Monday, May 7, 2018 – Native perspectives behind the lens
Too often, media outlets turn to photos of powwow regalia and headdresses as the default images to portray Native Americans. At other times, public portrayals of Native Americans skew toward desolate living conditions, stripped down cars and the ravages of alcoholism. A new clearinghouse of Indigenous photographers aims to counter cliché, one-dimensional and insensitive portrayals of Native Americans. The Natives Photograph group is making the work of Native photographers available to news and magazine editors while also making the case for the importance of using work by Native photographers.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 – Fighting back against invasive species
Knotweed, signal crayfish, zebra mussels and emerald ash borer beetles are among the plants and animals moving into tribal communities where they don’t belong. The invasive species are causing serious damage and changes to ecosystems. The emerald ash borer, for instance, kills ash trees that Native people utilize for traditional and economic development uses. Tribes are working to study invasive species in order to try and minimize the destruction.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 – Welcoming Native students to campus
Colorado State University in Ft. Collins is offering two Akwesasne Mohawk teens a VIP tour to help make up for a troubling incident when the prospective students were on campus last week. A visiting parent called campus security because she said she felt ‘nervous’ about them. Campus police pulled the students out of their scheduled tour and questioned them before letting them go. Is this an isolated incident or are other Native students also getting singled out campuses? How are some universities finding ways to welcome Native students? We’ll also talk with higher education experts. We’ll also get an update from Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray about what’s happened since the story about her two sons first surfaced.
Thursday, May 10, 2018 – Martial arts for fitness and fun
Many Native martial arts enthusiasts are putting their own spin on karate, taekowndo and jiu-jitsu. They practice the disciplines for both self-defense and fitness and they’re finding ways to weave in Native elements. On this show we’ll talk with Natives who are using martial arts to stay healthy and create lifelong practices of discipline and healthy behavior. We’ll also explore a few traditional Indigenous fighting styles.
Friday, May 11, 2018 – The Farm Bill is more important than you think
There is a food and nutrition crisis in Indian Country and the pending Farm Bill can go a long way toward solving it. That’s the perspective of the Native Farm Bill Coalition that issued a report last year in hopes of cluing Congress in to the ways tribes need to be woven into the legislation. Commodities, SNAP, forestry, and access to USDA programs are all areas in the Farm Bill tribal agricultural experts are worried about.
