Monday, December 12, 2022 – Protections and threats for LGBTQ2 Native Americans

The Colorado Springs shooting and the passage of The Respect for Marriage Act present competing narratives about public acceptance of LGBTQ2 people. Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce checked in with Alray Nelson (Diné), lead organizer for Diné Equality and executive director for Navajo Nation Pride; writer, musician, activist, and artist Miko Thomas aka Landa Lakes (Chickasaw); Sergio Ruark (Huaylas Quechua Nation), this year’s Mr. Montana Two-Spirit; and Professor Chris Finley (Colville Confederated Tribes), assistant professor of American and Ethnic Studies at the University of Southern California.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 – COP15: Largest land grab in history?

The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity warns Indigenous priorities may not be heard or heeded at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference that just got underway in Montreal. They worry the direction of the new set of international conservation goals could set up “the largest land grab in history”. Tuesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce took us inside this major event with Ta’Kaiya Blaney (Tla’Amin First Nation), environmental activist, actor, singer-songwriter, and speaker; Rochelle Diver (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), NDN Collective Changemaker and international Indigenous rights consultant; and Thomas Joseph (Hoopa), carbon pricing organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – 45th Lakota Nation Invitational: sports, culture, and education

The 45th annual Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) in Rapid City, SD is underway and hundreds of Native athletes are not letting a little winter storm get in their way. What started as a basketball tournament in 1977 is now a not-to-be-missed five-day event that includes multiple sports including wresting, volleyball, and cheerleading and cultural competitions for hand games, language, and archery. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with Chuck Wilson (Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe), president of the board for LNI; Bryan Brewer (Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge), founder and director of LNI; Kellee Brewer (Oglala Lakota), coordinator of the Cheerleading championship at LNI; and Corey Yellowboy (Oglala Lakota), coordinator of the Lakota Language Bowl at LNI, about the evolution and importance of this event.

Thursday, December 15, 2022 – The cost of climate change

The village of Newtok, AK is losing its battle with climate change. The thawing permafrost is giving up as much as 70 feet of land every year that the Newtok residents called home. The effort to move residents is ongoing, but slow. The village is one of nearly a dozen Native communities that will receive federal climate change relocation money. The total allocation is $135 million. Thursday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with officials from tribes that are relocating or in the planning stages to find new homes under the very real threats of climate change.

Friday, December 16, 2022 – The year in Native film

2022 was a strong year for features films, documentaries and shorts produced by Native filmmakers, relied on Native talent, or focused on Native issues. From mainstream releases like Hulu’s “Prey” to poignant documentaries like “Daughter of a lost bird”, films with Native stories hit a high mark. Friday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce looks back at some of the films you may have seen and some you might have missed from the past year.

 

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