Monday, March 14, 2022 – Tax season woes: tax form avoidance and IRS backlog
As this year’s tax filing deadline approaches, millions of people are still waiting for refunds from the IRS from last year. That’s because a staff shortage and complications from the pandemic have created a massive backlog at the IRS. The agency is hiring thousands of people in the coming weeks to help, but relief might still be a ways off. We’ll have insights into the problem and tips to make the most of your tax forms.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 – Native American solidarity with Ukraine
Ukraine is a distant Eastern European foreign land. But the invasion by Russia has awakened a sense of solidarity around the world. One expression of support comes from brightly colored headscarves called ‘kokum’ that First Nations tribes traded with Ukrainian immigrants. The scarves extended to tribes well beyond Canada. Many tribes are also expressing support for Ukraine, citing parallels for remaining resilient in the face of aggression for an outside invader.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 – The continuing Russian influence in Alaska
As Russia works to forcibly annex a neighboring country, it’s instructive to recount its checkered history among Alaska Natives. Russian explorers in the early 18th Century cleared the path for a period of influence that continues today. Alaskan landmarks still bear the names of early Russian settlers and the Russian Orthadox religion remains a touchstone for villages. We’ll get a better understanding of Russian expansion into Alaska and what it means today.

Thursday, March 17, 2022 – A transcontinental link between Native Americans and Ireland
This St. Patrick’s Day we explore the historic links between Ireland and Native Americans – from mutual aid during times of crisis to their shared battle against colonization and the extended trauma that comes with it. We’ll also get a preview of a new musical that tells the story of a Navajo man seeking out his Irish heritage.

Friday, March 18, 2022 – Everything costs more
Affording the basics is becoming harder every day as inflation continues to creep higher. Add to that, the rising costs for gas and lingering supply-chain breakdowns. And a new study reminds us that people of color pay a steeper cost during economic hard times than the rest of the population. We’ll examine where and how inflation is surfacing. We’ll also point out some hopeful signs that put the current financial concerns in context.

Monday, February 28, 2022 – Native voters face new hurdles
Wisconsin is the latest state to pass a slate of new voting laws that put up barriers for many voters. Native voters and those of color could be disproportionately hindered by the measures. Wisconsin’s governor promised to veto the legislature’s bills. Native voting advocates in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and elsewhere are expressing alarm over new laws that might limit election participation.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 – The Native history of Yellowstone National Park
Long before it was a national park, Yellowstone was an important place for at least two dozen tribes. Documented Native connections to the land go back at least 10,000 years. This year, Yellowstone is marking its 150th year as a federal national park. The dedication by President Ulysses S. Grant was the final blow to unrestricted use of the land by tribes.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 – Identifying and removing offensive place names
The U.S. Department of Interior identified nearly 700 federal place names using the derogatory term, “squaw”. The list is the most significant step yet in forever removing the term from maps and signposts, much less the lexicon of acceptable place names. Some states are moving ahead with laws to legally force the name change in places not covered by the current federal push.

Thursday, March 3, 2022 – Mitigating the risks of pregnancy
Native mothers are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. The numbers are much worse for urban Native populations. We’ll have pre-natal experts go over the risks and the efforts to improve the troubling statistics.

Monday, February 14, 2022 – The 2022 State of Indian Nations
This year’s annual State of Indian Nations address is the third under threat of the COVID-19 pandemic that is disproportionately affecting Native Americans. Also, tribes in Oklahoma continue to battle with the state since the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on criminal jurisdiction. And the U.S. and Canada are forced to face their past transgressions at boarding schools. We’ll hear the address and get reaction.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 – New life for VAWA
A revamped version of the Violence Against Women Act has bipartisan support in Congress. Originally enacted in 1995 and later amended to give tribes more authority to hold domestic abusers and other violent offenders accountable, the law expired in 2018. Congressional lawmakers supporting the reauthorization say it includes provisions allowing tribes to go after non-Native perpetrators of sexual violence.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – Resources for families facing public trauma
The 2016 shooting death in Saskatchewan of Coulton Boushie, from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, touched off a national discussion about race and justice. The public pressure of the debate compounded the trauma of Boushie’s family, who were thrust into the spotlight at the worst time of their lives. Since that time, the family has worked to develop resources for other families that are both grieving a tragic event and forced to be their own advocates to the public.

Thursday, February 17, 2022 – Rebuilding White Clay
A tiny Nebraska town once known for being a destructive source of alcohol for Pine Ridge Reservation residents, could be a model of hope and healing. White Clay’s liquor establishments were closed down in 2017. Now a collection of visionary community members see the town as a potential hub for substance abuse treatment and transition facilities for vulnerable populations.

Friday, February 18, 2022 – The worst date ever
Valentines Day is a time of romance for some, and heartache for others. Whether or not you’ve adequately processed Valentines Day 2022, we’ll extend the discussion with a look at Native singles’ worst dates. We’ll hear your stories of dating gone wrong and get advice from relationship experts on how to stay strong despite romance disasters.

Monday, February 7, 2022 – 2022 Champions for Change
Five young Native leaders are the latest to be recognized by the Center for Native Youth for addressing injustices and shaping their collective future. This 2022 class of Champions for Change includes individuals working “increase Native representation in research, restore Indigenous landscapes, end derogatory mascots, and preserve language, culture, and traditional ways of knowing.” We’ll talk with this year’s Champions about what inspires them and what the coming year holds.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 – A victory against the opioid epidemic
Tribes reached a $590 million settlement against pharmaceutical companies in ongoing legal fights to hold them accountable for the opioid addiction and overdose crisis. The money will be divided among all federally recognized tribes. The settlement is with Johnson & Johnson and three drug distributors. We’ll learn about the details of the settlement and how it might help tribes build back healing from the disproportionate effect opioid addiction has had among Native Americans.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 – The Native connection to Black Wall Street
As the nation just marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre along what was known as Black Wall Street, there’s one story that is largely overlooked. Allotments by Oklahoma tribes for their former slaves were among the key reasons the Black residents—including Freedmen—were able to build wealth.

Thursday, February 10, 2022 – Is now the time to invest?
Wall Street uncertainty, inflation, meme stock, and wide swings with crypto currency might have you wary of investing, whether you’re new to the stock market or a veteran investor. But investing has never been more accessible and it’s a viable option for Native people to build wealth. We’ll get a run down on the current investor market and some starter tips.

Friday, February 11, 2022 – Indigenous sports milestones
It’s a big week for Indigenous landmarks in sports. The U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team welcomes Abby Roque (Wahnapitae First Nation), their first-ever Indigenous player. She is one of at least four Indigenous athletes at the Olympics in Beijing. The coming weekend also marks the most-watched American sports match-up of the year: the Super Bowl. This year, neither team uses Native mascots or imagery. At the same time, we welcome the Washington Commanders to the NFL.

 

Monday, January 31, 2022 – Keeping up with COVID
Do cloth masks work? Does the booster vaccine protect you against Omicron? How long before the next variant is a major threat? There are a lot of questions—and confusing answers—out there as the COVID-19 pandemic heads into its third year. We’ll get updates from Native medical professionals and tribal leaders about the key information to tune into.

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – The thankless job of a Native referee
The least favorite person on the Rez Ball court is usually the referee. The phrase “c’mon ref!” is just as likely to be heard shouted in exasperation from either side of the bleachers. But there is no one who isn’t glad there is an objective arbiter on the court. As it turns out, in a lot of places, the shortage of Native refs means those willing to put on the striped shirt are stretched thin. They are in such high demand they are paid a premium.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 – Native influences on African American food
It’s no stretch to find Native influences in many of the defining dishes of African American food in the South—grits, cornbread, beans and barbecue. Southeastern and southern tribes introduced staples, spices and methods that were incorporated by slaves and European settlers alike and grew into a distinctive cultural cuisine.

Thursday, February 3, 2022 – The Decade of Indigenous Languages
This month kicks off the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages. The declaration aims to raise global awareness of the importance of language and to improve resources, especially for languages most in danger of being lost. To mark the occasion the First Nations Institute released its report highlighting the importance of immersion programs.

Friday, February 4, 2022 – Indigi-Genius
The creator of the first all-Native comic-con brings you a new public television series exploring the contributions of Indigenous knowledge. Dr. Lee Francis IV looks into the scientific basis behind traditional methods for building materials, agriculture, clothing and even cosmetics. We’ll get a glimpse of what’s in store