ICT’s column, “Global Indigenous,” is a weekly round-up of Indigenous news from around the world. This column is published Wednesday at ICTNews.org. ICT Senior Editor Dianna Hunt oversees the content and she gives us this week’s round up. Stories include a recent ruling in a case of cultural and human rights in Australia and the COP27 climate gathering.

More than 300 tribal leaders are at the Department of the Interior for the first day of the White House Tribal Nations Summit. John Tahsuda, our regular political contributor, tells us what the summit covers and how significant it is for tribal nations.

A slice of our Indigenous world 


  • The United States is sharing plans for how to clean up oil and gas wells on tribal lands. On Monday, the Interior released final guidance for how tribal nations can apply for grants to address orphaned wells. This is the result of oil or gas wells that have been left behind because companies cannot plug. It’s a growing problem in Native communities, with estimates showing there are several thousand on tribal lands. The bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a total of $4.7 billion to address the issue. The guidance on the issue came after 60 days of consultation with tribes.



  • World leaders are fresh off of this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference. This includes a delegation of North American Indigenous leaders. ICT’s Pacey Smith-Garcia and Jeff Ferguson have a report.



  • In South Dakota, the White River School District has received $1.5 million from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. An estimated 90 percent of the students in the district are Native. It was a total surprise, according to school officials. They told South Dakota Searchlight they thought the email was a scam. Then followed up to make sure it was real. The district is renowned in the state for basketball. The money has no strings attached and could potentially be used to pay for student scholarships, technology updates or even a new gym.



  • For the first time in its 35 year history, the Columbia River Gorge Commission will be led by an Indigenous person. Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs citizen Carina Miller was elected as chair over the 13-member commission that oversees the gorge’s land-use policy. The Columbia River Gorge spans 292-thousand acres and serves as a popular scenic destination. The organization says Miller will start as chair on January first. 


Today’s newscast was created with work from:

Shirley Sneve, Ponca/Sicangu Lakota, is vice president of broadcasting for Indian Country Today. Follow her on Twitter @rosebudshirley She’s based in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Aliyah Chavez, Kewa Pueblo, is the anchor and managing editor 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

Drea Yazzie, Diné, is a producer/editor for the ICT newscast. On Twitter: @quindreayazzie Yazzie is based in Phoenix.

Maxwell Montour, Pottawatomi, is a newscast editor for Indian Country Today. On Instagram: max.montour Montour is based in Phoenix.

Kaitlin Onawa Boysel, Cherokee, is a producer/reporter for Indian Country Today. On Instagram: @KaitlinBoysel Boysel is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma

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.