Monday, April 15, 2019 – Native video game developers change the narrative
Survival in the Wild West cowboy days continues to be a popular setting for video games. Red Dead Redemption II is one of the top sellers from the past year. If they have Native characters, games typically don’t drift far from old Western movie stereotypes. A growing number of Native game developers are starting to change that picture. The free educational PC game, “When Rivers Were Trails” utilizes Native talent to broaden players’ understanding of history. We’ll hear from Native developers about overcoming market forces, financial hurdles and mainstream resistance to build games that expand how gamers view Native people.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019 – The courts vs the president on Keystone XL pipeline
The stalled Keystone XL pipeline project has new life after President Trump issued a memorandum allowing the controversial project to proceed. That is at odds with the ruling by a U.S. District Court judge requiring more environmental analysis. It adds concerns over presidential abuse of power to the usual complaints of pipeline safety, environmental damage and lack of tribal consultation. A number of tribes are among those challenging the pipeline because the planned route bringing tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska goes through ancestral territory.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 – Cross tribal appropriation
First Nations bands Piqsiq and A Tribe Called Red and throat singer Tanya Tagaq are among those protesting this year’s Indigenous Music Awards in Canada. They’re speaking out over recognition of Cree musician, Cikwes, who uses a singing style similar to Inuit throat singing. Some Inuit musicians are calling for Inuit representation on the Indigenous Music Awards board. We’ll explore some of the boundaries and contradictions of utilizing art forms and traditions.
Thursday, April 18, 2019 – Using technology to manage diabetes
Managing diabetes involves tracking blood sugar, nutrition, exercise and insulin, among other things. Native Americans are twice as likely as whites to have diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers are developing new technologies—from food tracking apps, glucose monitors and insulin pumps—that are available to Native people with diabetes. We’ll hear from experts on how these tools might help make living with diabetes easier and even increase health outcomes.
Friday, April 19, 2019 – Book of the Month: “Saad Lá Tah Hózhóón: A Collection of Diné Poetry” by Rex Lee Jim
All the poems in Rex Lee Jim’s collection give the Navajo language center stage. The 30 poems in “Saad Lá Tah Hózhóón: A Collection of Diné Poetry” were written first in Navajo. Lee also translated them into English. The writing draws from his life as a Diné and the land his people call home. The former Navajo Nation vice president helps us celebrate National Poetry Month with a message about the importance of language and culture.
