Monday, June 28, 2021 – Strawberries: the heart of Indigenous culture
Spring and early summer means many Native communities are celebrating the cultural and culinary significance of strawberries. For many tribes, the strawberry symbolizes the heart and carries origin stories, medicine and good teachings. In the culinary world, strawberries are a blessing for the palate and commonly used in myriad traditional diets and drinks.

Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – June in the news
The federal government will investigate the tragic legacy of American Indian boarding schools through a new program that will search for and identify remains of children who did not return home. The initiative follows the grim discovery of previously undocumented remains of 215 children on the grounds of a Canadian residential school. Also, California tribes are calling for a town to change its name so it no longer contains a highly offensive word for a Native woman. Those stories and more in our news round up.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 – Book of the Month: “Life in the City of Dirty Water” by Clayton Thomas-Muller
Clayton Thomas-Muller (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation) is sharing his life story in his new book “Life in the City of Dirty Water.” This memoir gives readers a clear view into his life as a young man living a tough life on the streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Along with encounters with violence and pain was his connection to his Cree spirituality that helped form him into the man he is today. Many now know of him through his activist works and resistance to environmental injustice and Big Oil.

Thursday, July 1, 2021 – The Native perspective of Pulitzer Prizes
Two Native Americans took home Pulitzer Prizes this year and a third was a finalist. It’s remarkable since the last time a Native American won a Pulitzer was Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday for the “House Made of Dawn in 1969.” Louise Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) got top honors in fiction for her novel “The Night Watchman.” Natalie Diaz (Mojave) won for her work “Postcolonial Love Poem.” Cartoonist Marty Two Bulls (Lakota) was a finalist in the editorial cartooning category, but no award was given in that category. It’s widely considered one of the top honors in the areas of literature and journalism. We’ll revisit our previous shows with Diaz and Erdrich as well as talk with Two Bulls about his work.

Friday, July 2, 2021 – The Native truth about Independence Day
By and large Native Americans are patriotic. The American flag and U.S. military veteran honors are prominent in most powwows, fairs and other Native events. But America’s Independence Day brings some ambivalence from Native citizens. It’s difficult to get past the reference to “merciless Indian savages” in the very document that declares independence from the British. The Colonies’ demand to launch their own separate country was fueled by the promise of conquering the land and resources that Native people relied on since time immemorial. What followed were massacres, land theft, broken treaties and enduring racism. We’ll get Native perspectives on the coming Independence Day celebrations.

Monday, June 21, 2021 – New ideas for preventing colon cancer
The panel that oversees health recommendations for the U.S. is lowering the age that adults should get colon cancer screenings. In May, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force reduced the recommended screening age from 50 to 45. Native American colon cancer rates are higher than the population as a whole. We’ll talk with experts about the types of colon cancer screenings available and who should consider talking to their doctor about them.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021 – Severe drought increases tribal water woes
Scientists have deemed the current drought in the western states a “megadrought.” That’s because the extreme dry conditions have already lasted two decades and there’s no end in sight. The U.S. Drought Monitor calls it the worst on record. The resulting constrictions on surface and ground water is creating hardships for Native farmers and ranchers. It’s also further endangering salmon and other wildlife important to tribes.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 – Recognizing Indigenous Hip-Hop artists
Native Hip-Hop artists are getting broader acclaim with each new release. And now they have a forum for recognizing their achievements. The first-ever International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards honored more than a dozen artists for their musical and lyrical talents. Some of the standouts include Mi’kmaq producer and engineer, David Strickland, who cleaned up with single, collaboration and producer of the year awards, the Snotty Nose Rez Kids with the album of the year, and The Ra11n for best female artist. We’ll talk with some of the winners and hear about the rise of Indigenous Hip-Hop.

Thursday, June 24, 2021 – Music Maker: Twin Flames
The husband-wife duo Twin Flames recently took home the Pop/Alternative/Rock Album of the Year award at the inaugural Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards for their album “Omen.” We connect with band members Jaaji, (Inuk and Mohawk) and Chelsey June (Métis/Algonquin Cree) to hear about their blend of rock, pop and folk and who they are honoring with their songs. We’ll also hear about the work the duo does with schools to help youth realize their potential through music and Indigenous culture.

Friday, June 25, 2021 – Greasy Grass: a day of victory
The Battle of Greasy Grass was over in an hour, but its legacy continues to this day. The fight continues over how the story is told and who deserves honors after the major defeat of the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry on the banks of Montana’s Little Bighorn River on this day in 1876. The combined force of the Oceti Sakowin along with other tribes ended Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s repeated violent attacks in violation of the Treaty of Fort Laramie. We’ll go over the history of the battle and its reverberations 145 years later.

 

 

 

Monday, June 14, 2021 – The cicada explosion is a traditional food bounty
Many people see the swarm of Brood X cicadas in the Northeast and Midwest as either a novelty or a disruption. Some Native observers see a feast. Insects are a source of protein many tribes traditionally utilized. We’ll talk about the culinary bounty of cicada season and the role they and other insects play in Indigenous diets.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 – The Native COVID-19 toll is worse than you think
Native deaths from COVID-19 are already disproportionately higher than the rest of the population. But the numbers from official sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely much higher than what is being reported. That’s the conclusion of a reporting project by a group of media organizations that make up the Indigenous Investigative Collective. The reporting finds barriers to compiling accurate information on Native Americans because of medical privacy laws and the patchwork of tribal, state and federal services Native patients rely on. We’ll discuss the project and learn how the lack of good information is hurting the response to the pandemic.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021 – Changing the face of Indigenous modeling
Modeling is seen as glamorous work. Indigenous models are making names for themselves and are insisting on better representation in an industry doesn’t always present beauty accurately or sensitively. In addition to exemplifying physical beauty, they are raising their voices against stereotypes and toxic environments that discourage diverse voices. We’ll talk with Indigenous models about what it means to represent Indigenous people and culture on the runway.

Thursday, June 17, 2021 – The backlash against anti-racist training and instruction
Are workshops about racial discrimination discriminatory? Elected leaders across the country are proposing laws and classroom changes that aim to weaken instruction about America’s racist past. Instead, they say they want more emphasis on subjects that paint the country in a more favorable, patriotic light. It’s part of the backlash against what is sometimes called “Critical Race Theory,” which some Native scholars point to as a vital piece of fully understanding the ongoing legacy of colonialism.

Friday, June 18, 2021 – Native dads: funny in their own mind
How many apples grow on a tree? All of them.
Bad puns, one-liners to nowhere, and corny punchlines. Dad jokes are infamous for being real groaners. Most dads aren’t comedians, but that doesn’t stop them from dispensing their own brand of humor. Many dads also consider themselves creative pranksters. For Father’s Day we’ll zero in on the special humor that only Native dads know about. Do you have a funny story about your funny dad?

Monday, June 7, 2021 – Sheep to loom: Native wool processing and fiber working
Navajo sheep herders are usually busy at this time of year. Depending on the size of their herd, shearing sheep is is a process that can take weeks. Clipping raw wool from sheep is one of the first steps to making famous Navajo rugs and dresses. Weavers then take over to process and dye wool and spin it into yarn. We’ll talk with sheep herders and weavers about the cultural and artistic process of taking wool from sheep to the loom.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 – Coming out as LGBTQ and Two-Spirit
Coming out as LGBTQ or Two-Spirit is often an important milestone. It means coming to terms with one’s own sexuality or gender identity and sharing it with family and other important people in one’s life. It can be both difficult and liberating. Some are greeted with love, acceptance and support. Others face rejection. As part of Pride Month, we’re talking about what it means to come out as an Indigenous LGBTQ or Two-Spirit person.

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 – How men can improve their health
Native health officials say information is key to improving men’s health. A survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians found 55 percent of men had not seen their physician within the previous year. Routine screening detects developing problems that frequently affect men, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and prostate cancer. Men are also more likely to engage in unhealthy habits like smoking. We’ll get reminders on the importance for men to pay attention to their health and address potential problems early.

Thursday, June 10, 2021 – Returning to traditional eating
When chef Lois Ellen Frank (Kiowa) talks to groups about why she doesn’t eat dairy she jokes about the difficulty her ancestors must have had trying to milk wild animals. She and Walter Whitewater (Diné) have teamed up with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine to create the food program called Native Power Plate which focuses on fruits, grains, beans and vegetables. They believe their eating plan will help Native Americans address diabetes and other health-related issues. We’ll talk with them about how to include more traditional foods into what we put on our plates every day.

Friday, June 11, 2021 – What you need to start a business
Some experts believe now is a good time to start a business. Spending online increased by almost 40% in the first quarter of 2021. If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, this is the show for you. Carmen Davis (Makah Nation) and Gary Davis (Cherokee Nation), the founders and publishers of Native Business Magazine, will offer advice for budding businesses, whether it’s a roadside food stand or a financial consulting firm. If you’d like to pitch your business idea and get feedback, send an email to comments@nativeamericacalling.com.