Monday, December 28, 2020 – Remembering those who walked on in 2020
Eddie Benton-Banai (Anishinaabe Ojibwe) was one of the founders of the American Indian Movement. He met his fellow co-founder Clyde Bellecourt (White Earth Ojibwe) in jail in the late 1960s and they and others fought for sovereign land rights and against police brutality. Benton-Banai walked on in November at the age of 89. Maxine Racehorse Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), a longtime Native education and language revitalization advocate, was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Jimmy Carter. She walked on in September at the age of 91. Those are two of the many Native Americans who died this year that we will take time to honor.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 – Book of the Month: Seasons of Alaska
Best Beginnings Alaska published four baby board books to help fill a gap in Alaska children’s literature. They call the project “Seasons of Alaska” and it lines up with their mission of ensuring children have the tools they need to succeed in school and to include books that have an accurate representation of Native life in Alaska. Each book covers one season and highlights the beauty of rural Alaska. They feature the creativity of four Alaska Native authors who teamed up with photographers to celebrate the different seasons. We’ll visit with those who helped bring the pages to life.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 – Making the best of the worst year
The COVID-19 is a major contributor to making 2020 the deadliest year in U.S. history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report deaths from COVID-19 putting the nation on track to registering 3 million deaths for the first time. The threat of the disease also devastated the economy and costs millions of people their jobs. Time Magazine officially dubbed 2020 as “The Worst Year Ever.” But if you’re one to look at the glass half full, this year was also filled with a lot of small, positive things for many of us. Quarantines afforded an opportunity to learn new skills, reassess goals, volunteer for a cause or get closer with friends and family. As the “worst year” comes to a close, we’ll take time to focus on some of the hidden blessings.

Thursday, December 31, 2020 – December in the news
The COVID-19 pandemic and a contentious presidential election dominated the news is 2020. But there were many other news stories that exemplified Native issues and people. We’ll look back on some of the top stories of the year and get a glimpse of some of the stories you may have missed. We’ll aslo check up on recent news dominating the headlines.

Friday, January 1, 2021 – Modern and traditional interpretations of ribbon shirts
From powwows to boardrooms, ribbon shirts are a visual symbol of Native pride. They can be subtle or showy, but ribbon shirts almost always have a hint of personal expression and tribal tradition. They are usually made from cotton or linen, often with long sleeves but not always, with colorful ribbons appliqued or sewn into seams as tassels. Like many Native fashion trends, ribbon shirts owe their origins and inspirations to a number of sources. We’ll spend the hour discussing the history and evolution of ribbon shirts. (This is an encore show, so we won’t be taking phone calls).

Monday, December 21, 2020 – Notable Indigenous podcasts
Podcasts featuring Native producers and perspectives are gaining increased recognition. Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee Nation) won the 2020 American Mosaic Journalism Prize for her podcast ‘This Land’. Native America Calling producer Andi Murphy’s Native foodways podcast ‘Toasted Sister’ was among Saveur Magazine’s top 100 favorite things of 2020 and won the Native American Journalists Association first place award for general excellence. We will sample some of the stand-outs in the rapidly growing number of Native-produced audio and video you might want to add to your podcast subscriptions list.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – Native veterinarians
Veterinarians and vet techs stitch wounds, reset bones, vaccinate and generally ease the pain for animals that can’t tell us what ails them. We’ll visit with veterinarians about the unique perspectives Native people bring to the profession and the need for more Native vets to keep animals in our lives health.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 – Native leadership for the U.S. Department of Interior
Rep. Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo, D-NM) is set to make history as the first Native American to hold a presidential cabinet position. The Washington Post reported President-elect Joe Biden is naming Haaland to the post that oversees public lands and all the Native reservation trust land. Haaland’s nomination would need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is within DOI. We’ll examine what this historic appointment means for tribes and the public lands under Interior’s purvue. We’ll also explore what some of the department’s priorities might be during the Biden Administration.

Thursday, December 24, 2020 – More than movies: 2020 pop culture round up
We take a look back at some of the highlights in 2020 movies, TV and comics with Native themes, characters and entertainers. We’ll also get a glimpse of some highlights coming up, including the Peacock streaming TV show Rutherford Falls, created by Sierra Teller Ornelas (Navajo). Indian Country Today’s Vincent Schilling give us his top movie and TV picks for the year and what is on his radar for 2021.

Friday, December 25, 2020 – 2020 Music Maker in Review
Our conversations with a dozen Native musicians through the year were full of some eventful moments. The music they shared inspired us and also taught us more about the different tribal nations that our Native airwaves reach each weekday. In this prerecorded program we’ll take a look back at some of the highlights from our program and revisit some of our 2020 Music Makers to check in on where their musical path has taken them since we last talked. We’ll also get their perspectives on creating and performing during the pandemic. (This is a prerecorded show. We won’t be taking live phone calls).

Monday, December 14, 2020 – 2020 movers and shakers: NCAIED’s 40 under 40
This year’s 40 under 40 list includes a college vice president, a foundation coordinator and a neurosurgeon. The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development recognizes 40 people 40 years of age or younger every year who demonstrate notable leadership, initiative, and dedication and who make significant contributions to business or their community. They are tribal leaders, storytellers, business owners and healthcare workers doing good work. We’ll talk with some of this year’s winners to highlight some of the promising Native leaders who are on the move.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 – One health center’s fight against COVID-19
Tribally-run health care clinics have never been more important than right now. Since the start of the pandemic, the Winslow Indian Health Care Center in Arizona has maintained in-patient services, urgent care and comprehensive health services. It is a crucial source of health care during a major health crisis on the Navajo Nation. Like all medical facilities across the country WIHCC is feeling the strain of unrelenting health care demands. We’ll zero in on how one tribally-run clinic is meeting the health care needs of tribal citizens when they need it most.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Tribal casino wins and losses during the pandemic
Tribes closed casinos and hotels at the beginning of the pandemic in order to prevent further spread of the virus. A few tribes have turned their closed casinos into pandemic support centers with drive-up testing and isolation rooms for people who test positive for COVID-19. But closing casinos cuts off a key source of revenue from gaming and the associated hospitality industries like lodging, restaurants, golf, and merchandise sales. We’ll talk about the risks of operating during a pandemic weighed against the reality of severe economic hardship of not operating.

Thursday, December 17, 2020 – Honoring the Dakota 38
Every December, Dakotas commemorate the executions of 38 men following the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. President Abraham Lincoln ordered the hanging of the warriors on December 26, 1862 in Mankato, Minnesota. Two other chiefs were hanged three years later. The commemoration draws attention to the events leading up to the hangings that aren’t often included in history books about the years of broken promises, oppression and imprisonment by the U.S. Government that led to starvation and other hardships for the tribes. The pandemic has cancelled the annual 330-mile memorial horseback ride from the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota to Mankato. We’ll take time to remember this tragic chapter in history.

Friday, December 18, 2020 – December Music Maker: The Red and Blues Band
The Red and Blues Band started as a creative outlet playing gigs at Haskell Indian Nations University. Now its members have built their talents into a strong musical force with charging rock rhythms. And the band’s biting lyrics take on the injustices foisted on Indigenous peoples across the globe. Our final Music Makers of the year offer their gift to the world with their latest album “Resistance is Fuel.” The musicians will talk to us about the songs they say are a direct response to continued brutality against Indigenous people and the fight for justice.

Monday, December 7, 2020 – Staying safe while caring for someone with COVID-19
When someone in a multi-person household contracts COVID-19, it puts everyone else living there at greater risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends strict use of masks and gloves and establishing rigorous cleaning routines. The CDC also recommends isolating the infected person away from others in the home. Native Americans have a higher average number of household members than the general population, ramping up the chances for infection in the home. We’ll hear first-hand accounts from those who cared for loved ones with COVID-19 and get a rundown of best practices when the pandemic hits close to home.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – The race to spend federal coronavirus aid money
Tribes have until the end of this month to spend their share of the $8 billion in federal emergency coronavirus funds. The money comes with a number of restrictions that are causing some confusion. The money can only go for expenses directly related to losses caused by the pandemic. Lawsuits delayed distribution of the funds, shortening the window of time tribes have to make use of them. We’ll hear from tribal officials about some of the challenges that come with the federal money meant to offset the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 – Challenging times for college students
The challenge of remote college classes combined with the high cost of post-secondary education is taking a toll. A survey by a higher education marketing agency found a third of all prospective students say they are less likely than before the pandemic to pursue a college degree. Many colleges across optimistically opened to in-person classes at the beginning of the school year, only to revert to online-only instruction weeks, or even days, later. Students are also rebelling against high tuition costs in light of the reduced quality of education. We’ll check in on the latest from educators and students.

Thursday, December 10, 2020 – In line for the coronavirus vaccine
Drug makers will start distributing doses of the vaccine against the coronavirus within days. Tribes, along with the Indian Health Service, have distribution plans in place that put health care workers and elders at the front of the line. It could be many more months before it’s available for many citizens. While the prospect of the vaccine offers relief, there remains some uncertainty over the distribution schedule and the logistical requirements. In addition, distribution among Native Nations could be hampered by lingering distrust of outside medical treatments. We’ll get updates on the latest information and perspectives on the coronavirus vaccine.

Friday, December 11, 2020 – Shifting marijuana laws open tribal economic opportunities
Five states this year legalized marijuana use, either for medicinal or recreational purposes. Four of those states cleared marijuana use in ballot measures on Election Day. That brings the total number of states allowing some kind of marijuana use to 35. The landscape is changing rapidly for tribes aiming to capitalize on the growing legal cannabis market. States don’t have jurisdiction to enforce marijuana laws on reservations, but tribes have encountered resistance from some states where the drug is outlawed. In addition, tribes and states are both technically subject to federal law that classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. We’ll get an overview of evolving tribal marijuana economic development efforts.

Monday, November 23, 2020 – COVID-19 rates on the rise
North Dakota reached the highest COVID-19 fatality rate per capita in the world, according to the Federation of American Scientists. South Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana are all in the top 20 highest COVID-19 death rates. Infection rates all over the country are spiking and tribes are reissuing strict shutdown orders aiming to slow down the spread. We’ll get insights from tribal leaders and health officials about their hopes for fighting the new deadly wave of the pandemic.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020 – Native words to live by
In Native languages, some of our favorite words and phrases pack much more meaning than any English translation can encompass. The Navajo word, “hózhó” refers to a way of life; balance, harmony and order. As the country marks Native American Heritage Month and 30 years of the Native American Languages Act, ensuring tribes’ use of their languages without any government interference, we’ll honor the importance of language and celebrate with some of the most notable words and phrases.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020 – Perspectives on the Mayflower 400 years later
It’s been four centuries since the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower onto the shores of present day Massachusetts. The white, Christian Europeans established a colony at Plymouth and the rest is history. But it’s a one-sided history that too often omits the Indigenous experience outside of a revisionist Thanksgiving story. This year, the Plymouth, Massachusetts 400th Anniversary Commission is commemorating the shared history among the Wampanoag tribes and settlers. It’s an inclusive celebration with Wampanoag perspectives. We’ll look at how representation of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower has changed over the years and what perspectives still need to be voiced.

Thursday, November 26, 2020 – A Conversation with Keith Secola
(Encore show; we aren’t taking live calls) Over the years Keith Secola, creator of the song “NDN Kars,” has brought a lot to our Native communities with his creativity and voice. We take time to check in with this Anishinabe artist and learn about his latest creations including the podcast project, Native Americana Audio Café, where he visits with musicians, artists and others. We’ll find out how music is taking him through these times, and get to the roots of where his love of music began.

Friday, November 27, 2020 – November in the news
Congresswoman Deb Haalan (D-NM, Laguna Pueblo) is among the names floated for a spot in President-elect Biden’s cabinet, specifically as the head of the Department of Interior. We’ll take a look at the Native people who could potentially be part of the Biden Administration. Also President Trump still hasn’t conceded the race, and is falsely claiming election fraud. We’ll ask Native political watchers whether Trump’s antics pose any threats to Native confidence in the election process. We’re shopping around for the best Native news stories on this day-after-Thanksgiving episode of the news roundup.

Monday, November 16, 2020 – Understanding epilepsy
Of the nearly 3.5 million people in the United States who have epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation estimates about 51,000 are Native Americans. The Foundation also says at least 150,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every year. The non-profit calls it one of the most misunderstood health disorders because so little is known about its causes. Nearly half of all those with epilepsy continue to have uncontrolled, recurring seizures, despite medication and other treatments. There are some things everyone should know about epilepsy, even if they aren’t directly affected.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 – “Something Else” speaks to Native exclusion
When CNN aired a graphic with racial breakdowns of voters, it included a category called “Something Else” for those not under the white, Black, Latino or Asian labels. Native Americans were quick to respond with sharp criticism that spread across social media. The Native American Journalists Association called for an apology from the media network. “Something Else” also speaks to the pervasive exclusion of Indigenous people in polls and research.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 – Rock Your Mocs
The annual celebration is about more than just what Native people traditionally wear on their feet. Started in 2011 as a way to show Native pride, Rock Your Mocs has grown into a multi-day collection of events and discussions. We’ll get perspectives on how people in many nations are marking the celebration of traditional culture.

Thursday, November 19, 2020 – Addiction during the pandemic
Social relationships are among the strongest tools available for substance abuse recovery. The National Institute on Drug Abuse acknowledges Zoom meetings and phone calls can’t fully measure up to the effectiveness of in-person contact for people fighting addiction. The National Institutes of Health also warns the stress and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can exacerbate the triggers for those vulnerable to addiction.

Friday, November 20, 2020 – Music Maker: Bluedog
Bluedog is not only a family affair but a group that prides itself on sharing the life experiences of Native people through sound. In their new album “Take a Stand” the blues riffs are solid and the vocals are inviting. This time around the blues band out of Minnesota’s Twin Cities has teamed up with guest musicians including Ojibwe recording artist Keith Secola.