Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:21 — 38.7MB) | Embed

As he marks 50 years in journalism, Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock) is stepping down from his leadership role at the Native news organization, ICT. Trahant revived the struggling Indian Country Today newspaper and turned it into a premier non-profit multimedia Indigenous news source. His five decades of reporting and editing news includes interviews with world leaders and having a front row seat to the major events that affect Native people. In that time he has served as a champion and mentor for Native journalists. We’ll hear from Trahant about his work and his hopes for Native journalism.

 

Break 1 Music: Current (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Break 2 Music: Grandmother’s Song (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Iskwewak (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:30 — 38.8MB) | Embed

Duke Redbird’s (Saugeen Ojibway First Nation) activism initially rose from hardship. He turned to writing to express his frustration after encountering racism and discrimination in school. His writing led him to a series of celebrated published poetry collections. He developed a number of artistic disciplines and professional skills. He’s a filmmaker, visual artist, actor, and educator. He remains active as a voice in the Sultans of String band. We’ll hear about his work and extraordinary life.

GUEST

Dr. Duke Redbird (Saugeen First Nation), elder, poet, author, scholar, hip-hop artist, and educator

 

Break 1 Music: Our Mother the Earth [Feat. Dr. Duke Redbird] (song) Sultans of String (artist)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:09 — 38.6MB) | Embed

The Florida Everglades are on “life support”. That’s the assessment of Miccosukee environmental advocate Betty Osceola, who says the famed wetlands are under relentless threat from urban encroachment, pollution, and poor management. Osceola is a dedicated defender of her homelands that are also home to at least 39 endangered or threatened species including the Florida panther and the American crocodile. She is sounding the alarm over historically high water levels that are destroying habitat and drowning culturally important sites. We’ll talk with Osceola about her connection to the Everglades and her passion to preserve them. She joins us as this month’s Native in the Spotlight.

Break 1 Music: Lay Your Burden Down (song) Lee Tiger & the Tiger Tiger Band (artist) Southern Exposure (album)

Break 2 Music: Brown Fool Eyes (song) Hataałii (artist) Waiting for a Sign (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:15 — 38.6MB) | Embed

Hugo Morales (Mixtec) rose from his Indigenous family farming roots in Oaxaca, Mexico to found Radio Bilingue, the largest Latino radio network in the United States. The network continues to offer a diverse array of programming in English, Spanish, Mixtec, and Triqui languages. Morales earned money while going to school by picking fruit in California. Among his many accomplishments and honors, he ultimately earned a law degree from Harvard University. He continues his strong commitment to educate others. We’ll hear from Morales about his journey and where he’s going next.

Plus, we’ll hear closing coverage of the 2024 Democratic National Convention with Native Vote 2024 contributor Shaun Griswold from Source NM.

Break 1 Music: Canci​ó​n mixteca [Mixtec Song] canci​ó​n ranchera (song) Los Texmaniacs (artist) Borders y Bailes (album)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:15 — 38.6MB) | Embed

Edgar Blatchford (Iñupiaq and Yup’ik), former journalist and professor, has served as Alaska’s economic development commissioner for the Frank Murkowski Administration. He was also the mayor of Seward, Alaska. He’s a college educator and oversaw a news publishing network. He’s an outspoken advocate for reforming Alaska Native corporations. We’ll hear from Blatchford about his ideas for improving the world around him.

Break 1 Music: Rise of the Inuk (song) RiverFlowz (artist) Bethel Sessions (album)

Break 2 Music: Fancy Dance (Song) Yellow Hammer (artist) Yellow Hammer (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:18 — 38.7MB) | Embed

Jon Proudstar (Pascua Yaqui, Jewish, and Mexican) is coming off a successful run on the TV series, Reservation Dogs, and a starring role in an all-Native movie set on the Osage Nation. On top of that, his ground-breaking 1996 comic, Tribal Force, is enjoying a triumphant return. We’ll catch up with the Pascua Yaqui actor and learn about the wisdom he’s picked up from his more than 40 films and TV shows.

Break 1 Music: Keep Rising (song) House of Shem (artist) Keep Rising (album)

Break 2 Music: Flyer (song) The Zoniez (artist)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:52 — 38.4MB) | Embed

Before he was dubbed “The Hurricane” by Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee, Brian Jackson (Cherokee, Muscogee, and Seminole) started out making animal balloons for a community church event. That small beginning has led him to breaking world records and traveling the world. He holds 12 Guinness World Records for blowing up balloons, exploding hot water bottles, and lifting a car off the ground — all with his own breath. His accomplishments helped him turn around his life that was headed down the wrong path and included an arrest for dealing drugs. We’ll talk to Brian Jackson about his motivation for breaking records, his commitment to culture, and his belief in second chances.

Break 1 Music: The Had-It-Up-to-Here Round Dance (song) Joy Harjo (artist) Native Joy for Real (album)

Break 2 Music:  Muskwa Dance (feat. Quinton Tootoosis & Dawn Desmarais) (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:30 — 38.8MB) | Embed

Author, historian, and Haskell Indian Nations University professor Daniel Wildcat (Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma) believes in the power of Indigenous knowledge to counter big problems. His newest book On Indigenuity: Learning the Lessons of Mother Earth combines Western science, tribal knowledge, and his own personal observations as a way to create path away from climate change and other looming environmental threats.

Break 1 Music: Urban Crow Dance (Of the Bird Kind) (song) Joy Harjo (artist) Red Dreams, A Trail Beyond Tears (album)

Break 2 Music: Laugh Out Loud (song) Hataałii (artist) Singing into Darkness (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:48 — 38.3MB) | Embed

From voting rights to drinking water access to respecting important Native land, Laurie Weahkee (Diné, Cochiti, and Zuni Pueblo) has been a force to improve policies that affect Native people. She was the long-time director of the Native Voters Alliance and has worked on political campaigns and local and national issues. She’s our Native In The Spotlight.

GUEST

Laurie Weahkee (Diné, Cochiti, and Zuni Pueblo), project coordinator for the New Mexico Tribal Water Advisory Council, former executive director for the Native American Voters Alliance Education Project, and a former community organizer

Break 1 Music: Wim Ah I Wem, Tiwa (song) Gregg Analla Gregg Analla (single)

Break 2 Music: Climb the Mountain [feat. Alison Jenkins] (song) Russell Wallace (artist) Russell Wallace (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:37 — 38.2MB) | Embed

Tescha Hawley’s (Aaniiih) breast cancer diagnosis started both a harrowing personal journey to fight the disease and the inspiring effort to help others facing similar health obstacles. Hawley organized funds and other resources for people on Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana who faced long drives, overnight hotel stays, and other expenses to access life-saving care. Her work grew into the Day Eagle Hope Project.

Break 1 Music: Grass Dance Song 1 (song) Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Singers (artist) 16 Gros Ventre & Assiniboine Songs (album)

Break 2 Music: Together We’ll Fade Away (song) Dirt Rhodes (artist) Dirt Rhodes Sings Indian Country (album)