Monday, December 11, 2017 – Monumental rollback: protecting Bears Ears
Both sides claim overreach by the federal government. Five tribes and a dozen environmental organizations filed legal challenges almost immediately after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that dramatically cuts back the area under protection for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. President Obama created Bears Ears National Monument a year ago. A coalition of tribes pushed for the action because of threats to sacred and culturally significant areas by mineral extraction, vandalism and looting. Trump’s action is a setback for tribes, but is it a violation of the century-old Antiquities Act that was created to stop plundering land important to Native Americans?
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 — Native American puppets have a hand in teaching
On his video podcast show, Nana Boozhoo talks about rez life and he plays blues and rock music. He also teaches audiences about Ojibwe language and culture. Nana Boozhoo is not a person, but a puppet. “What makes it so fun is that I keep seeing myself in it,” said Michael Lyons, Nana Boozhoo’s creator. “Some of it is very true to life.”
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 – Remembering Dennis Banks
The American Indian Movement. The Alcatraz Island occupation. The Wounded Knee takeover. The Longest Walk. These are some of the notable events that propelled Native American issues onto the national stage during a critical time. Ojibwe activist Dennis Banks is closely associated with all of them. The towering and sometimes controversial figure walked on in October. He’s known for his early, in-your-face activism that exposed federal corruption and bias against Native Americans. He spent his last years quietly raising awareness against the scourge of addictive drugs, domestic violence and other destructive influences on reservations. We’ll talk with his friends and family members about his life and accomplishments.
Thursday, December 14, 2017 — The fight for Mauna Kea
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is suing the state and the University of Hawaii. OHA wants to terminate a lease that would allow development of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. The office says the university’s oversight of the land amounts to “longstanding and well-documented mismanagement.” It’s the latest action in the ongoing battle over the controversial proposed $1.4 billion project on the mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Hawaii state officials gave the green light to the telescope construction in September.
Friday, December 15, 2017 – Book of the Month: “Fall in Line, Holden” by Daniel W. Vandever
In this month’s book feature, “Fall in Line, Holden” by Daniel W. Vandever, a young Navajo boy uses his imagination to help him cope with the challenges of boarding school. The book’s author from the Navajo Nation says the story is meant to not only encourage young readers though discovery, but it’s also his take on facing a dark moment in Native history and the boarding school era.
