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Survival in the Wild West cowboy days continues to be a popular setting for video games. Red Dead Redemption II is one of the top sellers from the past year. If they have Native characters, games typically don’t drift far from old Western movie stereotypes. A growing number of Native game developers are starting to change that picture. The free educational PC game, “When Rivers Were Trails” utilizes Native talent to broaden players’ understanding of history. We’ll hear from Native developers about overcoming market forces, financial hurdles and mainstream resistance to build games that expand how gamers view Native people.

Guests:

Elizabeth LePénsee (Anishinaabe and Métis) – Game Designer

Meagan Byrne (Metis) – Video Game Designer

Carl Petersen (Lakota) – Video game designer

Break 1 Music: Indians Never Die (song) Black Belt Eagle Scout (artist) Mother Of My Children (album)

Break 2 Music: Canoe Song (song) Chenoa (artist) Spirit of Salishan (album)

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A growing number of Indigenous doulas are working to decolonize the birthing process. Doulas offer guidance and support for expecting mothers before, during and after delivery. Programs on many reservations offer doulas at little or no cost. We’ll talk with some Indigenous doulas about what their role is for pregnant mothers and how they help maintain connections to Native traditions.

Guests:

Melissa Brown (Anishinaabe and Diné) – co-founder of Zaagi’idiwin

Julia Wall “Hoki Pah” (Pueblo, Anishinaabe) – doula with Tewa Women United

Natalie Nicholson (enrolled at the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold) – nurse practitioner and lactation counselor Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming

Break 1 Music: Kaaka-ggua Cauyalriitqa (song) Pamyua (artist) Mengluni (The Beginning) (album)

Break 2 Music: Apsaalooke Double Beat (Sung for Head Lady Dancer Dora Old Elk) (song) Warscout (artist) Scouts (album)

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The thing about food high in fat, empty carbs, sugar and salt is: it’s cheap. Some reservation residents are in food deserts, having to drive long distances to get fresh produce and other healthy options. But eating healthy food doesn’t have to break the bank. One study involving a tribe in California finds planning ahead helps families meet a budget and make good shopping decisions. We’ll learn more about the study and provide tips for committing to a healthier diet.

Guests:

Karen Jeter – research economist at the University of California Agricultural Issues center

Meagen Baldy (Hoopa) – district coordinator for the Klamath-Trinity Resource Conservation District, Community Garden Manager and host for Cooking Healthy in Indian Country

Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet) – founder of Indigikitchen

Dr. Dorina Espinoza – youth, families and communities advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension for Humboldt and Del Norte Counties

Break 1 Music: Heart Sing (song) James Bilagody (artist) Near Midnight (album)

Break 2 Music: Apsaalooke Double Beat (Sung for Head Lady Dancer Dora Old Elk) (song) Warscout (artist) Scouts (album)

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There’s a long history of museums misusing or stealing sacred Native items, ignoring tribes’ concerns, and portraying Indigenous people in a poor light. It’s taken years of education and legislation, but many museums are now much more Native-friendly and work to involve Native people in the process of creating and presenting exhibitions. We’ll talk with Native museum experts about why a career in the museum field might be a good decision.

Guests:

Joe Horse Capture (A’aninin) – director of Native American Initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society

Kathleen Ash-Milby (Navajo) – associate curator for the National Museum of the American Indian in New York

Dr. Heather Ahtone (Choctaw/Chickasaw) – senior curator American Indian Cultural Center and Museum

Break 1 Music: Intertribal (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Pakosiyimitan (album)

Break 2 Music: Apsaalooke Double Beat (Sung for Head Lady Dancer Dora Old Elk) (song) Warscout (artist) Scouts (album)

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Native filmmakers deserve credit for introducing audiences to sophisticated Native characters and for portraying Native people and their stories accurately. But those projects can’t get off the ground without funding. Securing a film’s finances takes connections, compromise and a strong business sense. We’ll get a view from behind the camera as Native filmmakers reveal their ideas for managing independent film projects.

Guests:

Ramona Emerson (Diné) – Filmmaker and co-owner of Reel Indian Pictures

Ben-Alex Dupris (enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes) – Director/Producer

Erica Tremblay (Seneca-Cayuga) – Filmmaker

Razelle Benally (Lakota and Diné) – Independent filmmaker

Break 1 Music: Niizh Straight (song) Niizhoo Sullivan (artist) Rez Kid Rhythm (album)

Break 2 Music: Apsaalooke Double Beat (Sung for Head Lady Dancer Dora Old Elk) (song) Warscout (artist) Scouts (album)

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The National Guard is helping out after more than two weeks of record flooding left residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation stranded, some without food, water or medicine. At the same time, dozens of residents on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation had to be evacuated—some by helicopter—to escape the threat from rising waters. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stacked sand bags to try and protect homes and businesses. We’ll get an update from tribes dealing with the worst flooding in memory.

Guests:

Stuart Redwing (Santee Sioux Nation) – secretary of the Tribal Council of the Santee Sioux Nation

Toni Bad Wound Poafpybitty (Oglala Lakota) – office manager for the 5th member Rick Gray Grass

Jake Heflin (Osage/Cherokee) – president and CEO of iTEMA

Harold Frazier (Cheyenne River Sioux) – Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

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

Break 2 Music: Prayer Loop Song (song) Supaman (artist) Illuminatives (album)

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Poems can be an epiphany, a sad good bye to a former lover, or an emotional recollection of strength. They can also offer a hilarious tale of life in Native America. For National Poetry Month, we’ll hear from Native poets like Tiffany Midge (“Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s”), Chris La Tray (“One-Sentence Journal”) and others to understand how humor can paint a true picture of Native America.

Guests:

Tiffany Midge (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) – poet and humorist

Chris La Tray (Enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians) – writer

Rena Priest (member of the Lummi Nation) – writer

Break 1 Music: Rez Car feat Nim Northrup & Ndn Krz ’49 (songs) Keith Secola (artist)

Break 2 Music: Prayer Loop Song (song) Supaman (artist) Illuminatives (album)

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The Indian Child Welfare Act has some tough opponents in the courts and in the court of public opinion. ICWA proponents suffered a setback in the Brackeen vs Bernhardt case. Both sides just presented oral arguments in the appeal. We will go live from the annual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect to hear first-hand stories from those affected by ICWA. We’ll also get expert analysis about the possible trajectory for the 40-year-old law going forward. (Poster artwork by Orlando Begay)

Guests:

Angel Smith (Cherokee Nation) – attorney practicing in the Indian Child Welfare Act

Jessica Mateu-Newsome – program director for San Francisco Child Welfare

Nikki Baker-Limore (Cherokee Nation) – executive director of Indian Child Welfare for the Cherokee Nation

Sarah Kastelic (Allutiq) – executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association

Break 1 Music:  All My Relations (song) Spirit Nation (artist) Winter Moons (album)

Break 2 Music: Prayer Loop Song (song) Supaman (artist) Illuminatives (album)

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Native women entrepreneurs often face barriers to success. But attention to cultural values and meaningful networking along with a solid business plan and disciplined attention to detail can make all the difference. As the annual Native Women’s Business Summit gears up, we’ll take time to ask Native businesswomen about their keys to success and how they tackle issues like the wage gap, unequal access to resources and other obstacles.

Guests:

Jaclyn Roessel (Navajo) – president and founder of Grownup Navajo and co-founder of Native Women Lead

Shyla Sheppard (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara) – owner and CEO of Bow and Arrow Brewing Company

Kim Smith (Diné) – founder and editor of Indigenous Goddess Gang

Janene Yazzie (Navajo) – co-founder of Sixth Worlds solutions LLC.

Break 1 Music: Fight Like A Woman (song) Sihasin (artist) Fight Like A Woman (album)

Break 2 Music: Prayer Loop Song (song) Supaman (artist) Illuminatives (album)