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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