Lennon Audrain has earned his fifth college degree in six years. He is Cherokee and Shawnee, and was the youngest graduate from both his master’s classes at Arizona State University and Harvard. Audrain recently received a PhD in educational policy and evaluation and is now an assistant research professor at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.

Matika Wilbur is a photographer, podcast host and now, author. Her new book “Project 562” collects her years of documenting photos of federally recognized tribal citizens. ICT’s Paris Wise has this interview.

“Frybread Face and Me” is a new film directed by Billy Luther. It was the outcome of Luther’s participation in the 2020 Sundance Institute Directors and Screenwriters Labs. The film premiered at South By Southwest.

  • Two more states moved to add protections for Native children who are placed in the foster care system. This week the governor of North Dakota signed a state Indian Child Welfare Act into law. The move comes on the heels of a similar action in Colorado where Gov. Jared Polis signed his state’s version of the law.
  • A grave protection law has passed the New York state’s Legislature. This new measure will require private landowners to halt construction if they discover a Native burial site on their property. Gov. Kathy Hochul faced sharp criticism from tribal leaders last year when she vetoed the act. The veto was due to disagreements in the law’s language. She is expected to sign this law in the coming week.
  • The Brazilian government is granting historic protections in the Amazon rainforest. President Luiz Ignacio Lula Da Silva has granted official recognition of 800 square miles of Indigenous lands on the Amazon. While the land still remains under federal jurisdiction, traditional land rights have been restored under this recognition.
  • Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new bill establishing a unit to investigate cold cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people. It requires collaboration with the Attorney General, local police, and Tribal Authorities. The new law designates an official to maintain communication for families of victims.
  • The Menominee Nation is installing solar panels at its tribal college. Community members were trained to install and operate brand new solar panels. The solar panels will be used to power one of the buildings at the College of Menominee Nation in Kashena, Wisconsin.

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.

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

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

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

Daniel Herrera Carbajal is a video editor for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @daniulherrrera

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

Indian Country Today is a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization ─ and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support Indian Country Today for as little as $10.