A Navajo composer has been selected for this year’s MacArthur Fellowship. Raven Chacon was recognized for creating musical works that cut across boundaries of visual art and performance to illuminate landscapes, their inhabitants and histories. ICT’s Shirley Sneve has this interview.

It’s easy to imagine the tools of an artist: Canvas. Brushes. Oil. But what about something less? Such as art from an ordinary writing instrument. ICT’s Demi Dupavillon has this profile of a Hopi artist Quinn Honanie.

A fractured Republican party still has not elected a House speaker. ICT regular contributor Holly Cook Macarro has more on where the party stands.

  • Australian voters rejected a proposal to create an advisory body representing Aboriginal people by 61 percent on Oct. 14. An open letter to federal lawmakers said the result of the vote was “so appalling and mean-spirited as to be utterly unbelievable.” Because of this, supporters of the referendum flew Aboriginal flags at half-staff across Australia.
  • A Native American family is grieving the loss of their loved one — all while waiting for answers. Over a month ago, Terrance Little Thunder was riding his motorcycle in Rapid City, South Dakota when a vehicle struck him and drove away. The injuries killed the 42-year-old Cheyenne River Lakota citizen a few days later. No arrests have been made.
  • The Canadian firm Lithium Americas has federal approval to mine the Thacker Pass area, which is considered sacred to many area Indigenous people. The 6,000-acre site is currently under construction and has already been stalled by a number of legal challenges from environmentalists and regional tribes. Lithium Americas estimates the mine at Thacker Pass could provide enough lithium for one million electric vehicles a year in its first phase of planning.
  • “Killers of the Flower Moon” hit theaters everywhere this weekend — and Indigenous folks are speaking out. Mohawk actress, Devery Jacobs, took to social media saying quote, “I don’t feel that these very real people were shown honor, or dignity, in the horrific portrayal of their deaths.” Christopher Cote, the Osage language consultant on the film, said he wished the story was told from the perspective of Mollie Burkhart, who is Osage. The film, however, has many supporters from the Osage community, including Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear.
  • Tlingit and Athabaskan artist Crystal Worl is one of the newest designers for Colorado-based company Weston Snowboards. Worl’s artwork will be featured on snowboards and skis. It depicts a salmon and a Tlingit term meaning “The Salmon Way of Life.” A collection of merchandise featuring Worl’s artwork will be sold with profits set to be donated to various Salmon funds.

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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