The U.S. Department of Energy and the Biden administration have many initiatives dedicated to improving energy infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visited Phoenix recently to share the agency’s latest efforts concerning tribal nations. ICT’s McKenzie Allen-Charmley has this interview.
Danielle SeeWalker holds many titles including being a mother, artist, and businesswoman. She’s also a member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado and a commissioner for the Denver American Indian Commission. ICT’s Stewart Huntington has this interview.
ICT has developed a number of partnerships with colleges and universities across the country. One of them is Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Oklahoma. Dacoda McDowell-Wahpekeche is one of the students that we’ve had the pleasure to work with over the years. He’s now the Washington correspondent for Gaylord News.
- Oklahoma lawmakers voted to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto. This means Native students are permitted to wear traditional regalia at graduations. The governor rejected the bill saying a decision on regalia should be up to school districts.
- Efforts to expand broadband across tribal lands has received new funding from the Office of Indian Economic Development. The agency recently awarded $2.7 million National Tribal Broadband Grants to 18 tribes and tribal organizations.
- It has been decades in the making. The Oglala Lakota Artspace had its grand opening May 20, to honor artists and welcome the community to this unique space. ICT’s Shirley Sneve has the story.
- Alaska State Rep. Josiah Patkotak announced his candidacy to become the next mayor of the North Slope Borough. The current mayor Harry Brower, Jr. cannot run again due to term limits. Patkotak, who is Iñupiaq, appears to be running unopposed. He is prepared to resign his seat in the state’s legislature, if elected.

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.
Daniel Herrera Carbajal is a video editor for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @daniulherrrera
Pacey Smith Garcia, Ute, is a production assistant for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @paceyjournalist.
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.

