Monday, January 27, 2020 – Count on being counted
The very first person to be counted this month for the 2020 U.S. Census was 90-year-old Lizzie Chimiugak, a Yup’ik woman from Toksook Bay Alaska. The Census Bureau started the process in the country’s largest state where it’s historically difficult to get an accurate count. Language, geography and mistrust of revealing personal information to the federal government are among the reasons Alaska Natives and Native Americans are often undercounted. Census numbers are the main way officials determine election boundaries and the allocations of trillions of federal dollars for public services. We’ll talk with census experts about why they think this year’s census is the most important one yet.
Tuesday, January, 28, 2020 – In the hoop
With a whirl of colorful circles, shapes and movement, hoop dancers tell vivid stories. The exact origins of hoop dancing are unclear. Traditionally, the hoops were made with willow or some other pliable wood. Today, hoops might be made out of metal or plastic. The practice incorporates colorful regalia and has grown to include energetic competitions. We’ll hear from hoop dancers about what drives their passion.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 – Music Maker: Levi Platero Band
We’re going to find out what the Levi Platero Band is packing in their new self-titled album. The band’s headman, Levi Platero, is from the Navajo Nation and is known for his exhilarating blues rhythms and soulful lyrics. What rests in this album has been building for some time and echoes the energy of the many stages and communities that this band has touched down on over the years. Get ready to let the blues do the talking on this month’s musical spotlight.
Thursday, January 30, 2020 – Super Bowl highlights NFL’s continued offensiveness
Football fans let the team names for Kansas City and San Francisco roll off their tongues with no second thought. But both mascots for the teams playing for the championship cause many Native people to cringe. The Chiefs often face protests by Native people to change their name, mascot and the offensive imagery that arises every game they play. The 49ers refers to more than just a number; it invokes a bloody time in history when thousands of Indigenous people were killed or displaced by settlers hoping to strike it rich in California. We’ll take time to fill in some of the missing details behind this year’s Super Bowl team names.
Friday, January 31, 2020 – January in the News
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (Cherokee Nation) is asking a federal court to shut down tribal gaming in the state because he says their compacts have expired. It’s the latest in an ongoing struggle between the governor and tribes on how the compacts are interpreted. That story and more are on our regular news round up.
