Monday, January 23, 2023 — Indigenous interactions with artificial intelligence

https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/tuesday-january-24-2023-the-overincarceration-of-native-americans/

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 – The problem with lithium

Thursday, January 26, 2023 – Evolving choices for Native family planning

https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/friday-january-27-2023-the-menu/

 

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Monday, January 16, 2023 – Teaching about other cultures

Native educators have a keen eye for guiding how schools teach students about Native history and culture. Does that experience also help when teaching Native students about other races and cultures? We’re well aware that colonial educational influences steered generations of students wrong when it comes to understanding Native people. Monday on Native America Calling, we’ll find out what Native educators do to avoid the same mistakes.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 – Native in the Spotlight: Jana Schmieding

Tuesday on Native America Calling, Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Lakota) joins us for an hour-long conversation about her life and career as part of our Native in the Spotlight feature. Got a question you’re dying to ask her? Or maybe you just want to tell her how awesome she is. You can reach her on 1-800-99-NATIVE.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 – Lumbee Nation vs. the KKK

The Battle of Hayes Pond in 1958 wasn’t much of a battle. But it was a major victory in the effort to stop the momentum of the Ku Klux Klan in the South. Wednesday on Native America Calling, on the 65^th anniversary of the night members of the Lumbee Nation showed up in force to stop a KKK rally in Robeson County, we’ll revisit the event and how it continues to be a source of strength and pride for a tribe as it struggles for federal recognition.

Thursday, January 19, 2023 – Do stereotypes influence policy?

Montana—home to 12 federally recognized tribes—is the latest battleground over damaging rhetoric by public officials. One legislator floated a resolution calling on Congress to abolish reservations. The text was reportedly drafted by a businessman heading up what he calls “The States Rights Coalition”. Another official publicly questioned why Native Americans should be allowed to vote. He told a reporter that view is “the consensus opinion among conservatives” in the state. Thursday on Native America Calling, we’ll look at the continuing verbal, legal, and legislative affronts to tribal sovereignty based on outdated, stereotypical, and uninformed perspectives to which tribal officials are forced to respond.

Stay connected to our social channels for updates on Friday’s episode.

 

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Monday, January 9, 2023 – The benefits (and drawbacks) of college fraternities and sororities

Social connections and career networking are two of the top reasons college students seek out fraternities and sororities. Greek life supporters also say they offer mentorship, academic support, and life-long friendships. Native fraternities and sororities began in the mid 1990s and also offer a chance for Native students to connect with each other and draw support from shared cultural values. Monday on Native America Calling, we spoke with Mardella Richardson (member of the Lumbee Tribe of NC), national president of Alpha Pi Omega; Dr. Corey Still (citizen of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians), member on the national governance board for Iota Gamma; and Destiny Hutson (Cheyenne and Arapaho), vice president and historian of the Theta Chapter (Northeastern State University) of Alpha Pi Omega.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023 – A fair value for Native artists

Federal law already protects artwork legitimately made by Native Americans. But once artwork is sold, the artists typically don’t benefit from any residual appreciation of the work’s value. Some Native-owned galleries and organizations are working to ensure artists get full value for their work. And an effort in Canada aims to pay artists and their heirs resale rights. Tuesday on Native America Calling, we heard from Theresie Tungilik (Inuk), arts and traditional economy advisor for Nunavut government; Mathew Nuqingaq (Inuk), jewelry artist and sculptor; Dawn Iehstoseranón:nha Setford Whiteman Francis (Akwesasne Mohawk), president and founder of Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada; and Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee and Athabascan), CEO of Eight Generation.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 – When language translations go wrong

The federal government issued translations on official documents to help Alaska Natives following destructive storms there. The trouble is, the text is indecipherable for those it was intended to help. An investigative report found the Iñupiaq and Yup’ik translations from FEMA are essentially unreadable for those familiar with the languages. One appears to be at least partly taken from a World War Two-era publication in the Soviet Union. Wednesday on Native America Calling, we checked in with Tara Sweeney (Inupiaq), Principal and CEO of Tack 71 Strategies and former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior; Julia Jimmie (Yup’ik), translator and Yup’ik language programming producer; Sam Berlin (Yup’ik), translator and KYUK talk show host; linguist Gary Houlton; and Emily Schwing, freelance reporter based in Alaska.

Thursday, January 12, 2023 – P-22: How tribes want to honor the famous mountain lion

In a city known for celebrities, a mountain lion’s improbable, decade-long occupation of Los Angeles’ Griffith Park earned him a status any movie star would envy. P-22 was euthanized after wildlife officials determined his injuries and illnesses made it impossible for him to continue living in the wild without significant suffering. Now, area tribes say they want a say in what happens to the famous lion’s remains. Thursday on Native America Calling, we looked back on the life of P-22 and got an overview of how some tribes view mountain lions with tribal secretary Kimberly Johnson (Gabrieliño Tongva from the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians), Alan Salazar (Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians), tribal elder on the elder’s council and traditional storyteller; and Dr. Christina Swindall (Gabrieleño), secretary for the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians–Kizh Nation.

Friday, January 13, 2023 – Native fictional future perspective

The creators of the new Avatar sequel continue what they see as a science fiction account of colonialism and Indigenous resistance. It’s getting plenty of pushback from Native audiences for some significant missteps. The good news is there are plenty of films, comics, and artwork from Native creators that have a more informed take. Today on Native America Calling, we’ll hear from artist Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo); Sadekaronhes Esquivel (Tyendinaga Mohawk), art lead and character designer for “Hill Agency: PURITYdecay”; Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo), artist and founder and technologist at alterNative Media; and Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), founder of A Tribe Called Geek and co-founding member of the Fan Organizer Coalition.

 

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Monday, January 2, 2023 – Stickball: culture and athleticism

Stickball is the older, rougher cousin of lacrosse, developed many centuries ago as both a game and a training exercise. The U.S. government once deemed stickball one of the cultural connections they needed to eliminate in the effort to assimilate Native children through missionary-run boarding schools. The game survived that assault and keeps gaining momentum, played by local clubs and in competitive national tournaments. Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce learned about the origins and growing future for the nation’s oldest team sport with Mike Slee (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), stickball player for the Walelu Cherokee Indian Ball team and the director of operations for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian; Miranda Long Stamper (Creek and a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee), teacher, coach and stickball player; announcer and player Jeremy Bell (Mississippi Band of Choctaw member); Dr. Scott Ketchum (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Chickasaw Nation endowed chair in Native American Studies for East Central University; and Casey Bigpond (Mississippi Band of Choctaw member), cultural revitalization specialist for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023 – Keeping your cool in 2023

A new year offers a sense of promise. But that promise this year comes with the backdrop of lingering division that infects our personal and professional relationships. Heated political discourse is at the top of the list and permeates everything from how we protect our own health to how we approach international security. Tuesday on Native America Calling, we spoke with Theda New Breast (Blackfeet), master trainer and facilitator for the Native Wellness Institute and board member of the Sovereign Bodies Institute; James Anderson (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe), motivational speaker and success trainer; and D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas (Odawa Nation), motivational storyteller, bestselling author, and owner of Native Discovery Inc., about bridging divisions and avoiding the traps that drive wedges between us.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 – Indigenous languages and the migrant border crisis

Thousands of migrants, many of whom are seeking asylum as they escape violence, extreme poverty, and oppression, are stopped at the U.S. border. The lack of resources available to them is a serious life-and-death concern. Adding to the many other hurdles is a language disconnect for Indigenous migrants. Wednesday on Native America Calling, we got an update on the crisis at the US-Mexican border and how it affects Indigenous people from Mexico and Central and South America with Odilia Romero (Zapotec), co-founder and executive director of Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo (CIELO); Javier Garcia (San Martín Peras from Juxtlahuaca in Oaxaca), interpreters program coordinator for the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project; and attorney Allegra Love.

Thursday, January 5, 2023 – Unequal discipline for Native students

An investigative report in New Mexico finds Native students are expelled at a far greater rate than their white counterparts. The report focuses on the public school district on the edge of the Navajo Nation with the highest percentage of Native students in the country. Thursday on Native America Calling, we’ll hear from Bryant Furlow, a New Mexico In-Depth reporter and member of ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network who pursued the story, as well as Native education experts about what the data means for students.

If you have information that could help Bryant Furlow’s reporting, reach out via bryant.furlow@gmail.com or Twitter @bryantfurlow.

Friday, January 6, 2023 – Inside the ring: Native pro wrestling

Professional wrestling draws fans in with a mix of theatrics, colorful characters, and campy violence. Indigenous wrestlers comprise only a small faction of the wrestling world, but they are making names for themselves. In the process of entertaining their fans, they risk broken bones, concussions, cuts, and bruises in the ring. Friday on Native America Calling, we’ll hear from Native wrestlers about their love of the pastime and how they’ve forged careers in the industry.

 

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Monday, December 26, 2022 – The significance of cedar

Cedar is an important part of many tribal cultures. The tall evergreens in the Pacific Northwest are carved into totem poles and canoes. The spiny and fragrant leaves can be used to flavor food. It’s also incorporated into ceremony and has some medicinal use. Monday on Native America Calling in a special encore presentation, Shawn Spruce talked about the significance of cedar in Native America with Harold Joe (Cowichan First Nation) and Leslie Bland, the directors, producers, and writers of “A Cedar is Life”; Dave Smoke-McCluskey (Mohawk), chef and owner of the Corn Mafia; and Ruben Littlehead (Northern Cheyenne), announcer for the Gathering of Nations Powwow.

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 – Get to know our host Shawn Spruce

Shawn Spruce didn’t start out to be the host of the nation’s premier Native American radio talk show. It just turned out that way. He started hosting in 2021 and officially took over as permanent host this past summer. Tuesday on Native America Calling, senior producer Andi Murphy took us behind the scenes and introduced Shawn to our audience.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 – Memorable news and current events from 2022

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to entertain a serious threat against the Indian Child Welfare Act, historic elections, in-person apology from a headdress-adorned Pope for past residential school abuses, and a Native woman blasts off to space. Those are among the events that stand out in a memorable year for Native American issues. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce reviewed ’22 with Shaun Griswold (Laguna/Zuni/Jemez), reporter for Source New Mexico; Allison Herrera (Xolon Salinan), Indigenous Affairs reporter at KOSU; journalist Brandi Morin (Cree/Iroquois/French); and Rhonda McBride, news director at our flagship station KNBA.

Thursday, December 29, 2022 – The Native America Calling trivia show

Which federal appeals court sent an ICWA challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court? In how many sports did Jim Thorpe compete? Those are the types of questions you might know the answers to if you’ve been paying attention to Native issues in 2022. Thursday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce presented the Native American Trivia Show where our listeners can compete for prizes (don’t get too excited) and bragging rights about key events from the year with special guests Debra Krol (enrolled member of the Xolon Salinan Tribe), Indigenous affairs reporter for The Arizona Republic reporting on the intersection of climate, commerce, and culture; Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), law professor at the University of Michigan Law School and author of the “Turtle Talk” blog; and Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk), editor of NativeViewPoint.com and a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic.

Friday, December 30, 2022 – The Menu: tamales and assorted goodness

It’s not the holidays in the Southwest without your favorite tamales or without attending an all-night tamale making party. These delicious, corn-wrapped gifts have origins dating back more than 10,000 years in Mexico. Friday on Native America Calling in the latest helping of The Menu, Andi Murphy talks tamales with chef Neftalí Durán (Mixteco from Oaxaca) and Eric J. Garcia, the artist behind the Tamale Man comic book series. Plus, we check in with Inez Cook (Nuxalk Nation), owner of Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro and Salmon n’ Bannock on the Fly, a brand-new Indigenous restaurant opening at Vancouver International Airport.

 

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Monday, December 12, 2022 – Protections and threats for LGBTQ2 Native Americans

The Colorado Springs shooting and the passage of The Respect for Marriage Act present competing narratives about public acceptance of LGBTQ2 people. Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce checked in with Alray Nelson (Diné), lead organizer for Diné Equality and executive director for Navajo Nation Pride; writer, musician, activist, and artist Miko Thomas aka Landa Lakes (Chickasaw); Sergio Ruark (Huaylas Quechua Nation), this year’s Mr. Montana Two-Spirit; and Professor Chris Finley (Colville Confederated Tribes), assistant professor of American and Ethnic Studies at the University of Southern California.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 – COP15: Largest land grab in history?

The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity warns Indigenous priorities may not be heard or heeded at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference that just got underway in Montreal. They worry the direction of the new set of international conservation goals could set up “the largest land grab in history”. Tuesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce took us inside this major event with Ta’Kaiya Blaney (Tla’Amin First Nation), environmental activist, actor, singer-songwriter, and speaker; Rochelle Diver (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), NDN Collective Changemaker and international Indigenous rights consultant; and Thomas Joseph (Hoopa), carbon pricing organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – 45th Lakota Nation Invitational: sports, culture, and education

The 45th annual Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) in Rapid City, SD is underway and hundreds of Native athletes are not letting a little winter storm get in their way. What started as a basketball tournament in 1977 is now a not-to-be-missed five-day event that includes multiple sports including wresting, volleyball, and cheerleading and cultural competitions for hand games, language, and archery. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with Chuck Wilson (Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe), president of the board for LNI; Bryan Brewer (Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge), founder and director of LNI; Kellee Brewer (Oglala Lakota), coordinator of the Cheerleading championship at LNI; and Corey Yellowboy (Oglala Lakota), coordinator of the Lakota Language Bowl at LNI, about the evolution and importance of this event.

Thursday, December 15, 2022 – The cost of climate change

The village of Newtok, AK is losing its battle with climate change. The thawing permafrost is giving up as much as 70 feet of land every year that the Newtok residents called home. The effort to move residents is ongoing, but slow. The village is one of nearly a dozen Native communities that will receive federal climate change relocation money. The total allocation is $135 million. Thursday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with officials from tribes that are relocating or in the planning stages to find new homes under the very real threats of climate change.

Friday, December 16, 2022 – The year in Native film

2022 was a strong year for features films, documentaries and shorts produced by Native filmmakers, relied on Native talent, or focused on Native issues. From mainstream releases like Hulu’s “Prey” to poignant documentaries like “Daughter of a lost bird”, films with Native stories hit a high mark. Friday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce looks back at some of the films you may have seen and some you might have missed from the past year.

 

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Monday, December 5, 2022 – Leave Twitter? Or stay and fight?

For all its faults, Twitter is an effective means for sharing and discussing Native issues, culture, language, and business. But for many #NativeTwitter users, the social media platform is increasingly losing its luster after its takeover by Elon Musk. There are fears that un-muzzling far right and white supremacist voices is making it a hotbed of hate speech against people of color. Is that a good reason to leave? Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce revealed the results of our Twitter poll and took your calls about the platform-in-transition with author Traci Sorell (Cherokee); Dr. Twyla Baker (member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), president of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Aylan Couchie (Anishinaabe from the Nipissing First Nation), interdisciplinary artist and writer; and Dr. Emily Haozous (Enrolled Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), research scientist for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 – Native forensics: the science of justice

The forensic field uses science to help gather evidence for criminal cases and some archeological investigations. Crimes involving Native people and renewed scrutiny of past boarding school practices highlight the importance for Native forensic professionals. Tuesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce heard from Native forensic experts about what the profession entails and how they work to solve difficult cases with Dr. Kona Williams (Cree and Mohawk), forensic pathologist and coroner; Ramona Emerson (Diné), writer, filmmaker, retired forensic photographer, and author of the novel Shutter; and Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho), veteran and forensic artist.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 – Publishing on your own

Even after spending all that time writing your own book, there’s no guarantee an established publisher will pick it up. A growing number of Native writers are turning to self-publishing – and there’s a number of supportive organizations and independent publishers that can help. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce took us inside the Native self-publishing industry with Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre (Hunkpapa Lakota); Brian Lush (Yankton Sioux), author of Roger’s War; and comic book artist Kayla Shaggy (Diné/Anishinaabe).

Thursday, December 8, 2022—ICYMI: Native issues that matter

Thursday on Native America Calling, “In Case You Missed It”, Shawn Spruce catches up on some interesting and engaging topics that are important to Native people. Dean Seneca (Seneca), CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions Plus, has a winter update on COVID-19; Dr. Terri Bissonette (Gnoozhekaaning Anishinaabe), head of school and founder of the American Indian Academy of Denver, talks about the future of the Native-focused charter school; and Robby Goldman (Native Hawaiian), PhD candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow, tells us why the simultaneous eruptions of Mauna Loa and Kilauea in Hawaii is a rare, sacred occurrence.

Stay connected to our social channels and this page for details about Friday’s episode

 

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