July 06, 2025
A new documentary celebrating one of the greatest athletes of all time, Jim Thorpe, premieres on The History Channel on Monday, July 7. Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning tells the story of the Sac and Fox/Potawatomi sports icon, often called the greatest all-around athlete in history, whose accomplishments and struggles still resonate today. The documentary premieres on The History Channel.
Currents
WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
From Our Partners
(Green Bay, WI) – Bay Bank is proud to celebrate 30 years of serving Northeast Wisconsin as a trusted financial partner. Since its founding in 1995, Bay Bank has remained dedicated to empowering individuals, small businesses, and Tribal communities, standing firmly for financial inclusion, economic opportunity, and community growth.
Opinion
Guest Opinion . Is the American flag protected by a federal statute that says the flag should be “respected”?
Guest Opinion. This July 4th, we continue to organize for an inclusive multiracial democracy where Indigenous sovereignty is respected and everyone who calls these lands home can thrive.
Sovereignty
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, 25th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley, and Law and Order Committee Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton signed a joint letter formally recognizing Associate Justice Eleanor Shirley as the Interim Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation.
The Suquamish Tribe continues to play a significant role in the regional economy, according to a newly released economic impact study by respected economist John B. Taylor. The report outlines the Tribe’s wide-ranging contributions to Kitsap County and the state of Washington in 2023.
Education
Native Forward Scholars Fund , the nation’s largest direct provider of scholarships to Native students, has announced the recipients of its prestigious Student of the Year Award at the 2025 Empowering Scholars Summit.
On Tuesday, June 17, Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Council Delegate Dr. Andy Nez met with representatives from the Department of Diné Education (DODE), Diné Bi Oltá School Board Association (DBOSBA), and the BIA Navajo Region to develop a unified response to the Bureau of Indian Education’s recent “Dear Tribal Leader” letter.
Arts & Entertainment
A new documentary celebrating one of the greatest athletes of all time, Jim Thorpe, premieres on The History Channel on Monday, July 7. Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning tells the story of the Sac and Fox/Potawatomi sports icon, often called the greatest all-around athlete in history, whose accomplishments and struggles still resonate today. The documentary premieres on The History Channel.
After 33 years on the air, First Voices Radio will broadcast its final episode on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Founded in 1992 by Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Cheyenne River Lakota), the program has served as a vital platform for global Indigenous voices, focusing on issues central to the protection and preservation of Mother Earth—always told from the perspective of the original peoples of the world.
Health
Environment
A wildfire that has been burning across Navajo Nation since last Saturday has grown to more than 9,800 acres with 0 percent containment, according to the latest announcement from Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren’s office .
A wildfire that erupted over the weekend on the Navajo Nation near the New Mexico border has grown to more than 6,200 acres, according to the latest updates.