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A new law in Oklahoma says only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes can label and sell their art as “Native made.” That means artists from tribes recognized only by states are out of luck. Those in support of the law—including several tribes—say it protects the integrity of Native art. But others—like Peggy Fontenot, an artist from a state-recognized tribe—say the law tramples on her rights. Do you think we need stricter arts and crafts laws? Is it fair for a state to determine who is Native or not?

Guests:

Peggy Fontenot (enrolled in the Patawomeck tribe) – Native American artist

Caleb Trotter – Pacific Legal Foundation attorney

Kimberly Teehee (member of the Cherokee Nation) – Cherokee Nation government affairs director

Break music: Sisters (song) Tribe Called Red (artist) Nation II Nation (album)

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Over the past two decades, the rate of kidney failures among Native Americans quietly dropped a total 54 percent. That’s the word this month from the Centers for Disease Control. The milestone is remarkable considering Native Americans are more likely to have diabetes than any other group, and diabetes is the major cause of kidney failure. It didn’t require a magic pill or miracle cure. Health officials credit a sustained, concerted effort. The low-key success story is saving lives and millions of dollars.

Guests:

Dr. Andy Narva – director of the National Kidney Disease Education Program at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Ann Bullock (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe/Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) – director of the Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention at the Indian Health Service

Break music: Pangaea (song) Visionaries (artist) Pangaea (album)

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Offensive words and actions can incite strong reactions. We’ve seen unfortunate incidents hit the headlines, like when a group of Lakota children are harassed at a hockey game in Rapid City. There are other times that are less noticeable but just as damaging. Native Americans in border towns are jeered on the street and told to ‘go back to the reservation’. What’s the best way to address hate and offensive behavior? What do you do when you or a fellow person of color is bullied or harassed?

Guests:

Whitney Rencountre (Crow Creek Sioux) – director of the Ateyapi youth program

Dr. Barbara Perry – professor of social science and humanities at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Kade Farris (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) – founder of Unity USA

Break music: Unity (song) Native Roots (artist) Most High (album)

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New guidelines for implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act aim to clarify regulations and provide examples of best practices. Bureau of Indian Affairs officials say the guidelines will help families, tribes and courts navigate the sometimes inconsistent interpretations of ICWA by different state courts and agencies over the law’s 38 years in existence. The original law intended to keep children with families and tribal members. It’s a landmark of Indian law, but remains controversial among some adoption advocates. We’ll sift through the new guidelines and get an update on some current ICWA cases.

Guests:

Sarah Walters (Cheyenne River Sioux) – Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior

David Simmons – director of government affairs and advocacy for the National Indian Child Welfare Association

Shanna Knight – ICWA specialist for the National Indian Child Welfare Association

Break music: Prayer Loop (song) Supaman (artist)

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Cherolynda Bennett (Navajo) turned to a popular for-profit preparation service when her taxes were due. But she noticed some shady behavior after receiving a small loan to get her by until her refund check came. Her close attention to detail ultimately turned into a class action lawsuit that brought a nearly $700,000 settlement. We’ll hear about her story and some other common scams to look out for.

Guests:

Cherolynda Bennett (Navajo) – average taxpayer and activist

Shawn Spruce (Laguna) – financial education consultant

Davyn Williams – assistant attorney general in the consumer protection unit in the Alaska Attorney General’s office

Break music: Harmony Nights (song) Cheevers Toppah & Alex Smith (artist) Harmony Nights: Native American Vocal Harmony (album)

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Donald J. Trump takes his seat as the 45th president of the United States this Friday. During his campaign and throughout the transition he’s said next-to-nothing about Native Americans and Alaska Natives. What does a Trump administration mean for Native America? What policy agendas will benefit or hurt Native Americans and Alaska Natives? We’ll get some expert opinions from those in the Native American Coalition created in December and others.

Guests:

Senator Tom Udall – United States Senator from New Mexico

Ross Swimmer (Cherokee Nation) – former principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Interior

Sarah Deer (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) – co-director of the Indian Law Program and law professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law

William McCabe (Navajo) – principal owner of McCabe and Associates

Break music: Chant (song) Robert Mirabal + Ethel (artist) The River (album)

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Joseph Boyden says he needs to ‘step back a bit’ from offering his perspective on Indigenous issues. The popular Canadian author of such books as Three Day Road, Through Black Spruce and The Orenda is under fire after an investigation called his heritage into question. The controversy raises a frequent issue of whether there’s room for people like Boyden in an authentic discussion of Indigenous topics. We’ll ask that question of people who both support and condemn Boyden’s actions.

Guests:

Nickita Longman (Saulteaux from George Gordon First Nation) – community organizer and freelance writer

Wab Kinew (Midewin) – Native author, journalist and hip-hop artist

Break music: Old School Hop (song) Cree Confederation (artist) Pakosiyimitan (album)

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Not all tribes have a weaving tradition. Navajo and Chilkat weavings are among those that come to mind first when we think of Native American textiles. They are iconic pieces of art that exemplify their cultures. We’ll explore stories behind these and other weaving styles and find out how the practice became a high-end art form.

Guests:

Lily Hope (Tlingit) – weaver and teaching artist

Marcella Hale (Diné) – treasurer of the Navajo Weavers Association

Barbara Teller Ornelas (Navajo)

Break music: Hope (Featuring Werner Erb) (song) Sihasin (artist) Never Surrender (album)

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From fights over oil extraction in Ecuador and Peru, to a water fight in Colombia, Indigenous people of Latin America are struggling to maintain traditional lands and culture against outside encroachment. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs estimates there are 40 million Indigenous people in Latin America. We’ll look at some of the key issues they’re facing.

Guests:

Cristina Coc (Q’eqchi Maya) – spoke person for the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association

Leonardo Crippa (Kolla) – senior attorney at the Indian Law Resource Center

Rick Kearns (Taíno) – freelance journalist work has been included in Indian Country Today

Break music: Mundo Enganador (song) Quetzal Guerrero (artist) Coiza Boa (album)