Monday, December 17, 2018 – Mental illness and police use of force
A jury cleared a former Omaha police officer this month in a violent and fatal confrontation with a Rosebud Sioux man with mental illness. The incident and resulting trial raises further questions about police interactions with Native Americans and others with mental illness. Omaha’s police chief fired the four officers who repeatedly punched and used a Taser stun gun on Zachery BearHeels, who died from what a medical examiner describes as “excited delirium.” We’ll get an update and explore some of the solutions identified for police interactions with people with mental illness.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 – A conversation with Gabriel Ayala
Classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala (Pascua Yaqui) is a man of many talents. In addition to being an award winning musician, he is a motivational speaker and recently started his own form of ledger art. He’s busy working on two upcoming recordings and two books. Last year he auditioned for the reality show, America’s Got Talent, but was told his musical ability was too well-established. To top it all off, the Phoenix Indian Center named him “Man of the Year”. We’ll chat with him about his inspirations and plans for 2019.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 – Coping with anger
Anger is a natural emotion we all occasionally experience. But it can get out of hand for some people without the right coping mechanisms. That can cause lasting divisions with relationships or problems at work. Tribes are turning to anger management programs to try and offset serious societal ills like domestic violence. We’ll discuss effective ways to deal with anger in a health way.
Thursday, December 20, 2018 – Confronting modern day forced sterilization
As many as 100 Native women say medical professionals in Saskatchewan coerced them into surgical sterilizations. If true it’s a troubling resurrection of a despicable practice Native people had hoped was well in the past. The women are now part of a class action lawsuit against the regional health care system and the federal government. The UN Committee Against Torture recommends Canada adopt laws to criminalize the involuntary sterilization of women. We’ll find out the extent of the current allegations along with the historical context of sterilizing Native women.
Friday, December 21, 2018 – Book of the Month: As Long as the Sun Shines
by Janet Rogers
The title for Janet Rogers’ (Mohawk/Tuscarora) newest collection of poems comes from a line in the treaty, known as the Two Row Wampum, between Dutch settlers and the Haudenosaunee in the early 1600s. It envisions a perpetual coexistence between Indigenous people and European immigrants. Rogers is a poet, artist, radio broadcaster and documentary producer who channels her unique Indigenous perspective and recent international travels into an emotional set of writings. She connects her personal experiences with cultural wisdom.
