Monday, May 25, 2020 – Jesse Wente: Broadcaster, film director and critic
“Reconciliation is dead.” That’s the message from Canadian broadcaster and artist Jesse Wente (Serpent River First Nation) in a commentary about the Coastal GasLink pipeline protests. While his comments might seem controversial, he often speaks his mind directly in a sea of “Canada nice.” In this hour we’ll talk with him about his career as a broadcaster, film curator and his role as director of the Indigenous Screen Office.
(This is an encore show from March 12, 2020).

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 – Natives in the Spotlight: Boys and Girls Club Native Services
The Native Services arm of the Boys & Girls Club of America is rethinking how it’s reaching out to help young people so they, in turn, can help out in their communities. Ordinarily they promote healthy choices, support students and provide programs to help youth succeed. Since so many of their efforts rely on in-person group programs, organizers are restructuring to reach young people virtually to also reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Native Services has about a dozen chapters nationwide that offer culturally-appropriate programs that build social, emotional, intellectual and physical capacity in the communities they serve.

Thursday, May 28, 2020 – Polar bears caught on the middle
Polar bears have a strong cultural significance for Alaska Natives and Indigenous people of the Arctic. They’re a food source and are included in traditional stories throughout Alaska and northern Canada. They are the top predator in their food web. Now they are listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Melting ice caused by climate change is changing polar bear habitat, forcing them away from their main method for gathering food. As a symbol of climate change, they’re in the middle of debates over natural resources and climate change policy. We continue our series on the cultural and environmental importance of animals with a look at polar bears, their relationship to Indigenous people and their struggle for survival.

Friday, May 29, 2020 – May in the news
Many tribal casinos are re-opening, but with added restrictions to try and prevent spreading the coronavirus. We’ll hear about the potential benefits and dangers as businesses open their doors to the public. Specifically, we’ll focus on what contact tracing involves and how data is helpful in keeping the public safe. Also a Montana judge blocked a law limiting the number of absentee ballots one individual could bring to the post office or polling place. The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana says the law disproportionately affects Native voters who live in rural areas and may have limited access to post offices or polling places. These stories and more are in our regular news round up.

Monday, May 18, 2020 – Checkpoints and check-ins
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and leaders of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Oglala Sioux tribes remain in a verbal and legal standoff. The governor demands tribal leaders remove coronavirus checkpoints on roads into tribal land. Cheyenne River Chairman Harold Frazier insists the checkpoints are legal and necessary to protect citizens on the reservation. Elsewhere, tribal leaders and health officials also continue to try and find the right balance between public safety and economic survival.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020 – The perfect pandemic garden
Home gardening is enjoying renewed growth. It may have started with fears of food shortages and limited access to grocery stores. But it’s also a satisfying outlet for people stuck at home running out of Netflix options. Whether it’s a monster waffle garden with corn, beans and zucchini, or nursing one small tomato plant through the season, there is a garden for just about everybody. We’ll talk with seasoned gardeners about how to put together a garden to fit your lifestyle.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 – Coping with grief from a distance
The coronavirus pandemic is putting barriers between grieving family members and their loved ones who have walked on. Families often can’t be with their relatives in the last hours of their lives because of the increased coronavirus threat. In addition, bans on public gatherings hinder funerals and traditional tribal practices to send off relatives. We’ll hear from those helping others cope with loss. And we’ll talk with friends and family members confronting the inability to express their grief in the way they’ve come to expect.

Thursday, May, 21, 2020 – Music Maker: Hāwane Rios
Kanaka Oiwi singer Hāwane Rios is weaving her upbringing of traditional hula and chant into her latest release “Kū Kia´í Mauna – Together We Rise.” It features songs that reflect her love and connection to the land. Her time standing up for the protection of Mauna Kea has inspired her compositions.

Friday, May 22, 2020 – Native artists get creative to stay afloat
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered every major public event that serves as an outlet for Native artists and craftspeople. Some, like the Santa Fe Indian Market, are among the single most lucrative events for many artists. Some are relying on online or social media sales to make a living in the meantime. We’ll check in with how Native artists are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Monday, May 11, 2020 – Time to reopen?
Along with some states, tribes are opening up their businesses despite the continued threat from the coronavirus. Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Tribe opened its casino with added precautions May 1. In Washington, the Kalispel tribe opened its facilities May 5. At least four other tribes in the state are planning on casino openings in the coming days despite state-mandated stay-at-home orders. The debate over opening businesses to the public weighs economic survival against the health and safety of citizens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports cases of COVID-19 are declining nationally, but some tribes continue to struggle with increasing infection rates despite the national trend. Experts also warn about a possible spike of new infections if public interactions increase too soon.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020 – Alaska’s fishing season vs. coronavirus fears
As the commercial fishing season in Alaska nears, residents and medical professionals are worried about the potential coronavirus threat posed by the thousands of seasonal workers who arrive from all over the world. The only hospital in Dillingham has two ventilators, which officials say would not be adequate if there’s a major COVID-19 outbreak. The tribally-owned Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation urges the state to postpone the fishing season, citing the health risk to the 28 Alaska Native villages it serves. A group of mayors from the area sent a letter to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to consider closing the fishing season. So far, there is no plan to do so.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 – Coronavirus behind bars
Almost 5,000 inmates in prisons and jails across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus. Nearly 100 of them have died according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Andrea Circle Bear (Cheyenne River Sioux) was the first female inmate in the country to die of COVID-19. Her family says she should’ve been treated much sooner than she was. In New Mexico, the state Supreme Court denied a petition to release certain inmates to prevent the spread of the virus there. We’ll check on the dilemma of those who have no way to isolate themselves from the pandemic.

Thursday, May 14, 2020 – Supreme Court hears McGirt jurisdiction case
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in a pivotal jurisdiction case about tribal land in Oklahoma. For the first time in history the hearing is available to the public as it happens. In question is the disestablishment of the Muscogee (Creek) reservation in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The defendant is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He claims he was convicted in the wrong court because the crime was committed in traditional Muscogee territory. We’ll bring you parts of the hearing and analysis of the arguments.

Friday, May 15, 2020 – Pomp and social distancing
Graduation time this year comes with a moratorium on public gatherings because of the covid-19 pandemic. But high school and college seniors are not letting social distancing keep them from celebrating their educational accomplishments. Social media and family gatherings are among the ways the Native senior class of 2020 is marking the occasion.

Monday, May 4th, 2020 – Different places, different COVID-19 concerns
There is no one way to address the coronavirus threat. The state of Alaska has relatively few COVID-19 cases. But some vital modes of transportation are already shut down and Native villages are working on keeping potential virus exposures at bay. It’s a different story in urban centers that the U.S. Census says is home to nearly seven out of every 10 Native Americans. In Los Angeles, the Native population is large and diverse. Organizations like United American Indian Involvement is helping elders and others coping with a significant and growing health threat. We’ll hear the various ways leaders are tackling the coronavirus emergency to suit the needs of their people.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 – Uniting (in isolation) for MMIW awareness
Isolation because of the coronavirus doesn’t stop the need to raise awareness of a tragic statistic for Native people. May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Organizers are encouraging virtual walks, candles in windows, and twitter campaigns to keep the light on the disproportionate number of victimized Indigenous women and girls.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – The Indigenous zombie movie “Blood Quantum”
The COVID-19 pandemic axed the much-anticipated U.S. theater release of the film, “Blood Quantum.” The good news is audiences can now see it online. The film is about a zombie outbreak near a Mi’gmaq reserve in Canada. It’s directed by First Nations filmmaker, Jeff Barnaby and has a host of Native stars, including Michael Greyeyes (Cree), Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot and Sami), Forrest Goodluck (Diné/Mandan/Hidatsa /Tsimshian) and Gary Farmer (Cayuga/Tuscarora/Mohawk).

Thursday, May 7, 2020 – New and expecting mothers confront COVID-19 fears
Expecting mothers face added anxiety because of the coronavirus pandemic. They may be separated from their newborn if they test positive for the virus or are showing symptoms. At the same time, just going to a hospital to give birth increases the chances of getting exposed to coronavirus. We’ll get medical advice on what precautions pregnant women can take and hear from those who facing difficult decisions during their pregnancies. Have a question? Send us an email at comments@nativeamericacalling.com.

Friday, May 8, 2020 – COVID 19 frauds and scams
The global COVID-19 pandemic generates fear and confusion for a lot of people. As always, scam artists are ready with new and creative ways to exploit people’s fears and steal their money. The Federal Trade Commission is coming down on marketers who falsely claim to have COVID-19 cures. The agency is also warning about phone calls from criminals pretending to be sick family members needing money. We’ll get reminders on how to protect yourself from the latest frauds and scams.

Monday, April 27, 2020 – Surviving COVID-19
When Alastair Bitsoi (Dine) got a positive coronavirus test result, he quarantined himself and weathered a storm of fever, body aches and chest pain. Today, he’s one of the more than 780,000 people in this country who recovered from their coronavirus infections. Bitsoi is telling his story to raise awareness of the seriousness of the disease. We’ll talk with him and other people who recovered from COVID-19 about their experience and we’ll get insights on treatments as the pandemic continues.

Tuesday April 28th, 2020 – The Trump Administration’s COVID-19 relief plan
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to expand, we’ll hear from key Trump Administration officials guiding federal health and economic relief for Indian Country. Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Katuk Mac Lean Sweeney (Inupiaq), Indian Health Service Director Michael D. Weahkee (Zuni) and Tyler Fish (Cherokee Nation), the senior policy adviser and tribal liaison to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs will answer questions about stimulus relief money to tribes, coronavirus testing on reservations, how and when to begin opening businesses to the public and other questions on your mind.

Thursday, April 30, 2020 – Tribes lead the way for protecting sage grouse
Some tribes are taking over sage-grouse conservation where federal and state governments are not acting. Once numerous, grouse populations are in decline because of development, ranching and mineral extraction. The Trump administration just declined to protect the birds along a stretch of the California-Nevada border where environmental groups say the populations are in trouble. A federal judge rejected lawsuits in Washington State filed in part to protect grouse habitat. But several tribes are working to preserve habitat using traditional ecological knowledge. They’re also monitoring bird numbers and securing collaborative agreements with governments and businesses to help the animals recover.

Friday, May 1, 2020 – Coronavirus compounds food distribution gaps
Protecting seeds for Native vegetable varieties and relying on traditional subsistence methods only go so far for ensuring enough food for tribal citizens. The coronavirus is only making it harder as disruptions in supply chains, business closures and delayed food shipments increasingly pop up. As federal relief money is scheduled to start flowing, tribes and relief organizations are working in the meantime to cover some of the basics.