Monday, October 12, 2020 – Indigenous studies crash course
Teachers, elected leaders and some curious individuals might look to Indigenous Peoples Day as the time to brush up on Native history. There’s a basic level of knowledge every American should know, but so much of what is available comes from non-Native sources and are just plain wrong. We’re cracking the books and bringing in the experts to discuss the go-to sources for learning about history from the Native perspective.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 – Protecting the Tongass National Forest, ‘America’s Amazon’
The Trump Administration is moving to lift environmental protections on seven million acres in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It would allow logging virgin forests that sprouted before first contact with European settlers. Alaska Native tribes are fighting the U.S. Forest Service’s recommendations to remove the Clinton-era “roadless designation” paving the way for roads, logging and other development. The tribes say it poses a serious threat to subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging in the nation’s largest national forest.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – Pushing past barriers to treat depression
A new study in JAMA finds nearly a quarter of all Americans now say they are experiencing symptoms of depression. That’s three times higher than the number before the start of the pandemic. Symptoms may come and go, but they can also get progressively worse. And previous studies indicate many of those with clinical depression don’t seek professional treatment because of persistent stigma about the disease. For Depression Awareness Month we’ll get reminders about recognizing and treating depression and how to clear hurdles to treatment when you may feel you’re least able to do so.
Thursday, October 15, 2020 – Racism in places of healing
In the last moments of her life, Joyce Echaquan (Atikamekw Nation) recorded staff at the Quebec hospital taunting her with racist comments. The hospital fired two workers and opened an investigation. Quebec’s premier issued an apology, but insisted there is not a systemic problem with racism in the medical establishment. At least one 2017 study found a quarter of Native Americans say they experienced discrimination while seeking medical attention. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently released guidelines for addressing racism against students and patients.
Friday, October 16, 2020 – Native voting access update
As Election Day nears, worries about adequate access to the polls increase. The Pasqua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona is fighting in court to restore the reservation’s only early voting station. In Alaska, the Arctic Village tribe and the League of Women’s Voters won the first round in their legal fight against the state’s new requirements for witness signatures on mail-in ballots. And a Montana judge struck down a state law against collecting absentee ballots that Native voting rights advocates say would’ve limited voting access for tribes. We’ll get the latest in the evolving landscape determining what is limiting and strengthening access for Native Americans.
