Native America Calling

Friday, October 30, 2015 – The “Indian Burial Ground” Trope

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Halloween is nearly here and many TV shows are unearthing seasonal episodes with spooks and ghouls. One popular plot line is the “Indian burial ground” trope that usually includes characters becoming cursed or haunted because they unwittingly desecrate a Native American burial ground. Join us as we examine shows and movies that rely on exaggerated or just plain wrong interpretations of Native culture. Where did the fascination with Indian burial grounds come from? What are some other myths that movies perpetuate?

Guests:

Edwin Whitewolf (Comanche) – doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin

Pierre Barrera (Klamath/Lakota) actor and director

email your scary stories to Pierre Barrera: scaryrezstories AT gmail.com

Break Music: Monster Mash (song) Black Lodge (artist) Kids’ Pow-Wow Songs (album)

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 — Redface in the Entertainment Industry

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A burlesque performer drew protests for wearing a buckskin bikini and feather headdress. A Seattle actress takes to the stage in a cartoonish Native American costume as a way to educate people about cultural misappropriation. We’ll hear from performers who say they’re on the right side of donning what’s known as “redface”. Just what are the boundaries of Native American dress and imagery? Is it ever appropriate to wear traditional attire on stage?

Guests:

Johnnie Jae (Oto-Missouria and Choctaw) – Founding Board Member of Not Your Mascots, Managing Partner of Native Max Magazine

Randy Reinholz (Enrolled Choctaw of Oklahoma) – Professor at San Diego State University, Artistic Director of Native Voices at the Autry

 

Break Music: Aroha – Love (song) Mika (artist) Mika Versus Fashion (album)

Wednesday, September 16, 2015 – Native American Stereotypes in Video Games 

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Video games offer hours of entertainment for 155 million Americans who play. Gamers can figure out puzzles, role play, race and kill off enemies. The characters and story plots of video games are now more elaborate to match advances in technology. Throughout the years and generations of game consoles, some gamers argue that Native American video game characters continue to be stereotypes and even racist depictions of Native people. Do you think Native stereotypes in video games still exist in 2015? Does it matter if a good game includes stereotypes of Native Americans?

Guests: 

Elizabeth LaPensée (Anishinaabe and Metis) – game designer

Josiah Pinkham (Nez Perce) — cultural specialist for the Nez Perce Tribe Cultural Resource Program

Manuel Marcano (Taino) — game developer and creator of Hurakan Works

Eric Watson (Inupiaq and Athabaskan) — Cook Inlet Tribal Council village liaison

Break Music: Suplex (feat. Northern Voice) (song) A Tribe Called Red (artist) Suplex – EP (album)

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 – New Platforms For Native Media

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The way we consume media is always changing. In the first three months of this year, 31,000 Americans cancelled their cable subscription, according to a media research group. Popular streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube provide an opportunity for new voices to reach the masses. Many Native Americans and Alaska Natives are taking advantage of all the opportunities to get their work to more Native viewers. On this show, we explore new ways to experience Native media. Would you like to see more Native media on your TV or streaming media services?

Guests:

Molly Katagiri – director of Waabooz

Klee Benally (Diné) – writer and director of the film Power Lines

Tim Harjo (Fort Sill Apache) – President and CEO of  Native Flix

 

Break Music: Euphony (song) Nitanis “Kit” Largo (artist) Serenity (album) 

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