by Laura Huenneke
Our County Party holds a firm commitment to honor the indigenous people and lands within Coconino County, and to be a good partner to Northeast Arizona Native Dems and other groups working on behalf of tribal citizens. But it can be hard for many to become familiar with the issues and perspectives that matter directly to the Dine’, Hopi, Havasupai, and other tribal people here – especially as many of us moved here from other parts of the country. I have found the journalists and editors at Indian Country Today (ICT) to be rich sources of news and insights – invaluable for opening my eyes and sharpening my thoughts.
I’ve also learned a great deal from many deeply-reported pieces from Indian Country in High Country News. But ICT focuses solely on reports from and for indigenous people and governments, across all of North America (not just the American West). ICT produces a regular television news show that can be watched most weekdays on Arizona PBS (through the Cronkite School of Journalism) but also on dozens of community access stations and on tribal stations such as Navajo Nation TV and GRBC (Gila River Tribe) here in Arizona.
Their website showcases press releases from many tribal governments and news sources. Reading through news reports and press releases on the ICT website is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of how native interests are not monolithic – they are highly diverse and there’s no single interpretation of native culture or political perspectives.
ICT also distributes a free weekly electronic newsletter, which can be a convenient way of staying in touch with the major issues affecting indigenous people in North America. And ICT operates as a non-profit, sharing its content freely for reposting or distribution and not collecting any subscription fees.
Recent stories include a piece on how climate disruption has been affecting tribal communities (https://ictnews.org/news/extreme-weather-hits-native-communities ), a sensitive biography of a renowned lacrosse stick maker from the Onondaga Nation, and a description of new federal (Bureau of Indian Education) resources for behavioral and mental health programs aimed at young native people (https://ictnews.org/news/behavioral-health-and-wellness-program-expanded-for-tribal-youth ).
Find Indian Country Today at https://ictnews.org/ . Whether you visit occasionally to skim recent news, catch the television newscast on PBS, or follow them on social media, your understanding will benefit from diverse voices we rarely hear elsewhere in the mainstream media.
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