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Alaska has been spared the high coronavirus infections rates of most other states, but cases are on the rise. It’s a worry, particularly for rural villages that have few medical resources to adequately tackle a major outbreak. At the same time, measures to prevent the spread of the virus have some more remote hospitals on the verge of closing down.

Guests:

Miranda Petruska (Athabascan) – community health aide specialist for the Southcentral Foundation

Michael Wongittilin (Siberian Yupik) – chief of police of Savoonga

Reginald Atkinson (Tsimshian) – Mayor of Metlakatla Indian Community

 

Break 1 music: Cauyaqa Nauwa (Where’s My Drum) (song) Pamyua (artist) Drums Of The North: Traditional Yup’ik Songs (album)

Break 2 music: Umumutayayata (Rolling Thunder) (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Öngtupqa (album)

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It’s been months since we all had to give up regular interactions with friends and family at restaurants, parties and community events. Even as government and health officials are lifting stay-at-home restrictions, lingering fears of spreading the coronavirus keeps many of us isolated. Social distancing can take toll on our mental health. We’ll talk with mental health experts about dealing specifically with loneliness.

Guests:

Dr. Billie Jo Kipp (Blackfeet) – associate director of research and evaluation at the Aspen Institute

Loren Anthony (Diné) – community warrior

Roger Kuhn (Poarch Band of Creek Indians) – licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in San Francisco, college professor in the American Indian studies at San Francisco State University

 

Break 1 music: Unconquered (song) Injunuity (artist) Unconquered (album)

Break 2 music: Umumutayayata (Rolling Thunder) (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Öngtupqa (album)

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A surge of new COVID-19 cases in several states is prompting fears by medical experts a second wave of the virus has already begun. Montana tribes are remaining cautious despite the rest of the state’s easing of coronavirus restrictions. Navajo officials warn of enacting stricter controls if COVID-19 cases start increasing. The White Mountain Apache Tribe instituted new measures as they surpassed the Navajo Nation for having the most per capita coronavirus cases. We’ll check in with tribes about what they’re facing and what solutions they see on the horizon.

Guests:

Dean Seneca (Seneca) – CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions+

Gwendena Lee-Gatewood (White Mountain Apache) – Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Robert McDonald  (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) – communications director for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and public information officer for the Unified Command Center between Lake County and the tribe

Sam Strong (Red Lake Nation) – tribal secretary for the Red Lake Nation

 

 

Break 1 music: Itchick (Tim Yellowtail’s Song) (song) Supaman (artist) Illuminatives (album)

Break 2 music: Umumutayayata (Rolling Thunder) (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Öngtupqa (album)

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There are a lot of questions about the coming school year as colleges grapple with the continuing coronavirus threat. A survey of the American Council on Education Presidents finds 53% of institutions are “very likely” to have in-person classes in the fall. It’s not clear what some other institutions are planning. The entire California State University system is among those going completely online for at least the first semester of the school year. We’ll talk about the concerns Native students have navigating an uncertain higher education landscape during the pandemic.

Guests:

Dr. Charles “Monty” Roessel (Navajo) – president of Diné College 

Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation) – president of the Institute of American Indian Arts

Dr. Scott Andrews (Cherokee Nation) – director of the American Indian Studies Program at California State University, Northridge

Shonday Randall (Muscogee Creek) – Native Pathways Program Officer for the American Indian College Fund

 

Break 1 music: last night in chaco (song) Randy Boogie (artist) THE BLESSINGWAY BOOGIE (Deluxe Edition) (album)

Break 2 music: Bethel Sessions Begin (song) RiverFlowz (artist) RiverFlowz Rural Recordings Malruk (album)

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As public spaces begin re-opening, doctors, nurses, and emergency medical technicians remain on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. They are working long hours testing and treating people, increasing their chances of infection. In some cases they are working without adequate equipment and rapidly changing information. We’ll talk with Native professionals on the front lines of the pandemic about how they’re coping. We’ll also hear about how the response has evolved, what health policy makers are getting right, and where things need to improve.

Guests:

Darlene Sarracino (Laguna Pueblo) – registered nurse

Dr. Michelle Tom (Navajo) – family medicine doctor

Cory Littlepage (Chickasaw) – CEO of Tribal Diagnostics, LLC

 

Break 1 music: Generations (song) P. Town Boyz (artist) P. Town Boyz (album)

Break 2 music: Bethel Sessions Begin (song) RiverFlowz (artist) RiverFlowz Rural Recordings Malruk (album)

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Meat processors are having a hard time getting back to pre-coronavirus production levels because of the potential for large infection outbreaks among their employees. That’s a kink in the system that has implications for Native ranchers, packing plants, and ultimately consumers. The same threat is present for all food industries that rely on humans to keep the system moving, like commercial fishing, poultry farmers, and some grain and vegetable suppliers.

Guests:

Chris Roper – director of agriculture for the Quapaw Nation

Carly Hofveat (Cherokee citizen) – director of tribal enterprise of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas

Zach Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux) – executive director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council

 

Break 1 music: Treaty Six and Coastal Hand Game Song (song) Fawn Wood & Dallas Waskahat (artist) Blessings (album)

Break 2 music: Bethel Sessions Begin (song) RiverFlowz (artist) RiverFlowz Rural Recordings Malruk (album)

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Millions of truck drivers crisscross the country every day delivering tons of products to stores, businesses and factories. They make up a vital connection between producers and customers. Drivers can spend days and weeks on the road. With the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers are reporting more difficult times on the highway with gas station and restaurant closures. We’ll check in with Native truckers and get to know the ins and outs of a career behind the steering wheel.

Guests:

Ornell Wilson (Navajo) – bulk driver for Dr. Pepper

Sonny Duncan (San Carlos Apache) – over the road driver

Tammy Wascomb (Delaware and Cherokee) – co-pilot and blogger

 

Break 1 music: Makȟóčhe Kiŋ Theȟíla II (song) Alex Firethunder (artist) Love for the Land (album)

Break 2 music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk Jacobsen) (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)