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Citizenship is one of the keystones of sovereignty for every tribe. And it’s absolute: you’re either a tribal citizen through lineal descendancy, blood quantum, or another agreed-up measurement, or you’re not. But Native identity sometimes extends beyond citizenship and there’s little agreement about those boundaries.

Today on Native America Calling, at a time of increasing scrutiny of those who claim—and build careers on—Native identity, Shawn Spruce gets the perspectives from tribal leaders on what makes identity and why it’s so important to get it right with Cathy Chavers, chairwoman of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians and the president of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Dr. Aaron Payment, former chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; Nathan McCowan (Tlingit and Haida), president and CEO of St. George Tanaq Corporation; Patt Iron Cloud AKA “GrandmaPatt”, councilwoman for the Fort Peck Tribes; and Harold “Buster” Hatcher, chief of the Waccamaw Indian People.

Break 1 music:  Intertribal (song) Thunder Hill (artist) Relentless (album)

Break 2 music: Sahkaweyohk Ota (Give A War Cry Here) (song) Young Spirit (artist) Akameyimoh Baby Boy (album)

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

Tribal leaders make major decisions about finances, public safety, and societal well being. They need vision, dedication, and a thick skin. Today on Native America Calling, in the latest conversation of our tribal leadership series, Shawn Spruce talks with tribal president Kevin Killer (Oglala Sioux), Chairman Jordan Dresser (Northern Arapaho), and Tribal Chief Mike Williams Sr. (Yupiaq) about what drives them to be in a position of authority and how they prepare for inevitable criticisms.

Break 1 music: Leader’s Honor Song (song) Jay Begaye (artist) Night of the Northern Lights (album)

Break 2 music: Enaemaekisaeh (song) Wayne Silas Jr (artist) Infinite Passion (album)

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The COVID pandemic challenged every tribal leader to keep their citizens safe. Any plans they may have had for economic advancements or structural reforms were quickly replaced with life-and-death decisions about public health, business shut-downs, and conflicting priorities with surrounding government leaders. Today on Native America Calling, in the first of a series of discussions with tribal leaders, Andi Murphy hears how the pandemic changed things for the foreseeable future with former White Mountain Apache Tribal chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood; Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez; and Donald Dardar, second chairperson for the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe.

Break 1 music: Leader’s Honor Song (song) Jay Begaye (artist) Night of the Northern Lights (album)

Break 2 music: Raindrops (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Su’Vu’Yo’Yungw (album)