Tasha Fridia been picked as an Obama Leader by the former president’s Obama Foundation.

From the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, she will join the first leadership class of changemakers who are values driven. ICT’s Stewart Huntington has this interview.

Last week, members of the Native American Journalists Association voted to change their name to the Indigenous Journalists Association. ICT’s editor Jourdan Bennett-Begaye serves on the board of directors.

House Republicans could be at the center of a government shutdown in about six weeks, if they don’t work out a plan. The August recess is making it more challenging to work out a path, to pass important government spending bills by the Sept. 31 deadline. ICT regular contributor John Tahsuda has more. 

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that routine vaccinations for kindergarteners in the U.S. fell to 93 percent during the 2021-2022 school year. That marks the second year in a row routine vaccination rates decreased. Current data shows American Indian and Alaska Native children have higher rates of hospitalizations.
  • A legendary Native American musician is deciding to retire after an incredible career. Award-winning singer and song-writer Buffy Sainte-Marie of the Piapot Cree Nation announced she is retiring from live performances. The announcement cited a combination of contributing factors, including health concerns and physical challenges for the 82-year-old. She wrote and performed the ICT newscast opening track titled: “You Got to Run, Spirit of the Wind.
  • Guitarist, songwriter and singer Robbie Robertson, died last week after a long battle with cancer. The 80-year-old Mohawk and Cayuga descendent, was famous for leading the musical group “The Band,” and for his work scoring films. Most recently, Robertson produced the music for the film “Killers of The Flower Moon.”
  • Australia’s language loss rate is one of the fastest in the world. Only 40 out of 250 original Indigenous languages are still spoken in the country. But in a small rural Queensland town, the local Wakka Wakka language is being revived and taught to school children. ICT’s McKenzie Allen Charmley has this report.

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 award winning 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. Instagram: @mallencharmley.

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

Stewart Huntington is a producer for the ICT Newscast.

Quindrea Yazzie, Diné, is a video production editor for the ICT Newscast. Email: qyazzie@ictnews.org . Yazzie is based in Phoenix.

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

Pauly Denetclaw, Diné, is a political correspondent for ICT. Email her at pauly@ictnews.org

Pacey Smith-Garcia, Ute, is a production assistant for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @paceyjournalist.

ICT 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 ICT for as little as $10.