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The most severe ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to diminish, inflation remains a problem but is slowing, and employment, on the whole, is moving in the right direction. At the same time, pending legislation and court decisions pose the biggest threat to tribal sovereignty in a generation — and progress to improve the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People remains slow. Today on Native America Calling, we hear the annual State of Indian Nations Address from National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp (Quinault) as well as the Congressional response from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Break 1 music: Intertribal Song (song) Black Lodge (artist) Enter the Circle – Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Coeur D’Alene (album)

Break 2 Music: Creation Story (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

Listen to President Sharp’s Address:

 

Listen to the Congressional Response from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA):

 

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There is arguably no art form more widely associated with Native Americans than bead work. It started as ornamental applications with shells, stones, or quills and evolved into intricate and colorful pieces encompassing jewelry, regalia, and fine art. Today on Native America Calling, we speak with Cathy Mattes (Michif), curator, writer, and Associate Professor in History of Art at the University of Winnipeg; Sherry Farrell-Racette (Métis, Algonquin, and member of the Timiskaming First Nation in Quebec), scholar, author, curator, and artist; and artists Nico Williams (Anishinaabe and member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation community), Brocade Stops Black Eagle (Crow/Mandan-Hidatsa), Tally Monteau (Hunkpati Dakota Oyate, and Chippewa Cree), and Hollis Chitto (Isleta Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Mississippi Choctaw).

Break 1 music: Kwelosoet (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Kikāwiynaw (album)

Break 2 Music: Creation Story (song) John-Carlos Perea (artist) Creation Story (album)

Photos courtesy: Nico Williams

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If there’s an epicenter of the more than 20-year drought in the west and Southwest, it’s the Colorado River. It’s a significant water source for nearly 30 tribes that call the river basin home. Many of those tribes fought hard to secure water rights that were handed out to states and municipalities a century ago without regard for the tribes’ concerns. Now, the Colorado River is in a worsening crisis. Today on Native America Calling, we learn how tribes are part of the discussions to reach a drastic water use reduction plan and find out if the stakeholders can all reach consensus with Jason John (Navajo), director of the Navajo Department of Water Resources; Daryl Vigil (Jicarilla Apache), former water administrator for the Jicarilla Apache Nation and co-facilitator of the Water & Tribes in the Colorado River Basin; Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), Professor & Extension Specialist in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona and director of the Indigenous Resilience Center; and Dr. Crystal Tulley-Cordova (Navajo), principal hydrologist for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources. 

Break 1 music: Water Is Life (single song) Native Roots, Joy Harjo, Def-I & Innastate (artist)

Break 2 music: Straight (song) Northern Cree Singers (artist) Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Samson: Nikamo – “Sing!” (album)

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A merchant who sells works by Native artists is under fire for derogatory and offensive comments to Native dancers outside his Scottsdale, AZ shop. The incident revives long-standing concerns about non-Native opportunists exploiting the richness of Native talent. Today on Native America Calling, we discuss ways to ensure you patronize establishments that treat Native artists and craftspeople respectfully and ethically with Cody Blackbird (Eastern Band Cherokee and Dakota descent), six-time Native American Music Award winning artist; Heather Tracy (Navajo), co-owner of Native Art Market; Kandis Quam (Zuni and Navajo), artist with the ARTZ Cooperative Gallery; and Dr. Suzanne Newman Fricke, director of Gallery Hózhó at Hotel Chaco.

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As Leonard Peltier enters his 48th year behind bars, his supporters and legal advocates are renewing the push to have him released through whatever means: clemency, pardon, or compassionate release based on his advanced age and declining health. Seventy-eight-year-old Peltier was first convicted of murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in April 1977. It was a complicated and controversial trial and he has been turned back from every legal challenge and political plea since. Every change in presidential administrations offers new optimism of a favorable look into his plight. His prominent supporters range from Mother Theresa to Pamela Anderson. His detractors include high-ranking judicial officials and the family of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash.

Today on Native America Calling, we get an update on Peltier’s status in prison and the efforts to maintain justice with Ruth Buffalo (enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation), former North Dakota State Representative and the first Native American woman elected to the North Dakota legislature; Kevin Sharp, former Federal District Court Judge and the pro-bono council for Leonard Peltier’s clemency petition; and Paul DeMain (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and Ojibwe descendent), journalist and former editor of News from Indian Country.

Break 1 music: American Indian Movement Song (song) Blackfire (artist) [Silence] is a Weapon [Double disc] (album)

Break 2 music: Straight (song) Northern Cree Singers (artist) Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Samson: Nikamo – “Sing!” (album)

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Eighteenth Century British explorer James Cook is revered for his drive and seamanship from Tonga and the South Pacific to the Bering Strait. He put more than 120 English place names on the map from Mount Edgecombe in Alaska to the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. That doesn’t count the many places named after him. But his colonial exploits were often at odds with the Indigenous peoples of the places he visited, culminating in his death at the hands of Native Hawaiians on this date in 1779. Today on Native America Calling, we examine his complicated legacy with political scientist Dr. Keanu Sai (Hawaiian subject) and Benjamin Jacuk (Dena’ina, Athabascan, and Sugpiaq), researcher at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Break 1 music: Kaulana Na Pua (song) Marlene Sai (artist) Mele No Ka ‘Oe (Digital Only,Re-mastered) (song)

Break 2 music: Straight (song) Northern Cree Singers (artist) Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Samson: Nikamo – “Sing!” (album)

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The Biden Administration touts support for tribal consultation; policies aimed at helping Native businesses; federal money for energy projects, infrastructure, and connectivity; and respect for Native land among the accomplishments that favor Indian Country since he took office. Some other federal land and energy policies have drawn both praise and criticism. With President’s Day coming up, we discuss how President Joe Biden’s term so far resonates with tribal interests with Torivio Fodder (Taos Pueblo), manager of the Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Arizona and professor of practice at James E. Rogers College of Law, and Jordan Harmon (Muscogee Creek Nation citizen), policy analyst and legislative advocate for the Indigenous Environmental Network. Plus, we celebrate World Radio Day with Joseph Orozco (Hoopa), website content coordinator at KIDE.

Break 1 music:  Great Grandpah’s Banjo (song) Pura Fe (artist) Full Moon Rising (album)

Break 2 music: Straight (song) Northern Cree Singers (artist) Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Samson: Nikamo – “Sing!” (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:04 — 38.5MB) | Embed

The Super Bowl is the last remaining television event which can attract more than 100 million viewers. That’s a whole lot of people witnessing the offensive name and imagery for the team from Kansas City and its fans’ problematic chants. At the same time, the organizers are making an effort to include Native fans in more appropriate ways and some Native fans are expressing their love for football in creative ways. Today on Native America Calling, we survey the good and bad about the Super Bowl with Kolby KickingWoman (Blackfeet), reporter and producer for Indian Country Today; Jared Yazzie (Navajo), artist, designer, and owner of OXDX Clothing; artist/designer Randy L. Barton AKA Randy Boogie (Diné); and Amanda Blackhorse (Diné), founder of Arizona to Rally Against Native American Mascots.

Break 1 music: last night in Chaco (song) Randy Boogie (artist) THE BLESSINGWAY BOOGIE (Deluxe Edition) (album)

Break 2 music: El Danzante (song) Xavier Quijas Yxayotl (artist) Aztec Dances (album)