Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

A group of educators in North Carolina are appealing a ruling that rejected their application for an Indigenous-focused charter school. Members of the Charter Schools Advisory Board took issue with the term “red pedagogy” coined by academic Dr. Sandy Grande (Quechua). Red pedagogy is an educational theory that focuses on Native thought. One board member expressed concerns it would be “divisive instead of bringing unity.” We’ll learn more about ‘red pedagogy’ and talk with the educators working to start the charter school.

Guests:

Dr. Sandy Grande (Quechua) – professor of education and director for critical study of race and ethnicity at Connecticut College

Dr. Brenda Dial Deese (Lumbee) – vice-chair for the board of Old Main STREAM Academy

Break 1 music: Witchi Tai To (song) Joy Harjo (artist) Winding Through the Milky Way (album)

Break 2 music: Leadership Song (Naaí’áanii Biyiin) (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K’é Hasin (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

HIV infection rates among Native Americans continue to rise. The most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a 46 percent increase for all Native Americans from 2010 to 2016. The agency points to factors like lack of awareness, stigma, poverty and illicit drug use as the key challenges health advocates are up against in trying to lower new infection rates. The Indian Health Service recently awarded more than $2 million to nine of its Tribal Epidemiology Centers to help reduce new HIV infections as part of a national plan to “end the HIV epidemic.” To acknowledge World AIDs Day, we’ll discuss on the challenges of lowering HIV infection rates in Native America and what work is being done.

Guests:

Lisa Neel (citizen of the Cherokee Nation) – director of the Indian Health Service Tribal Epidemiology Center Program

Mattee Jim (Diné) – supervisor of the HIV prevention programs for First Nations Community Healthsource

Adriana Kimbriel (Klamath from Oregon) – program coordinator for the California Rural Indian Health Board

Break 1 music: Reindeer (song) Pamyua (artist) Caught In The Act (album)

Break 2 music: Leadership Song (Naaí’áanii Biyiin) (song) Radmilla Cody (artist) K’é Hasin (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The Native American Journalist Association is taking on the New York Times after the news organization’s problematic coverage in a story about Canadian Inuit people. We’ll talk with NAJA board member Graham Brewer (Cherokee Nation) about the organization’s complaints. Also we’ll check in with New Republic reporter Nick Martin (Sappony) about his analysis of the South Dakota meth marketing campaign fail. Those issues and more on our regular news roundup.

Comment from IHS regarding WSJ article

Comment from New York Times regarding NAJA’s complaint

Guests:

Graham Brewer (Cherokee Nation) – board member of the Native American Journalist Association and a contributing editor to High Country News 

Christopher Weaver- reporter for the Wall Street Journal 

Nick Martin (Sappony) reporter for The New Republic

Break 1 Music: Just Lie Down (song) Black Belt Eagle Scout (artist) Mother of My child (album)

Break 2 music: The Legend of Mother Swan (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

Tribes, both in the U.S. and Canada, are on the forefront of restoring healthy, sustainable bison herds. In October, several tribes joined the growing number of those signing onto what’s known as the Buffalo Treaty. The agreement—first drafted in 2014—aims to ultimately restore the iconic animal’s range to more than 6 million acres and recognize its historical and cultural significance. Officials with the Badlands National Park in South Dakota just released four bison to a newly expanded bison range for the first time in more than 150 years.

 

Break 1 music: Cultural Survival (song) Art Napoleon (Travelling Sun) (artist) Miyoskamin (Early Springtime) (album)

Break 2 music: The Legend of Mother Swan (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

After years of effort, the Pueblo of Acoma took possession of a sacred item from an overseas auction house. It’s one of very few successful repatriation attempts by tribes to get sacred items returned from foreign sellers intent on profiting from Native cultural patrimony. The Acoma shield was missing for decades before it showed up in 2015 at the EVE Auction House in Paris, an establishment notorious for selling off hundreds of Native items, some of which are sacred. Since then, the pueblo, along with the U.S. Department of Justice and political leaders worked to get it back. We’ll talk with Acoma leaders about what it took to see their sacred item returned and some ideas for other tribes fighting to return items.

Guests:

Brian Vallo – Acoma Pueblo Governor

Kurt Riley – former governor of Acoma Pueblo

Aaron Sims (Acoma Pueblo) – attorney from the Chestnut Law Office and the Acoma Pueblo’s general legal council

John Anderson – United States attorney

Break 1 music: Rolling Stone (song) Burning Sky (artist) A Simple Man (album)

Break 2 music: The Legend of Mother Swan (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The Mongolian metal group The Hu is currently making its way across the country, playing to a growing Native American fan base. Each time the group steps on stage they create a blend of riveting metal and throat singing. The band calls their unique and energetic sound Hunnu Rock, referencing the Hunnu Mongolian empire. Many of the lyrics on their album, “The Gereg,” are a call to warriors.

Break 1 music: The Gereg (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Break 2 music: The Legend of Mother Swan (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.0MB) | Embed

The first Indigenous president of Bolivia, Evo Morales (Aymara), is in exile in Mexico. He resigned under pressure by the military shortly after he declared himself the victor in a contentious election to his fourth term in office. His supporters are calling it a coup but there are vastly divergent narratives about the situation and what led up to it. The self-appointed interim president is linked to anti-Indigenous comments and has already cracked down on protests calling for Morales’ return. We’ll talk with experts about the Morales’ legacy and the future of Bolivia.

Guests:

Dr. Nick Estes (Lower Brule Sioux) – assistant professor of American Studies at University of New Mexico

Avexnim Cojti (Maya K’iche’) – community media grants program manager for Cultural Survival

Maya Lazzaro (Quechua) – jewelry designer and youth organizer

Break 1 music: Chayantenita (song) Bolivia Manta (artist) A Native American Odyssey Inuit to Inca (album)

Break 2 music: The Legend of Mother Swan (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download () | Embed

“Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting Environments, and Regaining Health” is a collection of writings from different Indigenous cultural advocates. Some of those offering their perspectives on why it’s time to revitalize Indigenous food systems are those who prepare the food. There are also works from those who have a close eye on the land and social structures that affect the way the natural environment produces the foods Native nations need for sustainability. We hear from editors and contributors of this wealth of food sovereignty knowledge.

 

Break 2 music: Little Earthlings (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) Sun Child (album)