Proposed legislation would preserve the site of the massacre at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, if it is passed into law. The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act was introduced by Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota. It passed the House through a voice vote. If the bill is approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden, it would put federal protections on the land around Wounded Knee.

The Native American Child Protection Act last week cleared the U.S. House of Representatives with an overwhelming 378 to 32 majority. Sponsored by Democrat U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, it would update a 1990 Indian child protection law to create a National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center. It now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The Manchester Museum, in the United Kingdom, has returned 174 items to the Australian Aboriginal Anindilyakwa Community. Some of the items included five stringy-bark baskets, spear throwers, and around 70 shell toy dolls. In an online statement, the museum says it worked with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the Anindilyakwa Land Council to repatriate the items.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $325 million investment in new battery types for a 24-hour power source to store wind and solar energy. The funds will be distributed to 15 projects in 17 states— including one for the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota. One of the projects is led by Rejoule, a battery diagnostics company, that will recycle retired electric vehicle batteries at three locations, including a worker training center at Red Lake.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it is bolstering its efforts to promote the public’s access to rapid COVID-19 tests. A test shortage was due to supply chain issues, as medical experts are warning of highly contagious COVID-19 variants. To order four free online, the website is www.covidtests.gov.

  • The Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe campaigned for two decades to gain federal recognition. The landless tribe has now purchased 855 acres of its ancestral homelands. ICT’s Stewart Huntington interview Chief Frank Adams.
  • This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Indigenous rappers MuMu Fresh and Tall Paul reflect on their own start and how they and other Native artists have been impacted by the music. ICT’s Vincent Moniz has this story.
  • A book published earlier this year showed the connections between mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health on a journey of wellness. Chelsey Luger is the co-author of “The Seven Circles, Indigenous Teachings for Living Well.”

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.

McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Dena’ina Athabascan, is a producer for 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.

Nick Parks is a production assistant for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter: @NickParks2002

Jack Orleans is an Intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter @JackOrleans5

Demi Dupavillon is an Intern for the ICT Newscast. On Twitter @DemiDupavillon

Mark Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, is ICT editor-at-large and Executive Producer of the ICT Newscast Email: marktrahant@ictnews.org

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