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The American Indian Movement. The Alcatraz Island occupation. The Wounded Knee takeover. The Longest Walk. These are some of the notable events that propelled Native American issues onto the national stage during a critical time. Ojibwe activist Dennis Banks is closely associated with all of them. The towering and sometimes controversial figure walked on in October. He’s known for his early, in-your-face activism that exposed federal corruption and bias against Native Americans. He spent his last years quietly raising awareness against the scourge of addictive drugs, domestic violence and other destructive influences on reservations. We’ll talk with his friends and family members about his life and accomplishments.

Guests:

Tashina Banks-Rama (Lakota/Ojibwe) – executive director of advancement Red Cloud Indian School and daughter of Dennis Banks

Minoh Banks (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) – son of Dennis Banks

Robby Romero (Apache/Pueblo) – Native rock musician

Break Music: Longest Walk 2 (song) Dennis Banks & KITARO (artist) Let Mother Earth Speak (album)

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On his video podcast show, Nana Boozhoo talks about rez life and he plays blues and rock music. He also teaches audiences about Ojibwe language and culture. Nana Boozhoo is not a person, but a puppet. “What makes it so fun is that I keep seeing myself in it,” said Michael Lyons, Nana Boozhoo’s creator. “Some of it is very true to life.” We’re going to hear from a handful of Native American puppeteers who educate and entertain.

Guests:

Michael Lyons (from the Leech Lake Reservation) – creator of the online puppet podcast Boozhoo Nana Boozhoo, a podcast on Ojibwe language and culture

Jonah Littlesunday (Diné) – puppeteer

Dr. Shawna Begay (Diné) – producer and creator of Diné Bí Ná’ákid Time

Charmaine Jackson (Diné) – executive producer of Diné Bí Ná’ákid Time

Break Music: Kid’s Pow-Wow Songs Medley (World) (song) Black Lodge Singers (artist) MORE Kids’ Pow-Wow Songs (album)

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Both sides claim overreach by the federal government. Five tribes and a dozen environmental organizations filed legal challenges almost immediately after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that dramatically cuts back the area under protection for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. President Obama created Bears Ears National Monument a year ago. A coalition of tribes pushed for the action because of threats to sacred and culturally significant areas by mineral extraction, vandalism and looting. Trump’s action is a setback for tribes, but is it a violation of the century-old Antiquities Act that was created to stop plundering land important to Native Americans?

Guests:

Natalie Landreth (Chickasaw Nation) – senior staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund

Shaun Chapoose (Ute Indian Tribe) – councilman representing the Uncompahgre Band of the Ute Indian Tribe

Break Music: Euphony (song) Nitanis “Kit” Largo (artist) Serenity (album)

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Saddle Lake Cree First Nation singer Randy Wood is helping us wrap up another great year of Native music as our December Music Maker. In this hour we get to hear his style of round dance that not only keeps in line with the traditions and teachings of his tribal roots but also gives people something to smile and move to. Several of the songs are dedications to people who have influenced Randy’s life and music. It’s time to round dance once again on our airwaves.

Break Music: Wings of Love (song) Randy Wood (artist) Family (album)

 

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Alaska Natives picked up arms, forming citizen militias to guard against a possible foreign invasion. That is among the many Native contributions to the war. As the nation takes time to remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we’ll honor some of the contributions by Native Americans and Alaska Natives to World War II. We’ll talk with a descendant of a Navajo Code Talker, a Cherokee Nation veteran, and we’ll learn more about the Alaska Territorial Guard.

Guests:

Dr. Laura Tohe (Diné) – professor of Indigenous American Literature at Arizona State University and writer

Joe Crittenden (Cherokee Nation) – Deputy Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation

Nelson Angapak (Yup’ik) – special assistant to the president of the Alaska Federation of Natives in native allotments

Dr. Herman Viola – curator emeritus for the Smithsonian Institution

Break Music: World War II Veteran’s Song (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album)

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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)