Monday January 23, 2017 – Native in the Spotlight: Congressman Tom Cole
U-S Representative Tom Cole is entering his 15th year in Congress. The Oklahoma Republican is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, representing his state’s 4th District. We’ll talk to him about where he thinks Native Americans can benefit during the new Donald Trump administration, and what critical Native issues he is working on. We’ll talk with him about health care, economic development, the environment and more.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 – Kidney health
Over the past two decades, the rate of kidney failures among Native Americans quietly dropped a total 54 percent . That’s the word this month from the Centers for Disease Control. The milestone is remarkable considering Native Americans are more likely to have diabetes than any other group, and diabetes is the major cause of kidney failure. Health officials credit a sustained, concerted effort. The low-key success story is saving lives and millions of dollars.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 — Who can call their art “Native”?
A new law in Oklahoma says only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes can label and sell their art as “Native made.” That means artists from tribes recognized only by states are out of luck. Those in support of the law—including several tribes—say it protects the integrity of Native art. But others—like Peggy Fontenot, an artist from a state recognized tribe—say the law tramples on her rights.

Thursday, January 26, 2017 — Gardening: A growing trend
Native American chefs put a great emphasis on using quality, fresh ingredients. They encourage others to grow and use their own vegetables in their home cooking. We’ll talk to some notable chefs and expert Indigenous gardeners about the importance of incorporating home gardens in our daily diet. It’s the time of year to start thinking about what seeds to get started.

Friday, January 27, 2017 – January in the News
A repeal of the Affordable Care Act is underway. But what does this mean for the Indian Health Care Improvement Act which is bundled with the ACA? Also the Department of the Army announced they will pursue another Environmental Impact Statement in the area near Lake Oahe, for the path of the Dakota Access Pipeline. What does this mean for the future of DAPL? And the father of a murdered 11 year old Navajo girl is suing the Navajo Nation for failing to have an emergency notification system. Those topics and your comments are up for discussion in our news round up.

Monday, January 16, 2017 – Who speaks for Indigenous people?
Joseph Boyden says he needs to ‘step back a bit’ from offering his perspective on Indigenous issues. The popular Canadian author of such books as Three Day Road, Through Black Spruce and The Orenda is under fire after an investigation called his heritage into question. The controversy raises a frequent issue of whether there’s room for people like Boyden in an authentic discussion of Indigenous topics.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 – Preparing for the Trump presidency
Donald J. Trump takes his seat as the 45th president of the United States this Friday. During his campaign and throughout the transition he’s said next-to-nothing about Native Americans and Alaska Natives. What does a Trump administration mean for Native America?

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 – Avoiding frauds and scams
Cherolynda Bennett (Navajo) turned to a popular for-profit preparation service when her taxes were due. But she noticed some shady behavior after receiving a small loan to get her by until her refund check came. Her close attention to detail ultimately turned into a class action lawsuit that brought a nearly $700,000 settlement. We’ll hear about her story and some other common scams to look out for.

Thursday, January 19, 2017 – The best interests of foster children
New guidelines for implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act aim to clarify regulations and provide examples of best practices. Bureau of Indian Affairs officials say the guidelines will help families, tribes and courts navigate the sometimes inconsistent interpretations of ICWA by different state courts and agencies over the law’s 38 years in existence. It’s a landmark of Indian law, but remains controversial among some adoption advocates.

Friday, January 20, 2017 — Responding to hate
Offensive words and actions can incite strong reactions. We’ve seen unfortunate incidents hit the headlines, like when a group of Lakota children are harassed at a hockey game in Rapid City. There are other times that are less noticeable but just as damaging. What’s the best way to address hate and offensive behavior? What do you do when you or a fellow person of color is bullied or harassed?

Monday, January 09, 2017 –Book of the Month: “Mission to Space” by John B. Herrington
Have you ever wanted to blast off into space? It’s a dream for many young children. That dream became real for one man from the Chickasaw Nation. John B. Herrington is the first Native American to travel to space. He flew on the space shuttle Endeavour in 2002. We get to relive this journey in his new children’s book, “Mission to Space.” He traces the dedication, training and skill it takes to turn a dream into a high-flying reality.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 – The Obama legacy
President Obama was one of the few sitting presidents to visit a reservation. His administration also restored more than half a million acres to tribal nations. Tribes and environmental groups applauded his moves to protect Bears Ears, Badger Two-Medicine and block the Keystone XL Pipeline. But others criticize his administration for failing to take decisive action to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline. How does President Obama’s legacy stack up? Will he go down in the history books as one of the best presidents for Native Americans and Alaska Natives?

Wednesday, January 11, 2017 — In the grip of cold and flu season
Adults usually have two or three colds a year, according to the CDC. Children have even more. It’s the season for cold and flu. You start seeing coworkers and friends disappear as they wrestle with coughs, plugged sinuses, and fevers. We’re going to take the hour to talk about prevention, treatment, and flu shots, as well as traditional remedies to soothe the symptoms we suffer through.

Thursday, January 12, 2017 – Indigenous issues in Latin America
From fights over oil extraction in Ecuador and Peru, to a water fight in Columbia, Indigenous people of Latin America are struggling to maintain traditional lands and culture against outside encroachment. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs estimates there are 40 million Indigenous people in Latin America. We’ll look at some of the key issues they’re facing.

Friday, January 13, 2017 — Stories in the loom: Weaving traditions
Not all tribes have a weaving tradition. Navajo and Chilkat weavings are among those that come to mind first when we think of Native American textiles. They are iconic pieces of art that exemplify their cultures. We’ll explore stories behind these and other weaving styles and find out how the practice became a high-end art form.

Monday, January 2 2017 – 2016 in review
The Dakota Access Pipeline, sacred places, and cultural appropriation. Those are three of the important topics we explored this past year on Native America Calling. But we also talked about traditional weddings, fishing, the Academy Awards, a notable high school lacrosse team, and a particularly outspoken comedian. We take our traditional look back at some of our favorite shows of the past year.

Tuesday, January 3 2017 – Leonard Peltier’s last chance for freedom?
Will President Obama grant Leonard Peltier clemency? Many activists and organizations, including Amnesty International, are calling for his release. ut law enforcement advocates and others maintain Peltier is guilty and should stay in prison.

Wednesday, January 4 2017 – Native in the Spotlight: Dr. Paulette Steeves
Paulette Steeves (Cree/Metis) earned her PhD in anthropology as a single parent of three children. Since then she’s successfully argued that Indigenous people have been in the Americas longer than others thought. We’ll speak with her about the difficulties of decolonizing anthropology and academia as well as her own remarkable story.

Thursday, January 5 2017 — Exercise more in 2017
As we settle into the new year, many of us are also settling into new workout routines. If exercise is so good for us, why is it so hard? Why do we make exercise resolutions every January and then give up by April? And how many of us think we need the right piece of equipment or the right gym environment before we even start?

Friday, January 6 2017 — Building a successful business
There are a lot of people who turned a small idea into a successful business. We’ll highlight a few entrepreneurial Native Americans and find out what they did to make it from the bottom to the top.

Monday, December 26, 2016 – Encore: The unlikely lacrosse trailblazers
A group of Native American high school girls defied tradition by playing—and excelling at—lacrosse. The documentary “Keepers of the Game” reveals both the triumphs and obstacles team and the girls individually experienced. In this inspiring and emotional encore presentation, we hear from some of the key people featured in the documentary.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016 — Making New Year’s resolutions
It’s time to look ahead to the coming year with the promises you make yourself to shed bad habits and make a new beginning. It’s also a chance to take stock of all you accomplished in the previous year. Did you make a New Year’s resolution for 2016? Did you keep it?

Wednesday, December 28, 2016 — On the inside: Life behind bars
Our Native fathers, mothers sons and daughters who are behind bars face struggles with isolation, mental health, religious freedom and violence. Convicts also face difficulty readjusting to life after serving their sentences. We explore what life is like behind bars for Native inmates and the work to help support them and their families.

Thursday, December 29, 2016 – Remembering those who walked on in 2016
We’ll take a moment to remember a few people through their friends and family members. Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver Clarissa Rizal, a Raven of the T’akdeintaan (black-legged Kittywake) Clan, walked on in December. We’ll learn about her work and weaving legacy. In July David Beautiful Bald Eagle made his final passage. He was a fluent Lakota speaker, WWII veteran, and an actor in over 40 films including Dances With Wolves. We honor them and others.

Friday, December 30, 2016 – December in the News
An expose in the Arizona Republic paints a damning picture of the Navajo Housing Authority. It’s a detailed account that attempts to add up the legacy—and lack thereof—of $1.6 billion in housing funds. We’ll talk to the reporters about their series and what’s being done now. We’ll also revisit some stories from 2016 including the Nooksack disenrollment fight and others.