Monday, July 22, 2019 – The fight against hantavirus
New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona lead the nation in the total number of hantavirus cases. But infections show up in more than two-thirds of the continental United States. Every year there are a handful of fatalities from complications of the virus that’s spread by mice. Native Americans are particularly susceptible. The mortality rate reported by the Navajo Nation Epidemiology Center is significantly higher than that of the general population. It’s not a new disease, but the first outbreak wasn’t identified until 1993 in the Four Corners area (New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona). We’ll get an update on efforts to tackle the spread of hantavirus.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019 – Tribes line up against a new Canadian oil pipeline
The Canadian government says it’s moving forward with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from Alberta to the west coast of British Columbia. But the proposed $4.5 billion project faces considerable opposition from a number of tribes and Indigenous groups. Construction would mean a new pipeline next to the existing line from Edmonton, Alberta to Burnaby, British Columbia. It would significantly increase the amount of oil flowing to tanker ships going to Pacific nations. Tribes on the U.S. side of the border express concern over the increased potential for a catastrophic oil spill. A coalition of First Nations is suing over a lack of consultation. But another Indigenous group is working on an investment strategy to benefit tribes along the pipeline route.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 – Hot topic: chile’s Indigenous roots
As New Mexico and Colorado argue about who has the best green chile, let’s not forget the plant’s Indigenous origins. Scientists believe the plant originated as long as 9,000 years ago in Mexico. Different varieties of chiles swept the Americas and became part of many Indigenous communities. Christopher Columbus took a chile plant to Europe. He and other European traders had a hand in spreading it to Africa and Asia. Now, Native seed savers are working to preserve early versions of the plant. We’ll talk about this fiery pepper’s place in Native America, past and present.
Thursday, July 25, 2019 – July Book of the Month: “Her Captive, Her Love” & “Their Land, Their Love: The Return Home” by Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
Some years ago, Navajo author Evangeline Parsons Yazzie set out to bring readers closer to what it meant to be on what is known as the Navajo Long Walk. She decided to do that through a series of fictional stories that follow the lives of different Navajos and the events and people they encountered on the journey. We present the two final volumes in her four-part series “Her Captive, Her Love” & “Their Land, Their Love: The Return Home.” We invite you to take a look at this part of Native history with our July Book of the Month.
Friday, July 26, 2019 – July in the news
A Navajo man is making a bid for the 2020 presidential race. His platform includes re-writing the constitution. Also authorities continue to clash with protesters in Hawai’i over the pending construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. We’ll get an update from people who are there. And the Red Press Initiative is looking at press freedom in Indian Country. We’ll find out why. We’ll round up the most recent news.
