Monday, July 12, 2021 – Sheep to loom: Native wool processing and fiber working
Navajo sheep herders are usually busy at this time of year. Depending on the size of their herd, shearing sheep is is a process that can take weeks. Clipping raw wool from sheep is one of the first steps to making famous Navajo rugs and dresses. Weavers then take over to process and dye wool and spin it into yarn. We’ll talk with sheep herders and weavers about the cultural and artistic process of taking wool from sheep to the loom (this is an encore show so we aren’t taking calls live on the air).
Tuesday, July 13, 2021 – 4-H helps Native youth connect with agriculture
For more than a century, county extension offices have worked to instill the importance of agriculture in young people through local 4-H programs. At first the programs attempted to bring outside practices to Native communities. But they evolved to incorporate Native farming and ranching methods to both educate young people and keep Native knowledge thriving.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 – IAIA museum thriving
The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe just received its largest donation ever. The $3 million unrestricted donation comes from MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett, and was among the 286 gifts to help change the narrative about people struggling against inequities. The gift follows a $1.7 million grant from the Ford Foundation in 2020. And Scott previously donated $5 million to the IAIA. We’ll check in with the country’s only institution dedicated to progressive work by contemporary Indigenous artists.
Thursday, July 15, 2021 – Residential schools: cycle of grief
The revelation that more unmarked graves were found at a Canadian residential school adds additional injury for Indigenous people. The grim toll of children whose deaths are not properly documented continues to open wounds and spark questions, not least of which is: how many more are there?
Friday, July 16, 2021 – Music Maker: Mattmac
Mattmac is a Garden Hill First Nation musician who’s known for his hard-hitting beats. This self-taught artist and music producer was born blind. Among other things, he uses music fight back against depression and celebrate love and an indigenous life. His sound has garnered a lot of attention, including thousands of views and streams of his debut album “20/20.” From harmonious trap sounds sprinkled with poppy vocals Mattmac is leading a positive musical revolution for Native people living with disabilities.
