Native America Calling

Thursday, May 20, 2021 – Music Maker: Russell Wallace

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We turn our musical gaze to the work of Lil’wat artist Russell Wallace. His new album, “Unceded Tongues” is a mix of pop, jazz and blues that’s sure to wake up the senses. It includes tracks that explore the beauty of the St’át’imc language. Much of the album is a tribute to the gifts his ancestors passed on to him, including the words of his mother. We’ll hear how he is blending contemporary sounds with the resilience of his culture.

Break 1 music: I Rise (feat. Murray Porter & Sandy Scofield) Russell Wallace (artist) Unceded Tongues (album)

Break 2 music: Bring the Water (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 – Native in the spotlight: Dr. Pearl Kiyawn Brower

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Dr. Pearl Kiyawn Brower (Inupiat) is an education leader in Alaska. She served as president of Iḷisaġvik College, the only tribal college in the state, for more than seven years. She took the job when her child was just six weeks old. In all, she served the college as an administrator for 12 years. She was also in the running to be the chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage. We’ll learn about Brower’s educational journey and her vision to help Native students succeed.

 

Break 1 music: Cauyaqa Nauwa (Where’s My Drum) (song) Pamyua (artist) Drums Of The North: Traditional Yup’ik Songs (album)

Break 2 music: Bring The Water (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 – Billions to the rescue

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Tribal efforts to fight COVID-19, bolstering the Indian Health Service response and tribal housing programs are among the biggest beneficiaries of the federal $31.2 billion coronavirus relief package approved in March. It is the largest chunk of federal money ever distributed to tribal programs. Authors of the bill hope to avoid the confusion from the last relief package over whether for-profit Alaska Native Corporations are eligible. We’ll talk with tribal leaders and others about how this round of relief funding could offset pandemic health and economic setbacks.

Guests:

EJ John (Navajo Nation) – research and policy analysist at American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University

Eric Henson (Chickasaw) – executive vice president at Compass Lexecon and a research affiliate for the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development

Jonathan Nez (Diné) – Navajo Nation president

 

Break 1 music: Makȟóčhe Kiŋ Theȟíla II (song) Alex Firethunder (artist) Love for the Land (album)

Break 2 music: Bring The Water (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Monday, May 17, 2021 – Hope for clean water infrastructure

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President Joe Biden proposes $111 billion to help solve persistent drinking water access problems, including for tribes. The Water & Tribes Initiative found the Navajo Nation and other tribes in the Colorado River Basin are up to 67 times more likely to lack running water compared to other Americans. Researchers recommend sustainable and comprehensive water projects with assistance from the federal agencies to address the long-standing problem. Biden’s plan offers hope but there’s no guarantee it will get through Congress.

Guests:

Bidtah Becker (Navajo) – attorney at Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and co-lead of the Water & Tribes Initiatives in the Colorado River Basin’s universal access to clean water effort

Heather Tanana (Navajo) – research professor and Stegner Center fellow at the University of Utah Law School

Jackie Schaeffer (Inupiaq from Kotzebue) – community development manager for community environment and health with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

 

Break 1 music: Traditional Side Step Song (song) Little Otter (artist) Side Step Songs (album)

Break 2 music: Bring The Water (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Friday, May 14, 2021 – Has the pandemic forever changed dating?

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Vaccinations, social distance meet-ups, and masks are some of the new required topics for pre-date conversations. Experts recommend having a ‘COVID talk’ with potential partners to make sure each person has the same pandemic comfort level. It’s a new level of awkward—and potentially politically-charged—negotiation in an already tricky social ritual. We’ll hear from singles and dating experts about how to date safely in the pandemic.

Guests:

Allison Renville (Dakota/ Hunkpapa Lakota from the Lake Traverse Reservation) – activist and political consultant

Corinne Rice Grey Cloud (Mohawk/Lakota) – Corinne Rice Grey Cloud CEO Rice Consulting

Greg Grey Cloud (Crow Creek Sioux Tribe) – Co-Founder Wica Agli Native Men against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Pauly Denetclaw (Diné) – micro influencer known as The Other Native

 

Break 1 music: Native Puppy Love (Javier Estrada Remix) [feat. Javier Estrada] (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Pre Continental Colonization Trap – EP (album)

Break 2 music: ShtaataaHop! (Crow Hop) (song) Bryden Gwiss (artist) The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H. (The.Real.Un.Told.History)

Thursday, May 13, 2021 – Opportunities arise as marijuana legalization expands

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The Eastern Band of Cherokee council legalized medical marijuana on tribal land. Pot is still illegal in the rest of the state. New Mexico recently became the 18th state to legalize recreational cannabis use. Tribes there are exploring options for production and sales of marijuana. Several other tribes and states are on the cusp of opening up marijuana markets. Possessing and using the drug remains a crime under federal law. We’ll get an update on the marijuana industry as tribal economic development.

Guests:

Bobbi Shongutsie (Eastern Shoshone) – with the organization Sogo-Beah-Nahtsu

Jeremy Wilson (Eastern Band of Cherokee and Navajo) – government affairs liaison and former tribal council member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Lance Gumbs (Shinnecock Nation) – tribal ambassador for the Shinnecock Nation

 

Break 1 music: East Winging It (feat. Black Bear) (song) Cris Derksen (artist) Cris Derksen: Orchestral Powwow (album)

Break 2 music: ShtaataaHop! (Crow Hop) (song) Bryden Gwiss (artist) The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H. (The.Real.Un.Told.History)

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 – Worthy of the hall of fame

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Some of the new inductees into the National Native American Hall of Fame this year include entrepreneur Dave Anderson (Chippewa), former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) and Emil Notti (Athabascan) the first president of the Alaska Federation of Natives. The award is an opportunity to educate the general public about notable Native Americans and their contributions. We’ll talk with the Hall of Fame founders about the importance of the award and what it takes to to make the list.

Guests:

James Parker Shield (Little Shell Chippewa) – founder and CEO of the National Native American Hall of Fame

Walter Lamar (Blackfeet/Wichita Tribe of Oklahoma) – president of the board of the National Native American Hall of Fame

Dave Anderson (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe/Choctaw) – entrepreneur, writer and founder of Famous Dave’s BBQ

 

Break 1 music: Spring To Come (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Break 2 music: ShtaataaHop! (Crow Hop) (song) Bryden Gwiss (artist) The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H. (The.Real.Un.Told.History)

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 – Returning to … normal?

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COVID-19 vaccinations are helping lower infection rates. Some tribes are having days with no new infections. Many cities are easing restrictions on public gatherings imposed more than a year ago. Offices, movie theaters and restaurants are all making attempts to bring people back together under one roof. But how close are we to living life like we did before the pandemic? We’ll ask experts about the likely scenarios for returning to work and life following a major public health threat.

Guests:

Azadeh Tavakoli (Meskwaki descendent) – director of development for National Native American Human Resources Association

Dr. Richard Leman – chief medical officer for the Oregon Health Authority

Jir Anderson (Cochiti Pueblo) – lead singer for the Jir Project and founder of Native Guitars Tour

Jamie Schulz (Northern Cheyenne / Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) -finance and development director for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts

 

Break 1 music: Diamond Ring (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) The Pueblo (album)

Break 2 music: ShtaataaHop! (Crow Hop) (song) Bryden Gwiss (artist) The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H. (The.Real.Un.Told.History)

Monday, May 10, 2021 – To our mothers

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Our mothers are the backbones of Native families and communities. They have the drive to nurture and heal. This year’s Mother’s Day was a particularly sweet one as many families are able to gather again as the COVID-19 threat subsides. We’re honoring Native mothers and thanking them for all they do.

Guests:

Brittany Schulman (Waccamaw Siouan) – director of leadership initiative at the Americans for Indian Opportunity

Kim Moore-Salas (Diné) – lactation consultant

Lindsay Tsosie (Navajo) – co-owner of HomegrowNM Trading Post, artist and muralist

Vanessa Bowen (Diné) – graphic and UX designer

 

Break 1 music: Mom (song) Murray Porter (artist) STAND UP! (album)

Break 2 music: ShtaataaHop! (Crow Hop) (song) Bryden Gwiss (artist) The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H. (The.Real.Un.Told.History)

Friday, May 7, 2021 – Sharing awareness through art and culture

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Red dresses hanging in forests and government meeting spaces; Red hand prints on people’s faces and shirts; photo portraits of grieving family members. They are among the artistic expressions that raise awareness of missing and murdered Native people to the general public. The issue is a touchstone for creative individuals. We’ll talk with artists about what draws them to the issue and what effect they hope to have.

Guests:

Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan Hidatsa Arikara/Lakota) – multimedia artist

Graci Horne (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota/Hunkpapa Lakota) – multi-disciplinary artist, specializing in painting, print making, puppet making, photography, film, and poetry

Moira Villiard (Anishinaabe/Delaware) – visual artist

 

Break 1 music: Red Dress (feat. Chantal Kreviazuk) (single) Amanda Rheaume (artist)

Break 2 music: Youth Prayer Chant (song) Spirit Line Collective (artist) Spirit Line: Woven Together For Our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives (album)

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