Monday, November 4, 2019 – Bridging the broadband divide
Tribes have an upcoming opportunity to secure wireless channels to dramatically increase the speed and coverage of broadband access. The federal government is giving tribes priority to bid on access within what’s known as the 2.5 GHz band spectrum. But the time frame to submit applications is brief and some tribes are having trouble completing the complex process in time.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – Responsible rock climbing
Technical rock climbing is a sport for adrenaline junkies. It’s also a way to keep fit and enjoy the outdoors. But it also often comes up against concerns and sometimes outright prohibitions by tribes wanting to protect cultural resources. The Navajo Nation has a ban on rock climbing within its boundaries. We’ll hear from Native climbers about the benefits of climbing and the best practices for reaching new heights.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 – Reviving voices from the past
Century-old recordings combined with state-of-the-art technology are giving some tribes new perspectives on their languages and songs. Wax cylinder recordings of songs and stories from the late 1800s took a roundabout journey and are now providing new insights for the Passamaquoddy tribe, which has few fluent speakers left. Many other tribes are also hearing the voices of their ancestors documented during the birth of analog recording but revived using technology perfected only recently.
Thursday, November 7, 2019 – Trapping for food and fur
The methods and equipment have changed over the years, but trapping remains a practice with a long history for Native Americans. Experienced trappers see it as a viable option for sustenance and animal population management. The sport is highly-regulated to protect endangered animals and to ensure humane standards. We’ll hear about modern trapping and its connection to longstanding cultural practices.
Friday, November 8, 2019 – The budding agritourism business
Picking your own apples, tracing your dinner from farm to table and even touring gardens and vineyards are all elements of agritourism that some Native business owners are cashing in on. Tribes and individual farmers , agritourism is a way to build interest in the culture surrounding food while also satisfying the hunger people have for learning about food and connecting to it.
