Monday, January 13, 2020 – Australia’s lesson on fire management
The bush fires in Australia have burned an estimated 20-million acres, claiming at least 24 human lives and countless wild animals. The size and severity of the fires have touched off debates about climate change and forest management. The country is suffering a crippling drought and record high temperatures. Some aboriginal leaders in Australia say traditional controlled burns might have prevented such devastation. We’ll look at what’s happening in Australia and learn more about the benefits of blending traditional fire management with modern day practices.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 – Hooked on ice fishing
Northern tribes have long ice fishing traditions. But today the sport has also evolved into an economic endeavor for tribes. Anglers bore holes in thick lake ice and drop a baited hook in. Some cut a large rectangle and wait with a fishing spear. We’ll hear from expert ice fishers about their passion and the different methods and secrets for the sport.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 – MMA: Native fighters in the ring
Mixed Martial Arts has a dedicated Native following, both as a competitive sport and as a fitness regimen. Some Native MMA fighters are making names for themselves as pros, including Nicco Montaño (Diné) and David Michaud (Oglala Lakota). We’ll hear about the appeal of the sport and how fitness enthusiasts find inspiration in the intense mental and physical discipline required to go toe-to-toe with an opponent in the ring.
Thursday, January 16, 2020 – Community Spirit culture keepers
Corine Pearce (Redwood Valley Rancheria Little River Band of Pomo Indians) weaves traditional Pomo baskets and cradleboards. But many of the grasses, ferns and trees she uses to practice her tradition burned in the California fires, so she is replanting and teaching others to ensure a future for her craft. She is among the 2020 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards honorees. We’ll talk with her and others about their work and efforts to pass on the tradition of making art.
Friday, January 17, 2020 – Reindeer and caribou
Reindeer, and their very close cousins, caribou, have physical traits that help them thrive in Arctic and sub-Arctic areas. They include blood vessels that minimize heat loss and hoofs that help them walk on snow. That makes them important sources of sustenance for Inuit, Gwich’in, Sami and other peoples in the same regions. While some people rely on hunting among the herds of wild caribou, others have domesticated the animals. Either way, they have remained a key species for millennia. Climate change, overhunting and habitat loss are among the threats to wild species. We’ll hear more about the importance of reindeer and caribou and their strong cultural relationship to the people they’re connected to.
