Archives for April 2017
NAC: May 1 – 5
Monday, May 1, 2017 — Native pride on graduation day
As Native students across the country get ready for graduation day, some will have to double-check school policy before adding traditional regalia when they accept their diplomas. Last month, Montana enacted a new law that ensures traditional tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies. It’s one of the bright spots in the yearly conflicts between Native students showing their Native pride and strict school administrators.
Tuesday May 2, 2017 – Native In The Spotlight: James Pepper Henry
James Pepper Henry (Kaw) has an exciting and momentous task to accomplish in the next three years. As the newly appointed director of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City, he is responsible for making sure the stalled and controversial project opens. Museum experience is his expertise, with a long list of past experience including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Heard Museum, Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, and the Gilcrease Museum. We’ll spend the hour chatting with him about his experience, Native art, and the future of the Native museum industry.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 — Lawyers in Indian Country
Native American lawyers represent 0.4 percent of the total list of active lawyers in the U.S., according to the American Bar Association. That’s the smallest number and it hasn’t changed since 2007. A recent survey by the National Native American Bar Association reports a lack of support and full inclusion in the law profession for Native lawyers. What can be done to attract more Natives to the law profession?
Thursday, May 4, 2017 — Remembering those who’ve gone missing
There are not a lot statistics about missing Native Americans. When a loved one, a friend or a neighbor disappears, it throws communities into a world of anxiety and grief. To acknowledge the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls on May 5, we explore what happens in the family, in the tribal community and in the police station when someone goes missing.
Friday, May 5, 2017 – What we’ve learned since the fishing wars
The U.S. was in the grip of civil rights struggles in the 1960s. Among the sit-ins and protests that led to legislation such as the Voting Rights Act, another civil rights struggle over fishing rights was gaining national attention. It was a period of time commonly known as the “fishing wars.” Activists like Billy Frank Jr. (Nisqually) risked arrest to exercise their right to fish in what at least one treaty called ‘usual and accustomed places.’ We’ll speak with individuals closest to the fishing wars about what we can learn from this past experience.
Trahant Reports – Bracing for a government shutdown
Hundred days test: Can Republicans govern?
Can President Donald J. Trump and the Republicans actually govern? As we near the 100th day, the answer has been a loud “no.” So far.
This is Trahant Reports.
This week the Congress and the president will once again try for wins to fund the government, repeal the Affordable Care Act, add extra money for Defense, and begin construction on a wall on the southern border. A nearly impossible order. Why? Because none of this cannot be done without votes from Democrats.
The House of Representatives does not even have a governing coalition. There remains, essentially, three parties: Republicans, Democrats, and the Freedom Caucus. Two of these three groups must work together in order to pass any legislation. And to complicate the politics even more, many of the Republican members are already worried about their own re-election.
Congress must pass a budget extension by April 29 or there will be another government shutdown.
Shutting the government has become too common: On Indigenous People’s Day in 1990 (Ok, back then it was called, Columbus Day) President Bush sent workers home after Congress failed to enact a spending bill. Then during the Clinton years there was a five-day closure in 1995 and another three-week shutdown in 1996. There was a 16-day shutdown in 2013, followed by the double-whammy of sequestration.
Tribal governments were impacted almost immediately and had to suspend nutrition programs, foster care, law enforcement, schools and health care. Some tribes even had to temporarily layoff workers.
A policy report by the National Congress of American Indians put this in perspective: “For many tribes, a majority of tribal governmental services is financed by federal sources. Tribes lack the tax base and lack parity in tax authority to raise revenue to deliver services … many tribes have limited ability to raise substantial new revenue.”
That could be the good old days. The prospect of a serious meltdown is a far greater possibility in 2017 than it was four years ago.
Of course there is a way of out of this mess. The White House could work with Democrats and spend money on their priorities. It’s the basic formula that has led to enactments of budgets in the past 8 years. A likely bargain would mean continued spending for domestic programs as well as add money to the military. The wall? No. Cutting support for Planned Parenthood? Get serious. And health care funding? That’s why it’s called the art of the deal.
There are three doors on the governing stage. Door number one: An impasse and a government shutdown. Door number two: A deal with Democrats. And door number three: A short-term budget extension so the debate can go on. And on. And on.
I am Mark Trahant.
Live from Gathering of Nations
NAC: April 24 – 28
Monday, April 24, 2017 –Rezilience rises again
The organizers of the Rezilience Indigenous Arts Experience are back for another year of music, art and activities. The event focuses on the resilience of the Indigenous experience through a variety of expressions including a fashion show, live music, and even curated community conversations. It’s April 29th and 30th during the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’ll talk with the founder and some of the artists and performers about their experience and what “rezilience” means to them.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 – Opportunities for Native student success
High school graduation rates in New Mexico are up, with an average of 71 percent completing high school in four years. But the state Public Education Department lists Native American students as having a graduation rate of only 66 percent. We’ll continue our look at what it takes to help Native students succeed in school and graduate. With the help of the American Graduate public media initiative and New Mexico PBS program New Mexico in Focus, we’ll include a conversation about Native educators and stakeholders about exactly what it takes to help students cross the graduation finish line at a time when resources are increasingly scarce.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 – Book of the Month: “The Woman Who Married A Bear” by Tiffany Midge
“The Woman Who Married A Bear” by Standing Rock Sioux Nation author and poet Tiffany Midge is racking up awards including a recent 2017 Western Heritage Award. The book filled with poetry about Native identity and culture allows readers to celebrate both the simplicity and complexity of our emotions and relationships. We invite you to join us as we hear about poetry as storytelling with our March Book of the Month author Tiffany Midge.
Thursday, April 27, 2017 – Are you in the Native know?
Test your knowledge about our Native nations. We’re filling the hour with trivia about Native life—from history to current events to culture. It’s also a chance to boost your understanding of the different tribes that make up Native America.
Friday, April 28, 2017 — Live at the Gathering of Nations Powwow
We’re moving our studio down the street to Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque so we can give you a taste of the 34th Gathering of Nations Powwow. This annual powwow is one of the largest in the world and it attracts thousands of Indigenous people and dancers from across Turtle Island. In this program, we’ll give you a snapshot of the events and hear from some of the participants.
Trahant Reports – Special Elections
Remember: There is always another election. And the 2018 congressional elections already promise to be extraordinary.
This is Trahant Reports.
Let’s look at the landscape so far. Last week voters in Kansas surprised Republicans by barely winning a district that’s supposed to be safe. And this week voters in suburban Atlanta will pick a replacement for Mike Price, the Health and Human Services Secretary. At this point you can boil this race down to one question: Who will show up? If more Democrats vote than normal (by about nine points) they could win this seat.
Indian Country’s first judgement of the Trump administration comes in Montana on May 25. Montana voters will pick a replacement for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke defeated Denise Juneau to win re-election. Now the race is between a singing cowboy, Rob Quist, and a wealthy entrepreneur, Greg Gianforte, who lost his November bid for governor.
Back to the big picture. House Democrats are well-positioned by history. The president’s party nearly always loses seats in the first election after winning the White House. In 2010 after Barack Obama’s historic election, his party lost 63 seats in the House and 6 seats in the Senate. According to Gallup polling, since 1946, when presidents are above 50 percent approval, their party loses an average of 14 House seats compared with an average loss of 36 seats when presidents are below that mark. President Trump remains far below that mark.
In 2016 there was a remarkable group of Native Americans running for the Congress. For that to happen again, there needs to be a recruitment of candidates.
In Arizona, for example, Victoria Steele would be well-suited to run again against Rep. Martha McSally. McSally would have to defend Trump’s unpopularity in a swing district.
It would be interesting to see a strong Alaska Native candidate surface in Alaska against Rep. Don Young. Young was lucky that the health care bill failed when it did because he did not need to take a vote. He would have had to choose between his party and his state.
Ideally I would like to see younger candidates from Indian Country. Young people who could build innovative, digital campaigns instead of relying on what’s been done in the past.
This is why the special elections right are so important. Because win or lose in Kansas, Georgia, and Montana, it shows that the House is not cemented to Republican leadership. The 2018 election cycle will be very different than the one that moved Trump into the White House. And all it takes is for a few potential candidates to see the possible … and to think, “I can do that.”
I am Mark Trahant.
NAC: April 17 – 21
Monday, April 17, 2017 – The history and importance of totem poles
In honor of Earth Day, we’re starting off a week of shows devoted to environmental issues with a discussion about totem poles. For the communities that create them, they hold significant cultural value and are much more than art. There are many tribes in Canada and the U.S.—including the Tlingit, Haida and the Tsimshian, to name a few—that carve poles. They typically use old growth trees, which are harder and harder to come by. We’ll talk with carvers about the history and tradition of totem poles.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 – Keeping bees
For reasons many environmental experts don’t exactly know, bee populations are shrinking. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently added a species of bumble bee to the Endangered Species List. Seven species of bees in Hawaii are also endangered. Some Native American beekeepers are doing what they can to lend bees a helping hand.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 – Pebble Mine update
The state of Alaska just approved a key permit to begin work on a controversial copper, gold and silver mine. Native American groups joined environmental organizations, commercial fishermen and others opposing the Pebble Mine project since it was first proposed. It’s planned for an area within the watershed for Bristol Bay, which is vital salmon habitat.
Thursday, April 20, 2017 – A poetic planet
We turn to Native poets to give us their celebration of words that get us closer to the beauty of Mother Earth. From the rivers to the stars there is plenty to celebrate. If there is a poem you’d like to share with others on this special day of poetry we’re all ears. Make plans to join us and let the poetry loose. We continue Earth Day week exploring just how poetic our planet can get.
Friday, April 21, 2017 – April in the News
As we look toward Earth Day, we’ll review some of the major environmental stories affecting Indigenous people. We’ll talk with reporters about developments they’re covering on key issues from contaminated water on the Navajo Nation to environmental rights for Aboriginal Canadians.
Indigenous issues for Earth Day
Trahant Reports – Coal jobs in Indian Country
A couple of years ago a tribal leader showed me an abandoned lumber mill near the village of Tyonek, Alaska. The company promised jobs. And, for a time, for a couple of decades, there were those jobs. But after the resources were consumed, the mill closed, the company disappeared, and the shell of the enterprise remains today.
This is Trahant Reports.
This same story could be told in tribal communities across North America. Sometimes the resource was timber. Other times gas and oil. Or coal.
The lucky communities were left with a small toxic dump site. More often there was major cleanup work required after. But all along, and in each case, the accompanying idea was that jobs would be a part of the deal.
But that deal is no longer true. Now the resource is extracted, pipelines are built, and toxic waste is left behind while the promised jobs are limited to the initial construction jobs.
The extractive economy (like the farm economy a generation ago) reached its peak, probably back in 2014. Oil and gas employed 514,000 people a year. Today it’s 388,000. Coal and extraction related jobs peaked at 90,000 and now that number is about 53,000.
Then Indian Country’s development of coal (or not) has been the story so far in the Trump era.
Last month Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed a memorandum lifting restrictions on federal coal leasing. He said the “war on coal is over.” Then he quoted Crow Tribal Chairman Darrin Old Coyote saying, “there are no jobs like coal jobs.”
A day later the Northern Cheyenne Tribe filed suit. That tribe said the Interior Department did not consult it prior to lifting the restrictions.
Meanwhile in Alaska, another coal project was put to rest in a tribal community. The village of Tyonek has been opposed to the Chuitna Coal Project. After a decade of planning, PacRim Coal suspended the project last month because an investor backed out. The project could still be brought back to life. But that’s not likely. Because coal is a losing bet for any investor.
And what of the jobs? That’s the hard part. The prospects for extraction-related jobs are about to be hit by even more disruptive forces.
So if jobs are no longer part of the equation, does natural resource extraction benefit tribal communities? The answer ought to include a plan where the United States government and tribes work together to replace these jobs: Retrain workers and invest in the energy sector that’s growing, renewable fuels. But that’s not likely to happen in Trump Era. I am Mark Trahant.
NAC: April 10 – 14
Monday, April 10, 2017 – The jurisdiction conundrum
A tribal police officer in California is fighting charges of assault and false imprisonment. It all stems from his attempt to make an arrest during a domestic dispute on reservation land. This is one example of jurisdictional clashes that result from the 1953 measure called Public Law 280. There are instances when tribal law enforcement officers can’t take action even if they see a crime because PL 280 complicates an already complex jurisdictional landscape. The Tribal Court Clearinghouse says “it has often been misunderstood and misapplied.” We hear about PL 280 and ways tribes are trying to get out from under it.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 – Reviving Andrew Jackson
Of all the previous presidents to choose from, Donald Trump likes to align himself most with Andrew Jackson. He visited Jackson’s Hermitage in Tennessee and laid a wreath on his grave. For Native Americans, Jackson is forever associated with the Indian Removal Act and the “Trail of Tears.” His presidency also ended with a crippling economic depression. Since he’s back in the spotlight, we’ll take time to talk with historians about the full legacy of Andrew Jackson.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 – April Music Maker: Bluedog
We make way for some killer Native blues this month. Our April Music Makers, Bluedog, are out of the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. For years they have given blues lovers what they love: great tunes flavored with a lot of Native soul and get-down boogie rhythms. We’ll visit with them about their new album “Red, White & Blues.” We’re inviting you to into the discussion as we pay tribute to the blues.
Thursday, April 13, 2017 — Keeping reservations dry
Pervasive alcoholism is among the main reasons tribal leaders ban the sale of alcohol on reservations. But that can be big business for liquor stores just outside of the border. Tribal leaders from the Pine Ridge Reservation are working to shut down four stores in nearby Whiteclay, Neb. They say the vast majority of their sales goes to worsen alcohol-related problems within Pine Ridge. Critics of the strategy say people wanting a drink will get alcohol somewhere else and might even increase the hazard by drinking and driving. Does banning alcohol on the reservation help the people or not?
Friday, April 14, 2017 — Hand games
The songs and the players might be different across Turtle Island, but the fun is the same. Hand games are played between families and within tribal communities. We celebrate hand games and talk with the pros about what makes them so fun. We also dig into the roots of hand games and why it’s important to keep them going.