Monday, November 11, 2019 – Warrior tradition
Despite pervasive mistrust of the U.S. government, Native Americans are well represented in the military. A new documentary premiering on PBS, Warrior Tradition, examines the history of Native American military service and explores the reasons Native men and women enlist at higher rates than other populations. We’ll hear directly from veterans and also talk with those involved with the film.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019 – The wrong message for Native college students
The president of the University of Arizona got an education of his own after insisting he had Native ancestry because of his “high cheek bones.” Robert C. Robbins was speaking to a class of Native students when he mentioned his online DNA test must be wrong because it did not show any Native heritage. He prefaced the remark by saying he didn’t want to “pull an Elizabeth Warren.” He’s since apologized, but many on campus are left wondering how those in the highest ranks of academia can still be so tone deaf. Native students are using the opportunity to elevate the conversation about making college campuses more welcoming.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 – Can prison reform benefit Native offenders?
Oklahoma released more than 400 non-violent inmates from prison earlier this month. Most of them had a little over a year left on their sentences. It’s the result of reform efforts to reduce overcrowding, cut costs and promote self-sufficiency for low-level prisoners. It calls attention to other reform ideas to try and end the cycle of incarceration for Native Americans and other populations that are over-represented in the prison system.

Thursday, November 14, 2019 – Maori connection with Native American knowledge
A cross-cultural program connects Maori master’s students with Native Americans to provide international context for leadership training. A delegation of two dozen students and faculty from New Zealand’s University of Canterbury’s School of Maori and Indigenous Studies explore the similarities and differences in Native governance, social structure, language, arts and economic opportunities. Members of the group will share what they’re learning and how they see the program benefits their work to connect with and improve their own cultures.

Friday, November 15, 2019 – Eight years of Rock Your Mocs
It started as a way to show Native pride. Now in its 8th year, the Rock Your Mocs celebration has grown well beyond its social media hashtag origins. Every year the Rock Your Mocs day adds events and inspiration around the country. We’ll hear from one of the original founders, Jessica “Jaylyn” Atsye (Laguna Pueblo), about what’s new and ways the message is resonating with Native nations.

Monday, November 4, 2019 – Bridging the broadband divide
Tribes have an upcoming opportunity to secure wireless channels to dramatically increase the speed and coverage of broadband access. The federal government is giving tribes priority to bid on access within what’s known as the 2.5 GHz band spectrum. But the time frame to submit applications is brief and some tribes are having trouble completing the complex process in time.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – Responsible rock climbing
Technical rock climbing is a sport for adrenaline junkies. It’s also a way to keep fit and enjoy the outdoors. But it also often comes up against concerns and sometimes outright prohibitions by tribes wanting to protect cultural resources. The Navajo Nation has a ban on rock climbing within its boundaries. We’ll hear from Native climbers about the benefits of climbing and the best practices for reaching new heights.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 – Reviving voices from the past
Century-old recordings combined with state-of-the-art technology are giving some tribes new perspectives on their languages and songs. Wax cylinder recordings of songs and stories from the late 1800s took a roundabout journey and are now providing new insights for the Passamaquoddy tribe, which has few fluent speakers left. Many other tribes are also hearing the voices of their ancestors documented during the birth of analog recording but revived using technology perfected only recently.

Thursday, November 7, 2019 – Trapping for food and fur
The methods and equipment have changed over the years, but trapping remains a practice with a long history for Native Americans. Experienced trappers see it as a viable option for sustenance and animal population management. The sport is highly-regulated to protect endangered animals and to ensure humane standards. We’ll hear about modern trapping and its connection to longstanding cultural practices.

Friday, November 8, 2019 – The budding agritourism business
Picking your own apples, tracing your dinner from farm to table and even touring gardens and vineyards are all elements of agritourism that some Native business owners are cashing in on. Tribes and individual farmers , agritourism is a way to build interest in the culture surrounding food while also satisfying the hunger people have for learning about food and connecting to it.

Monday, October 28, 2019 – Mounting pressure to remove dams
Tribal leaders from the Yakama and Lummi nations called for the removal of several dams along the Columbia River in Washington State. The tribes are concerned about dwindling salmon populations and the concurrent decline of orcas. Other tribes, like the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla in Oregon and the Yurok and Pit River Tribe in California, have also fought to remove dams. We’ll check in on the efforts to get rid of dams and hear about how they affect tribes and tribal land.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 – October in the news
Some members of tribes along the Mendocino County coastline of California are risking jail time and fines to gather abalone and other traditional food and materials for ceremony. Efforts to curb poaching are also preventing tribes in the area from traditional practices. We’ll talk with reporter Deb Utacia Krol about her piece in High Country News on the subject. Also, the National Congress of American Indians Convention is a wrap. We’ll check in with Indian Country Today’s Jourdan Bennett-Begaye to get the highlights for our regular news round up.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019 –Book of the Month: “Standing Up to Colonial Power” by Renya Ramirez
Winnebago author Renya Ramirez offers a non-fiction narrative of her grandparents with “Standing up to Colonial Power: The Lives of Henry Roe and Elizabeth Bender Cloud.” Both of her relatives pushed back against settler colonialism to open a door for Native rights to break down oppression. From federal policy to the courts, these two individuals drew from their Native cultures to improve the lives of future generations and establish rightful authority over the systems that work against progress for Native Nations.

Thursday, October 31, 2019 – Native and afraid
What scares you? Some Native artists tap into the darker sides of creativity, focusing on graphics, films and fantasy fiction that explores ghouls, monsters and the paranormal. This Halloween, we’re celebrating the frightening side of Native art and imagination and talking to some Native artists about bringing horror to light.

Friday, November 1, 2019 – imgaineNATIVE Festival wrap-up
What organizers call the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous film, media and arts is wrapping up its 20th year in Toronto. This year’s line-up included nearly 130 films and video works, dozens of workshops and panel discussions and a week of Indigenous creativity. We’ll get highlights from the 2019 Imaginative Festival and feature some of the up-and-coming artists.

Monday, October 21, 2019 – Live at NCAI: Juvenile justice
Native youth are over-represented in state and federal juvenile justice systems. In addition to the perpetuation of historical trauma, juvenile facilities have a long way to go to adequately meet the needs of Native young people. It’s the first day of the National Congress of American Indians annual conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico and we are broadcasting live with a focus on traditional healing, Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts, research, and other ways that juvenile justice institutions can go beyond punishment to maximize the likelihood of success for young people.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019 – Live at NCAI: Sovereignty, social justice and political power
As the National Congress of American Indians annual conference is in full swing in Albuquerque with a busy slate of agenda items, from sovereignty to border security to upcoming elections. NCAI is taking this week to chart the priorities for the coming months and get input on what is important from members’ standpoints. We touch in on some key topics and get insights from those closest to the discussions.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 – October Music Maker: Def-i
Navajo MC Def-i‘s album, “Dream Trails” opens with a cinematic sound that quickly accelerates with the rapid word weaving he’s known for. Listeners get a glimpse into the many trails the artist has traveled to share his message that resonates from New Mexico to Africa. Hip-hop greats like Kool Keith and JFK Ninjaface make an appearance on the album. So do Native women artists like E-Turn, Dawta Magma, Honey and Liv the Artist. Well get the distinct privilege to re-visit the inspirations and collaborations that went into making the album and what’s next for Def-i.

Thursday, October 24, 2019 – Dream of Wild Health
Dream of Wild Health wants to improve the health and well-being of Native people. The Minnesota non-profit operates a 10-acre farm where it teaches young people and others about traditional food, the economics of agriculture, leadership skills and healthy eating. Through educational programs and partnerships with a number of tribes and other like-minded groups, Dream of Wild Health promotes traditional food knowledge, sustainability and access to healthy foods. We’ll hear from the organization’s staff to get a deeper look into the group’s mission.

Friday, October 25, 2019 – A conversation with Dr. Ann Bullock
Dr. Ann Bullock (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe/Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) is one of the nation’s leading voices on diabetes research. While the statistics on diabetes and Native Americans is troubling, Bullock will be the first to highlight some of the positive developments in fighting the disease. Bullock is the director of the Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention at the Indian Health Service. She is passionate about improving the health of Native people. We’ll talk with her about her life and what drives her work at IHS.