Monday, May 18, 2020 – Checkpoints and check-ins
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and leaders of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Oglala Sioux tribes remain in a verbal and legal standoff. The governor demands tribal leaders remove coronavirus checkpoints on roads into tribal land. Cheyenne River Chairman Harold Frazier insists the checkpoints are legal and necessary to protect citizens on the reservation. Elsewhere, tribal leaders and health officials also continue to try and find the right balance between public safety and economic survival.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 – The perfect pandemic garden
Home gardening is enjoying renewed growth. It may have started with fears of food shortages and limited access to grocery stores. But it’s also a satisfying outlet for people stuck at home running out of Netflix options. Whether it’s a monster waffle garden with corn, beans and zucchini, or nursing one small tomato plant through the season, there is a garden for just about everybody. We’ll talk with seasoned gardeners about how to put together a garden to fit your lifestyle.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 – Coping with grief from a distance
The coronavirus pandemic is putting barriers between grieving family members and their loved ones who have walked on. Families often can’t be with their relatives in the last hours of their lives because of the increased coronavirus threat. In addition, bans on public gatherings hinder funerals and traditional tribal practices to send off relatives. We’ll hear from those helping others cope with loss. And we’ll talk with friends and family members confronting the inability to express their grief in the way they’ve come to expect.
Thursday, May, 21, 2020 – Music Maker: Hāwane Rios
Kanaka Oiwi singer Hāwane Rios is weaving her upbringing of traditional hula and chant into her latest release “Kū Kia´í Mauna – Together We Rise.” It features songs that reflect her love and connection to the land. Her time standing up for the protection of Mauna Kea has inspired her compositions.
Friday, May 22, 2020 – Native artists get creative to stay afloat
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered every major public event that serves as an outlet for Native artists and craftspeople. Some, like the Santa Fe Indian Market, are among the single most lucrative events for many artists. Some are relying on online or social media sales to make a living in the meantime. We’ll check in with how Native artists are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.