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Smoking rates are going down, but about 40 million adults in the U.S. still light up. The chances for Native Americans picking up the habit are higher than the rest of the population. On the day designated by the American Cancer Society as the Great American Smokeout, well discuss tips and tricks for quitting. We’ll also explore the difference between commercial and sacred tobacco. Are you ready to quit smoking?

Guests:

Velliyah Beauvais (Navajo) – director Tobacco Cessation Clinic at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center

Dana Diehl (Yupik/ Athabascan) – program manager for the Tobacco Prevention Program at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Lawrence Shorty (Navajo) – tobacco & food historian

CDC TIPS website

Break Music: Heeia (song) Henry Kapono (artist) The Wild Hawaiian (album)

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The election of Donald Trump puts the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy. The new president-elect promises to repeal what’s known as Obamacare. That has possible consequences for Native Americans because it’s linked to Medicaid funding and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. We will explore some of the potential scenarios that the new president and Congress might bring forward in the coming months.

Guests:

Stacy Bohlen (Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa) – executive director of the National Indian Health Board

Francys Crevier (First Nation Algonquin) – policy analyst and congressional relations liaison for the National Council of Urban Indian Health

Jerilyn Church (Cheyenne River Sioux) – CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board

Vernon Finley (Salish and Kootenai) – Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes from Montana

Also mentioned on the show today:

Tribal Health Presidential Transition Summit

 Break Music: For the Light (song) Digging Roots (artist) For the Light (song)

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Young people have ideas, energy and passion. But that passion can turn into frustration when they think no one is listening to them. The Obama administration launched Generation Indigenous to help young people succeed. The UNITY group also promotes positive pathways for Native American youth. In cultures that place a high degree of respect on elders, young people must work to be taken seriously. Are there ways to keep them from getting discouraged?

Guests:

Keioshiah Peter (Diné) – grassroots organizer for the Rez Condom Tour

Layha Spoonhunter (Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho) – Generation Indigenous youth ambassador

Teressa Baldwin (Inupiaq) – Native youth advocate

Center for Native American Youth Champions for Change Application

Break music: 7 (feat. Tanaya Winder) (song) Frank Waln (artist) 7 (feat. Tanaya Winder) (single)

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A Native pride campaign this week encourages people to wear their traditional moccasins. The Rock Your Mocs idea is meant to spread awareness of Native cultures by sparking conversations. We take you to several Native communities to find out how different moccasins are made and what they mean to those who wear them. Are you wearing your moccasins?

Guests:

Jaylyn Atsye (Laguna Pueblo) – founder of Rock Your Mocs started this in 2011

Melissa Sanchez (from Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo) – producer at Emergence Productions.

Bernard Lewis (from the Pueblo of Acoma) – moccasins maker

Cynthia Erickson (Athabascan and Yupik) – founder My Grandma’s House, a youth wellness group

Break music: Unity (song) Native Roots (artist) Most High (album)

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Native children have the highest obesity rates of any other group. There has been some progress in recent years. But a Journal of the American Medical Association study found in 2010 that obesity declined for all groups except Native American children. The NB3 Foundation is organizing a National Day of Native Youth Health and Fitness on November 13th. What kind of conversations should we be having with our kids about staying fit and healthy?

Guests:

Justin Kii Huenemann (Diné) – president and CEO of the Notah Begay III Foundation

Stacy Hammer (Lower Sioux Indian Community) – registered dietitian, diabetes program coordinator and title VI director for the Lower Sioux Health Care Center

Olivia Roanhorse (Navajo) –  director of Native Strong

Break music:  Intertribal (feat. Northern Cree) (single) K.A.S.P. Intertribal (feat. Northern Cree) (artist)

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Native veterans are our honored warriors. But they still face high rates of homelessness and health challenges. How can federal and tribal veteran’s programs improve the services to veterans? We’ll also get an update on the National Museum of the American Indian’s National Native American Veterans Memorial in the works. How do you honor the veterans in your life?

Guests: 

Jamescita Peshlakai (Navajo) – interim executive director for the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration

Bruce Nagel (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (MHA)) – outreach coordinator and special projects manager for the MHA veterans affairs department

Thomas Muriel – disabled veteran outreach program consultant for NM Work Force Connection-northern areas

Break Music: Flag Song (World) (song) The Black Lodge (artist) Veterans’ Honor Songs (album)

 

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The results are in. This is a historic year with the first female nominated to a major political party and the surprising rise of businessman and reality TV star Donald J. Trump. We’ll talk with experts about the results of the election and what it means for our Native Nations. We’ll also get a report on the victories and setbacks for Native American candidates. What did this year’s election mean for you?

Guests:

Jacqueline Pata (Tlingit) – Executive Director for the National Congress of American Indians

Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock) – Charles R. Johnson Endowed Professor of Journalism at the University of North Dakota

OJ Semans (Rosebud Sioux) – co-executive director of Four Directions

Break music:

 

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The election is here! It’s time to celebrate the end of political ads. But first, let’s give a final shout-out to the candidates and political causes. We’re giving you an opportunity to share your voting ballot. We’ll get perspectives from all sides about who people voted for in the presidential election and in local and tribal races. Did you vote early? Did you have any problems at the polls? Or did you choose to sit this one out? On this historic Election Day, our phone lines are open for you.

Guests:

Waylon Honga (Hualapai) – consultant for Peaks Advocacy Group

David Bearshield (Cheyenne Arapaho and Kiowa from Oklahoma) – Native American Ambassador of Prayer for the Kingdom Project and Chair of the GOAL Coalition

Kalyn Free (citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) – Special Counsel to Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker

Sharon Clahchischilliage (Navajo Nation) –  Representative for district 4 in the New Mexico House Legislature

Rep. Markwayne Mullin full interview:

Break music:  Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

 

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Instead of studying business, engineering or history, many Native students pursue degrees in Native American Studies. Depending on where you go, the programs offer perspectives on treaties, wars, culture and the arts. But where does the degree lead? How do you know if it will be right for you? Students and instructors of Native American Studies programs weigh in on how and where the right program might fit in.

Guests:

Dr. Martina Dawley (Hualapai and Diné) – assistant curator for American Indian relations at the Arizona State Museum

Clementine Bordeaux (Sičháŋǧu, Oglala Lakota) – academic coordinator for the American Indian Studies program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan (Tohono O’odham) – Ph.D student in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona

Break music:  Get Up Stand Up (song) Bailey Wiley, Che Fu, King Kapisi, Laughton Kora, Maisey Rika & Tiki Taane (artist)