Native America Calling

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 – Natives in Science Fiction

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With the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode Seven, science fiction is once again the hot topic in popular culture. But a lack of diversity is a weak area for the majority of science fiction in the mainstream. As the book publisher Lee & Low points out, only 8% of protagonists in science fiction movies are people of color. The presence of Natives in this genre is mostly absent or relegated to tropes and stereotypes. Moreover the ideas of space exploration and space colonization are fraught with historical implications for Native people. In this hour, we take a look at Native authors and filmmakers who are taking on the genre and redefining what it means to be Native in science fiction. We also want to hear from you. How do you feel about the representation of Natives in science fiction?

 

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)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 – A Discussion on History & Stereotypes with Philip J. Deloria

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Philip J. Deloria (Dakota) is known as a professor and author of books like “Playing Indian” and “Indians in Unexpected Places.” His work looks at stereotypes and highlights Natives who have helped to break down what people may expect of Natives. He has also been connected to the Organization of American Historians and is a Trustee of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Today he join us to talk about how stereotypes have shaped people’s perceptions of Native America. We’ll also explore how history shapes our Native lives. We invite you to join us as we visit with Philip J. Deloria.

 

Break Music: Victory Song (song) Thunder Hill (artist) Relentless (album)

Thursday, October 9, 2014 — Stereotyping Aztlán and Beyond

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You may or may not be surprised at the things Indigenous people with Mayan, Aztec and other Indigenous roots from Mexico, Central and South America have to tolerate when it comes to stereotyping. Much like the beads and feather complex people seem to have when they stereotype Natives from the U.S., these Indigenous communities, which also includes Natives from the Caribbean, often deal with misconceptions about their heritage and culture. As the stores start to fill up with Native-themed costumes and accessories for Halloween, we take a look at what Indigenous nations south of the U.S. have to say about stereotypes. Can education change how people treat them and their culture? What kinds of questionable cultural appropriations from these Indigenous populations also need to be called out, analyzed or stopped?

Guests:

Michael Heralda (Mexican/Apache/Spanish) – storytellers and cultural presenter

Ingrid Sub Cuc (Mayan) – program assistant, Cultural Survival

Emmanuelle “Neza” Leal-Santillan – organizer with the Media Literacy Project

Leo Cerda (Kichwa) – youth activist with Amazon Watch and Yasunidos

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