As 2022 winds down, we take a look back at some of the newsmakers we interviewed this year.

Chris Wondolowski played professional soccer for 17 years. He went from a supplemental draft pick to the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS. He also had the all-time Major League Soccer’s scoring record of 171 career regular-season goals. Wondolowski retired in November of 2021. He went from the playing field to the front office with the San Jose Earthquakes. He shared with us his plans for his new role with the Earthquakes and his favorite memories.

2022 also started with the historic announcement that Cynthia Chavez-Lamar would become the first woman to lead the National Museum of the American Indian. She was named in January and took her post on Feb. 14. She oversees the museum’s three facilities located in Washington D.C., New York City and in Maryland. In November, Cynthia Chavez-Lamar presided over the dedication of the Veteran’s Memorial located just outside of the museum. The ceremony had been delayed a few years due to COVID-19.

Nicole Mann is living on the International Space Station. She blasted into space on Oct. 5 as the commander of the crew. It might be hard to believe but she’s just the second Native astronaut. John Herrington, who is Chickasaw, is the first Native. He went into space in 2002. Part of his mission was to help build new areas of the International Space Station. Herrington gives us his unique perspective on her mission and reflects on his own experience.

This summer the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma cut the ribbon on a new addition to the Wilma Mankiller Health Center. Mankiller was the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. She left a legacy that continues to impact her people today. McKenzie Allen-Charmley has a report. 

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.

Patty Talahongva, Hopi, works for Indian Country Today. Follow her on Twitter: @WiteSpider.

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

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Correction: Chris Wondolowski played for the San Jose Earthquaked.