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In the Southwest, the Navajo shoe game is a big draw for storytelling and games in winter. It’s essentially a guessing game but it’s laced with songs, origin stories and some valuable life lessons. In the Great Lakes, males play Makazinitaagewin, or moccasin game. It’s a different kind of guessing game with as much culture, music and community bonding. We’ll hear more about shoe games and how they incorporate and preserve Native culture.

Guests:

Damon Panek (White Earth Ojibwe) – Moccasin game player

David “Amik” Sam (Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe) – Mille Lacs band elder and Makizin instructor

Kevin Belin (Diné) – Navajo language teacher, recipient the Billy Mills Dream Starter Grant “I’m a dream started”

 

Break 1 music: The Yucca Ball Is Hidden Now (song) Sammie Largo (artist) Navajo Shoe Game Songs Keshjee Siin (album)

Break 2 music: Rumble (Remastered) (song) Link Wray (artist) Rumble (Remastered) (single)

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Homeless advocates in Minneapolis say the city’s plans to help Native homeless people fall short. Activists recently occupied the location that previously held a homeless encampment of mostly Native people. The original encampment prompted city leaders to try and work toward a solution that includes construction of a temporary shelter. In Seattle, homeless Natives can now find temporary housing in modular trailers. The housing village offers more than just a place to stay. It’s part of a program that includes culturally appropriate services to help residents find permanent homes. In this hour we’ll explore what is being done to address homelessness in Native America and the pervasive challenges that remain.

Guests:

Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee) – executive director at the Chief Seattle Club

Derrick Belgarde (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians/Chippewa Cree) – deputy director of the Chief Seattle Club

Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe Nation) – chair of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors

 

Break 1 music: Intertribal (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Confederacy Style (album)

Break 2 music: Rumble (Remastered) (song) Link Wray (artist) Rumble (Remastered) (single)

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The road to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea is open for the first time since July. Backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope say they’re putting off plans for the $1.6 billion project for at least the next two months. Officials withdrew any law enforcement presence that has been in place since opponents of the project blocked the road prevent construction crews from reaching the top of the sacred mountain. Opponents of the project say they have time now to switch focus to providing a more permanent solution. We’ll get an update on the on-going fight over construction of the new telescope on Mauna Kea.

Guests:

Kealoha Piscuiotta (Kanaka Maoli) – spokesperson for Mauna Kea Anaina Hou

Hank Fergerstrom (Kanaka Maoli) – spokesperson from the Na Kupuna O Keawe

Samuel Wilder King II (Kanaka Maoli) – executive director of Imua TMT

James Stone Jr. (Kanaka Maoli) –

 

Break 1 music: No luna i Kahalekai (Hula ‘Ala’apapa) (song) Joe Kahaulelio (artist) Ancient Hula Hawaiian Style: Vol. 1 Hula Kuahu (album)

Break 2 music: Rumble (Remastered) (song) Link Wray (artist) Rumble (Remastered) (single)

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Are you a dog person or a cat person? Maybe you’re more partial to hedgehogs or iguanas. Our pets earn a special place in our hearts and it’s time to give them some attention. Whether you like goldfish or golden retrievers, our guests will offer insights on why pets are so important in our lives and give advice on how to best take care of the animal members of our households.

Guests:

James Bywater (Cherokee Nation) – adjunct professor for Northeastern State University and licensed therapist

Joan White (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) –  vice-chair of the Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue

Shannon White (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) – volunteer for the Lake Traverse Animal Rezcue

Kimberly Craven (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) –  legal director of ACLU for South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming

Mentioned on the show: Cotton the therapy dog

Introducing Service, Emotional Support, and Therapy Animals: Benefits, Legal, and Ethical Considerations free class

Break 1 music: Eagle Dance REMIX (song) Decontie & Brown (artist) Ancestors (album)

Break 2 music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk Jacobsen) (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)

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Every January is a time for new beginnings and resolutions. We’ll get you off on the right foot with some positive vibes from some inspirational people. Whether it’s studying harder, finding more patience or reaching physical fitness goals, our guests can offer some encouraging words to get you off on the right foot.

Break 1 music: Yuve Yuve Yu (song) The Hu (artist) The Gereg

Break 2 music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk Jacobsen) (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)

Guest: D.J. “Eagle Bear” Vanas (Odawa Nation) – motivational storyteller, bestselling author and owner of Native Discovery Inc.

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It was a relatively simple act: Ponca Chief Standing Bear left his reservation in 1878 to bury his son on the tribe’s ancestral land in Nebraska. But the journey would lead to a major federal court decision establishing Native Americans as people under the law. The U.S. Government argued “an Indian is neither a person nor a citizen.” The state of Nebraska is honoring Standing Bear as a civil rights leader with a statue in the U.S. Capitol. We’ll review Standing Bear’s legacy and his remarkable accomplishment during a troubling time in history. (This is an encore show from Dec. 11, 2019).

Guests:

Dwight Howe (Omaha/Ponca) – cultural director for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Larry Dwyer – author of Standing Bear’s Quest for Freedom

Break 1 music: Generations (song) P. Town Boyz (artist) P. Town Boyz (album)

Break 2 music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk Jacobsen) (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)

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We’re taking time to celebrate the lives of some of the Native people we lost this year.
The life of hip hop artist Wake Self, whose given name was Andrew Martinez (Apache) was tragically cut short before his latest album was set to release. We’ll talk with his close friend Def-i about his life and legacy. We’ll also remember other notable people who died, and we’ll take your calls.

Guests:

Vernon “Cy” Ahtone (Kiowa) – son of Juanita Ahtone

Def-i (Navajo) – hip hop artist and MC

Jennifer LaMere (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) – daughter of Frank LaMere

Kevin Abourezk (Rosebud Sioux) – managing editor of Indianz.com

Break 1 music: Memorial Song (song) Porcupine Singers (artist) Alowanpi – Songs Of Honoring – Lakota Classics: Past & Present, Vol. 1 (album)

Break 2 music: Standing Rock (feat. Nick Ørbæk Jacobsen) (song) Uyarakq (artist) Miseraq (album)

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The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians is finally federally recognized. We’ll talk with the tribe’s chairman about this hard fought journey. Also we’ll check in with reporter Tripp Crouse (Ojibwe) about a piece in High Country News on young climate activists. And Mark Trahant (Shoshone Bannock) from Indian Country Today will join for a wrap up of the big Native news stories of 2019. It’s our December news round up.  These stories and more in our round-up of important Native news.

Guests:

Mark Trahant (Shoshone Bannock)- editor of Indian Country Today

Gerald Gray (Little Shell Tribe) – chairman of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Tripp Crouse (Ojibwe)- news and public affairs producer for KNBA

Break 1 music: O Christmas Tree (song) Injunuity (artist) Nativity

Break 2 music: Winter Wonderland (song) Sihasin (artist) Punk Rock Christmas (album)