Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Students at Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, a Yup’ik immersion language school, are sharing a Yup’ik word of the week through animated YouTube videos. It’s one of the ways the school hopes to generate interest in their language as they face the loss of more and more first language speakers. Can social media expand the use of Native languages?

Guests:

John Active (Yup’ik) – radio host at KYUK in Yup’ik and English

Katie Basile – multimedia director and producer at KYUK

Tammy DeCoteau (Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe) – director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Dakotah Language Institute

Amber Hayward (Puyallup/ Confederated Salish and Kootenai) – language program director for Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Break Music: Ayikis – The Frog Song (song) Asani (artist) Listen (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The family of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner (Blackfeet) are desperate for information about the 21-year-old. She was last seen in June in Browning Montana. Also, family members of Olivia Lone Bear are offering a reward for information after the 33-year-old mother of five went missing from the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation in October. The two recent cases are a reminder of what advocates say is a serious issue. Canada has made strides in confronting the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women. But there remain gaps in information and solutions about Native American women.

If you have any information on the disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner please call:

Blackfeet  Tribal police: 406-338-4000, Homeland Security: 406-450-1922, or Glacier Co. Sheriff’s office: 406-873-2711

If you have any information about the disappearance of Olivia Lone Bear please call MHA police at 701-627-6141 or leave an anonymous tip on 701-595-3114

Guests:

Caroline LaPorte (immediate descendant of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians) –  senior Native affairs policy advisor for the Strong Hearts Native Help Line and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center

Annita Lucchesi (Southern Cheyenne descendant) PhD student at University of Lethbridge 

Break Music: Iskwesis (song) Randall Paskemin (artist) Goodnight, Sweet Dreams, I Love You

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds about half of all new businesses fail within the first five years. But failure isn’t always the end of the line. In business, those who learn from failure can come back with new successes. In this program, we’ll talk with Native entrepreneurs about when it’s time to fold and what lessons they learned from business failures.

Guests:

Derrick Watchman (Navajo Nation) – board chairman of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

Kristina Stanley (Lake Superior Chippewa) – entrepreneur, chef and activist

Lucinda Hughes-Juan (Tohono O’Odham and Choctaw) – business owner, business consultant and business writer

Sonja Tanner (enrolled in the white earth band of Ojibwe) – president and owner of OPOS Tours and Travel

Break Music: Prayer Loop (song) Supaman (artist)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Lupus is sometimes called “the great pretender” because the symptoms for the autoimmune disease can look like other illnesses. Rash, fatigue, fever and joint pain are just a few of the outward signs of lupus. One study in 2014 found that American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence and incidence of lupus compared to other groups. We’ll talk with an expert and someone living with lupus about the challenges of this sometimes baffling and painful disease.

Guests:

Dr. Noel Rolle – rheumatology fellow University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Lauren Metelski – National nurse health educator for the Lupus Foundation of America and Registered Nurse

Susan Ahdokobo (Otoe Missouria and Choctaw) – has lupus

Break Music: Enaemaekisaeh (song) Wayne Silas Jr (artist) Infinite Passion (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The appointment of Kaya Jones as the Native American representative on a diversity panel ignited a firestorm of pushback, especially on social media. In her role she will ostensibly offer advice on reaching Native voters for the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, a private organization working on behalf of the president. Jones claims to have Apache heritage, but no Apache tribe claims her and her lineage is otherwise unconfirmed. We’ll sort out the facts and try to figure out how one journalist ended up in a heated Twitter argument with Cher.

Guests:

Tiffany Midge (Hunkpapa Lakota) – columnist

Jacqueline Keeler (Dakota and Diné) – writer and author of “The Edge of Morning: Native Voices Speak for the Bears Ears” and co-founder of Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

A Facebook video of a First Nations boy responding to school bullies who teased him because of his long hair has been viewed more than a million times. Still, eight-year-old Mylon McArthur insisted his mother cut his braids because he wanted to stop the teasing. Boys With Braids organizers encourage men and boys to wear their long hair with pride and aim to educate others about the importance and meaning of Native hair. What does your long hair mean to you?

Guests:

Tiya-Marie Large (Nakota and Dakota from Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation) – mother of Mylon McArthur

Michael Linklater (Cree from the Thunder Child First Nation) – ranked no 1 in all of the America for 3×3 basketball (world tour), motivational speaker, founder of the Boys with Braids movement

Dyami Thomas (enrolled Klamath and Leech Lake Ojibwe) – model, actor and motivational speaker

Break Music: Treaty Six and Coastal Hand Game Song (song) Fawn Wood & Dallas Waskahat (artist) Blessings (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Chief Irving Powless Jr., Daha’tgatdohs, Beaver Clan Chief of the Onondaga Nation walked on in November. The Navy veteran, was known for fighting for the treaty rights of his tribe. He was also a accomplished lacrosse player. He’s one of the notable people we’ll talk about in our annual show to honor those who walked on in 2017.

Guests:

Doug Kanentiio George (Mohawk Nation) – vice president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge

Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne Arapaho) – chairman of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and brother of Charles Pratt

Pamela Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh) – director of American Indian Student Services at the University of New Mexico

Break Music: Generations (song) P. Town Boyz (artist) P. Town Boyz (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

It’s never too early to think about applying for scholarships to help pay for college. There are a number of scholarships available specifically for Native students. The Cobell Scholarship, the American Indian College Fund, the American Indian Graduate Center and The American Indian Science and Engineering Society are just a few organizations that help Native students with college tuition costs. We’ve got a few experts who can offer advice for navigating the scholarship field.

Guests:

Tiffany Gusbeth (Northern Cheyenne) – assistant director of Student Success Services at the American Indian College Fund

Melvin Monette-Barajas (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) – president and executive director of Indigenous Education Incorporated

Josh Lucio (Zuni Pueblo) – program associate for scholarships and programs for the American Indian Graduate Center

Break Music: Woman’s Song (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Colors in the Cree language, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and stealing Native bone marrow are a few of the topics covered in books on one list of the best Native books of 2017. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) spends her time reading and scrutinizing children’s literature that features Native themes and characters for the blog American Indians in Children’s Literature. Reese helps sort out the exceptional books from those that sink into stereotypes or misinformation. We’ll get her take on the best books by Native authors.

Guests:

Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) – founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature blog

Marcie Rendon (White Earth Nation) – author of Murder on the Red River

Julie Flett (Cree-Métis) – author of Black Bear, Red Fox: Colours in Cree

Break Music: Drum I Carry (song) Pamyua (artist) Side A Side B (Side A)(album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Whether you bowled a few games as a kid, or you’re still striving for that perfect 300 game, you know the fun bowling alleys offer in the New Year. The sound of bowling pins crashing at the end of the lane is music to a bowling enthusiast’s ears. The sport has a significant Native following. There is a lot of talent heading to Native bowling tournaments year-round. We talk to a few Native bowlers about the sport and why Native leagues are so popular.

This is an encore presentation, so our phone lines are not open during the show.

Guests:

Don Carle (Tlinket, Tsimtian and Mandan) – Native bowler, director for SISKIYOU Indian Bowling tournament, Reno Indian Bowling tournaments and new Columbia 300 staff member.

Adrienne Hare (Osage) – Native bowler

Ernie Mendoza (member of the Gila River Indian Community) – Strike Force Tour Player of the Year in Arizona

Break Music: Boogie Woogie (album) Flying Feather Band (artist) Back Home on the Rez With Boogie (album)

Filler songs:

Song 1 – Steadfast (song) Mr.Elive, Phillip Charette (artist) Tengaurtukut (album)

Song 2 – Wiconi (song) Primeaux & Mike (artist) Road to Peace (album)