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Tourism is big money for many tribes and individual entrepreneurs. But it also has the potential to diminish people’s quality of life. Residents in Juneau, Alaska are considering a limit on the dozens of cruise ships that unload thousands of visitors there every summer. Among other things, critics say the steady stream of outsiders detracts from what they enjoy about living there. Some tribes have closed off tourist attractions altogether. We’ll find out about “overtourism” and ways to avoid it.

GUESTS

Sherry Rupert (Paiute and Washoe), CEO of American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA)

Joe Nelson (Tlingit), chair of Sealaska Corporation and co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)

Cory Mann (citizen of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska), business owner in Juneau, Alaska

Ilihia Gionson (Native Hawaiian), public affairs officer for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority

 

Break 1 Music: Traveling Song (song) Judy Trejo (artist) Circle Dance Songs of the Paiute and Shoshone (album)

Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

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In recent weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court has hampered the federal government’s ability to enforce environmental protections and set workplace safety rules, and allows cities to prosecute people without homes for sleeping outside. The rulings are a boon for some tribes and individual Native Americans and a problem for many others. We’ll find out some of the places the court’s apparent new direction helps or hurts the issues that Native Americans deem important.

GUESTS

Derrick Belgarde (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Chippewa Cree), executive director of the Chief Seattle Club

Dr. Victoria Sutton (Lumbee), distinguished professor at Texas Tech University and visiting professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School

Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Pakosiyimitan (album)

Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:54 — 38.4MB) | Embed

More than half of Native American elders from rural areas have some sort of cognitive impairment, a condition that ranges from mild memory loss all the way to dementia. That’s the conclusion of a new, first-of-its-kind research by The Strong Heart Study over seven years. It focused on members of 11 tribes and included cognitive testing, neurological examinations, and brain imaging. The study points to high rates of vascular disease, diabetes, and traumatic brain injury in Native populations as contributors. We’ll hear about the study, advice for preventing and diagnosing cognitive impairments, and programs aimed at helping elders experiencing symptoms.

GUESTS

Dr. Lonnie Nelson (descendant of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), clinical psychologist and researcher

David Baldridge (Cherokee), co-founder and senior advisor of the International Association for Indigenous Aging

Breana Dorame (Gabrielino Tongva), tribal public health and senior associate with the International Association for Indigenous Aging

Break 1 Music: Grandmother’s Song (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)

Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

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For the first time, a bill to create a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian boarding schools has reached the floor of the U.S. Senate. A companion bill is working through the U.S. House. The concept of an official panel to look into the abuses of boarding schools has surfaced previously but failed to take hold. The action comes as the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is launching a database of documents, photographs, and other records to help survivors and others connect understand the full weight of the boarding school era. And an important event to promote healing from Canada’s residential school era is taking place in Ontario. Some voices in Canada are calling for residential school “denialism” be criminalized.

GUESTS

Fallon Carey (Cherokee Nation), interim digital archives manager for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Arlen Washines (Yakama), member of the Washington State Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee

Eleanore Sunchild (Thunderchild First Nation), Cree Indigenous lawyer practicing law in Calgary

Lisa Wesley (Attawapiskat First Nation), mental health and wellness manager for the Mushkegowuk Council and a volunteer with the Weengushk International Film Festival (Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience)

Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)

Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

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George Lepine’s (Plains Cree-Assiniboine) sixth degree black belts in Taekwondo and Hapkido inform his own form of martial arts rooted in traditional Plains Cree fighting styles. Established in 1997, the martial arts system known as Okichitaw includes hand combat training and weaponry like knives, tomahawks, and gunstocks. After decades of teaching, another Native martial arts expert, Chebon Marks (Muscogee), is stepping back from a long martial arts career. Marks, 76, is in the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame; holds two PhDs in Martial Art Science and Philosophy; and is a master in Chinese, Filipino, and multiple Korean fighting styles. He recently held an all-women martial arts seminar. We’ll talk with both Lepine and Marks about dedication, decades of teaching, and infusing Indigenous philosophy and methods into martial arts.

Break 1 Music: Suplex (feat. Northern Voice) (song) The Halluci Nation (artist) Suplex – EP (album)

Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)

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A Minneapolis Lakota man is developing an archive of music by Native American artists one record and cassette tape at a time. Justis Brokenrope (Sicangu Lakota), founder of Wathéča Records, music curator, DJ, and educator, has already amassed a sizable collection of mostly folk, rock, blues, and country music by Native musicians. Now he’s converting a lot of that music to digital formats to give the music and the artists who created it new recognition. Along the way he’s expanding the conversation about the importance of Native languages. In this encore show, we’ll hear from Justis Brokenrope about the passion driving his project.

Break 1 Music: This Boy (song) The Mysterians (artist) Self-titled (album)

Break 2 Music: She’s Got the Rhythm and I Got the Blues (song) Davis Mitchell (artist) Country Road (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:52 — 38.4MB) | Embed

Phoenix, Ariz. is the latest city to face federal allegation of police discrimination against Native Americans and other people of color. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation cites serious statistical disparities when it comes to police interacting with and charging Native people compared to other residents. The report also accuses the department of using unnecessary and excessive force. In this encore show, we’ll hear from Native community members about how the report compares with what they know about law enforcement disparities in and around Phoenix, Minneapolis, Minn., and other cities where the Department of Justice has investigated discrimination complaints.

GUESTS

Christopher Sharp (Mohave from the Colorado River Indian Tribes), clinical assistant professor and the director of the Office of American Indian Projects in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University

Lisa Bellanger (Leech Lake Ojibwe), executive director of the American Indian Movement

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa (Diné), CEO of the Phoenix Indian Center

Break 1 Music: Mean Things Happenin’ in This World (song) Blackfire (artist) Woody Guthrie Singles (album)

Break 2 Music: She’s Got the Rhythm and I Got the Blues (song) Davis Mitchell (artist) Country Road (album)