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An investigation by the Los Angeles Times found the federal government and 18 states awarded at least $300 million in construction contracts to companies that claim to be owned by Native Americans. The contracts are specifically reserved for minority business owners. But the contractors’ heritage claims are unsubstantiated. The contractors say they are members of Cherokee groups like the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory and the Northern Cherokee Nation which are not federally recognized. The investigation into the business owners awarded the contracts found no Cherokee relatives. We’ll talk about the investigation with one of the reporters and explore who qualifies for minority contracts.

Guests:

Adam Elmahrek – investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times

David Cornsilk (Cherokee Nation/United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indian in Oklahoma) – historian and genealogist

Sean McCabe (Diné) – managing shareholder of McCabe CPA

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

Break 2 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)

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“When It’s Cold” by Northern Cree celebrates the culture-rich sound of round dance. These songs may ring through many communities in the winter months, but this style of sound has made its way into the powwow circle year-round. We’ll visit with this Grammy Award-nominated drum group and sample their latest offering.

Break 1 Music: Thank You, Singers (song) Northern Cree (artist) When It’s Cold – Cree Roundance Songs (album)

Break 2 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)

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Officials behind the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope are pushing ahead with construction on Mauna Kea despite continued opposition. Native Hawaiians oppose the $1.4 billion project because they say it further desecrates the sacred mountain. The plan was buffeted by legal and political challenges for the past 16 years. The state Supreme Court ruled in the telescope organizers’ favor last October. Protesters successfully delayed the start of construction of the major telescope in 2015. Opponents promise sizable and long-term acts of civil disobedience again. State officials say they are prepared for protests.

Guests:

Kealoha Pisciotta (Kanaka Maoli) – spokesperson for Mauna Kea Anaina Hou

Lākea Trask (Kanaka Maoli) – representative from Kanaka Rangers

Dan Meisenzahl – director of the office of communications for the University of Hawai’i

Ka’iulani Mahuka (Kanaka Maoli) – show host of Songs of Sovereignty for Kaua’i Community Radio and Hawaiian activist

HolyElk Lafferty (Sičháŋǧu, Oglála and Mnikȟówožu Lakota) – advocate and water protector

Break 1 Music: Mauna Kea (song) Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii (artist) Sons of Hawaii (album)

Break 2 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)

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Gift shops are an important source of revenue for cultural centers, museums and other Native-owned destinations. But expectations from the public put buying pressure on gift shops to offer tacky Native-themed items like plastic tomahawks, foreign-made dream catchers and T-shirts with stereotypical graphics. We take a look at Native stereotypes in tourist hotspots and discuss the best practices for profitable enterprises.

Guests:

Andrew Thomas (Navajo) – product specialist at Shumakolowa Native Arts at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Charlene Teters (Spokane) – academic dean at the Institute of American Indian Arts

Gail Chehak (Klamath) – outreach and membership coordinator for American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association

Break 1 Music: Nose Flute Dub (song) Paula Fuga (artist) Lilikoi (album)

Break 2 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)

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Native entrepreneurs and even some tribes see grocery stores as a double win: they help the local economy and provide healthier food options in places where they aren’t often available. The USDA finds many rural areas of Native America are food deserts—areas without grocery stores or farmers’ markets with fresh produce. We’ll hear from Native grocery store owners about what it takes to make to be profitable on their reservations.

Guests:

Germaine Simonson (Navajo) – owner and operator of Rocky Ridge Gas and Market

Joey VanAlstine (citizen of the Little Travers Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) – chairman of Ziibimijwang Inc.

Richard Driskell – director for retail operations for FireLake Discount Foods and the FireLake Express Grocery stores in Tecumseh and McLoud for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation

Break 1 Music: Indigenous Life (song) Fiji (artist) Indigenous Life (album)

Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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Dancers and emcees on the circuit are putting hundreds of miles on their cars traveling from one summer powwow to the next. There are fancy dancers, traditional dancers, jingle dress dancers, fancy shawl dancers, grass dancers and chicken dancers. Each of the dances has its own meaning, steps and regalia. We’ll spend an hour breaking down the powwow scene and find out how competition mixes with tradition in the dance arena.

Guests:

Richard Archuleta (Taos Pueblo) – co-coordinator for the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow

Vince Beyl (Ojibwe) – powwow announcer

Erik Gahbow (Ojibwe) – professional powwow participant (singer)

Break 1 Music: Apsaalooke Double Beat (Sung for Head Lady Dancer Dora Old Elk) (song) Warscout (artist) Scouts (album)

Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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There’s a push on to rescind the official honors bestowed on members of the 7th Calvary Regiment for their roles in the Wounded Knee Massacre. Ironically, it was a tweet by President Donald Trump that prompted the latest effort to take back the 20 Medals of Honor given after the infamous 1890 attack that killed hundreds of Lakota men, women and children. We’ll hear from Wounded Knee descendants and other stakeholders about how an accurate portrayal of history informs what the federal government considers an ‘honor’.

Guests:

OJ Semans (Rosebud Sioux) – co-founder of Four Directions

Manny Iron Hawk (Howozu Lakota) – chairperson of Heartbeat At Wounded Knee or HAWK

Marcella LeBeau (Cheyenne River Sioux) – WWII veteran and defender of Wounded Knee

Break 1 Music: Song Of Encouragement (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album)

Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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Rural villages in Alaska are in a public safety crisis. One in three communities in Alaska have no local law enforcement, according to an investigation by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica. In some areas, crime victims—often Alaska Natives—must wait hours or even days for officers to respond. In some cases, residents are forced to apprehend people who pose a threat to the public. U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared an emergency, making $10 million of federal money available to boost rural law enforcement. The same day, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed $3 million in spending for Village Public Safety Officer positions. In this hour we’ll look into law enforcement in Alaska and what solutions might help.

Guests:

AlexAnna Salmon (Igiugig Village) – president of the Igiugig Village Council

Julie Kitka (Chugach Eskimo) – president of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)

Richard Peterson (Tlingit) – president of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska

Darlene Trigg (Inupiaq) – local community advocate

Break 1 Music: Sunshine (song) Audiopharmacy (artist) U Forgot About Us (album)

Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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All Indian Health Service facilities are drafting action plans for patients to seek medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. That’s significant because it could mean more IHS patients would have access to methadone, Subutex and other drugs that are showing some promise in combination with behavioral therapy. IHS Principal Deputy Director Michael D. Weahkee set a December deadline for the plans. We’ll talk with doctors as well as people in addiction recovery about treating opioid addiction with medication.

Guests:

Dr. Snehal Bhatt – chief of addiction psychiatry at the University of New Mexico

Kailee Fretland (White Earth Nation) – acting director of pharmacy at the Red Lake Indian Health Service

Madison Giroux (Rosebud Sioux) – guest coordinator at the Madison House (sober living facility)

Dr. David Sprenger – program director of TeleWell Indian Health Medication Assisted Treatment Project

Break 1 Music: In Beauty (The Remix) (song) Primeaux & Mike (artist) Road to Peace (album)

Break 2 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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From a sense of urgency to a desire to connect with your culture, there are many reasons to start learning your tribal language. In this hour, we’ll talk with a few different individuals who are learning or teaching their Native languages. In this encore show (no live callers) we’ll hear why they chose to make the effort and the challenges they face along the way.

Guests:

James Vukelich (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) – creator of the online series Ojibwe Word of the Day

Santana Fuentes (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate/ Mni Wakan Oyate) – Dakota language learner

Jacey Firth-Hagen (Gwich’in) – started the social media campaign Speak Gwich’in To Me

Fawn Wood (Cree/Salish) – award winning recording artist

Break 1 Music: The Four Essential Elements (Diigo Bee’iináanii) (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K’é Hasin (album)

Break 2 Music: Electric Pow Wow Drum (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) A Tribe Called Red (album)