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For the first time, the federal government acknowledges the devastation to Native America tribes caused by a century of dam building on rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The report by the U.S. Department of Interior notes the benefits for the region’s burgeoning population in need of cheap power, irrigation, and steady jobs. But that same push dismissed the needs of the tribes that already occupied the land, resulting in flooding homes and sacred sites, and the decimation of salmon runs, their chief reliable food source.

GUESTS

Erik Holt (Nez Perce), chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe Fish and Wildlife Commission

Corinne Sams (Cayuse, Walla Walla, Cocopah), chair of the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission and member of the board of trustees and chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Keola Awong (Kanaka Maoli), program manager interpretation and education

James Pepper Henry (Kaw and Muscogee), vice chairman of the Kaw Nation and director emeritus at the First Americans Museum

Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Thunder Hill (artist) Relentless (album)

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

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Hubert Logan, Mega Bear, Wampum Baggs, and Tad Nugget are all back for Volume 3 of the Super Indian saga. Creator Arigon Starr (Kickapoo and Muscogee Creek) continues the tale of the Native boy who developed super powers after eating commodity cheese tainted with “Rezium”. We’ll talk with Starr about the new comics and what else she’s been up to since the last edition of Super Indian.

Break 1 Music: Navajo Radio (song) Arigon Starr (artist) Meet the Diva (album)

Break 2 Music: Working for the Man (song) Bluedog (artist) Red, White & Blue (album)

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The state of California has agreed to return 2,800 acres of land to the Shasta Indian Nation. It’s not just any 2,800 acres. It was home to the Shasta people, but was flooded by a series of dams in a giant hydroelectric project more than a century ago. And Congress just approved a similar transfer of 1,600 acres of land along the Missouri River for the Winnebago Tribe that the federal government acquired through eminent domain in 1970. We’ll hear about the latest transactions and other noteworthy progress in tribal land returns.

GUESTS

Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska)

Christina Snider-Ashtari (Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians), tribal affairs secretary to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and head of the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs

Cris Stainbrook (Lakota), president of the Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Break 1 Music: “Sovereign Land” – Summit Dub Squad (song) The Native Movement Native Music Compilation (artist) Written in Blood (album)

Break 2 Music: Working for the Man (song) Bluedog (artist) Red, White & Blue (album)

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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. We’ll hear from Native community members about how the report compares with what they know about law enforcement disparities in and around Phoenix. We’ll also talk with Native advocates in other places 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: Working for the Man (song) Bluedog (artist) Red, White & Blue (album)

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Skateboarding has gone from a rebellious alternative culture to an Olympic sport. It’s also becoming increasingly popular among Native athletes and recreational boarders and organizers are stepping up their support with places to skate. Skateboarding has roots in Native Hawaiian surf culture, and Navajo, Hopi, and Oglala Lakota nations are among those that see the benefits of dedicated skate parks. Advocates point to the increasing knowledge about the benefits of skateboarding, especially for young people of color. It’s National Go Skate Day and we’ll hear from skaters and skating advocates about what the sport does for people and communities.

GUESTS

Amy Denet Deal (Diné), founder of 4 Kinship

Kyle Mesteth (Oglala Lakota), CEO and founder of Ground Control

Cecely Todacheenie (Navajo and Southern Ute), pro skateboarder and owner of Enchantment Skate Shop

Break 1 Music: Head High (song) Wavelengths (artist)

Break 2 Music: Over and Over (song) Celeigh Cardinal (artist)

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The superintendent of schools for Rapid City, S.D. just issued an apology after a federal investigation found “persistent and statistically significant disparities” when it comes to Native American students. The report specifically cited the superintendent saying tribes don’t value education and complaining about Native students running on “Indian time”.  The report comes after a series of incidents drawing the ire of tribes, including a requirement by the Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) Administration that state employees remove their tribal affiliations from email signatures. Is South Dakota peculiar or are they driving a trend?

GUESTS

Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle (Ihanktonwan Dakota), former co-chair of Rapid City Area Schools Indigenous Task Force

Sunny Red Bear (Miniconjou, Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota), associate director of organizing for NDN Collective

Sarah White (Oglala Lakota), founder and executive director of South Dakota Education Equity Coalition (SDEEC) and former Title VI Indian Education Manager for Rapid Area Schools

Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education

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

Break 2 Music: Over and Over (song) Celeigh Cardinal (artist)

Rapid City Area Schools Superintendent Nicole Swigart could not appear live on the show, but she sent this written statement about the U.S. Department of Education report:

As a member of the Rapid City community for more than 50 years and as someone who has devoted more than 33 years of my life to serving the Rapid City School District, I have always been committed to treating everyone with the highest level of respect. I adamantly disagree with those comments attributed to me in the Office of Civil Rights report. The transcript of my interview is both misleading and inaccurate as to comments I allegedly made regarding my views of the Native community. I do not hold those beliefs to be true and I have never uttered such hurtful words. Our Native American Tribes solidly value education and graduation. Additionally, the tribes partner well with our district for which I am so grateful, proud, and celebrate.

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As digital technology increasingly becomes the main infrastructure for information and commerce, tribes will need to create an informed strategy to make sure their voices are included. That is one of the driving factors behind the new Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty that just launched by Arizona State University and the National Congress of American Indians. The project will research and help tribes navigate important trends and issues including broadband connectivity, AI, and data privacy protection.

GUESTS

Dr. Traci Morris (Chickasaw), executive director and research professor at the American Indian Policy Institute at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University

Geoffrey Blackwell (Chickasaw, Choctaw, Omaha, and Muscogee Creek), general counsel and chief of staff for the National Congress of American Indians

Matthew Rantanen (Cree), director of technology for Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, board member of the American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University, and co-chair of Tech and Telecom at the National Congress of American Indians

Break 1 Music: Beautiful Flower (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Kihtawasoh Wapakwani (album)

Break 2 Music: Over and Over (song) Celeigh Cardinal (artist)