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One journalism instructor took his students to the camps at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to observe first hand the news about the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. We’ll ask what they learned and what other people should know about it. Also, how closely does a Native American candidate have to adhere to Native issues in order to get elected? Those are some of the topics we take a look at as we consider what’s making news in Native America.

Guests:

Mark Trahant (Shoshone Bannock) –  journalist with TrahantReports.com and Charles R. Johnson Endowed Professor of Journalism at the University of North Dakota

Jason Begay (Navajo) – associate professor at the University of Montana School of Journalism

Matt Roberts  – graduate student at the University of Montana

Lailani Upham (Blackfeet, Dakota, Nakoda and Aaniiih) – graduate student at the University of Montana

Break Music: Five Kiowa “49” Dance Songs (songs) Bill Koomsa, Sr. & Kiowa Dance Group Singers (artist) Kiowa – Traditional Kiowa Songs (album)

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Murder, justice and tribal politics in rural Wyoming. That’s the basic story summary of the television show, “Longmire.” It’s one of the very few TV shows that feature Native actors and storylines in nearly every episode. The new season is set to premiere on Netflix. Fans are excited to find out what happens to Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Philips), who left us with a cliffhanger. In this program, we celebrate “Longmire” and we take a look at how Native and Native issues are covered in it.

Break Music:  Pangaea (song) Visionaries (artist) Pangaea (album)

 Guests:

Marcus Red Thunder (Ojibwe) — technical adviser for “Longmire” and Native Wellness consultant

A Martinez (Piegan and Mescalero Apache) — actor

Dr. Gavin Clarkson (Choctaw) — professor of finance and business law at New Mexico State University

 

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Northern Cheyenne flute player Joseph FireCrow made his first flute by hand almost 40 years ago. Playing it offered deep inspiration and connection. But he says ego and vanity caused him to eventually lose sight of his own talent. He lost that first flute and his passion to play.  Years later he started making and playing them again, and this time he was mature enough to live up to what he calls “the standards of what a Flute Man is.” To commemorate his performance at the Native American Music Awards, we’ll talk with him about his music, career and the instrument he loves.

Guest:

Joseph FireCrow (Northern Cheyenne) – flute player

Break Music:  I Walk With You (song) Joseph Fire Crow (artist) Face the Music (album)

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It’s the age-old dilemma for young people starting out in the workforce: To get a job, you need work experience. But to get experience, you need to do the job. Internships offer the opportunity to get some experience, often along with college credit. We’ll speak with experts about internships available to Native students as well as the value they provide.

Guests:

Jack Soto (Navajo/Cocopah)  – program administrator for internships and career readiness for the American Indian College Fund

Nicholas Courtney (Makah/Modoc)  – senior program associate for the Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University

Break Music:  In The Balance (song) Sharon Burch (artist) Touch The Sweet Earth (album)

 

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Native actor Jonathan Joss has a lot to be excited about. He plays Denali in the upcoming remake of the Magnificent Seven. The high profile role comes after a steady series of appearances in places like the TV shows Parks and Rec, and Ray Donavan and the Coen brothers’ movie True Grit. He is probably best-known for his long-running role as Jon Redcorn in the animated series King of the Hill. We’ll talk movies, music and Native representation on the big screen.

Guest:

Jonathan Joss (Comanche/White Mountain Apache) – actor, musician

Break Music:  Enaemaekisaeh (song) Wayne Silas Jr (artist) Infinite Passion (album)

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The body positive movement inspires people to love their bodies whether they’re 300 pounds or 90 pounds, short or tall. The concept is mostly geared toward plus-size women, but also encourages positive attitudes regardless of race, gender or disability. Plus-size model Ashley Graham made the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue this year – an indication that public attitudes are shifting. At a time when Native Americans are struggling with obesity and diabetes, is it healthier to feel good about ourselves or strive to slim down?

Guests:

Nikki Carter (Lumbee) – Native American plus-size model

Celina Garza (Native Hawaiian) – mother, life coach, motivational speaker and holistic practitioner. She is working with the Strong Heart study focusing on Native Americans

Melissa Trout (Ely Shoshone Tribe) – co-owner of Under the Garter

 Break Music:  Take U Places (song) Pamyua (artist) Side A Side B (album)

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The largest earthquake in state history shook the ground just outside the Osage Nation in Oklahoma this month. The U.S. Geological Survey is looking into whether fracking wastewater injection wells are the cause. What role do Native Nations play in protecting people, property and the environment from the possibility of earthquakes caused by humans?

Guests:

Dr. George Choy – geophysicist with the US Geological Survey

Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear (Osage)

Andrew Yates (Osage) – field inspector for the Osage Nation Department of Environment and Natural Resources and member Osage Minerals Council

Break Nusic:  Cissy (Fish/Smoke Dance) (song) Sheldon Sundown (artist) Hand Drum/Smoke N’ Round Dance (album)

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A time to feast is frequent in our Native Nations. This month we welcome one of the editors of “The Pueblo Food Experience Cookbook: Whole Food of Our Ancestors,” Roxanne Swentzell from Santa Clara Pueblo. The book unlocks many of the savory tastes of the Southwest. The recipes and narratives promote healthy living with the original floodways of the Pueblo nations including the use of pre-contact ingredients that readers are encouraged to grow themselves. Swentzell says it’s a way for Native people to remember who they are as Pueblo people.

Guests:

Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) – artist & author

Patricia M. Perea (ancestors are Coahuiltecan from Mexico and Santo Domingo Pueblo) – professor Chicana and Chicano Studies, University of New Mexico. Co-editor. 

Porter Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) – IAIA professor, Institute of American Indian Art and Roxanne’s Son 

Break Music:  Insects Are Beautiful (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Su’Vu’Yo’Yungw (album)

 

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The counties with high Native American populations are among the places with the highest rates of hunger in the U.S. The Map the Meal Gap project by the nonprofit Feeding America lists McKinley and Apache Counties on the Navajo Nation among the places that have the highest need. The group estimates the state of California needs nearly $3 billion more dollars to adequately feed all of its residents. We’re taking time during Hunger Action Month to talk about what’s being done to address food insecurity and hunger in our Native communities.

Guests:

A-Dae Romero-Briones (Cochiti and Kiowa) – associate director of research and policy for the First Nations Development Institute

Francene Ambrose (a member for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) – coordinator at the Grand Ronde Food Pantry, also known as iskam mfkHmfk haws (“The house where you get food”)

Brittany Crawford (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) – diabetes coordinator for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Break Music:  Sto:Lo Strong (Beat By Magic Touch, Mixed By EV Of A-Slam.Com) (song) Inez (artist) Inez – Singsoulgirl (album)

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A federal judge’s decision Friday dashed the hopes of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the many people assembled to fight the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Then the Obama Administration unexpectedly halted work in order to address :important issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations.” Administration officials went further to say there needs to be a better process “with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects.” Did the movement to stop the pipeline bring, not just a victory for Standing Rock, but open to the door to long-awaited reforms for Indian Country policy? Or does this new position only last for the final months of the Obama presidency?

Guests:

Rhonda LeValdo (Acoma Pueblo) – journalist and faculty at Haskell Indian Nations University

Jon Eagle Sr. (Hunkpapa Lakota) – tribal historic preservation officer for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Matt Campbell (Native Village of Gambell) –  staff attorney for the Native America Rights Fund

Break Music:  Sila (feat. Tanya Tagaq) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) We Are the Halluci Nation (album)