The ICT Newscast for Friday, July 10, 2026, covers a politician who plans to fight for sovereignty in Wabanaki Territory, wraps on a powerful boarding school project, tribal fire prevention, hockey and a jingle dancer’s journey to healing. Check out the ICT Newscast on YouTube for this episode and more.
Stolen Land, Broken Treaties: Maine Tribes Bet on Pingree for Sovereignty
Maine’s Wabanaki Nations have spent 45 years locked out of rights other U.S. tribes have following a 1980 land settlement deal that tribal leaders say was more of a forced land grab built on unratified treaties. Now the tribes may finally have a governor in their corner: Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree says restoring tribal sovereignty would be one of her first priorities in office if elected in November. “It’s extremely welcome,” said Wabanaki Alliance director Maulian Bryant. Pingree’s Republican rival, Bobby Charles, has not responded to ICT’s request for a statement.
Silenced No More: Oral History Project Documents Boarding School Survivor Stories
A national oral history project has closed its final chapter in Tulsa, Oklahoma, capping a 28-month effort to record the stories of more than 380 Indigenous boarding school survivors across 19 states. Oklahoma, home to more Indian boarding schools than any other state, was fitting as both the project’s starting and ending point. Survivors like Walkie Charles, who endured sexual abuse at a school in Alaska, say the project gave voice to trauma they’ve carried in silence for decades. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition says the work is about more than documentation, it’s also about generational healing.
Left Out of Disaster Recovery, Tribes Push to Reclaim Fire Stewardship
As another dangerous wildfire season looms, Theresa Lynn Gregor of the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel says the fight against catastrophic fires can’t be separated from tribal sovereignty. She began advocating for fire stewardship after Southern California wildfires devastated ancestral lands and after disaster relief groups excluded tribes from county recovery funds, telling them to seek separate funding instead. Gregor says she co-edited “Land-keeping: Restoring Indigenous Fire Stewardship and Ecological Partnerships,” with Jared Aldern.
From the Yukon to the Leafs: Indigenous Prospect Gavin McKenna Goes No. 1
Gavin McKenna, a First Nations player from the Kluane First Nation in Yukon Territory, was selected first overall in this year’s NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, a franchise still chasing its first Stanley Cup since 1967. That drought began under Indigenous captain George Armstrong, making McKenna’s selection feel full-circle for many fans. Watch parties erupted both in his home community and across Canada to witness McKenna going No. 1. For diehard Maple Leaf fans, it’s a new reason to hope as hockey season approaches.
Dance Your Style: How Jingle Dancing Helped One Dancer Find Sobriety
Seamstress and jingle dress dancer Tunny Rabbit is redefining what powwow style can look like, blending an alternative, gothic aesthetic with traditional jingle dance after returning to the circle following a 15-year absence. Rabbit says the comeback was tied directly to sobriety, saying addiction impeded connection to traditional dance. Dancing became a grounding, healing force during recovery, deepening Rabbit’s bond with culture. Rather than conforming to how others danced or styled themselves, Rabbit embraces a look that feels authentic rather than expected.
View previous ICT broadcasts here every week for the latest news from around Indian Country.
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