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The state of Arizona is struggling to gain control of record-breaking increases of coronavirus infections that threaten to overwhelm health care systems. The surge comes after state officials relaxed measures designed to help prevent the spread of the virus. Tribes within the state, many of whom struggled to gain control of infections within their own borders, are expanding or enacting new measures to try to keep their citizens healthy.

Guests:

Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood (White Mountain Apache Tribe) – Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Christina Andrews (Hia-Ced O’odham and a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation) – chairwoman of the Hia-Ced O’odham Nation

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (Diné) – Navajo Nation president

 

Break 1 music: We Are Going To Dance Well (song) Greyeyes/Martin Sisters/Todi Neesh Zhee (artist) Epiphany – Diné Nishłi (album)

Break 2 music: Yuve Yuve Yu (song) The Hu (artist) Yuve Yuve Yu (Single)

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The coronavirus threat has closed theaters across the country, from New York’s Broadway to South Dakota’s Black Hills Playhouse. Theater companies and individual actors are still finding ways to connect with audiences. One way is to stage live script readings over Zoom. Table reads are usually the first step of a play’s production as the cast and crew get acquainted with the story and characters. We’ll stage our own table reads for a taste of Native theater on the radio.

Guests:

Gloria Miguel (Kuna and Rappahannock) – founding member of the Spiderwoman Theater

Muriel Miguel (Kuna and Rappahannock) – director of Spiderwoman Theater

Oogie Pushetonequa (Meskwaki) –  artistic associate with New Native Theater

Rafa Moraga (Tohono O’odham descendent/Maya Yucateco) – actor with New Native Theatre

Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo) – playwright and founder and artistic director of New Native Theater

 

Break 1 music: Mt It (song) Mo-Town Singers (artist) Oneida Powwow: 40th Anniversary (album)

Break 2 music: Kaja Paluna (Mujer De Maiz) (song) Ranferi Aguilar (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

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After lawsuits and numerous delays, the Trump Administration distributed billions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief money to tribes. But there remain some challenges and frustrations. Federal lawsuits have yet to decide whether Alaska Native corporations should receive any of the funds. Also tribes now confront the bureaucracy of conforming to the narrow scope of criteria required by the federal legislation for eligibility. We’ll check in with tribes on some of the good and bad outcomes of receiving federal relief aid.

Guests:

Dr. Aaron Payment (Tribe of Chippewa Indians) – chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and first vice-president of the National Congress of American Indians

Arlan Melendez (Reno-Sparks Indian Colony) – Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony

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

 

Break 1 music: Tha Justice League (song) Wayne Silas, Jr. (artist) True: Round Dance Songs (album)

Break 2 music: Kaja Paluna (Mujer De Maiz) (song) Ranferi Aguilar (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

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Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show new surges of COVID-19 cases in Arizona, Texas, Florida and other states. Many governors loosened restrictions on public interactions and are leaving it up to local officials to enact health and safety measures. Tribes, meanwhile, continue to hold down strict social distancing orders, curfews, and border monitoring. Such measures helped the Navajo Nation mark a day with no new COVID-19 deaths in the past week, even as they struggle to keep control of new cases. We’ll check in with tribal leaders to get their views on what’s next and how they are protect their citizens.

Guests:

Amber Torres (Walker River Paiute Tribe) – Chairwoman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe

Deserea Quintana (Walker River Paiute Tribe) – executive director of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada

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

Charles Escalanti (Quechan) – Councilmember of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe

 

Break 1 music: Straight (song) Whitefish Jr.’s (artist) Northern Cree & Friends, Vol. 5: Long Winter Nights – Round Dance Live (album)

Break 2 music: Kaja Paluna (Mujer De Maiz) (song) Ranferi Aguilar (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

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As businesses and public gatherings start opening up, elders face a unique dilemma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people 65 years and older are at higher risks from COVID-19. At the same time, socializing with others face-to-face and services like senior center meals help elders stay engaged and connected. We’ll check in with elders to see what specific challenges they face and how elder services are adjusting to keep elders in their communities healthy and connected.

Guests:

Chris Klabunde (Athabascan) – manager of the Elder Program at Southcentral Foundation

Cynthia LaCounte (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) – director of the Office for American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiian programs administration on aging within Health and Human Services

Brian Vallo (Acoma Pueblo) – Governor of Acoma Pueblo

Larry Curley (Navajo) – executive director for the National Indian Council on Aging

 

Break 1 music: Tiny Hands (Reimagined) (song) Quantum Tangle (artist) Shelter as We Go . . . (album)

Break 2 music: Hiy Hiy (Grandfather) (song) Randy Wood (artist) Family (album)

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Since March, Indigenous musicians, comedians and other entertainers suddenly found their calendars empty as coronavirus fears cancelled their gigs. Some states are slowly opening up, but most entertainment venues remain closed and there’s no prediction for when they will be back in business. For some entertainers, the show goes on digitally through Facebook and Instagram videos, Zoom, YouTube and TikTok. We’ll get Native entertainers’ perspective on performing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Guests:

Adrian Wall (Jemez Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Seneca & Ojibwe) – musician

Melissa Sanchez (Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo) – producer at Emergence Productions

Ryan Pierce / Opalanietet (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape) – founder and artistic director of Eagle Project

Ryan Begay (Diné) – actor

Ty Defoe (Oneida and Ojibwe) – interdisciplinary artist a theater maker, writer and co-founder of Indigenous Direction

 

Break 1 music: O-Ja-Ja (song) Yarina (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

Break 2 music: Hiy Hiy (Grandfather) (song) Randy Wood (artist) Family (album)

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As the nation marks Pride Month, we’ll take a look at two key issues affecting LGBTQ2 people. A Supreme Court decision bars discrimination against LGBTQ2 employees in the workplace. At the same time, the Trump Administration rolled back Obama-era protections against health care discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identification. Both decisions come as Native LGBTQ2 people face unique challenges accessing health care during the coronavirus pandemic.

Guests:

Alray Nelson (Diné) – executive director of Diné Pride and founder of Diné Equality

Miko Thomas (Chickasaw) – AKA “Landa Lakes”, founder Brush Arbor Girls Native drag troupe, board member of BAAITS, the Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits community

Shelby Chestnut (Assiniboine) – director of policy and programs at the Transgender Law Center

 

Break 1 music: Round Dance Song (song) Sissy Goodhouse (artist) The Third Circle (album)

Break 2 music: Hiy Hiy (Grandfather) (song) Randy Wood (artist) Family (album)

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Alaska has been spared the high coronavirus infections rates of most other states, but cases are on the rise. It’s a worry, particularly for rural villages that have few medical resources to adequately tackle a major outbreak. At the same time, measures to prevent the spread of the virus have some more remote hospitals on the verge of closing down.

Guests:

Miranda Petruska (Athabascan) – community health aide specialist for the Southcentral Foundation

Michael Wongittilin (Siberian Yupik) – chief of police of Savoonga

Reginald Atkinson (Tsimshian) – Mayor of Metlakatla Indian Community

 

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

Break 2 music: Umumutayayata (Rolling Thunder) (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Öngtupqa (album)

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It’s been months since we all had to give up regular interactions with friends and family at restaurants, parties and community events. Even as government and health officials are lifting stay-at-home restrictions, lingering fears of spreading the coronavirus keeps many of us isolated. Social distancing can take toll on our mental health. We’ll talk with mental health experts about dealing specifically with loneliness.

Guests:

Dr. Billie Jo Kipp (Blackfeet) – associate director of research and evaluation at the Aspen Institute

Loren Anthony (Diné) – community warrior

Roger Kuhn (Poarch Band of Creek Indians) – licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in San Francisco, college professor in the American Indian studies at San Francisco State University

 

Break 1 music: Unconquered (song) Injunuity (artist) Unconquered (album)

Break 2 music: Umumutayayata (Rolling Thunder) (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Öngtupqa (album)