Native America Calling

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 – Coming Home After Being Homeless

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What does it take to get back on your feet after a bout of homelessness? For some homeless Native Americans, the journey home is not as simple as finding an apartment and a job. They also need to reconnect with family and reestablish a place in their tribal communities. In today’s show, we discuss the issues homeless Natives face and we put the spotlight on programs and groups that work to try to bring homeless Natives home. 

Guests:  

Samuel Johns (Ahtna Athabaskan) — founder of the Forget me not movement

Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee) — executive director at the Chief Seattle Club and on the Chief Seattle Club Facebook

Dr. Jennifer Denetdale (Diné) — commissioner on the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission and a professor at the University of New Mexico. Also on Facebook

Deb Foster (St. Croix Ojibwe) — executive director of the Ain Dah Yung Center

Break Music:   Spirit Dance (song) Anthony Wakeman (artist) Handprints Of Our People (album)

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 – Housing and Poverty

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There are two new housing projects in Native America that are gathering momentum. One program, Generations, is an intergenerational housing community in Portland, Oregon. The program aims to help children in the foster care system by providing housing, an early learning center and a community longhouse. The Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, just broke ground on a $60 million project that will include housing, workforce training, youth centers and much more. Some believe the way to address poverty, and the societal issues that arise from poverty, is to start with safe housing. Do you see a connection between housing and poverty? Could housing projects with community centers and other services be the answer to Native America’s current housing crisis? Guests: Nick Tilsen (Oglala Lakota) – executive director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation Matt Morton (Squaxin Island Tribe) – executive director of the Native American Youth and Family Center

Guests:

Matthew Morton (Squaxin Island Tribe) – Executive Director, Native American Youth and Family Center

Nick Tilsen (Oglala Lakota) – Executive Director, Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation

Chancy Kittson (Blackfeet) – Executive Director, Blackfeet Housing Authority

Break Music:

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

Friday, January 9, 2015 – Ending Veteran Homelessness

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs vowed to end homelessness among veterans by the end of 2015. The number of homeless veterans is declining but statistics show almost 50,000 veterans were homeless on a single night in January 2014. What is the VA doing now to meet the ambitious goal of ending veteran homelessness this year? How are tribes working with the federal government on this issue? We also want to hear what you see in your community. Are veterans struggling to find safe, stable housing? What do you think should be done to make sure those who served their country in the armed forces have a place to call home?

Guests:

Mitchelene  Big Man (Crow) -President and Founder of Native American Women Warriors, retired Army Veteran.

Roger Casey – Director of Education and Dissemination for VA’s National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans

Teresa Pitman – HUD-VASH Regional Coordinator for the VA

Dr. Ricky Robinson (Cherokee) – Manager of the Cherokee Nation Veterans Service Center

 

Break Music: Ocean Prayer (Version A) (song) Pamyua (artist) Side A/Side B (album)

 

 

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