Monday, May 24, 2021 – Small businesses hoping for economic turnaround
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Native small businesses to change tactics and cobble together various loans and government assistance in order to survive. Arts and crafts merchants and food vendors that made it through are cautiously optimistic that the vaccine will help bring back tourism and the in-person events they rely on. We’ll hear from some vendors about their experience through the pandemic and whether things are looking up as safety restrictions loosen.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – Sovereignty through cryptocurrency
Investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin offer the possibility of high financial rewards. But they also come with high risks. Some tribes are considering adding cryptocurrencies to their portfolios to stake out a place in the volatile market. At least two Native entrepreneurs have developed their own cryptocurrencies—Mazacoin and N8Vcoin. They are among the at least 4,000 cryptocurrencies Investopedia says are currently traded publicly. We’ll get a primer on cryptocurrency and hear about why or why not they are a worthy financial risk.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 – Update on mining clashes
Members of a Nevada tribe are at odds with a lithium mine proposal that was fast-tracked by the Trump Administration. They’re concerned about damage to environmental and cultural treasures. A federal judge dealt a legal setback for backers of a different mine proposal in Michigan. It’s the second blow in recent months for the Back Forty Mine proposal that is opposed by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and other tribes. And a Minnesota Supreme Court decision blocks a key part of the PolyMet copper-nickel mine proposal in Minnesota. We’ll hear the status of these and other projects.
Thursday, May 27, 2021 – Book of the Month: “His Hands Upon Me” by Katherine Gottlieb
Resilience and strong faith are two of the cornerstones supporting the dynamic memoir, “His Hands Upon Me” by Katherine Gottlieb, an Alaska Native leader and health and family advocate. She is a member of the Old Harbor Village. She is also a 2004 MacAuthor Fellow. She credits her achievements in life to hard work and dedication and coming to terms with a challenging early life. Our May Book of the Month is a story of breaking the silence on abuse and pushing forward.
Friday, May 28, 2021 – May in the news
Tribes and the state of South Dakota disagree whether tribes were consulted about the upcoming Independence Day fireworks display planned at Mount Rushmore. The U.S. Department of Interior cited tribal concerns as one of the main reasons for rescinding the agreement for the celebration. Also Native civil rights are at the heart of two high-profile legal fights. One is taking aim at Montana’s new voting laws. Another involves a school district cutting a Native student’s hair. We’ll also hear about how Native practices led the way for processing corn into many of the food products we now take for granted.
