Native America Calling

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 — Boxing in Native America

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Going toe-to-toe with another person trying to punch you in the face is not everyone’s idea of a good time. But the sport of boxing is a way of life for some athletes in Native America. Modern day warriors compete in the ring for local, national and even international titles. Sometimes they just duke it out to earn the respect of their gym.  How is boxing connected to your Native community?  How is it connected to your life?

Guests:

Wes Nofire (Cherokee Nation) — undefeated heavyweight contender

Erik Riley (White Mountain Apache) — boxing coach and head coach for the Haskell Boxing Club

Mioshia “Yosh” Wagoner (Navajo and Chickasaw) — lightweight boxer

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

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 — Basketball: The Heartbeat of Indian Country

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A basketball bouncing on a gym’s hardwood floor fuels a sense of Native pride almost as much as the sound of a drum does. Basketball is a way of life in Native America. How did this sport make its way into the heart of Indian Country? What does it mean to the young and old players, the fans and the communities that support them? Do you have a basketball player in the family? Did you play? Join our conversation.

Guests:

Angelo Johnson (San Carlos Apache, Tohono O’odham, Hopi) — programs and events coordinator for the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) Foundation

Brent Cahwee (Pawnee and Euchee) – co-founder and editor of ndnsports.com

Break Music: Dancin’ on the Run (song) Inez Jasper (artist) Burn Me Down

 

Thursday, April 9, 2015 – Polynesian Football

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A new documentary takes viewers inside the world of Polynesian football hopefuls. “In Football We Trust” premiered this year at Sundance and focuses on four high school football players in Utah who hope to become NFL stars. They also experience larger concerns in their journey: poverty, the allure of gang life, the demands of religion, and the pull of traditional Polynesian culture. These pressures are all begging for their attention and could help the young men improve their lives or tear them down. Are sports a way for members of your community to better themselves or is a traditional education the ticket to success? What is it about sports that brings us back again and again?

Guests: 

Tony Vainuku – director of “In Football We Trust”

Erika Cohn – the films co-Director and producer.

 

Break Music: Ara Ra Kapanapana (song) Te Runga Rawa (artist) Chants Maoris (album)

Friday, September 19, 2014 – Sports and Education

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Sports are a part of every school year and basketball, football, and cross country are especially popular across Native America. Does your child or grandchild play a sport? Do you think young people can balance academics and sports? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children should have 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Some studies suggest a link between physical fitness and higher test scores. Do you think participation in sports can lead to academic success? Or do sports take too much attention away from the classroom?

Guests:

John Harjo (Muscogee Creek) – offensive coordinator Idaville High School in Oklahoma and co-founder of Ndnsports.com

Dr. Derek Van Rheenen – director of the Athletic Study Center and faculty director for the Cultural Studies of Sports in Education at the University of California Berkeley

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