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.

Monday, April 20, 2020 – Covering the COVID-19 basics
As the cases of COVID-19 surge past two million worldwide, people continue to have lingering questions about how the virus is spread, how to prevent it and who’s most at risk. In some places, Native Americans are infected at a disproportionate rate. In addition, Native Americans may be more vulnerable to the disease because of other disproportionate risk factors like obesity and diabetes. We will have medical professionals on hand to provide the very latest information about the effectiveness of face masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing. We’ll also get updates on what to look out for and what treatment options there are. Send your questions to comments@nativeamericacalling.com

Tuesday, April, 21 2020 – The year without powwows
One year rain nearly flooded out the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque. Another year a tent almost blew away. But disasters big and small failed to halt the event that attracts tens of thousands of participants and spectators every year. “But this … this is something else,” said GON founder Derek Mathews, speaking about the coronavirus bringing all public gatherings across the globe to a screeching halt. The health emergency is cancelling big and small powwows for the foreseeable future leaving event organizers, dancers and vendors in uncertainty.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 – Music Maker: Annie Humphrey
“Eat What You Kill” is the latest album by Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe recording artist Annie Humphrey. It features her poetic lyrics that speak of accountability and truth. When her powerful voice starts to pour out over her piano playing listeners can find themselves swept up into a swarm of emotions and stories. We’ll visit with Humphrey and talk about how important the music is to her life and upbringing.

Thursday, April 23, 2020 – The realities of coronavirus aid distribution
Collectively, tribes will need about $50 billion to adequately address the COVID 19 pandemic and to make up for lost revenue. That’s an estimate from the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. The current stimulus package provides $10 billion for tribes and the federal administrations that work with them. And already there are disagreements about how the money is distributed. We’ll hear more about the questions and concerns over the effort to provide coronavirus relief funds in the hands of those who need it.

Friday, April 24, 2020 – April in the News
Native Americans remain among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infections and it turns out a hastily-passed multi-billion dollar relief fund package has some administration and distribution problems. Meanwhile, amid all the worry and confusion, some tribes and individuals are finding innovative ways to save lives, reach out to one another and entertain themselves. We’ll get a sampling in our regular news round-up.

Monday, April 13, 2020 – Maintaining addiction recovery
Social distancing and other restrictions mean people in recovery have an added barrier in their efforts to stay drug and alcohol free. Regular meetings with others and one-on-one face time are among the tools people rely on to avoid relapsing. In addition, some addictions put people in a higher risk category for developing serious COVID-19 complications. We’ll talk with Native specialists to hear how what solutions are helping prevent relapse during the prolonged emergency.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 – Improving access to clean drinking water
One comfort during the current pandemic is the coronavirus does not affect municipal water sources. But for some Native Americans, every day can be a struggle to access clean drinking water. Native households are 19 times more likely to have incomplete plumbing than their white counterparts. That number is from a 2019 study by DigDeep, a nonprofit that tracks water access in the U.S. The group estimates that at least 30 percent of those living on the Navajo Nation lack access to running water. Dozens of First Nations in Canada, like the Neskantaga First Nation, have gone years without clean water. Building clean water infrastructure can require years of work, millions of dollars, and protracted legal fights. We’ll take a look at what’s being done to connect Native people with clean water.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 – Tribes scrambling to meet broadband deadline
The window for tribes to secure wireless channels from the Federal Communication Commission is underway. The deadline is August 2nd. That’s a tight time frame for tribes given the complex process. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, tribes urged the FCC to delay the application timeline. The channels are reserved for tribal cell networks or internet access. We’ll talk with experts who are working to comply with the complicated FCC process.

Thursday, April 16, 2020 – Tribal solutions and challenges
Tribal leaders are learning their strengths and weaknesses during the coronavirus crisis. Some are closing reservations boundaries, imposing curfews and even declaring medical martial law. The promise of federal help comes with another layer of bureaucracy and challenges for tribal leaders. We’ll hear from tribal leaders about the tough decisions they are making to make it through the health and economic challenges.

Friday, April 17, 2020 – Quarantine deliciously
Cooking from home has become a necessity as people adhere to social distancing and self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Capable cooks are posting pictures of fresh baked sour dough bread and delicious meals on social media. Others are showing their kitchen mistakes and asking questions about what to do with sprigs of dill, expired bags of baby carrots and leftover wild rice. We’ll get some culinary inspiration from Native chefs for those at home stretching their available ingredients as far as possible.