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Of the nearly 3.5 million people in the United States who have epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation estimates about 51,000 are Native Americans. The Foundation also says at least 150,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every year. The non-profit calls it one of the most misunderstood health disorders because so little is known about its causes. Nearly half of all those with epilepsy continue to have uncontrolled, recurring seizures, despite medication and other treatments. There are some things everyone should know about epilepsy, even if they aren’t directly affected. We’ll get a rundown on the latest research and recommendations.

Guests:

Dr. Stanley Johnson – pediatric neurology specialist in the department of neurology and endocrinology at the Children’s Health Center at Flagstaff Medical Center

Jolee Mitchell (Navajo) – a high school junior

Mary Smith (enrolled member of Cherokee Native) – former chief executive of the Indian Health Service

Suzanne Matsumori – executive director of the Arizona Chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation

 

Break 1 music: Little Earthlings (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) Sun Child (album)

Break 2 music: Hoka Hey (feat. Jayden Paz & Dancin Dave) [Radio Version] (song) DJ krayzkree (artist) Future Generations (album)

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Landmark legislation protecting Native American cultural items turns 30. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act requires museums and any institution that receives federal funds to return items of tribal cultural significance taken from federal land. The legislation was the result of decades of work by Native experts and activists who were fighting the theft of Native items over the years. We’ll talk with the people who were instrumental in getting the legislation passed as well as tribal historic preservation officers who rely on it to protect their cultural patrimony.

Guests:

Shannon Keller O’Loughlin (Choctaw) – executive director of the Association on American Indian Affairs

Dr. James Riding In (Pawnee) – founding member of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University

Dr. Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee) – a founding trustee of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and president of the Morningstar Institute

 

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

Break 2 music: Chant (song) Mihana (artist) One Little Dream (album)

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The makers of the new film “Gather” assert that Native food rights are human rights and food helps keep Native people connected to culture. The film tells personal stories of food warriors from the White Mountain Apache, Yurok and Lakota nations that exemplify the importance of maintaining Indigenous foods in the face of centuries of colonial efforts to break that connection. The film, directed by Sanjay Rawal, is a New York Times Critic’s Pick. We’ll speak with Rawal and some of the film’s subjects about their work and how it strengthens Indigenous food sovereignty.

Guests:

Elsie DuBray (Oohenunpa, Lakota, Nueta and Hidatsa) – student at Stanford University

Samuel Gensaw III (Yurok) – vice chairman of the Yurok tribes Natural resource committee, and founding director of Ancestral Guard

Sanjay Rawal – documentary filmmaker

Twila Cassadore (San Carlos Apache Tribe) – cultural project assistant for the San Carlos Apache Tribe

Torey Dolan (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) – Indian legal clinic native vote fellow at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law – Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University

 

Break 1 music: Duck and Dive (song) Black Thunder Singers (artist) Black Thunder (album)

Break 2 music: Chant (song) Mihana (artist) One Little Dream (album)

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David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Tommy Orange, Stephen Graham Jones and Terese Mailhot are some of the Native authors making reading lists across the country. They’re also inspiring other would-be writers. We’ll be talking to Native writers about their craft and how to get those first words on paper. They’ll discuss how to overcome writers’ block, how to structure a narrative, and essential elements of a good book like plot and scene. November is National Novel Writing Month with the challenge to amateur authors to pen an entire book in 30 days. Maybe one of them will write the next bestseller.

Guests:

David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Sičháŋǧu Lakota) – author of the novel Winter Counts and the children’s book Spotted Tail

Waubgeshig Rice (Wasauksing First Nation) – author of Moon on the Crusted Snow

 

Break 1 music: Something Else (song) Orlando Cruz (artist)

Break 2 music: Hunting Chant (song) Art Napoleon (artist) Miyoskamin (Early Springtime) (album)

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The election is over and it’s time to add up the results. Poll watchers and pundits warn many important races—including the one for president of the United States—may not be decided for days, if not weeks. We’ll talk about what the sure things are, what they mean for Native voters and how any undecided races might play out.

Guests:

Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) – U.S. Representative for the first district of New Mexico

Dr. Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie 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

Ruth Buffalo (citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation) – North Dakota State House Representative for district 27

 

Break 1 music: The One Who Sees (song) Bear Creek (artist) XI – Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live At San Manuel (album)

Break 2 music: Hunting Chant (song) Art Napoleon (artist) Miyoskamin (Early Springtime) (album)

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Election Day always brings surprises, but so much is up in the air this year. The pandemic is changing how people cast their ballots. The incumbent president hasn’t committed to stepping down if he loses. Law enforcement and elections officials are grappling with the possibility of armed, right wing militia members showing up at polling places. Still, there are many reasons to be hopeful. We’ll talk with political and public policy experts about the issues driving Native voters to the polls and what bright spots are in play for the 2020 election.

Guests:

Kevin Allis (Forest County Potawatomi Community) – Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians

Nikki Pitre (Coeur d’Alene Tribe/Kalispel/Yakama/Nisqually/Cowlitz/Squaxin Island) – executive director of the Center for Native American Youth

Owen Oliver (Quinault/Isleta Pueblo) – secretary for the youth advisory board for the Center for Native American Youth

Sharen Kickingwoman (Blackfeet-A’aniii) – Indigenous Justice Program Manager at the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana

 

Break 1 music: Get Up Stand Up (song) Bailey Wiley, Che Fu, King Kapisi, Laughton Kora, Maisey Rika & Tiki Taane (artist) Get Up Stand Up (single)

Break 2 music: Hunting Chant (song) Art Napoleon (artist) Miyoskamin (Early Springtime) (album)