Native Peoples Network

Métis singer-songwriter Cat Clyde is earning national attention for a sound that blends rockabilly, folk, blues, and country into something uniquely her own.

This month, CBC Music included Clyde on its list of 5 Indigenous Musicians to Know in 2026, highlighting artists helping shape the next chapter of Indigenous music.

The recognition comes as Clyde releases her fourth studio album, Mud Blood Bone, through Concord Records. The project features songs that explore identity, relationships, and social issues while drawing from the vintage influences that have become a hallmark of her music.

Originally from rural Ontario, Clyde has built an international audience through years of touring and songwriting. In 2026, she continues that momentum with performances across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including appearances at major festivals.

As Indigenous artists continue expanding the boundaries of contemporary music, Cat Clyde is proving there is no single sound that defines Native creativity.

Which Indigenous musician do you think more people should be listening to right now?



Sources:
• CBC Music — 5 Indigenous Musicians to Know in 2026
• Concord Records — Mud Blood Bone
• Cat Clyde Official Website
• Winnipeg Folk Festival • Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival

Long before Indigenous-led television became a regular part of mainstream entertainment, Adam Beach was building a career in some of Hollywood’s biggest productions.

The Saulteaux actor from Manitoba first gained widespread recognition through Smoke Signals (1998), a landmark film written, directed, and produced by Native creators. He later starred in major projects including Windtalkers, Flags of Our Fathers, Cowboys & Aliens, and Su***de Squad.

For many Indigenous actors, Beach’s success demonstrated that Native performers could take on leading roles in major studio productions while remaining connected to their communities and cultures.

More than three decades into his career, he remains one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America and continues to advocate for authentic representation on screen.

Which Adam Beach role do you remember most?



Sources:
• IMDb
• Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
• CBC Indigenous
• National Film Board of Canada
• Native News Online

A major housing reform is expected to make homeownership more accessible for Native families living on tribal trust land.

Signed into law on May 4, 2026, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 was created to address long-standing delays within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) mortgage review process. Tribal housing advocates say those delays often discouraged lenders and slowed access to home loans for Native families.

The new law establishes clear federal timelines for mortgage reviews, requires faster communication when paperwork is incomplete, creates a Realty Ombudsman position to help resolve issues, and expands access to digital land and title records.

Supporters say the reforms will help improve transparency, reduce uncertainty for lenders, and expand opportunities for homeownership across tribal trust lands.

The legislation applies to millions of acres of tribal trust land and has been widely welcomed by tribal housing organizations as a significant step toward improving housing access in Indian Country.

What housing challenges do you think deserve the most attention in Native communities today?



Sources:
• U.S. Congress — Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 (S. 723)
• National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) • Native News Online

A major leadership appointment could soon shape the future of Native healthcare across the United States.

The White House has nominated Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, to serve as Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), the federal agency responsible for providing healthcare services to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives from 575 federally recognized tribes across 37 states.

If confirmed, Cruz would oversee one of the nation’s largest federal healthcare systems, helping guide policies, services, and programs that affect Native communities from Alaska to Florida.

The nomination comes as many Tribal Nations continue working to improve healthcare access, strengthen public health programs, and address longstanding disparities affecting Indigenous populations.

For many Native leaders, representation in key decision-making roles remains an important part of ensuring Tribal voices are included in conversations about the future of healthcare in Indian Country.

What healthcare priorities do you think should receive the most attention in Native communities?



Sources:
• Native News Online — “Mark Cruz (Klamath) Nominated to Head Indian Health Service”
• NIHB — “White House Nominates Mark Cruz as Director of the Indian Health Service”
• NCUIH — “Trump Submits Nomination of Mark Cruz for Director of the Indian Health Service”
• ICT (Indigenous Media)

Long before rockets carried astronauts and satellites into space, Indigenous communities were living along Florida’s Space Coast.

Researchers from the University of Central Florida have uncovered evidence of a Native American settlement dating back to around 900 AD within the boundaries of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Excavations at the site have revealed pottery fragments, shark-tooth cutting tools, conch shell hammers, and food remains that provide a glimpse into daily life more than 1,000 years ago.

Archaeologists say the discovery highlights the deep Indigenous history of a landscape now known worldwide for space exploration. Today, Cape Canaveral serves as a major launch site for NASA, commercial space missions, and scientific research, yet beneath the same ground lie traces of generations who lived, fished, and built communities centuries before the modern space age.

The findings offer a powerful reminder that some of America’s most recognizable places are also Indigenous homelands with histories that stretch back long before the present day.

What other Native histories hidden in plain sight deserve more recognition?



Sources:
• University of Central Florida
• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Smithsonian Magazine
• Texas Observer
• Archaeological Conservancy
• Fox news
• Associated Press (AP)

The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation is leading a major restoration effort along the Bear River that could return an estimated 13,000 acre-feet of water to the Great Salt Lake each year.

Known as the Wuda Ogwa Project, the initiative combines Indigenous knowledge with modern conservation practices to restore wetlands, remove invasive plants, and reintroduce native species across ancestral Shoshone lands.

Since reacquiring the property in 2018, the tribe has worked with community volunteers, environmental organizations, and restoration partners to improve watershed health while strengthening the connection between people, land, and water.

Supporters say the project demonstrates how long-term stewardship and habitat restoration can benefit both local ecosystems and the broader Great Salt Lake watershed.

Today, the effort is being recognized as an example of Indigenous-led conservation helping shape the future of one of the West’s most important natural landscapes.

What other Indigenous-led environmental projects should more people know about?



Sources:
• Great Salt Lake Collaborative
• Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
• Utah State University Extension
• TreeUtah
• Bear River Watershed Partners

Ojibwe author Angeline Boulley spent a decade writing Firekeeper’s Daughter while working full-time in Indian education, carrying the idea for the story since she was a teenager.

When the novel was finally published in 2021, it quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller and introduced readers around the world to a story rooted in Ojibwe identity, community, and resilience.

Now, the bestselling novel is being adapted into a television series by Netflix and Higher Ground Productions, the company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.

Boulley has been vocal about the importance of authentic Indigenous representation and made it a priority that Native talent be involved throughout the adaptation process. The series is being developed with Ojibwe writer Wenonah Wilms and showrunner Mickey Fisher, helping ensure Indigenous perspectives remain at the center of the story.

Firekeeper’s Daughter follows Daunis Fontaine, a biracial Ojibwe teenager who becomes involved in an FBI investigation while navigating questions of identity, family, and community. The novel has been widely praised for combining a compelling mystery with an authentic portrayal of contemporary Ojibwe life.

For many readers, the success of Firekeeper’s Daughter demonstrates the growing demand for Indigenous stories told by Indigenous creators.

Have you read Firekeeper’s Daughter?



Sources:
• Firekeeper’s Daughter Adaptation (Deadline)
• Netflix Tudum
• #1 Bestseller List (NYT)
• Publishers Weekly
• Angeline Boulley

Congratulations to Deb Haaland on winning the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Mexico.

A citizen of the Laguna Pueblo, Haaland has already broken barriers throughout her career—becoming one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first Indigenous person to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

With her primary victory, she now advances to the general election in November and moves one step closer to another historic milestone. If elected, she would become New Mexico’s first Native American governor and the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state.

For many Indigenous communities, her campaign represents more than politics. It reflects decades of Native leadership, resilience, and the growing presence of Indigenous voices in positions of influence across the country.

Congratulations, Deb Haaland.



Sources:
• Associated Press
• Source New Mexico
• Washington Post Election Results
• KOB 4 New Mexico
• Ballotpedia Election Results

Before Prey, major Hollywood action franchises rarely placed Indigenous women at the center of the story.

That changed when Amber Midthunder, a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, took the lead role as Naru in the Predator prequel.

The result was historic.

According to Hulu, Prey became the most-watched premiere in the platform’s history during its first three days of release. The film also set streaming records internationally across Disney’s platforms and earned widespread praise from critics and audiences alike.

Set in the Comanche Nation in 1719, Prey featured a predominantly Indigenous and First Nations cast and later became available in a full Comanche-language version—an unprecedented milestone for a major studio franchise.

For many viewers, the success of Prey proved that Indigenous-led stories can compete on the biggest stages in entertainment while staying rooted in culture, language, and authenticity.

Today, Amber Midthunder is recognized as one of the most prominent Indigenous actresses of her generation, with credits including Legion, Roswell, New Mexico, Reservation Dogs, and Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.

What was your favorite Amber Midthunder performance?




Sources:
• Hulu Press Release on Prey Viewership Record
• 20th Century Studios
• The Hollywood Reporter
• Variety
•  IMDb (Amber Midthunder filmography)

From a Mohawk community in Quebec to becoming one of the most influential Indigenous voices in entertainment, Devery Jacobs continues to break new ground.

Known to many viewers for her acclaimed role as Elora Danan in Reservation Dogs and her work in the Marvel universe, Jacobs is now stepping into a major leadership role behind the camera.

In 2026, she is set to serve as an executive producer on Sigil, a new genre-bending fantasy-horror series officially announced by Bell Media’s Crave. The project is being developed alongside acclaimed filmmaker Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix) and Chris Lavis.

Born and raised in Kahnawà:ke, a Mohawk community in Quebec, Jacobs has built a career focused not only on acting, but also on expanding Indigenous representation and ensuring Native voices have a seat at the table in the creative process.

Her journey from a small Indigenous community to international television and film highlights the growing impact of Indigenous creators shaping the future of storytelling.

As more Native writers, actors, directors, and producers enter the industry, leaders like Devery Jacobs continue to prove that Indigenous stories belong on the world’s biggest stages.

What has been your favorite Devery Jacobs project so far?



Sources:
• Bell Media / Crave Upfront Presentation (official announcement of Sigil)
• IMDb Pro and official project listings for Sigil
• Devery Jacobs official filmography
• CBC Indigenous
• Variety Entertainment reporting on Indigenous television and Sigil announcements