Native community members in the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are pushing back against pollution. The city council is planning to demolish a warehouse two blocks from the Little Earth of United Tribes housing projects. However, the community wants to convert that space into an urban farm and community resource hub. Ojibwe citizen Joe Vital, a volunteer with the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, gives us an update.

Native Hawaiians have been making special fishing nets for generations.

First Peoples Fund has honored Charles Kealoha Leslie for his work in carrying it on through generations. ICT’s Shirley Sneve has this interview.

The largest organization serving Native American and Alaska Native tribes met recently in Washington, D.C. That was where the National Congress of American Indians held its executive council winter session. For many, the highlight is the State of Indian Nations address given by NCAI president Fawn Sharp. ICT’s Kolby KickingWoman was there. 

(Related: National Congress of American Indians looks to year ahead)

  • Families of three high profile murder cases are demanding police to take action. Last Monday, families of missing and murdered Indigenous people rallied outside of a Vancouver, Canada police station. That was for the deaths of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle ‘Elli’ O’Soup, who were all reported missing to authorities.
  • Sami youth in Norway shut down the country’s agency in charge of energy to make their voices heard. A group of Indigenous youth and other prominent climate activists including Greta Thunburg occupied the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in Oslo last week.
  • Legislation has been reintroduced to amend the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. If passed, it would reaffirm that the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to take land into trust for tribes. This act was overturned in 2009, leaving some federally recognized tribes concerned. The legislation was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate, including by Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, who is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.
  • The largest federally recognized tribe in the United States has hit a new milestone. The Cherokee Nation welcomed newborn Bryant Jones as its 450-thousandth tribal citizens. That was earlier this week when the baby was brought in by his proud family to be enrolled. The Cherokee Nation allows enrollment for anyone who can prove direct descent from someone listed on the Dawes or Freedman Rolls.
  • A college’s new tuition waiver program will help Native students earn degrees for free. Southern Utah University announced its plans to waive tuition for any Utah high school graduate that is a citizen of a federally recognized tribe. 

Today’s newscast was created with work from:

Shirley Sneve, Ponca/Sicangu Lakota, is vice president of broadcasting for the ICT Newscast. Follow her on Twitter @rosebudshirley. She is based in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Aliyah Chavez, Kewa Pueblo, is the anchor of the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @aliyahjchavez.

R. Vincent Moniz, Jr., NuÉta, is the senior producer of the ICT Newscast. Have a great story? Pitch it to vincent@ictnews.org.

McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Dena’ina Athabaskan, is a producer of the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @mallencharmley.

Paris Wise, Zia & Laguna Pueblo, is a producer for the ICT Newscast. Instagram and Twitter: @parisiswise. Email: paris@ictnews.org.

Drea Yazzie, Diné, is a producer/editor for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @quindreayazzie Yazzie is based in Phoenix.

Pacey Smith Garcia, Ute, is a production assistant for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @paceyjournalist

RipLey-Simone Kennebrew is an intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @ripleysimoneken

Daniel Herrera Carbajal is an intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @daniulherrrera

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