Monday, October 19, 2020 – Momentum for taking LANDBACK
The LANDBACK campaign calls out the social and political structures built on stolen land and advocates for returning land to Native nations. But it’s much larger than that. Those behind the movement say it’s also rooted in climate change solutions, global environmental stewardship and dissolving racial inequities. Momentum rose to the surface when Land Defenders greeted President Trump at his July 4 rally at Mt. Rushmore, calling for the federal government to return the Black Hills to Native control. Organizers hope to make #Landback a rallying cry for a brighter future.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 – Don’t forget about cold and flu season
COVID-19 isn’t the only infectious disease to be concerned about as the weather gets colder. Every year millions of people contract influenza and the common cold. Both are little more than an inconvenience for most people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports thousands of people develop serious health complications. Pneumonia is among the most common and Native people are at a higher risk.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 – ‘Blueprint’ for erasing domestic violence
In St. Paul, Minn., a ten-year-old program called Blueprint for Safety focuses on bringing together the many agencies involved in domestic violence cases, from case management to criminal justice. The idea encompasses everything from housing survivors to holding perpetrators responsible. And it appears to be working. St. Paul Police Dept. numbers show domestic violence calls are down 45% since the program started. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We’ll hear from a Native officer in the St. Paul Police Department, and others about what others might learn from the ‘Blueprint’ program.

Thursday, October 22, 2020 – Growing the youth vote
Traditionally, people over 65 years of age have the highest voting rates, so their issues are well represented in elections. But there are several initiatives to get young people to the polls, including registration drives and voter education. Those efforts may have paid off in the 2018 election when the U.S. Census reported a 79 percent increase in voters 18-29 years old. What are the issues that are important to young Native voters?

Friday, October 23, 2020 – Book of the Month: “The Ghost Road: Anishnaabe Responses to Indian Hating” by Matthew Fletcher
Matthew Fletcher, creator of the Turtle Talk blog and member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, uncovers the story on how the law has harmed Native people and shaped the policies that govern them today. His book “The Ghost Road: Anishnaabe Responses to Indian Hating” also offers an Anishnaabe take on how to push back against the inequality created by hate-rooted actions.

Monday, October 12, 2020 – Indigenous studies crash course
Teachers, elected leaders and some curious individuals might look to Indigenous Peoples Day as the time to brush up on Native history. There’s a basic level of knowledge every American should know, but so much of what is available comes from non-Native sources and are just plain wrong. We’re cracking the books and bringing in the experts to discuss the go-to sources for learning about history from the Native perspective.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020 – Protecting the Tongass National Forest, ‘America’s Amazon’
The Trump Administration is moving to lift environmental protections on seven million acres in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It would allow logging virgin forests that sprouted before first contact with European settlers. Alaska Native tribes are fighting the U.S. Forest Service’s recommendations to remove the Clinton-era “roadless designation” paving the way for roads, logging and other development. The tribes say it poses a serious threat to subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging in the nation’s largest national forest.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – Pushing past barriers to treat depression
A new study in JAMA finds nearly a quarter of all Americans now say they are experiencing symptoms of depression. That’s three times higher than the number before the start of the pandemic. Symptoms may come and go, but they can also get progressively worse. And previous studies indicate many of those with clinical depression don’t seek professional treatment because of persistent stigma about the disease. For Depression Awareness Month we’ll get reminders about recognizing and treating depression and how to clear hurdles to treatment when you may feel you’re least able to do so.

Thursday, October 15, 2020 – Racism in places of healing
In the last moments of her life, Joyce Echaquan (Atikamekw Nation) recorded staff at the Quebec hospital taunting her with racist comments. The hospital fired two workers and opened an investigation. Quebec’s premier issued an apology, but insisted there is not a systemic problem with racism in the medical establishment. At least one 2017 study found a quarter of Native Americans say they experienced discrimination while seeking medical attention. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently released guidelines for addressing racism against students and patients.

Friday, October 16, 2020 – Native voting access update
As Election Day nears, worries about adequate access to the polls increase. The Pasqua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona is fighting in court to restore the reservation’s only early voting station. In Alaska, the Arctic Village tribe and the League of Women’s Voters won the first round in their legal fight against the state’s new requirements for witness signatures on mail-in ballots. And a Montana judge struck down a state law against collecting absentee ballots that Native voting rights advocates say would’ve limited voting access for tribes. We’ll get the latest in the evolving landscape determining what is limiting and strengthening access for Native Americans.

Monday, October 5, 2020 – Sound advice for avoiding falls
Car accidents often make headlines. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list falls above crashes as the leading cause of fatal injuries for Native Americans over the age of 65. Preventing falls can be as simple as moving a coffee table. Additional measures like creating a strength-training routine also greatly reduce the risk from falling. We’ll get practical advice about preventing falls and recovering from injuries from falls.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 – The issues that decide the election
Of all the issues that go into making election decisions, a mere handful are deal-breakers for a lot of voters. The economy, abortion, the environment, criminal justice and tribal sovereignty are among those that top the list of non-negotiable election topics. But what are voters willing to give up to ensure their key issues are covered? We’ll hear from some voters about what their key election issues are. We’ll also trace the history of what are known as wedge issues, requiring candidates and voters to make stark choices.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 – Long-lasting effects of COVID-19
People who get COVID-19 face many more potential outcomes than either death or full recovery. The Mayo Clinic says many long-term effects of the disease are still unknown but lists a number of potential health problems including permanent lung and heart damage, blood clots and weakened blood vessels. It can even lead to Post Traumatic Stress for people who endured extended intensive care to fight the infection.

Thursday, October 8, 2020 – Protecting the Tongass National Forest, ‘America’s Amazon’
The Trump Administration is moving to lift environmental protections on seven million acres in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It would allow logging virgin forests that sprouted before first contact with European settlers. Alaska Native tribes are fighting the U.S. Forest Service’s recommendations to remove the Clinton-era “roadless designation” paving the way for roads, logging and other development. The tribes say it poses a serious threat to subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging in the nation’s largest national forest.

Friday, October 9, 2020 – Surviving the ‘dumpster fire’
A global pandemic, devastating forest fires, record unemployment, a historic recession, racial unrest and a contentious election are all piling up to make for a stressful year. The onslaught of disasters has earned 2020 derogatory labels. And all signs point to a long, drawn-out recovery extending well into 2021. It takes fortitude and a personal strategy of resilience to stay above worrisome headlines. We’ll get insights from motivational speakers about how they are living their best life despite the long list of bad news.

Monday, September 28, 2020 – Will the 2020 Census accurately count Native Americans?
The deadline for all U.S. residents to fill out the 2020 Census is approaching fast. Census officials are scrambling to collect information on Native Americans in time. A last-minute court decision extended the deadline to the end of October. The Trump Administration sought to end Census data collection September 30. Census watchers still worry the coronavirus pandemic and other barriers will make it hard for Native Americans, traditionally one of the most undercounted populations in the Census, to be adequately represented. Billions of dollars and accurate political representation are at stake.

Tuesday, September, 29, 2020 – Music Maker: Samantha Crain
We hear from Choctaw recording artists Samantha Crain about her album “A Small Death”. This self-produced venture is her sixth full-length album that explores the beauty of a layered life. To her, it’s about resetting and regrouping, two skills we call on especially when life deals cards that we don’t expect. The songs highlight her distinct sound, full of strong vocals and folk and rock rhythms. She’s a Native music icon and is our September Music Maker.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 – September in the news
The Bureau of Indian Education reversed an ambitious plan to open up BIE schools after criticism by tribal leaders.  Also, officials with least three tribes signed up for COVID-19 vaccine trials, but some citizens remain wary. And the CEO of the company pushing a major mine proposal in Alaska stepped down after an environmental activist group secretly taped him saying the mine could grow to be much larger than what the company told federal regulators. We’ll talk with people involved in covering these stories and more are on our regular news round up.

Thursday, October 1, 2020 – The race for a coronavirus vaccine
The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into the effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus. At least four pharmaceutical companies say they are ready to conduct vaccine trials on human volunteers—a needed step before widespread distribution. Scientists emphasize the importance of testing the vaccine in diverse populations. Leaders of at least three tribes, the Navajo Nation, the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, agreed to allow vaccine trials involving their citizens. But many of those citizens harbor distrust of scientific experiments because of previous missteps.

Friday, October 2, 2020 – Filling Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat
One of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s last U.S. Supreme Court decisions was to affirm the Muscogee Creek Nation’s reservation boundaries in McGirt v. Oklahoma. But her record for recognizing tribal sovereignty remains mixed. Now, there’s a rush to fill the late justice’s seat. Several names are reported to be on President Donald Trump’s short list of potential appointees. Do any of them have a track record for Indian law? What do Native Americans look for in a Supreme Court justice?