. Catch up on the stories that made headlines in this last month. READ MORE. — ICT
- INDIGENOUS A&E: Oscar fashion, Diné designs, basket cases: A biweekly column from ICT with the latest news from the arts and entertainment world.
- Tribal council member faces rape charges: Howard Rooks pleaded not guilty in a court appearance Friday.
- Natives call for inclusion of forgotten history: Indigenous leaders expressed their hopes that their history here will be a meaningful part of a new North Dakota development project.
- A hoop dance family reunion: Hoop dancer Josiah Enriquez made history by becoming the first winner of an adult category tiebreaker at the annual hoop dance contest in Arizona.
- Hitting it out of the park: The tribally owned Salt River Fields baseball park in Arizona is one of Major League Baseball’s top spring training facilities in the country.
- Iowa History Month: How a Native American soldier’s funeral revealed Iowa’s racism.
- Tribal lore, beliefs surround rare eclipse event.
- How zebra mussels spurred the Red Lake Nation push to return tribal lands.
We want your tips, but we also want your feedback. What should we be covering that we’re not? What are we getting wrong? Please let us know. dalton@ictnews.org.
