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With the support of area tribes, President Joe Biden just designated the Chuckwalla National Monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act. That same law created the path for President Barack Obama to designate the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. Both actions stirred opposition from ranchers, oil drillers, and other profit-driven entities who see a better use for that land. Now, that opposition is surfacing in Congress, as a bill to strip the president’s use of Antiquities. We’ll talk about what the Antiquities Act does, and how it protects — and hinders — Native American interests.

GUESTS

Shannon O’Loughlin (citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), chief executive and attorney for the Association on American Indian Affairs

Arnold Thomas, tribal vice-chairman for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation

Matthew Campbell (enrolled member of the Native Village of Gambell on the Saint Lawrence Island in Alaska), deputy director of the Native American Rights Fund

 

Break 1 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

Break 2 Music: Come On Down (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)

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Leonard Peltier will spend the remainder of his prison sentence at home after the 11th-hour action by President Joe Biden. Friends, family and supporters expressed surprise and relief as they heard the news Monday. National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro said Biden’s decision comes after “50 years of unjust imprisonment,” and is a powerful act of compassion and an important step toward healing.” In December, Macarro personally asked Biden to take action on Peltier’s behalf. Among the many advocates for Peltier’s release over the past five decades include South African President Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights. We’ll hear from Peltier’s family and others who have followed his case about what this action means for him and how it will be viewed historically.

 

Break 1 Music: Ojibwe Honor Song (song) Darren Thompson (artist)

Break 2 Music: Come On Down (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)

Leonard Peltier, an enrolled Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe citizen, will go home after nearly 50 years in prison. In the final minutes of his term in office, President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence. Peltier was convicted in 1975 for the deaths of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975.

“I have to give kudos to (the Biden Administration) for finally doing the right thing and setting Leonard free,” said Paulette Dauteuil. “It’s going to be a wonderful, wonderful homecoming for Leonard.”

Dauteuil was married to Peltier’s cousin, the late Bob Robideau, who was acquitted for the same shooting for which Peltier was convicted.

One of Peltier’s attorneys, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, told Native America Calling that she was stunned by the news.

“I did not expect to experience euphoria today,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Peltier’s lead attorney Jenipher Jones in an interview with Native America Calling. “I was happy for Leonard. I give thanks to the Creator. Today, a measure of justice has been served to Leonard after almost 50 years.”

Outgoing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo citizen, posted on X that commuting Peltier’s sentence ″signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades. I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family”.

I am beyond words about the commutation of Leonard Peltier. His release from prison signifies a measure of justice that has long evaded so many Native Americans for so many decades. I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family. I applaud President Biden for this…

— Deb Haaland (@DebHaalandNM) January 20, 2025

Listen to Native America Calling’s interview with attorneys Jenipher Jones and Moira Meltzer-Cohen as well as Peltier’s cousin, Paulette Dauteuil:

 

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Seven children died in the first year of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s operation. Another 220 died over the school’s next 38 years. They are among the more than 3,100 students a year-long Washington Post investigation finds died while separated from their families in Indian Boarding Schools. Their tally is three times that of the recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Interior. Many of the deaths are attributed to illness, accidents, or neglect. Others have no official explanation or remain suspicious. We’ll discuss the Post’s investigation and why having an accurate accounting is important. Plus, Jeni

GUESTS

Jim LaBelle (Iñupiaq), board member for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Benjamin Jacuk (Dena’ina Athabascan and Sugpiaq), researcher at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Dana Hedgpeth (Haliwa-Saponi), reporter at the Washington Post

 

Break 1 Music: Reservation of Education (song) XIT (artist) Silent Warrior (album)

Break 2 Music: Come On Down (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:05 — 38.5MB) | Embed

President-elect Donald Trump has promised at least 100 executive orders as soon as he takes office. Many of those are, in his words, aimed at undoing “much of what Biden did”. Tribes and Native organizations are preparing to fight, and in some cases benefit from, what they expect based on Trump’s comments and his record during his first term. We’ll look at what those expectations are – from fewer protections for important land to greater access to extraction resources.

GUESTS

Donald Medart Jr., a tribal council member for the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe

Myron Lizer (Diné), former Navajo Nation Vice President and professional development consultant for Prestige with Partners LLC

Curtis Yanito (Diné), Navajo Nation council delegate and a co-chair of the Bears Ears Commission

 

Break 1 Music: Someone Drew a Line (song) Vincent Craig (artist) Vol. 1 (album)

Break 1 Music: Strongheart (song) Sissy Goodhouse (artist) The Third Circle (album)

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Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The traditional homelands of the Tongva and Chumash people, among others, is now home to the largest urban Native American population in the U.S. United American Indian Involvement, Inc. and Pukúu Cultural Community Services (Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians) are providing support for displaced locals. Tribes across the country are sending firefighting crews, supplies and cash. Amid the chaos, incoming President Donald Trump falsely blamed water management policies in Northern California for inoperable fire hydrants in Los Angeles. Conservative commentators extended that complaint to include the decision to remove Klamath River dams in favor of salmon restoration. We’ll talk with those affected by the fires and learn more about the political rhetoric arising from it.

GUESTS

Courage Escamilla (Tarahumara and Lakota), activist

Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), founder of Grim Native

Bodie Shaw (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), deputy regional director for the Northwest Region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Don Gentry (Klamath Tribes), natural resources specialist and former chairman of the Klamath Tribes

Pamela Villaseñor (member of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians), executive director of Pukúu Cultural Community Services

 

Break 1 Music: Strongheart (song) Sissy Goodhouse (artist) The Third Circle (album)

Break 2 Music: Intertribal Song (song) Dakota Nation (artist) Home of The Champions (album)

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The Orthodox New Year in Alaska is a mix of seal meat, tea cakes, and Alaska Native and Slavonic languages. It’s a cultural blend more than 150 years after Russia formally withdrew from what would become America’s 49th state. In that time, the Orthodox Christian customs continued to flourish and merged with Native traditions. In many ways, they are more established than in their home country, which saw religious persecution during the time of the Soviet Union. We’ll hear from Alaska Native adherents of Russian Orthodox Christianity about how they’re welcoming the New Year on January 14.

GUESTS

Benjamin Jacuk (Dena’ina Athabascan and Sugpiaq), director of Indigenous research at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Jill Fratis (Unangan), news producer and reporter for KNBA and Koahnic Broadcast Corporation

Sperry Ash (Sugpiaq), educator and Russian Orthodox deacon

 

Break 1 Music: Ataniq Qujaqiliqpagit [Thank You Lord] (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album)

Break 2 Music: Intertribal Song (song) Dakota Nation (artist) Home of The Champions (album)