Monday, August 15, 2022 – The new book-banning trend

With some success, Native Americans have fought hard to have their voices heard in the narratives about them by predominantly non-Native sources. Those gains are under assault by a new surge of efforts to ban books by Native authors and other works that challenge colonial conventional wisdom. Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce gets a sampling of books that well-meaning parents, administrators, and policy-makers want to keep off of school reading lists and public spaces with Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambe Pueblo), founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature blog; Kevin Maillard (Seminole), author and professor of Law at Syracuse University; Mandi Harris (Cherokee), a children’s librarian and PhD student in Information Science at the University of Washington; and Lynette Dial (Lumbee), a library supervisor for Hoke County Library.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 – The legacy of Elvis for Native Americans

During his peak, Elvis Presley’s appeal crossed cultural boundaries. His profound popularity continues to resonate with many Native Americans, including a handful who are Elvis impersonators – and a hilarious reference on the hit series Dark Winds. On the anniversary of his death in 1977, Shawn Spruce checks in with Elvis fans about what the King of Rock and Roll means to them these many years later.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 – Turning around threats to salmon

A federal court ruling has implications for Southeast Alaska commercial salmon fishing. The ruling says federal fisheries officials neglected to consider dwindling orca populations when approving Chinook salmon harvests. At the same time, tribes in the Pacific Northwest are putting additional pressure on federal officials to come up with a sustainable plan for endangered salmon in the Snake River system. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce gets updates on trouble spots for salmon.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 – Live at the 100th Santa Fe Indian Market

It survived the Termination Era, The Depression, a World War, and, most recently, a pandemic. The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts marks the 100^th Santa Fe Indian Market, a place to buy works directly from artists, to experience the creative vision of Native designers, and watch films by Indigenous filmmakers. Thursday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce is live from the Market and gets a rundown of this year’s schedule and reviews the evolution of this major achievement of Native creativity and commerce.

Friday, August 19, 2022 – Live at the 100th Santa Fe Indian Market 

Artists from hundreds of Native nations are tending to their booths in the streets of Santa Fe, selling works they’ve labored for months to prepare. SWAIA’s Santa Fe Indian Market has come a long way in 100 years. Friday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce is live from Indian Market for day two and will be joined by artists, designers, and organizers to get a feel for what’s in store for the next century.

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Monday, August 8, 2022 – Native tennis players hold court

A group of Native tennis enthusiasts formed their own organization 50 years ago and it’s grown into a collection of competitions, youth tennis camps and regular recreational meet-ups. The North American Indian Tennis Association holds an annual tournament Memorial Day weekend. It’s all aimed toward improving people’s skills and fostering interest among Native players. Monday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talked with Lee Maytubby (Chickasaw), North American Indian Tennis Association Tournament director; Jessica Redcorn (Osage), United States Tennis Association Player and co-organizer for the North American Indian Tennis Association Tournament; and Tony Mulligan (Chickasaw), tennis player and co-organizer for the North American Indian Tennis Association Tournament.

Tuesday, August 6, 2022 – Facing growing addiction fatalities

The newest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint a distressing increase in the number of overdose deaths among Native Americans. It shows Native fatalities rose 39% from 2019 to 2020. That far outpaces the increase for the population as a whole. Also, an investigative report looks into alcohol-related fatalities in the state of New Mexico and finds that, while disproportionately high, the number for Native populations is not the main driving force in the overall problem. Tuesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with those on the frontlines of this pandemic epidemic.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 – Housing security in the Arctic

A film crew follows an Inuit and Gwich’in hunter as he builds a traditional Inuvialuit log cabin off the grid in the new documentary “Okpik: Little Village in the Arctic”. Those behind the film wanted to highlight an example of creating housing security with traditional methods and values at the forefront. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the severity of the housing crisis in Indigenous communities in the Arctic, including Canada and Alaska. Climate change, rural locations, and underfunding of housing programs only exacerbates the problem. Wednesday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce talks with filmmaker and singer Tiffany Ayalik (Inuit) and Kylik Kisoun Taylor (Inuvialuit), who is featured in the documentary, about the challenges and solutions.

Thursday, August 11, 2022 – The Native perspective in ‘Grounded in Clay’

For the first time in a century, Native people have a voice in how a massive collection of pottery is treated. That voice is represented in the new exhibition, “Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery” at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The exhibition gets perspectives from Native artists, storytellers, political leaders and others on a representative sample from the collection. Thursday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce hears from the organizers of the exhibition and the guest curators as they express their personal and cultural connections to the pieces.

Friday, August 12, 2022 – Saving the migratory Monarch butterfly

The fragile-looking Monarch butterfly possesses a strength and resilience that allows it to survive a migration that covers thousands of miles through the heart of the country. That resilience is now put to the test, as habitat destruction and climate change have made it necessary to officially list the insect’s status as ‘endangered’. Tribes are among those helping to protect Monarchs, for both cultural and environmental reasons. Friday on Native America Calling, Shawn Spruce speaks with scientists and tribal members who are on the frontlines of saving the Monarch butterfly and, in turn, our ecosystem.

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