Friday, March 6, 2026

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. is congratulating U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK). On Thursday, President Donald Trump nominated Sen. Mullin as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin would be the first Native American man to become a U.S. cabinet secretary if confirmed. Chief Hoskin said in a statement that having a Cherokee Nation citizen serve within the U.S. Cabinet is a mark of high esteem for his tribe. Hoskin says the appointment reflects the resilience and leadership of Cherokee people. Arizona Humanities is once again teaming up with an Indigenous nonprofit to organize an all-day celebration of a unique food from the Southwest. KJZZ’s Gabriel Pietrorazio has more on Saturday’s gathering. Blue corn is not only nutritious, it is also synonymous with traditional ceremonies across this arid land. Amber McCrary (Diné) is programs manager with Arizona Humanities and she says that is why, for the second year running, a festival named after this desert crop is taking root in downtown Phoenix. “It’s always been there in my life and I would just like to see it kind of become this bigger thing that we all will celebrate together.” This time around, the festival is tied to a Smithsonian initiative where each state is responsible for hosting a single folklife event this year, in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. And for Arizona, that theme is blue corn – through food, art, and storytelling – even down to the wardrobe, says co-organizer Kinsale Drake (Diné), founder of the NDN Girls Book Club. “If you are coming to the festival, wear your best blue. … We have a dress code.” Kyle Watson, 12, taught himself to dance by coming to the Alaska Native Medical Center Hospital lobby every Wednesday. (Photo: Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) You can count on it, like the steady beat of a Native drum. Every Wednesday night, dancers across the generations fill up the hospital lobby at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. But as KNBA’s Rhonda McBride tells us, the kids are the ones to watch. These days, we see mostly see Alaska Native dance groups on the stage, but in the hospital lobby, the dancing is not meant to be a performance. Instead, a shared experience. The rhythms are almost hypnotic, yet the dancers are fully present. Everyone is seated, within a circle of sound and motion that spirals out from a small group of drummers. “In Yup’ik, we say Yuraq. Not dance.” Kyle Watson (Yup’ik), a 12-year-old sixth grader at Mears Middle School in Anchorage, is here every Wednesday. His movements are precise, as if every fiber of his being snaps to the beat of the drum. “It just makes me happy.” Once Kyle is here, he says any anger or sadness fades away. The Yuraq demands his full attention. “I keep on learning about Yup’ik words. And I keep on learning about dance motions too.” And then, as if he Is channeling something from another time and place. The excitement that comes out of Kyle’s throat comes from way-down deep, a throwback to a technique his ancestors used to excite the dancers and encourage them to pick up their pace. Kyle’s grandfather Percy Alexie usually stands in the back of the room to watch. “I’m proud of him. He makes it fun. He makes it fun. He goes around and meets people. And I enjoy meeting other people that enjoy watching him too. And I’m proud to say, he taught himself. He taught himself and it’s just over a year now.” Group leader Ossie Kairairuak (Yup’ik) says this dance gathering is going on its sixteenth year – and by far, the best part is watching kids like Kyle. “Kids in their most pure form can never do wrong. This kid is purely motivated to learn those songs by heart. And let his body, let his feelings express it. He has that gift. And it’s fun to watch. And it’s fun to embrace. And let him be who he was meant to be.” Kairairiak says Kyle’s voice is an echo from the spirit world, proof of what his mother always told him – that our ancestors are always with us.   Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, March 6, 2026 — Notable events: Heard Museum art fair and Native culture in miniature