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Many notable Native Americans walked on this year. We’ll take a moment to remember a few of them through their friends and family members. Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver Clarissa Rizal, a Raven of the T’akdeintaan (black-legged Kittywake) Clan, walked on in December. We’ll learn about her work and weaving legacy. In July David Beautiful Bald Eagle made his final passage. He was a fluent Lakota speaker, WWII veteran, and an actor in over 40 films. We honor them and others.

Guests:

Rosita Worl (Tlingit) – president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute

Lily Hope (Tlingit) – daughter of Clarissa Rizal, weaver and teaching artist

Donovin Sprague (Mnikȟówožu Lakota) – archivist, university instructor, author, historian at Black Hills State University

Leonard Bends (Crow) – relative of Dr. Joseph “Joe” Medicine Crow

Break music: Song Of Encouragement (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album)

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For every nine men you know, odds are one of them has been behind bars. At least that’s a statistic from the Sentencing Project, which keeps track of incarceration rates. Our Native fathers, mothers sons and daughters who are behind bars face struggles with isolation, mental health, religious freedom and violence. Convicts also face difficulty readjusting to life after serving their sentences. We explore what life is like behind bars for Native inmates and the work to help support them and their families.

Guests:

Wesley Roach (Cheyenne River Sioux) – on the board of directors for Heal for Reentry

Gabe Galanda (Round Valley Tribe of Indians) – attorney with Galanda Broadman

Break music: Ho Ho Watanay (song) Dawn Avery (artist) Our Fire Native American Contemporary Songs (album)

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It’s time to look ahead to the coming year with the promises you make yourself to shed bad habits and make a new beginning. It’s also a chance to take stock of all you accomplished in the previous year. Did you make a New Year’s resolution for 2016? Did you keep to it? We’ll discuss how to make reasonable, realistic resolutions and what it takes to improve certain parts of your life. What is your New Year’s resolution?

Guests:

Dr. Dave Kemppainen (Keweenaw Bay Band of Chippewa) – substance abuse and mental health counselor and co-host of “Seers from the First People” radio show

Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk) – media company owner of Schilling Media and arts and entertainment editor for Indian Country Today

Break music: Dawn Of A New Day (song) Crystal Shawanda (artist) Dawn Of A New Day (album)

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A group of Native American high school girls defied tradition by playing—and excelling at—lacrosse. The documentary “Keepers of the Game” reveals both the triumphs and obstacles the team and the girls individually experienced. In this inspiring and emotional encore presentation, we talk with some of the key people featured in the documentary. We also hear from the director about making the film and how it’s received by audiences and critics. We’ll also explore the history of lacrosse and what it means for girls to take up the sport.

Guests:

Louise Herne (Mohawk) – Mohawk Bear Clan Mother

Tsieboo Herne (Mohawk) – college student and featured in Keepers of the Game

Judd Ehrlich – director and producer of Keepers of the Game

Break music: This Songs For You/Rock And Roll (Ladies Dance) (song) Sheldon Sundown (artist) Hand Drum/Smoke

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So often, masculinity is defined by strength, stoicism, and money-making ability. It wasn’t always like that in Native American societies. Our guests will outline what current Native masculinity looks like and how that relates or conflicts with traditional roles for men. How do you think masculinity and the roles for Native men have changed over time? What kinds of things are we teaching to our Native boys on how to be men?

Break music: Ke Aloha I Ka Pu’uwai / He ‘Ili ‘Ula Au a He Hawai’I (song) Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu (artist) Call It What You Like (album)

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Horseback riders are en route to Mankato, Minnesota for the annual Dakota 38 +2 memorial ride. They plan to arrive at their destination December 26th to mark the 154 years since President Abraham Lincoln ordered the largest mass execution in U.S. history. We’ll take a moment to commemorate the day and the events that led up to it. We’ll also learn more about the annual ride to honor the memory of the 38 Dakota warriors who were executed.

Dakota 38 Documentary

Guests:

Jim Miller (Cheyenne River Sioux) – founder of the Dakota 38 + 2 memorial ride

Silas Hagerty – filmmaker and worked on the film Dakota 38

Mason Redwing – Dakota 38 horseback rider

Peter Lengkeek (Hunkpati) – is a staff keeper and rider for the Dakota 38 + 2 memorial ride

Break music: Birds Dancing (song) Tony Duncan (artist) Native Son (album)

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Methamphetamine abuse is a serious problem. Law enforcement officials and health advocates agree the abuse of this very dangerous drug has a ripple effect on our families, schools and community. Is meth addiction getting the attention it needs? We’ll hear stories of recovery and what some people are doing to fight this plague.

Guests:

Toni Hand Boy (Cheyenne River Sioux) – integrated care case manager and certified addictions counselor

Julie Richards (Oglala Lakota) – founder of Mothers Against Meth Alliance and Fathers Against Meth Movement

Break music: Pimatisiwin (Life) (song) Young Spirit (artist) Save Me A Lead (album)

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Some enterprising companies are taking advantage of the popularity of the Dakota Access pipeline fight by selling knock-off “No DAPL t-shirts”. Some Native artists say their designs are being used without permission. The problem of stealing Native designs by non-Natives is not new: in 2015, designs very similar to fashion designer Bethany Yellowtail’s (Northern Cheyenne/Crow) work showed up on the runway. What can artists do to protect their work? How do you now what you’re buying is from the original source?

Guests:

Jared Yazzie (Navajo) – owner and designer for OXDX Clothing

Whitney Rencontre (Crow Creek Sioux) – graphic artist and director of the Ateyapi youth program

Break music: Victory Song (song) Thunder Hill (artist) Relentless (album)

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The story of the Nisenan people meeting Johann Sutter, a pioneer who brought upon the California Gold Rush in the late 1800s, is told—in musical fashion—through “Something Inside is Broken.” It’s as a rock opera filled with songs in the Nisenan language. It’s written and produced by Jack Kohler (Hupa) and Alan Wallace (Washoe) of On Native Ground. We’ll hear some of the songs and talk to some of the main players about how this production promotes healing.

Guests:

Alan Wallace (Nisanan and Washoe) – creator of “Something Inside Is Broken”

Jack Kohler (Hupa tribe) – director of On Native Ground, A nonprofit Hupa media organization

Elle Beyer – choreographer and producer for “Something Inside