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A suicide by a family member or friend leaves grief, depression, anger and a host of other crippling emotions in its wake. Because Native Americans have the highest rate of suicides compared to other groups, Native people are disproportionately left to cope with the loss. The gravity of the problem is spurring new and innovative ways to turn the numbers around. We’ll hear from those affected by suicide and get guidance on where to turn.

Guests:

Pamela End of Horn (Oglala Lakota) – IHS National Suicide Prevention Consultant

Nataanii Hatathlie (Diné) – We R Native youth ambassador

Angela Blodgett (Yakama nation)- youth ambassador for We R Native

Alyssa Hurt (Chickasaw) – youth ambassador for We R Native

Break Music:  Canoe Song (song) Chenoa (artist) Spirit of Salishan (album)

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Maintaining social contacts helps elders stay healthy. And it’s something elders have difficulty with. Researchers at Brigham Young University found links between social isolation and increased risks of heart disease, infections and cognitive decline. Few studies zero in on Native elders, but the problem is noticeable enough that organizations are offering ways to get elders out of the house and interacting with young people, each other and other members of the public.

Guests:

Dr. Jordan Lewis (Native village of Naknek) – director of the National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders

Dr. Colette Browne – professor and chair of the department of social work at the University of Hawaii, principal investigator of National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders (Ha Kupuna)

Break Music:  Sneak Up (song) Blackfoot Confederacy (artist) Confederacy Style (album)

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Some tribal nations are among the poorest places in the country where it’s challenging to build business. For some entrepreneurs, cooking from home or out of a food truck makes up for lack of job opportunities and lack of infrastructure in Native communities. At the same time these determined entrepreneurs provide traditional and contemporary Native foods for everyday dinners, celebrations and special events. And for some, it’s a gateway to a lucrative career.

Guests:

Ashley Sarracino (Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo) – marketing consultant for Grandma Joe’s Bakery

Bleu Adams (Diné and Mandan and Hidatsa) – serial entrepreneur and restaurateur

Sherry Pocknett (Mashpee Wampanoag)- indigenous chef of the East Coast and owner of Sly Fox Den catering

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

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More than 75 years after the Native people of Attu Island were taken captive, their descendants are working on a way to return home. Attu is the westernmost island in the Alaskan Aleutian chain. It was the also the site of the only World War II battle on U.S. soil in 1942. Japanese soldiers took the 44 residents as prisoners. Half of them died. After the ordeal the U.S. Government prevented the remainder from returning home. Now descendants from the island residents are working on ways to regularly return to their homeland.

Guests:

Zoe Sobel – Reporter with KUCB

Helena Schmitz – Attu descendant

Theresa Deal (Aleut) – Descendant

Crystal Dushkin (Unangax) – Mayor of Atka

Break 1 Music: We Danced Movement I (song) Cris Derksen (artist) The Cusp (the album)

Break 2 Music: Rainbow Dance Song (song) Fernando Cellicion, Alton Nastacio, Florentine Johnson (artist) Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions (album)

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The Navajo Nation flipped the switch on a 27.3-megawatt solar power facility last year. It’s now keeping the lights on in 18,000 homes inside the rural reservation. It’s the largest tribally owned and operated solar power project in the country. Tribes like the Navajo and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska hope to lower member utility bills, encourage sustainable energy and provide economic opportunity.

Guests:

Lance Morgan (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) – founder and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Stephen Manydeeds (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) – Chief of the Division of Energy and Mineral Development, Department of Interior

Glenn Steiger – executive consultant for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

Break 1 Music: Let The Sun (song) Digging Roots (artist) We Are (album)

Break 2 Music: Rainbow Dance Song (song) Fernando Cellicion, Alton Nastacio, Florentine Johnson (artist) Music of New Mexico: Native American Traditions (album)

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Coloring books have long since graduated from the realm of children’s activity. Some talented Native artists are adding to the increasingly popular genre. They help to promote Native pride with detailed, imaginative graphics of prominent Native people and images. It’s a way to educate and spread understanding while also appealing to the popular, relaxing pastime accessible to almost everyone.

Try your hand at coloring with these pages from our guests:

Uianuraq, The Masked Dancer by Britt’Nee Kivliqtarak Brower
Shoni Schimmel, by Crystle Lightning
Basket design, by Damien Jim
John Trudell, Jim Thorpe and Joey Stylez, by Henry RedCloud Andrade

Guests:

Crystle Lightning (Cree)- actress, author, hip hop artist and DJ

Henry RedCloud Andrade (Huichol) – author, illustrator, hip hop artist and motivational speaker

Brit’Nee Kivliqtarak Brower (Iñupiat) – Inupiaq artist

Damien Jim – (Diné) artist & graphic designer

Break Music:  Tānerore (song) NRG Rising (artist) Say Yes to Life (album)

As Native people we are taught to be grateful for the gifts that come with the seasons. This month we get to jump into a story that not only teaches the importance of the seasons but gives the Cherokee syllabary a spotlight. “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga,” written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lessac, uses colorful imagery to show the world how this nation celebrates life and the value of expressing gratitude— Otsaliheliga in their language. Join us for this Native lesson as we visit with the children’s book author Traci Sorell as our Book of the Month feature.

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Tribal justice, drag queens, sisters, Navajo politics, origin stories and grief are just a few of the themes highlighted in the films at this year’s Native Cinema Showcase put on by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Once again we’ll review some of the cinematic work by Native filmmakers and discuss the inspiration and toil that goes into each one.

Guests:

Shaandiin Tome (Diné) – filmmaker

Cindy Benitez – program manager for the Native Cinema Showcase

Terril Calder (Métis) – visual artist, animator and director

Karen Cantor – director and producer of “Return”

Break 1 Music: Black Orpheus (song) Gabriel Ayala & Will Clipman (artist) Passion, Fire & Grace (album)

Break 2 Music: Ideal Dub (song) Casper Loma Da-Wa (artist) Honor the People (album)

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Indigenous wellness might refer to something as simple as managing stress. But it might also be as encompassing as addressing intergenerational trauma. Lately ‘wellness’ is a buzzword incorporated by everyone from your company’s human resources department to the World Health Organization. It’s a concept embraced by employers and caregivers. Tribal traditions often encourage working toward physical, spiritual and emotional balance. It’s much more than just being healthy. It’s making healthy choices hour by hour, day by day. In this hour we’ll hear from health professionals about the latest methods to achieve wellness.

Guests:

Leatrice Lewis (Zuni Pueblo) – independent contractor

Dr. Donald Warne (Lakota) – associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion and director of the Indians into Medicine program at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Beverly Stabber Warne (Lakota) – coordinator, advisor and nurse mentor at the Native American Nursing Education Center at South Dakota State University College of Nursing

Break 1 Music: Chicken Dance (song) Sweetgrass (artist) Follow The Trial (album)

Break 2 Music: Ideal Dub (song) Casper Loma Da-Wa (artist) Honor the People (album)

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The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe formally welcomed home Celtics point guard, Kyrie Irving and his sister. Their mother has ties to the tribe. The Crow Tribe adopted President Barack Obama. A member of the Assiniboine Sioux Tribe adopted U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and a Comanche Nation member adopted actor Johnny Depp. We’ll explore the process and legacy of some high profile adoptions.

Guests:

Laura Harris (Comanche) – executive director of American for Indian Opportunity

Dr. Lanny Real Bird (Apsáalooke) – educator and consultant

Break 1 Music: Woman’s Song (song) Joanne Shenandoah (artist) Sounds Of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music From The National Museum Of The American Indian (album)

Break 2 Music: Ideal Dub (song) Casper Loma Da-Wa (artist) Honor the People (album)