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.

Monday, April 6, 2020 – Securing a slice of the stimulus pie
The federal government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis includes a $2.2 trillion stimulus package. Of that, $10 billion is aimed specifically toward helping tribal health, housing, education, and business recovery, among other things. The crisis is already severely affecting tribes, businesses and individuals. Health and business experts are still not able to predict the full extent of the financial damage. We’ll talk with tribal policy and economic experts about what the stimulus package makes available for tribes and how you might see those funds working in your community.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 – Prioritizing child welfare during the pandemic
Native child adoptions, court hearings and in-person family visitations are some of the things grinding to a halt because of efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. Many child welfare advocates are also worried that states may use the current confusion to withhold information important to adequately assessing cases where the Indian Child Welfare Act may apply. We’ll check in with the National Indian Child Welfare Association on suggestions they are providing for tribal child welfare agencies, attorneys and individuals about how to navigate the new normal of COVID-19 restrictions.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 – Mashpee Wampanoag land status
The Trump Administration took the unprecedented step of disestablishing the Mashpee Wampanoag’s more than 300 acre reservation in Massachusetts. Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell described the action as “cruel” and “unnecessary.” It sent shock waves through Indian Country and unnerved some tribal leaders who fear such a precedent could lead to more trust land reversals in the future. We’ll get updates about the issue and get reaction from tribal leaders.

Thursday, April 9, 2020 – STDs on the rise
As the country grapples with an unprecedented pandemic threat, there is another health concern on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent report shows rates of sexual transmitted disease (STDs) are at an all-time high. The revelation comes in the Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2018 report. Native Americans have some of the highest rates for diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. We’ll talk about what can be done to prevent further infections and how that is affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday, April 10, 2020 – Refuge during difficult times
Many people turn to prayer, traditional practices or messages of encouragement during times of personal or communal crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic limits people’s ability to connect in groups to heal. But there are still ways to find fellowship and access spiritual solace. We’ll get perspective from three people about what they are leaning on during this crisis. How are you managing? Send us and email to comments@nativeamericacalling.com with how you are getting through this challenging time.

Monday, March 30, 2020 – Getting facts on coronavirus
You can watch the local news and daily briefings from the White House, read the updates from the CDC, and scour the newspaper for the latest on the coronavirus pandemic. Even after doing all that, you might still have questions. We’ll take an hour and find out what misinformation, knowledge gaps and lingering questions are still out there at a time when accurate information is crucial.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 – Music Maker: Lindy Vision
Lindy Vision is made up of sisters who have a dynamic sound and a deep love of music. We welcome them back to hear about their album “Adult Children Part II.” It’s filled with electric beats and bold female vocals. They are definitely breaking new ground for the Indigenous genre with a lot of force.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 – Laughter is the best medicine
Is it too soon to laugh about the coronavirus? No matter what happens to Native people, humor remains a long-standing form of coping. For 25 years, Canadian comedian Don Burnstick (Cree) has been making people laugh across Turtle Island. He’s been sharing his jokes on Facebook Live videos including “they went from guarding pipelines to guarding the toilet paper.” We’ll talk with him and a few other Native comedians about how to keep laughing during a crisis.

Thursday, April 2, 2020 – Coronavirus’ toll on Native business
The response to the coronavirus is threatening the survival of big and small Native businesses. Worries about the economy are on everyone’s mind even as U.S. politicians are working to deliver a $2.2 trillion relief package. It’s difficult to see how Native businesses will fare through the looming economic crisis. We’ll take the pulse of Native professionals about what the situation is and get predictions about how long and how severe it might be.

Friday, April 3, 2020 – Serving homeless relatives during the covid-19 pandemic
Self-isolation and handwashing are a large part of the national game plan for combatting covid-19. But those experiencing homelessness have far fewer options when it comes to heeding health experts’ basic recommendations. Urban Native homeless resource centers like the Chief Seattle Club and Central Arizona Shelter Services are continuing to offer health, nutrition and shelter services to those in need. But complying with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s covid-19 guidelines is difficult with already limited space and resources. We’ll check in with those who are helping vulnerable Native Americans.