Monday, January 20, 2020 – Native film at Sundance
The upcoming Sundance Film Festival is screening five films by Indigenous filmmakers. They include a documentary about raising a Haida totem pole in British Columbia, a fictional account of two strangers crossing paths on Oklahoma tribal land, and a biological exploration of lichen. Before they head to Utah for the festival, some of the filmmakers are taking time to talk about us about their films and what it means to have a Native perspective behind the camera.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 – Breathing easier indoors
Indoor pollutants like smoke, radon and mold can contribute to heart disease and cancer, which are the leading causes of death for Native Americans. They can also exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma. The Environmental Protection Agency links poor indoor air quality to disproportionate health issues among Native people. We’ll get reminders on paying attention to air quality inside homes and businesses and hear how some tribes are breathing life into clean air programs.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 – Clash over Canadian pipeline reignites
With a the backing of a recent court ruling, the premier of British Columbia says the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline will be built. But the traditional leadership of the Wet’suwet’en Nation vow to protect their territory and will continue their years-long blockade against construction. The stage is set for another clash over resource development and preservation of traditional Indigenous territory.
Thursday, January 23, 2020 – The high stakes hearing for ICWA
Dozens of tribal leaders, 26 states, 77 members of Congress and 486 federally recognized tribes have signed on to defend against the latest challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act. After initially striking down a ruling by a Texas judge, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is rehearing the case claiming ICWA is improperly based on race. We’ll hear from tribal leaders and legal experts about what’s at stake in this case and what the future holds for ICWA.
Friday, January 24, 2020 – Book of the Month: “The Language Warrior’s Manifesto” by Anton Treuer
Making sure our Indigenous languages are available for future generations is a charge many language warriors have taken on. Making this happen comes with ups and downs. We chronicle the peaks and valleys of this terrain with our look at Leech Lake Ojibwe author and educator Anton Treuer’s new book “The Language Warrior’s Manifesto: How to Keep Our Languages Alive No Matter the Odds.” He recounts his own struggles learning Ojibwe as an adult. He also shares inspiring accounts of programs that succeed in building a firm language foundation for future generations. We visit with this Native culture advocate to here more about the relationship between language and culture and ways to keep it strong.
