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The shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school sparked a new level of discussion about school safety and gun policy. It culminated most recently with a nationwide walkout by thousands of students protesting the inability to effectively address gun violence. The discussion rarely gets much past arming teachers on one side and banning certain guns on the other. Native school administrators and teachers are continually looking for ways to protect their students. We’ll talk about some of the realities and concerns about safety for Native students.

Guests:

Darrell DeCoteau (Sisseton Wahpeton) – middle and high school Dakota studies teacher at Tiospa Zina Tribal School

Thomas Barrett (Red Lake Band of Ojibwe) – hip-hop artist

LoriLei Chavez (Kiwa Pueblo) – Native American liaison at Bernalillo High School and Native American Studies student at the University of New Mexico

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

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The Transportation Security Administration is requiring cultural sensitivity training for agents at selected airports. That comes after the TSA settled a lawsuit with the Native American Church over agents mishandling sacred items. The lawsuit articulates the persistent problem of non-Native people undermining Native culture and belief by reaching out to touch Native regalia, eagle feathers, hair or sacred items without permission. In this case the traveler asked the agent to avoid desecrating the items. We’ll hear from people about how they protect sacred and sensitive items.

Guests:

Sandor Iron Rope (Lakota from the Pine Ridge agency) – chairperson for the NAC of South Dakota and former chairperson for the NAC of North American

Forrest Tahdooahnippah (Comanche Nation of Oklahoma) – lawyer with Dorsey & Whitney LLC, lead council for the TSA case

Lawrence Baker (Mandan, Hidatsa, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians) – emcee for the Denver March Powwow

Robert “Tree” Cody (Maricopa and Dakota) – award-winning Native American flutist, actor and powwow dancer

Break Music: Encouragement Song (song) Joseph Shields, Jr. (artist)Wahancanka [Remember Me Grandfather] (album)

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A group of Indigenous 20-somethings gathered last summer to answer two questions: What does healing mean to your generation? How does your generation heal? Organizers scheduled a two hours conversation. It ended spanning seven hours and left the participants with a mission to create change. They issued themselves a momentous challenge to end intergenerational trauma with their generation. We talk with members of the Indigenous 20-Something Project about how they plan to achieve this task.

Guests:

Jordan Cocker (Kiowa/ Tongan) – project coordinator for the Indigenous 20-Something Project

Tecpatl Kuauhtzin (Nahua /Cherokee/Cucapá) – sophomore at UCLA and member of Indigenous 20-Something Project

Shalene Joseph (A’aniih) – graduate student at UCLA and a member of the Indigenous 20-Something Project

Siera Begaye (Navajo) – member and content creator for the Indigenous 20-Something Project

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

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KSUT is one of the pioneers of Native radio. The Southern Ute Tribe’s station started in 1976 in Ignacio, Colo. Most of the programming back then was in the Ute language. It has grown over the years and is now a go-to place for Native programming, music and cultural affairs. A new documentary, “Tribal Radio,” is also helping to tell their story. We throw the spotlight on this tribal radio station to hear how they’re making a difference.

Guests:

Sheila Nanaeto – KSUT TRIBAL RADIO STATION MANAGER

Tami Graham – KSUT Executive Director

Sean Owen – Filmmaker

Mike Santistevan – TRIBAL RADIO PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Robert L. Ortiz, the man, the myth, the legend (Taos Pueblo tribal member and a descendent of the Southern, Northern and Ute Mountain Utes tribes)  – Host “REZ-olution Radio Hour”

Break Music: Sing With Me (song) Northern Cree Singers (artist) Dancerz Groove (album)

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Basketball madness is upon us and many high school teams from Native communities are vying for state championships. High school basketball is one of the main events for Native athletes and fans. The competition brings out some serious talent from players and an entertaining Friday night for enthusiastic crowds. We’ll talk with some coaches about their seasons and how basketball plays a vital role in their communities.

Guests:

Tanisha Bitsoi (Navajo) – head coach for the Tohatchi, New Mexico Lady Cougars

Vanen Pitts (Salish Kootenai Tribe) – head Arlee, Montana Warriors boys basketball coach

Oitancan Zephier (Yankton Sioux) – assistant boys high school basketball coach at Little Wound School on the Pine Ridge Reservation

Larry Callison (Cherokee) – head girls basketball coach for the Sequoyah, Oklahoma Lady Indians

Charles Pulliam – sports broadcaster in Alaska

Break Music: Hornet Pride (World) (song) Tinesha Begaye (artist) Rhythm of Love (album)

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Compared to the United States, Canada incarcerates a small number of people. But who Canada locks up is alarming. A report in the Canadian news magazine MacLean’s found that while incarceration rates are falling overall, they are surging for Indigenous people. The increase is more than double for Indigenous women over the last decade. The article finds Indigenous people are ten times more likely to be locked up than non-Indigenous people. Critics point to racism and a criminal justice system that still doesn’t recognize Indigenous experiences and culture.

Guests:

Dr. Niigaan Sinclair (Anishinaabe) – assistant professor and Native studies department head at the University of Manitoba

Caitlyn Kasper (Anishinabek) – lawyer with Aboriginal Legal Services

Break Music: Straight (song) The Boyz (artist) For A Lifetime (album)

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Three women are on the record with allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct against writer Sherman Alexie (Coeur d’Alene). More allegations could surface. Alexie issued a preemptive response to the allegations with a statement admitting “there are women telling the truth about my behavior” but also stating he has “no recollection of…threatening anybody or their careers.” It’s bringing up larger questions about sexual assault or harassment in Native America. What do the allegations against Alexie mean for his legacy? How do fans reconcile his alleged conduct with his body of work?

Guests:

Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) – independent photo journalist and writer

Deleana Otherbull (Crow and Northern Cheyenne) – executive director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

Break Music: The Eagle (song) Black Eagle (artist) Flying Free (album)

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Four Native women are throwing their hats into the ring for the chance to become the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Congress. In addition there are two Native women running for governor and one for lieutenant governor. What’s behind the surge in Native female candidates? We’ll get insights from some of them about what prompted their run for office and what issues they think are important.

Guests:

Andria Tupola (Samoan/Kanaka Maoli) – representative and the minority leader for the Hawaii State House of Representatives and a candidate for the governor of Hawaii

Debra Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) – candidate for the first US congressional district of New Mexico

Sharice Davids (Ho-chunk) – candidate for Kansas’ third congressional district

Amanda Douglas (Cherokee Nation) – candidate for the first congressional district of Oklahoma

Eve Reyes-Aguirre (Izkaloteka Aztec) – candidate for Arizona United States Senator

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

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Two-time Grammy award winner, Robert Mirabal (Taos Pueblo) and renowned ballet dancer and instructor Jock Soto (Navajo) are teaming up for an live production honoring Native culture and history in New Mexico. The stage production is a combination of dance, music and spoken word. They’ll join us in Studio 49 to talk about their collaboration and their decades of influential work.

Break Music: Wi-wa (song) Robert Mirabal + ETHEL (artist) The River (album)

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Advance directives or living wills deal with the painful discussions about the end of life and resorting to artificial life support. But one health organization in Alaska is taking a different approach to the subject. They are starting with a simple question ‘how do you want to live’? In classes and conversations, health professionals are guiding people through the process of creating a legal document that let’s loved ones know their wishes in case of accident or major health issue. They tackle difficult decisions like whether you want to machines to help you breathe and who you entrust to carry out your wishes. We’ll speak with experts about the importance of having these vital conversations ahead of time.

Mentioned on the show: Your Care, Your Choices

Guests:

Rona Johnson (Kenaitze Indian tribe/Aleut) – adult gerontology nurse practitioner

Dr. Christopher Piromalli – palliative care physician and palliative care medical director Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Stacy Kelley – palliative care program manager Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Break Music: The Center of the Universe (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Su’Vu’Yo’Yungw (album)