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.

Monday, March 23, 2020 – Talking to kids about crisis
It’s important to put thought into how you explain the current uncertainty and confusion to your kids. Adults play an important role in making sense of world events that cause anxiety for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of recommendations for being honest and direct while also minimizing undo stress. The good news is many parents are finding the opportunity to spend more time at home with their kids. It’s a time to finish 1,0000 piece jigsaw puzzles and make Tik Tok videos. But it can also be a time to strengthen traditional practices. We’ll talk with parents and counselors about getting the most out of time with your kids.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 – Learning outside the classroom
Schools are closed and most colleges are either shut down or jumping to online-only classes during the COVID-19 crisis. There are a lot of barriers to overcome. Some are technical, like navigating apps and securing consistent internet access. Others are less tangible, including maintaining focus and coping with isolation. We’ll hear from education experts about what we might expect in the coming weeks of the evolving COVID-19. We’ll also get some advice about getting the most from remote learning.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 – Managing anxiety during stressful times
Words like “pandemic,” “highly contagious” and “mortality rate” in the news and on social media can be frightening. Isolation from others and financial uncertainty also trigger anxiety. A number of organizations are offering resources to keep anxiety in check. Some ideas include taking breaks, staying connected with others and eating healthy. We’ll access some of those tips and get some help from Native experts about calming down, recharging and remaining optimistic.

Thursday, March 26, 2020 – Keeping the pressure on to save Oak Flat
Even as COVID-19 concerns were rising, San Carlos Apache leaders and allies spoke up at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing. It is the latest attempt to express concerns over the looming copper mine proposed for Oak Flat, Ariz. Tribal members say the project by the Resolution Copper mining company will destroy sacred places near the Tonto National Forest east of Phoenix. Scientists also warn of irreversible environmental damage. We’ll take time to get an update on the efforts to preserve Oak Flat.

Friday, March 27, 2020 – ComiCon on the radio
The COVID-19 pandemic postponed the IndigiPop X Indigenous popular culture festival this month. Indigenous nerds will have to store their cosplay costumes and keep their comics pristine until the crisis passes. But don’t despair, we’re tiding you over with an audio version of some highlights from the postponed festival. We’ll touch on Indigenous futurisms, living through a zombie apocalypse and experiencing literature one panel at a time.

Monday, March 16, 2020 – Preparing for Covid-19 
Information about the coronavirus is changing fast. State by state, tribe by tribe, elected leaders and policymakers are responding to new details about Covid-19 on an hourly basis. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you are no doubt dealing with the fallout from the response and the actions of public health directives. We will get the perspectives of a variety of tribal officials, health policy experts and others.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 – Making the Census count
The decennial census is now underway. Tribes and organizations are making a push to get an accurate count of all Native Americans. They are also working to see that residents receive factual information about filling out the Census form. For example, they urge tribal members to use the name of their tribe exactly as it’s listed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Otherwise they risk not having their tribal affiliation represented. We’ll talk with experts about what Native Americans need to know about the Census.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – The unique Woodland Art style
Woodland Art is often associated with colorful, two-dimensional representations of animals and natural landscapes. It’s a specific style that often incorporates spiritual imagery. It originates from the Great Lakes area and now includes artists from many Native Nations and regions. We’ll talk with some Woodland artists about their style and how they’ve adapted it to tell contemporary stories.

Thursday, March 19, 2020 – Keeping track of Covid-19
Fears of the evolving coronavirus pandemic have already shut down sports events, conferences, school functions and major powwows. It also has people wary of public places and fearful of anyone nearby who so much as sneezes. The threat of the virus poses a serious threat to both people’s health and the economy. We’ll get some updates on what the effect of Covid-19 might ultimately be, how long it might last and what experts recommend to avoid it.

Friday, March 20, 2020 – What TV gets right (and wrong) about Indian law
Goliath, Stumptown, and Longmire are among the popular TV shows that take a stab at storylines that feature Indian law. The fictional accounts sometimes attempt to delve into the real-life encounters with complex concepts such as Public Law 280, tribal-state memorandums of agreement and jurisdiction. We’ll flesh out whether city police have to break off a high speed chase when the suspects hit the reservation boundary, and how accurately shows portray the Indian Child Welfare Act. We’ll talk with attorney and avid TV watcher Matthew Fletcher and others about Indian law on the screen.