The ICT Newscast for Friday, June 12, 2026, covers Native water rights from the Colorado River, the dangers of hantavirus, potential loan limits on nursing degrees, Indigenous films and a Native hair dresser. Check out the ICT Newscast on YouTube for this episode and more.
Tribal Water Rights at Stake Amid Colorado River Disputes
Native American tribes are fighting to protect their water rights to the Colorado River as Western states dispute whether tribes are making use of their allocations. University of Colorado-Boulder Law Professor Mark Squillace says limited infrastructure access has undercut tribes’ ability to use their water but it’s not a reason to exclude Indigenous people from future negotiations.
Hantavirus Deaths Spark Pandemic Fears, But Experts Urge Calm
A hantavirus strain linked to several U.S. deaths has raised public concern, but Epidemiologist Dean Seneca says the threat is being overstated. Hantavirus outbreaks are not new, the Andes strain is hard to transmit between people, and Indigenous rural communities have been managing outbreaks for decades, including the largest known U.S. outbreak in 1993. Health officials recommend wearing PPE and practicing safe cleaning practices when around areas with rodents, the virus’s primary carriers.
Proposed Loan Cap Threatens Native Students in Health Fields
The Trump administration is moving to reclassify graduate degrees in nursing, public health, and social work, which would subject students to stricter federal loan caps. Advocates warn the change could hit Native American students especially hard, as they already face greater obstacles to completing advanced degrees, and could worsen the nationwide nursing shortage which is an especially large problem for rural hospitals on the reservation.
Filmmaker Eva Thomas Explores Police Corruption and Indigenous Sisterhood
Indigenous filmmaker Eva Thomas is drawing attention with her latest film examining police corruption and the bond between Indigenous women. She credits her strategic move to Canada as a key turning point in building her career behind the camera.
Milwaukee Stylist Builds Community One Chair at a Time
Bailey Skenandore, Indigenous owner of Sweet Grass Salon in Milwaukee, says running her business is an act of community-building as much as a career. She encourages other Natives with entrepreneurial dreams to take the leap, saying an honest look at the pros and cons often reveals the downsides aren’t as daunting as they seem.
New Film Tells California’s History Through Native Eyes
Pechanga Studios Director Bradley Munoa’s new film People of the West tells history through the perspectives of California’s tribes, from creation stories to the present. The documentary includes classroom materials for teachers and, while the history is dark, Munoa says it is ultimately a story of resistance and survival.
View previous ICT broadcasts here every week for the latest news from around Indian Country.
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