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.
