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.
