ICT is working to shape the future of journalism and stay connected with readers like you. A crucial part of that effort is understanding our audience. Share your perspective in a brief survey for a chance to win prizes

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:

Lily Gladstone fans await the January 23 announcement of Oscar nominees and the March 10 award ceremony, hoping for more historic accolades for the Indigenous actress.

She could become the first Native woman to be nominated for or win an Oscar for best actress and has already overcome Emma Stone to become the official Oscar front-runner for best actress, according to Hollywood awards prediction website Gold Derby. Gladstone edged out Stone in all four of Gold Derby’s prediction voting pools, including among 25 expert journalists and the website’s 11 editors, as well as its Top 24 users and All-Star Top 24 users.

In a December People article, Gladstone is quoted saying she prefers she/they pronouns. ICT will use she/they interchangeably to refer to Gladstone.

Gladstone became the first Native woman to win a Golden Globe for best actress last week and tribal nations have celebrated their win across social media. Two film industry experts recently interviewed by ICT also predicted a Gladstone win come March. READ MORE— Felix Clary, ICT + Tulsa World

SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY

The House State Affairs Committee in South Dakota signed off Friday on a bill that would open up a pool of housing infrastructure funding to tribal entities.

Rep. Tyler Tordsen, R-Sioux Falls, described House Bill 1041 as a, “small but important technical fix,” to the $200 million housing infrastructure financing program created last year.

That program has already awarded nearly $100 million to projects across the state to support the construction of things like streets, streetlights and water and sewer infrastructure for housing projects.

The issue addressed by HB 1041 revolves around the ultimate ownership of that state-supported infrastructure. In order to be eligible for a grant or loan through the program, a developer must pass along ownership of that infrastructure to a “political subdivision of the state.” Tribal governments are sovereign entities, not political subdivisions. READ MORE — South Dakota Searchlight

Around the world: Australia faces strong criticism for ‘systemic discrimination’ against Indigenous people, Manitoba appoints special adviser to address Indigenous women’s issues and China claims 456,000 Uyghur hires in Xinjiang while experts cite forced labor

AUSTRALIA: Report critical of prisons

In its recently released 2024 World Report, Human Rights Watch criticized the Australian government for overrepresentation of First Nations people in prisons and mistreatment of children in juvenile detention, the National Indigenous Times reported on January 13.

Human Rights Watch’s 740-page report assesses human rights in over 100 nations. Australia faces criticism for its treatment of refugees, offshore detention, relations with China, and, “systemic discrimination against First Nations people.” READ MORE — Deusdedit Ruhangariyo, Special to ICT

A proposal to create a trust fund that would give tribes in New Mexico more money and control to run their own education programs is back for the 2024 legislative session. Supporters are optimistic about their chances this year after last year’s unsuccessful attempt to include it in the state budget.

There are reasons for optimism.

Tucked into the Legislature’s proposed $10.1 billion budget is $50 million for the new fund. Rep. Derrick Lente, a Democrat from Sandia Pueblo, says top lawmakers have assured him the fund will get another $50 million, for $100 million total, during the 30-day session.

The question is whether Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will go along. READ MORE — New Mexico In Depth

Sign up here to get ICT’s newsletter

Salmon is sacred to many Northwest coast tribes, including the Puyallup Tribe near Tacoma, Washington. It’s also an important food source for a healthy diet. Now, the tribe is processing the catch for economic development. ICT Producer Stewart Huntington has the story.

ICT Political Correspondent Pauly Denetclaw talks with regular contributor John Tahsuda about Trump’s big win in Iowa, and court cases.

Tribes across the country are returning to plant-based medicines, and the Shinnecock Nation is turning this trend into a retail opportunity to serve the people. ICT Senior Producer Shirley Sneve has this interview.

Some tribes are turning to Artificial Intelligence to teach traditional language. Michael Running Wolf is the co-founder of FLAIR—First Languages AI Reality.

Mvskoke Media reports that long-time journalist Gary Fife has died. A career that started with the civil rights movement, he was the host for National Native News and First Person Radio. He was 73 years old.

WATCH

WASHINGTON – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren called on lawmakers Thursday to add Veterans Affairs medical and benefits centers on the reservation to help deliver services that he said Indigenous veterans have earned but often cannot access.

“The lack of VA care in the Navajo Nation is not reflective of the continuous contributions the Navajo people have provided to this country,” said Nygren in testimony to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“Our veterans have earned the right to accessibility, quality care and benefits for their service and sacrifice. It is for these reasons I ask Congress to work with my administration to bring a full-service VA medical center to the Navajo Nation,” he said.

Nygren was one of several witnesses from around the country testifying on the challenges the VA faces in delivering services to the millions of veterans who the department said live in rural areas. READ MORE — Cronkite News

FOLLOW ICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK

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. 

Like this story? Support our work with a $5 or $10 contribution today. Contribute to the nonprofit ICT. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter