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An encampment of mostly Native homeless people in Minneapolis faces a pending deadline to disperse. A young woman at the camp died from a poorly-treated health problem, raising already high concerns about safety. The top Navajo Nation presidential candidates run into some challenges. Join our discussion about some of the leading Native news stories.

Guests:

Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibway Nation) – CEO of Native American Community Development Institute and vice-chair of Metro Urban Indian Directors

Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota) – chair of the Metro Urban Indian Directors group and executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center

Arlyssa Becenti (Diné) – government reporter for the Navajo Times

Mark Trahant (Shoshone Bannock) – editor of Indian Country Today and host of Wassaja

Break 1 Music: Navajo Waltz (song) Jonah Littlesunday (artist) Gratitiude (album)

Break 2 Music: Tapwe Oma (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)

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Brett Kavanaugh appears to be headed for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. At the same time, Native organizations and advocates are speaking out against President Trump’s nominee. The Alaska Federation of Natives issued a statement urging Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski to vote against his confirmation. The group says his confirmation would be troubling, especially for Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. New Mexico Democratic Senator Tom Udall says Kavanaugh poses a ‘real threat to bedrock federal Indian law and policy principles.’ We’ll get an update on what’s known about Kavanaugh’s record.

Guests:

Senator Tom Udall – U.S. Senator for New Mexico

Heather Kendall-Miller (Denaina Athabaskan and is a tribal member of the Curyung of Dillingham, Alaska) – senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund

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: Mahk Jchi (song) Ulali (artist) Heartbeat: Voices of First Nations Women (album)

Break 2 Music: Tapwe Oma (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)

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The initial shock of the first few days as a high school freshman might be starting to wear off by now. But there are new challenges all through the school year. The transition from middle to high school is a rite of passage. Added homework, grade point averages and fitting in are all factors in the freshman experience. Some Native students have the extra hurdle of going from a tribal school to a large public school. We’ll learn some of the usual challenges to entering high school and how to work through them.

Guests:

LoriLei Chavez (Kewa Pueblo) – Native American liaison at Bernalillo High School and Indigenous studies teacher

Carrie Perez  (Kiowa/Otoe/Cherokee) – 7th grade school counselor at Longfellow Middle School

Lynette St. Clair (Eastern Shoshone) – Indian Education coordinator for Fort Washakie School  

Break 1 Music: Heeia (song) Henry Kapono (artist) The Wild Hawaiian (album)

Break 2 Music: Tapwe Oma (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)

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A suicide by a family member or friend leaves grief, depression, anger and a host of other crippling emotions in its wake. Because Native Americans have the highest rate of suicides compared to other groups, Native people are disproportionately left to cope with the loss. The gravity of the problem is spurring new and innovative ways to turn the numbers around. We’ll hear from those affected by suicide and get guidance on where to turn.

Guests:

Pamela End of Horn (Oglala Lakota) – IHS National Suicide Prevention Consultant

Nataanii Hatathlie (Diné) – We R Native youth ambassador

Angela Blodgett (Yakama nation)- youth ambassador for We R Native

Alyssa Hurt (Chickasaw) – youth ambassador for We R Native

Break Music:  Canoe Song (song) Chenoa (artist) Spirit of Salishan (album)

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Maintaining social contacts helps elders stay healthy. And it’s something elders have difficulty with. Researchers at Brigham Young University found links between social isolation and increased risks of heart disease, infections and cognitive decline. Few studies zero in on Native elders, but the problem is noticeable enough that organizations are offering ways to get elders out of the house and interacting with young people, each other and other members of the public.

Guests:

Dr. Jordan Lewis (Native village of Naknek) – director of the National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders

Dr. Colette Browne – professor and chair of the department of social work at the University of Hawaii, principal investigator of National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders (Ha Kupuna)

Break Music:  Sneak Up (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Confederacy Style (album)

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Some tribal nations are among the poorest places in the country where it’s challenging to build business. For some entrepreneurs, cooking from home or out of a food truck makes up for lack of job opportunities and lack of infrastructure in Native communities. At the same time these determined entrepreneurs provide traditional and contemporary Native foods for everyday dinners, celebrations and special events. And for some, it’s a gateway to a lucrative career.

Guests:

Ashley Sarracino (Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo) – marketing consultant for Grandma Joe’s Bakery

Bleu Adams (Diné and Mandan and Hidatsa) – serial entrepreneur and restaurateur

Sherry Pocknett (Mashpee Wampanoag)- indigenous chef of the East Coast and owner of Sly Fox Den catering

Break Music:  Urban Crow Dance (Of The Bird Kind) (song) Joy Harjo (artist) Red Dreams, A Trail Beyond Tears (album)

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More than 75 years after the Native people of Attu Island were taken captive, their descendants are working on a way to return home. Attu is the westernmost island in the Alaskan Aleutian chain. It was the also the site of the only World War II battle on U.S. soil in 1942. Japanese soldiers took the 44 residents as prisoners. Half of them died. After the ordeal the U.S. Government prevented the remainder from returning home. Now descendants from the island residents are working on ways to regularly return to their homeland.

Guests:

Zoe Sobel – Reporter with KUCB

Helena Schmitz – Attu descendant

Theresa Deal (Aleut) – Descendant

Crystal Dushkin (Unangax) – Mayor of Atka

Break 1 Music: We Danced Movement I (song) Cris Derksen (artist) The Cusp (the album)

Break 2 Music: Rainbow Dance Song (song) Fernando Cellicion, Alton Nastacio, Florentine Johnson (artist) Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions (album)

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The Navajo Nation flipped the switch on a 27.3-megawatt solar power facility last year. It’s now keeping the lights on in 18,000 homes inside the rural reservation. It’s the largest tribally owned and operated solar power project in the country. Tribes like the Navajo and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska hope to lower member utility bills, encourage sustainable energy and provide economic opportunity.

Guests:

Lance Morgan (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) – founder and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Stephen Manydeeds (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) – Chief of the Division of Energy and Mineral Development, Department of Interior

Glenn Steiger – executive consultant for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

Break 1 Music: Let The Sun (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Break 2 Music: Rainbow Dance Song (song) Fernando Cellicion, Alton Nastacio, Florentine Johnson (artist) Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions (album)

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Coloring books have long since graduated from the realm of children’s activity. Some talented Native artists are adding to the increasingly popular genre. They help to promote Native pride with detailed, imaginative graphics of prominent Native people and images. It’s a way to educate and spread understanding while also appealing to the popular, relaxing pastime accessible to almost everyone.

Try your hand at coloring with these pages from our guests:

Uianuraq, The Masked Dancer by Britt’Nee Kivliqtarak Brower
Shoni Schimmel, by Crystle Lightning
Basket design, by Damien Jim
John Trudell, Jim Thorpe and Joey Stylez, by Henry RedCloud Andrade

Guests:

Crystle Lightning (Cree)- actress, author, hip hop artist and DJ

Henry RedCloud Andrade (Huichol) – author, illustrator, hip hop artist and motivational speaker

Brit’Nee Kivliqtarak Brower (Iñupiat) – Inupiaq artist

Damien Jim – (Diné) artist & graphic designer

Break Music:  Tānerore (song) NRG Rising (artist) Say Yes to Life (album)

As Native people we are taught to be grateful for the gifts that come with the seasons. This month we get to jump into a story that not only teaches the importance of the seasons but gives the Cherokee syllabary a spotlight. “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga,” written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lessac, uses colorful imagery to show the world how this nation celebrates life and the value of expressing gratitude— Otsaliheliga in their language. Join us for this Native lesson as we visit with the children’s book author Traci Sorell as our Book of the Month feature.