Mass. Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA)

06/16/2026

"A chance meeting between legendary Diné ballet dancer Jock Soto and rising Chickasaw talent Heloha Tate highlights the growing legacy of Native excellence in ballet."

One family has three generations of men with artistic talents

06/16/2026

Apply to the Indigenous Fly-In Program by July 22!

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

Few television creators have changed the landscape for Indigenous storytelling quite like Sterlin Harjo.

After earning critical acclaim for Reservation Dogs—the groundbreaking series that brought Indigenous humor, community, and contemporary Native life to mainstream audiences—Harjo has scored another success with The Lowdown.

FX and Hulu have officially renewed the Oklahoma-set drama for a second season following a highly praised debut. The series earned a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and was named one of the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Television Programs of 2025.

Filmed in Oklahoma, The Lowdown follows a citizen journalist investigating corruption and hidden truths while navigating a world of power, influence, and local politics. Production on Season 2 is already underway.

For many Native viewers, Harjo’s continued success represents something bigger than television ratings. It reflects the growing influence of Indigenous creators who are shaping the future of entertainment while bringing new stories, voices, and perspectives to audiences around the world.

What has been Sterlin Harjo’s most important contribution to television so far?



Sources:
• FX Networks
• Variety — The Lowdown Renewed for Season 2 • Deadline — The Lowdown Season 2 Begins Production
• Rotten Tomatoes
• American Film Institute (AFI) Top 10 Television Programs of 2025

06/15/2026

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) has survived one of the biggest legal challenges in its history.

In Haaland v. Brackeen, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7–2 in favor of the federal law, rejecting major constitutional challenges and affirming Congress’s authority to protect Native children and Tribal Nations.

Passed in 1978, ICWA was created after decades of policies that separated large numbers of Native children from their families and communities. The law establishes guidelines that prioritize keeping Native children connected to their relatives, Tribal Nations, and cultural heritage whenever possible.

Tribal leaders across the country, including the Cherokee Nation, celebrated the ruling as a historic victory for Native families and Tribal sovereignty.

Today, ICWA remains one of the most significant federal laws protecting Indigenous children and preserving the bonds between Native families, communities, and future generations.

Why do you think protecting culture and family connections matters for future generations?



Sources:
• U.S. Supreme Court — Haaland v. Brackeen (2023)
• Cherokee Nation — Statement on ICWA Decision
• SCOTUSblog — Haaland v. Brackeen Explained • U.S. Department of the Interior
• National Indian Child Welfare Association

06/14/2026

Save the date: Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00 PM at the Katharine Cornell Theatre! Join Wôpanâak citizen and lifelong educator Brad Lopes for a presentation on the Wôpanâak history of the island. This event will be held at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

To understand the history of the island from the Wampanoag perspective, we must look to the land and waterways that make up Nôepe and seek to understand the stories they hold. Nôepe is Wôpanâak Homelands and has been for thousands of years. By utilizing both oral tradition and primary source documents, participants will engage with island history from the Wampanoag perspective and gain an introductory understanding to Wampanoag continuance in this place and space. This presentation aims to dispel myths and misunderstandings of land ownership and use, Wampanoag history, continued existence, and more. Participants will explore ways to support Wampanoag histories and communities and leave with a new understanding of the island.

Brad Lopes is an Aquinnah Wampanoag citizen and life-long educator currently working within the traditional homelands of his people, the Wampanoag Nation. He currently serves as the Education Manager for the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribal Education Department (TED) and as the Education and Public Programs Manager for the Aquinnah Cultural Center, an Aquinnah Wampanoag museum located on Nôepe (Martha's Vineyard). Prior to this, Brad went to the University of Maine Farmington, located in Wabanaki Homelands, and graduated with a degree in Secondary Education before spending five years teaching Social Studies to students in 7 - 12 grade. In his time in education, Brad has sought to decolonize the pedagogies, content, and ways of understanding education, including the ways in which public education can reinforce stereotypes and harmful understandings of Indigenous people.

06/13/2026

Mashpee Wampanoag tribal citizen Darius Coombs, with the help of Ubaid Govan and Keenan Lopes, constructed a wetu next to the First Light Casino in Taunton.

Mashpee Wampanoag citizen Darius Coombs, with the help of Ubaid Govan and Keenan Lopes, constructed a wetu next to the First Light Casino in Taunton. See link below ⬇️

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06/11/2026

📣 Funding opportunity alert!

The National Park Service's Tribal Heritage Grants Program is accepting applications to help preserve oral histories, cultural traditions, sacred places and historic sites for future generations.

💵 $600,000 available
✅ No non-federal match required
🗓️ Deadline: July 27, 2026

Apply today and help keep Native culture and heritage thriving. 🪶
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https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/tribal-heritage-grants.htm