Native News
Monday Morning (June 22, 2026): Articles You May Have Missed This Past Weekend
Happy Monday!
Welcome to summer. This week thousands will gather at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn. The three-day event will begin on Thursday, June 25 and conclude on Saturday, June 27. Up to 10,000 people are expected to attend the daily.
Here are some of the articles you may have missed this past weekend:
They Mocked a Land Acknowledgment. What They’re Really Mocking Is the Truth.
For me, the dedication provided a stark contrast between a presidency that inspired hope and rallied the nation around the message, “Yes, we can,” and the current administration, which is defined by daily insults, falsehoods and a far-fetched blame game.
For a brief moment, the ceremony offered a glimpse of a different era—one in which political differences did not require personal attacks and leadership was measured by the ability to unite rather than divide.
Unfortunately, the dedication also provided the right-wing conservative machine with a new target: a land acknowledgment delivered by Valerie Jarrett, chief executive officer of the Obama Foundation and former senior advisor to President Obama.
Summer Solstice Celebrated Across Indian Country with Ceremonies, Prayer, and Community Gatherings
This exact moment, known as the Summer Solstice, marks the astronomical start to the season when the Earth’s axis is most tilted toward the sun.
For many Indigenous nations, the Summer Solstice is more than an astronomical event. It is a sacred time to honor the Creator, give thanks for the earth’s abundance, and reaffirm connections to the land, water, and all living beings.
Communities will celebrate the day with sunrise ceremonies, prayer offerings, traditional songs, dances, and communal meals. In many regions, Tribal citizens gathered before dawn to greet the rising sun with prayers for healing, strength, and balance.
“Healed Healers Heal”: Inside the Push for an Indigenous Medical School
A first-of-its-kind medical school could transform healthcare in Indian Country for the better.
The Indigenous School of Medicine (ISOM), a proposed medical school that weaves ceremony, culture, and Indigenous practices into physician education, could welcome students as early as 2030.
Dr. Donald Warne (Oglala Sioux), physician and co-director for the Center for Indigenous Health at Johns Hopkins and ISOM president, told Native News Online that the school aims to provide an environment where students don’t have to check their Indigenity at the door, but instead center their education and practice around their culture.