A council of Mexican indigenous groups backed by Zapatista rebels have selected the country’s first indigenous female presidential candidate.
The Indigenous Governance Council picked Maria de Jesus Patricio to run in the 2018 election.
The council called for an “anti-capitalist and honest” government.
Local media described Patricio as a traditional healer from the western state of Jalisco.

A traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe on an around-the-world journey has reached a milestone by crossing the equator on its way back to Hawaii.
The Crew are sailing without modern navigation equipment and have travelled through at least five oceans.
The voyage is teaching people in other countries about traditional navigation, Native Hawaiian culture and caring for the ocean.

An Alberta high school graduation party with a “cowboys and Indians” theme prompted administrators to call an assembly to discuss racism.
Images of students from Chinook High School in Lethbridge appeared on social media and showed attendees at the privately-held party wearing headdresses, war paint and feathers.
Some students at the gathering reported youth carrying empty listerine bottles on their costumes — mocking alcoholism in the indigenous community.
Some of the students released a statement apologizing and asked for forgiveness from the indigenous community.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to raise reconciliation with indigenous peoples when he meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican this week.
The PM is asking the pontiff to issue a formal apology in Canada for the role of the Catholic Church in the residential school system.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission included the demand for a papal apology _ to survivors, their families and communities as one of it’s 94 recommendations.
The Liberal government has promised to act on all of them.

Alicia Keys is sharing a top humanitarian award with indigenous rights activists in Canada.
Keys and members of the indigenous rights movement recieved Amnesty International’s “ambassador of conscience award.”
The award is presented each year to an artist and an activist who have stood up to injustice, inspired others and furthered the cause of human rights.
Keys is co-founder a non-profit that provides care to families affected by HIV in Africa and India.
Canada’s indigenous rights movement was recognized for fighting to end discrimination and improve living conditions in indigenous communities.