Lennon Audrain has earned 5 degrees in 6 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 professor at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.

While graduation season is an exciting time, there are still barriers to break through. Earlier this month, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Cherokee Nation, vetoed a bill that would have allowed Native graduates to wear traditional regalia at graduations. David Gover, who is an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, spoke about the latest legal developments around this topic.

Looking ahead to future Native graduates, Yanenowi Logan is the co-president for NCAI’s Youth Commission. She is currently a student at Cornell University studying environment and sustainability.

  • Joe A. Garcia, a well-respected leader and sovereignty advocate from Ohkay Owingeh has died. He is a former two-time president of the National Congress of American Indians. Before his death, he was Ohkay Owingeh’s head councilman and had previously served three-terms as governor. Garcia was 70.
  • Despite a federal ban on harvesting baby eels, Indigenous fishers in Maine traveled north of the medicine line to get a piece of the moneymaking market. APTN’s Angel Moore has the latest.
  • FX’s “Reservation Dogs” on Hulu is coming back for a third season later this summer. The new season, which will consist of 10 episodes created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, will be available to watch on Hulu on Aug. 2. The series, which follows a group on Indigenous teens from rural Oklahoma, has been a huge hit with viewers — and drawn in numerous awards. 

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 Athabascan, is a producer of the ICT Newscast. On Instagram: @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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