Monday, February 10, 2020 – The State of Indian Nations
Climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act are all significant issues on the minds of Native Americans heading into 2020. Fawn Sharp (Quinault), newly elected president of the National Congress of American Indians, gives her take on the key triumphs, opportunities and threats facing Native people in her first State of Indian Nation addresss. We’ll bring you the full speech and the congressional response.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 – Disenrollments on the rise?
Removing long-standing members from tribal rolls appears to be picking up after a brief lull. It’s a controversial practice. So much so that opponents established an annual “Stop Disenrollment Day” to call attention to the harm it causes. Some disenrolled members trace their identity to their tribes for generations. Tribal leaders defend their actions as an effort to purge their membership of those who don’t belong. We’ll get observations on current disenrollment trends and some of the factors that go into tribes’ decision-making.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – A good new home
Before homeless Native young people can thrive, they need to heal and a secure base of culture and safety to build on. That’s what the Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Center in Minnesota’s Twin Cities hopes to provide. They offer an emergency shelter for children as young as five and temporary transitional housing for teens. They also just opened the Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung Center (Good New Home) to offer permanent housing aimed at helping Native homeless for 18-24 year olds. The $17 million project has 42 efficiency apartments but is more than a place to stay. It has communal gathering spaces, teaching kitchens, and places for beading, hide tanning and sewing. The physical space is accompanied by mental, cultural and structural support. We’ll talk with the director and staff members about the work they do to help Native youth.
Thursday, February 13, 2020 – Book of the Month: “The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage” by Gerry Robinson
We look at the personal and emotional side of Cheyenne history though the fictional work of Northern Cheyenne author Gerry Robinson. “The Cheyenne Story: an Interpretation of Courage” is set in the time after the Battle of the Little Bighorn when Robinson’s people were pushed to Oklahoma. Our February Book of the Month allows us to walk along this side of Native History.
Friday, February 14, 2020 – Native songs of love
It can be a big leap to show that special someone how deep your affection runs or to ask to share a life together. On this Valentine’s Day we explore showing these desires through song. Some Native nations simply call them courting songs and they are often played on the Native American flute. They’re meant to express deep emotions. We’ll hear how different nations turn to songs to start and build strong unions.
