Women’s History Month can carry different perspectives across Indigenous communities. 

Chris Finley is an assistant professor of American and ethnic studies at the University of Southern California. She teaches and writes about Indigenous studies and gender through the lens of a future for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people. 

Basketball fans are glued to their TVs this time of year. It’s March Madness, and already we’ve seen some brackets busted. Which Native players should we be watching for? Brent Cahwee, co-founder of NDN Sports has been following these developments all year long. 

A new bill signed by President Joe Biden aims to reduce violent crimes on land belonging to tribal nations. It also amends the Not Invisible Act of 2019, and extends the joint commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against American Indians for another 18 months. Ruth Buffalo serves on that commission. The former North Dakota legislator is from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

A slice of our Indigenous world

  • A train carrying diesel fuel derailed on Native land in Washington. The train is owned by BNSF and was traveling across Swinomish lands when it fell off the tracks. No fuel is reported to have entered the bay nearby, however, the fuel did leak into the land-side of the tracks. Authorities believe up to 3,100 gallons of fuel spilled.
  • In Alaska, the Willow Project hangs in the balance after public outcry from environmental advocates. Last week, the Biden administration approved the controversial venture by the company ConocoPhillips. One lawsuit is by the Alaska Native-led organization Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic.
  • The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada hosted its 10th annual International Indigenous Tourism Conference in Winnipeg. Organization officials shared their vision of making Canada a leader in the tourism industry. Most of the 1,000 attendees were from Canada, but other Indigenous people came U.S., Columbia, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.
  • An Indigenous chef in Rhode Island is a regional semifinalist for the James Beard Award. Mashpee Wampanoag citizen Sherry Pocknett has been cooking locally and seasonally since she was growing up on Cape Cod in the 1960s. She owns Sly Fox Den Too.
  • A major role in a basketball movie is a dream come true for a First Nations actor. APTN’s Tamara Pimentel sat down with Tom Sinclair who plays Blair in the movie “Champions.” The film is about a former minor-league basketball coach, played by Woody Harrelson, who is court ordered to manage a team of players with disabilities. 

Today’snewscast 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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