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Access to safe drinking water is an issue for thousands of Native people in the Southwest. Mining for uranium and other minerals, toxins leeching into well water, and inadequate infrastructure all play into water availability. Federal agencies, universities and environmental groups like the Navajo Water Project are trying to address contaminated ground water by researching contamination sources, studying health effects and bringing in clean water from elsewhere. As part of a series on toxic exposure in the Southwest, we’ll get an update on the problems and how people are working to fix them.

Guests:

Emma Robbins (Diné) – American projects director for Dig Deep Water

Dr. Tommy Rock (Diné) – environmental scientist

Dr. Robert Arnold – environmental engineering professor at the University of Arizona

Break Music: Winter’s Breath (song) Louie Gonnie (artist) Elements (album)

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The cold, dry air of winter takes a toll on a person’s skin. Harsh weather is one of the things that can exacerbate conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Millions of people also suffer from acne, fungal infections and sunburns. We’ll talk about skin care and hear from some Native entrepreneurs whose products focus on using traditional, Native ingredients.

Guests:

Lynn Roanhorse (Jicarilla Apache) – CEO of SkinDigenous and skin specialist

Monica Simeon (Spokane Tribe/Pauquachin Band) – co-founder of Sister Sky

Dr. Therese Holguin – assistant professor of dermatology at the University of New Mexico

Break Music: Bear Beats (song) Cheevers Toppah (artist) True Melodies (album)

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Elders may hold high status among Native Americans, but that isn’t always enough to protect them from abuse. They are the victims of financial theft and physical and emotional abuse, often at the hands of family members. There are few concrete statistics, but experts say elder abuse is a real and serious problem in our Native nations. Their best protection is from other family members, health care workers, law enforcement officials and even neighbors who know what to look for. We’ll talk with experts about how tribes and communities can spot and prevent elder abuse.

Guests:

Rebecca Morgan (Eastern Band Cherokee/Choctaw) – project coordinator of the elder equity program at National Indian Council on Aging

Cynthia LaCounte (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) – director of the Office for American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiian programs administration on aging within Health and Human Services

Break Music: Traditional Side Step Song (song) Little Otter (artist) Side Step Songs (album)

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Monday’s event honoring Native American Code Talkers should have been a solemn occasion to honor the heroic efforts of Native veterans. It was also a chance for President Trump to send a message of inclusiveness and respect to Native nations. Instead, with one word, the president managed to unite Native leaders, organizations and citizens against him. What can Trump do now to make amends to veterans and others he offended? Does anyone expect him to do it?

Guests:

Nicole Robertson (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation) – chief communications specialist for Muskwa Media

Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw Nation) – U.S. Representative from Oklahoma

Michael Smith (Navajo/Acoma) – descendant of Navajo Code Talker, Samuel Jesse Smith Sr.

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

Break Music: War Cry Movement I (song) Cris Derksen (artist) The Cusp (album)

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The Snake Oil Salesmen have blended rock and folk with a touch of twang since 2011. They like to call themselves musical healers and honest storytellers. Our musical spotlight for November comes after the release of their new album, “Dead and Breathing.” We’ll dive into the tunes the band says are meant to bridge the gap between fireside tales, kitchen parties and the world of rock and roll.

Guests:

Sterling Brass [Key First Nation (Soto)] – bass player

Cade Steward – drummer

Shane Bellegarde [Little Black Bear First Nation (Plains Cree)]- Lead singer, acoustic and songwriter

Break Music: Radio Man (song) The Snake Oil Salesmen (artist) Death and Breathing (album)

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Grades, personal relationships, finding a date for prom. Those are among the triggers for student stress. Some of the causes for stress may seem trivial to adults, but a 2014 study by the American Psychological Association finds stress can take a toll on teens’ healthy eating habits, sleep and school performance. We’ll explore the causes and potential solutions for stress in school. Coping with stress may be one way to improve Native students’ chances for reaching graduation.

Guests:

Faith Holyon (Navajo) – Center for Native Youth Champion for Change

Anpao Duta Flying Earth (Lakota, Dakota, Ojibwe and Akimel O’odham) – associate director and head of the Native American Community Academy

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

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

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“Standing Rock.” “Water Protectors.” “Water is Life.” They are among the words and phrases that are permanently linked to a moment in time. The memories of those who were there paint a picture of what remains an important series of events for Native people. Some prepared food for others at the camps. some found themselves injured from encounters with police. Still others have yet to learn the outcome of criminal charges against them. We’ll hear some of the firsthand accounts from Standing Rock.

Guests:

Leoyla Cowboy (Diné) – water protector

Jenn Bearcat (Shoshone & Paiute) – spent several months at Standing Rock

Break Music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk J (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)

You can here a sampling of recording recollections about Standing Rock here.

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A converted school bus that helps steer Navajo kids away from sugary drinks. A health advocate fights the food desert, one package of healthy food at a time. Native tradition helps an urban population switch to healthier eating habits. Those are some of the scenarios we learn about in the National Native News series, Health and Wellness: the Indigenous way. Producer Antonia Gonzales worked in conjunction with New Mexico In Focus for this series of reports about what is healthy and what are some of the obstacles for getting there.

Break Music: Tha Mash Up (song) Wayne Silas, Jr. (artist) Infinite Passion (album)

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What’s a better way to spend the day after a holiday than to catch up on the news from Native America. From national policy to tribal politics, we take time to regularly speak with journalists, newsmakers and others about the important issues of the day. Join us for our regular news round-up.

Guests:

Graham Lee Brewer (Cherokee Nation) – contributing editor for the tribal affairs desk at High Country News

Debra Utacia Krol (Xolon Salinan Tribe) – independent journalist. You can read her take on the Indigenous Comic Con here.

Dan Huculak (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) – WGZS Station Manager

Break Music: Little Earthings (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) Sun Child (album)