Native America Calling

Hundreds of low-income families who depend on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are enduring delays and other system management problems. The heads of the agency that oversees the program are having to answer tough questions from lawmakers. In an unrelated dispute, those same lawmakers are squabbling over costs of a tribally run food distribution pilot program. It’s one of the reasons they can’t come to agreement on the current Farm Bill that has major implications for Indian Country. Also, adding an ingredient to an ice cream recipe is a good way to experience a sweet and cold side of traditional flavor. That’s what First Nations chef Zach Keeshig did with sweet grass. That’s all on "The Menu" on Native America Calling, our special feature on Indigenous food hosted by Andi Murphy.

GUESTS

Abi Fain (enrolled with Choctaw Nation), chief legal and policy officer for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, a co-founder of the Native Farm Bill Coalition

Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Cherokee), interim executive director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Zach Keeshig (Anishinaabe from the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation), chef and owner of Naagan by Zach keeshig

Friday, August 30, 2024 - The Menu: Delays in tribal food program, more disputes over the Farm Bill, and Indigenous ice cream » Native America Calling Hundreds of low-income Native families who depend on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are enduring delays and other system management problems. The heads of the agency that oversees the program are having to answer tough questions from lawmakers. In an unrelated dispute, those sa...

Koahnic Broadcast Corporation was honored to welcome the Nudlaghi Leadership Institute Philanthropy Tour to flagship public radio stationKNBA 90.3 FM’s Anchorage, Alaska office and studios today. The group took a tour of KNBA, and got on the air to share some of their Alaska experiences with on-air host Danny Preston on "Morning Line."

This group of philanthropy leaders is visiting Alaska this week from organizations including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Press Forward, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Pivotal/Melinda French Gates Philanthropy, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Schmidt Family Foundation, Hearthland Foundation and Resource Legacy Fund.

is relatively easy to treat. But that fact hasn’t stopped an unremitting increase in the disease that is hitting hardest. Public health officials say American Indian and Alaska Native people currently suffer the highest syphilis infection rates of any group in the country – and the highest recorded since the cure was discovered in 1941. The Indian Health Service warns cases of congenital syphilis have resulted in stillbirths or infant deaths shortly after birth. Medical officials have a series of detection and treatment recommendations. We’ll revisit the problem of syphilis infections and discuss the strategies for solving it.

GUESTS

Dr. Naomi Young (Navajo), family medicine physician and director of medical services at Tséhootsooí Medical Center

Dr. Loretta Christensen (Navajo), chief medical officer for the Indian Health Service

https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/thursday-august-29-2024-the-ongoing-battle-against-a-persistent-surge-of-syphilis/

With a basis in resistance to institutional authority, appeals to some politically minded . Historically, Indigenous anarchists played a significant role in the Revolution. Although the term is often used in popular culture to be synonymous with chaos, modern Native anarchists also incorporate the development of collaborations and trade to benefit the collective good. We’ll talk with people who adhere to an anarchist philosophy about how it guides their lives and their views on the upcoming elections.

GUESTS

Dr. J. Kēhaulani Kauanui (Native Hawaiian), professor at Princeton University, scholar-activist, author, and radio host and producer

Brandon Benallie (Diné and Hopi), Diné anarchist

Dr. Jeff Corntassel (citizen of the Cherokee Nation), professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Victoria and the host of the "Frontlines are Everywhere" podcast

Dr. Claudio Lomnitz, Campbell Family Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department at Columbia University and author of "The Return of Comrade Ricardo Flores Magón"

https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/wednesday-august-28-2024-anarchy-and-native-american-political-activism/

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 – Anarchy and Native American political activism » Native America Calling With a basis in resistance to institutional authority, anarchy appeals to some politically minded Native Americans. Historically, Indigenous anarchists played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution. Although the term is often used in popular culture to be synonymous with chaos, modern Native a...

The acrobatic dance style known as "Breaking" started almost a half century ago with the hip-hop culture on the streets of the Bronx. Among its most enduring features is the influence of powwow fancy dance steps. Breaking’s debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics propelled awareness of the current skill and athleticism that goes into it. We’ll talk with noted b-boys and b-girls about the origins and future of breaking.

GUESTS

Lunacee (Cree, Frog Lake First Nation), BGirl

Ken Fury (Indigenous Genizaro descendent), artist

Artson (Tarahumara descent), rapper and B-Boy

Tuesday, August, 27, 2024 – Breaking: the dance form that rose from the streets to the Olympics » Native America Calling The acrobatic dance style known as "Breaking" started almost a half century ago with the hip-hop culture on the streets of the Bronx. Among its most enduring features is the influence of powwow fancy dance steps. Breaking’s debut at the Paris Olympics propelled awareness of the current skill and a...

This week, leaders, climate, activists, and community members from more than 80 different nations around the world are convening in Rapid City, S.D. The 12th World Wilderness Congress will be looking at concerns and solutions to issues facing forest health, biodiversity, and wildlife. We’ll talk with elders actively addressing these issues. Also, we’ll hear updates from the group Apache Stronghold/Save Oak Flat as they make their way across the country raising awareness of a copper mining project on Oak Flat in before stopping in Washington D.C. The group will turn to the U.S. Supreme Court for protections of the sacred site.

GUESTS

Ilarion Merculieff (Unangan), founder and president of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership & Lifeways

Phil Two Eagle (Sicangu Lakota), executive director of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council

Wendsler Nosie Sr. (member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe), founder of the Apache-Stronghold

Monday, August 26, 2024 – World Wilderness Congress and protecting Oak Flat » Native America Calling This week, Indigenous leaders, climate, activists, and community members from more than 80 different nations around the world are convening in Rapid City, S.D. The 12th World Wilderness Congress will be looking at concerns and solutions to issues facing forest health, biodiversity, and wildlife. We....

Check out these highlights from our coverage from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, taken by our own Kayla Rearden.

Special thanks to all those who joined us at our Media Row booth and Radio Broadcast seats.

Stay connected to our coverage until Election Day.

https://www.nv1.org/native-vote-2024-live-from-the-dnc/

ICYMI... Hugo N. Morales (Mixtec) rose from his Indigenous family farming roots in Oaxaca, Mexico to found Radio Bilingue, the largest Latino radio network in the U.S. The network continues to offer a diverse array of programming in English, Spanish, Mixtec, and Triqui languages. Morales earned money while going to school by picking fruit in California. Among his many accomplishments and honors, he ultimately earned a law degree from Harvard University. He continues his strong commitment to educate others. We heard from Morales about his journey and where he’s going next.

Plus, we closed out our coverage of the 2024 Democratic National Convention with contributor Shaun Griswold from Source New Mexico.

Friday, August 23, 2024 – Native in the Spotlight: Hugo Morales » Native America Calling Hugo Morales (Mixtec) rose from his Indigenous family farming roots in Oaxaca, Mexico to found Radio Bilingue, the largest Latino radio network in the United States. The network continues to offer a diverse array of programming in English, Spanish, Mixtec, and Triqui languages. Morales earned money....

Vice President K**ala Harris will wrap up the Democratic National Convention, a climax to the four-day political spectacle to launch the vice president into the home stretch toward the November election. A presidential candidate for barely a month, Harris makes her best case to lead the nation for the next four years. If voters choose Harris, what could her administration mean for ? We'll examine her record on the Indian Child Welfare Act ( ), sovereignty, consultation, and honoring treaties. We'll draw from her work as a U.S. senator, California attorney general, and vice president when it comes to issues important to Native Americans.

GUESTS

Christopher Roberts (Choctaw), Mayor of Shoreline, Wash.

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly (member of the Tohono O’odham Nation), Pima County recorder

Robert Miguel (Ak-Chin), chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community

April Ignacio (Tohono O’odham)

Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Zuni and Jemez Pueblo), editor of Source New Mexico

Thursday, August 22, 2024 – What a Harris presidency would mean for Native Americans » Native America Calling Vice President K**ala Harris will wrap up the Democratic National Convention, a climax to the four-day political spectacle to launch the vice president into the home stretch toward the November election. A presidential candidate for barely a month, Harris makes her best case to lead the nation for t...

Even if Vice President K**ala Harris wins the White House, her agenda is dependent on what happens in Congressional elections. Since entering the race a few short weeks ago, Harris’ favorability has risen in polls—and once wary Democratic candidates are starting to see her as a strength. We’ll discuss what’s at stake for issues when it comes to other national elections and whether Harris has momentum enough to make a difference in races other than her own.

GUESTS

Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), editor and publisher of Tribal Business News and the founder, publisher, and editor of Native News Online

Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian), political editor for Native News Online

Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Zuni and Jemez Pueblo), editor of Source New Mexico

Pauly Denetclaw (Diné), political correspondent for Indian Country Today

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – The Harris effect on other races » Native America Calling Even if Vice President K**ala Harris wins the White House, her agenda is dependent on what happens in Congressional elections. Since entering the race a few short weeks ago, Harris’ favorability has risen in polls—and once wary Democratic candidates are starting to see her as a strength. We’ll...

“There’s something in Minnesota that we take seriously and that’s tribal sovereignty.”

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) revved up a packed room at the first Democratic National Convention Native American Caucus meeting, as Antonia Gonzales reports in the latest edition of National Native News.

She's on the ground in all week as part of our coverage.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 » National Native News Walz addresses DNC Native Caucus meeting on day one Rapid City families line up for NDN Collective school backpack giveaway

Beyond building momentum for the presidential candidates, there is some work to do at the Democratic National Convention ( ). delegates have a voice in developing the platform that Democrats look to as the blueprint to effect policy. How much of what the policy direction relates to issues important to Native Americans? We'll zero in on how sovereignty, , the trust responsibility, and consultation intersect with the mainstream push by Democrats and how that shows up in official party positions.

GUESTS

Clara Pratte (Navajo), CEO of Strongbow Strategies and DNC Native American Caucus chair

Mary Ann Andreas (Morongo Band of Mission Indians), DNC delegate and chair and co-founder of the Native American Caucus California Democratic Party

Isaac Casados (Diné), secretary of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and DNC delegate for New Mexico

Shaun Griswold (Laguna/Zuni/Jemez), editor of Source New Mexico

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 – The work of DNC delegates » Native America Calling Beyond building momentum for the presidential candidates, there is some work to do at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Native delegates have a voice in developing the platform that Democrats look to as the blueprint to effect policy. How much of what the policy direction relates to issues i...

For their most important public gathering in the presidential election, the Democratic Party has chosen to meet on the traditional lands of the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Ojibwe, Odawa, and a handful of other nations. The state has no established federally recognized tribes, but the number of citizens who identify as has more than doubled in the past ten years. We’ll be in Chicago, talking with Native Chicago residents who are also clued in to the Democratic political process about what the party is doing to reach Native voters and what sets them apart from their political rivals.

GUESTS

Pamela Silas (enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin descendant), active member of the Chicago American Indian Community

Mary Smith (citizen of the Cherokee Nation), former Indian Health Service director and founder of the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation

Monica Rickert-Bolter (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), visual artist and director of operations at the Center for Native Futures

Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Zuni, and Jemez), editor of Source New Mexico

Monday, August 19, 2024 – Chicago welcomes the Democratic National Convention » Native America Calling For their most important public gathering in the presidential election, Democrats have chosen to meet on the traditional lands of the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Ojibwe, Odawa, and a handful of other nations. The state has no established federally recognized tribes, but the number of Chicago ci...

Distinctly artwork, fashion, and films converge again for the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, with at least 1,000 booths and somewhere around 100,000 visitors. Native America Calling is live from Santa Fe, hearing from Southwestern Association for Indian Arts representatives, 2023 Best In Show winner Jennifer Tafoya, curators from the Native Cinema Showcase, and others to get a preview of the largest juried Native art market in the world.

GUESTS

JoAnn Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), SWAIA - Santa Fe Indian Market vice chair

Jennifer Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo), artist, potter, and 2023 Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Market

Chris Youngblood (Santa Clara Pueblo), potter

Cindy Benitez, program manager for the Native Cinema Showcase for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Friday, August 16, 2024 – Live at Santa Fe Indian Market 2024 » Native America Calling Distinctly Native American artwork, fashion, and films converge again for the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, with at least 1,000 booths and somewhere around 100,000 visitors. Native America Calling is live from Santa Fe, hearing from Southwestern Association for Indian Arts representatives, 2023 Bes...

Violinist, composer, and producer Geneviève Gros-Louis has a busy schedule of solo and group performances and discussions leading up to the release of her new album that celebrates Wendat culture and talent. She captivated the audience at the 2023 Festival de Cannes with a piece composed specifically for the premiere of the film, "Killers of the Flower Moon". She also composed the score to a season of National Geographic’s series, "Life Below Zero: First Alaskans". Gros-Louis returns to the Native America Calling studio with live performances of her work.

GUESTS

Geneviève Gros-Louis (Huron-Wendat), composer, violinist, and music producer

Karl Duncan (Arikara, Hidatsa, Mandan, and San Carlos Apache), executive director of the Poeh Cultural Center

Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo), musician and marketing manager of the Poeh Cultural Center

Thursday, August 15, 2024 – Native Playlist: Geneviève Gros-Louis » Native America Calling Violinist, composer, and producer Geneviève Gros-Louis has a busy schedule of solo and group performances and discussions leading up to the release of her new album that celebrates Wendat culture and talent. She captivated the audience at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival with a piece composed specific...

The Yaqui people fought for centuries against Spanish missionaries, miners, slave-traders, and the iron-fisted, anti-Indigenous rule of the Mexican government in the latter part of the 19th Century. Once the dominant culture in what is now Sonora, Yaqui populations were eventually diminished from conflict, disease, and even deportation out of their homelands. They eventually won back a significant portion of their traditional homeland in 1930. We recognize the Yaqui people on the anniversary of a significant battle alongside Mexican revolutionaries against both Mexican and American forces.

GUESTS

Dr. Anabel Galindo (Yaqui heritage), assistant professor at Northern Arizona University

Robert Valencia, former Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona chairman and historian

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Recalling how Yaqui resistance shaped Mexican and American colonization » Native America Calling The Yaqui people fought for centuries against Spanish missionaries, miners, slave-traders, and the iron-fisted, anti-Indigenous rule of the Mexican government in the latter part of the 19th Century. Once the dominant culture in what is now Sonora, Yaqui populations were eventually diminished from co...

We're happy to partner with Bookworks Albuquerque to hear from scholar and writer Anton Treuer about his new novel 'Where Wolves Don't Die'. Tazbah McCullah facilitates the live discussion starting Weds. Aug 14 at 6 p.m.

As an Ojibwe language teacher and expert on history and issues, Anton Treuer has penned more than a dozen books that are required reading for some Native studies college courses. But Treuer turns to fiction in his newest work, "Where Wolves Don’t Die". His first novel is for young readers and focuses on Ezra, a young Ojibwe teen living in . A serious crime prompts his family to move him to live with his grandfather on the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. There he encounters new insights into his family and culture as he navigates the consequences of circumstances beyond his control. Treuer joins us as the Native Bookshelf featured author.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 — Native Bookshelf: Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer » Native America Calling As an Ojibwe language teacher and expert on Native American history and issues, Anton Treuer has penned more than a dozen books that are required reading for some Native studies college courses. But Treuer turns to fiction in his newest work, Where Wolves Don’t Die. His first novel is for young re...

The Navajo Nation deployed its police department to hold back trucks hauling uranium ore across tribal land. The action comes after the recent resumption of uranium mining at the Pinyon Plain (formerly Canyon) Mine in northwest Arizona. It is one of 600 uranium mines considered dormant because they aren’t financially viable. They are tied to numerous health conditions by citizens of Navajo and other nearby tribes. But new interest in nuclear energy is improving prices for raw ore. We’ll hear about tribes leveraging sovereignty to halt the mining and transport of uranium.

GUESTS

Crystalyne Curley (Diné), Speaker of the Navajo Nation

Carletta Tilousi (Havasupai), former councilwoman for The Havasupai Tribe and member of the Uranium Mining Committee

Leona Morgan (Diné), co-founder of HaulNo

Donovan Quintero (Diné), freelance reporter

Monday, August 12, 2024 – Navajo Nation clashes with new uranium mining push » Native America Calling The Navajo Nation deployed its police department to hold back trucks hauling uranium ore across tribal land. The action comes after the recent resumption of uranium mining at the Pinyon Plain (formerly Canyon) Mine in northwest Arizona. It is one of 600 uranium mines considered dormant because they....

The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Paul Bunyan, and Tater Tot hotdish is also home to 11 federally recognized tribes. A citizen of one of those tribes, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Ojibwe/D-MN) is already the highest ranking female elected executive in the country. Now that Vice President **alaHarris has chosen Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate, Lt. Gov. Flanagan is one presidential election victory away from becoming the first Native female governor. We’ll hear from current and former political leaders from and the Upper Midwest about any contributions or detriments the state's Native elected leaders bring to the national stage.

GUESTS

Judith Le Blanc (Caddo), executive director of the Native Organizers Alliance

OJ Semans Sr. (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), co-executive director of Four Directions Native Vote

Winona LaDuke (White Earth Nation), activist, co-curator of Giiwedinong Museum, and 2000 vice president running mate with Ralph Nader of the Green Party

Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe), Minneapolis Metropolitan Council member for District 6 and president and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute - NACDI

Friday, August 9, 2024 – Democrat vice president pick puts new spotlight on Minnesota » Native America Calling The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Paul Bunyan, and Tater Tot hotdish is also home to 11 federally recognized tribes. A citizen of one of those tribes, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Ojibwe/D-MN) is already the highest ranking female Native elected executive in the country. Now that Vice President K**a...