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The U.S. Navy is scheduled to formally apologize to Alaska Native residents of Angoon, Alaska, 142 years after they bombarded the village. The Navy also just apologized to the residents of Kake for a similar assault some years earlier. Both deadly assaults on the villages came after the deaths of Tlingit residents prompting a series of escalating actions. The shellings occurred during a time of tense interactions between Alaska Natives, the U.S. military, and outside corporate interests. Navy and village leaders alike say the apologies will help healing these many years later.

GUESTS

Judith Dax̱ootsú Ramos (Tlingit), professor of Northwest Coast Arts at University of Alaska Southeast

Shgen George (Tlingit), Chilkat weaver and retired teacher

Esther Reese (Tlingit), tribal administrator for Wrangell Cooperative Association

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

 

Break 1 Music: Siigaay Gid uu Dii Iijang [Ocean Child I Am] (song) Khu.éex’ (artist) Siy​á​adlan (album)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

 

 

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There is a decidedly imperialistic thrust to the Civilization video games. That’s why Shawnee tribal leaders were wary at first when game developers approached them about including famed Shawnee chief Tecumseh in the next version of Civilization. But after four years, the collaboration has introduced Shawnee language and culture and a new direction for the Civilization franchise. We’ll hear about this intersection of Native representation and video games and explore some new uses for video games.

GUESTS

Chief Ben Barnes (Shawnee), chief of the Shawnee Tribe, board member of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and chairman of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma

Dillon Dean (Shawnee), actor and voices Tecumseh in Civilization 7

Anangookwe Hermes-Roach (Bad River Band of Ojibwe), co-director and game developer for Reclaim!

Dr. Lee Francis IV aka Dr. IndigiNerd (Laguna Pueblo), CEO of A Tribe Called Geek

 

Break 1 Music: Shawnee Stomp Dance (song) Little Axe Singers (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (album)

Break 2 Music: Creator (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

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The Indian Health Service finds Native Americans and Alaska Natives are two and a half times more likely to report serious psychological distress than other populations. Psychiatry experts say intergenerational trauma may be one factor. There are steps both employers and employees can do to avoid the effects of stress and burnout in the office. There are additional steps that may be beneficial specifically for Native employees. On World Mental Health Day, we’ll find out ways to build a healthy workplace.

GUESTS

Dr. Jillian Fish (Tuscarora Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy), owner of Fish Psychotherapy & Consulting and professor in the Department of Psychology at Macalester College

Haley Laughter (Diné), owner of Hozho Total Wellness

D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas (Odawa Nation), motivational storyteller; host of the PBS special, Discovering your Warrior Spirit; and author of Warrior Within published by Penguin Random House

Break 1 Music: Too Bad for Me (song) Janet Panic (artist) A Mighty Rip Through the Page of My Life (album)

Break 2 Music: Butterfly Wings (song) Midnight Sparrows (artist) Born in the City (album)

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Weary residents in the southeast United States are preparing for the inevitable destruction of Hurricane Milton just two weeks after Hurricane Helene claimed at least 230 lives and billions of dollars in property damage. Area tribes not directly affected by the storm double-punch are offering aid and assessing their own disaster preparedness in light of the devastation. We’ll hear from other tribal emergency management officials about their own evolving disaster plans.

GUESTS

Corbin Wildcatt (Eastern Band of Cherokee), new Hendersonville resident

April Sells (member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians), Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribal emergency services director

Tasha Oxendine (citizen of the Lumbee), public relations manager for the Lumbee Tribe

James Akerelrea, Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Tribal Government president

Break 1 Music: Colin Went Down to the Water (song) Bruce Cockburn (artist) O Sun O Moon (album)

Break 2 Music: Butterfly Wings (song) Midnight Sparrows (artist) Born in the City (album)

 

Shawn Spruce captured these photos in Asheville, N.C.’s Biltmore Village on Wednesday morning.

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A portrayal of the Pine Ridge Reservation by a YouTube personality with more than 2,000,000 subscribers is drawing criticism for focusing on stereotypes of poverty and substance abuse. Tommy McGee, who goes by the name “Tommy G”, makes a name for himself producing what he calls “documentaries” that depict extremes of American life. His video of the Oglala Lakota reservation, called “The poorest place in America”, has more than 3,000,000 views. He paints a picture primarily of meth and alcohol addiction, unemployment, squalor, and crime. Pine Ridge residents, including one Native youth organization, say the video crosses the line into “poverty porn.” We’ll explore current approaches for responsible media representation of Native people.

GUESTS

Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), professor of journalism at the University of Kansas

Kyle Mesteth (Oglala Lakota), CEO and founder of Ground Control

Clementine Bordeaux (Sicangu and Oglala Lakota), PhD in culture and performance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a postdoctoral fellow with the University of California

Zaniyan Iron Eyes (Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota), intergovernmental ambassador for the Native American Youth Organization (NAYO)

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

Break 2 Music: Butterfly Wings (song) Midnight Sparrows (artist) Born in the City (album)

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A possible rat sighting has the remote Pribilof Island of St. Paul in Alaska on high alert. Scientists are concerned an infestation of the invasive species could threaten nesting seabirds and other wildlife. They have reason to be concerned: rats from a Japanese shipwreck more than 200 years ago inundated a series of Alaska’s Aleutian islands, devastating the native species. And a part of Louisiana offers another cautionary tale about invasive rodents. Nutria were originally introduced to help the fur trade. Now the aquatic rodents destroy the vegetation that protects land and coastal marshes from erosion. We’ll look at how tribes are grappling with invasive rodents.

GUESTS

Karen Pletnikoff (Unangan), environment, and safety program administrator for Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.

R.J. Molinere (United Houma Nation), alligator hunter, arm wrestling champion, and star on the History Channel reality series Swamp People

Dr. Lauren Divine, director for the Ecosystem Conservation Office for the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island

James Karst, communications director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Break 1 Music: Tikitaummata (song) Susan Aglukark (artist) The Crossing (album)

Break 2 Music: Butterfly Wings (song) Midnight Sparrows (artist) Born in the City (album)