Having access to the internet means much more than being able to watch a YouTube video or logging onto a social media network. It means you have access to online education, virtual health appointments and much, much more. Tribal leaders have long argued that Native communities are being left out of the conversation when it comes to broadband. Tribal Ready is a Native-owned broadband consulting company. Joe Valandra is its CEO.

Nearly two centuries ago, Russian explorers invaded the Aleutian Islands, which are the homelands of the Unangax̂ people. This resulted in forced relocation, enslavement, and destruction of every single open skin boat used by the Unangax̂. Kanesia McGlashan-Price shares more on this project.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized tribe in the state of Alabama. Stephanie Bryan is its chairwoman and CEO. She was recently honored by Business Alabama as its first ever CEO of the Year for her work leading a variety of businesses across the state. 

A slice of our Indigenous world

  • U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments in a case involving federal Indian law. The Navajo Nation argues that it does not have enough water and says the federal government is to blame. Roughly a third of Navajo people living on their nation’s homelands don’t have running water.
  • Denver March Powwow is the annual kickoff of the powwow season and a major celebration of Native culture. ICT’s Stewart Huntington has this report.
  • An Indigenous company is looking at possible legal action over what some guests took home with them after this year’s Academy Awards. The 2023 gift bags at the Oscars contained items valued at $125,000. Among those items were novelty certificates of ownership for small parcels of land in the Australian Outback. The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network’s name and images were used in the membership book. It’s a charitable land management company, owned by 23 Indigenous organizations across Australia.
  • In Brazil, federal authorities are beginning to target the resources of illegal miners within Indigenous territories. Last week, agents at one site in the Amazon rainforest found a Starlink internet unit. The devices, which are lightweight and portable, are becoming an increasingly familiar find for authorities at the sites.

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

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

Virginia Rigney, Chickasaw, is a video editor for the ICT Newscast.

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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