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Before Western calendars, Indigenous ways of tracking time depended on moon cycles, stars, agriculture and animal migrations. The Ojibwe have different names for moon cycles like “Falling Leaves Moon” or “Snowcrust Moon.” The Navajo calendar names months after significant activities like melting snow and planting early and late season crops. The Aztec calendar consists of both sacred and an agriculture-based elements. As the Gregorian calendar officially turns over the spring, we’ll take a moment to reflect on Indigenous timetables.

Guests:

Mapitzmitl aka Paz (Mexica) – Tlayankahnki of Kalpulli Ehecatl (Aztec dancers)

Jon Ghahate (Pueblo of Laguna And Zuni) – museum cultural educator for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Florian Johnson (Diné) – cultural specialist at Rock Point Community School

Dr. Donald Fixico (Shawnee, Sac and Fox, Mvskoke Creek and Seminole) – regents and distinguished foundation professor of history at Arizona State University

Break 1 Music: Killing Time (song) Dawa (artist) A Joyful Defiant Tone (album)

Break 2 Music: Lolo Said (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

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The Montana Human Rights Network wants a group that attacks tribal sovereignty in the courts classified as a hate group. If so, it would be the first time a group focused solely on Native Americans reached that status. The Southern Poverty Law Center just released a report showing a steady rise in the number of hate groups in the U.S. over the past four years. They define a hate group as any organized group that “has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.” We’ll discuss what constitutes hate and whether advocating for the elimination of the federal reservation system reaches that level.

Guests:

Travis McAdam – research director for the Montana Human Rights Network

Shane Morigeau (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) – Montana state representative for house district 95

Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) – law professor at Michigan State University’s college of law and author of the “Turtle Talk” blog

Break 1 Music: Intertribal Happy Feet (feat. Chippewa Travellers) (song) Cris Derksen (artist) Orchestral Powwow (album)

Break 2 Music: Lolo Said (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

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Graphic design is much more than finding the right colors and fonts for a t-shirt. It’s about communicating a message. It’s storytelling through typography, photography and illustration. Talented Native designers are using their skills and traditional knowledge to get the message across for tribes, businesses and non-profits. We’ll hear about the intricacies of telling Native stories through graphic design.

Guests:

Neebinnaukzhik Southall (member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation) – graphic designer, artist, writer and photographer

Sadie Red Wing (enrolled in the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation) – graphic designer

Ryan Red Corn (Osage) – co-owner of Buffalo Nickel Creative

Break 1 Music: Big Alligator (song) Jim Billie (artist) Native Son (album)

Break 2 Music: Lolo Said (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

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New leadership at the local and federal levels is changing the discussion over the fate of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. At a recent U.S. House committee hearing, tribal leaders heaped criticism on the Trump Administration’s decision to severely reduce the boundaries established by Barack Obama in 2016. Congressional Democrats propose legislation to include even more protected land than the original monument. Much of the monument is within San Juan County, Utah. With a new Navajo majority, the county commission rescinded previous resolutions opposing Bears Ears as a national monument. We’ll get updates on the various discussions on the size of Bears Ears National Monument.

Guests:

Clark Tenakhongva (Hopi) – Vice Chairman of the Hopi Tribe

Suzette Morris (Ute Mountain Ute) – vice president of Stewards of San Juan County

Gavin Noyes – executive director of Utah Diné Bikéyah

Kevin Madalena (Jemez Pueblo) – community outreach coordinator for Utah Diné Bikéyah and a paleontologist and geologist

Break 1 Music: East Winging It (feat. Black Bear) (song) Cris Derksen (artist) Cris Derksen: Orchestral Powwow (album)

Break 2 Music: Lolo Said (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

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The Ojibwe lunar calendar puts the sugar bush moon, or “Iskigamizige-giizas,” in April, but maple sap can start to run as early as February depending on the location. This time of year, Native families and communities in the northern United States and southern Canada are tapping trees or are getting ready to. It takes about 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. We explore the maple syrup-making process and the cultural importance behind it.

Guests:

Gidigaa Bizhiw (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) – director of recruitment at Michigan technological university’s school of forest resources and environmental science

David Manuel (Anishinaabe) – foods planner for the Red Lake local Foods Initiative

Marie Harnois (member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe) – manager for Passamaquoddy Maple Syrup

Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Tha Tribe (artist) Woodland Groove (album)

Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

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The ambitious plan put forward by congressional Democrats to address climate change, create jobs and mitigate economic inequality has a reference to “indigenous communities.” But the 14-page proposed resolution does not specifically mention tribes. That and the lack of acknowledgement for government-to-government relations concerns the Indigenous Environmental Network, which otherwise applauds the goals of the Green New Deal. Other critics call the plan unrealistic. We take a look at the Green New Deal from a Native perspective.

Guests:

Dallas Goldtooth (Diné and Dakota) – Keep it in the Ground campaign organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network

Julia Bernal (Sandia Pueblo, Yuchi and Creek) – co-director of Pueblo Action Alliance

Dr. Ryan Emanual (Lumbee) – associate professor and university faculty scholar in the department of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University

Break 1 Music: Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear) (single)

Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

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Ever since a non-Native anthropologist lifted the sacred Zia symbol for the New Mexico state flag contest in the 1920s, it’s appeared on everything from beer labels to album covers to t-shirts. Rarely does anyone using it think to ask Zia Pueblo first. The tribe unsuccessfully tried to copyright the symbol. In recent years, the state of New Mexico has taken steps to formally recognize the symbol’s origin. We’ll explore its history, meaning and subsequent popularity.

Guests:

Peter Pino (Member of the Pueblo of Zia) – tribal council member of the Pueblo of Zia, former governor and former tribal administrator for the Pueblo of Zia

Rachel Moore (Hopi) – curator of the exhibit at the IPCC

Michael Padilla – New Mexico state senator

Chris Lang – owner of Organ Outfitters

Break 1 Music: The Pueblo (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) The Pueblo (album)

Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

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The headdress is one of the most iconic items associated with Native Americans. They are prominent in countless photos and illustrations of Native people. But not all tribes have headdresses, and these cultural items can vary from tribes to tribe. For many nations, headdresses are earned and they often come with protocols and prayers that need to be followed to show respect. Recently a powwow organizer in Canada bestowed a headdress and a Blackfoot name to a non-Native female politician. The event stirred discussion about who has the right to wear or own a headdress. We’ll hear from different tribal members about what the headdress represents.

Guests:

Danny Seaboy (Dakota) – traditionally raised in culture, language and history of the Dakota tribe and a Dakota language teacher

Edmond Nevaquaya (Comanche Nation) – cultural technician counselor for the Comanche Nation

JJ Neepin (Fox Lake Cree Nation) – writer and director

Break 1 Music: Intertribal Song (song) Dakota Nation (artist) Home Of The Champions (album)

Break 2 Music: Vipismal – The Hummingbird Song (song) Earl Ray (artist) Traditional Songs Of The Salt River Pima (album)

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Autumn Adams spent a good portion of her life in foster care. She says the Indian Child Welfare Act saved her life because she was able to stay in her tribal community. ICWA is called the ‘gold standard’ of child welfare policy. At the same time, the 40-year-old law is under fire through a number of court cases, including a recent federal court ruling out of Texas that deemed the law unconstitutional. We’ll hear from individuals who have been affected by ICWA.

Guests:

Allie Greenleaf Maldonado (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) – Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Autumn Adams (Yakama Nation) – student at Central Washington University and a 2019 Center for Native American Youth Champion for Change

Sarah Kastelic (Allutiq) – executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association

Break Music:  Native Superstars (song) Corey Allison (artist) Eclpitic Sessions (album)