Monday, June 1, 2020 – Putting the death of Colten Boushie in context
Director Tasha Hubbard’s (Cree) 2019 film “nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up,” is picking up accolades and new attention from filmgoers. It recently won the 2020 Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary at the Canadian Screen Awards. It recounts the story of Colten Boushie (Cree from Red Pheasant First Nation) who was shot to death after he wandered onto the property of a white farmer in 2016. His death and the acquittal of the man who shot him prompted concern, frustration and anger among First Nations people in Canada. Hubbard puts the shooting in context of the broader racial and cultural divide and her own personal experiences.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020 – Past disease outbreaks inform the current pandemic
The arrival of smallpox, measles and other diseases brought by foreign settlers is forever linked to the widespread devastation of Native Americans, who had limited or no immunity. The ultimate survival of both the inadvertent and deliberate spread of deadly contagions is an enduring testament to the resilience of Native people. Now, as we face a new disease threat, we’ll get a history lesson on how past outbreaks shaped subsequent generations and what more we can learn from those hardships.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 – Making college plans during the pandemic
There are a lot of questions about the coming school year as colleges grapple with the continuing coronavirus threat. A survey of the American Council on Education Presidents finds 53% of institutions are “very likely” to have in-person classes in the fall. It’s not clear what some other institutions are planning. The entire California State University system is among those going completely online for at least the first semester of the school year. We’ll talk about the concerns Native students have navigating an uncertain higher education landscape during the pandemic.
Thursday, June 4, 2020– One health system’s response to COVID-19
Relationships are they key to keeping people healthy. That’s an idea that informs a health care system serving 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people in Alaska. They don’t use the word “patient,” but instead refer to the people receiving care as “customer-owners.” The Nuka System of Care at the Southcentral Foundation focuses on treating the whole person. They are utilizing this system to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and to prepare to treat those infected. We’ll learn more about different types of health care systems and possible models for going forward.
Friday, June 5, 2020 – Life on 18 wheels
Millions of truck drivers criss-cross the country every day delivering tons of products to stores, businesses and factories. They make up a vital connection between producers and customers. In this industry, drivers spend days and weeks on the road. With the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers are reporting more difficult times on the highway with gas station and restaurant closures. We’ll check in with Native truckers and get to know the ins and outs of a career behind the steering wheel.
