Monday, August 23, 2021 – Minnesota protectors lay it on the Line 3
Opponents of the Line 3 oil pipeline across Minnesota continue to work to halt construction. Tribes, environmental groups and celebrities continue to devote considerable energy against the project that Enbridge Energy, the company backing the pipeline, says is more than 80 percent complete. Potential environmental disasters, inadequate tribal consultation, and further reliance on a climate changing energy source are all issues in the mix. The company says the project offers thousands of local jobs and a safer alternative to the aging existing pipeline.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 – What‘s behind the record jump in Native populations?
The release of 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows significant increases in the country’s Native populations. All multiracial groups gained percentages compared to the overall population. In the ten years since 2010, the number of people the Census categorizes as American Indian and Alaska Natives increased from 5.2 million to 9.7 million. The population jump has implications for things like congressional and legislative districts. It also affects representation in civic engagement and resource distribution. We’ll find out the possible causes for the increase and what it means for the future.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021– Music Maker: Qacung
Qacung aka Stephen Blanchet is out with his first solo album, “Miu.” In it, we hear about his love for First Alaskans. It’s celebration of jazz, R&B and the traditional sounds and Indigenous language fill each track with soulful fun, something that stems from Qacung’s many years with his group Pamyua. Now, he is telling his own story of love, loss and place. It’s also dedicated to the ancestors and, as he says, the future of Alaska Natives to come.

Thursday, August 26, 2021 – The helping hand that gets us through hard times
Native Nations have been hit hard by COVID-19. There is the toll of lost loved ones and the economic devastation that is still far from recovered. Out of hardship, however, comes hope. Many individuals, organizations and grassroots groups continue to step up. Giving and helping those in need are key values among many tribes. During the pandemic, giving or getting a helping hand is more important than ever. We’ll talk with representatives of Native organizations and grassroots groups who’ve been instrumental in giving during the pandemic.

Friday, August 27, 2021 – Legal and cultural barriers derail efforts to protect sacred places
Certain hills, mountains, valleys, forests and rivers are among some of the most sacred spaces for Indigenous culture and spirituality. They are included in creation stories. They include places like Oak Flat, San Francisco Peak, the Grand Canyon, South Mountain and the Blythe Intaglios. But many of those places are not controlled by tribes. They fight to protect sacred places from local and federal governments, private landowners and resource development companies. A series of articles by the Arizona Republic finds Western laws about land ownership and what is considered sacred stacks the deck against tribal interests. We’ll hear about the series and from some of the people who continue to work toward protecting sacred land.

Monday, August 16, 2021 – Limiting Indigenous history in schools
South Dakota’s Department of Education drastically reduced the number of references to Oceti Sakowin in school social studies standards recommended by a working group of educators, public officials and parents. That would limit lessons on important concepts like treaties, the development of the state’s reservations and key historical figures. At the same time, tribes in Montana are suing the state for failing to adequately comply with a constitutional mandate to integrate Indigenous lessons into public education.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 – A new round of Native stories on film
Native filmmakers from more than two dozen tribes are ready working on a number of film projects. When finished, the documentaries, short films and episodic series supported by Vision Maker Media will broadcast on PBS. The subjects include Native doctors working through the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline of wild salmon, traditional fire management and confronting gender norms. We’ll hear from filmmakers and representatives from Vision Maker Media about the projects and the power of Native documentary film.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 – Is a normal school year ahead?
Native students are heading back into classrooms. After more than a year of forced distance learning and canceled events because of the pandemic, there was some excitement about resuming regular K-12 and post-secondary classes. But new COVID-19 variants and inconsistent vaccinations and mask-wearing requirements prompt concern and confusion as the school year starts.

Thursday, August 19, 2021 – The resilience of Native culture
Native people across the country are learning to adjust to life in the pandemic after a bumpy road this past year. Over the next two days, we’re going to be lifting up Indigenous people, culture, and traditions. We’re bringing in Native artists to reflect on the hardship of the pandemic, talk about the resiliency of Indigenous people, and shine a bright light on the future. Hundreds of artists from Native Nations are gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico for markets, events and festivals featuring arts and crafts, food, fashion, music, film and more.

Friday, August 20, 2021 – Indigenous arts and the lingering pandemic
It’s a big week coming up in the Native arts world. The largest assembly of Native artists is resuming in Santa Fe on a limited scale. The Santa Fe Indian Market was an online-only event last year because of the pandemic. A number of other in-person events are also scheduled, all featuring the talents of Native artists, many of whom lost their primary or supplemental incomes over the last year. We’ll get a look at what’s in store and hear from artists who had to find creative ways to stay afloat.

Monday, August 9, 2021 – Innovative ideas for addressing Native homelessness
Homelessness is an unfortunate reality for a disproportionate number of Native Americans, especially in urban areas. Some tribes are having some success with ‘tiny homes’ as one solution. The Menominee tribe recently completed tiny home village on their reservation in Wisconsin. The Puyallup Tribe is planning a similar project in Tacoma. The homes with a small footprint and lower costs than conventional sized dwellings, but they are not always welcomed by surrounding neighborhoods.

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 – COVID-19 vaccine progress and lapses
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found Native Americans are vaccinated at a higher rate than the rest of the population. Many tribes are success stories for getting COVID-19 under control. At the same time, persistent distrust and misinformation has taken hold in parts of the country, many of which are seeing new spikes in infections. We’ll get updates on vaccine progress and stumbles and get a glimpse of a documentary that puts the COVID-19 vaccine in context with similar efforts throughout history.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 – Native women’s success in business
Women are statistically paid less in the workplace. And they face additional hurdles as entrepreneurs. A report by American Express found Native women make up just 1.4% of all women-owned businesses. The good news is, they are growing at almost twice the rate of women-owned business overall. We’ll look at the contributions Native women are making in the business world and how they cope with persistent obstacles they encounter.

Thursday, August 12, 2021 – The totem’s continuing journey on the ‘Red Road to D.C.’
Lummi carvers, tribal leaders and members of grassroots groups delivered a totem pole to the Biden administration in Washington, D.C. It culminates a journey across the country stopping at sacred locations along the way. But the message that accompanies it will be harder to fulfill. We’ll hear about the totem and the ongoing movement behind it to protect sacred places and to honor tribal consultation.

Friday, August 13, 2021 – Balancing goals, stress, and personal sacrifice
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and pro tennis player Naomi Osaka are two top athletes who made high profile professional sacrifices in favor of their own mental health. They helped spark conversations about knowing your limits and when to tap the brakes on your goals to avoid problems down the road. We’ll get some perspectives on maintaining balance to avoid serious injuries, major health problems and work burnout.

Monday, August 2, 2021 – Native in the Spotlight: Rico Worl
The United States Postal Service just picked Rico Worl’s (Tlingit and Athabaskan) illustration for a new forever stamp. It’s the first stamp design by an Alaska Native artist. Worl’s work as an artist and as the owner of a design shop aims to celebrate and uplift Indigenous art, culture and stories from southeast Alaska. We’ll talk with Worl about his work, the raven story and his collaboration with his sister, also an accomplished artist.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021- The tireless vigil for MMIWR
Cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and relatives continue to make headlines across the country. And their family members and Native women’s advocates continue working to keep their memories in the eyes of the public, law enforcement and policy makers. Tribal efforts to address MMIWR across the country include collaborations with local, state and federal law enforcement. We’ll look at promising initiatives to address the issue.

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 – Employers on the search for workers
As the pandemic subsides, the number of job openings is soaring. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said new job openings at the end of April rose to an unprecedented 9.3 million. That’s good news for job seekers. Not so much for small businesses and other employers who are having a hard time finding qualified workers. At the same time, Native Americans typically face higher unemployment conditions than the population as a whole. The Minneapolis Federal Reserve is putting what they say is good data and research toward helping policy makers and elected leaders make informed decisions for Native employees and employers both.

Thursday, August 5, 2021 – The Gold King Mine spill six years later
Toxic sludge from the Gold King Mine in Colorado poured into the Animas and San Juan rivers on Aug. 5, 2015. It created an environmental disaster for hundreds of miles downstream, including parts of the Navajo Nation. The bright orange plume from the original spill is gone, but legal fights and restoration projects continue. And heavy metals from the three million gallons of mining wastewater remain in waterways used by communities, farmers and ranchers. We’ll review the lasting effects these many years later.

Friday, August 6, 2021- Re-awakening summer tribal tourism
People are hitting the roads, boarding flights and planning late-summer vacations across the U.S. They are looking forward to traveling after COVID-19 restrictions kept them close to home for months. Native tourism destinations are among the popular places attracting sightseers and tribes, cultural centers, businesses and artists have all felt the economic hit from the pandemic. Some reservations remain closed, but many tribes and Native centers are welcoming tourists back, with some precautions, to help their economic recovery and extend programs, recreation and educational resources to the public.