Greetings, relatives.

A lot of news out there. Thanks for stopping by ICT’s digital platform.

Each day we do our best to gather the latest news for you. Remember to scroll to the bottom to see what’s popping out to us on social media and what we’re reading.

Also, if you like our daily digest, sign up for The Weekly, our newsletter emailed to you on Thursdays. If you like what we do and want us to keep going, support and donate here.

Okay, here’s what you need to know today:

LOS ANGELES – It’s going to be a celebration of Native music and performance at the 96th annual Academy Awards on Sunday evening.

Whether any of the three Native nominees win or lose, a national audience will hear the sound of Native song and drums as members of the Osage Tribal Singers take the stage to perform Scott George’s Oscar-nominated song ““Wahzhazhe” (A Song For My People) from “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

And of course, Native people across the country will hold their collective breath as we await the outcome of the Best Actress category, hoping Siksikaitsitapii and Nimíipuu actress Lily Gladstone continues her historic run by stepping up to the stage and accepting the most coveted prize for a female performer.

It is a season of firsts for Native performers and songwriters, including nominations for major film awards for Scott George’s song and the late Robbie Robertson’s for his musical score for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” George is Osage, while Robertson – who died Aug. 9, 2023 – was from the Six Nations of the Grand River in Canada.

Scorsese’s epic film depicting the Osage Reign of Terror – a series of 1920s murders of Osage people by non-Natives who killed them for their oil headrights – garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert De Niro), Cinematography, Costume Design, Director (Martin Scorsese), Film Editing, Original Score (Robbie Robertson), Original Song (“Wahzhazhe”), Best Picture and Production Design. READ MORE — ICT Staff, ICT

SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY.

During the first week in March, snowflakes the size of dollar coins melted into the ocean waves and sandy shores at Lincoln City. Nearby, elders and community members from across the state and beyond convened at the inaugural Gathering of Native Weavers of Oregon.

In a room at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort overlooking the beach, the sounds of the waves hitting the shore and the rain pelting the windows blended together with the chimes of laughter. Nearly 150 people gathered to learn various weaving techniques from 12 Native American master weavers from across the Pacific Northwest. The event was organized and hosted by the Portland All Nations Canoe Family.

“The feel here is like family. It just feels like it was supposed to be here,” said Katy Holland, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. “For the Portland Canoe Family to bring this to pass, it’s really special.”

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians contributed by providing a conference room at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort and offering discounted rooms to attendees. Other tribes in Oregon also contributed, mostly by sponsoring travel for their elders and master weavers to attend. READ MORE — Nika Bartoo-Smith, Underscore News + ICT and Jarrette Werk, Underscore News + Report for America

On the day that the U.S. Departments of Justice and Interior released their response to violence and missing persons in Indian Country, the Attorney General of the United States visited the Crow reservation and met with law enforcement officials in Billings to announce more resources for tribal justice as well as to talk about drug trafficking.

Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Attorney General, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Jesse Laslovich made brief remarks at the opening of a law enforcement roundtable meant to better coordinate law enforcement response to crime on the state’s reservations.

Garland spent much of the day in southcentral Montana talking with Crow tribal leaders and law enforcement. He also announced additional staffing being added to help prosecute crimes on tribal reservations, and spoke about the scourge of drug trafficking there.

He praised Department of Justice officials in Montana and their partnerships with local law enforcement, which has resulted in a string of successful prosecutions and convictions, including those in Missoula, Billings and Bozeman. READ MORE — Daily Montanan

WASHINGTON — The tall, black mesh, metal barriers are up. Police units are parked at nearly every corner. All signs for one of the most high-profile events of the year that boasts the most powerful people in Washington, D.C. in one room for one night. It’s President Joe Biden’s third State of the Union address and it comes during a busy election season where the president seeks a second term.

“The State of the Union is about where we were, where we’ve come, and what we need to do,” Tom Perez, director for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, said to ICT. “President Biden will talk about all three.”

The yearly address is mandated by the U.S. Constitution though it can take many forms, some presidents have done written reports but most commonly a speech. By invitation from the House Speaker, a president is invited to address Congress in the People’s House. This year, at least three Native people have been invited by members of Congress or First Lady Jill Biden.

It’s unclear if Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, will be in attendance. One member of the president’s cabinet is selected every year to be the designated survivor. This year’s designated survivor has yet to be announced as of early Thursday but the Interior is tied with the secretary of Agriculture for being selected the most number of times as the designated survivor. Last year, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was selected. READ MORE — Pauly Denetclaw, ICT

Sign up here to get ICT’s newsletter

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs could consult with an expert for a dedicated review of Native American voting rights under a legislative proposal considered this week.

Legislative Bill 1262, introduced by State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, would have the commission contract with a consultant with expertise in tribal issues to study and determine any barriers to voting and equal representation for Indian tribes in Nebraska. Day is chair of the Legislature’s State-Tribal Relations Committee.

Day said her bill would build off a federal steering group’s recommendations for such barriers, commissioned through a White House executive order, but “make it relevant for Nebraska.”

“Because Native voters are profoundly diverse, we thought it best that we explore this within our own state,” Day told the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

A first report of recommendations would be due Dec. 1, 2025. READ MORE — Nebraska Examiner

FOLLOW ICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK.

What we’re reading:

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.