Monday, January 25, 2021 – Speech and language disorders
The National Institutes of Health says early intervention and speech therapy are key to helping children with speech and language disorders learn to communicate. But many children who need help don’t always get it. Also, one study suggests looking at disorders from a Native perspective can help professionals distinguish actual language disorders from speech associated with cultural and linguistic traits. We’ll look at the benefits of speech therapy and how to recognize when it’s in order.

Tuesday, January 26, 2020 – Philanthropy: helping each other during the pandemic
Native American organizations raised and donated $32 million during the first seven months of the pandemic according to a new report from Native Americans in Philanthropy. A portion of the money was through funding platforms like Go Fund Me. The money is aimed at helping other Native institutions and individuals thrive during difficult economic times. We’ll take a look at Native philanthropy and the difference it’s making in Native nations.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 – Is the Keystone XL Pipeline dead?
In his first day in office, President Joe Biden revoked the permit for the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline which would’ve transported crude oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast. Indigenous environmental rights groups and some tribes along the pipeline route, like the Fort Belknap Indian Community and Rosebud Sioux Tribe, praise the move and are hopeful that a new administration will usher in a change in climate and energy policy making. What does a halt on the Keystone LX Pipeline mean for the environment and the future of extractive industry in and around Native land?

Thursday, January 28, 2021 – Music Maker: Bryden Gwiss
There are many vibrant examples of culture blending by Native artists. Traditional powwow singer and song maker Bryden Gwiss (Ojibway, Odawa, Potawatomi, Delare, Mik Maq and Oneida) uses what he’s learned—and taught—on the Powwow Trail to create a new sound. It both highlights the energy of the traditional dance circle and takes it to a new circle rich in hip-hop, electronic and dubstep sounds. The 2017 Juno Award nominee is our January Music Maker and he’ll be sharing compositions from his second album, “The Forgotten T.R.U.T.H ( The.Real.Un.Told.History).”

Friday, January 29, 2021 – January in the news
What lessons are we left with from the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Donald Trump’s second impeachment and Joe Biden’s inauguration all within the first month of 2021. Also, among the many pardons President Trump issued in the final hours of his presidency included one for a Lakota woman serving a 30 year sentence for dealing methamphetamine. We’ll take a look at those stories and more on our regular news roundup.

Monday, January 18, 2021 – Black and Indigenous solidarity
Indigenous and Black people have similar experiences of oppression in this country and both groups still grapple with systemic racism. Indigenous support for the Black Lives Matter movement during the protest spurred by the death of George Floyd, shined a light on what solidarity could look like and how both communities need to do more to include one another. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’ll talk with some Indigenous community leaders and others who are forging tighter bonds among racial groups.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – Democracy in crisis: a history lesson
Both those who stormed the U.S. Capitol and those who condemn the action claim the fate of democracy is at stake. Centuries ago, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy assembled a system of governance to create peace among warring Native Nations. Colonial leaders used similar principles to draft the Constitution and give birth to the United States. Can Indigenous values provide any guidance now on where to go from here? We’ll look at the legal issues and get a historical perspective, from the Boston Tea Party to the rise of the Confederacy, and how history may view what we’re living through now.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – New administration, new agenda
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are set to be sworn in and turn the page on a contentious political chapter. But even as a new administration starts, there is little optimism for bridging the issues that divide the nation. Still, Biden has signaled a willingness to include tribes in his agenda. The nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) for Secretary of Interior sends a strong message. Restoring protections for Bears Ears National Monument, placing Mashpee land into trust, and reestablishing the White House Tribal Nations Conference are some of the items that tribal leaders would like the administration to tackle. We’ll talk with policy experts about what they hope is in store for the next four years.

Thursday, January 21, 2021 – Oak Flat at a crossroads
Just days before the end of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Forest Service took action that paves the way for a massive copper mine on sacred Apache land in Arizona. The grassroots Apache Stronghold group filed a lawsuit to save Chi’chil Bildagoteel, also known as Oak Flat. They say the Forest Service’s environmental review was rushed in order to take advantage of the Trump Administration’s pro-development stance. The Stronghold maintains the mine proposal violates an 1852 treaty and First Amendment rights to religious practice. We’ll get an update on this years-long battle.

Friday, January 22, 2021 – The value of Native-owned bookstores
You can find books by several big-name Native authors in the mainstream online outlets. But Native-owned bookstores have a commitment to carrying and promoting books the public might not find otherwise. The number of Native-owned bookstores remains small, but it’s growing. We’ll talk with bookstore owners about what it takes to compete with Amazon and Barnes & Noble and what literary gems they have to offer.

Monday, January 11, 2021 – Celebrating Indigenous women chefs
A restaurant kitchen can be an intimidating place. Women, especially, complain about abuse or misdirected anger they’ve had to endure in the mostly male-dominated industry. One Indigenous chef started her own catering company after witnessing physical violence at work. Another was told women were only good for making pastries. An upcoming webinar aims to celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous women chefs, who turn to cultural values and healing while nourishing people with food and knowledge. We’ll hear about how they are carving a space for themselves and an alternative to toxic work environments.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – Native queer poetry
Two-Spirit storyteller, Joshua Whitehead (Ojibwe Cree), says a poet’s job is to “to speak truthfully and honestly about how the world filters through your body.” While not all Native LGBTQ2 poetry is about Native identity or sexuality, those elements color the poets’ work. We will get a sampling of works by Indigenous LGBTQ2 poets and discuss how their deeply personal stories paint a vivid picture of adversity, strength, and their relationships with their culture and the world around them.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – Learning loss during the pandemic
Education officials warned at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic that closing in-person classes would diminish K-12 students’ educations. Now, a study by McKinsey & Company documents the loss of learning since then. They show how Native Americans and other students of color are even further behind students as a whole. The study’s organizers point to the digital divide as the main culprit, but there are other factors. We’ll check in with Native educators and education experts about how Native students are doing and what can be done to get them back on track.

Thursday, January 14, 2021 – Native in the Spotlight: Clara Pratte
Clara Pratte (Navajo) was the Joe Biden campaign’s director for tribal engagement. She is also working with the Biden transition for the Department of Interior. After working her way up as an advisor for the Navajo Nation president’s office, Pratte also worked for two U.S. presidential administrations. She founded Strongbow Strategies to help tribes across the country with economic development and technology issues. Along the way she has picked up numerous accolades including being named one of Native Business Magazine’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 Under 40. Now, she’s won the 2020 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award, presented by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. We’ll catch up with Clara Pratte on her success and what opportunities she thinks tribes have in store.

Friday, January 15, 2021 – Best books of 2020
A biography of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flannagan (White Earth Ojibwe), rez dogs and protecting sacred water are all topics of books that made American Indians in Children’s Literature best of 2020 list. It’s been a challenging year, but Native authors made significant contributions to the list of books published. We’ll go over the AICL list and hear about what people consider the best Native books are for all ages. What books by Native authors did you curl up with this year? Send us your best-of list to comments@nativeamericacalling.com.

Monday, January 4, 2021 – Are online gatherings here to stay?
Hoop dancing competitions, stand-up comedy and an annual gathering of Native elders and youth are all events the pandemic forced online. The switch to Zoom and other online meeting spaces created significant technical challenges in the past year like getting the picture and sound to work and maintaining internet connections. It also highlighted other hurdles like getting input from all those who want to contribute and finding ways to network with fellow attendees. We’ll look at how some event planners have made the most of online gatherings. We’ll also hear how virtual meetings have evolved and whether they’re here to stay.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – COVID-19 vaccine update
COVID-19 vaccines from two pharmaceutical companies are making their way to Native populations and tribes are among those creating vaccine distribution plans. Hundreds of Native health workers, elders and others were among the first to receive the vaccine. It’s among the more promising developments in the fight against the pandemic in at least a year, that has disproportionately affected Native Americans. But many individuals remain wary of the vaccine, citing possible unforeseen side effects, and a general distrust of the federal government and the Indian Health Service. We’ll get an update from health leaders and tribal leaders about vaccine distribution.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 – Traditional hide tanning
Hide tanning was a traditional practice long before mass produced leather. Many people still put in the many hours and years of skill required to tan hides by hand. We’ll get a look into the world of Native hide tanning and traditional techniques like brain and smoke tanning. We’ll also hear why Native tanners place such importance on traditional methods.

Thursday, January 7, 2021 – Best books of 2020
A biography of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flannagan (White Earth Ojibwe), rez dogs and protecting sacred water are all topics of books that made American Indians in Children’s Literature best of 2020 list. It’s been a challenging year, but Native authors made significant contributions to the list of books published. We’ll go over the AICL list and hear about what people consider the best Native books are for all ages. What books by Native authors did you curl up with this year? Send us your best-of list to comments@nativeamericacalling.com.

Friday, January 8, 2021 – Book of the Month: 2021 Hopiyaasangwni (Hopi Calendar)
We kick off 2021 with a view into Hopi life. We’re doing it one day at a time with the “2021 Hopiyaasangwni (Hopi Calendar).” The different months feature images that reflect Hopi culture and teachings courtesy of young Hopi artists. Important dates and phases of the moon are woven in with monthly reflections in the Hopi language. It’s put out by Mesa Media, which says the aim is to get people of all ages speaking Hopi in daily life.

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