Monday, August 12, 2019 – Defending sacred places
Kanaka Maoli and their allies are entering their fifth week of demonstrations to prevent construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii. They’re determined to stop further desecration of the sacred Mauna Kea. It’s the latest high profile effort to protect sacred places around the country. Others include the Blackfeet Tribe’s renewed defense of Badger Two Medicine in Montana against the reopening of oil and gas development plans. And in Arizona, tribes continue to We’ll get updates on some of the notable efforts to protect sacred places across Native America.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 – Music Maker: Def-i
Navajo MC Def-i is out with his fifth album, “Dream Trails.” The musical project opens with a cinematic sound that quickly accelerates with the rapid style of word tangling he’s known for. Listeners get a glimpses into the many trails the artist has traveled to share his message that resonates from New Mexico to Africa. Hip-hop greats like Kool Keith and JFK Ninjaface make an appearance on the album. So do Native women artists like E-Turn, Dawta Magma, Honey and Liv the Artist. Well hear about the inspirations and collaborations that went into making the album and what’s next for Def-i.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 – The future of Alaska higher education
Alaska higher education officials are taking unprecedented measures to adjust to a looming cut in state funding. State officials are still working out the details, but budget vetoes by Governor Mike Dunleavy could mean a reduction of as much as 41 percent in state higher education money. The legislature restored the funding during a special session, but the governor can still reinstate his vetoes. If imposed, the cuts could mean the university system will close dozens of programs in remote areas that serve predominantly Alaska Native students.
Thursday, August 15, 2019 – New Zealand’s Maori speak out
A place where Maori first settled and thrived in New Zealand is the site of a proposed housing development. Protesters have been camping out at Ihumatao for almost three years. They want to halt plans to sell off the land that Maori people say was illegally seized by the government more than a century ago. Auckland city officials are in talks to try and resolve the dispute. At the same time, demonstrators are also calling for a change in the country’s child welfare system that puts Maori children in state care at a far greater rate than the rest of the population. We’ll hear more about New Zealand Maori people speaking out to protect sacred land and culture.
Friday, August 16, 2019 – Catfishing: a cruel prank
Native social media was abuzz when Shirlene (Navajo) confronted her catfish, Mya (Navajo/Zuni), on the MTV show “Catfish.” Catfishing refers to taking on a fake personality—usually online—to lure another person into a relationship, sometimes for months or even years. It’s a form of bullying that frequently causes a lot of emotional pain and anger. We’ll talk about the ramifications of catfishing and how people can protect themselves against online bullying.
