Monday, September 7, 2020 – Building the next generation of Native leaders
(Pre-recorded show) Since 2007, the Leadership Institute has invited Native American high school and college students in New Mexico to its Summer Policy Academy out of the Santa Fe Indian School. The students team up with professionals in different fields including law and cultural revitalization. The Academy encourages the students to draw from the richness of their culture to build strong leadership skills. The goal is to get them thinking critically about how public policy affects their communities and bring about positive changes. We’ll hear from the organizers of this unique opportunity about utilizing the gifts handed down from past generations to fortify a resilient future.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 – Native in the Spotlight: Marcie Rendon
The dead speak to Renee “Cash” Black Bear in her dreams. They help her solve gruesome murders in the Upper Midwest. She is the protagonist in Marcie Rendon’s (White Earth Anishinaabe) Cash Blackbear Mysteries Series who brings Native knowledge to a crowded genre that so often gets it wrong. In addition to writing mysteries and short stories, Rendon is a playwright, poet and educator. She is a champion of other Native artists. She was just awarded the McKnight Foundation’s Distinguished Artist Award. We’ll talk with her about how she created Cash and the many other characters and plot lines she’s developed.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 – Returning to traditional fire management 
Another series of destructive fires in California prompt new questions about how best to prevent and prepare for wildfires. Many of the state’s tribes have cultural fire management practices that go back centuries, and include minimizing wildfire risks through controlled burns, something California officials once banned. We’ll take a look at wildfires in California and elsewhere through a Native lens and hear from tribes that are on the ground about what it takes to heal with fire rather than just fight it.

Thursday, September 10, 2020 – Understanding colon cancer
The death of Chadwick Boseman sparks a new national discussion about colon cancer. It also highlights racial disparities for what doctors say is among the most preventable and curable cancers. Boseman, the actor known for the lead role in the film, Black Panther, was only 43 when he died of the disease. Native American colon cancer rates are about the same as other minority groups, which are generally higher than the population as a whole. We’ll get reminders on prevention, treatment and warning signs.

Friday, September 11, 2020 – Native candidates making strides at the polls
The four Native Americans currently in Congress are poised for re-election in November. And there are dozens of other new Native candidates to keep an eye on all over the country. One, Christina Haswood (Diné), won her primary race and is the presumptive winner since she has no challengers for the Kansas House of Representatives seat. If elected, the 26-year-old will be the youngest sitting legislator in the state. She’s one of four Native candidates in Kansas following the primaries. In Wyoming, Lynnette Grey Bull (Northern Arapaho/Hunkpapa Lakota) won the Democratic primary for the only congressional district in the state. Local media report she is the only Native woman to ever run for federal office in Wyoming. We’ll take a look at some notable Native candidates heading to November.

Monday, August 31, 2020 – Hope for closing cold cases?
The U.S. Department of Justice opened six offices around the country dedicated to solving Native missing and murdered cold cases. There are technological advances that help solve older cases, but it remains a difficult task. Over time, witness memories may fade, evidence may get lost or degrade. The FBI counts about 250,000 unsolved homicides in the United States, and less than two-thirds of new cases are successfully closed each year. We’ll hear from cold case experts about what goes into securing justice for Native victims and their families.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 – Native volunteers keeping watch
Groups of Native civilians are helping watch over reservation communities and urban Native neighborhoods. In Minneapolis, the American Indian Movement was instrumental in protecting properties during the unrest following the death of George Floyd. Now, volunteers are patrolling that city’s Little Earth community. In Regina, Canada volunteers with the non-profit White Pony Lodge walk the streets of the predominantly Native North Central neighborhood that experiences high rates of gun violence and Native gang activity. They pick up trash and used needles. They are ready to administer aid to drug overdose victims. They’re known for giving out fresh-baked bread to people they meet up with. We’ll talk with organizers about their efforts to help make their communities safer.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020 – Finding money for college
Many Native college students are starting classes thanks to scholarships that pay for tuition, books or other expenses during the school year. The fall semester may be under way, but there are a number of scholarships that are still available, including COVID-19 recovery funds. We’ll hear about money that’s still on the table for Native college students and what some of the key deadlines are coming up. We’ll also learn what effect COVD-19 has on scholarship availability and Native student enrollment.

Thursday, September 3, 2020 – Ceremony during COVID-19 pandemic
Traditional Native ceremonies present a mixed blessing right now for those who participate. They are a critical part of traditional life, but pose a serious risk for spreading the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges the role ceremonies and other cultural gatherings serve, but recommends tribal leaders consider cancelling or postponing them until the deadly virus is contained. Some organizers are continuing ceremonies, but with changes to improve safety. We’ll hear about the range of options available for practicing ceremony during a pandemic.

Friday, September 4, 2020 – Animation: bringing art to life
Creating animated films takes months of artistic and technical work; from character design and storyboards to voiceover recording and digitizing. Native artists are among those bringing unique and compelling stories to life with hand-drawn, digital, stop-motion and clay animation. We’ll talk with Indigenous animators about their passion and get a look behind the scenes.

Monday, August 24, 2020 – Virtual Vision Maker
This year’s Vision Maker Media Film Festival is premiering online. That means audiences will have free access to more than a dozen Indigenous-made films including “Powwow Highway: The Lego Movie” by Jonathan Thunder, “Sweetheart Dancers” a short film about a Two-Spirit couple by Ben-Alex Dupris, and “Wildfire” a short drama about a runaway teen by Bretten Hannam. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at a sampling of films from some of the filmmakers.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020 – Trump Administration plans Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil leases
The U.S. Department of Interior could put oil and gas leases up for auction in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge by the end of the year according to Secretary David Bernhardt. The Trump administration recently cleared another hurdle for resource extraction in in the pristine wilderness. Some tribes in the area oppose drilling, saying that it will harm the caribou populations that are critical to their cultural survival. Others support drilling because of the added jobs and other economic benefits.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020 – Book of the Month: “Standing with Standing Rock: Voices from the #NoDAPL Movement”
Mni Wiconi – “Water is Life” – is a phrase that echoed around the planet in the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. It united people and gave a renewed unity to the Oceti Sakowin. We reflect on this movement with “Standing with Standing Rock: Voices from the #NoDAPL Movement” which features the words of many people who were moved to take a stance and those who made the struggle to protect water stronger. The book captures this moment in time with poetry and prose, essays, photography and interviews. We visit with one of the book’s editor’s Nick Estes, a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.

Thursday, August 27, 2020 – Insights on preterm birth
Preterm birth rates for Native mothers are consistently higher than the national average. More than one in ten Native pregnancies fail to reach full term. Any birth before 37 weeks has statistical risks, but depending on how premature they are, preterm newborns face a myriad of health dangers including serious brain, heart, and gastrointestinal problems. There are a number of prenatal risk factors, some of which mothers have control over to help their babies go to full term. We’ll talk about premature births and what parents of premature babies should expect.

Friday, August 28, 2020 – August in the news
An Indigenous woman will challenge the incumbent in Wyoming’s upcoming congressional election, a first for the state that also saw three other Native candidates advance through primary elections. They are among the growing list of Native candidates on ballots all across the country. We’ll touch in on a few of them and hear what issues they are running on. We’ll catch up on important Native news in our regular news round-up.

Monday, August 17, 2020 – Sovereignty and the death penalty
The Navajo Nation is asking President Trump to halt the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, scheduled for Aug. 26. He is the only enrolled citizen on federal death row. The federal government resumed executions in July after an almost two-decade suspension. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez issued a statement, saying the request is based on “religious and traditional beliefs, the Navajo Nation’s long-standing position on the death penalty for Native Americans, and our respect for the decision of the victim’s family.” Ignoring the Navajo Nation’s request could set a precedent that undermines the long-standing ability for tribes to weigh in on crimes that warrant the death penalty committed by tribal citizens on tribal land.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020 – Does “Eskimo” still hold up?
Edmonton’s (Canada) professional football team dropped the word “Eskimo” as their team name. The makers of Eskimo Pie ice cream are also retiring the brand. Inuit people and organizations have campaigned for years to get rid of the Eskimo name. They have new momentum during a wave of reassessments by sports teams, corporations and elected leaders of names, logos and monuments that don’t hold up under modern scrutiny. The word ‘Eskimo’ comes from a non-Indigenous interpretation of one or more Indigenous words. Some Inuit and Yupik people identify themselves as Eskimo while others see it as a slur.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – Politics and the pandemic raise voting uncertainty
Most states allow some type of mail-in voting. Health officials and elected leaders are recommending expanded vote-by-mail options to limit the spread of the coronavirus at in-person polling places. But President Trump continues to rail against the mailed ballots, warning—without evidence—that it increases the risk of fraud. He’s also withholding emergency funds for the U.S. Postal Service to accommodate an expected increase in mail volume. That’s all on top of local safety restrictions some tribes have in place that can also limit access to polling places. Voting advocates worry these and other factors might hinder Native voters who already face disproportionate barriers during elections.

Thursday, August 20, 2020 – Tools for teaching kids at home
Many Native parents welcome the opportunity to have their children learning at home until the COVID-19 threat subsides. Some might be adept at homeschooling. Others are struggling to find the time and resources to get the most out of home learning. And still others won’t have adequate technology in the form of computers and internet connectivity. We’ll present some tips on how to get through the school year whether you are homeschooling or online learning. We’ll also hear about free curricula on Native American history and culture that are helpful for instruction anywhere.

Friday, August 21, 2020 – Pandemic fatigue
It’s been months since businesses, restaurants, entertainment venues and schools closed down because of the pandemic. There are no accurate predictions when they will safely reopen. With no end in sight, it can be difficult to stay optimistic and maintain the stamina needed and find positive alternatives to simple tasks and interactions we all once took for granted. We’d like to hear how you are enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll also have some advice on how to address pandemic fatigue in a way that is healthy and hopeful.