Monday, April 5, 2021 – Getting past fears over the COVID-19 vaccine
Many tribes are leading the effort to vaccinate residents against COVID-19. The Navajo Nation boasts a vaccination rate exceeding 50 percent of its citizens. At the same time, some tribal vaccination efforts are operating below capacity because their citizens remain wary. Even after watching their relatives and neighbors die of the virus at nearly twice the rate of their white counterparts, some Native Americans are leery of the vaccine. We’ll look into the source of vaccination misgivings and hear what health officials are doing to overcome them.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 – Small-scale Native gardening
It’s that time of year when people are planning and planting gardens with traditional vegetables. But many Native people don’t have the space or time for elaborate cultivated plots. Given the surge of interest in gardening since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, several organizations are offering guidance on small gardens in containers, pots, and on patios and even window sills.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 – Equitable health care during the pandemic and beyond
Native Americans are suffering a disproportionate toll from COVID-19. That’s in addition to long-standing health disparities when it comes to diabetes, heart disease, addiction and many other health threats. Some Native health organizations are taking on the huge task of closing the health equity gap and ensuring Native people encounter no disadvantages when it comes to access. For World Health Day, we’ll take a look at how historical health disparities inform current and future efforts to achieve health equity.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 – The Native tourism outlook
The pandemic has taken a toll on one of Native America’s leading economic development sources. But that doesn’t mean cultural tourism and gaming are finished. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association lists a number of destinations and experiences that remain viable despite the lingering worries about COVID-19. And despite the slow pace of reopened businesses and public spaces, AIANTA and tribal tourism officials are also looking ahead with optimism about the prospects for 2021.

Friday, April 9, 2021 – Another pandemic powwow season
For the second year in a row the Denver March Powwow was cancelled because of the pandemic. The Gathering of Nations will hold a virtual powwow this month. Still, some arenas are open for in-person powwows. Dancers and spectators gathered in February for the Thunder on the Beach powwow in Florida. And the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is scheduled to resume the Schemitzun powwow this August. We’ll take the hour to discuss how organizers are responding to the pent-up demand for live, in-person powwows and what the 2021 powwow season looks like.

Monday, March 29, 2021 – Groundbreaking Native women artists
Mary Thompson “Te Ata” Fisher (Chickasaw) was an actor and storyteller and one of the very first ambassadors of Native culture on stages throughout the world from the 1920s until her death in 1995. Maria Tallchief (Osage) broke barriers as a ballerina, becoming prima ballerina of the New City Ballet, all while remaining outspoken for Native rights. They are among the Native women who create memorable art and provide inspiration for artists who come after them. During March, we’re celebrating historic Native women.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 – Traditional regard for bears
The Southern Ute tribe holds annual spring bear dances which show respect for the bear spirit. Oneida, Ojibwe and Hopi are among the many tribes that have bear clans. As spring begins, bears begin waking up from hibernation. We’ll awaken your interest in the traditional significance of bears with conversations with elders, culture bearers and biologists.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 – Repairing and reaffirming Trump’s legacy with tribes
The U.S. Department of Interior reversed a Trump Administration decision that removed the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Tribe’s control over Missouri River mineral rights. The recent action returns tribal control that had been in place for decades. Dozens of other decisions that affected tribes during the Trump years are awaiting scrutiny, including the reduction of Bears Ears National Monument, rolling back key provisions in the National Environmental Policy Act, and worked to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s reservation lands. We’ll look at some of the policies from the Trump Administration that tribes are working to reverse, and those they want to continue.

Friday, April 2, 2021 – Tik Tok’s Native stars
A young Navajo woman skateboards in traditional clothing. An Inupiaq woman demonstrates cutting up bowhead whale meat. A Cree man hoop dances in regalia. These are among the videos by Native people that are gaining attention on the Tik Tok app. #NativeTikTok also includes history lessons and information about missing and murdered Indigenous people. We’ll talk with Tik Tok creators about getting noticed on the popular video platform and other social media.

Monday, March 22, 2021 – Native women leaders make history fighting for the people
There are a several exceptional Native women who’ve spoken out, broken barriers and improved the lives of Native Americans. Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit) is a civil rights activist who helped end discrimination against Alaska Natives in Alaska. Elouise Cobell (Blackfeet) went toe-to-toe in court with the U.S. government over its mismanagement of Indian land. And Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) is the first Native American U.S. Interior secretary. We’re continuing our celebration of historic Native women with a program about warrior women who shook things up to improve people’s lives.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 – “You’re cancelled!” Cancel culture in Native America
Among the recently retracted books by Dr. Seuss is one that includes a stereotypical drawing of an ‘Eskimo’. The company handling publication of the beloved children’s author/illustrator discontinued the books because of problematic portrayals that don’t stand the test of time. The action earned praise from some and backlash from others who say it’s cancel culture run amok. Individuals, institutions, public monuments and works of art and literature are all facing new accountability over current or past actions and statements that don’t align with modern sensitivities. But is the accountability fair? Who decides what the standard is?

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 – Vaccine availability: it depends on where you are
The Navajo Nation says it’s vaccinated more than 20% of enrolled citizens. That’s compared to just 12% of the United States population. Despite successful vaccine rollouts by many tribes, some Native people living in urban areas are finding access to the vaccine elusive. Some travel thousands of miles to get the shot on their home reservations. Others have to wait it out. The National Indian Health Board is asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize vaccine distribution to the estimated 4,000 Native Americans in Washington, D.C. because the Indian Health Service cannot adequately tend to them. We’ll get an update on where vaccine distribution is working and where it’s not.

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations

Thursday, March 25, 2021 – What’s the best use or your stimulus check
If you’re one of the nearly 160 million Americans getting a $1,400 stimulus payment from the federal government you should put some thought into what to do with it. The best use of the money depends what your immediate needs are, whether you have a lot of credit card debt, and whether you face more reduced income down the road. In this hour we’ll talk with financial experts about how to manage money through tough economic times.

Friday, March 26, 2021 – March in the News
Debra Haaland continues to make history and in the process reaches out to Native media. Also the Native American Journalist Association is standing in solidarity with Asian journalists calling for more responsible reporting on the rise in anti-Asian violence and the spa shooting in Atlanta. And the Violence Against Women Act advances in Congress. We’ll get updates on recent news important to Native people

https://aaja.org/2021/03/17/aaja-guidance-on-atlanta-shootings/

 

Monday, March 15, 2021 – Native women leaders make their mark
Hawaii’s Queen Liliuokalani (Kanaka Maoli) is remembered as a fierce advocate for her people. Wilma Mankiller (Cherokee) was a trailblazer and an important figure in developing the Cherokee Nation’s self-governance. Those are among the many Native women who distinguished themselves in the face of adversity. For Women’s History Month we’re celebrating prominent Native American women leaders.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021 – Indigenous Canadians lead the push for change
A Mi’kmaw man in Nova Scotia is mounting a legal challenge in the ongoing fight over lobster fishing rights. Wet’suwet’en Nation traditional leaders continue their stand against a pipeline in western Canada. And advocates are calling for better services after a Yellow Quill First Nation woman froze to death following her release from jail. We’ll catch up on the major issues in Canada and how Indigenous people are setting the course to influence change.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 – Momentum for Choctaw Freedmen?
After the recent historic change in the Cherokee constitution opening the door to Black Cherokee citizenship, the Choctaw Nation is now facing a fight pitting sovereignty against formal recognition for Choctaw Freedmen. The chief of the Choctaw Nation opposes proposed language in congressional legislation that would require the tribe to allow Freedmen enrollment. The bill is in response to Freedmen—descendants of slaves who also claim Choctaw heritage—who say they are denied citizenship because of their race. But Choctaw Chief Gary Batton says the tribe, not Congress, determines enrollment. We’ll get an update on the status of the ongoing Choctaw Freedmen issue.

Thursday, March 18, 2021 – Healing the land: Tribal ecological restoration
The Oneida Nation successfully restored wetlands that can now support culturally significant fish. Bizhibayaash (Circle of Flight) was a large project that was successful in restoring wetlands which helped revitalize waterfowl and wild rice in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has multiple land and animal restoration programs in and around the St. Lawrence River that are supported by a 2013 settlement. We’ll highlight recent examples about how tribes are helping the land with traditional ecological knowledge, science and environmental justice work, at a time when preservation is as important as ever.

Friday, March 19, 2021 – Rolling the dice on Native role-playing games
A new tabletop role-playing game focuses on Indigenous people in a future where colonization never happened. Coyote & Crow blew past the game designers’ $18,000 Kickstarter goal in 45 minutes, and currently is almost $500,000 and counting. The game joins a list of other mainstream role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons that have their own Native following. We’ll hear from Native role-playing gamers who are passionate about playing these types of games.

Monday, March 8, 2021 – Rematriation: Indigenous women restoring balance
Indigenous women in the United States and Canada are leading efforts to reclaim culture and knowledge through matrilineal power. On International Women’s Day, we’ll learn about re-matriation to honor Mother Earth and to change the narrative about Indigenous women.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – Are school sports safe yet?
With COVID-19 infection rates decreasing across the country, there’s added pressure on schools and rec leagues to start up again. A court settlement just opened up school sports in the state of California. Many states continue to hold off or are debating whether or not to resume. Sports are an important part of life for Native athletes and their parents.

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – Another federal COVID relief bill: Is it enough?
The proposed $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus plan includes another $20 billion for tribes. It also includes additional funding for housing assistance and the Bureau of Indian Education. It’s another lifeline to offset the economic devastation in the wake of the pandemic. We’ll learn more about the current funding plan and whether it and the previous CARES Act money are enough to keep tribes afloat until the public health threat and its subsequent financial crisis passes.

Thursday, March 11, 2021 – Avoiding the top threats to kidney health
A new study just released by John Hopkins Medicine researchers suggests lab tests could help predict the likelihood of serious kidney problems. In the UK, health officials are trying out a smartphone app that uses artificial intelligence to diagnose kidney disease earlier. Those are among the advances that offer promise for earlier detection of kidney disease, one of the key factors for saving lives. It’s all the more important now, since one out of every 7 people hospitalized for COVID-19 end up with kidney injury. For Kidney Health Awareness Month we’ll learn the biggest threats to kidney health and how to avoid them.

Friday, March 12, 2021 – Music Maker: Sunburnt Stone
On their newest album, Sunburnt Stone invites listeners into soulful stories that travel from the dustiest rez roads to the hardest pavement. The band from the Navajo Nation says the title cut, “El Navajo,” oozes with spaghetti western undertones. From there they demonstrate their guitar mastery on songs like “Every Single Second”. We’ll hear from the band about the road they took to bring their music to life.

Monday, March 1, 2021 – Preparing for the next pandemic
It’s hard for tribes and individuals to think about future crises while dealing with the current one. But tribal public health and emergency management officials are taking what they’re learning now to prepare for potential threats to come. Shortages of food, supplies and medical care are all problems that surfaced in the past year of the pandemic. Some tribes found themselves worse off than some others. We’ll hear what ideas are emerging about what to do to be ready for the next pandemic.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 – The complexities of Mexican Indigenous identity
Indigenous identity is viewed differently by the Mexican government. There aren’t registered tribes but there are autonomous Indigenous communities. Indigenous Mexicans self-identify, come from Indigenous communities, speak an Indigenous language and practice traditional and cultural ways. How that translates across the border and in U.S. Indigenous communities is complicated.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 – Healthcare superheroes
Native healthcare workers provide healing during the most painful and frightening times of our lives. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they are the superheroes on the front lines, facing down the effects of the deadly virus. They work long hours, make life-and-death decisions, and don’t often get the thanks they deserve. We’ll take time to hear what healthcare workers do and show them gratitude for taking on the tough jobs.

Thursday, March 4, 2021 – Oliphant: four decades of hampered tribal jurisdiction
A U.S. Supreme Court decision in March, 1978 continues to hinder tribal sovereignty on a daily basis. The ruling in Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe stripped tribes of most criminal prosecutions against non-Indians. Those cases became the responsibility of the federal government. In his dissent, Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote “I am of the view that Indian tribes enjoy, as a necessary aspect of their retained sovereignty, the right to try and punish all persons who commit offenses against tribal law within the reservation.” The Violence Against Women Act was an attempt to remedy the persistent trend of non-Native abusers of Native women slipping through the cracks of the federal justice system. We’ll look at the distressing consequences of Oliphant and efforts through the years to fix it.

Friday, March 5, 2021 – Pieces of tradition: Native American quilts
Sewing was an important tradition for Native Americans long before it became a popular pandemic pastime. Many tribes, especially the Seminoles and those from the Great Plains, took up quilting around the turn of the 20th Century. The intricate patterns in Native quilts reflect tribal heritage and the artistry of the individual quilters. Native quilts are used to tell stories and are offered as gifts to honor achievements. We’ll talk with quilters about how their craft goes beyond merely making covers for beds.

Monday, February 22 2021 – Maintaining harmony in the household
While Native traditions favor family bonds, a year cooped up in the house together can strain even the closest relationships. Kids learning from home, parents working from their living room, and few of the welcome distractions like sports and entertainment venues to relieve the monotony are a recipe for family discord. We’ll get reminders about the importance of keeping the harmony and learn strategies for improving relationships in the home.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021— The State of Indian Nations
National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp delivers her second State of Indian Nations address. It is the first time the address, along with the Executive Council Winter Session, will be presented virtually. The COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate effect on Native people, federal COVID relief funds distribution, equitable funding for the Indian Health Service, the pending confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Department of Interior, and the Native agenda for the new presidential administration are some of the hot topics important to Indian Country. We’ll have the address and the Congressional response.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 – Book of the Month: “Even As We Breathe” by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
Cherokee author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle invites readers back to 1942 and the time of World War II. In “Even As We Breathe,” the cultures of her fictional characters collide in the secluded Grove Park Inn in North Carolina. That’s where foreign diplomats held as prisoners of war come face-to-face with Cowney Sequoya and the other rural Cherokees who live there. We’ll hear more about the dynamic storyline from the author in for our February Book of the Month.

Thursday, February 25, 2021 – Deb Haaland’s road ahead
U.S. Secretary of Interior nominee Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) faces questioning from senators during her confirmation hearings. She faces some opposition, but if all goes as expected she will be the first Native American cabinet secretary. Then she has to do the job of overseeing public lands, Indian Country land policy, and balancing conservation with the demands of an energy-hungry nation. We’ll recap the confirmation hearing and discuss what opportunities and pitfalls Haaland faces in the position.

Friday, February 26, 2021 – February in the news
Deb Haaland faces her critics and supporters on her way to heading the U.S. Department of Interior, the Navajo Nation vaccinates nearly a third of their citizens in under a month, and the Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package includes relief for tribes. These are some of the stories we’ll look into on the regular news roundup.

Monday, February 15, 2021 – Protecting your heart from disease and COVID-19
Medical professionals are pointing to possible long-term heart problems in some COVID-19 patients. The American Heart Association says it’s too soon to tell for sure, but widespread COVID-19 infections might cause a surge in cardiovascular disease and death in the coming months and years. In addition, people with heart problems are more at risk from the COVID-19. The good news is healthy life choices is good at lowering people’s risks. For Heath Health Month we’ll get reminders of the benefits that exercise, stress reduction and a healthy diet have on your heart.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 – Courts back Line 3 pipeline construction despite risks
Two recent court decisions denied efforts by Minnesota tribes and environmental groups to halt the controversial Line 3 Replacement Project last week. Despite the setback, the chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa says his tribe will not stop fighting the 1,097-mile pipeline project. The Enbridge Energy pipeline is slated to go across northern Minnesota, carrying crude oil from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin. The planned route skirts the Red Lake and White Earth reservations and crosses through the Fond du Lac reservation. The company expects the project to take about 9 months to complete.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 – Navigating the pandemic with disabilities
Advocates for people with disabilities praised initial federal efforts at the start of the pandemic such as expanding food access through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But they worry efforts since then have fallen short. In addition, support programs are subject to closures or limited access for safety reasons. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights issued guidance to Indian Health Service facilities for serving the needs of individuals with disabilities. We’ll discuss what that guidance means and whether it’s working for Native people with disabilities.

Thursday, February 18, 2021 – Medical experts: don’t lower guard on COVID-19
COVID-19 rates are going down overall and vaccines are promising relief. But officials warn that the pandemic is far from over and this is no time to get complacent. While strict precautions are improving the picture, some places continue to feel the pressure on medical and support resources. We’ll get updates from tribal leaders and health officials about how they’re keeping their communities engaged and on alert after more than a year since the start of the pandemic. We’ll also hear from a medical expert about the threat from new strains of COVID-19.

Friday, February 19, 2021 – Indigenous films at the Sundance Film Festival
Four films made by Indigenous filmmakers from around the globe premiered at this year’s Sundance Festival. The fictional portrayals and real-life documentaries tell stories of Indigenous traditions, righteous protest and dark criminal dramas. We’ll catch up with a few of the filmmakers to discuss their art and the future of film during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday, February 8, 2021 – A new direction on borders and immigration
President Joe Biden signed executive orders within days of taking office reversing some of the previous administration’s immigration policies. The new president called to reunite immigrant families and protect asylum seekers and he proposed legislation to give legal status to about 11 million immigrants who are currently living in the U.S. without documentation. Biden also halted border wall construction and diverted the funds elsewhere. Displaced Indigenous people are part of the migrant groups that come to the U.S. from Mexico and Central and South America. What does a new presidential administration mean for future immigration policy and the treatment of Indigenous people who cross the border?

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – The year of living with the pandemic
It’s been a year since the first case of COVID-19 arrived in the United States. The first weeks were marked with uncertainty and fear as public health experts and policy makers could only guess what the full effect would be. Now we know Native nations have been disproportionately affected, both by the human toll and economic losses. The Indian Health Service alone reports nearly 180,000 positive coronavirus tests and that’s likely a fraction of the total number of Native COVID-10 cases. We’ll hear about what lessons have been learned in the past year and get updates from communities continuing to cope with the ongoing pandemic.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 – Exposing false Native heritage
After a CBC investigation called her claimed Indigenous heritage into question, Canadian filmmaker Michelle Latimer resigned as director of the CBC-TV series “Trickster,” a show she co-created. The National Film Board also dropped its intention to distribute her film “Inconvenient Indian” and pulled it from a Sundance Film Festival screening. It’s the latest in a continuing series of prominent people who initially benefitted from their Indigenous identity but were forced to backtrack when those claims couldn’t be documented. We’ll hear about the latest incident and an effort to expose those who improperly cash in on Native heritage.

Thursday, February 11, 2021 – Music Maker: Bryden Gwiss
There are many vibrant examples of culture blending by Native artists. Traditional powwow singer and song maker Bryden Gwiss (Ojibway, Odawa, Potawatomi, Delare, Mik Maq and Oneida) uses what he’s learned—and taught—on the Powwow Trail to create a new sound. It both highlights the energy of the traditional dance circle and takes it to a new circle rich in hip-hop, electronic and dubstep sounds. The 2017 Juno Award nominee is our January Music Maker and he’ll be sharing compositions from his second album, “The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H ( The.Real.Un.Told.History).”

Friday, February 12, 2021 – More than what they carry
Bandolier bags come from Woodlands tribes like the Ojibwe, and can include glass seed beads, spot stitching and woven straps. Pipe bags are often from Plains tribes and serve as holders for sacred ceremonial pipes. In the Pacific Northwest octopus or finger bags have intricately decorated ‘fingers’ hanging from the bottom of the bag. We’ll explore the utility and decoration of Native bags. We’ll also hear from bag makers about their craft and passion for the things they carry.

Monday, February 1, 2021 – The COVID-19 vaccine and protecting elders
The vaccine is already offering a sigh of relief to thousands of people. But many Native people remain wary for a variety of reasons. Health officials are looking for ways to get the message out that the vaccine is safe and effective, especially compared to the alternative. Meanwhile, tribal leaders and others are particularly worried about the toll the disease is taking on elders and what that means for tribal language and culture.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 – Native in the Spotlight: Kevin Washburn
Kevin Washburn (Chickasaw) took a temporary leave as dean of the University of Iowa College of Law to head the U.S. Department of Interior review team for Joe Biden’s transition into the White House. Washburn served as Interior’s assistant secretary of Indian Affairs for the Obama Administration. He was also an attorney for the U.S. Justice Department and a federal prosecutor. He is an expert on tribal gaming and the intersection of federal Indian law and criminal law. We’ll talk with him about his passion for teaching and his influence on the new administration’s approach to Indian Country.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 – Making room for stress management
A lot of people are turning to stress relievers to help cope with the ongoing pandemic, economic worries, and political anxiety, all on top of the regular day-to-day pressures. Without proper management, stress can cause symptoms such as changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and even worse health problems. Some people resort to unhealthy remedies to stress like self-medicating with alcohol or drugs. But there are a number of healthy alternatives, including traditional Native methods. We’ll devote some time to talk with experts about techniques that provide results and are easy to incorporate in your daily routine.

Thursday, February 4, 2021 – The Cherokee Syllabary bicentennial
When Cherokee leader Sequoyah introduced a written version of his language 200 years ago, his fellow Cherokees were skeptical. He eventually won them over and now the Cherokee Syllabary evolved to be included on typewriters, printing presses, and even mobile phone apps. This year the Cherokee Nation is celebrating the bicentennial of its written language. We’ll get the history of Sequoyah’s 12-year process to develop the series of symbols and letters that represent the spoken language. We’ll also talk about ways the syllabary is helping keep the language thriving.

Friday, February 5, 2021 – Bread: A Native staple
Every culture has its own version of bread. Among Native cultures, Pueblos in New Mexico have a distinctive loaf, Canadian First Nations in Canada have variations on bannock, and almost everyone is familiar with fry bread. Different tribes have unique approaches to bread even though recipes can be vastly different among bakers within a tribe. Many Native versions of bread are adaptations from recipes and ingredients introduced by outsiders, but the flatbreads and loaves have become a big part of tribal food culture today. We’ll hear about corn and wheat and crusts and crumbs as we celebrate Native bread.