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The forensic field uses science to help gather evidence for criminal cases and some archeological investigations. Crimes involving Native people and renewed scrutiny of past boarding school practices highlight the importance for Native forensic professionals. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce hears from Native forensic experts about what the profession entails and how they work to solve difficult cases with Dr. Kona Williams (Cree and Mohawk), forensic pathologist and coroner; Ramona Emerson (Diné), writer, filmmaker, retired forensic photographer, and author of the novel Shutter; and Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho), veteran and forensic artist.

Break 1 music: Talking with Grandmothers (song) Fawn Wood (artist) Kikāwiynaw (album)

Break 2 music: Destiny (song) Mary Youngblood (artist) Feed the Fire (album)

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For all its faults, Twitter is an effective means for sharing and discussing Native issues, culture, language, and business. But for many #NativeTwitter users, the social media platform is increasingly losing its luster after its takeover by Elon Musk. There are fears that un-muzzling far right and white supremacist voices is making it a hotbed of hate speech against people of color. Is that a good reason to leave? Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce reveals the results of our Twitter poll and takes your calls about the platform-in-transition with author Traci Sorell (Cherokee); Dr. Twyla Baker (member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), president of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Aylan Couchie (Anishinaabe from the Nipissing First Nation), interdisciplinary artist and writer; and Dr. Emily Haozous (Enrolled Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), research scientist for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Break 1 music: The Move (song) DDAT (artist) DDAT (album)

Break 2 music: Destiny (song) Mary Youngblood (artist) Feed the Fire (album)

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Tribally-run museums offer two important benefits: they offer a Native voice for Native history within a system dominated by traditional European perspectives – and they bring the promise of economic development. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce takes us on a field trip to celebrate Tribal Museums Day with Shannon O’Loughlin (Choctaw), attorney and the CEO of the Association on American Indian Affairs; Dehrich Chya (Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak), language and living culture manager for the Alutiiq Museum; Billie Jean Guerrero (Pyramid Lake Paiute and Walker River Paiute), museum director for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitors Center; and Sunshine Thomas-Bear (member of Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska), tribal historic preservation officer, NAGPRA representative, and cultural preservation director for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and museum director for the Angel de Cora Museum.

Break 1 music: Pomok naka Poktoinskwes (song) Jeremy Dutcher (artist) Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa (album)
Break 2 music: Navajos Tacos and Native Movies (song) Eli Secody (artist) Rhythm of a Songmaker (album)

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After decades of fighting, tribes in Northern California can celebrate the pending removal of four dams on the Klamath River. Federal regulators cleared the way to remove the dams starting as early as next summer. If the plan comes to fruition, it will be the largest dam removal and salmon restoration project in history, something tribes say is sorely need to bring salmon back to their people. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce checks in with tribal chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery (Karuk) and Charley Reed (Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk), educational director for Save California Salmon and a cultural practitioner for the Karuk Tribe.

Break 1 music: Clearing the Path (song) Swinomish Canoe Family (artist)

Break 2 music: Navajos Tacos and Native Movies (song) Eli Secody (artist) Rhythm of a Songmaker (album)

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Business experts are mostly optimistic about the retail business outlook for the last part of this year. It all depends on the bite that things like inflation, gas prices, and other factors will take out of the time that is traditionally the busiest of the year. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce takes the holiday season temperature with Native retailers Angelo McHorse (Taos Pueblo), owner and co-founder of Bison Star Naturals; Tudor Montague (member of the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe), owner of Spirit Mountain Roasting Company; and Megan Schnitker (Sicangu Lakota), owner and founder of Lakota Made LLC, about how they’re planning for the coming weeks.

 

Break Music:  Singing Together (song) Drumming Hill Singers (song) Memories (album)

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Buffy Sainte-Marie’s singing career began at a time when the country’s knowledge and awareness of Indigenous people was limited. Growing up as an adoptee, she admits limited knowledge of her own heritage. But by educating herself, connecting with like-minded people, and honing her talent, Sainte-Marie became a trailblazer and an artist whose gift remains current and laudable. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with her about the early years of singing, the foundation it provided for her current work, and the PBS documentary that paints a portrait of her many talents.

Break 1 music: Hey Little Rockabye (song) Buffy Sainte-Marie (artist)

Break 2 music: Hey wuwhi (Switch Song) (song) Judy Trejo (artist) Circle Dance Songs of the Paiute and Shoshone (album)

Please note: This is a pre-recorded conversation, so we won’t be taking calls.

Or if you prefer, you can watch the conversation:

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The Native American Music Awards are back. The event is live from original territory of the Seneca Nation. Lifetime Achievement Recipient Rodney Grant hosts the live event to celebrate the best among veteran and up-and-coming Indigenous artists. Today on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce speaks with Edward Koban (Mohawk), NAMA music director; Strong Buffalo (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota), NAMA winner of the Best Duo/Group award for Buffalo Weavers; Jacob Faithful (Frog Lake Cree First Nation), head singer of the Young Spirit; Rex Lyons (member of the Onondaga Nation), founding member of the Ripcords; and Brett Maybee (Seneca Nation), producer and host of Gaënö’.

 

Break Music:  Thick as Thieves (song) The Ripcords (artist) Unmasked (Live) (album)