Monday, December 24, 2018 – Winter storytelling traditions
Many tribal nations have a winter storytelling traditions. The snow, longer nights and low temperatures lend themselves to sharing cultural lessons. On this show, we’ll hear the Navajo story of the “The White Beetle and the Holy Ones” and the “Creation of Canyon de Chelly”. We’ll also get insights from Native storytellers about their craft and passion.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Music Maker in review
We’re keeping with a tradition, presenting our annual look back at the artists who generously offered their music and inspiration on Native America Calling. Buffy Sainte- Marie, Nataanii Means, Supaman and Sage Bond are just a few of the names that appeared on our airwaves this past year. It’s a prerecorded show, so sit back, relax and listen to this reflection on the year in Native musical artistry.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 – Native language courses for credit
Some non-tribal colleges offer Native language studies. Students who sign up are often either honing their existing language skills or are committing to reconnect with their mother tongue. For the latter, it’s somewhat tougher to pick up language fluency as a young adult. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of learning Native languages in a college setting.

Thursday, December 27, 2018 – The dangerous smoking trend
Smoking rates among Native Americans increased in the most recent (2016) report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That goes against the declining trend for the rest of the population. At the same time, Native Americans as a group remain the heaviest tobacco smokers and Native women outpace men. Knowing all the health consequences, why are Native Americans bucking the trend toward more healthy habits regarding smoking?
(Photo: Albert Izquierdo via Flickr/CC)

Friday, December 28, 2018 – December in the News
As the year comes to a close the Trump administration got the federal government in another shutdown debate. Also, after promising more efficiency and transparency, Dept. of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke resigns in a cloud of investigations. We’ll talk about those issues and an update on a troubling incident involving Native students at a New Mexico high school during our new round-up.

Monday, December 17, 2018 – Mental illness and police use of force
A jury cleared a former Omaha police officer this month in a violent and fatal confrontation with a Rosebud Sioux man with mental illness. The incident and resulting trial raises further questions about police interactions with Native Americans and others with mental illness. Omaha’s police chief fired the four officers who repeatedly punched and used a Taser stun gun on Zachery BearHeels, who died from what a medical examiner describes as “excited delirium.” We’ll get an update and explore some of the solutions identified for police interactions with people with mental illness.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 – A conversation with Gabriel Ayala
Classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala (Pascua Yaqui) is a man of many talents. In addition to being an award winning musician, he is a motivational speaker and recently started his own form of ledger art. He’s busy working on two upcoming recordings and two books. Last year he auditioned for the reality show, America’s Got Talent, but was told his musical ability was too well-established. To top it all off, the Phoenix Indian Center named him “Man of the Year”. We’ll chat with him about his inspirations and plans for 2019.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 – Coping with anger
Anger is a natural emotion we all occasionally experience. But it can get out of hand for some people without the right coping mechanisms. That can cause lasting divisions with relationships or problems at work. Tribes are turning to anger management programs to try and offset serious societal ills like domestic violence. We’ll discuss effective ways to deal with anger in a health way.

Thursday, December 20, 2018 – Confronting modern day forced sterilization
As many as 100 Native women say medical professionals in Saskatchewan coerced them into surgical sterilizations. If true it’s a troubling resurrection of a despicable practice Native people had hoped was well in the past. The women are now part of a class action lawsuit against the regional health care system and the federal government. The UN Committee Against Torture recommends Canada adopt laws to criminalize the involuntary sterilization of women. We’ll find out the extent of the current allegations along with the historical context of sterilizing Native women.

Friday, December 21, 2018 – Book of the Month: As Long as the Sun Shines
by Janet Rogers
The title for Janet Rogers’ (Mohawk/Tuscarora) newest collection of poems comes from a line in the treaty, known as the Two Row Wampum, between Dutch settlers and the Haudenosaunee in the early 1600s. It envisions a perpetual coexistence between Indigenous people and European immigrants. Rogers is a poet, artist, radio broadcaster and documentary producer who channels her unique Indigenous perspective and recent international travels into an emotional set of writings. She connects her personal experiences with cultural wisdom.

Monday, December 10, 2018 – Cold weather, warm traditions
Alaska’s below zero temperatures and severe weather requires attention to special winter gear. Parkas, gloves, hats, mukluks, snowshoes, and Inuit snow goggles are all unique and integral to the survival of several Alaska Native groups. They’re also an important cultural component. We’ll discuss the craft, beauty and practicality of the useful items that are woven into daily life in Alaska.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 – Migrants’ quest for asylum
A large group of migrants, mostly from Honduras, are hunkered down in Tijuana, Mexico awaiting to apply for asylum in the United States. Some are also weighing the risk of crossing the border illegally. Many of those in the so-called caravan are fleeing widespread violence and crime in their home countries, including the corrupt government’s blind eye to political assassinations of Indigenous people. We’ll speak with the nephew of slain activist Berta Cáceres (Lenca) about the situation in Honduras and get a better picture of what’s at stake for the migrants.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – Music Maker: Henry Kapono
Close to a dozen artists have joined Native Hawaiian legendary artist Henry Kapono to bring “The Songs of C&K” album to life. Some of today’s most notable Hawaii-based Indigenous artists are adding their voice to the famed C & K songs which first reached audiences in the 70s and are the sounds that many grew up with in Hawaii. We’ll meet some of the voices on this album on our December Music Maker.

Thursday, December 13, 2018 – Taking Native business to the next level
A Native-owned company invented the Tanka Bar, a bison-meat bar based on the traditional Lakota dried bison mixture, wasna. But a non-Native competitor with a similar product swooped in and secured a $100 million deal with General Mills. In this program, we’ll talk about what Native businesses need to break through barriers and what pitfalls to avoid.

Friday, December 14, 2018 – Philanthropy: money as medicine
Many Native non-profits tap into the philanthropy of large foundations to fund their work. Relying on funders who don’t always have a full understanding of Native priorities and protocols carries the potential for significant implications. Edgar Villanueva, author of “Decolonizing Wealth,” also questions the wisdom of accepting funds from philanthropic endeavors built by corporate giants whose business is in direct conflict with Native sovereignty and sustainability. We’ll hear from Villanueva about some options for a new path for philanthropy.

Monday, December 3, 2018 – Tribal press freedom
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal council continues to face criticism from free press advocates. The council revoked a 2015 law protecting the tribally-owned Mvskoke Media from editorial control by tribal leaders. Mvskoke Media includes a newspaper and radio and TV broadcasts. The Native American Journalists Association condemns the action calling it “government censorship.” In a video of the council meeting, Council Member James Jennings said he thought “the newspaper itself could have more positive issues on the Nation and not so much negative issues.” We’ll look at what the Muscogee action means and discuss the press freedoms at other tribally-owned media outlets.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 – More than a headache
Throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Those are some of the symptoms of migraines listed by the Mayo Clinic. Those who suffer migraines know they can be debilitating and last for several hours. The National Center for Health Statistics says one out of every seven people in the United States experience migraines at least once a year. Native Americans have the highest prevalence of migraines of any other ethnic group according to the American Headache Society. We’ll talk with experts about what’s known about migraines and the best ways to manage them.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018 – Managing grey wolves
The Manage Our Wolves Act took a step forward in November when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives. If it becomes law, it would lift federal protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states. That would enable states to make their own regulations concerning wolf hunting. The issue pits farmers and ranchers against wolf conservation groups and some tribes like the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, which has established a wolf sanctuary within their reservation boundaries.

Thursday, December 6, 2018 – The influence of modern missionaries
When an Indigenous tribe on an island off the coast of India killed a missionary, it reignited a conversation about the appropriate practice of Christians working to expand their faith. Columbus’ arrival opened the door to European Christian missionaries in North America. Now many Native tribes and individuals adhere to a variety of Christian denominations. We’ll learn about the history of missionaries, and talk with Native people of faith about their own journeys to spread their message.

Friday, December 7, 2018 – Residential schools through the lens of “Indian Horse”
“Indian Horse” tells the story of an Ojibway boy forced into a Canadian residential school in the late 1950s. Saul Indian Horse has talent for hockey, which becomes his escape in the face of strict oppression and alienation from his culture. The film is difficult to watch because it depicts abuses residential school survivors suffered. But it’s earning praise for its unflinching portrayal of one of Canada’s most shameful policies. We’ll hear from those involved in the film about researching and conveying an ultimately hopeful story about a distressing time in history.

Monday, November 26, 2018 – Where the real buffalo roam
Bison were hunted almost to extinction in the 1800s, then cattle ranches displaced nearly all of what was left. Now, tribes are among those working to restore bison herds with a genetic connection to the original wild, roaming herds. There are both cultural and economic benefits. But raising healthy animals with pure genetic ties takes skill, science and stamina.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018 – Book of the Month: The Sea of Grass by Walter Echo-Hawk
The “Sea of Grass” is a fictional account of real people and events. Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) tells the history of the Pawnee Nation through the voices of ten generations of the Echo-Hawk family. It’s an account of the spirit, heroism and family connections as well as the wars, diseases, and broken treaties that all shaped the tribe’s fortunes on their Central Plains homeland. The author is a respected Native American rights attorney and served as a Supreme Court justice for the Pawnee Nation. He’s also penned two books on the intersection of Native rights and U.S. law.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 – Fighting forest fires’ increasing toll
The news about the fires in California keeps getting worse. The state’s governor says the increased frequency and growing intensity of wildfires ‘are the new abnormal.’ The human, environmental and economic costs keep rising. And California isn’t alone. Are there answers for slowing the troubling trend? We’ll talk with tribal forest managers about active efforts to reduce forest fires and ways to help individual property owners reduce the threat.

Thursday, November 29, 2018 – Justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women remains elusive
A new analysis finds more than 500 cases of missing or murdered women and girls in the United States since 1943. The authors of the study from the Urban Indian Health Institute say that is likely far lower than the real number. They point to poor record-keeping, bad information- sharing between local and tribal law enforcement agencies, and institutional racism as the main barriers to getting the full picture. Any legislation at the federal level to help remedy the situation remains stalled. We’ll hear recommendations from the researchers and get updates from women’s advocates about this ongoing issue.

Friday, November 30, 2018 – November in the News
Arizona’s governor fired the state’s parks director after complaints she oversaw the destruction of important Native American sites to build trails and cabins. A New Mexico high school teacher was suspended after she cut a Native student’s hair and made an insensitive comment as part of a “Halloween stunt”. International human rights organizations are weighing in on allegations of modern day forced sterilizations for First Nations women. We’ll check in on these issues and others that come from Native America in our regular news roundup.