Monday, October 5, 2020 – Sound advice for avoiding falls
Car accidents often make headlines. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list falls above crashes as the leading cause of fatal injuries for Native Americans over the age of 65. Preventing falls can be as simple as moving a coffee table. Additional measures like creating a strength-training routine also greatly reduce the risk from falling. We’ll get practical advice about preventing falls and recovering from injuries from falls.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 – The issues that decide the election
Of all the issues that go into making election decisions, a mere handful are deal-breakers for a lot of voters. The economy, abortion, the environment, criminal justice and tribal sovereignty are among those that top the list of non-negotiable election topics. But what are voters willing to give up to ensure their key issues are covered? We’ll hear from some voters about what their key election issues are. We’ll also trace the history of what are known as wedge issues, requiring candidates and voters to make stark choices.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 – Long-lasting effects of COVID-19
People who get COVID-19 face many more potential outcomes than either death or full recovery. The Mayo Clinic says many long-term effects of the disease are still unknown but lists a number of potential health problems including permanent lung and heart damage, blood clots and weakened blood vessels. It can even lead to Post Traumatic Stress for people who endured extended intensive care to fight the infection.

Thursday, October 8, 2020 – Protecting the Tongass National Forest, ‘America’s Amazon’
The Trump Administration is moving to lift environmental protections on seven million acres in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It would allow logging virgin forests that sprouted before first contact with European settlers. Alaska Native tribes are fighting the U.S. Forest Service’s recommendations to remove the Clinton-era “roadless designation” paving the way for roads, logging and other development. The tribes say it poses a serious threat to subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging in the nation’s largest national forest.

Friday, October 9, 2020 – Surviving the ‘dumpster fire’
A global pandemic, devastating forest fires, record unemployment, a historic recession, racial unrest and a contentious election are all piling up to make for a stressful year. The onslaught of disasters has earned 2020 derogatory labels. And all signs point to a long, drawn-out recovery extending well into 2021. It takes fortitude and a personal strategy of resilience to stay above worrisome headlines. We’ll get insights from motivational speakers about how they are living their best life despite the long list of bad news.

Monday, September 28, 2020 – Will the 2020 Census accurately count Native Americans?
The deadline for all U.S. residents to fill out the 2020 Census is approaching fast. Census officials are scrambling to collect information on Native Americans in time. A last-minute court decision extended the deadline to the end of October. The Trump Administration sought to end Census data collection September 30. Census watchers still worry the coronavirus pandemic and other barriers will make it hard for Native Americans, traditionally one of the most undercounted populations in the Census, to be adequately represented. Billions of dollars and accurate political representation are at stake.

Tuesday, September, 29, 2020 – Music Maker: Samantha Crain
We hear from Choctaw recording artists Samantha Crain about her album “A Small Death”. This self-produced venture is her sixth full-length album that explores the beauty of a layered life. To her, it’s about resetting and regrouping, two skills we call on especially when life deals cards that we don’t expect. The songs highlight her distinct sound, full of strong vocals and folk and rock rhythms. She’s a Native music icon and is our September Music Maker.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 – September in the news
The Bureau of Indian Education reversed an ambitious plan to open up BIE schools after criticism by tribal leaders.  Also, officials with least three tribes signed up for COVID-19 vaccine trials, but some citizens remain wary. And the CEO of the company pushing a major mine proposal in Alaska stepped down after an environmental activist group secretly taped him saying the mine could grow to be much larger than what the company told federal regulators. We’ll talk with people involved in covering these stories and more are on our regular news round up.

Thursday, October 1, 2020 – The race for a coronavirus vaccine
The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into the effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus. At least four pharmaceutical companies say they are ready to conduct vaccine trials on human volunteers—a needed step before widespread distribution. Scientists emphasize the importance of testing the vaccine in diverse populations. Leaders of at least three tribes, the Navajo Nation, the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe, agreed to allow vaccine trials involving their citizens. But many of those citizens harbor distrust of scientific experiments because of previous missteps.

Friday, October 2, 2020 – Filling Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat
One of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s last U.S. Supreme Court decisions was to affirm the Muscogee Creek Nation’s reservation boundaries in McGirt v. Oklahoma. But her record for recognizing tribal sovereignty remains mixed. Now, there’s a rush to fill the late justice’s seat. Several names are reported to be on President Donald Trump’s short list of potential appointees. Do any of them have a track record for Indian law? What do Native Americans look for in a Supreme Court justice?

Monday, September 21, 2020 – Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic
Advocates fear the coronavirus pandemic increases the risk for Native American women experiencing domestic violence. Quarantines and stay-at-home orders might make it difficult for women to get away from abusers. There are few studies that provide evidence but a survey by the United Nations reports increased calls to help lines in several cities around the globe since the start of the pandemic. A limited survey of radiologists in the U.S. shows an increase in injuries attributed to domestic violence in 2020 compared to the previous three years. We explore the factors that could contribute to the domestic violence risk and some possible solutions for those experiencing it.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – Ice: the Arctic’s dwindling resource
Scientists have observed the disappearance of Arctic sea ice for decades. Indigenous people who live and hunt on and near the ice are forced to confront the changes in their environment and adapt where they can. A new study published in the journal, Nature Climate Change, predicts ice-free summers in the Arctic for the first time in recorded history far sooner than previous estimates. We’ll hear more about why the ice is melting and its effects on Indigenous people.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 – Nut harvest time
Gathering, processing and cooking indigenous nuts like acorns and pine nuts is in full swing in late summer and early autumn. These small gifts of protein and flavor are important to Indigenous culture. Picking and preparing them in the traditional way creates stronger connections to culture and nature and promotes a deeper understanding of food and flavor. We’ll talk about nuts with Native food educators and culture keepers.

Thursday, September 24, 2020 – Book of the Month: “Becoming Miss Navajo” by Jolyana Begay-Kroupa
“Becoming Miss Navajo” is a young readers’ book that shares the story of what it means to earn this esteemed title. The author writes the competition cannot be categorized as a beauty pageant. Instead she sees it as a way to revitalize Navajo cultural heritage. Begay-Kroupa tells her own personal journey and brings readers through the ins and outs of the yearly event. The book features photos that include parts of the competition that asks contestants to demonstrate cultural knowledge.

Friday, September 25, 2020 – Mesa Verde ancestors repatriated after 130 years
Tribal leaders in the Southwest are praising the successful return of items stolen from Mesa Verde almost 130 years ago. It’s the culmination of an agreement with Finland originally announced last year to repatriate ancestors and funerary items taken by a Finnish scholar in 1891. The incident helped spark establishment of the 1906 Antiquities Act and the establishment of Mesa Verde National Park. Leaders from the four tribes that have cultural affiliations with Mesa Verde worked with the U.S. State Department to return and reinter them this month.  We’ll hear from tribal leaders about the significance of the items and what it took to have them returned.

Monday, September 14 2020 – Native Lens: amplifying Native stories
Storytelling has always been an important tradition for Indigenous people. And modern personal technology provides a means to share that tradition more broadly. A collaborative effort by KSUT Tribal Radio and Rocky Mountain PBS aims to amplify Native voices by collecting personal stories from Native people of all ages and backgrounds. Each storyteller is encouraged to talk about what they think is important. The results—individually produced short videos, audio recordings, and even photographs—will be compiled in the project called “Native Lens.” We’ll talk about the power of stories and the way they help others understand Native people and issues.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020 –Oklahoma after McGirt
Dozens of Oklahoma tribal members convicted of crimes in state court are asking for a second look at their cases in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark McGirt vs. Oklahoma decision in July. But the decision that reaffirmed Muskogee Reservation status has implications well beyond criminal convictions. Tribes and state officials are now working to map out how the decision affects key areas like taxes, Indian child welfare and public safety. We’ll get an update on what potential changes tribal leaders and scholars see in the wake of this major victory for tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020 – What does COVID-19 testing tell us?
There is no national COVID-19 testing strategy and so procedures and results vary from place to place. Recently, the nation’s top public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, faced backlash after recommending against testing people who don’t show symptoms, even though there’s evidence asymptomatic people can spread the disease. As many tribes struggle to get control over the coronavirus, consistent testing is among the most effective tools they have. We’ll check in on how COVID-19 testing has changed since the start of the pandemic, and how testing informs efforts to prevent more infections.

Thursday, September 18, 2020 – The toxic legacy of abandoned mines
The Trump Administration promises new efforts to clean up mineral mining sites that continue to contaminate water, soil and air decades after the companies that started them pulled out. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it’s opening up offices to focus on tracking and cleaning up the environmental threats from abandoned mines in several Western states. There are more than 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation alone. Tribal leaders and environmental advocates are cautiously optimistic, praising any progress toward addressing the lingering threat of former gold, mercury, uranium and molybdenum mines. But critics remain skeptical about the commitment for taking on such an expansive and expensive operation.

Friday, September 19, 2020 – Indigenous characters, artists take center stage in new Marvel anthology
The comic book giant, Marvel, is releasing a new anthology dedicated to Indigenous superheroes, all produced by Indigenous artists and writers. In addition to giving new story lines to names like Echo and Dani Moonstar, the project in the Marvel Voices series intends to correct some of the mistakes of previous non-Native led efforts that relied on offensive stereotypes and inauthentic character development. Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe) curates the new volume set to coincide with Native American History Month. Veregge and others from the project will talk about the growing momentum for authentic Native comic book characters.

Monday, September 7, 2020 – Building the next generation of Native leaders
(Pre-recorded show) Since 2007, the Leadership Institute has invited Native American high school and college students in New Mexico to its Summer Policy Academy out of the Santa Fe Indian School. The students team up with professionals in different fields including law and cultural revitalization. The Academy encourages the students to draw from the richness of their culture to build strong leadership skills. The goal is to get them thinking critically about how public policy affects their communities and bring about positive changes. We’ll hear from the organizers of this unique opportunity about utilizing the gifts handed down from past generations to fortify a resilient future.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 – Native in the Spotlight: Marcie Rendon
The dead speak to Renee “Cash” Black Bear in her dreams. They help her solve gruesome murders in the Upper Midwest. She is the protagonist in Marcie Rendon’s (White Earth Anishinaabe) Cash Blackbear Mysteries Series who brings Native knowledge to a crowded genre that so often gets it wrong. In addition to writing mysteries and short stories, Rendon is a playwright, poet and educator. She is a champion of other Native artists. She was just awarded the McKnight Foundation’s Distinguished Artist Award. We’ll talk with her about how she created Cash and the many other characters and plot lines she’s developed.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 – Returning to traditional fire management 
Another series of destructive fires in California prompt new questions about how best to prevent and prepare for wildfires. Many of the state’s tribes have cultural fire management practices that go back centuries, and include minimizing wildfire risks through controlled burns, something California officials once banned. We’ll take a look at wildfires in California and elsewhere through a Native lens and hear from tribes that are on the ground about what it takes to heal with fire rather than just fight it.

Thursday, September 10, 2020 – Understanding colon cancer
The death of Chadwick Boseman sparks a new national discussion about colon cancer. It also highlights racial disparities for what doctors say is among the most preventable and curable cancers. Boseman, the actor known for the lead role in the film, Black Panther, was only 43 when he died of the disease. Native American colon cancer rates are about the same as other minority groups, which are generally higher than the population as a whole. We’ll get reminders on prevention, treatment and warning signs.

Friday, September 11, 2020 – Native candidates making strides at the polls
The four Native Americans currently in Congress are poised for re-election in November. And there are dozens of other new Native candidates to keep an eye on all over the country. One, Christina Haswood (Diné), won her primary race and is the presumptive winner since she has no challengers for the Kansas House of Representatives seat. If elected, the 26-year-old will be the youngest sitting legislator in the state. She’s one of four Native candidates in Kansas following the primaries. In Wyoming, Lynnette Grey Bull (Northern Arapaho/Hunkpapa Lakota) won the Democratic primary for the only congressional district in the state. Local media report she is the only Native woman to ever run for federal office in Wyoming. We’ll take a look at some notable Native candidates heading to November.